Cooking Fest Disaster

Ichiryu heard Naruko make her report.

She froze several vital areas as well as obtained seeds of many species with the help of a large Saiseiya Group, making large domes of thick ice a mile thick to cover many locations, all of which, cost her, her saved-up energy that by the time the Cooking Fest comes, she only has enough to participate but unable to fight the big fight, drastically weakened.

To counter that, she was currently pigging out in IGO so she CAN fight for herself to earn kilocalories for battle and fill her massive reserves a week before she has to travel to Cooking Island. As of now, she is currently the world's strongest human who wasn't 'fully developed'. She cannot compare to him, Jiro, Midora and Setsuno who have fully-developed and awakened Gourmet Cells. She was the fifth strongest person in the world...on the side of good, that is. On the side of bad, she mentioned someone who was also very strong but 'wastes it on toys' she had no respect for him but will never underestimate him in a fight if he comes in person nor any idea who would truly be 'the fifth strongest'.

She is currently the Top 16 Chef, making her a prime target for kidnapping and she dealt with GT Robos these past few months, and aided in the training of his sons starting from the Jewel Meat Incident as even she recognized the threat of the Bishokukai before their identities were known. Utilization of GT Robos just to safely harvest ingredients without harm to their person was enough of a threat she took seriously especially if his sons back then had trouble defeating one used by a weak opponent at that.

So now, he can't relax just yet even if they did all they could.

xxx

Cooking Fest...

Naruko arrived, dressed casually while enjoying some stall snacks.

'Humm...it's time.' she mused as she watched the people coming to watch.

Over 1 billion people compete to get tickets just to watch the Cooking Fest up close. VIPs have no such fears of losing a seat, however.

This was her first festival thus had to prove why she earned the 16th Rank. So she has pressure on herself as well. Not only that, this may be her first...and last...Cooking Fest. An event that causes a worldwide holiday, held in Cooking Island, the Holy Site of all chefs worldwide where the once-every-four-years event is held. And in that time, 1 billion fight over a seat, willing to get huge loans in the bank just to get a seat.

Live Broadcasts have a rating of 95% but on the Deciding Battles, at 99% at which, everyone is glued to their TVs just to know who would win and lose.

100 million visitors every day, and over 36 billion each year.

As of now, she was famous but has yet to earn respect in the public though many VIPs and the wealthy know her well.

She was using Henge to conceal herself in the crowd as...well...she wasn't a fan of being mobbed like how she saw Komatsu and the Four Kings...she inwardly snickered it had to take Zebra's arrival to get them off their back!

And so...

She was waiting in her room like everyone else, after a thorough shower and grooming.

Her thick hair had to be cut in a hime-style hairdo just for it to be manageable since eating the Bubble Fruit that made her look her real age of 26 with her hair thickly-glossy and vibrant that upon evolution, her hair looked volumized-up. She has straight-even bangs now with chin-length fringes. Her hair now waist-length secured at the tip with a hair tie and having a seashell clamp over it.

A young woman at her prime with the reputation of being 'world's most beautiful' she had to learn Knocking from Mansam just to lock her youthful appearance in and prevent physical aging just to look 'ten years younger' again but it also meant locking away half her full strength, so she had to have clothes specially-made to accommodate 'size changes'. Three changes of Chef's Outfit, a swimsuit for the festival, and her entire wardrobe with shoes to match.

Her true form as a 26 years old woman, was a 6'8 tall slender-shapely beauty of 88-54-88 whose looks were a cross between her parents, both of whom good-looking in life. Having Gourmet Cells made her body develop into its strongest form down to the last genetics and made those best genes prominent, hence her looks. But she was careful with what she eats to avoid the amazonian physique. As a kunoichi, that is a big no-no for her.

But in her 'youthful form', she was 5'7 tall and 78-54-78 in a much petite body.

Nobody but her rival and IGO labs has seen her true form yet.

So for now it's something to her advantage.

xxx

Meanwhile, in Bishokukai Base...Gourmet World Branch...

'Joejoe.' came Starjun's cold voice as he put on his Shiva Helmet. 'Is everyone ready?'

'Yes...just say the word.' said Joejoe as behind Starjun, gathered quite the motley crew.

'OK. Shall we go?'

Starjun has two targets in mind, one of whom he was obsessed with ever since the day she declared him not worth his time.

