"Hey there, young man. First time here, isn't it?"
Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, asked with a cheerful squint. "Want me to recommend some of our most popular dishes?"
"I'm not a first-time customer, Uncle Teuchi," Menma replied casually as he came back to his senses. He ordered with practiced familiarity, "One miso chashu ramen—no narutomaki, extra menma."
"Eh?"
Teuchi studied the boy in front of him with a puzzled look, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall ever seeing him before.
"Sorry about that, guest. Guess I'm getting old," Teuchi laughed awkwardly, scratching his head. Then his face brightened again. "In that case, I'll make it up to you with a mountain of menma!"
In Japanese, bamboo shoots are pronounced "menma," while fish cakes are called "narutomaki"—which conveniently sounds like "Naruto."
Perhaps due to his experiences in the Limited Tsukuyomi World, Menma had developed a dislike for fish cakes but an inexplicable fondness for bamboo shoots.
As Teuchi began cooking, Menma focused his attention on the two Konoha ninja chatting beside him.
Unfortunately, either they had run out of useful information or felt uncomfortable discussing sensitive matters in front of a stranger. Their conversation quickly shifted to mundane gossip.
At one point, they even started talking about a newly released adult romance novel from the bookstore next door.
The topic became so outrageous that Menma had to push the tiny Nine-Tails back down when she poked her curious head out from his fur collar.
'Wait… when exactly did Jiraiya publish Icha Icha Paradise?'
Menma remembered that the series had become wildly popular the moment it was released. If it were already out, surely these two would have been talking about that instead.
"Alright, kid! Your miso chashu ramen is ready!"
Teuchi set a steaming bowl in front of him.
A thick layer of bamboo shoots covered the surface. The rich aroma made Menma's stomach growl as he eagerly picked up his chopsticks.
He had spent the last three years eating nothing but orphanage meals. This was the first real delicacy he'd tasted since arriving in this world.
Menma devoured the ramen like a prisoner finally tasting freedom, slurping noisily without restraint.
His enthusiasm even caught the attention of the two ninja beside him.
But seeing that he was just a kid without a ninja headband, eating like he hadn't seen food in days, they quickly lost interest.
After finishing the entire bowl, Menma set down his chopsticks and patted his belly with satisfaction.
Even though he was using Transformation Jutsu, his real body was still that of a child. Eating so much naturally left him stuffed.
"Glad you enjoyed it!" Teuchi laughed happily.
For a ramen chef, nothing was more rewarding than seeing a satisfied customer.
"Here's the payment," Menma said, leaving a fifty-ryō bill on the counter before heading out.
Teuchi watched him leave, feeling there was something oddly familiar—yet strange—about the boy.
Once outside, Menma walked through the cool night air and began heading toward the Hyuga clan compound.
"Full stomach. Time for some exercise," he muttered, pulling out the white three-eyed fox mask and placing it over his face.
———
Hyuga Clan Estate.
A masked ninja silently infiltrated the residence of the Hyuga head family.
"Too easy," he muttered as he gazed at the sleeping little girl on the bed.
Taking out a drug-soaked cloth, he pressed it gently over her face.
Once the sedative took effect, the ninja scooped her up and swiftly escaped.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Carrying the unconscious child, the masked ninja sprinted through the Hyuga compound.
He was just about to reach the outer wall when excitement filled his chest.
"Right on time. The show's about to begin."
A voice suddenly rang out.
Startled, the ninja froze and looked up.
On top of the courtyard wall stood a figure, staring down at him.
"Damn it! I've been discovered?!"
The ninja's face paled beneath his mask as he prepared himself for death.
After all, that was part of the plan.
"Wait… that's not a Hyuga ninja?"
The kidnapper suddenly realized the figure wasn't wearing a Konoha headband at all—and his face was hidden behind a strange mask.
Then why was he here? What was his purpose?
Before he could think further, several figures landed nearby.
"Who dares cause trouble in the Hyuga clan?!"
Hyuga Hiashi arrived with several guards, positioning himself between the masked man and the kidnapper.
"Hizashi! Hold off the masked one! I'll rescue Hinata!" Hiashi ordered.
"Understood!"
Hyuga Hizashi activated his Byakugan and charged at the mysterious masked man.
"So eager to fight? Not even going to ask who I am?"
Menma blocked Hizashi's Gentle Fist strike with one hand and casually dodged across the wall.
No matter how tricky Hizashi's attacks were, the masked figure always predicted them perfectly.
Even using only one hand, he deflected every move.
Hizashi grew more alarmed with each exchange.
It was as if the enemy knew exactly which chakra points he intended to strike, reinforcing them with chakra in advance. His Gentle Fist felt like it was hitting solid iron.
Never in over twenty years had he faced such an opponent.
'Damn it! Why is he so familiar with our techniques?!'
Hizashi was shocked to realize the masked man understood the Hyuga fighting style almost as well as he did. It even felt like sparring with the clan head.
Meanwhile, on the ground below—
Hiashi rushed forward and struck the kidnapper with a powerful blow.
His original plan had been to incapacitate him for interrogation.
But instead, the masked ninja deliberately rushed into the attack, letting the strike hit a fatal point.
BAM!
The ninja was sent flying.
Hiashi caught Hinata the moment she fell and handed her to his guards.
"Clan Head!"
The guards gathered around him.
"He's dead?"
Hiashi checked the man's neck and confirmed it—lifeless.
Pulling off the mask, his expression changed instantly when he saw the forehead protector.
"A Kumogakure ninja?"
"Isn't this… one of the special envoys who arrived yesterday?!"
The Hyuga guards recognized him immediately and turned to Hiashi in shock.
Why would a Kumogakure envoy—supposed to be attending a banquet with the Third Hokage—be kidnapping a Hyuga child?
After only a brief moment of stunned silence, Hiashi turned sharply toward the masked man fighting Hizashi.
"Hizashi! Capture him alive!"
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