For the Maelstrom of Totsuki Academy

by Saint River

Being sent to a cooking school was an unexpected but welcomed change in the life of Namikaze Naruto. Going with an old friend and gaining new ones, Naruto will face all the challenges head-on to become one of the best in Totsuki. Now only if Totsuki would develop a Ramen Research Society. Three-Shot.

2. Training Camp Time

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Naruto or Shokugeki no Soma. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki.

A/N 1: Fanfics exist for a reason. Please remember that.

"Naruto" Normal Talking

'Naruto' Normal Thinking

"Naruto" Flashback Talking

'Naruto' Flashback Thinking

Enjoy the Chapter

---

UZUMAKI TOWER - Minato's Room

Uzumaki Minato's personal and private room, as in the room where he slept in, was directly below his office. This tower was more than just his headquarters. It was also his home. Bedroom, bathroom, well-stocked kitchen and living room. It was a suite actually. Other than housekeeping, no one was allowed entrance to his personal quarters. Well no one except Minegasaki Yaeko.

Minato sat on the side of his bed. It was nearing sunrise when he had woken up from a good night's sleep. He was naked as the day he was born. As was Yaeko who laid just as naked and still sleeping on his bed. How? Easy, they had another session of sex last night. They didn't even bother covering themselves. This room was private as private can be. The windows are covered. The room was soundproof.

"Minato-sama," Yaeko woke up and rubbed her eyes. Here in Minato's room, she need not speak to him as though he was her boss. "What are reading?" She sat straight and the sheets covering her slipped off, revealing her beautiful form to Minato.

Last night, Minato had brought a folder containing a file with them. It was in hand when they started making out in the elevator. He threw it on the floor when they got to his room. Now he was examining it.

He answered without looking at her "I'm just looking up the background of Naruto's new friend. A young lady by the name of Mito Ikumi."

"Mito Ikumi, isn't she…"

"Yes, the daughter of Mito Takehito and Mito Anna. The sole child and heir to the Mito Clan and future successor to the Mito Conglomerate."

"I guess it was to be expected their daughter would wind up in such an elite establishment like Totsuki Academy."

"Oh she's a remarkable chef. Hailed as the Meat Mistress at Totsuki Academy with a vast knowledge on meat. My son sure does know how to make friends. First those Aldini Brothers from Italy and now her. Is he trying to learn from them? Is he trying to increase his knowledge of Italian cuisine and Meat?"

"Don't be silly, Minato." Then she spoke seriously "Your son doesn't think that deep when it comes to making friends. When he is making friends, he is just making friends."

Minato laughed "I suppose you're right. How he can benefit from his friends is the last thing he has running through his mind when he makes friends?"

The redhead felt the bed shift. Yaeko's arms wrapping around him from behind. Her large breasts pressed against his back. He felt her nipples rubbing on him. "Come back to bed. Make love to me again."

"Won't little Hikari be looking for you?"

"Our daughter is fine. You can trust those three to make sure she eats her vegetables and look after her. But you and me, we're both alone in here and ready for some action." She whispered seductively into his ear.

Minato enjoyed what she was implying. He stood up. Yaeko released him in the process. "We have an important guest coming over for business. I want to be ready way before that." He went to the bathroom door and opened it. Yaeko seemed a little disappointed "Well, are you joining me or not?" She beamed at him. She quickly jumped out of bed, her large breasts bouncing from her strides as she went to his side. She took his hand in hers and led him inside.

---

UZUMAKI TOWER – Minato's Office Sometime Later

"Is that your final answer?" One redhead stared intently straight into another redhead's eyes.

Minato was nearing the end of this particular meeting in his office. Seating on the other side of his table was a man and woman. The man having the same red hair as him. Though longer, straighter, and lacking spikes. He wore a black cloak with red cloud designs.

"We've had this conversation many times before, Nagato. I said it before and I will say it again. I won't be a part of your organization." Minato said sternly and firmly. There was no point arguing further.

"It's a shame then." Nagato stood up "The World of Cooking is changing. We are changing it. I was hoping you'd take part in our ambitions for the future. It is such shame, brother." This was Uzumaki Nagato, Minato's younger brother as well as sibling-student.

"Just stay out of our way then, brother. It was your work that served as the inspiration for what we are doing."

Minato's face betrayed no emotion. "If there is any who will rise against you, it will not be me. But there will be those who will."

"We will crush them all the same." There was no trace of doubt in his brother's response. "Until we meet again."

"Good day, brother."

Nagato left via the elevator. "Now who else is a suitable candidate to fill-in our ranks?" He spoke softly to himself "Perhaps another alumnus of Totsuki who seems to have plans of his own."

When the elevator closed, Minato drew his eyes on one photo on the wall. It was him and his brother as kids. It was a simpler time, prior to meeting their teacher Jiraiya. He and Nagato looked like the closest pair of brothers in the world.

---

TOTSUKI ACADEMY

Naruto and the Aldini Brothers had just left Ikumi at the Don RS. The look on her face when they told her they wouldn't be in the RS with her. Before the tanned girl could give her a piece of her mind, Naruto had once again grabbed hold of the brothers' wrists and quickly led them away.

Takumi and Isami were getting used to it. The lack of vomit showed that. They did still the sickening feeling of their guts plummeting. Outside they found Megumi by herself. Then they overheard Ikumi's yelling.

"She seems angry." Naruto observed

"Oh really, you think?" Takumi sarcastically questioned his fellow blond.

"I've got a feeling Mito-san is going to act a whole lot more violent."

It wasn't long before Soma joined them along with Ryoko, Yuki, Zenji and Shun. "Good morning, everyone!" Naruto cheerfully greeted.

"Good morning." Takumi dully and Isami plainly copied

Soma and the Polar Star Dorm members returned the greeting.

"Hello, name's Namikaze Naruto. Nice to meet you!"

"We know who you are, Namikaze-san." Zenji pushed back his glasses.

"Kind of difficult to forget a guy who made everyone so mad during the first day of class."

Naruto thought nothing of it "Not my fault everyone was so easily butthurt."

"Ibusaki Shun." The Smoke specialist said his name.

"Marui Zenji." The Professor of Taste did the same.

Idle chatter took place after that. Shun, Zenji and Naruto found themselves in a rather interesting conversation of a potentially new Ramen dish. Takumi went one to tell Soma to be prepared for the day he'd won against him. Soma was just Soma and accepted the challenge.

"Hey guys, who is that?" Soma pointed a little off to the distance at a girl with Sadako-like hair sitting on a tree branch using a pair of binoculars to clearly spy on someone.

Everyone immediately knew who it was. A student who had earned a moniker for herself for her unsettling manner of cooking and appearance. Before anyone could answer Soma's question, Naruto had already made his way to her.

"HEY!" Naruto shouted, startling the girl in the process and causing her to fall from the tree. Naruto would have of course made the effort to catch her but there was no need. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, she fell on top of him.

Megumi flinched at the sight. Everyone else did not.

Naruto found himself laying on his belly on the cold ground. The girl in question was sitting on his back. "Sorry." The girl said. Naruto's counter "No, don't be. It was me who caused your fall. My bad."

"Naruto, are you all right?" Isami and the others made their way to them. The girl got up and Naruto dusted himself.

"I'm peachy-keen!" He smiled

Zenji stepped up "Namikaze, Yukihira, this is Sadatsuka Nao." He gestured to her. "Sadatsuka-san, these are Namikaze Naruto and Yukihira Soma."

"You two are the two who caused such an uproar during the Opening Ceremony."

"The two and only!"

'It's not something to be proud of, Namikaze!' Takumi thought.

"What were you doing up on the tree anyway?"

"Spying on Nakiri-san no doubt." Zenji put in

Without hesitation, Nao said "Correct."

"And you're spying on her because…?" Naruto inquired

"How could I not? Erina-sama is just the most perfect creature in existence." Nao was lost to her own world by now. She held herself tightly and looked away from the group "Her hair, her curvy body… What I would give to be on the receiving end of a tongue lashing."

Naruto made to speak but Takumi, with a deadpanned look, clamped one hand over his opened mouth. Naruto stared at Takumi but eventually groaned in annoyance.

"Sadatsuka Nao, a stalker of Nakiri Erina from a distance. A few years back, she fought against Arato Hisako in a Shokugeki for the chance to be Erina's secretary. The loser though had to stay away from Nakiri. Sadatsuka found loopholes to the terms and settled for 'admiring' Nakiri from a distance." Shun explained

"Everything Mister Smoke just said is correct." No shame was in her voice. "I also send about 30 letters a day to Erina-sama!"

"So Sadatsuka-san, what is it that you cook?" Soma asked, not at all fazed by Nao's behavior.

Sadatsuka was still in her own world and Soma's question was unheard. So Zenji took upon himself to inform Soma. "She specializes in dishes that stink and look disgusting but surprisingly taste great."

"Oh?" Soma's interests were piqued. Naruto was just curious at what her dishes were like.

"Hey, Sadatsuka-san," This time Nao heard him.

"Hmmm?" she turned to him

Eerily Soma offered "Would you like to try my Mayonnaise Covered Squid Tentacle?" he pulled out with his chopsticks a single squid tentacles soaked in mayonnaise. The mere sight made Megumi faint but was thankfully caught by Takumi. Ryoko, Yuki, Shun and Zenji winced. Naruto had an 'oh brother' look on his face. Meanwhile, Nao was wide-eyed in curiosity.

Soma then jammed the vile thing into Nao's mouth. Rather than feeling disgusted, Nao examined the taste, not at all thinking negatively about it. She chewed and chewed, carefully examining and savoring the little morsel then she swallowed. "Was that it?" She was not impressed. All the more piquing Soma's interest.

"Now you try one of my creations." She brought out a food container. Inside were some fish heads immersed in some green liquid. And it reeked.

Though Takumi still holding on to an unconscious Megumi, he freed one hand and clamped it over Isami's nose and mouth. At the exact same time, Isami did the same for his brother. Ryoko and Yuki and Shun and Zenji closed each other's noses the same way. Naruto held in his breath.

"It sure is malodorous." Soma commented before picking up a fish head with his chopsticks. Soma placed it in his mouth and it was "Not bad. It actually tastes pretty good."

Ryoko, Yuki, Takumi, Isami, Zenji and Shun's mouths dropped 'No way!'

"Let me try." Naruto carefully picked on by his fingers and ate it "Soma's right. It stinks but it tastes pretty good."

Megumi woke up just in time to hear Naruto say "Say, Sadatsuka-san, you want to be our friend?" He held his hand out.

Soma added "Would sure be interesting with someone like you around to taste my dishes." He smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

Megumi, Takumi, Yuki, Ryoko, Zenji and Shun quickly gathered behind Nao, mouthing out no, shaking their heads and frantically waving their arms as a signal not to go through with it. It's not they had anything truly against Sadatsuka Nao. It's just that she was off-putting, creepy and her dishes tend to be on the opposite side of decent smelling.

"Sure," Too late "having friends who are willing to give my dishes a try is a welcomed change." Nao took Naruto's hand and shook it.

"All right." Naruto cheered. Soma smiled. "A pleasure having you with us." Everyone else facefaulted.

And so Sadatsuka Nao would begin a new chapter in her life. The petite creepy girl now had a colleague who had the same interests as her in foul yet edible food. "I can't wait to work with you in the future." Soma said as he shook hands with her.

The very idea of Soma and Nao combining their ideas for foul food had caused Megumi to faint again, caught once more in the nick of time by Takumi.

"Well it's not like she'll move in to the Polar Star Dormitory." Zenji whispered to Shun.

Shun only nodded.

Something strange was up, one Arato Hisako thought. It had been one whole week since she felt the presence of Sadatsuka Nao. No visage of a Sadako look-alike shadow from the corner of her eye. No creepy giggle picked up by her ears when moments got silent. No tree branches suddenly moving even though no wind had blown on them. No letters at all being sent for Erina.

Something strange was up indeed.

The first time it happened, Hisako didn't really care, thinking the creepy girl had been busy that one day or even more unlikely forgot. The second day, Hisako felt a little relieved. It wasn't a cause for concern until the fifth day. It wasn't that Hisako cared for Nao – not that she'd ever wish her any ill whatsoever – but it felt strange and Hisako wanted answers for the girl's sudden disappearance from their daily routine.

Hisako had been sent by Erina to bring her a set of anime DVDs for her to binge watch. A large plastic bag filled to the brim with DVDs. It wasn't nothing out of the ordinary for her as she had done this many times over. Sometimes it was volumes of manga. It was during her duties to Erina that she had found the answer to her question.

Everyone else around her seemed to have picked up on it to.

"No way."

"Are you seeing this?"

"Never thought I'd see this happen."

Hisako heard the other students murmuring and chatting.

'So this is where Sadatsuka Nao has been.' She observed

Walking together in a horizontal line were Namikaze, the Aldini Brothers, Mito and Sadatsuka.

The Boiling Witch and the Meat Mistress were at the edges of their group formation. Nao to the far left, Ikumi to the far right. Isami Aldini stood to the right of Nao while Takumi Aldini stood to the left of Ikumi. In the center, flanked by the Aldini Brothers was Namikaze Naruto. All were walking casually save for Nao who had formed the finger pyramid of contemplation but for some reason, all seemed cool and epic. The way they walked, how their eyes seemed to be full of focus, even how they seemed to ignore all the stares of awe sent their way.

All that was missing was a fitting musical tract.

'Sadatsuka has found people who can bear and tolerate her. Good for her and even better for Erina-sama.' She continued to observe the five. 'I guess Ikumi decided to put her lot in with Namikaze and the two Aldinis.' Hisako didn't miss Ikumi. She lost fair and square knowing full well the consequences of losing. But in some ways, she was glad the Meat specialist had found some new friends. And she guessed, Sadako's cousin as well.

Well, at least this way she won't be bothering Erina-sama any time soon.'

Hisako had also found it curious Namikaze befriended not only the Aldini Brothers but Mito Ikumi and Sadatsuka Nao as well. Namikaze, whom she would often see eating several bowls of Ramen for all three meals of the day. The very thought of it made her cringe and her stomach twist. How could anyone eat so much Ramen in one day EVERYDAY? It couldn't be healthy. It just wasn't healthy. Sometimes she wished she could just go up to Namikaze, take away his ramen and jam a large bowl's worth of healthy fruits and vegetables down his throat.

"Wait a second." Hisako heard Takumi spoke. It had the dual effect of drawing Hisako's attention back to Namikaze's group and causing the group to stop in their tracks. "Namikaze, switch with me." Naruto just shrugged and swapped places with Takumi. Now Takumi was at the center and Naruto beside Ikumi.

"May I ask what brought this up?" the tanned girl arched a brow

"You know how in anime or any media for that matter the main character or the leader is either at the front or at the middle?"

"Yeah…" went Nao, Isami, Naruto and Ikumi

"Well I am not about to let everyone get the impression that Namikaze here is the boss of me!" Takumi pointed to Naruto who didn't seem insulted by his fellow blond's words.

"And you think it should be you who should be the boss among us? Well I beg to differ." Ikumi stomped over to the blond Italian "If anyone is deserving of main character status, it's me." Then the two started to argue about the matter. Naruto, Nao and Isami tried to break them.

Hisako sent them a deadpan stare before rolling her eyes at the ridiculousness of the scene happening in front of her. 'This is none of my business.' So she walked off. She did after all still have a plastic bag full of DVDs to deliver.

Had the rose-haired girl stayed a little longer, she might have seen Yukihira and Tadokoro walking over to the group. As well as see two certain individuals carefully examining the group. A white haired young woman watching them with red, curious eyes. A black haired young fellow with bored eyes concealing the desire to test himself against them.

The white haired girl said only one word "Interesting."

---

POLAR STAR DORMITORY

"You keep such interesting company in such an interesting place." Naruto spoke as he leaned forward on the railing.

On the balcony of the Polar Star Dormitory were Naruto and Megumi. The elder of the two decided to check out the place where the younger had been staying. On the outside, it seemed a little rundown and un-maintained. A building that appeared to be abandoned. If it had not been for the wild animals he saw running outside of the main entrance with Yuki chasing after them, Naruto would have thought he took a wrong turn or Soma was playing him for a fool.

On the inside though, it seemed hospitable enough. The interior decorations weren't bad but it is not as if he was even interested in the decors of the place. The kitchen was clean and well-stocked. The bathrooms were oh so fine.

Even better is that it had its own garden when they grew their own vegetables. Yuki was raising chickens. It had facilities catered to the specialties of some of the Dorm's tenants.

'So this is the Polar Star Dormitory.' Naruto thought after Megumi and Soma had given him the tour of the Dorm and introduced him to Satoshi. Oh how he wished he didn't have to see Satoshi wearing nothing but an apron. They told him they would get used to it after a while. Neither Satoshi nor any of the Polar Star Dorm tenants told Naruto that the near-naked senior was the 7th in the Elite Ten. That there would be for another time. Naruto met Shoji and Daigo as well. They were having some sort of argument when he did. Then there was Fumio, the Madonna of the Polar Star Dorm.

Fumio had surprised Naruto, claiming she's known about him since he was a baby and expressed her sympathies for his mother's passing. It took a while for Naruto to figure out how she could have known about him for such a long period of time. When he did, he didn't voice it out. When Soma asked, she told the redhead to ask Naruto.

Fumio had told them Ayame was out having doing teacher stuff before going off on her own.

"Now, now, Naruto-nii," the bluenette laughed nervously "I could say the same for you. Aldini-san, Mito-san, Nao-san," she enumerated "You keep to interesting company as well."

"Why don't we both say we both keep to interesting company?" The two half-siblings laughed.

"So Megumi-chan, I heard you were only one E-Rating away from being expelled." Naruto turned his eyes to the distance.

His question somewhat startled Megumi. "Yes, I was." She said embarrassed "But it was thanks to Soma-kun that I survived."

"Soma, eh? Oh that's right. I did see you two leave that classroom together on the first day. I guess I owe him for helping you out."

"It's me who owes him." Megumi cheerfully said

"You still get nervous and anxious and it hinders you from performing your best."

"I know. I'm sorry but I can't help it."

Naruto pushed himself off the railing and comfortingly held Megumi's shoulders, "Don't be. It's not your fault. Sometimes anxiety isn't as easy to overcome as we think." He released her "We may have different mothers but we are blood. Never hesitate to come to me if you need help. We'll deal with your anxiety problem." He ended with a warm smile.

Her half-brother's words moved her to tears a bit, "Thank you, Naruto-nii." She swiped them off and regained herself.

He patted her on the back. He then dawned a questioning expression "Say, why did you stay here in the Polar Star Dorm anyway? Not that there's anything wrong with being here."

"My mother couldn't really afford for me to live anywhere else. So I settle here." She spoke humbly and timidly "It took sometime but I managed to pass Fumio-san's test."

Naruto smiled contently at that. "You could have asked father to give you a room. He would have given you one for free."

"It crossed my mind but… I didn't want to burden him."

"Burden?"

"He would have given me an entire Penthouse Suite when he could have saved it for someone who could actually pay for it. And seeing as how you have a Suite to yourself, I wasn't far off the mark on that guess."

