Summary: Harry could cook. And with the help of a few spells, Harry could pretend to be much more skilled than he actually was. But Harry's skills are much too impressive to remain in Konoha.
"Not the right taste!" An angry man yelled as he slammed the wooden door open. "Don't lie! You just don't want to hire someone that's better than you."
Considering the previous interviewee had left in a flurry of tears, Harry contemplated not going to the interview itself.
Before he could decide on his course of action, a gentle voice from the doorway said, "You're the last applicant." Clad in large red armour, the speaker bore purple lines on his cheeks and would have been quite intimidating if his kind eyes weren't so tired as he motioned Harry to enter.
With a careful grip on his box, Harry entered a plain room. Removing the cooling charms on the box, Harry placed it on the only table in the room and took a seat.
"I'm Chōza Akimichi," the man said, his voice still gentle as he sat opposite Harry.
"I'm Harii." Harry hesitated before he added, "I came to Konoha a few days ago. And the gate guards, Izumo and Kotetsu, were the ones who told me about this job."
Chōza nodded, "I had heard that they were sending someone over. But you can never tell when those two are being completely serious."
After some polite small talk about how Harry was settling into Konoha, they moved to the real reason for their meeting.
"You've brought a sample of your cooking?" Chōza asked.
Harry nodded and opened the box to reveal a plain white cake inside.
Chōza stopped Harry from doing anything else and pulled the box closer. He leaned down with narrowed eyes and examined the cake for a long moment before he took it out of the box, examined it some more from every angle and then cut himself a generous serving.
He chewed each spoonful of cake with a thoughtful expression and when he finally cleared his plate, Chōza said, "Not too soft and not too dry. This is... perfect. " He looked at Harry with a serious expression and smiled with genuine pleasure. "You're hired!"
Considering the long string of spells he'd used on the cake batter and later while baking the cake itself, Harry felt a little torn about getting a job he didn't really want.
At the bakery the next morning, Chōza led Harry into a small clean kitchen and said, "Feel free to make anything you want to stock the shop outside before we open in the evening."
A quick check with the spell showed that the bakery and area around was empty. "Is this some sort of test?"
"Don't think that just because you're on your own here," Chōza said with a reassuring look. "We're just quite short-handed at the moment."
Harry nodded but mentally decided that it was definitely a test when Chōza left him alone.
Even with that thought, Harry couldn't help but relax in the small and empty kitchen as he baked. In fact, Harry felt so relaxed at not having any watchers that he experimented with his magic to decorate his cakes.
With a single spell he transformed the sugar into a clear syrup, shaped it as he desired and set it's final solid form on top of the cake with another spell.
On the second day, Chōza greeted Harry with a wide beaming smile as he motioned to the bakery's empty display case. "Your sugar decorations. They're wonderful and so unique. No one in Konoha has done such beautiful work," Chōza said. "People have actually placed orders."
By the sixth day of working in the bakery, Harry got sick of sugar flowers and instead experiment with making delicate sugar waves, koi fish like his grandmother's pendant and other things he hoped would lead the Uzumaki in Konoha straight to him.
As the rational part of him expected, that whimsical plan didn't work.
No red-headed Uzumaki demanded to see the person who was using vague Uzumaki-ish symbols as cake decorations.
Two weeks after he started his job, Harry absently mixed cake batter and contemplated the possibility of coloured sugar decorations.
"You!"
Harry started and turned. No one ever bothered him when he was in the kitchen.
Not even the Akimichi.
The interloper, a blond with an atrocious amount of orange in his outfit, moved forward with a strange desperation. "I need a cake that will make Sakura-chan fall in love with me."
Harry blinked, "Cakes don't do that."
Devastation filled the blond's eyes. "But... but I heard Sakura-chan talking about how romantic it would be to get a pretty cake from here."
Harry parsed out the blond's words with growing amusement and disbelief. "A romantic gift won't make someone fall in love with you either."
"Then what will?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I just make the cakes."
