Ch: 4 Mornings, Red Ribbons and Shokugeki

With the first rays of the prickly sun peeking through the window cracks upon one sunny blonde haired sleeping Uzumaki, the day started, albeit slowly.

Yawning as he sat up on his bed, Naruto ruffled his hair and smudged his eyes to start off what he felt would be an interesting day today, he seemed to feel it.

"Naruto-kun! Breakfast is done so you should probably get up and freshen yourself!" came the sweet but terrifying voice of one Ichiraku Ayame, granddaughter of one Ichiraku Teuchi whom he affectionately called Jii-jii.

"I'm up Ayame-chan!" Naruto replied and with his sleep done ghost, he quickly made his way to the bathroom to clean and freshen himself up.

It was a few days since classes had started. Naruto alternated living during weekdays at Teuchi-jii's place and his own small rented room a few blocks from Souma's shop. He found out about Souma getting a room in a dorm in the campus, ironically, the place where his own father had lived as well but he didn't know that. There were a lot of things Jōichirō didn't share with Souma and he remembered Jōichirō's words vividly.

'Souma doesn't need to know about my past right now. He must always look forward upon his endeavours. I know my son. He is someone who will never lose. Just like her. I want him to grow on his own. I want him to learn without having a burden on his shoulders. She would've wanted this as well.'

He also remembered what he said about Naruto himself as well.

'Naruto-kun. Watch over him. I may not be the same person as before now but you have also travelled and found yourself. It was always an innate ability you had that you were more of a wandering kind like me but more bold. You found me and I know that under your watch nothing bad will befall him. She had her trust in you as well kid. Make us proud. Make his mother proud.'

Naruto smiled under the showers as he remembered these words. He had travelled the world over when Souma's mother passed away. Even though he only got to know her for about four years after he was taken in by the Yukihira family she had become a pseudo mother-figure to him. She was someone he could speak his soul to. Someone whom he never had to think twice before interacting. She was a strong, honest and wonderful person and Souma was lucky to have a mother like her.

Naruto knew how strong Souma was spiritually. He never let his mother's death affect his dreams and life. He still cooked. He still laughed. He still endeavoured. Which was the reason why Naruto had given him his utmost trust and love. Even though he was someone that was only taken in by the Yukihira family, Souma was the brother Naruto never knew he needed. A friend and companion that could never be replaced.

Smiling, Naruto finished showering and started his daily routine body work and dressing up, finishing up in another ten minutes or so as he went down the stairs to the dining area. He saw Teuchi and Ayame both in the room as the latter was doing some dishes and the former sipped his tea looking out to the yard in front.

"Heyo! Jii-jii! Ayame-chan! Ohayo!" came Naruto's greeting as Teuchi turned to him and smiled replying,

"Ohayo Naruto-kun." he smiled. "Have a nice sleep?"

"Of course!" Naruto replied, as he sat down to his breakfast.

Ayame seemed to finish up her dishes as she turned around and greeted, "Ohayo Naru-chan. What's the plan today?". She wiped her hands and sat down in the dining, helping Naruto by serving his breakfast.

Naruto thanked Ayame and spoke, "Seems it will be an interesting day today. I don't know why for some reason. Oh yeah. I think we were asked to join a club or something for our extra school points today."

Ayame raised her eyebrows at that as she finished serving the food and folding her arms asked, "Are you thinking of joining any? How do the clubs work there anyway? Unlike mine I think yours would be vastly different?"

"I think so." Naruto replied as he started eating his food. "Might be related to what we want to specialise or learn about. From what that old coot told me, it might be a mix of both."

Ayame scrunched her eyes as she said, "He is your school's Director Naru-kun!"

Naruto pouted, "He is still weird."

"Naruto-kun.~"

Naruto started cold-sweating like crazy as he heard her tone change. Shaking and with chattering lips as he tried eating his food, which he wasn't successful at at all, he spoke timidly, "Gomen, Ayame-chan."

Ayame smiled and started sipping a cup of tea she poured for herself. One could definitely ignore the shaking old man at the other end of the table as well. Naruto cried for a few moments as he started eating again. He spoke again,

"Souma's lucky enough that he got a place in the Polar Star dorm. That place is one I fully trust where he will grow, meet and gain great friends and people."

