fictionpage Chapter 4 The Power of Food
Chapter 4 The Power of Food
The two walked along the forest path, one after the other. Naruto walked ahead, occasionally turning back to check if Yue was keeping up. He couldn't help it; although Naruto was only three years old, the memories within him, combined with those three years, amounted to more than twenty years, and taking care of a child was something he did instinctively.
After passing through the last patch of bushes, the view suddenly opened up.
It was a tranquil lake, its surface reflecting the changing twilight. The reeds along the shore swayed gently in the breeze, making a soft rustling sound. In the distance, Konoha Village was already dotted with lights, like scattered fireflies.
The two sat down side by side at the wooden mooring spot by the lake, and Naruto took out a light brown bento box from his backpack.
Eating instant noodles every day isn't good for your health. Even though Uncle Ichiraku never discriminated against Naruto, even the most delicious ramen would get boring after eating it for months on end. As for other restaurants... the owners, under the Third Hokage's orders, were already selling him things, but the way they looked at him still made Naruto feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Ever since Naruto started cooking for himself, he specifically asked the Third Hokage to send him fresh ingredients from time to time.
The moment the bento box was opened, an enticing aroma wafted out. Yue unconsciously sat up straight, her obsidian-like eyes stealthily glancing in that direction.
"Don't let my appearance fool you," Naruto noticed her subtle gesture, "I'm quite confident in my cooking skills."
The bento box contained a few simple dishes: golden fried shrimp, bright green blanched vegetables, and a rice ball shaped like a frog and a fox.
But the most eye-catching dish was the red and yellow dish that took up most of the bento box – scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
Bright red tomato chunks are coated with golden egg flowers, the soup has an enticing orange-red color, and a few chopped green onions are sprinkled on top, glistening with an oily sheen in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The moon's pupils dilated instantly.
tomato……!
As the daughter of the Uchiha clan head, she had always eaten Japanese food carefully prepared by her mother. Although the dishes were nutritionally balanced and beautifully presented, this was the first time she had ever seen a dish that combined tomatoes and eggs so simply and crudely. Most importantly, tomatoes were her favorite food.
It looks so delicious! I really want to try it!
Her little hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, and her throat bobbed slightly. But the pride of the Uchiha clan immediately sounded an alarm in her mind.
No way! How can I just eat someone else's cooking? That's so rude!
But...it smells so good...
An internal struggle caused Yue's cheeks to flush slightly. She stared intently at the dish, unconsciously softening her breathing.
Even if she's a bit of a tsundere, a child's desires are ultimately direct. Yue pretended not to care and turned her face away, but her gaze kept drifting back uncontrollably, and her pink lips unconsciously pursed. These little actions, of course, were all noticed by Naruto.
"This kind of dish isn't common in Konoha, is it?" Naruto gently poked the red and yellow dish with his chopsticks. "Stir-frying tomatoes and eggs together, the ingredients are simple, but the taste is extraordinary."
Yue swallowed hard, leaning forward slightly, but refraining from getting too close.
Seeing her reaction, Naruto recalled all the food videos he had watched in his past life. He cleared his throat and continued in a commentary-like tone.
"First of all, you need to choose tomatoes that are completely red and ripe. Make a crisscross cut on the top, soak them in hot water, and then peel them."
"Why peel it?"
The question slipped out, curiosity and appetite overcoming pride. It seems Yue has temporarily forgotten about maintaining the pride of the Uchiha clan.
"Here's a little trick~" *Peeling the tomatoes helps them release their juices better when cooked, resulting in a smoother texture.
A night breeze rippled across the lake, rustling the reeds. Naruto spoke while gesturing with his chopsticks inside his lunchbox.
"Once you have prepared the tomatoes and chopped green onions, you can start beating the eggs. Add a little salt to the egg mixture... and a pinch of white vinegar. This will remove the eggy smell and make the scrambled eggs more tender and fragrant."
Yue's eyes widened. She had never imagined that cooking had so many intricacies; her mother's dishes were always so exquisite and perfect that she had taken cooking for granted. But now, listening to Naruto's eloquent explanation, those ordinary ingredients suddenly came alive.
So that's how dishes are made...
"First, fry the eggs until they are golden brown and fluffy, then set them aside. Next, fry the tomatoes separately until the flesh releases its juices..."
"For seasoning, use only the simplest soy sauce and salt, plus a little sugar to neutralize the acidity of the tomatoes. Finally, pour the eggs back in and wait for the two flavors to fully meld—"
Gurgle.
A slight noise came from the direction of the moon. She hurriedly clutched her stomach, but it was too late; it was clearly the sound of her intestines protesting. Her fair face flushed red, even the tips of her ears were tinged with the color of the sunset.
Oh no, this is terrible...
As the eldest daughter of the Uchiha clan, even as a child, she was taught to always be elegant and strong, and to maintain the pride of the Uchiha clan. But now, not only is she staring at other people's lunch boxes, she is also shamefully making such noises!
This is not merely a physiological response to hunger. When humans see or hear about food gradually transforming into a delicious dish through careful cooking, the brain unconsciously begins to imagine its taste. Especially when the dish uses one's favorite ingredients, the anticipation is like seeing one's favorite toy so close yet not yet in hand, making one's heart itch with longing.
Naruto suppressed a laugh and pushed the bento box towards her. "How about it, want to try some?"
"Ah! This..."
Yue's fingers tightened around the hem of her clothes again. This wasn't her usual feigned arrogance, but a genuine sense of embarrassment.
Reason told her she shouldn't accept it. She was the one who said she was going to come with Naruto, and now she was asking to share the bento he had carefully prepared. That was just too shameless.
But when the aroma of eggs and the sweet and sour taste of tomatoes wafted into her nostrils, all her worries gradually crumbled. She secretly glanced at Naruto and found that there was no mockery in his blue eyes, only sincere expectation.
"Try it, I made a lot, it's okay."
Ugh... He already said that...
My inner balance began to tip. Since he invited me, it shouldn't be a problem to eat a little, right? How about this, if he insists I eat... I'll treat him to a meal next time.
"No need... It's too much trouble for you..."
She spoke without any real conviction. Yue's gaze was fixed on the bento box, clearly drooling over it, yet she tried to maintain a composed demeanor. This adorable sight melted Naruto's heart.
I really hope I'll have such a lovely daughter someday...
He resisted the urge to ruffle her black hair, and his original thought of teasing her vanished. He knew all too well the pride of the Uchiha clan; if he really agreed to her refusal, this little girl would probably stubbornly go home hungry.
"Have some," Naruto softened his voice. "I usually don't have anyone to eat with. If someone could say something positive about my cooking... I'd be really happy."
These words gently unlocked the last lock in Yue's heart.
"...I see!" Her eyes lit up instantly, forgetting even her signature tsundere tone. "Then, then let's eat some!"
Almost impatiently, Yue took the spoon Naruto handed her. The moment the first bite of scrambled eggs with tomatoes entered her mouth, the sweet and sour juice burst on her tongue, causing her to unconsciously squint her eyes and her legs to dangle slightly from the edge of the wooden board.
Delicious!
At this moment, all pride of the Uchiha clan and the reserve of a young lady were temporarily cast aside. The power of delicious food is indeed great.