The blond's blue eyes widened. "You really made the cakes that everyone is talking about?All by yourself?" The words dripped with disbelief. "But, you're my age!" Before Harry could decide whether or not to be insulted, the blond clapped his hands with a look of epiphany. "You can teach me how to make a cake. And when I can make an awesome cake all by myself, Sakura-chan will be super impressed."
"I have too much to do here. I won't have the time to teach you," Harry said politely as he looked away from the boy's eager look.
"I can help you with your work," the blond said with determination.
"Have you made cakes before?" Harry asked.
The blond shook his head without shame and said, "But I will learn super fast. Plus I can help with the cleaning and measuring or anything you need so that you have the time to teach me."
"I can't pay you," Harry said.
"You don't have to give me money. Just teach me your cake making ways," the blond said with big pleading eyes. "Help me win over Sakura-chan. You won't regret it."
"I..." Harry hesitated, searching for the right words to reject the offer.
"Please." the blue eyes glimmered, on the verge of tears.
"One cake." Harry conceded and turned away from the bright pleading eyes in defeat. "That's it. And then you leave."
"Yes! You won't regret this, I swear." the blond whooped in delight and grabbed a bowl full of cake batter. "Do we have to use this to make the cake? Can we make a different colour instead?"
Harry grabbed the bowl from the blond's energetic hands. "Maybe we should start with introductions before the cake making."
"Ah, right," the blond looked sheepish but smiled. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto."
The bowl in Harry's hand clattered down to the floor, splattering cake batter everywhere. "But you're blond."
Naruto blinked in confusion.
"Our clan is supposed to have red hair. I... came to Konoha searching for a red-haired Uzumaki."
Naruto's confusion had morphed into an emotion that Harry didn't have the heart to keep looking at.
After a visit to the Hokage, a brief house arrest and the revelation that they were in fact related, Harry returned to the bakery wondering how to approach his newly found relative only to find Naruto already waiting and looking every bit as awkward as Harry felt.
"You, uh, didn't teach me how to make that cake," Naruto said.
Harry stared at him. "You still want to learn?"
"I'm an Uzumaki too," Naruto said, his voice faltering faintly with emotion. "I should know how to make a cake."
Harry snorted in amusement. "The Uzumaki weren't bakers."
"But..."
"I am a baker. The clan," Harry got his amusement under control at the sobering subject. "The clan had people who did a lot of different things."
"Oh," Naruto said as though he hadn't expected that.
They lapsed into a long moment of silence before Harry said, "But there's nothing wrong with learning how to make a cake. It's... an essential skill."
Naruto perked up and nodded eagerly. "It is."
Harry smiled in response. "Maybe we can even think of something that will impress your Sakura-chan."
With the help of Naruto and his numerous clones, Harry's cake making reached new heights. Business boomed and the Akimichi entrusted Harry with more work.
Work that he hadn't ever expected to get.
"I can't believe you're working solo for such a huge event," Kotetsu said as he put some meat on the grill. "You've impressed the Akimichi a lot if they're giving you such an important job after about three weeks of working with them."
"It's been years since Konoha has had such a big feast." Izumo gulped down his drink and added, "But I guess having the Daimyo's son visit is a good reason to celebrate."
"As if I wasn't overwhelmed already," Harry said and slumped down into his seat, his eyes fixed on the still sizzling meat as it let out a mouth-watering aroma.
"It's okay to be intimidated by the guest list," Izumo said. "But this as an opportunity for you. When you impress the right people, you can get your own bakery instead of having to work for the Akimichi."
"That's not going to happen," Harry said, eyes still on the grill.
"I've eaten your cake. Trust me, it'll happen," Izumo said with confidence as he piled the cooked meat on Harry's plate.
"What's the Daimyo's son like?" Harry asked in between ravenous bites. "Any information I need to know? Allergies, favourite flavours, anything?"
Izumo scratched his chin thoughtfully. "This one is the nicest of all the Daimyo's children. Not too picky from what I've heard."
