Chapter 5: Kumogakure Envoy Kidnaps Hinata
“Yo, boy, seems like it’s your first time here.” The boss of Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Teuchi, squinted his eyes with a smile and asked Menma: “Want me to recommend some popular signature dishes?”
“I’m not here for the first time, Uncle Teuchi.” Menma came back to his senses, looked at Teuchi who was wearing a chef’s hat and squinting with a smile, and familiarly ordered a bowl of ramen: “One miso chashu ramen, no narutomaki, extra bamboo shoots.”
“Huh?” Teuchi looked at the boy in front of him with some confusion, but he had no impression at all.
“Sorry about that, customer, maybe I’m getting old.” Teuchi scratched his head apologetically, then smiled again: “So as compensation, I’ll add a full load of ‘Menma’ for you!”
In Japanese, the pronunciation of bamboo shoots is the same as ‘Menma’, and the pronunciation of narutomaki is the same as ‘Naruto’.
Perhaps due to the influence of the Limited Tsukuyomi World, Menma also didn’t like eating fish cakes and had a special fondness for bamboo shoots.
While waiting for Teuchi the boss to start cooking the ramen, Menma focused intently on listening to the conversation of the two Konoha ninjas next door.
But perhaps because there was no more information, or because there was now this ‘other person’ Menma in the noodle shop at this time, these two Konoha ninjas didn’t continue talking about the previous topic, and instead chatted about some daily life and gossip.
They even talked about the newly published adult romance novel from the neighboring Shueisha Hall.
The explosive topic made Menma reach out and press down the little Nine-Tails that couldn’t help but poke its head out from the collar of his fox sweater.
‘When was Jiraiya’s 《Paradise of Passion》 published?’ Menma remembered that as the most famous romance novel in the ninja world, 《Paradise of Passion》 became a hit as soon as it was released. If 《Paradise of Passion》 had already been released, these two ninjas should also be discussing this kind of topic.
“Boy, your miso chashu ramen is ready.” While pondering, Uncle Teuchi placed a bowl full of ramen in front of Menma.
Menma looked at the thick layer of bamboo shoots on top, sniffed the aroma of the noodle soup at the tip of his nose, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and began to enjoy the delicacy.
He had been in this world for three years, all spent in the orphanage, and had never gone out to eat other delicacies.
At this moment, Menma was like a prisoner who had just been released after serving his sentence, slurping the ramen in big mouthfuls.
It even caught the attention of the two ninjas nearby.
But seeing that the other party was just a boy without a ninja headband, eating ramen like a starving ghost reincarnated, they didn’t pay further attention.
After finishing a large bowl of ramen, Menma put down his chopsticks, patted his belly, and let out a big breath.
Although he had used Transformation Jutsu, his main body was still a child, so it would be strange if he didn’t feel stuffed after eating so much.
“Glad you liked it, customer.” Uncle Teuchi squinted his eyes and laughed heartily.
As a ramen chef, seeing the satisfied expression on a customer’s face after finishing the ramen was the greatest praise for him.
“Money’s on the table.” Placing a fifty-ryo banknote on the table, Menma got up and left.
Teuchi picked up the money and watched the other’s departing back, feeling that this person seemed a bit strange.
After leaving Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Menma faced the night breeze and, based on the direction in his memory, slowly walked toward the Hyuga Clan territory.
“Full now, time for some proper exercise.” As he walked, Menma took out the white three-eyed fox mask and put it on himself.
——————
Hyuga Clan mansion.
A ninja covered with a cloth towel quietly sneaked into the Hyuga Clan Head’s residence.
“So easy.” Looking at the little girl sleeping soundly on the bed, the masked ninja took out a handkerchief soaked in sleeping drug from his bosom and used it on the little girl.
After the sleeping drug took effect, the masked ninja picked up the little girl and quickly left.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
In the Hyuga Clan territory, the masked ninja carried the little girl in one hand and dashed quickly.
Seeing that he was about to escape from the Hyuga Clan territory, the masked ninja became increasingly excited.
“Just in time, the show begins.” Suddenly a voice rang out.
The masked ninja was startled, stopped abruptly, and looked up.
He saw a figure appear on the courtyard wall ahead, looking down at the masked ninja.
“Damn! Discovered?” The masked ninja looked at the courtyard wall, his face under the face towel suddenly changing, and then he prepared himself for death.
This was originally part of their plan!
“Wait! Not a Hyuga Clan ninja?” Suddenly, the masked ninja saw that the person opposite was actually wearing a mask, and his attire had no Konoha ninja headband at all.
But why was this person here? What was his purpose?
The masked ninja didn’t have time to think more, because soon several figures landed around him.
“Who are you! How dare you act recklessly in the Hyuga Clan!” Hiashi Hyuga appeared with several guards between the masked ninja and the mysterious masked man.
“Hizashi! Hold off the masked man! I’ll save Hinata first!” Hiashi Hyuga said to a jonin beside him.
The top priority right now was to rescue the kidnapped Hinata.
“Yes!” Hizashi Hyuga slightly bowed, veins bulging around his eyes as he activated Byakugan mode, charging toward the mysterious masked man standing on the courtyard wall.
“So eager to fight? Not even asking what I’m here for?” Uzumaki Menma extended one hand to block Hizashi Hyuga’s incoming Gentle Fist strike, while casually strolling on the courtyard wall to dodge Hizashi Hyuga’s attacks.
No matter how tricky the angle of Hizashi Hyuga’s Gentle Fist, the mysterious person opposite could always predict his movements and techniques, easily dodging Hizashi’s offensives.
He blocked Hizashi’s various taijutsu moves with just one hand.
But Hizashi Hyuga became more and more shocked as he fought; the enemy seemed to know exactly which acupoint his Gentle Fist was targeting, protecting it with chakra in advance, making his Gentle Fist feel like hitting an iron block, completely unable to seal the opponent’s acupoints!
In over twenty years, he had never encountered such an enemy!
‘Damn! Why is he so proficient!’ During the attack, Hizashi Hyuga was surprised to discover that the mysterious person opposite was extremely familiar with his Gentle Fist techniques, even giving him the illusion of sparring with the clan head.
On the street below, Hiashi Hyuga rushed up and delivered a heavy blow to the masked ninja.
The original plan was just to cripple the opponent and then interrogate which faction had sent him.
But the masked ninja charged straight at him, slamming into Hiashi’s fist with his vital point.
Bang!
The masked ninja flew backward, and the Hinata he was holding was caught by Hiashi as she landed.
“Clan Head!” The other guards also rushed forward, clustering around Hiashi.
“Is the opponent dead?” Hiashi handed the unconscious Hinata to the guards, then stepped forward to check the opponent’s neck, discovering that he was actually dead.
Hiashi removed the opponent’s face towel, and upon seeing the Cloud Village headband on his forehead, his expression changed drastically.
“Cloud Village ninja?”
“Isn’t this the Cloud Village special envoy who just arrived yesterday?”
Two Hyuga Clan guards also recognized the man, looking uneasily at their clan head.
The Cloud Village special envoy who should be at the Third Hokage’s banquet right now, why was he in the Hyuga Clan territory?
In just an instant of astonishment, Hiashi Hyuga immediately turned his head and looked toward the mysterious masked man who was fighting Hizashi Hyuga!
“Hizashi! Capture him alive!” Hiashi Hyuga’s veins bulged, shouting sternly.
