The streets of Konoha bustled with life. Children ran laughing through the alleyways, shinobi patrolled rooftops, and the air smelled faintly of grilled dumplings and incense from nearby stalls.
Ichigo strolled through the crowd, a calm smile playing at his lips. Slung over one shoulder was a carefully packed bento box, wrapped in a red cloth with shuriken patterns. His stomach growled, but he wasn't here to eat.
Today's mission wasn't combat or cooking for buffs. Today, he was going to feed a friend.
Truth be told, He is testing to see how effective is his food. Because if it turns out to be better results perhaps Ichigo can do something about it.
Let's hope his friend does taste his food.
---
The Ninja Academy loomed ahead, its walls worn from years of eager students scaling them, and the sound of young voices filtered out from open windows. Ichigo made his way toward the main building, weaving through rows of wooden training dummies and kunai-riddled targets.
Inside, the halls were quiet. Most of the kids were outside enjoying lunch. Ichigo made his way up to the cramped second-floor office marked with a crooked sign: Instructor Iruka Umino.
He knocked lightly.
"Come in!" a familiar voice called.
Ichigo pushed open the door and peeked inside. Iruka was hunched over a pile of papers, dark circles under his eyes, his hair tied back neatly but looking like it hadn't been washed in two days.
"Busy as ever, huh?" Ichigo said, grinning. He and Iruka were best friends since academy days, Although he couldn't interact with him much these years due to missions and hurry to do savings. Now, with this food, He wouldn't have to worry much.
"Ichigo?" Iruka's face lit up. "What are you doing here?"
"Lunch delivery."
Ichigo stepped in and placed the red-wrapped bento box on the desk, brushing aside a few papers with casual care.
Iruka blinked. "You brought me lunch?"
"Sure did. Figured I'd repay you for all those grilled fish dinners back when we were Genin. Plus, I wanted you to try something new."
Iruka leaned back in his creaky chair and unwrapped the bento. Inside, everything was arranged with almost surgical precision:
Three rice balls—shaped into perfect triangles, their seaweed wraps crisp and folded like origami.
Golden-brown chicken nuggets—lightly fried with a mysterious blend of seasoning.
Potato fries—thin, crispy, dusted with pink salt and dried chili flakes.
A small container of spicy-sweet dipping sauce.
Iruka blinked again. "Wait... what is this?" Never he had seen this type of bento before, Was Ichigo gonna Posion him? No, the smell is good. Very good.
"Fast food," Ichigo said with a grin. "Kinda new. Think of it like ninja fuel, but fun."
Iruka picked up a rice ball first—safe choice. He took a bite, expecting the usual sticky rice and pickled plum, maybe salted salmon.
What he got was... magic.
The rice was warm and seasoned with a subtle garlic-chili oil. The inside had a soft-boiled marinated egg yolk—creamy, savory, and rich. It melted in his mouth.
"…Wha—?" Iruka blinked, chewing slowly.
Ichigo chuckled. "I infused it with chakra control this time. Keeps it warm and enhances flavor absorption."
Next, Iruka tried the chicken nugget. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. The seasoning had a smoky kick and a touch of sweetness.
By the time he dipped a fry into the sauce and popped it in his mouth, his eyes actually widened.
"Where... did you learn to cook like this?" he asked, mouth half-full. He doesn't remember Ichigo cooking this good! Sure, he had eaten his dishes before but not this damn good!
Ichigo shrugged, pretending to be humble. "Just a hobby. Picked up a few tricks over the years."
System Notification:
You have completed a unique event: "Feed a Named NPC: Iruka Umino"
+30 EXP
+1 Gacha Token
+Relationship with Iruka increased!
+Title Unlocked: "Cafeteria Savior"
+New Recipe Unlocked: "Iruka's Special Sauce"
Later, Iruka put down his chopsticks and sighed with satisfaction, leaning back in his chair like he'd just been to a five-star restaurant.
"I've eaten rice balls my whole life, Ichigo. These... I don't know if I was just hungry or if you've turned into some kind of culinary sage."
Ichigo grinned. "Bit of both."
"You should sell these," Iruka said seriously. "Open a stall. Or a shop! Adults and Kids would love this stuff. This is better than anything in the market."
Ichigo tilted his head. "You think?"
"Are you kidding? You could change the Academy's entire lunch program!"
The idea struck him. He'd never thought about actually selling the food. Until now, it had just been part of the system grind. But Iruka's reaction—genuine amazement—sparked something warmer.
"You know," Ichigo said slowly, "I might just do that."
"Great! You better"
"Okay, Okay, I will"
They chat a bit before it was time to leave, Ichigo takes the bento and said goodbye to Iruka.
System Alert:
New Path Unlocked – "Culinary Entrepreneur"
Questline: Open a food stall in Konoha.
Step 1: Scout a location near the Academy.
Reward: 2 Gacha Tokens + "Portable Cooking Kit"
As Ichigo Left the Office, Outside, the bell rang, and students began pouring back inside. Ichigo weaved through them, thoughts spinning faster than his usual shuriken throw.
He hadn't expected that reaction from Iruka. He hadn't expected the system to reward it. And he definitely didn't expect the warm flutter in his chest when he saw a friend smile because of his food.
This wasn't just about survival anymore. This was about connection. Comfort. Warmth.
And maybe… feeding the entire village one rice ball at a time.