A seemingly delicate, gentle girl managing to eat forty-six bowls of ramen? This was simply…
"A queen! Truly the Queen of Eating…"
Choji in the crowd deeply admired Hinata.
Choji was also a 'master' who had traveled far on the path of eating.
But compared to ramen, he preferred grilled meat, which was why he hadn't joined today's competition.
He'd initially thought his Akimichi Clan's special physique would be unfair in such an event.
Now, looking at this, even if he had participated, he might not have outperformed Hinata.
Even Naruto showed surprised admiration toward Hinata, which made the already dispirited girl steam up again.
'Naruto-kun… must think I eat too much…'
The girl worried her appetite might make Naruto uncomfortable.
This was entirely unnecessary worry.
Quite the opposite… Naruto hadn't had a deep impression of Hinata before, but after this 'battle', his impression of her deepened significantly.
On the seas, a large appetite itself signified potential.
Which of the sea's powerhouses didn't have extraordinary appetites?
Without sufficient food intake, how could they sustain their powerful bodies?
Even Naruto, back then, had trained hard for a long time and relied on Kurama's Chakra to develop such a superhuman appetite.
From this perspective…
"Hinata, you really have talent…"
Naruto spoke his thoughts freely, surprising the steaming Hinata.
Her disordered thoughts were interrupted.
But Ayame's hosting duties weren't over… she again picked up a microphone from somewhere and said.
"Facing Hinata's astonishing forty-six bowls, can our contestant Naruto claim the championship?"
Then she and Teuchi began counting the bowls before Naruto.
"Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven! Ohhh! It's not over yet!"
"...Fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three! Contestant Naruto's final score is fifty-three bowls!!"
"Let's congratulate Naruto on winning this eating contest!"
Ayame happily approached Naruto and, amid his helpless smile, raised his right hand as the surrounding crowd cheered appropriately.
"Here's a free ramen coupon! Valid for two years! Unlimited use!"
Ayame placed a small paper slip, clearly handmade by Teuchi, in Naruto's hand.
This was the champion's reward.
"Well, that's Naruto for you."
Teuchi also emerged from the back, rubbing his shoulders. If anyone worked harder than the contestants, it was him, having cooked hundreds of bowls of ramen.
'At this speed, even at Baratie, he could compete with Zeff.'
Naruto marveled inwardly.
After receiving congratulations from friends and the owner's praise, Naruto noticed Hinata still standing there blankly, looking unhappy.
"Forty-six bowls is really impressive… I only won because of my physique advantage."
Seeing Hinata startled by his approach, Naruto smiled, took out the 'free ramen coupon' from his pocket, and placed it in her hand.
"I don't know when I'll be back next time… it's better to give this coupon to someone who can actually use it."
"But this was your prize, Naruto-kun…"
Hinata tried to protest.
On one hand, she wanted to say this was Naruto's prize and he couldn't just give it away.
On the other, she wanted to explain her low spirits weren't because of the competition.
But Naruto gently patted her hand, then suddenly sensing something, looked into the distance.
"Perfect timing… Well then, see you next time, Hinata."
Saying this, without waiting for her to protest further, he quickly disappeared into the crowd.
'No, Naruto-kun…'
Feeling the warmth of the small paper in her hand, Hinata felt both happy and wistful.
She didn't want Naruto to misunderstand her as a gluttonous girl.
But someone with the ability to perceive hearts with Observation Haki would hardly misunderstand such things.
...
Land of Lightning, Kumogakure, Unraikyo.
"Sea Bream Thousand Needle Thrust!"
With a shout, B extended several octopus tentacles, forming 'weapons' with his hands as he drilled through the rock face before him at high speed.
"This is what you call 'Haki'? Truly an interesting power system, completely different from chakra."
The Fourth Raikage, A, rubbed his chin, examining the huge cave blasted by B's special Taijutsu, amazed by this 'new technique' his brother learned from Naruto.
This was without Chakra Enhancement.
If B used his Tailed Beast Cloak…
The Fourth Raikage thought that even with his [Lightning Release Chakra Mode], he might not match his brother in close combat.
After all, Haki's physical enhancement was indeed formidable. Now, without needing his longsword, with Haki and Chakra, every part of B's body could become a deadly weapon.
"No, no, far from it, Brother!"
The gravel exploded outward as B leaped out, dusting himself off.
"Compared to Naruto, I'm still far behind!"
Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage remembered the guy who had thoroughly defeated him.
That level of power… truly incomprehensible.
How that kid trained to such a level was anyone's guess.
As the Fourth Raikage thought this, a swirling black portal silently opened in the sky.
Then, Jigen in white robes stepped out, looking down at the two below.
More precisely, focusing on B.
"Only one… well, capturing the other later is still not too late."
His arrogant words were unabashedly directed at the two below, and his floating form pressured B heavily.
Just like when Naruto emerged from the Ryumyaku.
'Could this guy be…'
B had a dangerous guess.
"A formidable enemy!"
"Brother, attack!"
The brothers' tacit agreement was bone-deep, instinctive.
Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage acted without hesitation, lightning enveloping his body as he entered his strongest form.
Jigen heard their exchange too, but he no longer cared.
This time, learning from last time, Jigen was determined.
Who knew when that damn Uzumaki Naruto would reappear? He had no time for hesitation.
Sacrificing this body was acceptable, as long as he could capture all Tailed Beasts for the Ten-Tails before this body collapsed, letting the God Tree bear fruit again.
Then, eating the Chakra Fruit, he wouldn't worry about resurrection.
Even if that Uzumaki Naruto returned, he could fight… if not win, at least escape.
"To ignore us like this… It seems we're being underestimated?"
The Fourth Raikage's gruff voice sounded beside Jigen, with B similarly extending his arms wrapped in Tailed Beast chakra.
"Lightning Release: Double Lariat!!"
Their elbows formed a guillotine, trapping Jigen's neck.
"Taste our brothers' thunderclap attack!"
To cooperate with his brother's power, B didn't use Haki this time.
But he had full confidence in their ultimate technique.
-Well… considering how easily Naruto had defeated them, perhaps his confidence wasn't as firm as he thought.
"Hit!"
The Fourth Raikage, seeing Jigen not dodging, felt his arms connect with solid flesh.
But the anticipated decapitation didn't occur.
"This is your struggle? Quite…"
"Weak and powerless!"