After finishing the hand-whipped cream, the most finger-taxing part of the job, Naruto let out a long sigh of relief.
By then, the cake base in the steamer was perfectly done. Naruto took it out, trimmed it with a table knife, and set it aside.
He checked the time. It was exactly six thirty.
The braised pork came straight out of the pot. Next, the Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin went into the wok, followed by the Steamed Mandarin Fish into the steamer, while the prawns simmered in oil to soak up the flavor.
Ten minutes later, as plate after plate of exquisite food came out, Naruto began cooking the Longevity Noodles.
Two eggs and the white of a scallion.
Only after Naruto had carried every dish he had prepared to the table and returned did he move on.
By then, the cake base had finally cooled. Next came shaping and decorating it.
What made a master a master was the ability to design a cake that suited the birthday person's individual bearing and style of dress.
Naruto was no exception. As he meticulously shaped the cream decorations, an exquisite twelve-inch fruit cake soon took form.
Just then, Naruto heard Sasuke calling him. Apparently, waking up without seeing him had left Sasuke sounding rather anxious.
"Hey, Sasuke, I'm in the kitchen. Don't come over yet. Wash your face and wake yourself up, then head to the living room. Dinner's almost ready."
"Oh, okay." His voice sounded distinctly relieved.
Before long, Naruto had inserted seven candles into the cake and hurried it into the living room.
About three minutes later.
Sasuke walked to the living room doorway on still-unsteady legs, only to find the room pitch-black.
"Naruto, are you there?"
There was no answer. "Naruto, don't scare me. I know you