Naruto: All Genders are reversed except for me

Seeing that Naruto still wouldn't reveal the full truth, Ayame's mother simply nodded in understanding.

After all, a recipe is a chef's most closely guarded secret. Even though Naruto claimed it came to him in a dream, Ayame's mother respected him enough not to pry further.

Sasuke, however, furrowed her brows slightly as she looked at Naruto, completely unsure what he was planning.

But the situation had already progressed to this point, leaving the three of them staring blankly at Naruto, waiting to see what he would do next.

Once an expert begins their work, their skills speak for themselves.

Creating ramen that can take shape in the shortest amount of time isn't just about the recipe—it also demands exceptional noodle-making skills.

Yet Naruto was only seven years old and had to stand on a stool just to reach the counter. This sight left Ayame's mother and the others with little hope for success.

Even so, Ayame's mother felt a sense of gratification. She believed that Naruto's familiarity with the ramen-making process stemmed from his love for the dish. This natural talent as a budding chef made her seriously consider taking him on as an apprentice.

While Ayame's mother was lost in thought, Naruto had already kneaded the dough to completion.

She had assumed he would mimic an ordinary ramen chef, stretching the noodles with his arms.

But in the next moment, Naruto's actions left Ayame's mother and Ayame herself utterly stunned.

"Spin!"

Naruto inserted a rolling pin into the dough and firmly gripped it with both hands. Then, he began swinging it wildly in the air.

This unprecedented, chaotic noodle-making technique left Ayame's mother and Ayame completely dumbfounded.

"Sasuke, come help!"

After dozens of high-speed rotations in mid-air, the once lumpy dough had become incredibly smooth, its shape expanding outward. At this point, Naruto couldn't continue on his own.

"Got it."

Sasuke, intrigued by Naruto's unique method, immediately stepped forward to catch the second rolling pin he tossed her.

Once Sasuke caught it, Naruto quickly aligned the end of his rolling pin with hers.

Each holding one rolling pin, the two created a horizontal axis, pulling the dough taut between them.

"Pull!"

Naruto commanded in a low voice. Sasuke activated her Sharingan, copying his movements and syncing her actions with his.

Swish… swish… swish…

The two moved in perfect harmony.

In a short time, Sasuke's skill, enhanced by her Sharingan, matched Naruto's almost entirely. After a dozen extensions and pulls, followed by several folds, strands of fine, gleaming noodles appeared before everyone's eyes.

"Release!"

Naruto, delighted by Sasuke's focused effort, let go of his rolling pin. Sasuke mirrored his action simultaneously. The completed noodles landed neatly on the counter.

"Light the fire!"

Naruto shouted. Sasuke immediately turned and swiftly formed hand seals.

"Fire Release: Dancing Fire Serpent!"

A fiery serpent as thick as an arm shot out from Sasuke's mouth, igniting the stove.

Gurgle gurgle…

The soup pot began bubbling vigorously.

Seeing this, Naruto divided the noodles into three portions and threw them directly into the boiling soup.

"Prepare three bowls!"

"Understood!"

Naruto and Sasuke's seamless coordination left Ayame's mother and Ayame completely stunned.

Three clean bowls appeared on the counter. Reaching into his canvas bag, Naruto pulled out a small pouch containing fine, crystalline grains.

"Ayame's mom, this is one of the secret ingredients for ultimate ramen."

Naruto sprinkled a pinch of MSG into each bowl, while Sasuke ladled in the broth.

As soon as the broth was poured, Naruto fished out the cooked noodles and placed them into the bowls.

From kneading to noodle-making to serving, Naruto and Sasuke's cooperation was flawless, each step seamlessly connected. Ayame's mother and Ayame could only watch in awe, their scalps tingling.

Ding! You have gained 200 Shock Points from a Konoha villager!

The kitchen fell silent. Naruto looked at Sasuke with surprise and delight in his eyes.

Sasuke was equally astonished. Even though this was their first time working together, why did it feel so instinctive, so perfect?

"Naruto… Naruto, is the ultimate ramen ready?"

Ayame's mother gritted her teeth as she asked.

Naruto chuckled and replied, "Hehe, today's competition theme is about resting time, isn't it? Let's wait five minutes before tasting it."

"What…? Naruto, are you sure about a five-minute wait?"

Ayame was shocked.

Her mother's new recipe, after countless trials, could only handle a resting time of two minutes before the noodles lost their elasticity. Waiting five minutes would ruin their texture completely.

"Mom…" Ayame looked at her mother nervously.

