Yo kids, New story who saw this coming….I mean really you should have. This is clearly a Naruto-Food Wars crossover so please enjoy. Now onto some important points, most notably the prompt for this story came from Scoopball98 and he helped me with the story along with Kiege check both of them out they have great stories as well.
Next, give the Goat server, hosted by AizenTheGoat on discord a try. Link here ;
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On to the fic!
Chapter One
For as long as man has existed there has been only a handful of true necessities to his survival. As he has become more civilized and more developed those necessities have likewise developed into more civilized formats for how he attained them. Shelter grew from caves to huts to houses, water became purified and mixed with other items to enhance flavors or the vitamins and minerals one got from drinking it.
None of mankind's necessities developed more than food however. From eating raw fruits and meats in the wild to modern dining the two ends of this timeline are so different from the other that they have become nearly unrecognizable. The millennia of change in the preparation of food has become so interwoven with human nature that for some people it is like second nature. They live, breathe, and well... eat food. It's who they are.
Some take it to an even greater extent. Decades of their lives spent honing their craft cooking and producing food in different delicious dishes of a million different styles and flavors. Even further than this, passing it on to their children, teaching and guiding them to surpass their own skill at the craft, all the way to today. A world with so many different options for a meal it's almost impossible to decide on one.
One of those options, arguably one of the most sought after, was the long reigning king of classic japanese style cuisine, Akai Uzu. Red Whirlpool. Opening its doors sometime just prior to the eighteen-nineties, Akai Uzu quickly blossomed from the singular Kyoto corner stall to the largest fine-dining chain in east asia. A series of branches dotted Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong with a few even reaching out as far as the United States and Australia.
Operated by a family of cooks, artists with food, generations in the making, Akai Uzu had remained the family business for over One-hundred and fifty years. The Uzumaki family were as well known as their restaurant as well. Especially the current head of the family, the Red Hot Habanero herself, Kushina Uzumaki, head chef for the Kyoto Akai Uzu restaurant.
As the Kyoto branch of the Akai Uzu, the original restaurant acted as the headquarters for the Uzumaki family 'empire' of restaurants. Part of the facility was even dedicated to Akai Uzu's newest undertaking, a made to mail order prepped meal created by real chefs under the company's employ. Of course those cooking were essentially still in training with Akai Uzu. The final stage of their training being in the actual restaurant's side of the facility with none other than Kushina herself grading their abilities.
It was one of the greatest achievements for many young cook's careers. It was also one of the most trying times of their lives.
"My baby boy could cook this better over a fucking campfire!" Kushina shouted as she glared at an employee. "I don't fucking pay you to give me a boiled fucking flip flop you fucking moron!" she continued as she slammed the overcooked meat onto the chefs' apron.
Kushina Uzumaki was known for one thing above even her extreme talent at cooking, and that was what got her the moniker the Red Hot Habanero. Her temper was large, her patience short, and her standards were ridiculously high.
Nearby, the previously mentioned baby boy, no longer a baby at fifteen, worked away to finish up the special for the night while snapping commands at cooks twice his age like a mirrored image of his mother.
"You! Come here!" He called getting a thin man with graying hair to flinch before he went rigid at the glare the younger Uzumaki sent his way.
"I said come here!" The young red-headed teen hollered, getting the man to slowly shuffle over to him.
"When I tell you to come here I mean now, not when you feel like it, asshole." Naruto growled as he tugged the man over to look at the series of plates that had just made it to Naruto's station. "Can you point out to me what exactly is wrong with this dish?"
"Uh….well…" The man struggled, causing Naruto's blue eyes to practically glow with rage at the man's incompetence.
"Uh...uh...uh spit it out old man!" Naruto roared at him causing the neighboring two cooks to flinch slightly before their work pace picked up.
"It's an empty plate!" The man snapped out. "What do you want me to say?"
"All I want is for you to do your job, but for some reason you have stretched a four minute maximum cooking time for my entree into twelve! Where is the food I'm trying to plate up?" Naruto's voice had dropped from a shout to a hiss showing he was well and truly pissed off.
