However, after the widespread adoption of chakra, a more efficient and versatile form of energy, these professions replaced their energy with chakra.
For example, a swordsman or a samurai!
Seeing Shinichi's serious expression, Kosuke Maruboshi smiled and slowly explained: "Ninja Chefs are a special group that combines being a ninja and a chef. Their primary responsibility is not fighting, but to quickly replenish the physical strength and restore the chakra of ninja teams that are carrying out long-term, high-intensity missions by cooking food containing chakra or special nutrients."
"Its essence lies in the application of chakra control, especially the micro-management of Fire Style, to precisely control the heat and energy activation of ingredients."
He paused, sprinkled some salt into the pot, and continued, "However, with the rapid development of medical Ninjutsu and pharmacology in the Shinobi World, especially after the large-scale development and application of easily portable and concentrated ration pills, the supply method of Ninja Chefs, which requires on-site cooking and relies on fresh ingredients, has become inefficient."
"Over time, this group has completely declined. In today's Shinobi World, unless it is a certain ancient clan tradition or an extremely specialized lineage, it is almost impossible to find. So it is perfectly normal that you have only heard of it but never seen it."
"Senior, how does one become a proper Ninja Chef?"
Shinichi asked.
Although he had already roughly judged in his mind that the Ninja Chef, a derivative profession combining ninja and chef, probably did not meet the conditions for generating an occupation entry on the panel.
But he still decided to test it out himself.
What if?
There's no harm in giving it a try.
"Become a Ninja Chef?"
Kosuke Maruboshi chuckled. "Shinichi, although I don't know why you're taking this so seriously, in my opinion, you're already a Ninja Chef."
"Oh?"
Shinichi's eyes flickered slightly. "Why do you say that, senior?"
"Look, you are a ninja, you master Fire Style, and your cooking skills are quite good. Doesn't that make you a Ninja Chef?"
"But you just said that a Ninja Chef's dish can quickly replenish stamina and restore chakra..."
"Food itself has these effects; it's just a matter of degree. If you want the effect to be more significant, just add some medicinal herbs to the dish and make it into a medicinal meal. It's not difficult."
Kosuke Maruboshi waved his hand dismissively.
Shinichi didn't stop there. Instead, he looked at him more seriously and said in a serious tone, "So, in your opinion, senior, I can already be considered a Ninja Chef, right?"
Upon hearing this, Kosuke Maruboshi paused for a moment. Although he didn't understand why Shinichi was so serious about confirming it, he still smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Shinichi, I admit it, you are now a Ninja Chef."
After saying that, Kosuke Maruboshi glanced at the sky and divided the remaining soup in the pot: "Alright, get some rest after you finish eating. We have to travel tomorrow, so I'll take the first half of the night watch."
......
Nighttime, deep within the magistrate's mansion in Narumi Town.
Kurokawa Yasumasa, the magistrate of Narumi Town, suddenly felt a bone-deep pain in his body. His face turned pale, and he immediately dismissed his attendants. He staggered into the study alone and then opened one of the secret rooms that only he knew about.
As soon as he closed the door, he could no longer bear it. He curled up on the floor, letting out suppressed and painful groans, a pain that felt as if his bones were being crushed and pierced from the inside out.
He shakily crawled toward the wooden cabinet against the wall and pulled a porcelain bottle from deep inside a drawer.
When the bottle was opened, a strong, pungent smell of blood immediately filled the air.
Kurokawa Yasumasa eagerly poured the dark red liquid from the bottle into his mouth. After a moment, his rapid breathing gradually calmed down, and the excruciating pain throughout his body receded like a tide, leaving only a cold sweat of exhaustion.
"I told you guys long ago to be more discreet in your actions."
He leaned against the wall and slowly stood up, his voice hoarse as he spoke to the empty shadows: "Now look what's happened. I just heard from my men that those peasants pooled their money to hire ninjas from Konoha to investigate! If this gets out of hand, we're both finished."
"You guys? Hehehe..."
A man draped in a black cloak slowly emerged from the shadows, his voice low and chilling: "Don't forget, you've been a member of the church for a long time. We're on the same side now."
Kurokawa Yasumasa kept a straight face and did not refute, but his eyes became even more gloomy.
The man in a cloak did not care and continued in a casual tone: "As for the ninjas from Konoha?"
He chuckled softly, as if discussing the weather: "Just kill them."
"Are you crazy?!"
Kurokawa Yasumasa's expression changed drastically, and his voice was almost impossible to suppress: "This is the Land of Fire, not the Land of Hot Water! Killing someone from Konoha will trigger a thorough investigation by the entire village! This is not just a simple case of a missing child!"
The priest was silent for a moment, the shadow under his hood seemed to move slightly, and his cold voice rang out again, with a hint of mockery: "Then, in your opinion, what should we do? The matter of the holy son must not be stopped. Don't forget, your bone cancer is an incurable disease even in the Shinobi World. Only when the holy son descends, and you receive divine grace, can your disease... be completely cured."
"Of course I know! You don't need to tell me!"
Kurokawa Yasumasa growled while pacing anxiously in the small, dark room. "Precisely because we can't stop, we must be even more cautious! Listen, from now on, until the ninjas from Konoha leave or the truth is revealed, all of you must lie low for good and never touch a single child again! I will make proper arrangements, find a few suitable culprits, and put this disappearance case to rest."
The priest's face, hidden beneath his hood, showed clear displeasure.
Kurokawa Yasumasa noticed this, stepped forward, and said sternly: "I'll say it again, I'm not joking!"
"Think about the original intention of the leader in sending you here: To take root here, to open up a new place of faith for the church, to manage it for a long time, and to make plans gradually! If you act rashly and attract a powerful enemy, destroying the foundation of this place and ruining the leader's long-term plan, can you bear this responsibility?!"
He took a deep breath and made a final, resolute warning: "Konoha is the most powerful of the Five Great Ninja Villages, with unfathomable strength! If we were to provoke their true elites and their ever-present Anbu over a few lives, not only would our lives be in danger, but even the leader of the church in the Land of Hot Water and the church's long-established headquarters would likely be exposed to a thunderous attack and face annihilation! Do you want to see that happen?"
Seeing that Elder Takahashi, the priest, remained silent, a cold glint flashed in Kurokawa Yasumasa's eyes, and he decided to administer another drastic measure.
He took half a step forward, his voice lowered, yet carrying a blatant threat: "Elder Takahashi, you wouldn't want the church leader to…"
"How do you know the church leader...?"
Elder Takahashi's expression under his hood suddenly changed, and he subconsciously questioned him sharply.
He had barely uttered half a sentence when he suddenly realized his mistake and immediately shut his mouth.