"Maybe but giving you one Suite isn't going to make or break his business."

"Perhaps but that's not the only reason." Megumi innocently shifted her eyes to the side.

Naruto urged "Go on."

"I accidentally deleted Father's number from my phone and I was too embarrassed to call him the old-fashion way."

Naruto resisted the feeling of face-palming. 'Oh well, nothing to be done now.'

"If I choose to live in father's hotel, I probably would have never met all my friends." She happily smiled, causing Naruto to smile.

"True. Can't complain about that since I went and found friends to stay with me."

"Um, Naruto-nii, can I ask you something?"

"You already did but do go on."

"Is father at Uzumaki Tower?"

"Do you want to speak to him? You know he is always available for us his kids, right?"

"Well…"

"Megumi-chan, out of all of us, you see him the least. I know your mother doesn't view our father in a favorable light but it shouldn't stop you from seeing him."

Megumi was going to respond but Soma enter the scene, "Hey guys, Yuki's pets get away and she needs help getting them back."

"Again?" yelped the blond and bluenette.

"Hey with your help, senpai, we'll catch all of them in no time."

"Of course! Do your best to Megumi-chan."

The Polar Star Dorm members didn't know how it happened but by the end of it all, Megumi had caught all the rabbits. Naruto surmised it was probably because there was no pressure to it.

---

TOTSUKI ACADEMY - A Random Hallway

Once again, the five were walking their epic walk in the school's hallways. Again drawing the attention of the other students present. This time with Takumi in the center but Ikumi was still on the far end. The Meat Mistress's eyes shifted to the right. There was something wrong with that she was seeing but couldn't tell what it was.

'Wait a minute.' She counted mentally 'One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.' The seventh being her. 'Wait, what?!' The number wasn't right so she counted again. 'One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. That's two more than there should be.' This time, Ikumi didn't count but focused on who was with her. 'There's Sadako's cousin on the opposite end. Some whiteylocks, chubby Aldini, Namikaze, skinny Aldini, and WHO THE HELL IS THIS GUY?!' Startled that she was no longer beside Skinny Aldini. The new guy beside her was also playing with two balls, black and white, in his hand. It made him look intimidating.

Ikumi jumped back. With a flustered face and shaking finger, she demanded "Who are you two supposed to be?!"

That made the other six halt in their steps.

"What's wrong, Nikumi?" Naruto used that annoying nickname

"What do you mean what's wrong? Don't see that these two have joined us without us even knowing it." That caused Naruto, Takumi and Isami to raise a brow.

"Oh don't mind us." Whiteylocks said cheerfully "We just thought you were all walking cool so Ryou and I decided to join in. We were beginning to wonder when you'd notice us."

Naruto smiled at this "I'm Na-"

"We know who you are, all of you. Your Walks of Cool has really gotten some of the students to talk."

"I didn't think our walks were that big of a deal." Takumi commented to himself.

"I didn't even know there was a term for it." Isami also commented to himself.

"Takumi and Isami Aldini the Mezzaluna Brothers,"

"We have a title, brother." Isami said.

"Sadatsuka Nao the Boiling Witch and Mito Ikumi the Meat Mistress. Names that are common knowledge in this school. And last but not least, one of the two transfer students, Namikaze Naruto. You and Yukihira-san made quite the impression during the Opening Ceremony, Namikaze-san."

"I didn't know our little walks together has gotten people talking." Naruto said

"Oh it did. Some are calling it the Namikaze Alliance."

"Eh?" Naruto, Takumi, Isami, Ikumi and Nao tilted their heads.

'Couldn't they think of a better name than that?'

"Rumor has it that you've gone and formed a team with some of the more talented chefs of our year." She pointed at Naruto "Two chefs who specialize in Italian Cuisine. A chef who is the best in our year when it comes to meat. And a unique chef who makes food stink to high heaven yet somehow still come off as good cooking. Then there's you, Namikaze-san. Some students say you move like a blur in class. Your efforts in speedy prep work and focused multi-tasking often resulting in the dish in subject finishing first. They are already calling you the Orange Flash."

"Wow! That's awesome. I have a moniker."

"Hehehehehehehehehehe… We all have monikers it seems." Nao spoke

"The way I see it. You're all an interesting bunch. Maybe I can even learn a thing or two from you guys. Though I highly doubt that. Or maybe you guys can a thing or two learn from me. So Ryou and I will be hanging around you guys from now on."

"I'd always welcome new friends but who are guys anyway?"

"You mean you don't remember me?" Alice sounded a little brokenhearted. Though coming from her, it might just be her being dramatic about it.

"No." Naruto said bluntly. "Have we met before?"

"We've certainly haven't" Takumi stated both for him and Isami.

"Same goes for me." Ikumi told them with a serious face. Nao remained silent.

Alice sighed, "Well it can't be help. We were only five and six years old at the time." Everyone's eyebrows except for Nao and Ryo's raised slightly. "I'm Alice, Nakiri Alice."

'Nakiri?' everyone noted

"You're all probably wondering if I am related to Nakiri Erina somehow. Well put it to rest. I am her cousin." Alice gestured over to the other new addition "and that guy is Kurokiba Ryo, my aide and constant companion."

"Um yeah, hi, that's all well and good but go back to the part about you meeting Naruto here at the age of six." Takumi demanded.

"Why so curious, Big Bro?" Isami asked though Takumi didn't answer.

"Try to remember it, Naruto-kun. You're dad, the famous Ramen Chef, Uzumaki Minato and you traveled to Denmark. Ours fathers met there for business and that's where we met."

Naruto's eyes widen. "That's right. It's all starting to come back." Naruto's right fist fell into his open left palm.

FLASHBACK - TEN YEARS AGO

Six yer old Naruto stood beside his father. Across them was another adult with a white haired girl around his age. Minato and the other man shook hands. "This must be your daughter." Minato said, his hand motioning to the little girl.

"Yes, she is. My little Alice." Mr. Nakiri said.

Minato tapped Naruto's back, slightly pushing him forward. "This is my son, Naruto."

Alice's father opened a door to their right and gestured for Minato to enter. Minato knelt down to Naruto's level and said, "Your old man's going to have a chat with man for a while. In the meantime, why don't play with Alice. Be her friend."

On the other side, Alice was told by her father to "Naruto will be your playmate for the next couple hours. Remember not to leave the building." The two men entered inside, leaving the two little kids alone.

"Hi."

"Um, hi. So you wanna go play?"

Alice shook her head. Instead she grabbed Naruto's wrist and pulled him on as she made a dash for the nearest kitchen. "You'll be my taste-tester."

"What?"

"I cook, you eat. Simple." And for the next couple of hours, Alice made Naruto everything she cooked. At that age, there were bound to be some that did not taste all that well.

("Not the broccoli slushie. Anything but the broccoli slushie.)

(What was that about a broccoli slushie?")

("Oh nothing. Just one of the many things I tried making back then. It tasted horrible. Good thing I made him eat it.")

("I'm starting to see why he forgot about you.")

END FLASHBACK

"Hehe! His face looks as green as the broccoli slushie!" Alice said smiling at patting the back of Naruto who had his head down, his arms wrapped around him and was shivering.

Takumi raised his friend's head up and slapped him, "Naruto, get a hold of yourself." Naruto then vigorously shook his head and took a breath. "Thanks, Takumi."

Naruto turned to Alice before jumping back, "Now I remember you!" He pointed at her all wide eyed while stomping on the ground.

Ikumi rolled her eyes. "Yes, we've established that."

"We were in Denmark for a week and in five of those days I had to be your playmate! And by playmate, I had to endure all your cooking!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Hehehehehehe..." went Nao, "by the way you're going on about it, I can guess that they weren't all too pleasant."

"Now, now, Naruto-kun. You talk like that was the only thing we did back then. Remember all the other fun stuff we did."

"Wel, I..." Naruto calmed down. It was true there was more to their playtime then simple being her food taster. But that was for another time.

"In my defense," Alice spoke cheerily. "I was only five at the time. Besides, I don't hear you complaining about all the other things we did." Alice held her cheeks and acted disappointed, "Or maybe Naruto-kun forgot about our first time."

"First time?" Isami asked but Takumi's jaw dropped.

"First time!" Ikumi demanded.

Naruto waved his hands defensively. "It was nothing like that! Honest! We didn't really know what we were doing." It was a memory Naruto had unknowingly buried at the back of his mind.

"'We didn't really know what we were doing'?" Alice pretend to sniff sadly as if crying. "It didn't sound like that to me when you asked me to-" Naruto immediately clamped his hand over her mouth.

"Don't go revealing that. It's not something you reveal in public." He dangerously whispered.

"Aw," Nao complained, "I so wanted to hear what happened."

"Us too." The Aldini Brothers said in pure curiosity. Ikumi in… what, jealousy maybe?

Alice just smiled beneath his hand. Yup, same old Naruto. So ease to tease and manipulate. Well at least as far as it concerned her. That little boy she managed to guilt into eating her creations.

"Tell me, did my father and your father meet anytime recently?" Naruto asked the white haired girl, eager to change the subject and keep away the memories of being her test taster as well as other things.

"I believe about some months before the start of the school year."

"So you're that Alice he was talking about!" Only now does it dawn to him.

"Pardon?"

"My dad said you showed him a shake made form eggs. Then he taught it to me and I used it during my entrance exam."

"Oh? You used my recipe to pass Erina's little test." Alice clumped her hands together acting all happy. "Then I guess that means you owe me."

"I owe you?!" Naruto asked with a hint of accusation. His friends guessed he didn't want to owe Alice anything. "Yeah, I guess I do." He rubbed his chin in thought. Ikumi and Takumi facefaulted. "Just to let you know, I am not committing any crimes for you and neither will I flank intentionally."

Alice motioned her hand up and down, "Now, now, Naruto-kun, I would never ask you anything like that. Instead why don't you get your father to perform live cooking for me and for free?"

"Sure! I can totally get my dad to do that." He faced Nao and Ikumi. "I'm sure you guys would like that too." The two girls appeared eager for the opportunity to see a great chef in action and taste his cooking.

"No, Naruto-kun." Alice said while she shook her head. "Just me. Well you can come along if you want but it will be just me. Don't ask why."

Naruto frowned for a moment but soon relaxed. "Fine," he sighed, "sorry, Nao, Nikumi, I'll can take you two next time. You as well, Ryo-san. That's a promise." He grinned at them.

"You had better, Naruto-kun." Nao said creepily and in a way that promised torment if he didn't.

"All right then." Naruto turned to Alice and Ryo. "Welcome to the group I guess."

Takumi looked serious. With this arms crossed over his chest and his eyes closed, he said "I have no problems with them hanging around with us. But let's be clear. Even though Namikaze Naruto did technically create this so-called group of ours, it does not make him our leader."

"Diddo on what the blond Aldini said." Ikumi pointed her thumb at Takumi

"It is of no concern of mine if whether or not Namikaze-kun is the leader." Takumi and Ikumi were satisfied with her answer "But let's see if we can improve on your group formation." Alice walked over from her spot and inserted herself between Takumi and Naruto, pushing Isami next to Nao again. "There." she placed her hands on her hips.

"Hey Whiteylocks," Ikumi called with narrowed eyes "what do you think you are doing?"

"Whiteylocks? Well I suppose that is an appropriate nickname. But to answer your question… You know how in anime or manga the main character is always at the center. Well, as the best chef here, it only stands that I be at the middle." Takumi and Ikumi piercingly stared at her while Ryo sent her a doubtful glare but otherwise said nothing.

"Besides," Alice continued "Don't you think it's better this way. The unique white-haired girl flanked by two blond men who are beside two others with intimidating figures with two girls of imposing stances on the far ends."

Ryo silently groaned. Isami looked up in thought "I'm intimidating? Must be my size." Nao said and did nothing.

Takumi and Ikumi opposed it all. Though Alice happily chuckled and ignored their complaints.

Naruto, on the other hand, "That's quite the confidence you have, Nakiri-san. You seem to know stuff about us we were ignorant of."

"Speak for yourself, Namikaze." Ikumi mumbled. She and Nao were well aware of their monikers.

"What do they call you, Whiteylocks-san?"

"I don't have a title. But if I did, I'd figure it'd be 'Global Innovator'." Alice giggled

'Global Innovator? That's some title to give to yourself.'

"Ryo-kun is called the Mad Dog though. He isn't showing it now but wait till you see him get fired up in the kitchen and you'll understand why."

---

UZUMAKI TOWER – Naruto's Suite

"Training and Rapport Camp, eh?" Naruto inspected the booklet given to them to serve as their informant on the events to happen in a few days' time. He skimmed through it, quickly flipping the pages.

The cover of the booklet may have been encouraging, maybe even happy looking, but it hid the treacherous trials ahead. The seven occupants of the suite, count seven, were sitting on the luxurious couches in his suite. They were comfortable as hell. Isami was even sitting upside down. Nao sat with her knees pulled up to her chest. Ikumi was drinking a large chocolate milk shake she ordered. 'Got to love that discounted Room Service.' She thought as she happily drunk the shake via her bendy straw.

"So it's finally that time of the year." Takumi commented.

"What was that?"

"Learn to read up on the school calendar, Naruto-kun." A white-haired girl told him with a cheery tone. "This camp training is an annual event. Don't let the booklet fool you. I may say it promotes teamwork but it is set to weed out those who can't make the cut from Totsuki." She ended with a wide smile

"There are those who call this camp as the first circle of hell." Nao said. A black aura enveloped her, making her all the creepier. "With about four or five days' worth of this camp, that's almost a week in hell." Insert sinister laugh here.

"We'll be met with the most demanding and taxing tasks where the punishment for failure is expulsion." Said a young man with eye-bags in a bored tone.

"Wow, it's taking place in a hotel in the mountains within Totsuki property. How big can this place get?"

"Namikaze, this is serious." Takumi scolded him "It's said that potentially over half the students can get expelled. I've heard our upperclassmen talk about it every now and then."

"What's to worry about?" He shrugged "I see no cause for concern. All we need to do is be the other half of students who pass. This camp is going to be a walk in the park for us." He stood up "I'm going to cook some Ramen."

"Aldini," the bored-looking guy said. Though he didn't make it clear which he was addressing so both answered "Yes?"

"No, just the blond Aldini. Doesn't he eat anything else?"

"You get used to it, Kurokiba-san." Takumi returned to reading the booklet.

Ikumi stared at the two newcomers to Naruto's suite. Nakiri Alice and Kurokiba Ryo. The tanned blonde's eyes followed Alice and Ryou as they stood up and went over to the glass walls. "The view is good." Ryo's response was a small nod. The white haired girl pressed her forehead on the glass.

Ikumi narrowed her eyes at them as she thought over how they ended up here in the suite their new roommates.

'And later that same evening, Whiteylocks and Mad Dog burst into the suite with their luggage in hand.' Oh how Ikumi remembered just how nonchalant Alice was about living in the same place as them. Ikumi didn't even bother asking how they knew they lived here. Naruto never told them. Neither the Aldinis or Sadako's cousin invited them either.

"This hotel has better Room Service anyway. Don't worry, we'll still pay a portion of the cost." Ikumi remembered Alice saying with a happy look which may have the additional function of irking those receiving it. And Ryo added a while after that "The view is good too."

Ikumi didn't appreciate just how Alice thought she could just barge in and live with them. But Naruto being Naruto welcomed them. Naruto had used one room, the Aldinis the second, Ikumi took the third. So Alice took up occupation in the fourth room. Nao took up residence in the huge, huge closet in Alice's room. Alice didn't seem to mind. While Ryo strangely opted to sleep on one of the many couches.

Naruto then sat back down with them. A hot bowl of Ramen on one hand and his cellphone being held by the other. "Strange," he pocketed his phone "she's not picking up."

"Who, Naruto-san?" inquired Isami

"Megumi-chan." Naruto answered "Was going to ask if she, Soma and the others at the Polar Star Dormitory got the Training Camp announcement?"

"Don't worry about that, Naruto-kun." Alice waved her hand "You can be certain they all got it. It is an imperative that the staff of Totsuki spread the word of such an important event to all those participating."

Naruto resumed consuming his Ramen. "This is his, what, his twenty-fifth bowl this day." Ryo stated.

"You get used to it, Kurokiba-san." Isami told him

One day, Ryo planned, he would steal the title of Food of the Gods from Ramen and have it given to one of his Seafood Dishes. He was upset he'd have to wait fifteen years but was even more disappointed the previous winner wasn't allowed to take part again as per the rules of the Tournament. Uzumaki Minato would have proven to be a worthy opponent. To beat a chef of his standing and skill would have proven to Ryo his own self-worth and skill.

His eyes narrowed at Naruto 'But I guess I'll have to settle for you. Well that is if you can make it that far to fight me.' Ryou has been made aware of Naruto's skills. The Ramen he cooked up felt like heaven the moment it made contact with his tongue. But he tried his best not to show he enjoyed it too much. Even Alice agreed it was delicious. Naruto has told them of his intentions in participating in the next tournament.

'Show me in the upcoming days what you can do, Namikaze Naruto. Show me the extent of your abilities. Your Ramen is undoubtedly good but are your other dishes any better? Show me so that I'll know for sure you are a worthy opponent I can crush with my cooking.'

---

TOTSUKI ACADEMY

"Look there they are at it again." Said a girl student to her friend. "Them and their Walk of Cool."

"You have to admit they do look cool. The Boiling Witch, the Meat Mistress, the Mezzaluna Brothers, the Mad Dog, the White Nakiri and the Orange Flash."

The seven of them walking together side by side. Naruto at the very middle of it with Alice to his right and Takumi to his left. No matter what they said and did, Naruto always ended up being in the middle of their walking formation.

"How did Namikaze gather and create such a group?" the student asked and her friend answered "I highly doubt Namikaze would go on and purposefully gather some of the more talented cooks in our year. Come on, let's go. We've got class in ten minutes."

"It appears Whiteylocks was correct. Our Walk of Cool does attract some attention." Ikumi said, hearing bits and pieces of the two girl students' conversation.

"Told you!" Alice popped her head out and sent Ikumi a bright smile.

"Don't rub it in." Ikumi quietly muttered.

"OI, Naruto-senpai, Takumi, Nikumi, Isami, Nao!" Soma called to them. His arm raised up waving at them. He was with Megumi. "Soma!" Naruto and he bumped fists.

"Yukihira." Takumi and Ikumi said.

"Hello." Isami greeted them too.

"Good morning, everyone." Megumi said. "Hey, there's seven of you now." Noticing Alice and Ryou.

"I believe an introduction is in order." Alice sang a bit. "I am Nakiri Alice."

"Huh?"

"Nakiri?"

"You heard it correctly. I am the cousin of Nakiri Erina."

Naruto stepped forward. "She lived with Erina until she was five from what she's told us."

"That's correct."