"I'll get it!" The man shouted before running off to complete his task.
Naruto took a couple breaths to calm himself before he set about prepping what he could as he waited for the staff to catch up to his rate of work. Somewhere behind him he could hear his mother cracking the proverbial whip on the other slower and more incompetent members of the staff.
The matter remained if you wanted to work at Akai Uzu, or hold the proud note on your resume of having the Uzumaki family's approval you had best bring your A-game and come prepared. Of all the staff that filtered through the Kyoto branch every year only around ten earned the right to work in Akai Uzu kitchens. Of the rest only around ten more gained the sought after referral from Naruto and his mother.
The rest either slunk off to work at lesser establishments or changed professions. As Kushina liked to say, the Kitchen was a battlefield and only the talented and hard working conquered here.
After another long night of serving their customers Naruto and Kushina finally rode home together. The family didn't live far from the restaurant. It seemed fitting they lived close by after all, as the family had rebuilt and refurbished the same restaurant for generations, before even cars were common enough for a wealthy family like theirs to drive.
"Mom, is dad going to be home anytime soon?" Naruto asked Kushina as he looked up from his phone.
Like his mother, Naruto's father was also a world class chef. Unlike Kushina, Minato was a far more public figure, hosting or appearing on several cooking shows as well as making guest appearances at restaurants around the world. His most successful enterprise though was his Tokyo based restaurant Golden Leaf. With dishes from around the world it featured some of his most appealing meals made on his show, entirely focused around methods to make higher end food using more common ingredients for the average consumer. Needless to say he was a hit.
Lately however, the man had been taking on more and more travelling jobs for his show, with an upcoming spinoff that would see him seeking out and learning from cooks in some of the most remote places in the world. It was an excellent opportunity, but from What Naruto understood his dad would likely be gone for months at a time if not longer. He'd like to spend some time with him before he went off on another trip.
"Don't worry, Sochi, he'll be home tonight. I made sure he has a couple weeks off before he sets out for his next show. We have some things to discuss together at home though before we all sit down to relax." Kushina answered before she went back to her phone, drawing a shrug from Naruto. He knew pestering his mother would do no good if he wanted to know what it was they wanted to discuss; he'd just have to wait till they got home.
Reaching the outskirts of Kyoto, the driver soon pulled up to the current house of the Uzumaki family. Set away from the road behind a high wall and lavish garden like area was an odd fusion of Italian and traditional Japanese architecture. Nicknamed the Habanero Manor by Kushina's late father Kurama when he had it built, the house was a gift for Kushina and Minato for their wedding.
After clearing the gates the car pulled up to the house and the driver hurried to open it for Naruto and his mother before taking the car to the garage.
Stepping into the house Naruto could smell dinner cooking almost immediately and smiled at the thought of his father being home. Following his mom inside, after the small the next thing that told him his father was home was the man's humming from the kitchen.
Unlike Kushina and her son, Minato handled the kitchen a little differently. Whereas Kushina often called the kitchen a battleground, Minato called it a canvas and cooking his own form of art.
One of Minato's most famous quotes on his shows was 'I am of the business of creating art for the stomach and the soul.' To be honest it was a bit more pretentious than Naruto was totally comfortable with, but his dad had earned that he supposed. Minato Namikaze was a household name around the world.
"Dad." Naruto called out to his father causing the man to turn and look at the two entering the kitchen. The smile that spread across his face seemed to fit all too well with his current attire. A bright pink apron with white frills with the embroidered image of a cookie on it.
Naruto and Kushina had gotten that for Minato's last birthday as a gag gift, but the man had loved it and wore it every time he cooked at home now. Somehow it just seemed to fit for him. Then again Minato almost always seemed unfazed by everything. A pink apron was hardly a bother.