"He's a noble," Kotetsu said. "Anything classy should make him happy."
"But it wouldn't be bad to make a lasting impression on him," Izumo reminded Harry with a meaningful tone even as he refilled Harry's empty plate. "Think of making something that no one has ever seen before."
It took days of fretting for Harry to come up with an idea. And it took even more days of tireless experimenting, even with the help of his magic and Naruto's clones, for Harry to prepare his final product.
"Thanks for helping out," Harry said, as they made their way to the lit up venue grounds.
"No need to keep thanking me, Nii-san," Naruto said. "Of course, I'd help out. This is a huge thing for you."
"Don't take Izumo's words so seriously. It's just a job," Harry said, more to reassure himself than anything else.
"But you spent forever making this cake," Naruto said and motioned to the numerous clones behind them carrying carious boxes. "You even got me this fancy kimono."
"You don't like it?"
"It's nice. It's just weird to wear something so expensive." Naruto straightened his dark blue kimono with a self-conscious look. "I've never worn silk before."
Harry straightened his own formal kimono reflexively. "It's just for tonight."
"Still feels weird."
"Well, well, you two look fancy even if you are cutting it close with your timing," Kotetsu said from his post at the venue's gated entrance.
Izumo glanced at the clones trailing behind them. "That's all for the cake?"
Harry nodded.
"I can't believe we're missing it," Kotetsu said with a sigh. "And you didn't even give us a peek at what you were..."
"Go through there," Izumo interrupted Kotetsu and pointed them to a hidden path. "It leads directly to the hall you need to set up in. The Hyuuga's music
performance just started outside, so you'll have at least half an hour."
In a curtained off section of the hall, Harry directed Naruto and his clones with growing nervousness and anticipation. The clones worked with quick gentle movements as they stacked the numerous layers of cake and decorations.
Half an hour passed in a blur of activity and they placed the finished touches just as the sounds of people entering the hall reached them through the curtain.
Naruto stared at the towering cake topped with a multitude of crystalline sugar birds and flowers. "I didn't think a cake could look so awesome."
Harry grinned but muttered a spell to brighten the already vibrant colour of a sugar bird as Chōza's voice filled the hall. "Let's hope it impresses the Daimyo's son."
"He'd be stupid not to like it," Naruto said with a firm tone, looking ready to punch anyone who didn't agree.
From the other side of the curtain, Chōza's voice boomed. "In addition to the food we've laid out here, we have also prepared another surprise for our honoured guest."
"That's our cue," Harry whispered and straightened his kimono once again.
The curtain dropped.
Open-mouthed awe, eyes wide with wonder and various stunned exclamations turned into a roaring round of applause.
"See, they like it," Naruto said, voice delighted.
"Yes," Harry cleared his throat, stunned at the crowd's response. "I think they do."
Harry was still stunned by the response to his creation when he stood in the Hokage's busy office two days after the big event.
"... his beloved son's words, the Daimyo believes that such a skilled baker would thrive in his court where his skills will be appreciated to the fullest," the messenger ended with a flourish.
Harry looked from the serious kimono clad messenger to the amused Hokage and finally to a cautious Chōza before he said, "I already work for Akimichi-san."
The ninja with the long blond ponytail who stood beside Chōza coughed.
Unfazed, the messenger said, "The Daimyo knows of this and is willing to give the Akimichi clan due compensation." He pulled out another scroll from his sleeve and read, "In exchange for their most skilled worker, the Daimyo will gift the Akimichi clan with the untouched land of Emerald Forest."
Chōza gaped.
"The Daimyo will also gift the Akimichi clan with a herd of his most prized cattle as well as the Ash Grasslands as grazing grounds for the herd." The messenger said, "Are these terms acceptable?"
Harry shrugged. "Depends on Akimichi-san."
The scarred man with the black spiky ponytail elbowed the still gaping Chōza with a pointed look.
Chōza cleared his throat and said, "If Harii-kun wishes to work at the Daimyo's court then I have no objection."
Everyone turned to Harry.
