Hey there everyone, update for Food Wars has arrived. Been over a month since I touched this fic so definitely time to get something for it out. Anyway a couple of pieces of business before the fic...for those interested AizenTheGoat's discord server come on down and try it out. → /2r9g5enS
On to the Fic!
Chapter Two
By the end of the week-long process of getting situated with his paperwork and personal belongings Naruto had grown to realize that Totsuki Academy was honestly a ridiculous institution. The size of this place was even more enormous than he had imagined possible and seemed more like it's own hidden city or perhaps a massive resort town than anything else. It made everything that much more annoying to deal with because he had to cover ridiculous distances to do anything.
Of course he soon came to realize why exactly the school was so huge. Well, besides the obvious inclination toward an unnecessarily opulent style of living. Naruto himself had lived a pretty well off life but his family didn't flaunt the wealth like Totsuki did. In the end though, the size, if not the class of the academy was reasonable.
As he stood off to the side of the stage waiting to be called up to speak as one of the only two transfer students joining the academy, Naruto scanned the massive crowd of first years arrayed before it. This was only the incoming first year high school class. Totsuki had programs for primary school aged students all the way up to a small university level institution. At least he wasn't the only transfer student.
Beside him, Naruto had initially been a bit surprised by Soma also attending. He got over his surprise quickly though. The boy had cooked delicious food so the Nakiri girl must have changed her mind about her ruling. Maybe she was too embarrassed to tell him in person after her initial reaction. She did seem the overly prideful type.
That same girl now stood before the gathered students to receive their class badge on the first years' behalf. Naruto could see a few boys in the crowd from where he stood fawning over her causing him to grin slightly. It seemed Totsuki, despite everything did have some normal aspects to it as well. That was good. He loved cooking. Lived and breathed it really, but he was still a teenager and would have hated it at this academy if everyone was totally focused on only that.
"Next, please welcome our keynote speaker, the director of our very own Totsuki Academy; Senzaemon Nakiri." The speaker said before clapping as the man made his way to the podium. Out in the crowd several became intimidated by the man, and even more just by his name.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and hummed in thought as he took in the director's appearance. He knew of Senzaemon by reputation. Everyone that was well informed of the cooking world, or at least that of Japan knew plenty about this man. Supposedly some sort of master of the Japanese food world he was looked at like the head of a Yakuza family. He looked the part in Naruto's humble opinion too.
That all being said, someone didn't become so well known in the food industry for nothing. To stand on top like Senzaemon did and be recognized for it, he had the connections that made Totsuki the unique campus that it was. Naruto couldn't help but want to cook a meal for the man sometime and get his opinion, though maybe after he graduated. Even he was a bit intimidated by the scarred man looming over the whole of the first year class from the stage.
"Greetings. Congratulations on your advancement to the high school division. During your three years in the junior high school division, you have obtained a basic skill set in cooking and deepened your understanding of each ingredient. In addition to the cooking practicum, you attended classroom lectures on a variety of topics including culinary theory, nutrition, public health, introductory agronomics, and management. Now, you're finally standing at the entrance to the high school division." Senzaemon growled out to the audience with his gravelly voice.
Naruto nodded at the topics mentioned by the director as he gave his speech. He had initially come into the academy thinking that working in a real kitchen for his family's restaurants would give him a large advantage over his classmates who only had classroom experience to fall back on. With the way the Nakiri family head was talking he would need to remember that such a thought was arrogant and would get him into a bind. These other students still rated lower than himself, and lower than his fellow transfer Soma as far as he was concerned, but they weren't bad cooks either. Each of them would probably make a decent chef to varying degrees, but if what he knew about Totsuki was correct, not even half of them would cut it for the academy's rigid standards.
"The challenges you'll now face are not about your skills or knowledge, but whether you have the wherewithal to survive as a food professional. Ninety-nine percent of you are meant to be sacrifices for honing the remaining one percent." The man swept his hand over the crowd to point out to them and emphasize his point, not that he needed to.