"Welcome home you two." Minato called out. He kissed his wife and shot his son a grin before turning back to the stove. It was simple fare tonight, but true to Minato's preferred style made in such a way as to put any other version to shame. Ramen, the nectar of life for the household.
"Go wash up and get comfortable. I'll be done in a couple minutes." The blond man said to the two redheads.
"Sure." Naruto called back, already headed up the stairs to his room. Once there he changed from the simple fitted white shirt and black pants he wore for working at the restaurant. Slipping into some more relaxed black sweats and a blue T-shirt marked with Akai Uzu's logo he rejoined his father in the kitchen just as he finished setting the last of the dishes.
Realizing he might have a small window while his mom was still changing, Naruto grabbed his seat and sent a bright smile his father's way. Minato, knowing his son quite well, especially what that bright smile really meant, chuckled at his son's antics choosing to shoot him down before he even got started on grilling his poor overworked father for information on what they planned to discuss at dinner.
"We'll wait for your mom to finish up and sit before we get started I think." Minato said as he moved the pot from the stove to the table. He chuckled again as he saw the boy deflate.
"Yeah, yeah." Naruto grumbled with a slight roll of his eyes.
Thankfully they didn't have to wait long before Kushina rejoined them, sharing another kiss with her husband before sitting at the table. The trio enjoyed a couple of moments of eating together in relative silence. The first bowl was meant to be focused on of course. However by the second Naruto's interest had moved back to whatever his parents felt was important enough to tease him with talking about it since getting off work.
"Well?" Naruto asked. Both his parents chuckled slightly, Naruto was a bit impatient and persistent, each a trait from both of his parents that made him a bit pushy at times.
"Well, we just wanted to discuss your future with you…" Minato began only for the dishes on the table to shake as Naruto planted his head roughly on the table surface with a groan.
"That's really it?" A muffled groan called out getting laughter from both his parents when they stopped staring in surprise at their unique child.
"Yes sochi. We want to know what you were wanting to do for highschool. I think we have an idea but we always promised we wouldn't force you down a path that you didn't want, so now's your chance to speak up." Kushina explained.
Naruto lifted his head, a smile already back on his face as he looked over at his parents. Their focus was entirely on him. It filled him with an odd sense of joy. That they put so much stock in what he wanted.
"Well, I definitely want to keep cooking so I thought that I would try to enroll in Totsuki like you both did." Naruto suggested.
Of all the reactions he had expected he hadn't planned on explosive sighs and nervous laughter from both parents. They honestly looked really relieved, more than just that of a parent whose child chose the field they wanted for them.
"Oh thank god!" Kushina said, putting an elbow on the table and leaning her chin on her hand. "We already enrolled you and it would have been so embarrassing to come back and tell them you weren't coming."
"Yeah, plus can you imagine if he wanted do something other than cook….like work on computers or build skyscrapers or something else like that?" Minato's pleased expression showed just how happy he was that Naruto was following in their footsteps.
Naruto deadpanned at that. So much for not going down a path he didn't want. Well he did want to be a chef after all. Just like them. What better place to start than their old academy.
"I'm glad my input meant so much to you guys." Naruto droned on turning his attention back to his food.
"Don't be like that kiddo, your mom and I just want you to surpass us like we did those that came before us. Like following in our footsteps kind of thing. Not to mention you'll need education in this business if you ever want to run Akai Uzu and Golden Leaf yourself." Minato tried. "We would have backed you up if you wanted to do one of those other things, we just think this is best."
"Speak for yourself. I was just trying to make him feel better, whether he went to Totsuki or not he was going to become a cook. Not that he will really ever surpass our records there let alone in the real battleground." Kushina said shooting her son a challenging look, getting him to rise to the bait easily. They both knew what the other was doing but it was a game they had played for a few years.
"Hah! Just you wait, I'll knock you both down a peg. That school will be singing to my tune the moment I step foot in the kitchen." Naruto bragged, getting a smirk from his mom.
"I dunno Naruto, most of those kids will have been there for the last three years already in the junior high branch. They might be harder to compete with than you think." Minato tried to caution him.
