It had been a week since Reiji Arata floored Sasuke Uchiha three times in a row—without even activating his Sharingan. A week since he merged the power of that legendary eye with his own body. And exactly seven days since he'd leveled it up to the cap with a cheeky grin and infinite skill points, unlocking eyes that could stop time and bend space.
And yet, the greatest challenge he now faced…
Was hunger.
"Gah... I'm starving," Reiji muttered, clutching his rumbling stomach as he rolled around the mattress in his tiny room. "Why do I feel like I could eat three whole boars?"
Naruto groaned from his spot on the floor. "Tell me about it. All I had today was a rice ball. A tiny one. Like... bite-sized."
"Same," Reiji replied, eyes glazed over. "Seriously, how are we both still alive?"
"Because of ramen," Naruto said with solemn reverence. "Glorious, beautiful, dependable ramen."
Reiji sat up, eyes serious. "We need to talk."
Naruto blinked. "Uh-oh. That sounds like the kind of thing Sakura-chan says before she punches someone."
"I'm serious," Reiji declared. "We're broke. We're orphans. We eat like prisoners. And we have zero savings unless you count expired ration pills."
"Yeah?" Naruto tilted his head. "So what are we gonna do, open a food stand or something?"
Reiji opened his mouth to say 'yes', but stopped.
"…Wait. That's actually not a bad idea."
Naruto stared at him. "Bro. We don't even have ingredients, let alone money."
"And no customers," Reiji added. "And no cooking skills. And no business license. And I might still be blacklisted from the Academy kitchen."
Naruto slapped his forehead. "Last time you tried to cook, you burned your whole kitchen down."
"Hey, that wasn't me!" Reiji defended himself. "That was the old Reiji. I'm Reiji 2.0."
Naruto. "...What?"
"Nothing!" Reiji said quickly. "Forget I said anything."
He leapt up and stalked to the cupboard like a man on a mission. Then he opened it, stared inside, and screamed, "What the hell do I have?!"
Naruto flinched. "What now?!"
"Vegetables. Rotten vegetables. Flour. One egg. No meat. No oil. No cheese. No tomatoes. No pickles. No sauces! What kind of wasteland is this?!"
Naruto stood by the door, looking genuinely concerned. "Uh... Reiji? You okay, man?"
"I've decided," Reiji said, eyes burning with resolve. "I'm going to make a burger."
Naruto blinked. "What's a burger?"
Reiji froze. "You don't know what a burger is?"
"I know what a boar is," Naruto offered helpfully. "Is it related?"
Reiji looked ready to cry. "This world... truly is a hellhole."
He turned to Naruto dramatically. "Go. Get more eggs. And flour. Now."
Naruto raised a brow. "Dude. You sure you're not brain-damaged from Sakura's last punch?"
"I'm serious!" Reiji snapped. "This is a culinary emergency!"
Naruto sighed. "Fine, but if you burn the kitchen again, I'm telling Iruka-sensei."
"Actually," Reiji rubbed his chin, "go tell Iruka-sensei I'm cooking. We'll need supplies. Tell him it's for 'training.'"
Naruto looked at him like he'd lost his mind. "You want me to tell the same guy who had to use Water Style: Wild Water Wave to put out your last kitchen fire... that you're cooking again?"
"Exactly."
"You're insane."
"And you're hungry. Now go!"
With a groan, Naruto ran off.
Left alone, Reiji exhaled and pulled up his system menu.
[Skill Detected: Culinary Arts (Lv. 1)]
"Oh. Hello there."
He immediately dumped a mountain of skill points into it.
[Culinary Arts → Lv. 100 (MAX)]
[Title Gained: World-Class Chef]
[Skill Mastered – Earth-Style Cuisine]
[New Passive: Perfect Palate – Can perfectly replicate any dish once tasted.]
Suddenly, recipes flooded into his brain—thousands of them. Burgers. Fries. Sushi. Shawarma. Soufflé. Tikka masala. Even instant noodles done right.
"Oh my god," he whispered. "It's all back… the taste of Earth…"
His hands moved on instinct. He kneaded the dough for burger buns with precision, even humming a little as he mixed. It was strange. He felt like a chef possessed. Like Gordon Ramsay had just fused with him.
Then the door burst open.
"REIJI!!" Iruka yelled, panting, a scroll still tucked under one arm. "Are you trying to destroy Konoha again?!"
"Silence, doubter," Reiji said, dramatically tying a towel around his head like a bandana. "I have ascended. Today, I no longer burn kitchens—I awaken palates."
"You said that last time before you turned your pan into a Fire Style Jutsu!"
"That was the old me," Reiji said with exaggerated dignity. "Today, I am reborn. As a chef."
Iruka glanced at Naruto, who gave an unconvincing thumbs up.
"Also," Reiji added smoothly, "if you'd be so kind... we're still missing a few ingredients."
Iruka sighed. "What is this for again?"
"Training," Naruto said.
"…Right," Iruka said dryly. "And next you'll tell me the Hokage's gonna fund this, too."
"Great idea!" Reiji clapped his hands. "Let's go scam—uh, politely request funds from—Hokage-sama."
Twenty minutes later, Team Ramen—Naruto, Reiji, and a very reluctant Iruka—returned with sacks full of groceries. Iruka grumbled the entire way back, muttering something about "budget reports" and "Fire Lord audits."
Reiji got to work.
The burger buns rose like fluffy clouds. The patties sizzled as they cooked, their aroma wafting through the air like a jutsu of pure seduction. He even whipped up homemade mayo, fries, and a tangy ketchup-like sauce with herbs and roasted tomatoes.
Naruto's eyes widened like saucers. "What… what is that smell?!"
Reiji plated the burger with reverence.
"This, my friend," he said, "is the pinnacle of human achievement."
"Can I—"
"Sit."
Naruto obeyed.
He took a bite.
And cried.
Tears streamed down his face as he chewed, sniffled, and muttered, "Why does it taste like dreams?!"
Even Iruka hesitated, then took a bite.
He too fell silent. Then nodded. Slowly. Like a man who had just re-evaluated his entire life.
"This… this could be dangerous," Iruka whispered.
Reiji smirked.
"Dangerously delicious."
Chapter end