"I'm coming. Naruko!"

He cannot forget nor forgive her words. Now, he will come to her in person just as she wants!

xxx

'Now finally it is time! For the 50th Cooking Festival!' the announcer cried, 'The Cooking Festival that only comes once every four years! Here at the Cooking Stadium of 100 million, things are coming to a boil! Now without further ado, all 100 of our participants, ENTER!'

'The first to enter...is...! Right off the bat, the current Title-holder and Champion of the Previous Festival! A Commanding No.1 in the World Chef Ranking! Legendary Cooking King! Zaus!' the crowd roared in support. 'He ranks second in the total number of times holding the Festival Champion at 14! The Leading Man of Food!'

'Next to enter is the owner chef of the restaurant of differing ethnicities, Nostalgia! The young Ethnic King Klaraman! 12th of the Chef Ranking, they say has the most momentum!'

'Whoa, we're being called out one by one...that's IF we step out!' Komatsu gulped nervously.

'Hey you earned your spot here buster, don't be shy!' Naruko twitched, whacking him with a harisen. 'You saved humanity too you know!' this was someone who recreated Century Soup, discovered Mors Oil and shortened Medicinal Mochi to five minutes in order to save poisoned victims who would die shortly after exposure to Green Rain.

'Ahahaha...it's still nerve-wracking...'

'I bet you won't say that on your second festival four years from now!' Naruko snorted as she went out after others went out.

'Here she is! The mysterious beauty who appeared out of nowhere and jumped to 16th in Ranking! Maiden of the Deep, Caterer Seafood Chef Naruko! She answers calls for Banquet Catering for VIPs and hunts her own Deep Sea Food, discovering thousands of underwater species! The girl whose body will heal you by just biting her, effortlessly fixing the Four Kings!'

'And she's hardly in society it's rare to meet her!' Naruko found herself swarmed by...suitors! 'And some of our competitors are already making moves on her!'

'Can't say I blame those guys, she's the world's most beautiful woman.' said Coco where he sat with his fellow Kings.

'Isn't she?' Sani sighed dreamily.

The Preliminaries have begun, the Triathlon Cooking. Participants are given five minutes to change into swimwear

Though it's called a Triathlon, it's all about cooking.

And at Rice Beach...

Naruko decided to just go as is and not waste time. Her outfit for the day is functional for ALL events!

Stamina e? You're the junkie of stamina! Her ice demon snarked from her mind wryly.

"No sweat Icy, this one's mine! Loads more fun than Chuunin Exams in my past any day!" Naruko grinned. "Let's roll!"

And she is someone who can run on water herself! She was among those who got fast, just behind Setsuno, Wabutora following close as well as Zaus and Mach Chef Ton.

After the Bike Delivery is the running...she was running alongside Setsuno, Zaus and Yuda. She caused quite an uproar as nobody thought she'd be physically capable enough to have physique fit to rival the top chefs!

'Not bad for a newcomer youngster!' Zaus commented.

'Living in the ocean made me pretty hardy~' Naruko grinned.

'Rumor has it that you hunt in truly perilous deeps where water pressure can kill a normal person!' Yuda marveled. 'Of course she would be hardy!'

'Hohoho! I can see the future now!' Setsuno cackled but they were all overtaken by someone.

'Wah?!'

'Branch?!' the elderly sputtered indignantly at being overtaken.

'...who's that?' Naruko blinked owlishly as Branch was apparently...the problem kid who annoyed the elderly she was with, saying he'll give the elders a Coup de Grace to their faces.

'Looks like you made an interesting friend on the way.' Naruko sweatdropped as bickering ensued.

'Nice guy though, but a bit mischievous.' said Komatsu sheepishly.

In the cooking that followed, both made dishes that impressed the G7 as a whole, gaining their full votes. Next was Scale Death Cooking. Lastly was Entire Island Cooking, thus reaching the Top 32 Championship bouts.

However...

"Ice demon, it's starting." Naruko and her demon sensed malice within the stadium.

Mm. Let's fight, Naruko.

"Ohhh yeah, but we need to wait a bit for justification~and you need a smaller size so let's adjust a bit, will ya? You'll crush the stadium otherwise..."

And it begun, numerous beasts begun descending on the stadium.

'They're here! Bishokukai!'