"Hmph. As if those little kids will stand a chance against me. I mean I doubt a single one of them has put in the work like I have. I mean I have been working in Akai Uzu's kitchen since I was little." The younger redhead at the table responded.
"It is my old stomping ground Naruto, you might be surprised by the talent they have there. Don't underestimate your future classmates." Kushina scolded lightly.
Naruto nodded halfheartedly as the trio continued with their meal. Kushina and Minato telling their son of a few stories here and there from their time at Totsuki.
"You know, that's where your mother and I met." Minato said pointedly.
"Yep, and only a couple years after graduating we were married." Kushina added causing Naruto to roll his eyes.
His parents, as much as he loved them, were just slightly overbearing. That is to say they worried ceaselessly because he hadn't shown open interest in girls his age. He had the sneaking suspicion that the time they had managed to come across his stereotypical stash of porn they had nearly celebrated.
"You realize that even if I do start dating right now, I'm only fifteen and you won't be getting grandkids for a few good years yet...right?" Naruto asked. However he started feeling a little worried at the way they both waved his comments off.
"Right, right, we know sochi." Kushina said not really even looking at him. Her answer didn't really fill him with confidence.
Deciding to avoid anymore awkward subjects the family finished eating and cleaned up the dining room and kitchen together before they planned to head to bed.
"Oh, Naruto as you know, Totsuki is a live in academy. You'll be staying at the same dorm as your mother and I did when we went there. Polar Star Dormitory has a bit of a track record for housing some of the best graduates from the academy so be prepared for some sort of challenges even there alright?" Minato explained.
"Right." Naruto replied as he put away the last of the bowls.
"Two things before we all head to bed. One, I'll be doing a tour of the other Akai Uzu branches for the next year and working to set up a new branch in Singapore. So I might be harder to reach. You already know what plans your dad has. Two, I have a request." Kushina said, turning more serious with the second point.
She had Naruto's full attention while Minato looked on with a small grin knowing exactly what was coming.
"Totsuki Academy has a unique structure, it's practically run by the students and the biggest decisions come from the result of Shokugeki. I want you to show Totsuki and all your future colleagues the values of our family. You are to never lose a Shokugeki!" Kushina shouted pointing at her son dramatically as he stared back at her slightly unimpressed.
"What?" He asked. More in line with why she was so worked up.
"It's simple. Show them all the way we Uzumaki cook. Our family is a line of conquerors and the kitchen is our battlefield, Totsuki's Shokugeki duels are the truest form of our ideals!" She cried sweeping her son up with her enthusiasm only to have Minato pop her bubble.
"That's actually how I got your mom to go out with me, I'm the only one to beat her in Shokugeki." He nearly laughed at the pout his wife sent his way.
"Ah, Minato, why do you have to make me look bad in front of my son ya' know?" Kushina playfully whined.
"I would never dear, just reminding him how great his old man is. Right, Naruto? Eh, Naruto?" Minato said while puffing out his chest only to realize Naruto had already headed upstairs.
"What a rude kid." The blond pouted getting a laugh from Kushina as she headed up to bed herself.
"He's probably just reached the limit of his 'great old man'," Kushina teased. "Now hurry up, we have flights tomorrow and I know it'll be a while before we see one another.
Minato stared after his wife as she climbed the stairs and blinked for a moment before the image of her rolling hips seemed to break through and boot up his brain. With a cheesy grin he took the stairs two at a time getting a squeal from his wife when he caught up to her.
Naruto, who had returned to the room after going to get a glass of water from the kitchen, blinked when he noticed his parents had gone.
"Wait...when am I supposed to leave for Totsuki though?" He asked the empty room, frowning at the expectedly silent response.
Totsuki Testing Hall
For the most part, Naruto had long been used to the attention of others. He had made a decent name for himself already while helping with his family business and had even appeared on his father or mother's shows from time to time. His favorite moment being when he destroyed an arrogant chef from Turkey in a cook off. The food had even been traditional turkish cuisine and he had won.