They all had class in about ten minutes. Alice had already pretty much spilled the beans on her upbringing to them some time ago. Her doing it all over again would take too much time. So Ikumi decided to butt in and say everything quickly. "She lived in the European country of Denmark for nine years since that's where her father chose to open Nakiri International! They're all about Molecular Gastronomy if you must know!" It took several lectures to get Naruto's head around Molecular Gastronomy the first time Alice spoke of it. "Then she came back here,enrolled to Totsuki with the goal of crushing Erina and become number one!" Ikumi stopped and took a deep breath. "There I said it. Now we won't have to go through with it all over again."

"How mean, Mito-san!" She pointed her finger at the tanned girl. "But everything she said was the truth." She turned her sights to Soma. "You are Yukihira Soma, correct?" Soma nodded. "You talked big at the entrance ceremony. I wonder just how you'll fare at the Training Camp."

Naruto grabbed Alice's head and pulled her back a bit. "You'll just have to wait and see." Naruto was about to suggest they get going to their classes but he remembered something. "Oh and before we forget, Soma and Megumi, the quiet guy with the headband is Kurokiba Ryo. Ryo, these are Yukihira Soma and Tadokoro Megumi."

Soma and Megumi greeted Ryo. Ryo only nodded his head in acknowledgement. His eyes focused on Megumi. This did not go unnoticed as Megumi felt the piercing power of his gaze. He looked at her like how a wolf studied the sheep he was about to eat. Megumi shook and shrunk under his gaze. 'So this is one of Chef Uzumaki's children? She doesn't seem like much.' He closed his eyes before dully reminding everyone, "Let's get to class, everyone."

---

TEST KITCHEN 2

Miyoko has had Naruto as her constant partner in the kitchen for some time. She still regarded him with some indifference unlike Takumi Aldini who had developed some kind of friendship the speedy chef. But she had grown to accept his talent and skills. When they were instructed to work individually, the Ramen-loving blond would normally be the first to finish. His prep work was quick. One glance and they'd see Namikaze slicing or chopping his ingredients. They'd look away for a second or two and he was already done. Sometimes he would even multi-task. He was quick that at first a lot had assumed he was being clumsy and careless and would end up making a mistake, big or small, to land him a low-rating or eventually expulsion.

But Naruto did no such mistake. Everything he did, he did well. No mistakes, no errors. His prep work was precise. The actual cooking was no different. He got the timing down to the letter. There was that one time he got a B Rating. But compared to all the A Ratings he has gotten, it was nothing more than an annoying smudge on his record. Which he didn't seem to care about.

He once tried to get her to live with him and his friends in the hotel they stayed it. Miyoko refused, thinking it absurd she'd live in a suite full of boys. But then Mito Ikumi joined, then Sadatsuka Nao. And most recently, another girl and boy. The only thing she had ever heard about living with Namikaze was that the view was good. 'What does that even mean?' She often saw them walking together. Miyoko would never say it but they did look epic walking the way they did.

Namikaze Naruto was a friendly, accepting person. That much Miyoko acknowledged and determined to be genuine. Sometimes he'd compliment her on her work and she felt he was being honest about it.

So yes, Hojo Miyoko no longer saw Namikaze Naruto as a cocky, arrogant male to be utterly crushed one day. The terms he gave to Mito Ikumi during their Shokugeki lowered her already low opinion of him. But as it turns out, he was just joking. When Nakiri Erina cut ties with the Meat Mistress, Namikaze befriended her. Not out of pity or guilt, it was just because it was more fun having friends. He accepted Sadatsuka, even encouraged the creepy girl to make more of her specialty.

Namikaze Naruto wasn't so bad, she concluded. So why has she not accepted his offer of friendship? She saw him submit his dish. After getting his Rating for it, he went back to his station, the station next to hers, and poured hot water into a ten cups of instant Ramen.

Their teachers never did anything about it. It wasn't against the rules as long as Namikaze remembered to clean up after himself.

Why has she not accepted his offer of friendship? It was because he ate so much Ramen it was getting disgusting! 'One of these days…' She swore as she sent him a penetrating stare which he seemed oblivious to. Namikaze sat crossed legged on his stool and just went on to consume every last Ramen he prepared.

Most saw it as Naruto being a show-off. Takumi and Isami no longer paid it any mind. Miyoko knew it was just because the teacher hadn't dismissed him and he was not forbidden to eat after finishing his work.

When Miyoko had gotten her dish rated, an A rating well deserved, she proceeded to clean her station. Halfway done, she got a glimpse of Naruto and saw he was staring out the window.

"Oi, Miyoko-san." He said softly as he got close to her "You wouldn't happen to know who the teacher in Test Kitchen 3 is?"

"No. Why?"

Naruto placed his hand on her head and she saw it too. "Wha-what the hell is this?"

"Sshh! Keep it down, Ms. Hojo." Their teacher said sternly.

In the Foodgasm, Miyoko saw what Naruto was seeing. She saw tiny Soma-bees. Each was holding a small jar of honey and they were pouring on a naked Tadokoro Megumi.

Naruto knew Soma and Megumi were just in the Test Kitchen next to his. But this was the first time this ever happened. "I'm melting…" Megumi moaned in the Foodgasm. 'Soma, what the hell did you feed my sister?!' Naruto had no interest in ever seeing his sister in such a manner.

They saw the blunette being carried away by the current of the honey that had already pooled into a deep amount. And then, "C'est Merveilleux!" Chef Roland Chapelle burst out of the honey with a huge smile on his face. Thankfully it was only his head. Neither Naruto nor Miyoko wanted to see or know if whether Chef Chapelle was naked or not beneath the honey.

Then the Foodgasm ended. Much to the relief of Naruto and Miyoko. The purple-haired girl was still a bit shaken up by what she just saw. "Well, at least now we know who the teacher is in the next class."

'It seems it is only now Chef Chapelle had them cook up that dish.' Naruto noted

"Hojo, Namikaze, you're both done, right? Just get out already! You two staring out into space is disturbing the hell out of me and everyone else here." Their teacher grunted and glared at them as did most of their classmates.

---

UZUMAKI TOWER – Naruto's Suite

Night time at Naruto's place. Takumi and Isami burrowed one of Minato's spare kitchens for some practice. Ikumi decided to take some early shut eye. Nao was down below in a kitchen beneath the basement of the hotel. It apparently was a kitchen with some intense ventilation. Minato had it built for no reason during the construction of the hotel. Until Nao came around, Minato thought it would never get used. There was no way he was going to allow the girl's smelly cooking to contaminate the pleasant aroma of his hotel.

Nao, though, expressed glee in having such a well equipped kitchen to herself.

As for Naruto, he was taking a relaxing time in the Jacuzzi in his suite. The bubbles and the right temperature. It was all good. Tomorrow would be the start of Training Camp. He needed this. It was calming and if he could, he'd allow himself to fall asleep there. But he'd settle for simply closing his eyes as memories from earlier in the day slowly came back.

FLASHBACK

"Oh, it's you, Alice-chan!" Minato said from the other side of the cooking table. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"Nice to see you too, Chef Minato. My Father sends his regards." Alice greeted back as she and Naruto took their seats. "Thank you for fitting me into your schedule. I'm sure a man like you is quite busy."

"It's fine." Minato waved a friendly hand.

And just like with the Aldini Brothers, Minato got to cooking and Alice was spectator to an excellent live cooking performance. "Another satisfied customer." Minato said seeing his son and son's newly found again friend rubbed their distended bellies filled with food.

"The last time he did that, I was too young to remember." Alice told Naruto when they got on the elevator that would bring back to Naruto's Suite. "It isn't every day you see such skill. Still though, such performances are a part of a by-gone era." Hearing that made Naruto narrow his eyes at her.

"Oh?" The blond questioned.

"I would liken such performances to circus acts, Naruto-kun. It's old fashioned and it will only be a matter of time before it becomes obsolete. Only cutting edges cooking techniques will go on into the future."

Naruto didn't take kindly to such an insult to his father however he was aware that different chefs had different ways of going about their cooking and it was in the kitchen that determined your worth as a chef. "That's all just a matter of opinion especially coming from someone who just enjoyed a supposedly old fashion way of cooking." He said calmly. "Chefs like Hoshigaki Kisame would strongly disagree with you as well. But the bigger question is, why say it to me and not my dad? If you want to make the point of your way being better, it's with him you would want to bring this up."

"I don't need to, Naruto-kun." Alice giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "My father and your father have had a similar conversation like this. A friendly debate between two professionals with neither side backing down. I meant no disrespect towards your father. He is where he is for being quite good and credit where credit is due. I suppose you're skeptical about it but one day, Molecular Gastronomy will be what's most important."

Naruto shrugged and closed his eyes before grinning competitively, "I just we'll just to have our cooking do the talking then!" The elevator opened and they were at the Suite.

END FLASHBACK

"~ hey, hey, Naruto-kun! ~" A voice rang.

When Naruto opened his eyes, he saw a butt-naked Alice slowly but surely lowering herself beneath the bubbles of the Jacuzzi. First was her legs. Boy, did she take her time. Naruto couldn't control his eyes. Despite all the Foodgasms he has seen, he has never truly seen a woman naked. He took in her nude form. Speechless while he does so. His eyes the only things moving.

His eyes trailed up Alice's legs and creamy thighs. Then to her bare and clean flower. 'Sweet Kami-sama, it's beautiful.' He suppressed the thought of inching his way to her so he could get a closer look. His eyes left her flower and went up her bountiful breasts. Naruto felt his junk pulsing. He balled his hands and kept it beneath the bubbles. His hands wanted to cup and knead her boobs. Finally, his eyes went over her neck and found her sly smirk and cunning red eyes. 'Sweet Kami-sama, she's beautiful!'

"Did you like what you see, Naruto-kun?" She said teasingly when only her head and neck were above the surface. 'Good Kami-sama, are her breasts floating?'

'Naruto, this is your conscience. Snap out it right now.' Naruto mentally slapped himself

'Naruto, this is your manhood. Ignored that guy. Keep your eyes on her body.'

"Alice, what are you doing?!" he gently demanded

"Same as you," she raised a finger above the water "just enjoying the Jacuzzi. Ryou went to the kitchen the Aldini Brothers are at. Aside from the sleeping Nikumi, it's just you and me all alone... in this Jacuzzi. Don't you think that's fun, Naruto-kun?" She motioned closer to Naruto who remained stationary.

"Oh I get that. Sure it'd be fun. But why are you naked?!" Naruto asked curiously.

"Well I forgot to bring my bikini." She said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Besides, aren't you naked as well?"

Naruto shook his head "No, I am not." Oh yes he was. He can't be blame for it. Not entirely at least. He forgot to bring any trunks and he certainly wasn't expecting company.

By now Alice was right next to him. Naruto wanted to leave. Okay, his conscience wanted to leave. His manhood wanted to stay see where this was going.

"There's no need to be shy, Naruto-kun. This wouldn't be the first time we've seen each other naked." She said teasingly. "We're childhood friends."

'The keyword there is childhood. We were little kids back then.' Naruto thought and wanted to say. Besides, if Naruto left, he would have to stand up first which would then present to Alice his fully hardened package.

Speaking of which… Alice moved her hand beneath the water and Naruto felt something grip his boner. Alice smiled as she felt the size of it. "Oh my," she giggled "Did I arouse you that much?"

Naruto's face turned red and boy, did her hand feel good. Alice stroked it beneath the water and he didn't want her to stop. Naruto resisted the strong urge to touch her as well. Her milky breasts were most enticing. Alice whispered into his ear seductively "I'm glad it feels good to you. This is the first time I've ever done this."

That revelation had almost set Naruto off. He felt it ready to come out. But Alice ceased her machinations and released his member. Alice saw the slight look of disappoint in his face. She sent him a sly smile and wag a finger "We can't have you coming in the water now, can we?"

Naruto frowned a bit before he reached over and squeezed lightly Alice's nipples. They were already erect when he squeezed them in his fingers. She too was aroused it seemed. Naruto sent her a sly smile of his own when the pinch got a reaction from the girl. She moaned softly and it gave Naruto a sense of pride as this was the first time he did something like that too.

"Tomorrow begins the first circle of hell. Why don't we both just relax while we can?" He offered.

"Sure thing, Naruto-kun." She happily said, sitting beside him.

---

TOTSUKI RESORT HOTEL – Assembly Area

Soma and the rest of the members of the Polar Star Dorm were at the assembly area when they had shortly bumped into Ikumi, Takumi, Isami and Naruto. Naruto was carrying a sack over his shoulder. Whatever was in it was large, bulky and undoubtedly heavy. When asked regarding the contents of the sack, Naruto only smiled.

Alice, Ryo and Nao were off on their own.

There were nearly a thousand students there with them. It was strangely quiet despite the number. The Training Camp from Hell would start soon enough. Chef Chapelle made his entrance and gave the students a brief summary of the events.

Then came in the various alumni of Totsuki. The whole stage was lined up with them. The cooking geniuses who made it through Totsuki Academy's rigorous and unforgiving methods and standards. Gasps from many of the students were heard throughout the assembly area. The students couldn't help but admire those people. Anyone who survived Totsuki was almost an instant celebrity.

There was one among them who stood out from the rest which straight away caught the attention of Megumi. A certain woman who shared the same physical features as her. A certain woman wearing a black robe with red cloud designs.

Then one chef spoke up "You there, the boy with the scar on his eyebrow about nine rows back." He seemed to have pointed at Soma.

"Me?" Soma pointed at himself.

"No, my mistake. I meant the boy beside you."

That boy was Naruto. "Eh?"

"No, not you. The other kid beside you."

Turns out he was referring to the brown-haired kid at the other side of Soma. He pointed at himself.

"Yes, you. You're expelled. You can go home now." The nameless mook, er, boy was stunned. Most gasped at the sudden unexplained expulsion.

"What?" the boy demanded

The pink-haired alumnus walked down from the stage and explained. The boy's hair had a citrus scent from his shampoo. The scent would have gone into conflict with the pink-haired chef's dishes which he reasoned would have been enough to lose his restaurant's customers and reputation and ultimately, it would have destroyed his restaurant.

"That is sure some stuck-up way of expelling someone." Naruto muttered, knowing the pink chef was out of earshot.

"Namikaze-san, don't you know who that is?" Zenji asked Naruto. The fast blond would have answered but Zenji went on eagerly. Soma was also listening. "That's Chef Shinomiya Kojiro. He is the first ever Japanese national to win the French Pluspol Award."

Naruto nodded at Zenji and pulled out his cellphone. Naruto looked up to Shinomiya and hummed.

"Additionally, there's Mizuhara Fuyumi from the Italian Restaurant, Ristorante F." He referred to the petite woman with the short light blue hair. "Sekimori Hitoshi, the head chef of the Sushi Restaurant, Ginza Hinowa." This time, Zenji was referring to the man with dark hair with tips reaching his shoulders and had eyes that were closed to slits.

Naruto nodded his head repeatedly. Happy to know the names of the chefs.

"Amazing. These are all people I read about featured in magazines every month!"

"Girl who's innocent like a white clover." A blond alumnus with a foreign accent approached Megumi. Suddenly Naruto's big brother senses were tingling.

Zenji spoke up "That's Donato Gotoda of the Auberge, Tesoro." The blond alumnus smiled at Megumi.

Chef Donato gently took hold of Megumi's hand and proclaimed her to be the very reason of his existence. He then offered her to come by his restaurant so they could talk from dusk till dawn.

Takumi and Isami had to hold Naruto back from tackling Chef Donato to the ground. There was no way he would allow his little sister to go with a man nearly old enough to be their father.

"Let her go, Chef Donato." A gentle female voice said with a hidden trace of a threat.

"Hinako" Chef Donato said, looking at the source of the voice.

Enter Chef Inui Hinako of the Japanese restaurant, Kirinoya. With brown hair and a large bust, Chef Hinako had a sweet smile on her face but the air around her hinted at a threatening presence. The said chef then took Megumi's hands in her own and touched her cheek, calling the blunette cute. Add to that, she said "You look good enough to eat."

At this point, Naruto was on the floor, struggling to remove himself of the restraints Soma, Daigo, Shoji, Ikumi and Takumi had put on him and Isami sitting on top of his back. Such a good bunch of friends.

"Hinako," Chef Donato slid form the side "Chapelle-sensei is glaring at us."

Chef Donato and Chef Hinako returned to the stage but not before Hinako gave one last offer for Megumi to come by her restaurant. Megumi could only sigh in relief.

Then Zenji announced to his friends at last the presence of Dojima Gin. The guy was top-notched according to Zenji. Naruto then pocketed his phone. He left Zenji baffled when he thanked him all of the sudden. Naruto picked up his sack and quickly went on stage like it was nobody's business. One second he was with his friends. The next he was standing before the imposing figure of Chef Dojima.

He dropped the sack on the floor with a loud thud. He dug through it and pulled out a gift with Dojima's name on it. "Ho-ho, did Christmas come early this year?" Gin already knew what this was. As did Chef Chapelle. Neither men made no move against the speedy Namikaze for it.

But Chef Shinomiya did. "Oi, brat, didn't anyone tell you trying to bribe a judge is punishable by expulsion?"

Takumi, Isami and Miyoko from her spot in the assembly area all face-palmed. Ryoko set her fist on her hips and tilted her head.

But Naruto only served to irk him slightly when he returned Shinomiya's threat with a smile. "Relax, Chef Shinomiya. I got one for you too." Naruto pulled out the gift with Shinomiya's name. Shinomiya frowned but nonetheless took the gift. 'Might as well see what the fool has for me before I expel him.' Kojiro thought.

"And one for you." To Chef Hinako

Strangely enough, all three chefs who received the gifts all opened them at the same time. Upon seeing what they were, the chefs shook yet unable to move from their spot. Their eyes were wide, their hands firmly grasped the hardbound.

"Icha Icha Paradise Special Limited Illustrated Edition 37!" The three chefs chorused, attracting the attention of all the other alumni.

Chef Gin skimmed through the book to inspect the illustrations. A drop of blood fell out of his nose but the back of his hand caught it before it could stain the book. As did for Chef Hinako.

"Oi, brat, how did you come upon this book?" Chef Shinomiya inquired, still sending Naruto a skeptical stare from his narrowed eyes.

"Easy. My father wrote them and told me to give them to you." With that Naruto went back down to his friends, happy to be rid of that heavy sack.

'Father?' thought Hinako

'Don't tell me…' Donato

'That kid is…' Hitoshi

'Chef Minato's son with Chef Kushina!' They all thought.

"Well I guess we can all agree." Hinako started

"Absolutely." Agreed Gin

"No special treatment for him." State Shinomiya

Then they said together "Or Minato-senpai/Minato will cancel our special subscriptions!" Oh how they dreaded the thought.

Then those three were soon surrounded by the other alumni who were curious to see the special editions.

Meanwhile, down below to where the students are "Didn't you learn a thing from the last time, Namikaze?!" Takumi hissed

"Nope."

BONK!

It was Miyoko who suddenly came up and knocked her fist on Naruto's head... real hard. "I swear. One of these days, that is going to get you into trouble."

Ikumi and Takumi mouthed "Thank you". Yuki took a picture of it.

Gin and the other chefs regain their composure and held the books at their sides to be read at a later time. Gin gave his speech and ended it by telling all the students to proceed to their assigned groups.

