The Land of Lightning is a country of high mountains and flowing water, with abundant water resources, hence its highly developed brewing industry. This might also have something to do with their Raikages, who are the type to gargle with seven or eight bottles.
However, if we're talking about the signature cuisine of the Land of Lightning, it's definitely beef!
"Boss, one super-sized portion of spicy beef!"
In front of a street food stall on a street in Kumogakure, Lin Yu had smelled the aroma of grilled beef skewers from afar. He had to admit that the taste of street food like this was much more appealing than that in restaurants.
The beef skewer boss had a rough appearance, with bulging muscles on his wrists. He held at least three to four hundred skewers in his hands. Although the aroma of beef wafted throughout the street, the choking white smoke also shot straight into the sky.
"Please wait." The boss's voice was deep, and his expression remained unchanged as he skillfully flipped the skewers.
Lin Yu took two steps back, standing side by side with Yugao behind him, and asked, "Yugao, what do you want to eat?"
Yugao had a cold expression. All the way here, it had been grilled meat restaurants and bars. But then again, this was Kumogakure, a village filled with rough men and brutes, where people either ate meat or drank.
"I'll just have ration pills."
Although the beef skewers smelled incredibly fragrant, Yugao still chose ration pills, her last vestige of pride as an ANBU!
"The beef skewers are ready, that'll be ten thousand Ryo."
Perhaps fearing Lin Yu's misunderstanding, the boss explained in a gruff voice, "The cattle in our Kumogakure are of excellent breed, fed on green grass from the high mountains. Every day, a specialist uses chakra to tend to their bodies. At night, when they sleep..."
"Stop, stop, stop! I get it, I'll pay!"
Lin Yu muttered, "Do you think this is Kobe beef? Do you sing them lullabies when they sleep?"
A bowl of Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha cost only around a hundred Ryo. These two hundred-plus skewers of beef for ten thousand Ryo meant fifty Ryo per skewer.
"You can add seasonings according to your preference."
Although Lin Yu grumbled a little, the aroma of the beef skewers was indeed intoxicating. When they returned, he'd have to ask the Fourth Raikage for a secret seasoning!
"Wait a moment!"
Seeing Lin Yu reaching for the bottles and jars to add seasonings, Yugao finally couldn't help but take a dozen skewers from Lin Yu's hand, pretending to be calm. "It's rare to come to Kumogakure, so tasting it is also good."
Lin Yu's smile remained unchanged. Yugao was being insincere.
Cumin, spicy, numbing... Looking at the labels on the bottles and jars, Yugao couldn't help but frown. Just as she was hesitating whether to eat them without seasoning, her gaze fell on a bottle of red, viscous liquid at the very back.
"Ketchup?"
Although slathering ketchup on beef skewers was a bit unconventional, Yugao still evenly spread the deep red sauce.
Phew, the taste seemed to have become even more fragrant.
Not long after Lin Yu and Yugao left, the sound of the boss reprimanding his son could be heard at the stall.
"How many times have I told you, don't stick my labels on randomly? That's the 'Ox Demon's Reward Volcanic Chili Sauce,' colorless and odorless, detonates on contact!"
...
"Samui, did we come to the wrong place?"
Pakura looked at the empty seats around them, finding it hard to imagine this was a concert venue.
"This is already quite good."
Samui saw a few elderly folks from Kumogakure sitting in the front row, and her mouth twitched. She suspected they'd all be carried out on stretchers later.
Since there were too many empty seats, the two casually chose a corner to sit down.
"Samui... do we really have to do this? I feel a bit..."
"A bit embarrassing?"
Samui grabbed Pakura's shoulders and said with disappointment, "Pakura, Pakura, look how many women are surrounding that guy! Opportunities are grasped by oneself. Mei Terumi has the confidence of having something to fall back on, but we two haven't succeeded yet."
"But..."
"No buts! You have to do it today whether you want to or not!"
Samui took out "God's Fall" from her pocket and opened it. Inside were ten purple pills that dissolved instantly in water, were colorless and odorless, and had a long-lasting effect.
Plop!
One, two.
Samui paused when she was about to put in the third one, hesitating. "Two should be enough, right? What do you think?"
"Lin Yu's strength is unfathomable, two might not be enough."
"Then... add another one!"