"Isn't that the place you said Jōichirō-san stayed in during his school days?" Teuchi asked.

Naruto smiled and nodded, "Ye he is pretty lucky if I am to be honest." Finishing up his breakfast he stood up and started doing the dishes, arguing with Ayame on that but still doing it himself. He finished it up and went to his room to get his belongings and necessary stuff for classes. Walking down the stairs again he greeted Teuchi and Ayame his goodbyes, seeing Ayame get ready for her school as well.

"See ya Jii-jii! I'll be staying in my own room today. Got some work to do. Ayame-chan! Have a good day! You have my number! If you need anything, just call me! I'll be off then!"

"Have a nice day Naruto-kun. Eat your meals on time!" was the advice that came from Teuchi, a smile on his face.

Ayame came running through with half done hairs and make up as she hugged him and spoke, "Stay safe, Naru-kun."

Naruto smiled and replied, "No problem. You too as well Ayame-chan." He let go of her and walked out the door waving.

Walking out the door he first breathed in the air as his hair glowed in the sun. Whistling a specific tune, he waited a bit as he found an Orange-ish blur run through the bushes and into his arms, yipping in delight as it licked his face. Naruto laughed as he felt the creature, a bushy fox kit licking and tickling his face and ears.

"Ok. Ok. Haha, that tickles." The fox yipped a bit and then wrapped around his neck as usual, like a muffler. Kurama wasn't like your ordinary Fox kit. He seemed to have a longer lifespan than most and had a slower body growth but he was still healthy the last time he took him to the vet for some disinfection of his previous wounds. He was still small now but had a great amount of strength in him and was fit as anything. Naruto was very happy for him. It wasn't that his way of wrapping himself around Naruto's neck as a muffler gave him a better disguise to be with him all the time, anywhere.

"I guess you had fun in the nearby foothills. Your belly seems full too. Are you ready for today?" An excited yip and howl was his response. Naruto grinned, stretching his body, he spoke, "Let's go then."

He walked out of the gates, his destination being the train station on the end of the village gates. As he was rummaging through his pockets he felt something unfamiliar. He wrapped his fingers and took it out and found a red ribbon in his hands. He raised his eyebrows but his mind slowly went back to the situation that happened way back before the Orientation of his batch began.

The day he met them. Where he met her as well.

Five of the best chefs, unparalleled in their work and talents.

The day he met the top five of the Elite Ten.

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Nakiri Senzaemon had an influence that the majority of the cooking world in Japan and abroad could feel and recognise. He was an authority in the food business that was respected plenty. A face and personality so huge and fascinating that he earned a nickname as bold as the "Food Demon King".

Tōtsuki was his shrine. His pride from where world-class chefs have emerged and made their mark from. Where some of the best known names were also produced from. Where the best came to learn. By hook or by crook. But in the end, whoever may be admitted, the academy had one iron-clad rule.

Here cooking was everything.

If you were not up to the competition here, it was game over for you. No second chances. You were done. One of the highest demanding academies in the country, here your skills spoke volumes. Here your food gave you your worth.

So when the director of this prestigious academy himself sought you out for a one on one meeting, it was something you had to respond to to find out what actually was the scene around this situation. The moment you showed yourself as if you were right in being chosen by someone such as him. That you were worth it and to live up to his expectations. To not disappoint.

So Naruto stood before the doors to the room in front of him. After a rigorous argument with the academy counterer, confirming that he was legitimately asked by Senzaemon himself to come, he now stood before the room doors. He rubbed his neck, missing Kurama's presence who had run off, to god knows where, in this campus. He just hoped he would be safe and sound. Sighing and not wanting to waste any more of his precious time he knocked thrice and there was a loud gruff "Come in." when he entered the room.

The room was grand in a sense. Naruto hated grandiose things. He just didn't get the value of having such bright and bold things in a room as he felt they had no value to one's life. It was all just show and tell. Naruto looked around for a bit when he noticed the crowd in the room.