---

TRAINING SITE E (Chef Shinomiya's Kitchen)

"Oi Miyoko-chan, looks like we're in the same group." Naruto beamed. Miyoko had been carefully observing the area they were in. A kitchen with multiple work stations. Almost no different from their typical class kitchens. Behind them all were what Miyoko assumed would be the ingredients for the upcoming task. When Naruto had suddenly spoke, she had been thinking 'Vegetables. They are all vegetables. A vegetarian dish perhaps.'

Miyoko sighed. At this point, she made no move to brush him off or scold him for addressing her so casually with her given name. It would be useless on him. "Indeed we are, Namikaze."

"I keep telling you. Just call me Naruto. We are friends."

Miyoko had rejected those three words many times over yet it never seemed to get to the blond. "Namikaze-"

"All right, you brats. Settle down." Spoke the stern voice of Chef Shinomiya Kojiro. The book Naruto gave him earlier was held at his side. The whole batch of students were silent.

Chef Shinomiya sat down on a chair and ordered his attendant to bring him a folding table. He and the students waited a whole ten minutes before the attendant came back with the folding table which he set before Kojiro. The pink-haired chef then placed his newly acquired book – nearly slammed it – on the folding table. If anyone was paying any attention to Shinomiya's attendant, they would have seen the scowl on his face. Perhaps he was envious of Shinomiya's new book.

Shinomiya opened the book. He soon read the Dedication page. It was dedicated to him. Kojiro narrowed his eyes at what Minato had to say to him: When will you get married to Hinako? You two complete each other.

Shinomiya's eyes or even one side of his lips should have twitched in annoyance. But no, Shinomiya kept a straight face. 'Seriously, Minato-senpai? You of all people have the gall to tell me to get married.' What his fellow alumnus did with his life was none of his business. So Minato shouldn't butt-in in his. But then again, he was sure Minato was simply jesting.

He flipped the next few pages. Oh how the pages felt good to his fingers. He cared not for what was written on them. Then he got to the first chapter. 'Oh yes…!' A special edition of his favorite book series and the opportunity to expel some students. 'This is going to be fun.' This was a man who loved his job. His job being ending the dreams of children aiming to be chefs.

Which reminds him…

Kojiro stood up and held a recette in his hand. "I am Shinomiya Kojiro, alumnus of the graduating class of '79. You shall all be preparing a dish of my own creation. It's all written here. Read it carefully and cook as equally carefully. The ingredients you need are right behind you. You are to cook individually. Failure is equivalent to termination. So do your best or else. Furthermore, you are forbidden to assist your friends and schoolmates in any way. Do so and I'll expel both parties on the spot."

Kojiro sat back down "And one more thing. You would do well to view each other as enemies." Shinomiya looked down and returned to reading "Begin!"

As everyone else just placed one foot forward, Naruto had become an orange blur. Said orange blur passed through the several tables of vegetables. Naruto then reappeared at his station with a tray full of ingredients. Naruto then got working.

It just so happened that most of the students had never seen Naruto move so fast and were left stunned. That gave Miyoko and a few other students who have seen Naruto's speed the opportunity to gather their ingredients before everyone else snapped out of it.

Even Shinomiya's attendant was amazed. As for Shinomiya, even though his eyes seemed to be on the book, he still paid close tabs on his 'employees'. 'He is fast like his father. But is being fast his only skill? We shall see, Namikaze.'

Sometime later, Naruto was ready to submit his dish. "Namikaze Naruto, ready." Miyoko kept her focus on her dish while others glared laser beams of envy at Naruto's back. Naruto's back must have been a mirror as the laser beams were seemingly deflected away.

Kojiro sliced off a piece and carefully examined the taste. Chew, chew and swallow. "Namikaze Naruto, you pass." Kojiro said somewhat disinterestedly. Just because it was good didn't mean Shinomiya had to show it.

But a pass was a pass so Naruto fist-pumped. He made his way back to his station and… "Namikaze, you are not allowed to eat Ramen during my exam." Shinomiya told him. His eyes never leaving the book.

"I wasn't going to cook and eat Ramen!" Naruto crossed his arms as he denied it.

"Oh yes you were." Miyoko affirmed as she did the finishing touches to her dish. Being his partner for weeks had given Miyoko more than enough time to figure most of his nature.

Naruto glared at her. Then his face lightened up and he shrugged as he admitted it "Yeah I totally was."

"Hojo Miyoko… pass." Miyoko nodded slightly

"Good work, Miyoko. We survived the test number one."

"It's too early to celebrate, Namikaze. We still have four more days and more trials ahead." She said seriously.

"Then we'll face them head-on," he laid his arm over her shoulders "and come out as winners."

A male had just put his arm on her shoulders. Miyoko would normally not allow that. But this was Namikaze Naruto. He may act like an idiot at times. But she was starting to get use to him. "Of course, Namikaze. It goes without saying I'll make it through this Hell Camp. The question is, will you?"

"You bet I will."

A little while later…

"This is just depressing." Naruto blurted out "We've lost over half the class."

Miyoko kept silent.

"Fail"

"Fail"

"Fail"

"Fail" went Chef Shinomiya several times over

"Is he even properly tasting those dishes or does he just find joy in saying the word 'Fail'?"

"This wouldn't be the Camp from Hell if majority passed. This Camp is, after all, truly meant to weed out those who can't make the cut."

"Well if you ask me, this exam seemed a little rigged against our favor."

"Hmm?" Miyoko raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't you notice it? There were some ingredients which weren't in the best condition suitable for the exam. Like the cauliflower for example. Some of them have already started to oxidize when the exam started."

Miyoko nodded as it dawned to her "Yes, I did notice that." Miyoko observed Kojiro "Either he made a mistake in the preparations of the ingredients which I find unlikely or…"

"He deliberately placed those low quality vegetables there as a part of his test."

"Weed out those who either got careless and got less than prime ingredients or were too slow to get the best of the bunch." Miyoko narrowed her eyes at the pink-haired chef "This guy…"

"Well times up." Chef Shinomiya closed his book and stood from his chair "All those who passed return to the bus. We're heading back to the resort."

The remaining students gave a sigh of relief. That's one test down. As Naruto and Miyoko were about to walk about the kitchen doors, Shinomiya stopped them. "Namikaze, Hojo, it seems that out of all the would-be chefs here, you two are the only ones who figured out my weeding methods." He walked closer to them. "I will say it once. If you tell anyone of how I pass or fail my employees, I will have you fired as well. I have it on my authority as a chef to do that. Am I clear?"

Neither Naruto nor Miyoko were happy about this. Neither were happy of being threatened with expulsion to keep silent. Now Naruto couldn't go and give Soma, Megumi, Takumi and the others the heads-up. Miyoko however had no intention of informing anyone. She simply did not like being blackmailed like that.

Inwardly both students frowned but on the surface they nodded. "As crystal." They said in unison.

"Good." He adjusted his glasses "Now let's go." Shinomiya walked pass them. Naruto and Miyoko followed him back to the bus.

Miyoko had sat on a window-seat. She rested her head on the window and set her eyes on the outside. She noted the bus ride back was a quiet one. Before, the bus was filled to the brim with students either anxious or full of energy. Now, the bus had less than half the students it originally had. Over thirty had been expelled. The remaining students were all solemn and silent.

Despite being in a moving vehicle, Chef Kojiro kept on reading his book.

Miyoko didn't care in general about her schoolmates. But she couldn't help but wonder if any of those in the bus with her would still be students by the time the camp would end. She shook her head of such thoughts. As before, she didn't care if whether or not her schoolmates got expelled.

As for Naruto, he too was seating on a window-seat. He smiled as he stared outside just like Miyoko did. He was still up for more. He had won one battle already. He would definitely win the war. Was he worried Soma, Megumi, Takumi and the others would fail on this day? No, of course not. He knew his friends would make it through the first day.

'How did their day go anyway?'

---

TRAINING SITE F – Soma, Megumi, Takumi and Isami's Day

Chef Inui Hinako began her exam with by opening her snack and setting her book next to her as she sat down. Her instructions were simple enough. Make a dish out of the resources available within the perimeter of the area. If only the practical side was just as easy.

"Yukihira, today is the day I prove to you that I am the better Chef!" She overheard one of her students declaring.

This ended up being a contest between the two parties. Yukihira Soma and Takumi Aldini were putting their restaurants on the line. Yukihira Diner and Trattoria Aldini. So she placed the condition that the loser of the match had to go on his knees before the victor. Though she excluded Megumi from kneeling if her group lost.

By the end of it all, no winner was determined. She initially withheld her decision, making it seem as though she couldn't decide on who was better. Then Chef Shinomiya called her and ordered her to return with the students who passed. She immediately high-tailed out of the boys' faces, leaving them with no clear winner.

The bus ride back was calm enough. Save for Takumi who found himself sitting next to Soma right after he made it seem they wouldn't be seeing one another again for a while. Isami got a good laugh out of it and Soma teased him about it.

All in all, not a bad day for the four.

---

TRAINING SITE K

Marui Zenji, Ibusaki Shun, Sato Shoji and Aoki Daigo had been placed in the same group. Their location was a huge freezer of a kitchen. Or more rather, it was storage freezer turned into a kitchen.

In a place where it was the temperature was in the negatives, it goes without saying they were given the necessary clothes to endure the cold. The coats, the earmuffs, the thermals underneath their clothes, the winter socks, and gloves. The gloves they wore to keep their fingers warm but would no doubt make cooking difficult. But it certainly led to the question why they were in such a cold environment.

Then their instructor came in and had told them to form groups of four. There was no discussion between them. They just grouped together and that settled it. Then she gave them their task: Create an ice cream sculpture. That was it. They were allowed to let their creativity determine how their sculpture would look at the end.

"Of course, it has to taste great as well." She also said as an afterthought when she took her seat and pulled out a golden spoon.

No one needed to be in a storage freezer to make ice cream. So, some students concluded it was to keep their sculptures from melting. Or it was simply perhaps to make the exam more difficult. Whatever the reason, the instructor told them they could start.

Shun took the lead in his group. Seeing as how they were given enough time, he saw no reason to hurry. Ice cream or any dessert was their forte. Especially making them look super appealing. So they would take their time and get it right.

He and his group weren't the first to finish. Several others had had their creations tested by their instructor. Majority of them failed. Mostly because the Chef was not satisfied with their appearance and taste.

Those who passed – Shun and Zenji could only guess – satisfied the Chef's visual and taste appeal. More often than not, she would only take one bite and that would settle if it were a pass or fail. Out of all those who passed, only one of them passed solely for tasting great. It was visually mediocre but the Chef could not deny that its taste was its saving grace.

'Just what qualifies as good ice cream to her?' Shun mentally asked

The smoke specialist looked at the students who left after being given their failing remarks. 'So this is her method. From what I heard, most instructors assign groups of two or individual tasks. But she… she had us form groups of four so she could remove four in one time.'

Soon it was their turn. The last group to be evaluated. It took all four of them to lift their creation to the Chef's table. The Chef with her short blue hair with the large blue paper flower, amber eyes and the black winter coat with red clouds stared at them with scrutinizing eyes. They either had to please her with their ice cream dish or it was all over for them on day one of all days. Gently placing their dish on her table, it was now or never.

"Ibusaki Shun"

"Marui Zenji"

"Aoki Daigo"

"Sato Shoji"

They each spoke their names and said together "Hope you enjoy!"

Their examiner examined their work. "The Polar Star Dormitory?" She asked

"Yes, Chef." Zenji answered

Doing what she didn't do before, she placed her golden spoon on her small plate and stood up. She went around the table, carefully taking in the replica of the Polar Star Dorm. The four boys from the said Dorm took a few steps back to give her room to do so.

She soon went back to her seat and held her spoon. "On first glance, it truly does look like a miniature version of the Dorm. The rooms with windows are not filled in but are designed with how they currently look. Am I correct?"

"Yes, Chef." They all answered

"Doing so would not have been easy."

"No, it wasn't." Shun took off his gloves and so did his three groupmates. "We had to remove our gloves since we wanted our ice cream sculpture to be a near replica of our Dorm." He showed his hands, still slightly red from the cold.

"You're determined. I commend you four."

They nodded

"And I see you made little sculptures of yourselves plus those I assume to be your dormmates." She said staring down at the ice cream figure of Megumi. "You passed the visual aspect of the exam. But now let's get to the most important part: the taste." She took her spoon and scoop the head of ice cream Shoji. Her face was unmoved which did nothing to ease the tension of the four boys.

But she took a second bite. This time taking the head of ice cream Shun. Then she took a couple more bites. Taking the other heads and even taking from the building. She took her time too. Seemingly savoring each bite. Her face gave away no emotion. No telltale indication of whether she loved or hated it. She took her last piece and placed her golden spoon on the small plate again.

She looked up at them and smile. "Well done. This is a pass."

Shoji and Daigo jumped and cheered "YEAH! WE PASSED!" and high-fived each other.

Zenji took a much-awaited sigh of relief and slumped on the cold floor. "Thank goodness."

Shun stood silently and just nodded.

The Chef stood up and announced "We're done for the day. All of you who passed must return to the bus now." Then she headed for the door. "Oh and you may want to warn your friends of what awaits them when they get me as their instructor." And she left.

Shun took one last look at their ice cream sculpture. They made replicas of the current tenants of the Dorm including Fumio. She took and ate the heads of all except one. Shun watched her as she neared the doors.

"Tadokoro Konan, one of the greatest desserts chefs in the world. A member of the Elite Ten during her time in Totsuki and ranked Third upon graduating." Shun took a gander back on their work. More specifically on the only ice cream figure who kept its head; the smiling head of Tadokoro Megumi. He looked at her one last time when she exited the kitchen. "Is she really the aunt you spoke of, Megumi?"

---

TOTSUKI RESORT HOTEL – Kitchens

Cook fifty servings of any dish for the guests of the hotel, said Chef Hitoshi. As usual, failure to accomplish this task meant expulsion. Apparently, what was meant to be a refreshing night was swapped with another challenge. Fifty servings for the Body Builders and Football Players they gathered at the Hotel.

Poor Yuki, her expectation of a peaceful night was dashed. And Zenji paled and shrivelled up more than before. But the reality of the situation was what it was. No point in complaining any further. After all time spent complaining is better off being spent cooking. And cook they did.

"Piece of cake!" declared Naruto who immediately got to working.

And a little while later…

"Namikaze Naruto 50 Servings Complete!" Naruto grinned upon hearing that "You can go now." Chef Hitoshi informed him.

"Aw, sweet!" Naruto raised a fist before bowing in respect to Chef Hitoshi.

"Damn he is fast." Miyoko said as she carefully held in one hand a tray full of food to be served.

"What!" Erina gasped "Namikaze-kun finished earlier than me!"

"Typical Naruto-senpai to finish before everyone else." Soma chuckled "All right then. Let's do this!"

Naruto's eyes found Megumi who was stumbling and panicking. 'Megumi-chan,' he thought in concern 'Your timidity and stage fright is holding you back. I have to find a way to help her get pass that.' Naruto then called out with his hand waving high "Good luck, everyone." and speedily left the kitchen without another thought.

If everyone wasn't so busy, they'd raise their heads looking furious at Naruto.

A couple of moments later another announcement was made "Nakiri Erina 50 Servings Complete!"

Erina smiled confidently "Second place to Namikaze isn't so bad. He maybe unimpressive as a chef but he sure is fast. However, that's all he's good for." Then she said to Hisako "Hisako, I'm going ahead. You may find me at the baths if you finish quickly."

"Yes, Erina-sama." The rosette affirmed.

---

"Wow-wee," Naruto exclaimed as he finished showering in the shower room of his hotel room. He had three roommates with him. Those three being Takumi, Isami and Ryou. But they were still busy with the current test in the kitchen. "I am more tired than I originally thought I was." Wearing only his orange bathrobe, he laid down on his bed. Naruto didn't bother with the Communal Bath.

"This bed is so comfy." His eyelids were suddenly heavy and he yawned "I think I'll just doze off and…"

BANG

His door busted open and his eyes snapped open. "Namikaze Naruto!" A voice boomed.

"Chef Dojima" Naruto said as he quickly sat up

Chef Gin entered his room. He too was also wearing a simple bath robe. Naruto guessed he was just at the baths. "Chef Gin, may I help you with anything?"

"None of that for now, Naruto-kun. This book you gave me. I came here to officially meet the son of one of my closest friends and to thank you for delivering this to me personally." Gin easily held the heavy book in one hand.

"That's right. You were one of my dad's schoolmates in Totsuki." Naruto laughed "Don't sweat it. It was my father who wrote it anyway. You should thank him."

"I intend to. But I wanted to thank you personally for giving it to me. I always found it funny how the Special Editions which have more content comes out earlier than the original versions." Gin gave a hearty laugh. "I met your friend, Yukihira Soma, in the baths."

"You did?"

"Yup. He caught me when I was doing my routine stretches." Naruto was aware thanks to his father that Dojima Gin was a muscular man. To see him do his stretches naked was bound to be fear inducing.

'Luckily for Soma,' Naruto thought 'he isn't the type to get scared quickly or lastingly.'

"He informed me you finished first. It got me wondering why you didn't go to the Communal Baths. But I suppose you have your reasons. We spoke of other things too."

Chef Dojima walked to the door "It was good meeting you, Naruto-kun. We will talk some more at another date. If you intend on doing nothing else, I suggest you get some shut eye. Tomorrow isn't getting any easier." He closed the door behind him.

"Some shut eye," Naruto contemplated as he laid down on his bed again "That sounds about right." Then he jumped off it "After I eat some Ramen and check on the others." And he dashed out of his room.

---

The first of his friends he bumped into was Megumi, Ryoko and Yuki. How lucky. He had wanted to speak to Megumi. Now is as good a time as ever. They had come from the bath not too long ago.

Ryoko and Yuki gave the two some privacy and told Megumi they would be at Zenji's room.

"Megumi," Naruto paused. He wanted to tell her of how Chef Shinomiya went about with his test. But he decided that he wouldn't. Not due to Chef Kojiro's threat of expulsion. Naruto wasn't even sure how the pinked hair chef would discover if he told anyone. No, Naruto wouldn't tell Megumi because telling a classmate of how an examination will go is akin to cheating. So instead he told her, "If you end up with Chef Shinomiya, be quick on your feet."

"Huh?"

"Just be quick on your feet. That's all I can say."

After the half-silbings talked, Naruto walked with Megumi to Zenji's room. Along the way, they met Takumi, Isami, Ikumi and Nao. When they arrived in Zenji's room – much to Zenji's dismay now that there were more people in his room – Soma and the others invited them in for some fun. It was not as if they had any other plans so why not, they thought. Shoji and Daigo brought some drinks along too. Nao went on the taste test Soma's creations again.

Naruto and Soma bumped fists. "So anything interesting happened to you guys?" The blond asked the redhead.

"The chef in-charge of us was Chef Inui. She had us-"

"Stop right there, Soma!" Naruto calmly ordered.

"Eh?"

"You telling us what she makes the students do technically counts as cheating."