"I'll have to think about it," Harry said after a moment.
Everyone in the room, other than the messenger and the Hokage, let out varying sounds of disbelief.
The messenger nodded and said, "The Daimyo has allowed for at least a week before the final answer has been received."
Harry nodded while the others were still locked in disbelief at the situation. "I'll give you an answer later then." Then he turned to the Hokage. "If that's all, I have to go back and finish my work for the day."
The Hokage's amusement was much more pronounced as she dismissed him.
When Naruto heard the news later that day, he was beyond ecstatic. "I've never been to the Daimyo's place before," Naruto said, his wide blue eyes filled with wonder. "And to think we'll be living there and making cakes for the Daimyo himself."
Harry concentrated on smoothing out the frosting on a circular cake. "You do realize that we won't actually be going together if I decide to take the offer."
"Nii-san," Naruto waited until Harry looked up before he continued, "You can't go and have fun on your own." He pointed to the clones that were mixing, baking and cleaning around them. "My clones are super important for the big cakes, right? Unless... you don't want me there with you."
Harry couldn't help but ask. "You want me to go work for the Daimyo?"
"Why wouldn't you want to go work for him?" Naruto countered with confusion. "You'll be famous. Everyone will know who you are."
Harry frowned with distaste at the thought of fame. "I definitely shouldn't accept the position."
A month later, Harry accepted that working in the Daimyo's castle wasn't as bad as he had feared. Where he had expected outrageous demands, the Daimyo had been happy with simple designs and easy flavors. Harry actually had a lot more time on his hands for things other than cake making.
Things like reading all the books he wanted, sleeping in a luxurious room and avoiding the growing number of people who wanted to talk to him.
"Surely you can't be comfortable up there," a voice called out.
Harry started as he recognized the speaker, jumped down from the tree branch he had been sitting on and bowed low. "My Lord."
The Daimyo huffed and waved his gold-handled fan with a roll of his eyes. "I told you not to be so formal outside of court, Harii-kun. It's so dull."
"Right," Harry said as he straightened.
"Who are you hiding from today?" The Daimyo asked, clear amusement curling his lip.
Harry twitched and looked around carefully. "Otose has been trying to talk to me."
"Ah," the Daimyo nodded with understanding and sympathy. "He's trying to get you to tell me about the property tax policy he wants implemented. What a tedious man."
"I wish people would stop bothering me with these things," Harry said with a frown.
"I imagine he's like everyone else in thinking that you will be able to sway me to their way of thinking," the Daimyo said with a solemn nod. "Especially since you saved my grandson's life."
"I just make cakes," Harry said, repeating what he had taken to telling everyone who wanted to talk to him. "And your grandson wasn't in any real danger. The guards would have saved him without my help."
"But you made their job much easier by trapping the kidnappers with all that cake batter." The Daimyo took on a thoughtful look. "It's a shame your cousin's clones disappear. I'm sure the Akimichi would consent to send you a full-time guard if you demanded."
"I don't need a guard."
"If you had a full time bodyguard, no one would dare to bother you as often as they seem to do now. If you don't want the Akimichi," He glanced at his own silent guards.
"No," Harry said, already knowing where the Daimyo's thoughts were turning to.
"You don't know what I was going to suggest," the Daimyo said.
"The Twelve Guardians are meant to protect you and your family," Harry said.
"There's a simple remedy that will let you to gain this necessary benefit."
"I'm a baker," Harry pointed out with a touch of desperation. "I can't marry anyone from your family."
"You're an Uzumaki," the Daimyo countered without hesitation. "My predecessors were always keen to have a Senju enter the family. The Uzumaki were too difficult a connection to obtain. If not you, then maybe your cousin..."
Harry stared at the Daimyo with a bland expression.
"I can think of so many others would have been eager to accept such a proposal." The Daimyo sighed and motioned for Harry to follow him. "But I suppose that's what makes you unique, Harii-kun. Very well, let's talk about more important matters. For today's cake, I was thinking..."
