Chapter 5: The Cloud Village Envoy Kidnaps Hinata

"Yo, kid, looks like it's your first time here." Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, asked Menma with a squinting smile. "Would you like me to recommend some of our popular signature dishes?"

"It's not my first time here, Uncle Teuchi." Menma snapped back to reality, looking at the squinting man in the chef's hat, and ordered a bowl of ramen with the familiarity of a regular: "One miso chashu ramen, no narutomaki, and extra bamboo shoots."

"Eh?" Teuchi looked the boy over, puzzled, but he had absolutely no recollection of him.

"I'm really sorry, customer, I must be getting old." Teuchi scratched his head in apology, then laughed, "Well, as compensation, I'll load you up with plenty of 'menma'!"

In Japanese, the pronunciation of bamboo shoots is the same as "Menma," while the pronunciation of narutomaki is the same as "Naruto."

Perhaps due to the influence of the 'Limited Tsukuyomi World,' Menma didn't like fish cakes either, and had a particular fondness for bamboo shoots.

While waiting for Teuchi to start cooking the ramen, Menma focused his attention on listening to the conversation between the two Konoha ninjas at the next table.

However, whether it was because there was no more information to be had, or because Menma, an 'outsider,' was present in the shop, both ninjas stopped discussing the previous topic and shifted to daily life and gossip.

They even started talking about a newly published adult romance novel from the Shueisha bookstore next door.

The explosiveness of the topic made Menma reach out and press down the tiny Nine-Tails that couldn't help but poke its head out from the collar of his fox-patterned sweater.

'When was Jiraiya's "Icha Icha Paradise" published again?' Menma remembered that as the most famous romance novel in the ninja world, "Icha Icha Paradise" became a hit as soon as it went on sale. If it were already in circulation, these two ninjas should have been discussing that kind of topic.

"Kid, your miso chashu ramen is ready." Amidst his thoughts, Uncle Teuchi placed a bowl of ramen filled to the brim in front of Menma.

Menma looked at the thick layer of bamboo shoots covering the top, inhaled the aroma of the broth, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and began to enjoy the meal.

Having arrived in this world three years ago, he had spent all his time in the orphanage and had never been out to eat any other delicacies.

At this moment, Menma was like a prisoner released from a long sentence, slurping down the ramen in large mouthfuls.

It even drew the attention of the two ninjas nearby.

But seeing that the other party was just a boy without a ninja headband, eating like a starving ghost, they didn't pay him any more mind.

After finishing the large bowl of ramen, Menma put down his chopsticks, patted his stomach, and let out a long breath.

Although he had used the Transformation Jutsu, his original body was still that of a child; it would be a miracle if he weren't stuffed after eating so much.

"Glad you liked it, customer." Uncle Teuchi laughed, squinting his eyes.

As a ramen chef, seeing a customer's satisfied expression after finishing a bowl was the greatest compliment he could receive.

"Money's on the table." Placing a fifty-ryo note on the counter, Menma stood up and left.

Teuchi picked up the money and watched the figure walk away, feeling that there was something strange about this person.

After exiting Ichiraku Ramen, Menma walked into the night breeze, slowly heading toward the Hyuga clan compound based on his memory.

"Since I'm full, I should get some light exercise." As he walked, Menma took out a white three-eyed fox mask and put it on.

——————

Hyuga Clan Mansion.

A ninja covered in a cloth veil quietly snuck into the Hyuga clan head's residence.

"This is too easy." Looking at the little girl sleeping soundly on the bed, the masked ninja took a handkerchief soaked in anesthetic from his robes and used it on her.

Once the anesthetic took effect, the masked ninja picked up the little girl and left quickly.

*Swish, swish, swish—*

Inside the Hyuga compound, the masked ninja sprinted, carrying the little girl in one hand.

Seeing that he was about to escape the compound, the masked ninja grew increasingly excited.

"Right on time. The show is about to begin." Suddenly, a voice rang out.

The masked ninja was startled, slammed on the brakes, and looked up.

He saw a figure appear on the courtyard wall ahead, looking down at him from above.

"Damn it! Was I discovered?" The masked ninja looked at the wall, his expression changing drastically beneath his veil, and he prepared himself for death.

This was supposed to be part of their plan!

"Wait! Not a Hyuga ninja?" Suddenly, the masked ninja noticed that the person opposite him was wearing a mask, and his attire lacked a Konoha ninja headband entirely.

But why would this person appear here? What was his goal?

The masked ninja didn't have time to think, as several figures landed around him in quick succession.

"Who goes there! How dare you act so brazenly in the Hyuga clan!" Hiashi Hyuga appeared between the masked ninja and the mysterious masked man with several guards.

"Hizashi! Hold off the masked man! I'll save Hinata first!" Hiashi commanded one of the jonin beside him.

The top priority now was to rescue the kidnapped Hinata.

"Yes!" Hizashi Hyuga bowed slightly, veins bulging around his eyes as he activated his Byakugan and charged at the mysterious masked man on the wall.

"In such a rush to fight? Aren't you going to ask who I am?" Menma Uzumaki blocked a Gentle Fist strike from Hizashi with one hand, while casually dodging the rest of Hizashi's attacks on the wall.

No matter how tricky the angle of Hizashi's Gentle Fist was, the mysterious man always seemed to predict his movement and technique, dodging the attacks with ease.

He parried all of Hizashi's taijutsu moves using only one hand.

Hizashi grew increasingly alarmed; the enemy seemed to know exactly which pressure point he was aiming for, protecting it with chakra in advance, making his strikes feel like hitting iron—he couldn't seal the opponent's points at all!

In over twenty years, he had never encountered such an enemy!

'Damn it! Why is he so skilled!' During the assault, Hizashi was shocked to find that the mysterious man was incredibly familiar with his Gentle Fist style, even giving him the illusion that he was sparring with the clan head.

On the street below, Hiashi charged at the masked ninja and delivered a heavy blow.

The original plan was to cripple the opponent and interrogate them about which faction had sent them.

However, the masked ninja charged forward proactively, slamming his own vital point into Hiashi's fist.

*Bang!*

The masked ninja flew backward, and Hinata, who was being held in his hand, was caught by Hiashi the moment she hit the ground.

"Clan Head!" The other guards rushed forward, surrounding Hiashi.

"Is he dead?" Hiashi handed the unconscious Hinata to a guard and stepped forward to check the man's neck, only to find he was already dead.

Hiashi removed the man's veil, and his expression changed abruptly when he saw the Cloud Village headband on his forehead.

"Cloud Village ninja?"

"Isn't this the Cloud Village envoy who just arrived yesterday?"

Two of the Hyuga guards also recognized the man and looked at their clan head with unease.

The Cloud Village envoy, who should have been at the Third Hokage's banquet at this hour, why would he appear in the Hyuga compound?

After a moment of shock, Hiashi immediately turned his head to look at the mysterious masked man fighting Hizashi!

"Hizashi! Take him alive!" Hiashi shouted sternly, veins bulging on his forehead.