'We can protect ourselves on our own!' the chefs looked ready to fight.

'Icy! Deal with the beasts, we handle the Bishokukai!' Naruko summoned her own appetite demon, currently big enough for a mansion. It looked like a cross-mix between onryo, yukionna and a banshee.

'Yosh, time for war!'

'Holy shit, that came out of your body?!'

'Of course! Icy and I are long-time pals!' Naruko grinned and to think it's televised! 'He'll handle the scum beasts, we take care of the morons!'

'Got it in one!' and it's war.

'Its been a while since I was in this kind of mess...' Naruko removed her Knocking to be in her true form.

'Hey, d'ya think you can introduce me to that pal o' yours? I think we'll be best buddies in no time flat!' Branch grinned as they fought back to back at first.

'Hehe, earn his respect though! It took me until I was 18 that we're finally friends!' said Naruko as she utilized her ice powers.

'At least we have a formidable ally in that ice-type appetite demon.' said Yuda in relief. 'You are truly unpredictable, Naruko!'

'That's my middle name now gramps! Right now...no casualty is allowed! Zebra ensured the audience escaped unscathed, we gotta worry about everyone in here!'

'Mm!' and they did their own thing in fighting and assisting others. But still, Naruko knew something's going on in here.

Out of trust, she was privy to something even worse that will definitely take advantage of the situation and that worries her.

She worried more for Komatsu actually...but where the hell is he?

He's not in the Cage Beasts, thankfully as Icy killed them all while freeing the captured chefs...where?

'Zebra, where's Komatsu?!' Naruko gasped out.

He went to Toriko on that clumsy bird of his last I checked. was her answer.

'Thank goodness, this stadium's a playground he can't be in right now...' Naruko sighed, freeze-drying more beasts in her wake and she had to save the Gourmet Mafia from some woman.

'That's an interesting technique...you an M or what?' Naruko asked, facing Sommelier Limon. Her words made the Yakuza blush hard.

'Fufu...I just share the taste, is all...and I'm not an M since I can't feel anything.' Limon smiled wickedly.

'Then you can't feel your death either then, that's nice.' said Naruko as she appeared behind Limon using Shunshin and freeze-dried her and shattered the body.

'Nice, Naruko-san!' Match cheered. 'That witch killed half my men!'

'Well, this is war...a war we all didn't want but they started. In war, the true winners are those who survives this shit. No such thing as victory by faction here.' said Naruko as she took out emergency supplies of Doctor Aloe.

'That's a harsh truth but wise words so we cannot afford to lose here either!' said Aimaru, leader of Gourmet Knights. 'All non-combat chefs are safe, they evacuated to that strange house Bread Artisan created!'

'That's good...all that's left now are us and there's more of us good guys now. Hehehe...' said Wabutora.

However, Komatsu was in the hands on someone else. A long-haired man riding on a big creature against a lady-man.

'Icy! Fire a flash-freeze blast at that lady man in front of longhair guy to save Komatsu!' Naruko requested urgently.

Right, that's a bad place your friend is on right now! Icy waved his hand to fire the attack at his strongest in his current form and that was enough to create a powerful freeze, bamboozling the two floating chefs and Branch saved Komatsu who would be frozen to death, and Setsuno took both on upon their distraction.

'Got im' Naruko!' Branch told her.

'T-thanks guys...I thought I'll be a captive too.' said Komatsu in relief.

'We'll stuff you in Pippi's house, it's safe there!' Komatsu retreated to the house made out of shokuyoki.

But then...what's worse was what Ichiryu saw coming. And she's not too happy about it.

The destruction of society as they knew it began.

The Gourmet Age, has ended there.

xxx

IGO Hospital Room...they were there because Mansam was in critical so they prepared the strongest liquors they have to restore him as Naruko was exhausted because she healed everyone in the stadium, her chakra reserves empty while her own kilocalories are OK.

'...it's as President predicted when he roped me in into a job.' said Naruko softly to the Kings, Jiro, Setsuno, Komatsu and other IGO Officers remaining. 'But what he never foresaw was an inside job within IGO itself. He only predicted about the Bishokukai, not this.' she said as Mansam held a meeting regarding the disaster, but was stunned when majority of the important officers were killed by Uumen according to Bureau Chief Ray...after they splashed him with liquor for him to heal.

