Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 277 Stir-fried Sand Scorpion

As soon as he finished speaking, under Inuzuka Tsubasa's gaze, Sakumo unsealed a whole set of gleaming kitchen utensils from a huge sealed scroll with a bang.

A dark iron pot, a small spatula, several bowls painted with blue and white porcelain, and even a nine-compartment wooden box specifically for holding seasonings.

profession.

Inuzuka Tsubasa rubbed his temples, feeling a wave of dizziness.

He remembered.

The delicious braised sand scorpion from yesterday wasn't a coincidence, nor was it a survival skill this guy honed in the wild...

This is the manager's hobby! It's his profession!

Sakumo Hatake completely ignored the strange look that someone was giving him.

He poured water from the kettle, washed his hands carefully three times, and then walked toward the iron cages containing the S-class mission targets.

Two fingers moved with lightning speed, precisely pinching and pulling from the gap in the carapace of a scorpion that was swaggering about.

Before the sand scorpion could even react, he lifted it out and held it high in the air.

Before anyone could even see what he was doing, the white fang dagger at his waist had already been drawn and then sheathed again.

A flash of cold light disappeared in an instant.

The sand scorpion, still struggling in vain, had its hard exoskeleton, deadly venom sac, and complex internal organs perfectly separated in an instant.

Only a piece of crystal-clear, jade-like scorpion meat remained, falling into the prepared bowl.

That knife skill...

Inuzuka Tsubasa subconsciously swallowed.

He finally understood why this guy was "Konoha's White Fang," the legendary assassination master.

If someone can handle a scorpion with such artistry, then killing someone... wouldn't be as simple as breathing?

Next came the real performance.

Shuo Mao lit the portable stove and placed the iron pot on it. Once the pot was hot, he poured in a little oil, and as the oil heated up, he slid the chopped scorpion meat into the pot.

"Sizzle—"

With a pleasant soft sound, the rich aroma of meat exploded out instantly.

The scorpion meat curled rapidly under the high temperature, turning an enticing golden color. With a flick of his wrist, Shuo Mao sent the iron pot flying, the scorpion meat tracing a perfect parabola in the air, heating evenly.

Then he took out a small, dark brown porcelain bottle sealed with wax.

Remove the bottle cork.

"Pop!"

An indescribable, domineering aroma, like an invisible hand, suddenly gripped the throats of everyone present!

It's a complex flavor that blends the fermented aroma of fermented black beans, the unique fragrance of more than a dozen spices, and the salty, savory, and sweet aroma of some secret sauce. The aroma is strong, but not pungent; instead, it has a magical power to awaken one's most primal appetite.

"Gulp."

Someone couldn't help but swallow hard.

The sound was like a signal.

For a moment, the sounds of swallowing rose and fell, creating a symphony of hunger in the silent desert.

The ninja dog, Mokuyu, was so excited that it spun around in place, its tail wagging like a windmill.

Sakumo poured the mysterious sauce into the pot.

"boom!"

The aroma explodes!

If the previous aroma of meat was just an appetizer, then the aroma of the sauce at this moment is a feast that sweeps through the senses!

Inuzuka Tsubasa felt his saliva completely out of control, dripping from the corner of his mouth. His ninja dog, Mokuyu, was already lying on the ground, drooling all over the place, its eyes fixed on the iron pot, its tail wagging like a windmill.

Even the usually calm Shirin Aburame was disturbed by the parasitic insects around him, whose buzzing wingbeats were several times faster than usual.

Shuo Mao quickly stir-fries the scorpion meat, ensuring each piece is evenly coated with the tempting sauce.

Finally, remove from heat and plate.

A plate of stir-fried sand scorpions, with its glossy, reddish-brown color and enticing aroma, is now ready.

"Test begins."

Shuo Mao calmly announced, but then picked up his chopsticks, took a small piece, put it in his mouth and chewed it carefully. Then he took out his notebook and began to write.

