Naruto: All Genders are reversed except for me

Through the commercial partnership with Ichiraku Granny, Naruto held absolute control.

The secret recipe and flavor-enhancing seasoning were provided by Naruto, while the shop, wear and tear, ingredients, and labor costs were excluded from his responsibilities.

Before finalizing the partnership, Naruto made his conditions clear: everything must follow his decisions; otherwise, the collaboration would be terminated immediately.

To protect Ichiraku Ramen's title as Konoha's foremost flavor-enhancing establishment, Granny Ichiraku agreed to Naruto's terms without hesitation.

---

Once preparations were complete, Granny Ichiraku locked the shop, and the group of four—two adults and two children—set off together for the agreed location.

The streets were bustling, and as passersby saw Naruto walking alongside the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, they frowned in unison.

Naruto chose to keep his head down, walking quietly to avoid unnecessary trouble.

While Naruto could endure, Sasuke—proud and fiery as a genius girl of the Uchiha clan—could not tolerate the disdainful looks and cold stares directed at Naruto.

She stepped forward, her scarlet Sharingan slowly surfacing, and coldly declared one word:

"Leave."

Her icy tone sent chills through the crowd, but before Sasuke could escalate matters, Naruto pulled her back into the group.

"Sasuke, today's competition is crucial for us. Don't create any unnecessary distractions—bear with it for now," Naruto said, his heart warming slightly at Sasuke standing up for him in public.

"Hmph, they got lucky," Sasuke muttered.

The more she learned about Naruto's life, the harder it became for Sasuke to stomach the villagers' silent ostracism. Before she got to know him, she wouldn't have spared a glance if he were bullied—or even if he died.

But after spending time with him, Sasuke realized their lives shared a surprising number of parallels, which gradually changed her attitude toward him.

Granny Ichiraku sighed. She was well aware of the treatment Naruto endured in Konoha, but there were some things even she couldn't voice.

"Perhaps things will improve when you grow up," she muttered.

"Good luck, Naruto. You'll become Hokage one day," said Ayame, now a brave and cheerful young boy.

"Hokage?" Naruto let out a self-deprecating laugh at Ayame's encouragement, his thoughts filled with disdain: Even a dog wouldn't want to be one.

---

Soon, the group left the bustling streets of Konoha, heading toward the designated competition site by the Clear Water River.

However, as they approached their destination, Naruto suddenly felt four sharp gazes lock onto him.

> Ding! Alert: Host has been detected by Konoha's Anbu and Root divisions!

Hearing the system's notification, Naruto smirked coldly.

So it's because I've grown too close to Sasuke, prompting the Third Hokage and Danzo to heighten their surveillance, he thought.

Noticing the slight change in Naruto's expression, Sasuke leaned in and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Naruto replied, shaking his head. "I'm just feeling a bit nervous about facing so many chefs later."

"Hmph…" Sasuke rolled her eyes dramatically. Her gaze seemed to say: Do you think I'd believe that?

---

Naruto sidled up to Granny Ichiraku and whispered, "Granny, there's been a change of plans. For the competition, I'll only assist you. The task of making the signature ramen is entirely in your hands."

Granny Ichiraku may have been a minor figure in Konoha, but as someone who had witnessed the eras of the Second, Third, and Fourth Hokages, she had her fair share of knowledge about village affairs. Sensing the subtle seriousness in Naruto's lowered voice, she nodded without betraying any reaction.

"That's fine. With you assisting me, you can correct any mistakes I make," she replied.

"Good. I'll guide you when necessary," Naruto said, surprised at how perceptive Granny Ichiraku was.

"By the way," he added softly, "Hong Le is on our side now. He's officially my disciple."

"What? He acted so quickly?" Granny Ichiraku was visibly startled.

Hearing that Hong Le had already become Naruto's disciple, she grew anxious. "Then what about me?"

Naruto smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. As long as you adhere to our partnership rules, you'll have access to all my recipes."

In truth, the more someone was passionate about their craft, the easier it was to establish cooperation with them. Whether it was Madara's vision of a perfect world, Orochimaru's pursuit of immortality, or Yahiko and Nagato's dream of true peace—understanding their core desires and revealing the right cards could turn foes into allies effortlessly.

"Understood, Master. Whatever you require, I'll comply fully," Granny Ichiraku said earnestly.

After a brief pause, Naruto added, "From now on, to the public, you'll refer to me as your apprentice."

"Master, isn't that inappropriate?" Granny Ichiraku asked, flustered. In her eyes, Naruto was already the most accomplished chef she had ever encountered. The thought of publicly addressing him as her apprentice felt surreal.

"No matter who asks, this is the answer," Naruto said firmly. "I'll say the same thing to Hong Le."

"Alright, Master… uh…"

Naruto smiled wryly. "Just call me by my name when we're around others."

After their hushed conversation, the group pushed through a small wooded area and arrived at the cooking competition grounds.

Looking around, the riverbank of Qingshui was packed with over fifty burly men. Their muscular arms and broad shoulders made them look more like warriors than chefs. If not for the temporary stoves set up along the river, the higher-ups of Konoha might have suspected they were gathered for some clandestine operation.

"Could the renewed surveillance by the ANBU and Root be because of this gathering of chefs?" Naruto wondered, considering the possibility.

As the group stepped into the crowd, their eyes immediately landed on a bald middle-aged man surrounded by a throng of admirers.

It was none other than Hong Le.

After leaving the Land of Fire and traveling through famous mountains and rivers, Hong Le had finally acquired a secret ramen recipe. To Konoha's ramen chefs, he was now a coveted figure.

Hong Le was clearly relishing the attention, courteously exchanging words with senior chefs while urging his three apprentices to speed up their preparations for the competition.

However, the moment Hong Le noticed Naruto entering the scene, the smugness on his face vanished, replaced by awe, reverence, and eagerness.

"Hmph, I was starting to think you wouldn't dare show up, Ichiraku."

Unaware of Ichiraku's collaboration with Naruto, Hong Le stuck to the script Naruto had laid out for him.

Ichiraku, catching Hong Le's gaze, instantly understood his intentions and replied confidently, "Hong Le, don't hold back. Show us everything you've got!"

As two of Konoha's most prominent culinary figures, their rivalry drew eager attention. The other chefs, eager to sample their secret recipes, quickly intervened to diffuse the tension.

Naruto gave Hong Le a subtle nod, and Hong Le, taking the cue, scoffed before retreating to his temporary station to prepare for the showdown.

With the arrival of Ichiraku's team, the atmosphere of the event subtly shifted.

Ayame, having set down her cooking tools, picked a prime spot and began working diligently. Sasuke, aware of how crucial this competition was from Naruto's repeated mentions, didn't dare slack off. She began gathering stones to help stabilize the cooking setup.

Naruto, meanwhile, removed a canvas bag from his back and handed it to Ichiraku, whispering, "Madam, here's your secret recipe."

Ichiraku, experienced and perceptive, immediately understood the significance of Naruto's gesture. Taking the bag, she clutched it tightly to her arm as though someone might try to snatch it from her.

With the temporary stoves in place, the countdown to the competition began.

---

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…

Suddenly, a blazing inferno erupted as someone unleashed a jutsu:

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

---

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