Soma rubbed his chin in thought. "Hmmm... Never thought of it that way."

Then Isami spoke up while laughing his laugh. "I'll tell you what happened, Naruto-kun. Big Bro had asked Chef Inui to be the judge between our dish and Soma and Megumi's dish to see whose was better. It ended with her not picking a winner at all. Then Big Bro went all cool and told Soma-kun that they would meet again and made it seem like they wouldn't see each other for a while. Only for them to sit next to each other in the bus! It was so lame!" Isami continued laughing.

"ISAMI, WHY DID YOU GO AND TELL THEM THAT!" Takumi shouted embarrassed.

After a quick laugh at Takumi's expense, Soma told Naruto of how he bumped into Erina on his way to the pools and how he met Dojima Gin. Then Naruto, Takumi and Ikumi joined Zenji, Yuki, Shoji and Daigo in their card game… only for them all to fall sleep not long after they started.

"Wow! Naruto-senpai must have been more tired than I thought. He is normally not like this." Soma commented remembering that one time old man Teuchi had extended their working hours all the way to three in the morning.

Ryoko stated "Megumi-chan seems to have the opposite effect. She normally sleeps earlier."

"It must be because I've been so focused today." The blunette said. Megumi accredited her successful day to Soma but the redhead would have none of that and gave her the credit she deserved. Ryoko encouraged her on and told her to be more confident with herself.

"By the way, Megumi," Shun spoke "We met your aunt today."

"Huh?"

"Tadokoro Konan," said Shun "she is your aunt, right?"

"Um…" Megumi meekly nodded

"She… bore a strong resemblance to you and she was tough to please."

"Konan-oba-sama, my mother's only sister, I was not expecting her to come here."

"Wait a minute," Ryoko laid her hand on Megumi's shoulder "Tadokoro Konan? As in the Ice Cream Queen? One of Chef Jiraiya's students? That Tadokoro Konan?" Megumi nodded again "Why didn't I see the resemblance before?"

"Megumi-chan, why didn't you tell us?" Yuki asked

"Well it's because I wanted you all to see me for me. Not the niece of a renowned Chef."

Soma smiled contently "The surprises never cease."

"Chef Uzumaki's eldest daughter and Chef Tadokoro Konan's niece." Yuki smiled coyly and playfully elbowed Megumi. "You've got quite the family."

Prior to the Training Camp, Megumi had admitted to her dormmates the truth about her father. But she intentionally left out how she was related to Konan. Their reactions at the time varied from speechless to a loud "HUH?" Soma was happy to know he wasn't the last to know about it.

Yuki asked more "So tell us. Are her desserts really all that they're hyped to be?"

Megumi nodded with a smile "I've tasted her desserts before. They're unbelievably great and delicious."

"And for free? For free, right?" Megumi nodded again "Oh I'm so envious." Yuki nearly screamed and everyone laughed.

"Well if you happen to have her as your instructor, be careful. Not only is her exam a test of your creativity but the environment itself is also a challenge."

"What did Konan-oba-sama have you do, Shun-kun?" Megumi inquired

"Our kitchen was a frozen storage room. We were tasked to make an ice cream sculpture. Your dish must be appealing in both taste and looks. There's very little middle ground with her. There was one sculpture that was mediocre in looks but it seemed to have tasted so good that Chef Tadokoro had to let them pass."

"Thanks for the tip, Shun." Ryoko said with a nod and Shun gave a small nod back. "Chef Tadokoro specifically ordered it."

Their conversation returned to more less stressing topics. Soma started to juggle with the cups they brought with them earlier. Megumi stayed quiet though and inwardly strove to do her best the next day.

---

TRAINING SITE F – Training Camp Day 2

As it was, Chef Hinako was having the group Naruto and Miyoko were in do the same task she had given to Soma, Megumi, Takumi and Isami the day before. Her book open beside her while she munched on her snack. Once again, Naruto and Miyoko found themselves partnered up for the task.

Chef Hinako had given them the go-ahead. It was raining hard outside but the resort staff had enough foresight to provide plenty of rain coats. While all the others had hurriedly left the kitchen in a panic. Naruto had held back Miyoko and told her to relax. Rather than discuss what they were going to cook whilst running at a random direction, Naruto had told Miyoko that they should first take into mind what were the potential ingredients out there. Add to the fact that Megumi had told him last night that ducks and chickens were available to them.

"Relax," Naruto told her "Ingredients are plentiful if one kept his eyes open and kept his cool. Let's think of what to cook. There are plenty of streams nearby and I've got a feeling our classmates are going for a fish dish."

Miyoko decided to follow Naruto's lead on this. After some minutes of thinking and arguing, they settled on a dish. They noted down the ingredients they needed. And once all of that was settled…

Naruto gently held the back Miyoko's neck with one hand and her lower back with the other. "O-oi, Namikaze! What do you think you are doing?"

"Miyoko-san, be sure to hold all our ingredients, all right. I'll be the legs. You'll be the hands."

Then it dawned to Miyoko what he planned to do. "Namikaze, wait-" Too late. Naruto already made the dash and they were out of that kitchen leaving behind a yellow and red flash.

"Oh my," Chef Hinako munched on her snack "he certainly is fast like his father."

As per the plan, Naruto had led Miyoko in a quick blur to their ingredients by-passing their classmates along the way. It's not that Naruto knew where they would be. It's just that he could see fast as well. A result from years of practice. Naruto led to the ingredients. Miyoko held them in her arms.

To her credit, Miyoko didn't feel sick at all when they got back before all the others. The end result for the both of them was a pass.

---

TRAINING SITE E

Megumi quickly found out why Naruto gave her that advice the night before. "You'll be making a nine vegetable terrine. A dish of my own making. Don't worry though. This one is easy compared to most." The pinked haired chef announced at the start. "As you can see, your ingredients are all behind you." His hand gestured to the vegetables on the tables behind all the work stations. "You'll be working solo. Anyone caught trying to help another will result in both parties getting expelled. Oh and you best treat the people around you as enemies. If you don't, you've already set yourself up for expulsion. BEGIN!"

Shinomiya's test involved being quick on your feet and being assertive enough to pass through the other students and get ingredients first. Following Naruto's advice, she passed through the ingredients tables like a blue blur. Impressing the chef in-charge of the examination with her speed.

"Oh? So she's fast too. However..."

However Megumi got careless and picked the wrong cauliflower. She realized this too late and by the time everyone had cleared the tables, there were no viable cauliflowers left. So instead, she acted smart and used wine vinegar to fix the problem. The end result was a dish that looked and tasted splendidly.

"You're fired." Kojiro pointed to the door. Then he stood up like nothing happened and told the remaining students. "Okay, I guess we're done for the day. Everyone still here proceed to the bus."

"Please wait a second, Chef Shinomiya." Megumi called after finding the voice to do so. "What was wrong with my dish? Why did I fail?"

"Ah, yes, that. Well you see as you probably know as well, you picked the wrong cauliflower earlier. That little mistake would have resulted in a huge, undesired change in the overall dish which would have resulted in your expulsion. But you used wine vinegar and fixed the problem. Your end result was a terrine that looked and tasted no different than it would have if you had used the correct cauliflower."

"Then… then… why?" Megumi gasped.

"I never gave you permission to alter my recette, halfwit. You have Chef Uzumaki's speed and Chef Tadokoro's creativity. But you still messed up. Neither of them would have made such a mistake. Not even at your level." Megumi held her head down at Kojiro's disheartening words. Then he coldly turned from her. "Well I hope you find that explanation understandable."

"Well I don't." Soma spoke up with his arms crossed and serious look on his face. "First of all, there was absolutely no need to compare Megumi to her older relatives. She is her own chef. But more importantly, what happened here is what is called an unavoidable accident! There were ingredients that weren't fresh. You are supposed to be our boss and us, your employees. That being said, it was your responsibility to manage the ingredients and procure the best ones for this test." And he boldly stated, "This would make this your fault as the head chef."

Shinomiya slammed his hand down on the table next to him. "You little brat! You just don't seem to get it, do you?" and he added in his mind, 'Unlike Namikaze and Hojo.'

"I added poor-quality ingredients on purpose for the precise reason of limiting the number of students who would pass!" Gasps from Megumi and the other remaining students were heard in the room. "Those who were too slow or too careless would have messed up the selection and ultimately fail."

But Soma countered, "But that's why Megumi tried to compensate for that by being creative."

"I. Am. The Chef! This is my kitchen and I make the rules! And my rules are to never allow any of my underlings to alter my recette!" Kojiro stated rather frighteningly. "Listen here, my employee." He approached Soma and Megumi. "I have it in my power as the chef and examiner to expel you as well if you don't keep your mouth shut."

"WHAT!" Soma yelled but Megumi held him back. "Soma, that's enough. It's okay, really. If you go on with this, you will expelled too! So please, just stop."

"What are you saying, Megumi!? That you're just fine with this?! I don't care about any of that nonsense!"

"Soma, please. It's okay. So just… enough, all right." Megumi raised her head and giggled the most forced giggle Soma has ever heard. Seeing her smile but with tears in her closed eyes was enough to get Soma to calm down.

Soma brushed Megumi off him gently and walked to Chef Kojiro who was in the process of leaving. "Just hold on, Shinomiya-senpai. I have one more thing to ask."

"Oh, you have more complaints, Monsieur Yukihira?"

"Not a complaint but more like a question. Does that Totsuki rule still apply to alumni?"

"Huh?"

"I'm talking about a Shokugeki." This surprised Shinomiya. Soma untied his headband from his wrist. "I challenge you to a Shokugeki. If I win, you will rescind Megumi's expulsion."

"Interesting proposition, Monsieur Yukihira. But as you would know, a Shokugeki has to be accepted by both parties. I have no such inclinations of battling a student."

"Let's not be hasty now, Chef Shinomiya." Chef Dojima made his presence known. He had been just be the entrance silently watching with interest. Hinako popped out right behind his imposing figure, looking rather curious at what is happening.

---

In another room, Gin and Hinako tasted Megumi's dish, both giving it positive feedback. Annoyingly, Hinako tried to convince Kojiro to change his mind, giving him insults that she only half meant.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow!" She went when Kojiro gripped her head tightly.

"Chef Dojima, I believe I was given full discretion on how to deal with my students."

"I understand, Shinomiya. I have no complaints with how you pass or fail those assigned under you. However, she did try real hard to deal with her situation. Her courage and efforts should merit a certain degree of consideration, don't you think?"

"Absolutely not." The pink haired chef said calmly

"I do!" Hinako raised her hand high.

"Then we are at an impasse." Said Gin irritating Kojiro. "I have no choice but to oversee the unofficial Shokugeki. Think of it akin to a street brawl. We'll have the unofficial Shokugeki once all the afternoon activities are done. We wouldn't want to disrupt them, now would we?"

But Kojiro protested, "Wait a minute, Chef Dojima. I see no reason why I have to go along with this farce."

Gin countered back with a threathening glare, "You will accept it, Chef Shinomiya." Kojiro sighed.

"All right, fine. We'll go along with what Chef Dojima wants. If those two win, I will rescind Tadokoro's expulsion. But here are terms of my own." He walked pass the two students and opened the doors. "If I win, Yukihira will be expelled along with Tadokoro!" And he walked out.

"Well that's about settles it. Come to the basement of the annex later. Show us your mettle." Gin informed the two.

The rain outside ceased. Megumi and Soma walked along the sunlit hallways of the building they were in. Soma walked ahead of Megumi, unaware of just how downtrodden the girl looked. "Looks like we made it by the skin of our teeth," the redhead said with his hands in his pockets. Soma turned his head back to find Megumi glaring both sadly and angrily at him.

"You're so stupid, Soma!" She cried and Soma flinched slightly "To make such an insane challenge like that to an alumnus?!" She sniffed as her tears streamed down her soft cheeks. "You passed Chef Shinomiya's exam. Now you've been dragged into my mess. You should have let me be!" Megumi sunk down and cried into her knees.

There was a soft expression on Soma's partly shadowed face when he bent down to Megumi's level. "Megumi," he said and the crying girl raised her head from her knees, "you sometimes let your dialect slip!" he said comically.

"Why are you bringing that up now of all times?!" the blunette was flustered.

Soma took Megumi's hand and help her up. "Stand up now, Megumi. We will still have an afternoon of other sessions."

"You're always helping me out. Yet I've never really been able to pay you back." Her crying didn't cease and tear drops fell to the floor.

"Don't sweat it, Megumi. I made the choice to help you after all." He turned around and walked forward. "Besides, it should be obvious why I challenge him. You're time here isn't over." And he added as an afterthought, "Naruto-senpai would stomp my head into the ground if he found out I could have helped and did nothing." He laughed lightly.

---

TOTSUKI RESORT HOTEL - Lobby Area

"Oi, Ryoko-chan, Yuki-chan, everyone!" Naruto called out to the tenants of the Polar Star Dorm.

"Naruto-kun!" "Naruto-san!" they called back. He waved at them with his whole arm as he walked over with them.

"Hojo-san, you're with him?" Shun asked when he saw the purple haired girl standing just behind Naruto.

Hojo nodded. "We were partners again today. This morning with Chef Inui and this afternoon with Chef Tadokoro." Hojo pointed with her thumb over her shoulder to the blue haired woman behind them wearing a black coat with red clouds.

"So that's Chef Tadokoro, Megumi's aunt." Yuki observed. "Blue hair, amber or yellow eyes. Yup, there's certainly a resemblance. A taller, bustier, scarier version of Megumi."

"Taller and scarier is a no-brainer. But how can you be so sure about the bustier part?" Daigo and Shoji asked curiously.

BONK!

BONK!

The two rowdy boys nursed their aching heads from Miyoko's knuckles. "Don't answer that question, Yoshino-san." She told the shorter girl.

"So…" Shun began.

"Ice cream sculpture?" The Polar Star Dorm tenants asked.

"Ice cream sculpture." Naruto and Miyoko said. "She even gave us instructions to tell our friends about it. Boy, was it cold in that huge freezer." Naruto shivered, holding his sides. "Who knew Sasaki Yua was good at sculpting?"

Miyoko nodded again. "Indeed, she was an unexpected help to the examination."

'Who?' The rest of them thought.

"And Hayama Akira guy… who knew you could make spicy ice cream?" Naruto shrugged.

"Quite. Needless to say, Chef Tadokoro was most impress."

Then Naruto noticed something. "Hey guys," he said to them, "where are Megumi and Soma? I thought all examinations were done for the day."

"We were wondering that ourselves before you got here. It's really weird they aren't here yet. Come to think of it, where is Soma anyway? He was in the same group as Megumi." Said Yuki.

"None of us have seen him too." Daigo said.

"You don't think that maybe they're…" Zenji trailed off but they all knew what he meant.

"I didn't see their names on the list of those who failed." Shun stated.

Then Naruto placed his two cents. "Oh those two must have gotten into some kind of trouble." He rubbed his chin. "Or more rather, Soma got into some trouble and must have dragged Megumi into it." Close.

Bolts of lightning erupted from their heads and fused together above. Well except Miyoko. "I have a real bad feeling about this." They said together.

---

ANNEX BUILDING BASEMENT

"This basement was never intended to be used by anyone." Chef Gin explained. "We will have no interruptions here."

Megumi then noticed five other occupants in the kitchen. Chefs Fuyumi, Donato, Hitoshi, Hinako and her own aunt Konan. Fuyumi sat with her feet on the chair with the two male chefs standing behind her. Hinako also sat on a chair but was bound to it by ropes with the sign "Just a Spectator" hanging from her neck. Konan, still dressed in her Akatsuki coat, stood beside the tied chef.

"Wh-what are the alumni doing here?" Megumi asked both curiously and nervously. More on the latter actually. "Konan-oba-sama, you're here too." It surprised Megumi the most to see her aunt present. As well as adding to the pressure and anxiety she was already feeling.

Konan nodded at the younger bluenette. "They are here to be judges. Chef Inui will just be observing because she might be biased." The older bluenette explained. "I am here to see you perform, Megumi. But I won't be judging either."

"So this is the aunt you were referring to. I can certainly see the resemblance." Soma noted with his arms crossed.

"This is most unexpected. An unofficial Shokugeki in the middle of a Training Camp? Not to mention it's a current student versus an alumnus. I can only imagine what Chef Chapelle would do if he ever found out." Chef Donato wondered.

"I would make the educated guess he'd bash our heads in." Chef Hitoshi offered.

"If he does, I'm pointing my fingers at you, Shinomiya." Chef Fuyumi answered.

"Shut your mouth, Fuyumi!" Kojiro snapped.

Gin explained again the conditions of the Shokugeki to the other chefs present. "This unofficial Shokugeki with vegetables as the main ingredients. The time limit is two hours. This is a two against one battle is to settle if whether or not Tadokoro Megumi deserves to stay in Totsuki. If Tadokoro and Yukihira win, Chef Shinomiya will rescind the former's expulsion. But if Shinomiya wins, Tadokoro's expulsion remains and Yukihira will be expelled together with her."

'This Shokugeki is because of me. If I mess this up, Soma-kun will get expelled with me. I have to do everything to make sure that doesn't happen!'

"But there's one more condition. The Head Chef will be Tadokoro Megumi." Needless to say, Megumi's eyes snapped wide open and her heart raced as her nervous fired. Both she and Soma gasped. "The recipe is yours to decide on your own. Yukihira will serve as a Sous Chef. Nothing more."

"What!"

"So let's get started! Let the Shokugeki commence!" Gin announced for all to hear.

"Wait a minute, Dojima-senpai! I was the one who issued the challenge of the Shokugeki so why?"

"Yukihira Soma," it was Chef Tadokoro Konan who spoke up, "here in Totsuki all chefs must prove their worth by demonstrating just what they are capable of with their own skills." She explained "Let's say you do win this Shokugeki and Megumi gets to stay in Totsuki a little longer. She will eventually face another challenge that she may not be able to overcome. Will you always be there to help her? No, you won't. And even if you were, challenging the one who failed her to a Shokugeki will not be an option. Chef Dojima allowed this Shokugeki to take place even though it had nothing to stand on. This is her trial to overcome and to prove if she deserves to remain a student of Totsuki Academy."

"She's right, Yukihira." Gin nodded to the older Tadokoro. "On this night, you will just be her Sous Chef. Nothing more."

Konan then turned her attention to her niece. "Megumi, tonight in this kitchen, you are the chef." The older bluenette sent her a warm smile. The kind of smile reserved to close, loved ones. "So do your best." Konan's words were meant to encourage the girl on but it did not rid the girl of her anxiety. If anything, it served to make things worse for her. The added pressure of not disappointing her aunt.

Shinomiya picked up his ingredients. "Chef Dojima, I got what I need and know what I'm going to do. I'm going to start now."

"That's fine, Chef Shinomiya."

Megumi's nerves were starting to get to her. Her body shook and shivered. Her sight blurred. Her mind weighed the odds against her. She was starting to pant and her mind was blanking out.