"I trust Naruto," Ayame's mother said firmly, placing her faith in him.

As the seconds ticked by, Ayame's mother and Ayame grew increasingly tense.

For any noodle chef, resting time was a critical challenge. Ramen often lost its chewiness during delivery, a major issue for takeout ramen. If this problem could be overcome, ramen could reach new heights of popularity.

Amidst the tense and anxious waiting, five minutes passed quickly.

At that moment, Teuchi's wife, Ayame, and Sasuke were all staring at the three bowls of ramen in front of them.

Seeing that no one moved, Naruto urged them, "Try it! See how the ramen tastes. If there are no issues, we'll pack up and head to the competition venue immediately."

"Hm, might as well try our luck," Teuchi's wife nodded, her tone resigned.

"Naruto, I trust you," Ayame said with a smile, offering her support.

Sasuke, on the other hand, was the first to take action. He picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed a mouthful of ramen that had been sitting for over five minutes, and slowly chewed it. His eyes closed as he savored the taste.

Seeing Sasuke's impassive expression, Teuchi's wife and Ayame quickly followed suit.

The three of them began tasting the ramen, and for a moment, Ichiraku Ramen fell into complete silence.

Naruto observed the three's enchanted expressions, his confidence soaring.

If yesterday, he had been worried about differences in taste due to the grilled fish recipe, then after obtaining master-level ramen-making skills, that confidence was now unshakable.

With his arms crossed and an air of self-assurance, Naruto watched as Teuchi's wife and Ayame's faces gradually twisted in disbelief.

To his surprise, tears began to trickle down Teuchi's wife's cheeks.

"Ashamed... I'm so ashamed," she murmured, lowering her head as tears streamed freely. Without another word, she grabbed her bowl of ramen and devoured it with gusto.

Ayame, though slightly less overwhelmed, was no less astonished. He stared wide-eyed at Naruto, utterly incredulous.

"I've grown up eating ramen, but such flavor... this is the first time I've ever experienced something like this. Naruto, you've created a miracle! Ramen that's been sitting for five minutes and is still this springy?"

Naruto, however, remained silent, leaving Ayame's questions unanswered. Desperate for more, Ayame grabbed his bowl and started eating voraciously, like a starving man stumbling upon a feast.

Sasuke, by contrast, maintained his composure, though he occasionally glanced at Naruto with increasing curiosity.

"This ramen's texture... this broth's richness... Naruto, I want to take you as my master!"

Without hesitation, Teuchi's wife slammed down her empty bowl, stood up, and stared intently at Naruto with fiery determination.

Her declaration left Ayame dumbfounded.

"There's no need to take me as a master," Naruto replied flatly, rejecting the offer immediately.

Teuchi's wife's expression fell, crestfallen.

Indeed, how could she expect to gain access to such an unparalleled recipe simply by becoming his disciple?

Just as she was about to give up, Naruto spoke again, his words striking her like a bolt of lightning.

"No need for apprenticeship, but a partnership is possible, Auntie."

Ding! Received 60 shock points from a Konoha villager!

"A partnership? Naruto, can we really collaborate? Does that mean Ichiraku can start making this kind of ramen?" Teuchi's wife's eyes sparkled with excitement as she stared at Naruto.

"Yes."

Naruto, feeling slightly unnerved under her intense gaze, nodded. "Auntie, come with me. We'll discuss the details of the partnership."

"Alright, alright!"

Setting her bowl down, Teuchi's wife turned to Ayame and instructed, "Son, start preparing the competition equipment. We'll be back soon."

With the secret recipe for this unparalleled ramen, the title of Konoha's Number One Flavor would undoubtedly remain theirs. Ayame nodded and complied.

"Sasuke, help Ayame tidy up," Naruto added casually.

"Hmph."

Understanding that Naruto's entire plan was to enhance his strength, Sasuke nodded in acknowledgment.

Naruto and Teuchi's wife left the workspace to discuss the partnership details further.

After about ten minutes, they returned.

Upon their return, Sasuke immediately noticed a dramatic change in Teuchi's wife. The way she looked at Naruto was now filled with reverence and disbelief.

"Mother, everything is packed," Ayame said, carrying bundles of cooking tools on his back.

"Good. Let's head to the competition venue."

Having secured a business deal with Naruto, Teuchi's wife seemed like a new person.

If before, she had appeared hopeless and listless, now she looked rejuvenated—her face glowing with vitality, her spirits high, as if she had turned back the clock ten years.