I Would Like to Call You the Strongest
Xu Fan lifted the curtain and stepped into Ichiraku Ramen alongside Naruto.
The moment Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, saw Naruto, his face lit up with joy.
At the same time, a familiar voice echoed in Xu Fan's mind.
[Congratulations, host! You have successfully arrived at the sign-in location. The sign-in process is officially starting!]
[Exiting midway will result in a failed sign-in.]
A progress bar appeared before Xu Fan.
1%... 23%...
Xu Fan immediately perked up. After his previous two sign-ins, he had grown quite fond of his system, and the anticipation of new rewards excited him.
77%... 100%!
[Sign-in successful!]
[Reward obtained: Mastery of "The Lonely Gourmet."]
Xu Fan froze for a moment.
He had expected his sign-in rewards to be related to the world of Naruto—perhaps chakra, elemental affinities, Wood Release, or even Sharingan.
But now, his reward was... related to food?
Did this mean that if he kept signing in, he could receive abilities from other worlds as well?
"Sit down!" Naruto called out cheerfully, patting the seat beside him.
"Ichiraku Tonkotsu Ramen!"
Without hesitation, Naruto ordered his favorite dish.
"Two bowls, please," Xu Fan added as he sat down next to Naruto. "My treat today. Eat as much as you want—don't worry about the bill. I'm rich."
"Really?!" Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement before turning to introduce Xu Fan to Teuchi.
"Is that so?"
Hearing that Naruto had finally made a friend, Teuchi smiled warmly.
"Well then, to celebrate Naruto making a new friend, today's ramen is on the house!"
Teuchi crossed his arms and spoke with a serious expression before instructing his assistant to prepare the kitchen.
Although Xu Fan originally planned to treat Naruto, he didn't argue. He knew Teuchi was one of the few people in the village who had always treated Naruto kindly.
Unlike most villagers, Teuchi never looked at Naruto with disdain. He always welcomed him.
For a long time, Naruto had been alone.
Now that he had a friend, Teuchi was genuinely happy for him.
As long as there's someone who wants to see you, you're never truly alone.
Filled with enthusiasm, Teuchi began preparing the ramen.
"You're gonna love this, Xu Fan!" Naruto beamed. "Uncle Teuchi's ramen is the best! Especially his tonkotsu ramen—I order it every time!"
Xu Fan nodded in agreement.
Then, as if suddenly realizing something, Naruto became fidgety.
"Um… Can I…"
"Don't be nervous, Naruto," Xu Fan reassured him. "We're good friends."
Naruto took a deep breath and grinned.
"Then… can I just call you Xu?"
In the world of Naruto, calling someone by their first name carried a special meaning—it was something only done between close friends.
Although Xu Fan already addressed Naruto by his name, for Naruto, this was significant.
Because for the first time, he had a friend his age—a friend he could call by name.
Xu Fan, on the other hand, had no issue befriending Naruto. He admired his perseverance and loyalty.
Even after Sasuke defected, Naruto spent years chasing after him. Even after becoming Hokage, getting married, and having a child, he still considered Sasuke his best friend.
How many people could be that devoted?
If I train him properly…
"Call me Xu Fan," Xu Fan said with a smile.
"Xu… Fan?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion. "Why the extra word?"
Xu Fan pretended to think deeply before replying.
"'Fan' is to remind me never to lose sight of my original intentions. No matter how strong I become, I am still just a mortal among all living beings."
Naruto's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Wow, Xu Fan! That's so cool!"
Teuchi soon placed two steaming bowls of ramen in front of them, standing with his arms crossed, his white chef's uniform giving him a professional air.
"Itadakimasu!" Naruto clasped his hands together, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Xu Fan followed suit before picking up his chopsticks.
Every bowl of Ichiraku Ramen was made to order. The noodles were cooked fresh, the soup was rich and fragrant, and every step of the process was clean and meticulous. Even from their seats, they could smell the mouthwatering aroma.
"The soft-boiled egg is the soul of the ramen," Xu Fan muttered instinctively. "The hot spring egg is tender and delicate, while the broth is rich and full-bodied, having been simmered for at least 12 hours. The bamboo shoots are crisp and chewy, and the Naruto fish cake is the most iconic touch…"
The words left his mouth naturally, surprising even himself.
He hadn't even realized he possessed this knowledge.
Before, whenever he ate ramen, all he could say was, Wow, this is delicious.
Is this… the effect of "The Lonely Gourmet" skill?
The moment he started tasting the ramen, a flood of culinary knowledge filled his mind.
From ingredient selection to preparation, from cultural significance to the philosophy behind ramen—everything felt as natural as breathing.
"Whoa…" Naruto stared at Xu Fan in awe. "You sound like a ramen expert!"
Even Teuchi was stunned.
Xu Fan had described every aspect of the ramen with pinpoint accuracy—down to the smallest details.
It was as if he had been watching Teuchi cook this entire time.
No…
This isn't just observation.
This is a blessing from the god of ramen!
Naruto gazed at Xu Fan with newfound admiration.
"Xu Fan, you're amazing!"
Xu Fan chuckled and shook his head. "I wouldn't say that."
But he was satisfied.
Though this reward wouldn't make him stronger, it would allow him to master the art of food.
And wasn't enjoyment just as important as power?
Just as he was about to speak again, the curtain of Ichiraku Ramen was suddenly pulled aside.
A group of uninvited guests stepped inside.