'Megumi-chan, calm down. You must calm down. You need to focus. Don't let Shinomiya's reputation and status intimidate you. Your place in Totsuki is hanging on this Shokugeki!' Konan ordered in her mind. As her aunt, it was her duty to help Megumi in such a time. But as a professional chef, she had to practice what she preached and let Megumi save herself. It was a lesson, a harsh one, that Megumi needing learning.

Konan had noticed years ago that her sole niece had problems maintaining her composure when against pressure. Her contacts in Totsuki had informed her that Megumi wasn't doing so well in school either. And from what she knew, her sister, Megumi's mother was unaware of this.

"Hey, Megumi, put your hands together. I said put them together."

SLAP!

It echoed in the kitchen and it caught everyone off-guard.

"Huh?" Konan silently gasped. The Yukihira boy had slapped the backs of Megumi's hands.

"Ouch..." Megumi whispered.

"It's a neat little trick my dad taught me back home. It helps calm the nervous when situations get tough." He explained before dawning a stupid look. "The only downside is that you can't use it on yourself."

True to that, Megumi found her hands still. The shaking all gone.

"Now that you've calm down, take your time and think about what dish to cook."

"But Soma-kun, I'm up against Chef Shinomiya. He is a highly accomplished and recognized chef who made his success in France. There's no way I can compete against someone like him."

"Megumi, don't compare yourself to him or anyone else. Forget what he's making. Cooking is about putting your all into one plate. Well that's what my dad used to always say." And Ichiraku Teuchi and Ayame on occasion.

"But my cooking can't-"

"Those rice balls you made for us back at the Dorm Fields were really great, Megumi. So quit thinking about stuff that don't matter. They won't help you right now. Instead just make your own food."

"My own food…" A sense of inspiration filled Megumi as she begins to recall her ever first cooking lesson which she had with her mother. As well as a memory of the first time she tried her hand at making ice cream with her aunt. It was then Megumi turned on her burner.

'That boy...' Konan thought.

"Well what a surprise." Shinomiya sat down. "So the halfwit actually got started."

Konan was about to speak up. Megumi may not be the best but she was far from halfwit. But Soma beat her to it. "Say what you want, Shinomiya-senpai, but wait until after you've tasted her food."

"Soma-kun, I've… I've decided on a dish to cook." Megumi explained what she wanted to do and was met with Soma's approval. "But it will take a lot of prep work with different ingredients so I'm not sure if we can manage."

Soma smirked confidently. "Who do you think I am? When it comes to speed at prep work, Naruto-senpai has most people beat. However," he prepared his headband, "I wasn't number two at holding the fort at the Yukihira Diner for nothing!" The image of chibi Soma and chibi Joichiro appeared over them. "It was just the two of us. Me and my dad. Though he often hired three of my former's school's seniors and Naruto-senpai to help out part time." Three silhouettes plus Naruto appeared over them too.

Megumi was fast herself but right now she didn't feel like making a careless mistake. Soma knew that and knew that she knew so it didn't need to be said.

Megumi giggled and Soma gripped his headband in his hand. "Megumi, you have my full support in this! I'll help you with everything I got!" He declared to her. And with a fist, he proclaimed, "So for today, we open up Tadokoro Diner!"

Megumi timidly yet happily agreed. "Let's go!" Soma wrapped his headband on his head. "Chef Tadokoro!"

"Yeah!"

'Remarkable…' Konan again thought.

Konan did what her alumnus did. Carefully observe the two. 'Truly remarkable.' Konan admitted mentally. 'This boy carefully watches what Megumi-chan does. He helps her when necessary at the correct time and makes sure he doesn't get in the way. All the while not missing a single beat in what he is supposed to do.' "Chef Sekimori," she approached the chef whose eyes were closed to slits, "may I borrow that document pertaining to Yukihira Soma?"

"Of course, Chef Tadokoro." Sekimori Hitoshi handed her the paper.

"Soma, he was taught to cook from home and his family's diner." Konan hummed. "So he learned to cook in that manner, huh."

"His skills are beyond that of a regular student." Hitoshi affirmed.

"You don't seem all that surprised, Chef Tadokoro." Donato said.

"Not at all, Chef Gotoda."

Both Chefs Gotoda and Sekimori smiled slighty. "Of course, you were one of Chef Jiraiya's students."

"With him, you can learn cooking almost anywhere." Fuyumi added.

Inwardly, Konan sent Soma a grateful and impressed smile. Not at his skill or his effectiveness as a Sous Chef but for what he did for Megumi. To be able to get Megumi to focus and cook regardless of the odds. 'Yukihira Soma… I will have to look into you and find out just who you are?' Whether that's a good or bad thing is yet to be known.

"All contestants should be finishing up!" Gin loudly announced. Kojiro and Megumi and Soma started their plating.

"Now we can begin the judging. Chef Shinomiya, you're first."

When Kojiro brought his plates to the judges table. "Chou farci." Donato stated, his hand below his chin.

"Chef Tadokoro, it seems Chef Shinomiya only prepared three plates. Would you mind sharing with me?" Chef Sekimori offered.

"Not at all, Chef Sekimori. I thank you for your generosity. Simply allow me to get utensils of my own." Hitoshi nodded with his arms crossed. Konan was not a judge in this cook-off but it wasn't everyday she got to eat a dish served by a chef of Shinomiya Kojiro's skill.

It was a fantastic dish as expected from the Magician of Legumes. While the others including Dojima commented on Kojiro's work, Konan ate in silence, keeping her thoughts to herself. Though she did join in their Foodvision.

"Cabbage Red!" Inui Hinako's clothes transformed into a cabbaged theme magical girl outfit colored red.

"Cabbage Blue!" Mizuhara Fuyumi outfit was similar only colored blue.

"Cabbage Black!" Konan's was of course black.

"CCAAAABBAAAGGEEE PINKK!" Dojima Gin went in the most epic manner possible. Leave it to him to make wearing a pink magical girl outfit look so cool.

"Yes!" Donato was dressed as a masked magician.

"MAGICAL CABBAGE!" They proudly stated except for Konan who silently just posed with them.

And Owl-Hitoshi went "Magic, magic!"

Still, the Ice Cream Queen noticed that for someone like Chef Shinomiya, he didn't cook his best dish. She shared the same thoughts as Gin. 'Shinomiya didn't serve us his top tier dishes. Could it be that he truly doesn't see any threat in Megumi-chan and Yukihira? He is an accomplished alumnus so he is justified into thinking that. But Shinomiya Kojiro is the sort to not hold back and utterly crush his competition when given the opportunity.'

"Tadokoro, Yukihira, brings your plates to the table. It's your turn!"

Megumi started getting anxious again. But Soma patted her back and got to her to focus once more. "It'll be fine, Megumi."

"A terrine." Konan and Hinako both said awed.

Five plates for five chefs and a beautiful Rainbow Terrine it was. The chefs gave it a try while Megumi recalled the stakes hanging on the success of her dish. "Delicious!" One of them said, bringing Megumi out of her memories.

The three judges plus Hinako gave their thoughts on the dish. Konan sat in silence, simply enjoying her niece's work, savoring each bite. 'Yes, my little sister did indeed teach her that.' She thought after hearing Megumi explain.

"Tadokoro Megumi is like the Koro-pok-guru of Legumes." Konan heard Donato say. Immediately, the bluenette pictured her niece as the tiny entity. Her cute little form beneath the leaf of a butterblur plant.

But Hinako had other thoughts "No, that's not right. Megumi is more like the Household Goddess of Legume!" Konan pictured Megumi from her smaller days, wearing a red kimono, holding a green pumpkin while innocently staring.

Then Hitoshi gave his two cents. "No, that's not right either. She is the Snow Child of Legumes sent to deliver vegetables to people during winter time." And cue child-like Megumi wearing old Japanese winter clothes with a basket of vegetables.

It wasn't Konan's duty at the moment to share her thoughts. But she likened Megumi to a sea fairy, granting her an abundance of seaweed to help make her ice cream. What? Well what else sort of plant was a sea fairy going to give to someone?!

Regardless, Konan simply let the three chefs argue about it. Fuyumi said it best anyway. "Why are they all some sort of yokai?"

It was judging time. Each chef was given a coin and presented with two plates. One was Shinomiya's. The other was Megumi's. The result was what Konan had realistically knew it would be. Hitoshi, Fuyumi and Donato all placed their coins on Kojiro's plate.

Konan gave out a quiet sigh. "The gap between Shinomiya and Tadokoro was quite obvious. Shinomiya Kojiro wins by a landslide." Gin said to everyone present.

"I'm sorry, Megumi. Looks like I couldn't help you. But hey, you can hold your head high from now on."

"Soma-kun, that's not…" Megumi cried, feeling disappointed in herself for letting Soma down despite the faith he put in her. 'I'm so sorry, Soma-kun.'

"Don't be so down about it." Shinomiya told the two students. "This result is what was expected from the very beginning. Now then… I have an early start tomorrow so I'm going now." Kojiro walked to the door before he heard another coin landing on a plate.

Shinomiya looked over his shoulder. "What do you think you're doing, Chef Tadokoro? The decision has been made."

"Indeed it has. This is me acknowledging a fine dish and showing my appreciation for it."

"Are you now? You're not even one of the judges. Don't you think this is simply bias your showing towards Tadokoro. She is your niece after all."

"Bias? No." She shook her head slowly. "If Megumi's dish wasn't to my taste, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Not to mention, she and her mother have both been on the receiving end of a harsh lecture from me when they failed to make a dish worth serving." That is true. One time, Megumi's mother messed up one of Konan's recipes. What Konan said and did drove her sister to tears.

"I agree with Chef Tadokoro. I was planning on acknowledging it myself but the Ice Cream Queen beat me to it."

"I don't get any of you." was all Kojiro said.

"Is that right?" Gin flipped a coin to Shinomiya who caught it. "Try Tadokoro's dish and you'll get your answer."

"You're stagnating, aren't you, Chef Shinomiya?" It wasn't a question or an accusation. Konan simply stated a fact.

"Good eye, Chef Tadokoro." Gin said to her. Then he spoke back to Kojiro. "You must have realized it yourself, Shinomiya. Even since you won the Pluspol Award, you hit a wall. You've lost sight of your path moving forward. You've reached the pinnacle and don't know where to go from there. For us chefs, stagnation is almost no different from regression."

"And the reason why you didn't serve us your higher tier dishes is because you didn't want any of us to find out that your cooking has come to its end." Konan finished.

"Shut up the both of you! You know nothing!" Kojiro shouted. "What would any of you know?!"

Dojima handed Megumi's plate to the pink haired chef. "Just try it. Try Tadokoro's dish."

Shinomiya relented and took a piece. Initially dismissive, he took another piece before he started recalling his childhood days with his mother, his sweet, loving mother. A tear went down his cheek before he placed the coin Dojima gave him on Megumi's plate.

"Hey halfwit," Shinomiya called to Megumi, "you used Allspice, didn't you?"

"Um, yes." Megumi explained that it helped with digestion.

It was here Konan learned just how considerate Megumi was to those who eat the food she cooked. The older bluenette felt a sense of pride for her niece swell in her chest. 'You have such a kind heart, Megumi-chan.' While Shinomiya was lost in his thoughts, Hinako made her move to put her coin on Megumi's plate thus making it a tie. "There! Now it's a tie." Hinako said happily.

"If it's a tie, then Tadokoro's standing is the same as before the Shokugeki, which means..."

Shinomiya sighed. "This has all been so irregular." He set his sights on Megumi who shook in fright. "Hey halfwit! Do your best to survive for as long as you can. You have your ways." After a little scuffle with Hinako, Kojiro went out the doors.

"Megumi, your cooking reflects the warm welcome, the hospitality you have for your guests. Continue to hone those skills in Totsuki." Konan told her niece.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Gin said with his arms crossed.

"Phew, it looks like we made with it. Congratulations, Megumi." said Soma.

The blue haired girl then fell to her knees, crying. Soma laid his hand on her shoulder. Konan went over to his niece, offering a handkerchief to wipe her tears with. "You did well, Megumi."

Megumi looked up at her aunt before wrapping her arms around her and silently cried into her chest. "Konan-oba-sama."

---

"You live to cook another day, Megumi." Konan said now that they were outside in the cold night. "Your mother will be proud of you once she hears of this." Megumi smiled and nodded. "Yukihira Soma, was it?"

"Yes." Soma answered.

"You stood up for my niece and helped her overcome this."

"It was nothing really." Soma beamed a smile while scratching the back of his head. "Megumi deserves to remain here."

"No, it's not. You did her a greater favor than you had originally intended. You did something for her that I couldn't."

"Konan-oba-sama…"

Konan said as she took a few steps towards Soma. "Take this." She pulled something out of her pocket and handed it to him. The younger bluenette gasped. "Megumi, take care for now. It's getting late and you should turn in. More is still to come." With that, she went her way, leaving the two alone.

"EH!" Megumi exclaimed after seeing what her aunt gave Soma. "S-S-Soma-kun, do you know what it is, is in your hand?"

"Huh?"

"That is a coupon for a One Time Free pass for any dessert in my aunt's restaurants. You can get one of any of the desserts she sells even the expensive ones."

Soma grinned, "That is awesome!"

"No, it's more than that! Soma, my aunt is not normally this kind or this expressive of gratitude! She can be quite cruel at times." For Konan to have given Soma that seemingly trivial coupon showed just how much the older bluenette appreciated what Soma did for Megumi.

Megumi then felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She gasped when she found she had missed so many calls from her friends. Soma told Megumi to go on ahead of him. The redhead stayed a little longer to vent out his frustrations for losing. Soma is Soma. And he always aims to win no matter who he is up against.

When he made it back to the hotel a while later, he received a slap on the face from a disgruntled and worried Yuki.

"SOMA!" The boy being called turned to where the voice came from. Soma saw Naruto, Takumi and Ikumi running towards him looking somewhat upset. Miyoko, Alice and Ryo not far behind them.

"Soma, what's this ridiculous rumor going about with you challenging an alumnus of all people to a Shokugeki?" Ikumi demanded.

"How dare you risk getting expelled from Totsuki before we have had proper contest of our cooking skills?"

Takumi and Ikumi did consider Soma their friend. Even though they wouldn't openly tell other people that. They cared for the redhead. But Takumi wanted to be Soma's downfall. No malice. Just friendly competition. Ikumi had a score to settle with him and Naruto. Yeah, she lost fair and square but her pride as an expert in meat was partly shattered that day. She believe that one day beating them in a meat theme cook-off would repair that pride.

Naruto then got in between them and pushed them aside. "No, more importantly, what's this I heard about Megumi almost getting expelled and you helping her out?"

"How do you guys know about our Shokugeki?" Soma asked curiously.

Then all three of them responded "How can we not know about?! It's what's everyone's talking about!"

"But if you two are still here right now," Miyoko stepped forward, "then that means you won against Chef Shinomiya? Tadokoro Megumi, is this true? Did you really beat a former First Seat of the Elite Ten in a Shokugeki?" Her eyes carefully inspecting Megumi.

"Well, ah..."

Soma spoke, "Nope, Megumi and I blew it."

"What do you mean you and her blew it? Was it not a one-on-one contest?"

"Nope. Soma had to help me out and even then we got through by the tiniest thread."

"I see." was all Miyoko said on the matter. She carefully hid her disappointment. She and Ryo both. Ryo already had plans to beat Soma in the kitchen. But if Soma beat an alumnus, it would make his victory all the better.

"Tadokoro Megumi, bear in mind that you won't always have Yukihira Soma to save your skin. How long will you let him win your battles?" She asked rhetorically as she walked away, leaving Megumi to ponder upon it for a moment.

"My, my, Soma-kun, to have challenged an alumnus, a former first seat at that, to a Shokugeki. It either means you're that good or you're very brave but incredibly reckless and stupid." Alice teased.

"Can we not talk about this please?" Soma requested.

"Um, no. We are so talking about it." Naruto said with finality.

"Soma, did you risk your place here in Totsuki to help out Megumi?"

"He did, Naruto-nii." Megumi said in Soma's behalf. "If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't be here right now."

"I... I see. Soma, thank you." Naruto said solemnly.

Soma smiled and hung his arm over Naruto's shoulders. "Now, now, Naruto-senpai. Don't go all sentimental on me. I did what I had to. Megumi didn't deserve to go home just yet. You would have done no differently had you been in my place."

This put a smile back on Naruto's lips. "You know what, that's right. But still, thanks, Soma. I owe you for this. At least now I know for sure that Megumi-chan is in safe hands with you."

"Well, you owe me nothing." Soma said in typical Soma fashion. "Don't worry, senpai. I'm Megumi's friend after all. I'll be sure to look after her if I can. Besides, I already got this from Megumi's aunt." He showed them the coupon.

"No way!" Daigo exclaimed. "That's a coupon to get any one dessert from Chef Konan's restaurants."

"That's so sweet, Soma. You just have to share it with us if you ever get it." Shoji said with his fists in front of his chest and a slight drool.

"I'd be very upset with you, Soma-kun, if you didn't." Alice said.

"Don't worry about it." Soma told them. "I'll share it with all of you." A loud cheer went in the room. The day ended for the occupants of the Polar Star Dorm and Naruto's Suite with another game of cards in Zenji's room.

---

TOTSUKI RESORT HOTEL - Training Camp Day 3

Another day filled with daunting and painstaking tasks to weed out the undeserving chefs from Totsuki. Naruto and all of his friends survived though. Just when they thought the day was over and they could get some rest, an announcement was made that they had one more task.

Now here they were in a hallway in some sort of formation planned set up by Alice. "All right, here's how it'll go. I'll stand over here." Her hand gesturing at her current spot. "Isami-kun, take your place about ten steps back." Isami did so. "Now cross your arms and try to look as big as possible."

"Got it." was all Isami said about the matter.

The coordinator looked at her aide. "Ryo-kun, you know what to do."

"The usual?" He said bored.

"Yes, the usual. Now Naruto-kun, you stay on the opposite side of Ryo and take about two steps to the back. Wouldn't want the hallway cramping up now, would we? I want you to pound your fist into your open hand and keep doing it." She instructed. The whiskered blond followed it. "Now just lower your head so that your hair can shadow your eyes."

Then Alice pulled a blue fedora out of nowhere and meticulously placed it on Takumi's head. "Now just stand in the space between Naruto-kun and Isami-kun and continuously flip this coin." She handed him a coin. Now that her formation was done, she took place in front of Ryo and stood with one of hand on her waist.

Erina and Hisako soon walked by. The awaited targets "You best relieve yourself of the notion you can stay as the Queen Bee forever." Alice told her cousin.

"Thank you for the advice." Erina said back, walking past them all. "I'll do my best to keep what you said in mind as the prattle of the unwashed masses."

Isami stepped aside and let Erina and Hisako pass.

Alice smiled. "It's a tad shame neither Nao nor Ikumi are able to join us."

"It can't be helped. We couldn't find Ikumi anywhere and Nao still has a restraining order against her." Ryou reminded Alice.

"I suppose you're right." Alice shrugged her shoulders.

"How again did she managed to convince us to go along with that?" Takumi comically growled. "I mean, all of that just to appear intimidating to Nakiri Erina?!" He spat while still flipping the coin.