Off to the side the Uzumaki heir grinned at the concept. It was harsh, but Naruto had been raised on the idea of competition in the kitchen. Similar systems were used by his family in their restaurant for generations. He just couldn't wait to get started.
"Of the eight-hundred and twelve students that entered our high school division last year, only seventy-six advanced to the second year. Incompetence and mediocrity will be mercilessly excised from our student body. A thousand first years will be whittle down to a hundred by next year, and we can count those who will advance to graduation on one hand. Aspire to become one of the small handful of those professionals! It should be you! Hone yourself!" Senzaemon continued.
Everyone was shocked by that, even Naruto was stunned by the revelation. He had known competition would be harsh and merciless, but the extent they planned was almost unimaginable. Instead of feeling fear at the thought of failing though, it just filled him with more of a drive to succeed. To come out on top over a thousand others. Looking over the crowd he saw he wasn't the only one. Everyone there seemed of the mindset. That was good, he didn't want anyone backing down and making it easier on him.
"Finally we will be introducing our two transfer students who'll be joining our ranks today. First we'll have Soma Yukihira speak." The spokeswoman said before stepping aside as Naruto and Soma walked onto the stage. Naruto stood beside the woman as he watched Soma take his spot at the podium.
"Oh, sorry to be talking to y'all from up here." Soma said before chuckling awkwardly and scratching at his head. The woman encouraged him to simplye speed it up and the boy obliged.
"I'll keep it short and sweet, then. Just a couple sentences. Uh, I'm Soma Yukihira. To be honest, this academy is just a stepping stone for me! I wasn't expecting to transfer here, but I don't plan on losing to folks who've never actually served customers. Anyway what I'm getting at is...Basically, now that I'm here, I'm gonna take the number one spot! Looking forward to being with y'all for the next three years." He said stepping out from behind the podium at the ended and bowing slightly to the crowd.
The woman beside Naruto looked like she was going to have a panic attack as the student body seemed to practically convulse in anger at the arrogance Soma displayed. Naruto himself was a bit shocked by the boy's attitude though he could see where the kid was coming from. He had to fight off the smile at seeing his fellow redhead wind the crowd up. Now though was his turn.
Naruto walked up tot the podium and initially waited patiently for the students to calm back down. But as the crowd only grew more vocal and wild, his patience, something that sadly never was in great supply, wore thin. Especially as the kid's began to throw things. No longer to hold it in the polite and friendly expression on his face darkened into one that typically had the staff at Akai Uzu whimpering.
"If none of you fucking idiots can handle a simple challenge from a fellow student I doubt you will remain long so do everyone a favor and leave to save us all some time." He growled into the microphone causing the crowd to briefly gawk at him before their expressions started to darken again only to be silenced when he spoke once more.
"You've already heard from the academy director. Totsuki is supposed to be built on a foundation of competition. Throwing a fit like a child over some cocky kid's words isn't going to earn you any points with anyone." He continued on. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Whatever the words of the boy before me, know that I'm your real challenge for the top. For those of you who know my family, you may know my mother's favorite metaphor for the kitchen. The kitchen is a battlefield, and I am it's conqueror. Those of you brave enough can face me there and earn the right to shout and whine about words after showing you have the skill to back it up. Those of you who aren't, don't belong here and should get out."
The crowd had fallen to complete silence following that. Unlike Soma, a practical nobody who had come before some of the most talented cooking students in the world and laughed in their face, Naruto was a known name. A very well known one. Many had seen him on his parents' shows. They had heard him driving grown men to tears in the kitchen right beside his mother. Everything he said attacked right at their self assured ability and many of the students felt the pressure created by Senzaemon's speech earlier come crashing back onto their shoulders.
Others however practically salivated at the prospect of a challenge. To face off with someone they considered equal or greater cooking pedigree than themselves. A challenge for the ages.
As for Naruto. He simply pivoted and strolled off the stage. The effect of his words wasn't really his problem, or his focus. Instead he was more interested in getting started on the actual schoolwork. His blood was pumping a little and he really just wanted to cook something.
