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

These words struck a chord deep within the hearts of every ordinary Kirigakure ninja present.

It is more lethal than any grand political blueprint or any impassioned declaration of war.

The promise of having meat at every meal is so concrete that just imagining it makes my mouth water.

It's too tempting, so tempting that it's enough to make them re-examine the beliefs they've always held dear.

The way Kaguya Honebami's followers looked at him had completely changed.

If it was just disdain a moment ago, now his eyes held unmistakable condemnation.

That look seemed to say:

You, as the boss, make us fight to the death every day, but you can't even guarantee us a meal?

Look at Konoha! Even their dry rations are beef-flavored!

What are we following you for? Are we following you because you're too tough to handle?

A tall, fleshy Kaguya clansman subconsciously touched the several dried fish wrapped in oilcloth hanging from his waist, then looked at the deadly-smelling Bingbing ration on the table, and the seemingly glowing "Barbecue Bible," and fell silent.

He silently took half a step back.

Once one person takes the lead, there will be a second, a third...

Kaguya Honebami's proud, iron-blooded legion, composed of a group of battle maniacs, is now visibly and silently crumbling.

Yagura Karatachi stared at the surreal scene before him, his mind momentarily blanking out.

He rubbed his eyes and pinched his thigh to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

He has planned for countless possible scenarios that might occur at the negotiating table.

He had even rehearsed the worst-case scenario: a war of words, threats of force, exchanges of benefits, and conspiracies.

But he never dreamed that what would ultimately determine the future of Kirigakure would be a beef-flavored soldier's ration and a barbecue recipe book that he had found out from who-knows-where.

What is this?

Food culture invasion?

He glanced at Mei Terumi beside him, who was equally dumbfounded, and saw in her beautiful emerald green eyes the same complex emotions he felt—a mixture of "absurdity, outrageousness, yet somehow making sense"—that he himself had.

Dumbfounding.

This is perhaps the most fitting word to describe their feelings at this moment.

Seeing this surreal scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The laughter wasn't loud, but it seemed to pause the conversation, drawing everyone's attention to him in the office.

He stood up casually, picked up the greasy "Barbecue Bible" on the table, and flipped through it with great interest, as if he were really studying some important document.

"Hmm... garlic butter with beef tongue, this combination looks good."

He closed the booklet, turned his gaze to the completely stunned Yagura and Mei Terumi, and said in a relaxed tone as if discussing the weather:

"I think we can list this as the first cultural exchange project of the 'Konoha-Kirigakure' collaboration."

"What do you all think?"

What else can Yagura say?

He's now completely preoccupied with what "garlic butter with beef tongue" tastes like.

He could only stand up and bow deeply to Hiruzen Sarutobi:

"It's entirely up to you, Hokage."