Needless to say that prepared Naruto for fans, both girls and boys, harassing him. It did not mean, however, that he enjoyed such attention. It wasn't so bad when people were genuine fans though, here, Naruto could already tell he had to deal with a few sycophants, something that annoyed him to no small degree.
Then again only a third of those pestering him were trying to talk to him. The rest were their bodyguards and what he could only presume were servants. How disappointing. Hopefully the actual students were far better than the applicants.
After standing around for a while, and suffering through the focus of several arrogant boys and girls his own age things seemed to finally be getting going. The group had gathered into the examination hall and seemed to go still at the sight of what Naruto concluded had to be their examiner.
His first thoughts were in surprise by how literal his parents had been about students seeming to run everything here. Even the examiner for the transfer students was clearly a student herself. One that had a reputation if the hushed murmurs uttered by the rest of the examinees was anything to go off of. He honestly wondered if he might know her too, though off of looks alone he couldn't really tell who they were all so awed by.
"Greetings, transfer applicants. I am Erina Nakiri, and I have been assigned to judge today's transfer exam." The examiner said clearly for the whole room to hear.
Naruto took a second to observe the girl. He recognized the name easily. Erina Nakiri, the so-called god tongue. A part of him thought that was a poor choice of name for a teenage girl. Taking in that same girl's appearance he couldn't help but find himself a bit interested in her. He wondered if she really lived up to all the hype. She was attractive, and from her stature and general demeanor took cooking seriously which were definitely points in her favor but still, did she live up to the title of God Tongue?
"Any word from the exam division?" He heard her ask the second girl.
Beside the blonde Erina stood a second attractive teen girl. Probably both were from the incoming first year class, while he didn't know her name, the fact that she seemed close enough to someone with the pedigree of the Nakiri family likely meant she was talented as well. The pink hair made her stick out plenty but again Naruto was wondering if her skill in the kitchen would make her actually worth that attention.
"Examinees will first undergo interviews in groups of ten based on their applications. They will then undergo a practicum where they will cook three or so dishes, those who pass…" The pink haired girl read off clearly.
'Sounds about like what I expected. This is the paramount of culinary schools for people of our age after all.' Naruto thought only for Erina's voice to catch his attention.
"Hmph. How pointless." She said. Naruto started to get the idea that perhaps this examiner wasn't someone he could fully approve of. He'd seen the look in her eyes among several cooks he and his mother had drummed out of the Akai Uzu kitchens. Arrogance.
"I have an idea. Bring the kitchen work table here." She ordered and the pink haired girl snapped to running off to do as she was ordered.
Around him the other examinees began muttering once again, wondering what exactly was going on. Naruto of course had a pretty good idea. What other reason would you have for bringing in the work station unless you were going to give a practical exam?
"The main ingredient will be an egg." Erina began holding one up to emphasize her point. "You will make one dish. I'll only allow those whose creations impress my palate to transfer into the academy."
Again some worried murmuring spread through the group causing Naruto to raise an eyebrow at their reactions. Did they have that little faith in their skills or did they actually consider Erina Nakiri to be such an insurmountable obstacle?
"Furthermore, I will allow those that wish to withdraw and cancel their application, to do so within the next minute only." She continued.
That seemed to be the final straw as the group broke from her words alone. Several shouts of 'I withdraw!' and scrambling toward the exit turned the room to brief chaos as Naruto did his best to maneuver around the rushing drop outs.
In the end himself and another redheaded boy were all that remained. Naruto sighed at that. To run at the first sign of a difficult task was so low. He knew the majority hadn't been much to look at but almost all of the examinees? That was seriously disappointing.
"I figured most of them were hopeless incompetents. I can't be bothered to waste my time on such fools." The Examiner said to her assistant loud enough to draw Naruto's attention.
He gained a thoughtful look. That was a harsh sentiment but after what he had just seen it was more than fair too. These fools hadn't even gotten into the kitchen and had given up. How did they expect to progress at all if they didn't try to prove themselves?