Instead he walked into a waiting area to catch what he could only assume was the tail end of a conversation between Soma and their examiner from the entrance exams.
"I'll say one thing! I haven't accepted you! Neither you, nor your cooking! This is a mistake! A mistake, okay? You came here to Totsuki because there was a mistake, only Uzumaki-san passed the entrance exams. By the way, that speech? Taking the number one spot? Don't make me laugh. Everyone who's been a student since junior high has been learning cutting edge gastronomy-" Erina ranted on at the boy only to be interrupted.
"And Soma has no doubt worked away in an actual restaurant while you all enjoyed your lectures. You have me wondering Nakiri-san, do you actually cook yourself or are you just good with your mouth?" Naruto asked very pointedly, making the innuendo.
The girl went red in the face and glared hotly at Naruto, as if she had believed he would take her side in this. Naruto wasn't sure how exactly Soma got into Totsuki if Erina hadn't passed him, but he did know the boy was skilled and sure of himself. All he knew of Erina was that she had a sensitive tongue and in his opinion an overinflated sense of self.
The Nakiri girl stormed past both boys and out of the small waiting area leaving Naruto to shrug. He had no doubt he'd encounter her again. With his luck he'd probably end up in the same class together or something.
Naruto and Soma had decided to walk together toward class, as both had their first one in the same building. On the way there Naruto was pleasantly surprised to overhear a few other students talking among themselves about their brief speeches given in the assembly. While plenty still had a negative outlook toward Soma, and even some toward him, most seemed to have come around to the realization that what Naruto had said had merit. If Soma's challenge was enough to get under their skin they didn't belong here in the first place.
"Well, this is me then." Soma said with a grin as he stopped at Test Kitchen Three. Naruto nodded to him in response.
"Later then, good luck Soma. Try not to get tossed out on your first day, I think you are definitely one of the ones I want to cook against a few times before I take the top spot." Naruto shot him a smile causing the other boy to laugh and agree before heading to his class.
'Now then, Test Kitchen Seven. That's my class room for today.' Naruto thought as he made his way down the hall before slipping into his classroom. Inside he was pretty pleased with what he saw.
The workstations were all top of the line and there was plenty of high grade ingredients stocked to work with. Not to mention it was spotless and well maintained. It reminded him a lot of the prep area for the mail-order meals his family's company sold all over the world. He could definitely dominate this room.
Only after taking full stock of the kitchen itself did he look at the rest of his classmates. It was a small group, thankfully, as he wasn't interested in being crowded while he tried to work. Most of them seemed a bit intimidated by him sharing a class with them which was expected but still annoying. However that fact made the few who stood out all the more memorable. Especially one, rather scantily clad girl. He couldn't say he expected to see anyone in the student body wearing what or as little as she was. Then again neither was he complaining about it.
That same girl was his partner for this class. Ikumi Mito, heiress to the Mito family, one of Japan's ruling families in the food industry. They had the meat sector nearly cornered in all honesty. Neither really went out of their way to get to know one another in class, which was a bit of a disappointment for the Uzumaki. Both of them easily handled their tasks and it was clear that while above average at nearly everything in the kitchen, Ikumi really shined when handling the meat that acted as the center of the dish they were working on. Though it was a bit annoying dealing with her essentially batting his hands away and taking over at a couple key stages for the preparation of the Roast.
In the end, he couldn't really get a read on her from a single class together. Sure she was skilled and masterful with handling meat. Not to mention she was extremely attractive with short blonde hair, golden tanned skin and bright blue eyes topped off with a curvaceous figure and skimpy clothing. The problem was they hardly spoke at all except about their dish. He knew he treated cooking a bit too seriously at times, but when he wasn't being silent and stern while cooking, Ikumi seemed to be practically fondling the roast they were to prepare or ignoring him.