Senzaemon sat in a big desk and all around himself were five people, who seemed to be students from the uniform he saw them wearing, were patiently looking at him although some of them, most of them, were not that interested in him the slightest. Naruto raised an eyebrow at that and his attention was quickly taken by Senzaemom when he spoke,

"Aah, Naruto my boy. You are here. I hope you didn't have any problem coming here and I hope it is of no worries that I called you today?"

Naruto shrugged and grinned, "It's ok. Not much trouble. Although the campus is big I liked the walk."

"I should've sent you a chauffeur."

"It is of no worries Senzaemon-dono. I had a fun time while coming here. Although that begs the question, why did you ask for me today?"

Before Senzaemon could reply there was an outburst of "Hiya!" from one of the girls in the group. She had long flowing scarlet hair with a few bangs covering her yellow eyes that seemed to have cat-like slits on them, coupled with her cat-like expression on her face. She looked like a neko given human form. A nekomata?

"Senzaemon-sama said we'll meet someone interesting so it must be you right?"

She came up to Naruto at her own pace and looking at her eyes Naruto couldn't help but get lost in her eye and scarlet hair. Only thing he could say was,

"Red."

The female blinked and then grinned. She wrapped her arms around his neck and spoke, "Ooohhh, you look like lots of fun. Unlike Ei-chin over there."

Naruto wondered where this girl came from even though his head was filled with a scarlet palette while breathing in a small waft of spicy smell, reminiscent of a kitchen and nature.

'She has a smell of the forest. She seems to be the wild kind.' was what Naruto thought.

As he felt his head squeezing between the armpits and nearing the female's chest he quickly straightened himself up and coming up from under her spoke, "Well, that was a surprising introduction. Who are you again?"

She blinked again. Naruto raised his eyebrows but a cough distracted them as Senzaemon spoke,

"Naruto, as you know, this academy is one of the best academies in this country to learn cooking from." Naruto noted the way he, Senzaemon, spoke was full of seriousness. The atmosphere turned into a no nonsense state as he straightened up along with the smirking redhead beside him.

"No matter from where you came from, in this place cooking is the only competition and the only thing that gives you any form of power. Your skills speak in this academy and without anything extraordinary to make you are relegated to be someone unimportant.

This academy is not only run by me. It has a separate council that can overrule my authority if need be, for the good of this academy. A different body of council that keeps my powers, the powers of the director, in check." he pointed at the present students.

"These five students here are the best of the best in this academy. Amongst the vast sea of competition, these five students have proved to be worthy of being the most decorated. The most renowned. Respected. These five are from the Elite Ten. The student council body that keeps my powers in check. The ones who can change and run the academy themselves since they are the best amongst everyone in this place.

Tsukasa Eishi, the first seat." pointing at a white haired male who had unsure icy white eyes. Eishi smiled and waved at Naruto. Naruto gazed at him for a while trying to remember him as he felt he already met him somewhere.

"Kobayashi Rindō, the second seat." pointing at the female beside Naruto who, just now, had been up close and personal with him. He raised an eyebrow at hearing her being the second seat. 'She must be an excellent cook.', Naruto thought.

"Megishima Tōsuke, the third seat." pointing at a huge male wearing a Chullo hat who seemed to be just there. Even though he seemed unamusing, Naruto smiled. 'Aah Megishima-san. The 'Boss' that I have heard so much of in my travels. So you are here after all.'

"Akanegakubo Momo, the fourth seat." pointing towards a short unattentive girl that had purple hair and held a teddy with stitched paws. Naruto would've gushed on her cuteness if it wasn't for her bored cold face on display.

"And finally the fifth seat, Saitō Sōmei." pointing at a serenely seated male with a mohawk and a huge wooden sheath that probably held a blade as well. Naruto looked interested in that as there were not many people that used blades that big for cuisines and preparations. Senzaemon continued,

"And the boy there is Uzumaki Naruto. Someone I have heard about a lot and I vouch for when I say his cooking is top notch." This statement raised a few eyebrows as the gazes of all the present members zeroed in on Naruto's form. Some upstart unknown, to them, chef gaining a favor from the "Food Demon King" himself wasn't an everyday thing. Compliments from the director was something one thought wasn't that possible with how high the standards to his tasting prowess went and it was interesting to note how he was being given such clout out of nowhere.