"I believe I've cleared my schedule for the day?"
"Yes." The pinkette replied.
"Good, I think I'll be testing new dishes in my private quarters." Erina said, not even bothering to look at the room to see if any examinees remained.
While the pink haired assistant seemed to be trapped in a day dream about something, Naruto walked up toward the two girls from where he had been standing near the back of the room. Before he could call out to them though he noticed Erina approach the girl and gently cup her chin and ask her if she wanted to come try her cooking in a somewhat more intimate way than he considered appropriate.
'Huh, so she swings that way. Well that's a bit disappointing Erina seemed like my type. I liked the other girl...I think she called her Hisako...I liked her hair.' Naruto thought as he got closer.
Naruto blushed faintly as the girls appeared to flirt with one another...or at least Erina dirty talking to Hisako. Feeling more and more awkward as he felt the two girls were building up to something they likely intended for no one else to see, Naruto finally decided to interfere. Or he would have if not beaten to it by the only other remaining applicant.
"Yo, so are there any other restrictions on the dish?" The boy asked. Seeming too dense to have noticed the heated air around the two girls.
Snapping out of their loving embrace, Erina and Hisako stepped back away from the boy in apparent shock that any applicants still remained. Glancing between the two Erina at first thought they might be brothers but upon further examination she could see the clear differences.
The first seemed more like a free spirit. Perhaps it was the fact he had been the first to interrupt her and Hisako or maybe it was his demeanor. The boy was of average stature with somewhat wild red hair and seemed slightly out of place at Totsuki.
The second boy shared his hair color, though it was a lighter shade of red and whether it was his attire, a nice white shirt and black pants, or perhaps the way he carried himself, he seemed of a higher pedigree. Though she wasn't sure to what level it was she could say for certain he was familiar somehow.
"Well." Erina recollected herself and directed her words to the two remaining examinees. "Since you two seem intent on continuing we'll head into the kitchen through here so that you can work more easily. No point in using the work table now with no-one but you two here."
She led the small group toward the kitchen as Hisako pushed the prep table along behind them.
"Tell me your names. I'll need to know them for the exams." Erina said as she pushed through the kitchen doors. She doubted they would succeed, but still she would need to mark them down for failure once this was all done rather than withdrawal like the others.
"Soma Yukihira." The first boy said with a grin. As she had expected she didn't know him from adam.
"And you?" Erina prompted the second boy.
"Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto offered, causing her eyes to widen slightly in shock. Behind them Hisako even bumped into the cart loudly.
"U-Uzumaki." Hisako whispered out.
"Yes. Uzumaki. Before you ask, yes the Akai Uzu Uzumakis...as if there were any others." He said with a bit of pride.
The group soon picked up their pace again.
"Well maybe you can prove me wrong then. Perhaps someone from this group is actually not a complete incompetent." Erina turned as they came to a stop at a pair of workstations in the student kitchen.
"As long as you use eggs, you can make anything you want. But are you both sure you want to do this? You, Uzumaki could no doubt excel at any culinary school if what rumors say is true. Do you really want to risk your record being tarnished by failing to impress my talent? And you Yukihira...are you really sure you want to squander whatever chance you have at making a career so early on? You should withdraw now while you…" The girl prattled on, succeeding in annoying Naruto.
To already dismiss his cooking without even seeing him in action? This girl was pushing his buttons and he wasn't about to sit back and let her talk down to him. What did she really know of work with a kitchen. This Soma kid seemed more experienced than her, though he wasn't sure that the kid's experience would help here.
"That's enough instruction. Move aside so I can work already." Naruto grumbled gently, shoving past both Erina and Soma. "Trying to scare us into backing out is doing nothing but wasting my time so just try not to stand so close I need space."
Erina scowled at his dismissive words while Naruto got straight to work, his aloof expression shifting to a stoic and focused one. The girls turned to the other boy only to notice him examining the various tools and ingredients in the room.