As class ended and the pair received an easy A rating. Ikumi departed quickly after that and with little else to do, Naruto began hunting for his new dormitories. He'd worry about making social connections with his classmates after he was truly settled in.
While looking for his new place to stay Naruto ran into Soma again. They traded stories about their own first classes at Totsuki. Naruto was more than a little angered at the prospect of other students sabotaging one another. He'd have to keep an eye out for that. He was fine with being cutthroat and ruthless in the kitchen, but he drew the line at cheating in such a fashion. Still, this Megumi Soma was paired with, seemed almost like the boy's perfect foil.
The conversation eventually grew to question just where the hell they were headed. Naruto thought he had realized how massive the academy was before. Now thought the realization was truly setting in as he and Soma lugged their supplies up and down hill after hill looking for the Polar Star dormitories.
"I shouldn't be able to work up an appetite walking to my dorm from the classroom." Soma complained.
"Well, it's not like we won't be cooking when we get there. I get what you mean though, what's the point of all this distance between buildings. I've seen fewer trees in a forest." Naruto replied.
The boys eventually made it to their new home, only to find it a bit less than expected. Some of the buildings they had passed by looked to be brand new and ritzy. Polar Star had a reputation but it's outward appearance was….well it was rustic, if Naruto was benign generous. In actuality, he imagined Polar Star to have been one of the first buildings constructed at Totsuki, maybe even updating the academy itself. Perhaps it was an older building repurposed for the school?
Stepping into the building and setting down their items the pair of redhead boys took in the old building's front room. It was large at least. A massive staircase dominated the room leading up to the second floor. Just as Naruto finished scanning the room however, thick black smoke began filtering down the stairway from upstairs.
"A fire?" He worried aloud. Before he could continue that line of thinking however the building shook and the sound of items impacting the floor from high up shelves filled the air.
"Is this an earthquake?" Soma cried in surprise as he tried to stabilize himself.
Before either boy could regain their bearings a stampede of animals rushed into the room causing both to simply stare wide eyed at the chaos created in a matter of seconds since they arrived.
"Hey! Room One-Sixteen! Don't you dare let game animals into your room! If you do it again I'll flay you alive!" A voice shouted over the speakers to the girl chasing after her swarm of animals.
"And Room Two-oh-eight! You turned an empty room into a smoker without permission again didn't you?! Want me to string up above some smoke chips?! And Room Two-oh-five if your floor falls out I'll punch a hole in your gut!" The voice roared.
"The caretaker sounds harsh." Naruto commented.
Before Soma could add his two cents an elderly woman stepped out to greet them. To Naruto, she looked a bit like a crazy old witch but he wasn't about to tell her that. Especially knowing that he needed to cook something to impress her to stay in the dorms. No need to make things harder on himself by making her grade his work with bias.
"You must be Soma Yukihira and Naruto Uzumaki, the transfer students who want to live in the dorm? I am the caretaker, Fumio Daimido. Also known as Fumio-san the Madonna of Polar Star. That is what you'll call me." The old woman introduced herself.
"How'd I end up in another freak show?" Soma whispered to himself, though Naruto heard him just fine. He hoped the elderly woman's hearing was diminished with age too. Whether that was indeed the case or not, thankfully Fumio-san moved the conversation on to ask what they brought in the way of ingredients.
"Huh? What ingredients?" Soma asked.
"Soma, didn't you read both sides of the handout for Polar Star? All new residents have to cook a dish to impress Fumio-san-" Naruto began explaining while showing the back side of the dormitory paperwork they had been given.
"That's Fumio-san the Madonna of Polar Star." The old woman interrupted. Naruto simply stared blankly at her, allowing her to take over the conversation from there.
"Only those whose cooking passes muster will be allowed to reside within the dorm. The caretaker serves as examiner, that is to say I serve as you examiner. The applicant may choose their ingredients." The woman explained.
"This is news to me! I haven't got any ingredients on me!" Soma shouted.
"I guess that means you lose by default. I won't let you stay here unless I see what you're made of first." She said simply.
