Naruto: He is in Konoha, but his name is Uzumaki Menma Chapter 028

The warm curtain of Ichiraku Ramen was gently lifted, and a waft of steam carried a fragrant aroma.

“Teuchi-ossan, one tonkotsu char siu ramen, please,” Menma said, leading Hinata into the shop.

He pointed to the signboard menu on the ground, then turned and asked, “Hinata, what do you want to eat?”

“I… I’m fine with anything…” Hinata mumbled, twisting her fingers, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Then you’ll have the same as me,” Menma said, pulling Hinata to sit at the counter.

It was lunchtime, and there were three other customers in Ichiraku Ramen. Teuchi-ossan lifted his head from the misty steam, squinted, and said to Menma, “Oh, it’s little Menma. Is this a new friend?”

Ever since moving into Konoha Village, Menma would occasionally visit Ichiraku Ramen, hoping to run into Naruto or Kakashi.

However, perhaps because Naruto was still young, and there were still nine years until the main storyline began, he hadn’t encountered either Naruto or Kakashi.

“Hey, I haven’t seen that kid Shunta lately,” a conversation between villagers at the next table drifted into his ears while he waited for his ramen.

“I haven’t seen him for a few days either. Yesterday, I went to his house to look for him, but no one answered.”

“Didn’t that kid just return from a mission? How could he disappear?”

“Could it be that he received a higher-level mission?”

“He’s been a genin for several years. What kind of mission could he get?”

“That’s strange then. Sato also disappeared a few days after returning.”

Hmm?

Menma listened silently as these villagers, who seemed to be genin, discussed their friends’ disappearances. Some memories of the plot gradually resurfaced.

‘It seems Orochimaru is about to defect,’ Menma thought, still planning to find Orochimaru to “borrow” some things.

He had been eyeing Orochimaru’s technology for a long time.

Although the Impure World Reincarnation might not be perfected yet at this time, the genetic technology, cloning technology, and the Hashirama cells Orochimaru possessed were all treasures.

“Two little ones, here’s your ramen.” As Menma pondered Orochimaru’s possible defection route, Teuchi-ossan’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

Two bowls of ramen were pushed in front of them. The char siu quivered slightly in the rich broth, and the soft-boiled egg glowed with an amber hue.

“Th-thank you…” Hinata said, taking the bowl with both hands.

Slurp, slurp—

The two began to slurp their noodles heartily.

Menma had already eaten a meal before leaving home, so he ate a bit slower this time.

When he was halfway through, he saw Hinata next to him, sipping the broth in small mouthfuls, her swallowing speed increasing rapidly.

Before long, she had finished an entire bowl of ramen.

Even though Hinata was only a three-year-old child, her appetite was too big.

“Teuchi-ossan, another large bowl of ramen, please.” Menma saw Hinata’s face was slightly red, probably still not full, so he ordered another bowl.

“N-no need…” Hinata clutched the corner of her clothes, a little embarrassed.

The education she received taught that girls should eat gracefully and quietly, not like boys, eating a lot in big bites.

“Eat up, it’s my treat.” Menma’s voice carried an undeniable tone.

Teuchi was fast, and soon, a large bowl of steaming hot tonkotsu char siu ramen was placed in front of Hinata.

“Please enjoy!” Teuchi-ossan smiled and presented a serving of tempura, placing it between Menma and Hinata.

“Thank you, old customer, for bringing a new one. This is a gift for both of you,” Teuchi-ossan said, squinting.

Menma was already very full and hadn’t finished his own bowl, so he pushed the tempura towards Hinata.

Looking at the large bowl of ramen and a plate of tempura in front of her, Hinata’s eyes welled up again.

Since she could remember, she had never eaten her fill, but she was too embarrassed to tell her parents. Sometimes, if she ate a little more, her mother would even lecture her.

She was the young lady of the Hyuga clan, one of Konoha’s two great noble families, yet she had never eaten her fill. Who would believe it if she told them?

At this moment, Menma’s casual gesture made her feel warmer than the strict rules of her clan’s compound.

After finishing the second bowl, Menma made a move to raise his hand to order another one for Hinata.

Hinata, however, blushed and hastily pressed his sleeve, shaking her head.

“Then let’s go. I’ll take you home.” By the time they left Ichiraku Ramen, it was getting late.

Menma reached out and naturally took Hinata’s small hand.

Under the setting sun, their two small shadows stretched long.

Hinata looked down at that small hand, holding hers so firmly. Her already slightly red face became even more flushed.

‘If every day could be like this, how wonderful would that be…’ Hinata felt a sense of ease and security she had never experienced before.

It was just like a good girl being led astray by a blonde-haired boy.

The two walked towards the Hyuga clan compound.

Hinata suddenly stopped, freezing in place.

“What’s wrong?” Menma felt the stiffness in her hand and tilted his head slightly.

A Gentle Fist attack, carrying a strong gust of wind, came right at them!

“You scumbag!” and the delicate cry of Big Sister Hinata!

———

“Lord Hokage!” A masked Anbu ninja landed in the center of the Hokage’s office.

“This is the latest investigation report on missing persons in the village!” The Anbu ninja presented a scroll with both hands.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing his Hokage hat, accepted the scroll with a heavy expression, his heart already prepared for the worst.

Lately, more and more ninjas had gone missing in the village. Although they were all genin, such disappearances had made Hiruzen Sarutobi suspicious, prompting him to order an Anbu investigation.

When he opened the scroll and saw the person indicated in the investigation report, even the mentally prepared Hiruzen Sarutobi’s pupils slightly constricted.

“Kakashi,” Hiruzen Sarutobi called out softly.

Whoosh—

An Anbu wearing a white cat mask appeared behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, kneeling in a half-crouch, awaiting orders.

“Assemble First Squad, and follow me… to apprehend Orochimaru!” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression was grim and heartbroken as he spoke the last words.

“Yes!” Kakashi acknowledged the order and immediately went to assemble the team.

The Anbu, short for ‘Assassination Tactics Special Forces,’ consisted of four squads, each with four teams, totaling about seventy members.

Most ordinary Anbu ninjas had chunin-level strength, while Anbu ninjas above team leader were at least tokubetsu jonin level. Squad leaders were regular jonin, and the Anbu commander was an elite jonin like Kakashi.

In actual deployment, the Anbu tried to ensure each squad had two jonin and three tokubetsu jonin.

Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi changed into his combat uniform and personally led the team to clean house.

In the forest on the outskirts of Konoha Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi, leading a capture team consisting of three jonin, three tokubetsu jonin, and over a dozen chunin, moved swiftly through the trees.

The leading Anbu ninja suddenly made a hand signal, and everyone landed silently like falling leaves.

A sensory ninja formed hand signs.

“Lord Hokage, the entrance is here!”

“Kakashi, Suzume, you two come with me. The others will set up outside!” Hiruzen Sarutobi commanded.

Aside from Kakashi, who wore a white cat mask, and ‘Suzume,’ who wore a sparrow mask, both jonin, the other Anbu ninjas, led by their respective team leaders, went to search for other entrances in the vicinity.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded to Suzume.

The latter threw a kunai with an explosive tag.

Boom!

The thick smoke dissipated, revealing the torn disguise. A dark tunnel, like an open snake’s mouth, appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two.