Chapter 28: Orochimaru’s Defection Incident
The warm curtain of Ichiraku Ramen Shop was gently lifted, and steaming hot air wrapped in fragrance rushed towards them.
“Teuchi, one serving of Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen.” Menma led Hinata into the shop.
He pointed to the signboard menu placed on the ground nearby and turned to ask: “What does Hinata want to eat?”
“I… I can eat anything…” Hinata lowered her head and twisted her fingers, her voice as fine as a mosquito’s hum.
“Then same as me.” Menma pulled Hinata to sit in front of the counter.
It was lunchtime now, and there were still three customers in Ichiraku Ramen Shop. Teuchi lifted his head from the misty steam, squinted his eyes, and said to Menma: “Oh, it’s little Menma. Is this a new friend?”
Since moving into Konohagakure, Menma occasionally came to Ichiraku Ramen Shop to see if he could run into Naruto or Kakashi.
However, probably because Naruto was still young and there were nine years until the main storyline began, he hadn’t met Naruto nor Kakashi.
“Hey, haven’t seen that kid Junta lately.” While waiting for the ramen, the conversation from the neighboring villagers suddenly drifted into his ears.
“I haven’t seen him for a few days either. Yesterday I went to his house to look for him, but no one answered.”
“That kid just returned from a mission, how did he go missing?”
“Could he have taken on some higher-level mission?”
“He’s been a genin for several years, what mission could he take?”
“That’s strange, Sato also returned a few days ago and then disappeared.”
Hm?
Menma on the side silently listened to these villagers who looked like genin chatting about their friend’s disappearance, and some plot points from his memory gradually came back to him.
‘Looks like Orochimaru is about to defect.’ Menma still planned to go find Orochimaru and mooch something off him.
He had been eyeing Uncle Snake’s technology for a long time.
Although the Reanimation Jutsu probably wasn’t perfected yet at this time, the gene technology, cloning technology, and the Hashirama Cells that Orochimaru possessed were all treasures.
“You two little friends, here’s your ramen.” While Menma was thinking about Orochimaru’s possible defection route, Teuchi’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
Two bowls of ramen were pushed in front of them, the chashu trembling slightly in the thick soup, the soft-boiled egg glistening with amber light.
“Th-thank you…” Hinata thanked him as she took the bowl with both hands.
Slurping sounds—
The two began to eat heartily.
Menma had already eaten a meal before going out, so he ate a bit slowly this time.
When he was halfway done, he saw Hinata next to him sipping the soup in small mouthfuls, her swallowing speed getting faster and faster.
Before long, she had finished a whole bowl of ramen.
Even though Hinata was just a three-year-old child now, this appetite was too big.
“Teuchi, another large serving of ramen.” Menma saw Hinata’s little face slightly flushed, probably not full yet, so he ordered another bowl.
“No… no need…” Hinata pinched the hem of her clothes, a bit embarrassed.
In the education she received, girls should eat elegantly and quietly, not gorge like boys.
“Eat it, it’s my treat.” Menma’s voice carried an irrefutable tone.
Teuchi’s speed was fast, and soon a large serving of Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen steaming with hot air was placed in front of Hinata.
“Please enjoy!” Teuchi smilingly served a tempura, placing it between Menma and Hinata.
“Thanks to the regular customer for bringing a new one, this is a gift for you two.” Teuchi squinted his eyes.
Menma was already very full, with some left in his bowl, so he pushed the tempura to Hinata.
Looking at the large bowl of ramen and plate of tempura in front of her, mist rose again in Hinata’s eyes.
Since she had memories, she had never eaten her fill, but she was too embarrassed to tell her parents, and sometimes she even got lectured by her mother for eating a bit more.
As the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan, one of Konoha’s two great noble families, she had never eaten her fill—who would believe that?
At this moment, Menma’s casual action made her feel warmer than the strict clan rules of the compound.
After finishing the second bowl, Menma pretended to raise his hand again to order another for Hinata.
But Hinata blushed and hurriedly pressed his sleeve, shaking her head.
“Then let’s go, I’ll walk you home.” When the two came out of Ichiraku Ramen Shop, it was getting late.
Menma reached out and naturally held Hinata’s little hand.
Under the setting sun, two small shadows were stretched long.
Hinata lowered her head to look at that little hand, holding hers so firmly, her already slightly red little face became even more flushed.
‘If every day could be like this from now on, how great that would be…’ Hinata felt an unprecedented sense of relief and security.
Just like a good girl who was abducted by a little blond troublemaker.
The two walked towards the Hyuga Clan Territory.
Suddenly, Hinata stopped, stiffening in place.
“What’s wrong?” Menma felt the stiffness in his hand and slightly turned his head.
A Gentle Fist attack came head-on, wrapped in strong wind!
“You scum!” And Big Sister Hinata’s angry shout!
——————
“Hokage-sama!” An Anbu ninja wearing a mask landed in the center of the Hokage’s Office.
“This is the latest investigation intelligence on the missing people in the village!” The Anbu ninja presented a scroll with both hands.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage hat, took the scroll with a heavy expression, already prepared for the worst in his heart.
In recent times, more and more ninjas had gone missing in the village, all genin, but such disappearances had already made Hiruzen Sarutobi suspicious, so he ordered the Anbu to investigate.
When he opened the scroll and saw the person pointed to in the investigation report, even the mentally prepared Hiruzen Sarutobi’s pupils contracted slightly.
“Kakashi.” Hiruzen Sarutobi called softly.
Shing—
An Anbu wearing a white cat mask appeared behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, waiting for orders in a half-kneeling position.
“Assemble the first squad, come with me to… capture Orochimaru!” When Hiruzen Sarutobi said the last part, his face was deeply solemn, heartbroken.
“Yes!” Kakashi accepted the order and immediately went to assemble the team.
Anbu, full name ‘Assassination Tactics Special Unit’, had four squads under it, each squad with four teams, totaling around seventy people.
Most ordinary Anbu ninjas were only chunin level, team leaders and above were at least special jonin level, squad leaders were regular jonin, and the Anbu Commander was an elite jonin like Kakashi.
In actual deployment, Anbu tried to have each squad with two jonin and three special jonin.
Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi changed into his combat suit and personally led the team to clean house.
In the forest on the outer perimeter of Konohagakure, Hiruzen Sarutobi led a capture team consisting of three jonin, three special jonin, and over a dozen chunin, advancing quickly through the woods.
The leading Anbu ninja suddenly made a hand signal, and everyone landed silently like fallen leaves.
A sensor ninja formed hand seals with both hands.
“Hokage-sama, the entrance is here!”
“Kakashi, Sparrow, come with me inside. The rest set up outside!” Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered.
Except for Kakashi wearing the white cat mask and ‘Sparrow’ wearing the sparrow mask, these two jonin, the other Anbu ninjas went under their respective team leaders to search the surroundings for other entrances.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded to Sparrow.
The latter flung a kunai with an explosive tag.
Boom!
As the thick smoke dispersed, the disguise was torn open, and a dark corridor like an open snake mouth appeared before the three.