"Wow, Big Bro! I didn't know you were so good with that." Isami commented about the coin flipping.

"Not to mention that fedora fits you well." Naruto observed. "I think you should keep it when you aren't cooking."

"Come on then, boys. Let's get to the assembly area." Alice ordered.

There at the assembly area, Naruto fist-bumped Soma, more than glad to see his friend still kicking in Totsuki. "There were less students than before two days ago. Seems to me that the Training Camps true purpose did its job." Naruto stated.

"You got that right." Soma agreed.

"All eyes forward to the stage." Chef Dojima told them from his podium. "We gathered you all here for one reason and one reason only. To explain your task for tomorrow."

"For tomorrow, huh?" Shun repeated.

"By why tell us the night before." Ryoko said worried.

"The task for tomorrow will be to create a new breakfast menu worthy of being served to guests at Totsuki Resort." Gin went on to explain the importance of breakfast and the rules for the task. The main ingredient is eggs. The students all had to be innovative. There were no restrictions and it had to be for a buffet. And all of it had to be ready by six in the morning the next day.

"Six in the evening, right?" Yuki pressed a finger to her chin in thought.

"Nope. He definitely said the morning." Shun had to ruin it for her. Yuki and Zenji both panicked and complained.

"Remember, everything has to be ready by six in the morning. You can choose to go to sleep or you can use the kitchens and try out various dishes for tomorrow. Dismissed."

Most of the students moaned and groaned, complaining about how they're still tired. "This is going to be quite the challenge." Naruto muttered but nonetheless looked forward to it.

"It is truly a task worth competing over. Soma!" Takumi called out, earning the redhead's attention.

"Huh?"

"Using the Aldini expertise, I'll create the ultimate breakfast of a traditional Italian egg dish!" He said with the flames of passion burning behind him.

"Oh," Soma dawned a stupid yet intrigued look, "what's a traditional Italian egg dish?"

Takumi smirked smugly but Isami went on to tell Soma anyway. "ISAMI, DON'T GO SPILLING THE BEANS TO HIM!" Then the younger twin dragged the older twin away.

Naruto and Soma found Erina. Soma said to her, "Now that I remember, our transfer exam also had eggs as the main ingredient." Erina flinched.

"It sure does bring back memories." Soma looked up.

"It sure does." Naruto smiled gently. "And I particularly remember those tiny Soma-Angels tickling Erina-san who was-" Hisako suddenly pulled his ear painfully. "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Hisako-san, what the hell?!"

"Erina-sama, I've secured us a kitchen."

"Excellent work, Hisako. You go on ahead. I have some things to say to Yukihira-kun."

Hisako nodded and continued to pull Naruto by the ear. "Oh my, how amusing." Alice giggled, seeing Naruto being dragged away by Hisako. "What do you think he was going to say, Ryo-kun?"

Ryo just shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me."

At the kitchens, Hisako released Naruto. "Naruto-kun, I do not know what I saw that day but be sure to keep that to yourself. Always!"

"All right, all right." Naruto waved his hand. "It's not like I tell people of the things I see." Hisako gave him a small nod before going her way.

"Naruto-kun." A new voice said.

"Oh, Nao-chan, I haven't seen you since the first day."

"You make it sound like I haven't seen you in a while. But moving on, I've readied some workstations for us."

"You have?"

"Mm-hmm." She nodded. "It was strange. I just took my seat on one of the workstations and the workstations in my immediate vicinity were left unoccupied."

"Wow! That is strange!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Takumi, Isami and Ikumi are already there. I just informed Hojo-san and she went there too. Unfortunately, there isn't any workstations left for Alice-san and Ryo-san."

"How unfortunate. But good on you for getting us places to work." Naruto let Nao lead him to their workstations.

First order of business: cook up some ramen. "Difficult, difficult, difficult." Naruto chanted quietly as he sat on a chair. His elbows resting on the table, his hands drawn together and his chin resting on them. There were several trays of eggs in front of him.

"Having trouble coming up with a dish, Namikaze?" Miyoko inquired.

"Sure am." Naruto was not ashamed to admit that. The timer beside him rang. "Oh, my ramen's ready." He opened the cup and began eating his favorite food. "I'm sure it will come to me."

Miyoko rolled her eyes and quickly averted them away and went back to her work. 'One day, Namikaze. One day.'

Naruto slurped in the wet noodles as he was in thought mode. 'Let's see. It's should be meant for a buffet. The guests here in Totsuki. But there are no guest currently here. Unless they are planning on bringing guests in kind of like in the first day where they brought in those bodybuilders and football players. But maybe they're bringing kids too.'

Then a lightbulb switched on over his head. "Oi, Naruto, maybe you'll think better if you actually turned the light on over your workstation!" said Takumi.

"My bad, Takumi-kun." He stood up and started walking.

"Naruto-kun, where are you heading to?" Ikumi asked.

"To go find one of the staff members of the hotel. I need to ask them something." Whatever Naruto wanted to ask them, the answer he got back was a positive one. Now he knew what he wanted to make for tomorrow. All that's left now is to try it out in practice.

---

CHEF DOJIMA GIN'S OFFICE

"What a quiet night, do you think Chef Chapelle? It's quite different from the typical scene during tasks where it's loud with the student's yelling." Gin said to Chapelle.

Both men had their Icha Icha books on their laps. Tissues plugging the blood in their nose. Chef Sekimori stood by with his arms crossed, secretly envious of the books Minato gifted them with.

"The students are more likely than not experiencing more frustrations than normal."

---

THE KITCHENS

"Well that was easy!" Naruto said what his friends were all thinking when they all figured out what to cook tomorrow.

"Of course." Takumi smirked. "We are not nameless mooks who'll be so easily forgotten. Just wait, Soma! I'll beat you with this dish!"

Nao yawned, "Maybe now we can get some sleep."

Ikumi rubbed her shoulders, causing her boobs to shake a bit. "I could go for some sleep. My shoulders are starting to kill."

"Naruto-kun, we'll go on ahead. It seems you don't want to turn in just yet." Isami said.

Naruto nodded. "You guys get going."

"Namikaze, don't stay up to late now, you hear! I don't want you coming in late as the reason why you're expelled." Miyoko told him.

"I didn't think you cared, Miyoko-chan." The purple haired girl just rolled her eyes. "I just don't want you to go until I beat you in a cook-off."

Naruto laughed anyway. "If you say so." Her eyes narrowed when she saw Naruto attempting to cook ramen again.

"We're off, Naruto-kun." Isami raised his fist and bumped it with Naruto's. The group started leaving. "Hey Isami, since when did you start bumping fists with Naruto?" Naruto heard Takumi say. He gave a quick smile to the backs of his friends.

Naruto absentmindedly reached over for his ramen when he knew it was just cool enough to eat. However his hand found nothing. He then found Hisako holding the bowl.

"Namikaze Naruto!"

"Eh, hello Hisako-chan. You want some ramen? I can make some for you too." Hisako's response was to pour the broth down the drain and dump the rest in the garbarge. Much to Naruto's horror.

"HISAKO-CHAN, WHAT THE HELL?! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" Naruto demanded with those comical wide, blank eyes and big mouth.

"Naruto-kun, as a chef who specializes in dishes that have medicinal qualities, I simply cannot go on and watch you eat another bowl of ramen. Hasn't anyone told you that eating too much of anything is bad?"

"How can it be bad? Ramen is-"

"I know, I know! Ramen is the Food of the Gods. But guess what," Hisako just as comically yelled, square at Naruto's face, "THE GODS DIDN'T ONLY CREATE RAMEN!" The rosette took a breath. "Listen to me, Naruto-kun. If you end up in the infirmary or the hospital one of these days, don't say I didn't tell you so!"

"Muuuuu…" Naruto went as Hisako left without sparing him another glance.

With nothing else to do, Naruto headed off to Soma's workstation. "Oi, Soma! You done choosing your dish for tomorrow yet?"

"I got one planned. Now I'm just making sure I get it right. Alice-san and Ryo-san were just here." Soma informed him. Naruto nodded. "Takumi-kun, Nikumi-chan, Isami-kun, Nao-chan and Miyoko-chan, finished ahead of me and went to bed already. I'm actually excited for tomorrow. I want to see if my creation can put a smile on our guests' faces."

"Knowing you, senpai, you'll succeed."

"You and I both will." Then he got a look at what Soma was preparing. "Hey are you making some kind of soufflé?" Naruto asked surprised.

"Yeah! It's going to be great." Soma confidently smiled.

Naruto looked at him questioningly, his eyes going back forth to Soma and what he was cooking. But then he shrugged and took the confident smile on Soma's face as reassurance. "Well I'm sure you know what you're doing." Naruto pulled up a chair and sat across the table.

"Should you go on ahead and get some shut eye, Naruto-senpai?"

Naruto waved, dismissing Soma's suggestion. "Nah! I'm fine. I still feel all energized. I'll stay up with you until you're done."

Five minutes later.

Naruto was fast sleep with the side of his head lying on the table. "'I still feel all energized' he said." Soma deadpanned.

---

TEST HALL E - Training Camp Day 4

"Hmmm… This place is bigger than I had expected it to be." Naruto observed when he entered the test hall together with Alice and Ikumi.

"We should find places to set up shop." Alice suggested. "Oh it seems most of the booths near the entrances have been taken."

"Tsk, so much for strategic locations." Ikumi said after scanning the test hall. "Wait a minute! Here's one literally right in front of us that doesn't have anyone's name on it!"

"Actually, Nikumi-chan, that booth is mine."

"Say what now?" the tanned beauty eyed him suspiciously.

Naruto chuckled, "Remember last night when I want out of the kitchen?"

"Don't tell me you asked to be reserved." Ikumi gasped.

"Yes and no." Naruto walked over to his booth and removed the reserved sign. He bent down and pulled out a heating lamp. "I asked them if I could borrow several of these. Reservations were just a bonus question."

Alice pressed a finger to her chin, "That's actually something I didn't consider."

"Say, Naruto-kun? Are you sure you should be cooking what you're planning on cooking? I mean by what method do you use to measure just how many plates you've served?" Ikumi asked recalling what Naruto prepared the previous night.

"Don't worry, Nikumi-chan. I also asked about this last night. They told me that one large tray is equivalent to three plates."

"I still say this is a big risk you're taking, Naruto-kun." Alice said playfully.

"We'll see about that. You girls may want to go look for places to set up or you may end up in the far back." Naruto suggested.

"Let's go, Nikumi-chan."

"Hey, hey, I didn't give you permission to use that nickname!"

Naruto's eyes followed them for some moments. "It's so good to see they're finally starting to get along." He said with a stupid expression.

Then he got to work. Pulling out his equipment and readying his ingredients. By the time, the examination was to begin, Naruto had several trays worth of his dishes ready under the heating lamps and some more in the oven just waiting to be finished cooking.

"Now that everyone's ready to present their dish, I will begin explaining the requirements to pass this test. But first, it's time I introduced the judges." Chef Dojima announced through the speakers sometime later.

The doors opened and first in were excited children as Naruto had anticipated with their families not far behind them. Naruto had a small yet warm smile on his face seeing the children happily enter the hall. He will not fail to satisfy their appetites.

"They are people who grow and produce the ingredients for Totsuki Resort Hotels and their families. They serve every year as judges for the training camps. I've informed them that the theme is an inspired egg dish. Their judgment is quite accurate."

"Judgment, huh?" Naruto said with his arms crossed over his chest confidently. "I don't need their judgment. I want their bellies filled and their hearts contented."

"There are two criteria for passing. One is that your dish must represent an inspiration worthy of acknowledgement by the professional producers and staff. Two is that you must serve two hundred plates by the time the timer end."

"Oka-san, oka-san, take a look at this." A little girl pulled her mother to Naruto's booth. Several trays were placed. Some were small, just about the size of a plate. Others were trays. "It looks like a giant egg cooked sunny-side up."

"Is this pizza?" the mother asked.

"You bet!" Naruto beamed the mother and daughter a smile.

The pizza did look like a sunny-side up egg. An inner circle of golden yellow and an outer circle of white. The outer edges of the crust just barely visible. They came in two sizes. One was small and cut into four smaller sizes, meant clearly for one person to consume. The other was bigger like a regular sized pizza and it had small quail eggs in a perfect circular shape cooked sunny-side up.

"On the left is the kiddy meals. On the right is the grown-ups section."

The pizza for kids looked cute which brought in the little ones. Which then brought in the adults. A carefully constructed dish. Yellow cheese in the middle with egg yolk as its core. White cheese surrounding it with egg whites as its main component. The protein was chopped to tiny pieces and distributed evenly across the crust just beneath the cheese. The quail eggs were added on the last minute just before the pizza was fully cooked.

"Oh my, I never thought I'd ever eat pizza for breakfast." An elderly man said.

---

"Pizza isn't normally a breakfast meal." Chef Chapelle stated from wherever he was. He and Gin were carefully watching the many screens used to help monitor the students. One of the, showed what Naruto was doing.

"Yet Namikaze figured out that there would be children partaking in this task. Knowing that, he knew he had something to go with. Using children's affinity for cute looking things as well as their closer familiarity to pizza over the other dishes the students made, he was able to gain so many customers." Gin explained. "The pizza attracts the children. The children bring in the parents."

"I see. So that's his angle. Well it seems to be working."

"Not to mention, he managed to secure a spot that allowed the guests to easily spot him when they enter."

---

"Easy there, dear." A woman told her husband. "The yolk in these quail eggs are still wet."

"But it tastes so good!" The man said after swallowing.

Naruto took in the sight of his customers enjoying themselves. Foodvision time. Multiple people fell on top of a giant pizza crust. The kids laughed at the fun of it. Soom tiny, sliced, meaty topping raining above them. Suddenly warm, sticky cheese covered them all. Naruto's customers had to eat their way out of the cheese. The children screamed in joy, the men laughed heartily and the women moaned in pure delight. Thank heavens, everyone was wearing swimming wear. It just wouldn't do to swim naked in cheese. What? This was a Foodvision, not a Foodgasm!

'This is the purpose of a chef, Naruto.' A very familiar voice spoke from his memories.

"Hey, kid! You got more of these?!"

"Looks like you guys enjoyed it so much. I didn't think the first batch would go away so quickly. Next batch coming up."

"These are pretty good." Spoke a voice that seemed calmer than the rest. Tracing its source, Naruto found a man with black hair and serious looking red eyes. He wore a black coat with red clouds.

"I'm sorry. Do I know you?"

"No, you don't. But I know you. The names Uchiha Itachi." Without saying anything else, Itachi left and went to another booth.

And soon as time went by, "Namikaze Naruto, 200 servings complete." Naruto didn't even noticed his trays and his plates had piled up. He wasn't the first one done. That honor belong to Erina. But Naruto was far from the last.

"Hmph! Two hundred servings, huh? Challenge accepted! Challenge beaten! Two hundred satisfied customers!" Naruto crossed his arms, raised his chin and flared his nostril in triumph.

His tables were filled with tableware stacked one on top of the other. He looked around and spotted Alice and Ikumi. Whiteylocks had finished and Ikumi was fifty short of complete. "I wonder how everyone else is doing." He murmured before he started cooking himself a serving of ramen.

---

"Ramen, again?" Chef Chapelle pinched the bridge of his nose.

Chef Sena Hiromi spoke up, "There is no rule forbidding a student from eating what he wants after he completes a task."

Dojima laughed. "He is just like his parents."

"I don't remember Minato or Kushina ever loving ramen that much." Chapelle stated.

"The boy must have gotten it from the both of them." Hiromi suggested.

"One of these days I am putting a stop to his near obsession with eating ramen."

"Good luck with that, Chef Chapelle. It didn't happen with his father. It won't happen for him." Dojima crossed his arms. "I can't wait for this to be all over."

"Getting impatient now, are we, Dojima?" Chapelle inquired.

"Not at all," the muscular chef chuckled, "I just want to go back to reading this." He patted the book next to him and a perverted grin crept its way into his face.

---

Back at the Test Hall E, Naruto went over to Alice's table. "Amazing, Alice. You actually used all your ingredients." Naruto congratulated. "The guests must have really like your dish."

"But of course, Naruto-kun." Alice acting all carefree. "Just goes to show you that my way works best." Naruto rolled his eyes, not at all convinced.

"I'm heading over to where Soma, Megumi and Takumi are. Wanna come with?"

"Sure. I was starting to get bored here anyway. I am curious as to what Yukihira Soma-kun has been doing with soufflé and what Erina has been up to." She wrapped her arms around his.

"I am sure Soma fine." It was his turn to act all carefree. "That cousin of yours finished first as well."

They passed by Ikumi who was still entertaining customers. Alice playfully and mockingly waved goodbye. Naruto waved at her too. "Good luck with the remaining servings, Nikumi-chan. We'll be heading over to the others."

"Those two assholes." Ikumi hissed.

Naruto and Alice walked their way over to Test Hall A. Takumi and Megumi had finished their two hundred servings. Upon arrival, they witness a large crowd at Soma's workstation and the young chef in question was doing a live performance which drew in even more customers. Naruto and Alice observed the redhead chef from a distance.

"Wow." Alice commented.

"He's fast but not as fast as me. It's also bringing in plenty of customers. The guests are really enjoying it. Still though, doing all that at a time when the test is nearing its end is a pretty risky strategy."

"Hmm..." Alice hummed hearing what Naruto said before giggling.

"What's so funny?"

Alice just smiled at him. "Nothing." Naruto frowned at her with suspicion. The two then walked over to where Soma and Erina are.

"Yukihira Soma, two hundred servings complete!" Chef Dojima announced just in time as the timer buzzed signalling the end of the test.

"I'm so surprised!" Alice jumped right in between Soma and Erina. "I thought you'd served only eight at best. But pulled that circus act scraped by. You survived this test, Yukihira-kun. But you'll never win top spot if your cooking relies on a circus act. What you need-" Naruto then pinched and pulled one of Alice's cheeks.

"Hey, hey now, Alice. You can't just go on and say things like that. Some people like a circus act just before they eat. Besides, that circus act was all part of Soma's plan." He released her cheek and she immediately nursed it. "But seriously though, Soma. That was very risky move back there. Waiting for the last moments of the time limit to start showing your stuff. You could have not made the two hundred servings in time. Why couldn't you just do all that from the very get-go?"

"Actually, Naruto-senpai, they're kind of right." Soma scratched the back of his head.

"Eh?"

"I completely forgot the tiny flaw in making a soufflé for a buffet. Everything you saw was something I thought of on the spot to save my skin." Soma laughed a little nervously. "But hey, we learn from our mistakes more than we learn from success, am I right?"

"So you didn't plan this the night before?!" Naruto gasped.

"Nope!" Soma said, looking like an idiot.

Naruto hang his head down, "Well don't I feel stupid for putting that much faith in your planning skills."

Soma countered though not insultingly, "You're not one to talk, Naruto-senpai." And to add injury to insult, Alice pinched and pulled Naruto's cheek. "Someone owes me an apology." Naruto then flicked Alice's hand away.

"Well the good thing in all this is that you passed. And hey, just another lesson learned right." Naruto smiled and held out his fist.