"Wha- but that means that tonight I'll have to…" The boy began to argue.
"Camp out of course." The old witch said with a straight face.
"You're kidding! Even in April the nights get freezing cold! I'm already half dead from exhaustion and hunger!" Soma shouted.
"The challenge is an absolute requirement. Just give up! We only have leftover scraps in the kitchen anyway. Consider today your unlucky day." She waved him off beginning to turn her attention to Naruto who had simply watched the interaction with some amusement. However he had some supplies with him he could loan Soma.
"Eh, Soma you can use some of my ingredients, I have more than I need-" Naruto began only for the boy to shake his head and look at the caretaker with a determined gleam in his eye.
"Does that mean I can use those leftovers?" He asked.
"Soma I'm offering to let you use some of my own fresh supplies there's no need to-" Naruto began.
"I appreciate it, really. I'm here to make a point though. I'll show her and other if I can make it into Polar Star with leftover scraps I have what it takes to take that number one spot." Soma explained with a serious look in his eyes catching Naruto off guard. The surprise was short lived however as a broad grin spread across his face at the notion of his fellow transfer.
"Well now you have me all fired up. I'll do the same. I won't stand around and let you think you surpassed me Yukihira." Naruto declared grinning fiercely at his fellow student who smiled back at the small challenge.
"I'll take on your challenge. So Fumio-san, where's the kitchen?" Soma said first to Naruto before turning to face the caretaker.
When they arrived to the kitchen Naruto whistled at the sight. It really was a nice kitchen, but Soma was a bit more candid and simply said so out loud, while simultaneously insulting the rest of the building for looking like a haunted house. Naruto though wisely kept his mouth shut as he saw the slight twitch on the old woman's face from Soma's remark.
"Listen up, I hate know-it-all brats the most. How many meals cooked by students do you think I've tasted so far? Don't presume I'm going to give you a passing grade for something you're just going to slap together." Fumio stated with a frown. However her words served to only inspire Soma and annoy Naruto.
"Neh, Fumio-san, I understand you are the caretaker here and I will be respectful of that, but don't ever consider my dishes to be something 'just slapped together'. I'll take that as an insult, and an Uzumaki will not take insults to their cooking lightly." Naruto said with a dark look as he walked away from her and into the large kitchen.
Fumio blinked at the sudden change in the boy. He had seemed far more friendly and polite a moment ago, but now it was like a switch had been flipped. He had a rigid serious look on his face and his eyes had narrowed and grown cold, not to mention the chill that had run down her spine when he had said he wouldn't take insult's kindly. His tone had been so frigid.
Naruto ignored the woman at this point as he and Soma both browsed the supplies before them. She hadn't been lying that it was only leftovers in the kitchen but the more Naruto listed in his head, the more a dish came together in his mind. Not something he'd regularly create but something he believed he could make easily and deliciously.
'Eggs, everything I need for biscuits, plenty of fresh vegetables and greens, and a cabinet stocked with nearly ever spice and herb I could need.' He thought before grinning ever so faintly.
"All right, this should be more than plenty." Soma said after he too had finished taking inventory.
"I was thinking the same thing. Let's get started all ready." Naruto declared as he began prepping to cook.
Fumio stared wide eyed at the boys as they began moving like they had both worked their whole lives in a professional kitchen. Something she soon realised was largely true. Soma appeared to have worked in a restaurant for years, and Naruto had no doubt done the same as was tradition among the Uzumaki. These two might just surprise her, she thought, though she kept her opinion grounded. There was little to work with in the kitchen after all. Or at least it looked that way to her.
Naruto was impressed by his colleague's dish as he cooked. To improvise and create a hamburger steak with canned mackerel he really was showing his talent. From the scent alone, Naruto knew the dish would pass. It smelled delicious after all. Naruto's own meal was excellent as well. When both were placed before the woman he could tell already ehr mouth was watering front he scents of the two meals they presented her.
