"Low-effort food?"
Ichiraku Ramen was legendary in the streets of Konoha. Beyond its taste, which many shinobi loved, its primary appeal was its affordability—it was the staple that kept many low-income ninja fed.
As a wealthy young lord, Lop Nur (who, in his student days as Shiraishi, had spent plenty of time in the Sand's cheap barbecue and ramen stalls) should have been the last person to complain. Yet, the expression on his face was one of genuine dissatisfaction.
Uzuki Yugao, the Anbu agent, clearly misunderstood the reason for his disdain. "I apologize," she said bluntly. "I don't have the budget to arrange a luxury feast for you. Thanks to the Sand, Konoha isn't exactly swimming in riches right now."
"Problems that can be solved with money aren't real problems. But my refusal to eat has nothing to do with the price," the young lord replied, shaking his head with a willful air. "The main issue is that the food here lacks 'heart.' It's unsatisfying."
Hearing her favorite ramen shop insulted so brazenly, Yugao finally snapped. "How can you say that about Ichiraku Ramen!"
"Hmph!"
Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku, stood behind the counter with a face turned ashen-gray. He had spent years perfecting his craft to make Ichiraku the top brand in Konoha. To have a traveler from another village dismiss it so easily was an insult to his life's work.
Lop Nur toyed with a toothpick, squinting at Teuchi. "Not convinced, boss?"
"The young lord is clearly used to exquisite delicacies," Teuchi said through gritted teeth. "Naturally, he wouldn't care for the food of a small workshop like ours."
"You say it's heartful, but I say you're failing," Lop Nur countered. "Take this pork bone broth, for example. It's completely sub-par."
Before he could finish, Teuchi retorted, "You're talking nonsense. The pork bones used here are sourced exclusively from Kitada-bo. They cost twice the market price, and I only select the finest hind-leg marrow bones!"
Lop Nur yawned. "I know. You've spent a lot of time simmering them. You use the 'femur'—the long bones, specifically from the hind legs."
He picked up his chopsticks and pointed to a slight cloudiness in the broth. "The femur is large at the ends and thin in the middle, with very little meat but a hollow center packed with marrow.
By cracking the bones during the simmering process, you allow the marrow to melt into the soup, giving it that creamy texture and rich aroma."
Despite his irritation, Teuchi nodded. "Boiling the pork bone broth is the foundation of this shop. We use only the best ingredients."
"The problem is that the soup is too thick."
Lop Nur rolled his eyes. "If it were winter, this heavy, rich broth would be perfect. But it's summer! A broth this cloying is something I can't even stomach a single bowl of."
What?
"In this season, the broth should be brewed using the scapula (shoulder blade). The bone is cleaner, and while it lacks the heavy marrow content of the femur, the resulting soup is lighter and clearer, with a more refreshing fragrance suited for summer ramen."
Lop Nur's critique—that the choice of ingredients must adapt to the seasons—struck Teuchi like a thunderbolt. "Is there... anything else that needs improvement?"
"The combination of noodles and soup," Lop Nur continued. "The noodles should be boiled by bringing the pork broth to a second boil.
You add a little cold broth repeatedly during the process to stabilize the temperature, rather than simply boiling the noodles in plain water and then pouring the soup over them."
Lop Nur proceeded to break down the entire ramen-making process with surgical precision. As Teuchi listened, his anger turned to profound shame, followed by deep admiration.
"The best ingredients aren't always the right ingredients. Choosing what fits the moment is the key to true cooking. It's the same for the adjustment of the chashu—roasting versus searing requires different tweaks depending on the humidity."
"Thank you, Sensei!" Teuchi bowed deeply.
Yugao and the surrounding shinobi watched the scene with a surreal sense of bewilderment. The arrogant playboy had just turned into a culinary philosopher.
Ultimately, Lop Nur finished his meal. Though he still complained that the broth was too greasy for the heat, he admitted it wasn't a bad experience overall.
"So full... so full..."
Stretching his arms, Lop Nur looked at the Konoha nightscape with a faint smile. "Not perfect, but not a terrible dining experience."
The Selection
Detailed records of the conversation between Lop Nur and Teuchi were soon delivered to the Hokage's desk.
"He certainly knows how to enjoy life," Hiruzen mused. Could such a hedonistic playboy really be on a secret mission for the Roran Chamber of Commerce?
Hiruzen didn't entirely buy the "Roran survivor" act, but the commission itself was too lucrative to pass up.
Koharu Utatane, one of the two advisors, voiced her own opinion. "Hehe, Lop Nur is right. Nowadays, everyone makes their ramen broth so thick.
It's far too greasy." As a lover of cold noodles, she never understood the hype; to her, a chilled mixed-noodle dish was the only true way to eat in summer.
"Yes... I can't even chew those bones anymore," Homura Mitokado added. (Though no one recalled Teuchi ever putting actual bones in the bowls).
With the topic veering off-course, Hiruzen coughed to regain control. "Regardless, I will finalize the escort team."
"Does Root need to provide assistance?" Danzo Shimura, wrapped in bandages, asked tonelessly. Despite his recent failure to take Shisui's eye, he had already replaced his lost eye with a "spare" from his collection and was back in the office as if nothing had happened.
"No!" Hiruzen replied sharply.
The route through the Land of Frost and Land of Waterfall was a powder keg. With the Seven-Tails incident ongoing, the Leaf, Stone, and Cloud were in a shadow war, and countless rogue ninja and mercenaries had joined the fray. An escort mission for a wealthy tycoon would be a magnet for trouble.
I need a specialized team, Hiruzen thought. Asuma and Kurenai are the best among the Chunin... as for the Jonin leader...
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