"You bet. I won't be making this mistake again." Soma formed a fist with his own hand and bumped it with Naruto's before the two erupted in laughter.

"The both of you are stupid." Erina said from the side.

"Soma-kun!"

"Soma!"

Megumi and Takumi came running to him.

"I was so worried." The bluenette said.

"How you can be so reckless?!" demanded Takumi.

Chef Dojima made another announcement through the PA system. "To all those who succeeded in completing two hundred servings, the next task is in four hour. You are free to do what you want until then.

"That's right."

"Training Camp isn't over yet."

Naruto hoisted Megumi and Alice over his shoulders and grabbed the wrists of Soma and Takumi. "Alice-san," Megumi got Alice's attention. "If this is your first time doing something like this with Naruto-nii, then I hope you know how to hold whatever you ate earlier!" The bluenette warned. "To the kitchens!" Naruto dashed off leaving behind a trail of dust and a stunned Erina.

"I had heard he could run fast but I didn't think he could be that fast."

---

TOTSUKI RESORT HOTEL - Assembly Area

"Blah, blah, blah, blah," were the words Naruto's ears picked up from Chef Dojima's speech four hours later. They didn't pick anything that indicated another test. His words were probably inspiring but Naruto was not in the mood for such at the moment. "Blah, blah, blah, blah, let us begin the final program of this camp." Naruto's ears finally picked up something of importance.

The doors across Dojima opened wide with the Hotel Staff welcoming them in. "We've prepared a modest banquet to celebrate the conclusion of this year's training camp. Please enjoy this full-course meal prepared by the alumni. To you, the six hundred twenty-eight who survived this four days, good work and congratulations for passing! Please dig in to your hearts' content!"

Everyone cheered. Partly because they could now relax with there being no more tests. And partly because they could food prepared by the world's greatest chefs.

"We're probably the only people in the whole wide world who can eat something like this." A shriveling Zenji struggled to say before he fainted. Luckily Naruto caught him. Naruto's eyes followed Zenji's soul exiting his body via his mouth.

"Zenji's finally kicked the bucket!"

"Seriously, he's fainted so many times, it's a miracle he hasn't hurt his head." Naruto dropped Zenji's limp body on his shoulder and carried him inside before setting him on a chair and took off to find one for himself.

Once dining started, those around Naruto narrowed their eyes in disbelief. It was a rare moment where he wasn't eating ramen. "I ought to take a picture of this." Yuki said.

"Everyone, take a gander at that!" Daigo shouted as he pointed.

There on a food chart was the large serving of Ice Cream any of them as ever seen. Various flavors together as well as some chocolate chips and sticks, cookies, and melted caramel and fudge. "Please enjoy, everyone. There's enough for all." Konan bowed and promptly left.

"That thing is huge!" Isami gasped before he started drooling. By the end of the surviving students' banquet, there was nothing left of that grand ice cream.

---

TOTSUKI RESORT HOTEL - The Day They Leave

The Namikaze Alliance, as the group composing of Namikaze Naruto, Takumi Aldini, Isami Aldini, Mito Ikumi, Sadatsuka Nao, Nakiri Alice and Kurokiba Ryou were often de-facto-ly called, stood beside the Polar Star Dorm gang.

This name was not in any way official. Just something some of the students called them when referring to the whole group. Which brings about what said group did last night. A somewhat heated debate occurred the night before between some of them. It all started when Alice brought up the business of their unofficial group name.

"I'd like to change the name from the Namikaze Alliance to the Nakiri Alliance instead." Alice cheerfully laughed. Cue the scene with the seven of them forming a V with Alice in the middle. Naruto and Takumi flanking her little bit behind her. Ikumi and Nao standing behind to the blonds respectively. Finally at the far back were Ryo and Isami.

"I am the best one here." Normally such a bold declaration would have garnered a swiftly put out clear and loud objection from most of the occupants in the room. But they were more concerned about the name it seemed.

While Naruto just said, "First of all, the Namikaze Alliance is good enough."

Now cue the scene with the seven of them forming an arc with Naruto at dead-center. Takumi to his left, Alice to his right. Isami and Ryo taking their places next to Takumi and Alice respectively. And finally, Ikumi and Nao at the far edges. It was his name and he did technically founded the group as unintentional as it was.

"We aren't even really a true group. Just a bunch of friends who are always together." This here was a silent plea to end the matter before it could escalate into something bigger.

Which of course it did. "I won't stand for that!" The blond chef from Italy stood up.

The Aldini Association. The picture came to their minds of the seven in business attires with folding aprons in their left hands and suitcase filled with cooking utensils in their right.

The Mito Gang. The image of them all as street punks with knives strapped to various locations of their bodies. Each of them ready for action.

The Black Fangs. The vision of them all wearing white but with a black fang insignia on their clothes. They were also on a pirate ship for some reason.

And Nao's own suggestion just for the fun of it, "The Sadatsuka Nao Experience featuring Naruto." For this one, just picture them as a band. Naruto would go on to admit he actually liked that name only for the top of his head to meet the knuckles of Takumi and Ikumi.

To settle the matter without further argument, Nao suggested, "How about we play a card game? One particular that none of us is better than the other. The winner gets to decide the name of this little group of ours and whatever he or she chooses will be it. No more arguing against it. Besides, they closed off all the kitchens for clean-up so we can't just have a cook off." There on the floor of the room they were in, they all settled on playing poker. The first one out was Ikumi, much to the tanned blonde's dismay. Then Nao, followed by Takumi and then Ryou. It was all down to Isami, Naruto and Alice.

"Okay, read them and weep, guys!" Naruto proudly said. Now Naruto truly didn't mind what they were called. He only did this because he simply just like the name. "Four Aces!" He showed them his hand. Indeed four aces with a King.

"Oh-oh! What a strong hand you got there, Naruto-kun." Alice hid her sly smile behind her hand of cards. "But it seems I got you beat. Royal Flash." She slapped her cards on the floor.

"Sorry but Royal Straight Flash." Isami humbly showed them his hand. "I guess I win."

"Oh poop..." Alice was disappointed in her lose but played it off coolly.

Takumi was bursting at the seams within himself. Oh the benefits of having a brother. With Isami's victory, Takumi was a hundred percent sure the name of their group will now be "The Namikaze Alliance." Alice, Ryo and Nao eyed Isami curiously. Naruto's mouth was wide and open in the happiest smile Isami has ever seen. Ikumi and Takumi's mouths on the other hand were hanging low with their eyes wide and blank like plates.

"ISAMI!" Takumi went up in comical anger. Takumi then sent the next minute or two placating his older twin brother, reminding him that Naruto, for all the lack of intents and purposes, did create the group.

"Well the winner has spoken." Nao said while Ryo just shrugged his shoulder carelessly.

"Wait a minute. Something's not right here." Ikumi narrowed her eyes. Said eyes shifted from the card in Naruto's hand to Alice's to Isami. Naruto had four Aces. Alice had a Royal Flash. Isami had a Royal Straight Flash. That meant there were two more Aces than allowed. Which meant "Someone cheated!" She stood.

Naruto facepalmed as the Poker game had to start all over and this time they made sure that the correct number of cards were in the deck. Isami still won in the end though.

Which then brings everyone to what was currently happening in the main lobby of the Hotel. The Namikaze Alliance and the Polar Star Dorm gang stood at a distance watching some of the alumni fight over who is recruiting Megumi in the future. "My little sister sure is popular among those elite chefs. She must have really impressed them. Well that's Megumi-chan for you." Naruto rubbed his chin, impressed by how much those chefs liked his half-sister. "Wait till dad hears about this." Yuki was also recording the spectacle with her phone.

Apparently another purpose of the Training Camp was to scout out potential recruits for the future. Tadokoro Megumi was a good recruit to have on any team.

It was off to the buses for everyone after that and back to the Academy. Except for Soma, Naruto and Erina. Soma had forgotten his headband in his room. Naruto went with him because that's what friends do. Erina herself had also forgotten her bag which contained her diary. Naruto and Soma ended up on a bus which wasn't heading back to Totsuki. However the people on the bus were the ones Soma had entertained the day before and it resulted in a conversation that lasted too long. By the time they got out, all the other buses were gone.

Luckily for the both of them, Erina was kind enough to let them both ride in her car. Erina and Naruto sat by the windows. Soma sat in the middle of them. It was an awkward silence until Soma offered, "Anyone want any rice crackers."

"No thanks." Naruto wasn't hungry

"No." Erina just didn't want anything from Soma.

"By the way, you said yesterday you'd enjoy watching how long it would take me to fail. Well I passed. How about that?"

"She actually said that? Well good going proving her wrong, Soma!" The two friends bumped fists.

"You'll do well to flounder at the bottom of the barrel. I doubt either of you will be selected for the elections."

"Elections?" Soma asked.

"The annual Autumn Elections, Soma." Naruto told him. "It's a long time tradition in this school. It's a gourmet festival where selected first years get to show off their skills and compete against each other. A lot of VIPs will be present to serve as judges. It provides the perfect opportunity for first years to demonstrate their stuff to people outside the academy."

"I'm surprised you know all that, Namikaze." Erina said with a serious look.

Naruto had a goofy grin while scratching his cheek with a finger. "How can I not? Your cousin told me herself." Alice took pleasure in making him seem like an idiot when she did.

"Well the selection process has already began. If you had noticed, Selection Committee members were present at Training Camp."

"So that's why we saw those people in suits." Naruto and Soma said in unison while gently swinging down their fists into their open palms in unison.

"So there is a third purpose for the Training Camp. To select people for the Autumn Elections." Naruto did the Thinker's pose.

"Who knew, right senpai?" Soma shrugged his shoulders.

Then Soma grinned happily, "A gourmet festival, eh? That sounds fun. I'm all fired up just thinking about it."

Erina snapped comically, "Like I said earlier, there's no way someone like you two will be selected." She relaxed and rested her chin on her knuckles. "Also what was that earlier about learning from failure? That sounds like something losers tell themselves to make themselves feel better. Failure isn't an option for us chefs!"

"Is that right?" Both Soma and Naruto questioned.

"Of course it is! Only perfection can be served in the table! That is the only way to achieve the perfect gourmet experience!" Erina explained.

"I disagree with you, Erina-san." Naruto said in a serious tone that he often did not have. "It is from failure that we learn the greatest lessons. Losers make excuses, citing reasons for why they didn't succeed and denying their mistakes. But winners or those who eventually become winners are those who learned from their mistakes, never repeat them and improve." That's true.

"Take Soma here for example" Naruto lazily pointed a finger at Soma. "He has lost to his father in the kitchen just about five hundred times in a row."

"Naruto-senpai!" Soma flailed his arms around, "Don't go telling people that! And it's only four hundred eighty-nine! Not five hundred!"

"Hmph, you've lost that many times. It's a wonder grandfather still let you in."

"Well it's as I've said, Nakiri-san. I learn from failure." Then he balled his hands into fists. "One day, I'll beat my dad and wipe that condescending smirk off his face!" Soma had fire in his eyes.

"That's the spirit, Soma! To surpass your mentor is a great goal."

"Is that really all?" Erina asked them with her arms crossed beneath her breasts. Bear in mind, Erina has no idea of whom they were talking about. In fact, both boys at this point in time didn't know as well. "Beating your mentor is one thing. But considering your father is nothing more than an ordinary cook, it's nothing to be boastful about. Such a low goal that is. As chefs we must aim for the top. Though I highly doubt either of you will even make it halfway." She sent them a conniving smirk.

"Speaking of goals… what exactly is your goal, Naruto-senpai?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what do you want to do? What do you want to accomplish? You said during the entrance ceremony that you only aimed to be number seven. At the time, I simply thought you were just trying to humor everyone. It's as Nakiri-san said, chefs should aim for the top."

Naruto didn't answer Soma's question just yet. First he addressed Erina, "Erina-san, I don't know where you're coming from with what you've said and you are more than entitled to your way of doing things. However, and I'm probably going to get a lot of heat from the both of you but… winning isn't everything."

Both Erina and Soma did a spit-take even though there was a clear lack of liquid in their mouths.

"Naruto-senpai, what are you saying?!" Soma asked in a flustered manner. To them, hearing such a thing was akin to blasphemy! BLASPHEMY!

"Don't get me wrong, Soma." Naruto waved his arms defensively. "In every challenge, in every test, one must strive to succeed and make it to the top. You'll never see me hold back in a cook-off. But you don't need to win it all. There are some battles you can afford to lose. There are some battles that you don't need to win."

Naruto explained somberly. "My sensei used to tell me that the words of critics and judges don't really mean much in the end. If they reject your work, slander it, call it trash regardless of how much you try to show them otherwise, then that's on them. You can lost it all. Your business, you restaurant. It doesn't matter. You can always get them all back." Naruto tilted his head down with a small yet earnest smile on his lips. "Pick yourself up no matter how low you've sunk."

Naruto closed his eyes. His mind bringing up a memory. A memory of Jiraiya bent down to his level, his hands on seven year old Naruto's shoulders. A memory of Jiraiya teaching him an important lesson.

"As long as you know who you are and know what you can really do, it doesn't matter what those people say. Don't cook simply for your sake. When you're cooking, don't cook to win other's approval. Instead cook to make them happy. The approval, the acknowledgement and recognition will just follow. Don't cook for fame, prestige or money. But cook for those that really matter. Cook for your family, cook for your friends. The only approval, the only opinions that truly matter are theirs. Because even when lose as a chef, you won't lose them."

"Your sensei said that?" Soma wondered in awe while recalling who Naruto's sensei was.

"Yeah."

"That all sounds rather naïve and cliché if you ask me." Erina looked out the window with her arms crossed beneath her impressive bust, not at all curious as to whom Naruto was talking about. "Hmph, something from an anime or manga!" Oh she would know, wouldn't she?

Naruto chuckled and just like that, he was back to his usual self. "Oh it is. Incredibly so." He said with a raised finger. "My sensei was being poetic at the time. I remember him actually acknowledging it as so." Naruto had a goofy look on his face. "If one really thinks about it, that sort of thinking can only apply to professional chefs, not amateurs." Naruto laughed and Soma joined him.

"So you really don't care if you win or lost?" asked Soma. "And aiming for the top isn't a priority to you?" This was all very new to him.

"Of course I care if I won or lost, of course I want to be at the top! I just don't mind that's all and my version of being at the top is different from most people. I have my Chef Way and you have yours. You go be number one, Soma! I'll support you all the way." Naruto said very encouragingly.

"I'm good simply being number seven. However, number nine doesn't sound so bad either. But as I've said earlier, I'm not holding back in the kitchen. I don't mind losing but I always aim to win! And if somehow I end up as number one, then that's really no big deal. I'd conclude I was simply trying harder than everyone else." Naruto shrugged carelessly.

"It is as you said back in the opening ceremony, Soma. Totsuki is just a stepping stone for us. It holds plenty of opportunities that should be seized when presented. But failure here should be nothing more than a setback. The only one who can ever truly call you a failure is yourself."

"That sounds way too wise for you, senpai?" Soma said somewhat deadpanned smile. "Did your sensei teach you that as well?"

"Him and old man Teuchi. Of course, Totsuki wasn't in the original quote." The two let out a soft laugh.

"Listen up, Soma." Naruto said all fired-up. "If you and I ever have a cook-off, I don't mind whether I win against you or lose. I still aim to win! I'm still going to try my damned hardest to kick your butt!"

That enthusiasm seemed contagious as Soma then said with equal fire, "I'd be insulted if you didn't, senpai! I look forward to the day we can have a proper face-off in the kitchen and test our mettle against each other."

"YEAH!" The two friends declared at once and bumped fists again.

Erina leered at the two for a moment before she rolled her eyes at what considered nonsense. She turned her sights back to the window. "You're both being very foolish about all this." She sighed. In manner, she said, "Namikaze Naruto-kun, I believe that your way is wrong and I'll never accept it."

"Ha! To each his own, Erina-san. But we'll make a friend out of you yet, Erina-san." Naruto said with Soma giving off a supporting smile.

"But don't worry, Erina-san. I may follow what he said but I don't follow it to a T. I know for a fact that listening to criticism can also help one improve." Naruto looked out the window too and smiled at the sky. "I'll never lose sight of what truly important."

"What might that be, Naruto-senpai?"

BONK!

"Haven't you been listening to a word I've been saying, Soma?!" Soma rubbed his aching head.

"Yukihira Soma-kun, in case your brain was too slow to full comprehend what Namikaze-kun was saying, his teacher's cooking philosophy can be summed up in one sentence. Use those closest to you as inspiration because it is them who are the most important to please."

"Bingo, Erina-san!" Naruto snapped his fingers. "Though you didn't have to insult the poor guy." Naruto patted Soma's head.

"You're doing it right now!" Soma snapped hilariously. Naruto snickered. Soma relaxed and hummed in thought. "It does seem like a good source for motivation to do better."

"Believe me, Soma. A time will come when such a motivation will truly help you excel. Of course though, you are you. You have your way as well and it has help you out several times over. Heck why not use both?" Naruto chuckled.

"Maybe I will one of these days."

"But to answer your question from earlier, Soma. I want to be the best Ramen Chef in the world. Better than all my predecessors combined. I'll win the Food of the Gods Cooking Tournament for Ramen a fourth time. And… take over my father's business."

"And who would you consider as your predecessors, Namikaze-kun?" Question Erina.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Uzumaki Minato and Uzumaki Nagato."

"Ha! Those are some pretty high goals you are trying to achieve, Namikaze-kun. Probably goes to show just how little you actually know about the men you intend to surpass. All of them, well-renowned chefs especially the likes of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uzumaki Nagato. The day I believe you is the very day you beat the latter two chefs you mentioned."

"Uzumaki Nagato?" Soma asked.

Erina sighed, "Namikaze-kun, please do the honors."

"Uzumaki Nagato, younger brother of Uzumaki Minato."

"Oh, so that means-"

"Yup, he is a very talented chef."

"That there is putting it quite lightly, Namikaze-san. Chef Uzumaki Nagato is never someone to take lightly."

"Well you already know my goal. Okay, senpai, if you want to be number seven or nine, then I expect you to be number nine or higher when we graduate!" Soma said pumping his fist into the air once.

"I'll drop out at the last minute if I end up as number ten by the time graduation rolls around. No offense of course, Erina-san. I'm sure someone of your talent will be ranked higher by the time graduation rolls around."

"But just so you know, the both of you, I will be number one at graduation as well as the winner of the next Food of the Gods Cooking Tournament." Soma pointed at himself with his thumb. "Just you wait. Yukihira-Style Fried Rice will be the next Food of the Gods!"

"Nope, it will be Ramen." Naruto flatly disagreed.

"No, the both of you are wrong!" Erina exclaimed, "I will be number one and I will win the Food of the Gods Cooking Tournament!"

"Looks like we'll have to see in fifteen years then."

It was then they heard Erina laugh. "Now I know you two just have to be joking. There is no way either of you has a chance to even make it pass the first round of the Tournament. And just so the both you know, I will win that Tournament fifteen years from now."

---

And that's Chapter Two!