"It's slightly sweet at first, followed by a burst of savory and salty flavors, with a complex aftertaste of spices. The scorpion meat has a chewy texture and the sauce penetrates well, but it slightly masks the natural sweetness of the scorpion meat. The sauce packet recipe needs some adjustments..."

Meanwhile, Tsubasa Inuzuka couldn't wait any longer.

He grabbed a large piece with his tongs and stuffed it into his mouth, not caring that it was hot.

"Ugh—!!"

Inuzuka Tsubasa's eyes widened instantly!

good to eat!

too delicious!

The rich sauce bursts in your mouth, a perfect blend of salty, savory, sweet, and fragrant flavors. The chewy texture of the scorpion meat, releasing its sweet juices as you chew, complements the thick sauce beautifully.

He felt his taste buds were experiencing an unprecedented feast.

"Waaaaah..."

Tsubasa Inuzuka was so excited that he couldn't speak, only letting out unintelligible whimpers, and a single tear of happiness even welled up in his eye.

Faced with the excited testers, Sakumo simply nodded.

The ninjas, who had been waiting for a long time, rushed forward.

A moment later, only the sounds of satisfied chewing and suppressed exclamations of praise remained in the camp.

After finishing his portion, Inuzuka Tsubasa licked his fingers with lingering satisfaction. He looked at Sakumo with a face full of fervent admiration.

He rushed to Sakumo, placed his hands heavily on his shoulders, and solemnly said:

"Sakumo..."

Inuzuka Tsubasa swallowed the scorpion meat in his mouth with difficulty, pointed at him with trembling hands, and looked as if he had seen a ghost.

"Let's...let's go together!"

"ha?"

"After we go back to the village, let's open a restaurant together!"

Tsubasa Inuzuka was so excited he was almost incoherent, "It'll be called... it'll be called White Fang's Kitchen! No! It'll be called Western Scorpion! Specializing in sand scorpion dishes!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see the long lines forming outside the restaurant, with Konoha villagers waving banknotes, all for a plate of stir-fried sand scorpions.

"With this skill, we can conquer the entire ninja world with our cooking!"

Faced with Inuzuka Tsubasa's fervor, Hatake Sakumo simply tore a page from his notebook and handed it to him calmly.

"You'll be in charge of marketing. This is my initial brand marketing plan."

Inuzuka Tsubasa blankly took the paper.

It reads:

Draft Marketing Plan for the First Phase of the "Konoha New Flavors" Catering Brand Project (Scorpion Edition)

Target customers: All villagers, and mid-to-high-end ninja groups.

Key selling point: The ultimate taste from the battlefield, the taste of victory recognized by the Hokage.

Slogan options:

1. "Take a bite, and taste the flavor of Konoha's White Fang fighting for you."

2. "An unparalleled delicacy that even the Kazekage cannot obtain."

3. "The Scorpion of the West: A Gift for Triumphant Heroes".

……

The team set off again.

The setting sun stretched everyone's shadows long.

Sakumo Hatake walked at the front of the group. He had put away all the kitchen utensils and the strange "White Paper" and resumed the cold and stern appearance of the commander of the "Eye of the West".

For some reason, Inuzuka Tsubasa felt that his fierce killing intent had been neutralized by a strong aroma of soy sauce, making him less frightening.

Sakumo Hatake suddenly paused in his steps.

He reached into his chest pocket.

The movements were very light and gentle, as if touching some rare treasure.

What Hatake Sakumo pulled out was a small pendant carved from scraps of wood. The shape of the pendant was exactly like the white fang short sword at his waist.

The carving is not particularly exquisite, and the edges are somewhat rough, but it is polished exceptionally smooth, which clearly shows that a lot of time and effort has been spent.

The evening breeze ruffled his silvery-white hair. He lowered his head, looking at the small wooden carving in his palm. All the lines on his face melted away, becoming incredibly gentle.

He murmured softly in a voice only he could hear.

"Kakashi... it's time for you to go home."