Senzaemon brought everyone's attention to himself again by saying, "The other five are not needed for this but since these students are here it is all the better."

Naruto was interested now. Introducing the people here was a very heavy burden it seemed but these names held weight. The top five of the Elite Ten. A council of the best chef students in the academy. With enough authority to overrule the director's own demands if need be. The students present here were some heavy weights. Naruto grinned snidely. His instincts called to him. A challenge. In this academy. He wanted to test his mettle against them all. He wanted to compete against them. It seemed the request would be noticed far too quickly than he would've liked.

"Naruto boy." Senzaemon had his full attention again. "I want to see your absolute best. Show me I wasn't wrong in choosing you. Show me that everything you did is valid and if you are truly worthy of the name given by her."

Naruto grinned as realisation came upon him. He asked, "Am I to assume you are telling me to challenge someone here? Is that why you called me?"

Senzaemom matched his grin, "Of course my boy! I want to witness the cooking that has taken everyone by storm. I want to see those hands in action. I want to see your food come alive. Will you do this Naruto?"

"Nakiri-sama", came a meek voice from beside the director that belonged to the aforementioned first seat Eishi. "Umm, I don't doubt your choices but whoever he is I don't think challenging us outright will be fair…"

"Oh don't worry." Naruto cut him off, making Eishi raise an eyebrow. "I can handle it no problem. I just want to know what the stakes are since I heard you guys do put the stakes high for these kind of challenges."

"Overconfident." came a small voice from one short purple girl who was introduced as Momo.

The scarlet haired girl from before, Rindō, grinned with an interested look in her eyes as she spoke, "Ohho! Pretty damn sure about yourself huh? I like that. But you see, challenging us is equal to challenging the authority around this place and you know what, it's actually been boring this past few days so I wanna see some action. "

She smiled in a mischievous manner, "You know what, if you beat your opponent. I will give you something."

Naruto was interested. Rindō smirked and pulled out a red ribbon and presented it with a 'Tada!'. Naruto sweatdropped wondering what the hell?

Eyes slitted and with a cheshire grin, Rindō spoke, "How about you get this hot ribbon made of some of the finest silk in the world?"

Naruto deadpanned, "Yay."

Senzaemon spoke again, "Rindō those can wait. Now, Naruto. You do remember what I told you in the shop that day?" Naruto nodded. "Then yes, I shall respect that request and tell you everything I know."

Naruto sighed, "As you say Senzaemon-dono."

Senzaemon nodded. "So, with all that said, Eishi." the aforementioned male sat up straighter. "I hope I won't seem demanding when I ask you to give him the challenge I want."

Eishi looked unsure at that. He didn't know Naruto from anywhere. He seemed to be someone who had no particular skill in terms of cooking with his laidback mannerisms and with the forced professionalism he could feel him leak in spades. Challenging someone in the Elite Ten had a lot of work behind it. It wasn't only about pride for the challengers to the members. It was more or less a wager akin to life and death of a chef's whole career. A shame that the chef will carry his whole life if he/she loses. Students had something to offer but even then, in Tōtsuki, challenging an Elite Ten member had more on stake and no amount of school year work was enough to fill the comeuppance.

But Eishi still sighed and nodded as it was asked of him by the director himself. He will respect his request. "It shall be done Nakiri-sama."

He turned towards Naruto and said, "I hereby declare a Shokugeki between you and me Uzumaki-san. What do you wager? My seat?"

Naruto shook his head and replied, "Naah. I don't like those seats and council kinda stuff. Let's make another wager. Hear me out. I'll take Rindō…"

"...Senpai"

"...Rindō senpai's ribbon if I win but if I lose I will become an aide of the Elite Ten council with no powers. I will do anything any ten of you will ask of me. This stretches till I graduate. I will never take a seat in the council but whoever takes your subsequent seats, I'll listen to them all. Will that be ok?"

