"Uchiha Kai, I've long heard of your legendary reputation throughout the shinobi world." A moment later, a sprightly sixty-year-old chef wit
"Uchiha Kai, I've long heard of your legendary reputation throughout the shinobi world."
A moment later, a sprightly sixty-year-old chef with neatly tied silver hair and eight apprentices emerged. Seeing their chef's attire, Kai guessed their intentions.
"Hello."
Kai, who had been preparing seasonings and cookware, politely responded to the imposing elder.
He wasn't interested in a culinary competition; he simply wanted to cook and eat a peaceful meal.
"Hello! I'm Shibumoto. Thank you for helping Takigakure quell the rebellion and taking the Seven-Tails," the elder said, glancing at Chōmei. "No one in the village will have to follow my son's path again!"
"You won the battle, but culinary arts require not only talent but also time to refine. Let us show you Takigakure's exquisite sushi and treat you to a satisfying meal!"
"Shibuki-sama, the fish is ready!" Shibuki hurried over, showing respect to the elder.
Dozens of Takigakure ninjas emerged from the lake, each carrying a fish about a meter long—similar to the king fish Isobu had caught, but ten times smaller.
"Good. While our ingredients might differ, I will conquer you with my culinary skills," Shibumoto said gravely. "My eight apprentices are my equals. Today, we will test our skills against yours."
"Prepare the fish and rice. I will make the most exquisite sushi!"
His aged voice, gravelly with the weight of years, held a stirring resonance. His eight apprentices immediately began preparing the fish.
The sheer number of chefs created an impressive spectacle, causing the onlookers to cheer wildly.
"Kai, need help? It seems you attract trouble wherever you go," Fugaku chuckled. "I've cooked at home before."
Fugaku had expected Kai's arrival to bring disaster, not this surprisingly harmonious scene.
"Hmph, Father, you're joking. Even the village dogs wouldn't eat your cooking. Don't boast and embarrass me," Itachi scoffed.
"You little rebel!" Fugaku was furious at being publicly mocked.
Kai ignored the commotion. Looking at his prepared cookware, seasonings, and side dishes, he turned to the still-thrashing king fish and sighed.
He formed a hand seal, and with a pshht of white smoke, a long needle from his ninja tool appeared in his hand.
Isobu perked up immediately. No, everyone present, including the Takigakure chef, watched intently. The culinary skills of a notorious shinobi were certainly worth investigating.
Before that thought could fully form, Kai's body crackled with electricity as he entered his Lightning Release Chakra Mode. With a step, he vanished, reappearing beside the king fish.
Without any flourish, he pressed his five fingers against the fish's massive scales, his arm muscles bulging. He then tossed the fish into the air.
The onlookers' eyes widened. This fish was almost as large as a tailed beast, yet Kai had effortlessly tossed it. Who could do that?
Chōmei, awakened from its slumber, felt its heart seize at the sight. It felt as if it were the fish itself.
"Lightning Release: Chidori Current!"
As the fish soared through the air, Kai formed a one-handed seal. Lightning surged from his body, instantly enveloping the fish. The fish, struggling wildly, was paralyzed by the precise current, unable to resist.
To remove the earthy smell from a fish, you can't simply bleed a dead fish. You must bleed it while it's still alive to preserve its freshness.
As the fish began its descent, Kai's nine-tomoe Mangekyō Sharingan spun. He bent his knees and sprang, leaving only a faint electric arc behind.
The fish seemed to hang in mid-air. A lightning-fast blur passed, slicing open the fish's gills. Blood, like a water column, flowed into the lake under a strange force.
Simultaneously, with a flash of lightning, massive scales flew off, gleaming in the sunlight. Incredibly, two large fillets had been cleanly separated, and the innards were removed and tossed into the lake.
This seemingly complex process took only a dozen breaths. Before anyone could react, the fish was completely filleted.
The massive skeleton, two perfect fillets, and the still-moving gills showed the fish was still alive. It was so fast, the fish didn't even know it had been killed.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Jutsu!"
Kai's hands flew, forming seals. Sparks erupted, showering the two fillets. The flames weren't intense, more like a shower of sparks. The fish fillets sizzled, their white flesh curling slightly, the skin tightening.
"Such precise knife skills, such precise Fire Release! The heat control is perfect! The fish's flavor is locked in by the lightning, then the sparks instantly sear the surface, drawing out the essence of its flavor," Shibumoto said, his wrinkled face creased with astonishment.
Compared to Kai's masterful display, his eight proud apprentices seemed clumsy. The difference was stark.
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