Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 395 Limited Edition Ramen

The melodious and lingering sound of the bell suddenly resounded throughout the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

This sound was different from the alarm bells used for emergency assemblies, and also from the solemn ringing of an anniversary celebration.

Its deep, resonant sound, carrying a sense of peace and joy that cleanses the soul, penetrates the bustling crowd and reaches the ears of everyone clearly.

Everyone instinctively stopped and looked toward the central square of the expo, following the sound.

There, an ordinary-looking ramen stall owner was standing on a meticulously modified, steampunk-style ramen cart, vigorously ringing a large brass bell hanging from the roof.

It was typed by hand.

The always-smiling owner of Ichiraku Ramen.

Today, he changed out of his white chef's uniform and put on a solemn dark blue festival outfit, with a headscarf with the word "Ichiban" tied around his forehead, making him look radiant.

"when--!"

The final chime faded, its echo lingering long after.

He took a deep breath, mustered all his strength, and delivered a resounding announcement into a wooden microphone connected to a chakra amplifier.

"Thank you for coming, everyone! -- Ichiraku Ramen Winter Festival Limited Edition -- Heritage Flavor Special Ramen is now on sale!"

After he finished speaking, the crowd fell silent for a moment.

The next second, a thunderous roar of cheers and commotion erupted, instantly igniting the entire square.

"It's a limited-edition, handmade ramen!"

"Finally! I've been saving up for lunch!"

"The taste of heritage? Just the name sounds incredible!"

No further promotion was needed; the mere mention of Ichiraku Ramen and "limited edition" was enough to send all the Konoha villagers into a frenzy. The specially made ramen truck was instantly surrounded by a dense, impenetrable wall of people.

With his superhuman reaction speed, Minato Namikaze immediately protected Kushina, using his body to shield her from the crowd, while raising his other hand high.

"Uncle, two bowls here!"

His gentle yet clear voice pierced through the noise, carrying a reassuring power.

"Alright! Minato, I'm coming right away!"

Shouda responded cheerfully, his hand movements so fast they left afterimages.

Soon, two steaming bowls of fragrant ramen were handed to Minato.

This bowl of ramen is so tempting that just one glance is enough to make your mouth water.

A few bright green scallions and golden oil droplets float on the milky white, rich broth. The hand-pulled noodles curl up with a chewy texture, topped with several slices of evenly thick char siu with charred edges. A soft-boiled egg is cut in half, revealing a trembling, orange-red yolk. It is also garnished with a few pieces of bright green vegetables and a bright red naruto roll.

What's most special is that there are a few thin, translucent green threads soaking in the soup, slowly unfurling with the steam and emitting a strange and refreshing herbal aroma.

"It smells so good!"

Kushina sniffed hard, her purple eyes gleaming with excitement, and she eagerly took a bowl from Minato's hands.

The two finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd and sit down on an empty bench by the roadside.

"I'm starting!"

Kushina clasped her hands together, said something devoutly, then picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a large mouthful of noodles, and slurped it into her mouth.

The moment the noodles touched her tongue, she froze completely.

An indescribable, complex yet harmonious flavor suddenly exploded on her taste buds.

First came the broth, rich and fragrant with pork bones, yet not greasy at all; instead, it had a mellow sweetness that warmed her esophagus and stomach. Next came the noodles, incredibly elastic, bouncing merrily between her teeth.

The char siu pork is perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat, melting in your mouth, with the aroma of meat blending perfectly with the smoky, caramelized flavor.

However, what impressed her most was the unique herbal fragrance that lingered on her lips and teeth.

The smell was just like... just like the morning breeze, carrying dew, blowing across the herb field my mother planted in front of our house on the shore of the Whirlpool Country.

Kushina stopped moving and stared blankly at the soup in the bowl. A hot tear fell without warning, creating a small ripple on the milky white soup.

"Kushina?"

Minato looked at her with concern, "What's wrong? Is it not tasty?"

"No……"

Kushina shook her head vigorously, and when she looked up, a smile brighter than the winter sun was on her face, though her eyes were red.

"It's so delicious!"

She laughed as she picked up another large mouthful of noodles and ate it in big bites, as if she wanted to swallow all her longing and emotions along with the bowl of noodles.

Minato watched her quietly without asking any more questions, and silently put all the pieces of char siu from his bowl into Kushina's bowl.

Not far away, the new generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio finally managed to snag some ramen.

"Hmm... five ants!"

Choza Akimichi had his face buried in his bowl, his mouth greasy from eating, and he mumbled indistinctly, "This pork bone soup is definitely made with Konoha pigs from Uncle Sakumo's farm! The richness is amazing!"

"You treat eating ramen like it's a war."

Nara Shikaku lazily fiddled with the noodles in his bowl, savored a sip of soup, and then showed a hint of surprise.

"Hmm? This soup has some of my family's medicinal herbs in it. Although it's only a little bit, it perfectly balances the greasiness of the pork bones and also helps to improve blood circulation and warm the body. Uncle Hand-Beating, you're a genius."

"That's not all,"

Yamanaka Inoichi closed his eyes, carefully sensing the flavor. "Did you guys notice that the flow of chakra was a little smoother after eating it? It must be that special herb brought by the Uzumaki clan. This bowl of noodles is simply a work of art."

"Who cares if it's a work of art or not?"

Ding had finished his noodles and was picking up his bowl, drinking every last drop of soup before letting out a satisfied burp. "Another bowl, please!"

Shikaku sighed and rubbed his forehead, feeling like his wallet was screaming in despair.

Just then, the crowd suddenly fell silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding Asuma's hand, walked side by side with his wife, Biwako.

He wasn't wearing the Hokage's robes, but just simple everyday clothes, looking like an ordinary father who had brought his wife and children to the celebration.