The five of them blinked at Naruto's conditions and request. He was essentially giving away his freedom against whatever he was getting in a win. With how confident the other four were in Eishi's ability, he was the first seat for a reason and they all knew his ability, they knew that Naruto was losing far more than he was gaining. A lifetime aide and if the director Nakiri Senzaemon himself was vouching for him he must be no slouch either in the cooking department. So win or lose, it was the council's gain.

Eishi smiled and said, "Uzumaki-san…"

"Call me Naruto. Uzumaki-san is too formal, I don't do formal and you are older than me anyway."

"Aaah, Naruto. Are you sure about your wager? I mean, since Nakiri-sama vouched for you, my seat wouldn't be that bad…"

"Naaah you keep it Eishi-senpai. I have no interest in doing council work but if I lose I get to do it as punishment so any way, I am getting the short end of the stick no problem. So, you ready for a Shokugeki?"

Tsukasa Eishi smiled and nodded, "Let us have a Shokugeki."

"That's what I wanted to hear, dattebayo."

A few moments later, five of them, minus the two who were about to face off each other, looked at the scene before them with the utmost interest. Even Sōmei paid attention, for once, in the event.

"Tsukasa-senpai seems to be in his zone. That boy bit off more than he could chew." came the verdict of one Akanegakubo Momo.

"It is still a mystery as to the skill of that other Uzumaki guy. I do not doubt Tsukasa's skill but even then, whatever that guy may bring, Tsukasa will defeat him to that I also agree to a degree." Sōmei said.

Tōsuke looked on with interest though and Rindō still had that cheshire grin plastered.

Senzaemon spoke, "This Shokugeki between first seat Tsukasha Eishi and student Uzumaki Naruto shall commence, Now!"

As he said that the kitchen hall came alive.

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Naruto stepped out of the train and made his way towards the streets that will take him to the academy. Rubbing Kurama, who seemed to have fallen asleep in his neck, Naruto looked back towards the ribbon he had tied in his right wrist like a bracelet. He smiled thinking about it and looked up to the bright blue sky above thinking,

'Kaa-san. Tou-san. It seems I will meet them soon. The wind is blowing in a different manner and I can feel vast changes going to happen. Tōtsuki and Geiki. From what I gathered, the festival is when everyone is rumored to attend. I can't wait for that.'

As the academy gates came into view he went in after showing the essential IDs. Not even a moment later, someone jumped from the bushes nearby and Naruto just deadpanned, popping a pocky stick into the gaping mouth that neared his face.

With a gleeful, content expression, the figure, female from the looks of it, started munching on the sweet snack in her mouth. Naruto sweatdropped. "You really can't help yourself but wanna lunge at me every morning now?! Really Rindō senpai?!"

But it seemed the figure, Rindō, didn't hear him and Naruto just sighed. He started walking towards his classes as Rindō tagged along as well, but not before taking the whole packet of pocky from him, hissing like a cat.

"Don't you have any council work?" Naruto asked.

Rindō just kept munching.

Naruto sighed again and kept walking. Rindō quickly came up to him and slowly rubbed his muffler startling Naruto for a bit. He heard her say,

"This is so soft. I wonder if it really is a muffler."

Naruto and the aforementioned muffler both shook unnoticeably to others but Rindō caught the shudder and narrowed her eyes. Naruto pouted. Her curiosity now triggered, one couldn't escape Rindō's clutches until that curiosity was somehow satisfied.

"Ok. Ok. This is Kurama." he patted his muffler who shuddered and relaxed as his features came on to view. Rindō perked up at that and she slowly peered in with interest. "He is a fox kit that I've had as a pet and I've written him off as an imported dog breed in a vet nearby."

Rindō poked a pocky stick towards a part she felt was his mouth and Kurama opened one eye and quickly ate it all. Rindō perked up again. Cheshire grin still in place. She spoke, "Naruto. You know that bringing pets is not allowed on the campus, remember?"

Naruto pouted. Rindō grinned and spoke, "But no worries. I'll let you keep him in one condition."

"You wanna pet him and keep him company as well?"