She clearly enjoyed Soma's concoction. She seemed stunned by the flavors he used even having to ask how he managed some things. At that moment Naruto couldn't help but reevaluate the boy. He'd been impressed by his dish at the entrance exams. However to do what he had here showed a versatility Naruto hadn't expected. Soma Yukihira just might be his biggest challenge for the number one spot after all.
"What is your dish, Naruto-san?" Soma asked as Fumio moved on toward it.
"Oh it was a simple one really. I learned the recipe when I visited europe with my dad a couple of years ago. We spent weeks learning and cooking european styled dishes. This one is just a Scotch egg salad. First I made out a thin biscuit dough and boil the eggs, then I simply rolled them into the dough and baked them. Making the salad was even easier. Assorted greens, some french cut green beans, tomato wedges, and a bit of shredded carrots. The dressing was pretty easy as well. It's a smoky ranch mainly using greek yogurt, buttermilk, and a couple of chipotles." Naruto explained as they watched the woman blink rapidly after taking a bite.
Neither boy could see it but in her head it was as if she had just woken up at a small bed and breakfast in the English countryside and been served her meal while relaxing in a fragrant and well treated garden. It was like a miniature vacation to europe all on it's own, even though she'd never been there herself.
'These kids are something else. I can't believe they managed to concoct such delicious meals from the leftovers here in the kitchen. What could they do with a fully prepared stock of ingredients?' Fumio thought as she continued to enjoy the food. Both boys were such excellent cooks she honestly couldn't believe what they had made.
As her mind drifted deeper into the imagined realism created by the dishes the boys had made, Naruto and Soma bumped hosts together and grinned. They might be rivals in the future, but both could respect talent in the Kitchen. The bonding moment between the two young chefs was ruined as the woman latched onto their arms and leaned forward as to kiss them, still lost in whatever fantasy they had given her with their meals.
"Take me!" She cried causing both boys to panic.
"Let go of me you old bat!" Soma cried pushing against her trying to pry his way free.
Naruto had already slipped his hold and left his newfound rival at the mercy of the witch. He felt guilty about it as he put himself into the farthest corner from the terrifying scene but his self preservation out weighed his guilt by a large margin.
"Naruto! Don't just stand there help me!" Soma shouted at him.
"Sacrifices are sometimes necessary in any battlefield, including this one Soma. I'll do my best to remember you as you once were!" Naruto replied resolutely.
'As you once were before being defiled by an old witch that could be our grandmother.' He thought with a shiver down his spine as he clenched his eyes closed to block out the scene in front of him.
When he heard the woman clear her throat and announce that they had passed and she would allow them into the dorm, Naruto opened his eyes once again. In front of him the Madonna of Polar Star looked completely unapologetic about what had happened and poor Soma looked to have barely escaped some horror with his life.
"Glad you liked it!" Soma cried, getting a nod from Naruto in agreement.
"You'll be in rooms Three-oh-three and Three-oh-four. Across the hall from one another." She announced as she handed them their keys.
Both boys headed up immediately afterward. Putting away their things and then heading for the communal bath for the building both boys were in high spirits.
"A bath sounds pretty nice. Then getting some sleep I think. It's been a long day." Naruto said.
"Right, a bath does sound pretty good." Soma said as he opened the door only to freeze as he saw it was occupied by his partner from earlier in the day. Megumi Tadakoro.
Naruto caught the scene from where he was undressing further back in the room and quickly turned to look away from the sight. It seemed that Soma was a bit of a magnet for uncomfortable situations. Choosing to quickly redress Naruto headed back to his dorm room. He could get a bath in a couple hours, besides the poor girl already inside looked nearly in tears when Soma barged in. He didn't need to be anywhere nearby to make things worse.
Hey that's the end of the chapter guys, I hope you liked it. I realize it's kinda short but not a whole lot to cover here. Especially benign as next chapter we'll be covering Naruto's first cook off, as well as his first shokugeki and actually interacting more with Ikumi than just working around each other in class.
Till next time!