"Erina-sama." Hisako said handing her the documentation regarding Soma. Unlike Naruto, who Erina at least knew about, Soma was a complete unknown. Quickly reading through the information Erina hummed briefly before suppressing a snort at the idea of Soma cooking something worthy of her.
"His family just owns a diner? He's clearly a second rate cook. He doesn't understand my noble pedigree, just like a stray dog finding a gemstone he has no real idea of the value." She said quietly. Naruto could hear her though as both girls had yet to move like he had asked them to.
'I wonder about that. Just because he doesn't have the family background doesn't mean he lacks the talent. Dad was a no-name orphan when he came to Totsuki and graduated top of his class. Talent can hide anywhere. Everything else is second and can be taught.' Naruto silently thought while glancing toward the other boy. He then turned his attention back to the girls.
"Oi!" He barked, causing both to flinch. "I thought I told you to move, if you want to stand around do it over there where you won't disturb anyone!"
The girls were shocked by such a display. To speak to his examiner like that seemed crazy. Then again he wasn't being judged on manners.
"Do you know who this is?" Hisako began when she got over her shock. " This is Erina Nakiri! Youngest member of the Elite Ten, the highest decision making body in Totsuki Academy outside of-"
"Shut up and move. I know who she is, I know what the Elite Ten is as well, but you are interfering with my exam at this point to wave around someone else's accomplishments so shut your mouth." Naruto said.
Hisako felt Erina pull her back and both stood out of Naruto's way as he worked at chopping up a small amount of beef. For the first time Erina was really focusing on his skills and she couldn't help herself but acknowledge his skill. As she suspected Naruto might succeed in passing her exam. It seemed he had an interesting dish planned.
"You know my own family went to this academy. My parents were the first and second seat of the Elite Ten when they graduated. I am plenty informed of what Erina-san's position means." Naruto explained as he continued to work, several stations working at once, rice, beef, egg, and another for a sauce.
A shout from Soma drew their attention to him as well causing Erina's eyes to widen. Much like with Naruto the boy clearly knew his way around a kitchen. Perhaps her first thoughts had been wrong on him. Maybe he was the diamond in the rough that was spoken of and he could impress her after all.
Soon the kitchen smelled delicious. The scent of cooking food always pleasing, especially with talented cooks tending to its source. Having noticed both were experienced cooks already Erina began to take stock of the two of them once more.
Soma Yukihira, an unknown. She had no real clue what he would try to serve her. Even as he mixed ingredients and worked away, where she would have some idea with most meals by this point whatever he had planned remained a mystery and it annoyed her endlessly.
On the other hand, Naruto Uzumaki seemed to live up to his reputation fully. He ran his area of the kitchen like a tactician, everything perfectly timed and done in sharp precise efficiency, except for a slight flare for the dramatic. As expected from his parentage. Naruto seemed to be going somewhat simple yet elegant for his meal. A simple Onsen Tamago over a savory beef bowl. However, while the meal was simple it's preparation, care, and presentation most certainly was not. It looked like a dish directly off the Akai Uzu menu, not that it was offered there, but Erina could almost imagine ordering it from the famed establishment.
Soma on the other hand, she still did not know what he intended to serve her at all.
"Yukihira-san. What are you making?" She asked.
"Oh you still can't tell at this stage?" He teased.
"I could fail you right now you know!" Erina shouted before calming herself. "Listen. I don't have time to waste on ill-conceived food. I'm asking if you have any intention of making a dish that is suitable for my palate."
"Just let him cook. If you can't tell what he's making yet, well that's more on you than it is on him." Naruto cut in as he passed by with a bowl of ice. The glare he got from Erina could have killed a man but Naruto didn't bat an eye as he continued on with his dish. He had little patience when he was working and this girl badgering the other applicant would get old quick. Especially as Naruto could tell roughly what he planned to serve.
'That is bold of you Yukihira-san. Bolder than I am myself. I think you are going down the wrong road for your choice in dish though. Erina is far too high-class for something like that.' Naruto thought as he finished with his rice.