Rindō nodded excitedly. Naruto sighed but shrugged. He watched her pat Kurama as he slowly unwrapped himself, sniffed her hands and then slowly wrapped himself around her hands. She took him in his arms and started rocking and petting him.

"He is really different from the foxes I've generally seen around the country. What with those ears of his and a more bipedal approach to his frame."

Naruto nodded as well as he didn't see any other foxes like Kurama on his own too. He was unique in his appearance. Naruto couldn't help but puff his chest out for having a different kind of pet. He had taken Kurama to all the places that he travelled to. It was hard going through customs at times but with a miracle of some sort and a huge amount of luck, he was always able to take him anywhere with him. He was a companion Naruto could never replace. It wasn't hard to notice that he had become an adult and was ripe for having kits of his own as well. Little Kuramas running around.

Then he looked at Rindō for a moment and stared at her frame as they walked. Her cat-like demeanour that he came to find out after his Shokugeki with Eishi. Her playful personality was a breath of fresh air. The council he came to know wasn't that oppressive in their stance, especially the five that he met that day. Naruto found Eishi to be quite a good conversationist if you looked past his antisocial personality. Tōsuke was someone you could depend on. He had a soft spoken personality under that huge body and was every bit helpful when they talked. Momo was quite a handful. She was kind of like a sister Naruto had grown affectionate to, with her cold eyes and stuck up personality when inside she was just a child with a love for cute things. She loved his cooking so he got points on that with her. Lastly, Sōmei was a calm person. He reminded Naruto of one of his friends that he made in his travels. A butcher that would do anything for his little girl to grow. He doted at times on Momo which was very nice to see.

Overall, Naruto reasoned that the only stuck up pricks on the Elite Ten council were the ones below the top five. The sixth to tenth seats weren't invited during his Shokugeki with Eishi but he already knew about one from the exams, Nakiri Erina and the other from Souma himself, when he mentioned that he met the seventh seat of the Elite Ten in the Polar Star dorm. Someone named Isshiki Satōshi. Also the fact that they had a cookout. He smiled at that when he found Souma not shying away from any kind of competition or challenge. This showed that Souma was growing and he had a lot more to grow up to as well.

Looking back at Rindō, Naruto couldn't help but blush a bit when he saw the serene look on her face whilst petting Kurama. He already saw her intense face and he knew that under all those cheerful personalities lay a vicious cook that could destroy anyone in this academy. Naruto doubted that she couldn't give Eishi a run for his money as it seemed that both of them were pretty close. He believed that Rindō was someone that had the potential to be the best unorthodox chef. More than Eishi who vied for perfection in every dish he made.

"Neh, Naruto. How about you make me that sōba again today? Hmm?" came the request of Rindō.

Naruto blinked and scoffed, "Not happening."

Rindō blinked and then looked towards Kurama with a gaze Naruto knew wasn't good.

"OKOKOKOKOKOKOK! I'll do it!"

Rindō smiled in a cat-like manner. Naruto's left eyebrow twitched. He groaned, "I shouldn't have made that sōba dish for my Shokugeki. It is like catnip for you and Momo-chan!"

Both of them came close to the building Naruto was going for. He had Kurama wrap around his neck again as Rindō waited. Naruto said,

"I'll come back after I find a decent club to join. Today seems to be that day. If you guys aren't busy, I'll be there before you know it."

Rindō nodded and spoke, "Ok. But you don't need to join a club if you become my aide or Ei-chin's. We would like it if you did. I know I would." she smiled, her eyes all wide and snickering.

Naruto's forehead twitched, "You only want sōba you damn glutton!"

Her eyes turned to slits. Naruto shuddered. He cried. "Rindō-senpai."

Rindō smiled and then hugged him, "I'll see you later than. The hall will be open so you can come on later. Ei-chin will also be there. He really likes you. That's actually better for him."

Waving at Naruto, she disappeared into the campus fields and he was left alone with a blush and one thought, 'Shikamaru was absolutely right. Girls really are troublesome.'

He patted Kurama and looked forward to the day now. Hoping that nothing surprising awaited him today. Oh boy was he wrong when in another building, Souma and Megumin had an intimate confrontation with one Mito Ikumi, the meat master.

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