Just then, Lin Yu's voice suddenly came from behind them. Samui's hand trembled.
"Hey, what are you two up to, being so secretive!"
Plop, plop...
Samui's face turned deathly pale. It was over. Eight pills... would this send them to heaven?
Lin Yu, carrying a large bunch of beef skewers, looked suspicious. He knew these two women had a scheme. They seemed to have put something in the water just now; he hadn't seen it but had heard the sound.
Samui gritted her teeth and brought out the water from behind her. With a smile, she said, "Lin Yu, you're here! This is the Kumogakure specialty, high mountain spring water, that Pakura and I queued up for especially. They only offer a ton a day. Come and try it quickly."
Lin Yu glanced at the water in the cup. It was clear and pure, seeming to be just a cup of spring water.
"Samui, I'm not thirsty, you go first..."
Before Lin Yu could finish, a shadow quickly darted past him, snatched the cup of water from Samui's hand with lightning speed, and drank it all in one gulp!
"Water! Give me water!"
Gulp, gulp...
Samui and Pakura were stunned in place, the word "over" instantly appearing in both their minds: They had been intercepted!
It seemed the high mountain spring water tasted quite good. Yugao licked her lips, which were red from spiciness, and said to them, "Hiss, it's so spicy! Is there any more? I want more!"
You want more!
Samui was so angry she wanted to cry. She had spent a large sum of money to buy it, and now eight pills were used up, and it was wasted on this woman. How unlucky!
Pakura said with concern, "Are you... alright?"
Yugao was stunned for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm fine, just got a bit spicy. Quick, give me some water!"
"Oh, oh, okay, wait a moment." Hearing that Yugao seemed fine, Pakura couldn't help but feel relieved. Perhaps the drug's effect wasn't as strong as Samui had said. However, for some reason, she felt a little disappointed.
Yugao took the water handed over by Pakura and drank it all down, which only slightly relieved her. Her beautiful eyes stared intently at Lin Yu.
Lin Yu must have done it on purpose! How could beef skewers have ketchup? And he didn't even remind her!
At this moment, Lin Yu was the one confused. Yugao seemed perfectly fine. Had he guessed wrong? Was it really just spring water?
However, it seemed the concert was about to start. Another group of elderly folks, led by Kilerbee's disciples, arrived and all took seats in the front row. How filial.
The four were seated in a secluded back area, so no one paid them any attention.
At this time, Samui secretly glanced at Yugao and whispered in Pakura's ear, "I forgot to tell you, the later it takes effect, the stronger the duration of the medicine will be, even..."
Samui paused, then looked at Lin Yu with worry, and whispered, "It might devour that guy!"
Pakura tightly clutched her clothes, suppressing any sound.
And then, the concert officially began!
A huge spotlight shone on the stage, and Kilerbee, dressed in bizarre clothing, made his entrance with a Thomas spin kick.
"Yeah! Welcome everyone to my concert! The most perfect rapper is me, I am Eight-Tails Kilerbee, yeah! Ah!"
"Next, I invite my backup dance troupe, three guests from the Chicken Ninja Village, to perform the opening song, 'Ji Tai Mei~'!"
The lights dimmed, and three Chicken Ninjas in overalls appeared on stage, all wearing rooster hats and with serious expressions.
This was their first concert, and it was with the renowned ninja rapper, Lord Kilerbee! They absolutely couldn't make a mistake!
The passionate music started, and multiple spotlights focused on Kilerbee. At this moment, he was like the center of the world. He sang!
"Ji Tai Mei~ The ninja world is too dangerous! Oh, why are you doing this, so annoying~~"
"Ji Tai Mei! I've practiced for two years, how I wish to conquer the ninja world with my suspenders~"
"My singing, dancing, rap, and ninjutsu, and chicken! Too! Beautiful!"
...
Pfft!
Lin Yu spat out all the high mountain spring water he had just drunk. If he hadn't known for sure that Kilerbee was a native of the ninja world, he would have suspected him of being a second transmigrator.
This... was too good to be true!
Just as Lin Yu was tapping his foot to the rhythm of the music, a predatory gaze opened in the darkness, a crystal seemed to fall from his reddened lips, and a demonic claw reached out towards Lin Yu, who was earnestly listening to the concert...