'That attack from the sky...Meteor Spice was it?' Coco spoke as Naruko named the technique because Ichiryu told her which was why he had her put thick ice all over important spots so the human world will not starve entirely. 'It caused serious damage worldwide. 25 billion people are killed which is about 80% of humanity.' he croaked out in utter dismay. 'More than 100 countries faced the collapse of critical systems. Not only that, it was like a herbicide. Precious produce and herbs as well as sweets trees, all dead.'

'At least food is not entirely gone, we can feed everybody.' said Toriko. 'Besides, its not like Midora destroyed the oceans...most of the food live deep down below, we're OK. Land is targeted, not the sea.'

'The tough part is restoring the lands damaged by Meteor Spice, kids.' said Setsuno.

'Right...'

'For now, we have to answer all applications for Food Relief all over the world.' said Ray.

'Yosh, ready the teams for Food Distribution!' Mansam declared. 'We saved up loads of food and defended critical lands! We must gather more in the wild and keep it coming! Boys and Naruko, we'll work you hard for the people unless other bishokuyas recovered too to help us out. And we'll have all Chefs active to cook for everybody!'

'Right!'

'Well, find ice plateaus, OK?' Naruko chimed. 'The protection I put on them died after Meteor Spice hit it once, so you can destroy the ice domes with your own strength and harvest food after. And Vegetable Sky is safe, it was never hit by Meteor Spice.'

With that, everyone set to work as Gourmet Age hasn't completely ended at all.

xxx

18 months later...

Bishokuya have since gotten busy, harvesting what they could. Even renowned chefs went back to being a Bishokuya to help out while having their employees do the actual cooking for people who could not cook.

And as usual, the IGO help prepare...

...Naruko's monster catches.

She has gotten stronger from all her work in the sea. The water pressure itself functions as her 'weights' for training. But she can now freely move in there as if she was a genin again. But upon return to the surface, she is insanely faster than she was before as well as stronger, strong enough to touch the Abyssopelagic Zone. Touch, but go no further as it's her current limit...as a normal boosted human according to her Appetite Demon. She could, if she awakened her Gourmet Cells even further by eating the Full Course of the World.

And upon gaining a stronger body, she trains with her clones to attack and respond to speeds and reflexes to her high standards.

'This should get me by in Gourmet World,' she mused. 'What do you think, Icy?'

For now, it's sufficient...by the Entrance. Icy spoke to her.

'Eh?!'

By the Entrance, eat what you can so you can proceed further.

'Right...' Naruko croaked gloomily. 'I can't believe all my hard work and yet I can only go into the doorway?' she went to her yacht to see if she got any messages. It's not easy sealing flora seafood and a bunch of clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, shrimps and prawns, lobsters, and crayfishes, while avoiding their young for the next generation. She even caught a Puffer Whale in its giant size for sale. Like hell she'll wait ten years for it!

The Bishokuya managed to get by in land, as she worked alone in the sea to fill markets worldwide.

She then slept in a Hotel in LIFE after eating her fill in the wild to recover from exhaustion.

Through the net, IGO found her quickly enough, the problem was getting there faster because they have something to do now.

'Is Naruko-san still here?' Komatsu asked the Receptionist.

'She's still here but from what our cameras say, she never left her room nor ordered Room Service for ten days now.' said the Receptionist. 'Her room is 901 on the ninth floor.'

When they went up there and Zebra listened...

'...she's out cold. Sleepin'.' he said.

'She slept for ten days?!' Sani shuddered as they lockpicked their way through for them to take a look.

'...she's very exhausted by the looks of things. She probably slept longer than that.' said Coco, seeing through his ability. He saw Naruko's condition. Her pattern of electromagnetic waves showed she was really overworked and hibernated to recover, but this made her ripe for kidnapping which was why her being here was a secret.

'Well, while we worked on land, she worked in cold underwater.' said Toriko. 'No wonder she's stronger than us.' he chuckled jovially.

'But we gotta go to Gourmet World today.' said Zebra, picking up Naruko like a sack of potatoes. 'Get her stuff and we're outta here.'

'Oi oi! We'll look like kidnappers at this rate!' Sani howled.

'There's Octomelon and sneaking her away and have Mansam foot her hotel bill.' said Toriko. 'Let's scram!'