Ninja?

Yoshi the Ninja Chef

Two hundred years ago on the coast of Japan, there stood a village. This village was home to many great warriors: the elite assassins, samurai, and ninja. These soldiers of the village clan had protected the treasure of the village, a mystic box said to hold the ingredient to making the most delicious food in the universe; Yodo’s Snack Box. Peace had been a blessing in the village for decades, and its people were content. Many began studying the art of cooking, and the number of warriors dwindled until almost none remained. The custom of the village was that at the age of ten, villagers decide whether to train in cooking, fighting, or farming. It was often a difficult decision for the children, and because the village had not been threatened for so long, most chose cooking or farming. One boy could not choose between cooking and fighting and so chose to train in both. This boy became known throughout the village for his cooking skills, though he could not fight well. They called him Yoshi, and he was a ninja chef.

Yoshi grew into a respected young man and prospered well. He built a house fitted to his needs of ingredients and water, a house on stilts over a river mouth close to the ocean. This way, Yoshi could have fresh water and fish whenever he wanted. His house was built away from the village because when Yoshi cooked, he liked to listen to the sound of crashing waves, and the seagull’s call. He loved also loved solitude when studying cookbooks or learning new styles of combat. Yoshi liked his house and cooking food, and even combat training, however terrible he was at fighting. He was contented with his peace, and never worried about the pirates who were pillaging the neighboring areas.

One day, Yoshi was given an order for a large cake. The cake was for the chief’s birthday. Yoshi was thrilled, for was an honor to be making the desert for such a noble man, and he decided to spend a whole day preparing a magnificent cake decorated... [continues]

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