Soon both dishes were served and Naruto already felt bad for his fellow examinee. The simplistic look of his rice with seasoning wasn't going to win him any points with someone like Erina Nakiri.
"In the end your dish is the work of a second rate cook. It fails to arouse my appetite. My palate has been called the god tongue. Only the most elaborate and refined haute cuisine graces my dinner table. You fail, I refuse to sully my mouth with something so…" Erina scowled, unable to find a word that fit her disdain for his food. Instead moving on to Naruto's dish.
Onsen Tamago over a beef bowl. It was a simpler dish but it was prepared in a fitting fashion for the menus of such places as his own family restaurants. Without a word Erina lifted a bite to her mouth and began to chew it with an almost experimental caution. However soon her eyes seemed to widen and her cheeks blushed as she let loose a small moan at the taste of his food.
Naruto smiled eagerly as he saw the reaction. Lifting a hand in front of her mouth as her eyes glazed slightly the Uzumaki could already tell he had achieved success. Erina looked practically weak at her knees.
"So?" Naruto asked, leaning slightly against the work station.
After blushing a slightly more noticeable shade of red and clearing her throat, Erina made to stand fully and give her verdict.
"You pass, Uzumaki-san. I look forward to your progress here." She said simply before glancing back toward Soma and his dish.
"The exam is over." Erina snapped and turned away to leave only for Soma to call out to her and stop her in her tracks.
"You haven't seen it in its final form yet. Seasoning isn't complete till it's put over steamed rice." He said pouring the small bowl over the rice he had prepared. Alongside Erina and Hisako, Naruto's eyes widened in surprise as he watched Soma's concoction finalize.
Along with the fluffy egg there were small cubes of aspic that melted into the rice and eggs when they were mixed. The aroma made even Naruto's mouth water slightly and he smiled faintly. This Soma was one to keep an eye on.
"I suppose a single bite is fine." Erina said as she tried the dish. Similarly to Naruto's food her eyes widened and she hummed happily at the taste. It was plenty clear that the food was good, however she had yet to pass Yukihira.
"That's Yukihira cooking. I know we're a small diner, and you're one of the food world elites, but I bet there are some things you can't make if you're too busy sneering down at people from your throne." He lectured her as she stared over at him.
"So what is it, Yukihira rice with transforming seasoning, is it delicious or disgusting?" He said while waving his arms out wide confidently.
"It's...It's disgusting!" She shouted before turning and storming out with Hisako chasing after her to catch up.
Naruto stared after them in shock. He felt a little bad for Soma, especially after seeing that Erina clearly liked the food even if she refused to admit it. Deciding to try it himself he reached over and tasted the meal.
Instantly the mix of flavor and texture dumped him into a memory of his family kitchen as a little boy as he learned to cook from his parents. Unlike when she was in the kitchen for something serious, when cooking with her husband and son, Kushina Uzumaki was a tender and playful soul, far removed from the Red hot Habanero of Akai Uzu.
Eating Soma's dish brought back such warm and cheerful memories that Naruto almost wanted to try and reach out to the academy's leadership on his behalf, however that was when he recalled exactly what the dish was.
Delicious as it may well be, Totsuki Academy held a predisposition toward high end cuisine. A dish like rice with seasoning, even doctored up in such a way as Soma had done, didn't mesh. Especially when placed before the likes of Erina Nakiri.
Patting Yukihira on the back in sympathy, Naruto collected his things and left the room. Hopefully the boy would wind up somewhere where he could show his talent off properly but Naruto's focus wasn't on him, instead it was on the fact that he was now officially accepted into Totsuki Academy and he would be conquering this place one dish at a time.
That's all for now kids, leave a review if you don't mind. Till next time.
Upcoming: Polar Star Tests, Meaty Girls, and the Gradual Conquest of Totsuki through the Uzumaki Family's Chosen Battlefield. The Kitchen!