Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Cloud Envoy Kidnaps Hinata
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"Yo, kid, looks like it's your first time here," Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, said with a squint-eyed smile as he asked Menma, "Want me to recommend some of our popular signature dishes?"
"This isn't my first time, Uncle Teuchi," Menma replied, snapping back to attention. He glanced at Teuchi, who was wearing a chef's hat and sporting that perpetual squint-eyed grin, then ordered familiarly, "One miso chashu ramen—no narutomaki, and load it up with extra menma."
"Eh?" Teuchi eyed the boy in front of him with some confusion, but he had absolutely no recollection of him.
"Sorry about that, customer. Guess I'm getting on in years," Teuchi said, scratching his head apologetically before breaking into another grin. "So as compensation, I'll pile on a heaping helping of 'menma' for you!"
In Japanese, dried bamboo shoots—menma—are pronounced the same as 'Menma,' while narutomaki sounds just like 'Naruto.'
Whether it was the influence of this Tsukuyomi of Limited Duration world or not, Menma had no taste for fish cakes but absolutely loved menma.
While waiting for Uncle Teuchi to start cooking the ramen, Menma focused intently on eavesdropping on the conversation between the two Konoha ninjas at the next table.
But either because they'd run out of new info or because Menma—this 'other person'—was in the ramen shop right now, the two shinobi dropped the earlier topic and shifted to everyday chatter and gossip.
They even brought up the latest adult romance novel freshly published by Shueisha next door.
The shocking turn in conversation prompted Menma to reach up and shove the Little Nine-Tails' head back down as it poked curiously out from the collar of his fox-fur jacket.
When was Jiraiya's Make-Out Paradise published again? Menma recalled that the infamous romance novel had exploded in popularity across the shinobi world the moment it hit shelves. If Make-Out Paradise was already out, these two ought to be talking about it too.
"Kid, your miso chashu ramen's ready." Lost in thought, Menma barely noticed as Uncle Teuchi set a steaming bowl piled high right in front of him.
Menma eyed the thick layer of menma blanketing the top, inhaled the rich aroma of the broth wafting up to his nose, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, and dove into the feast.
Three years in this world, all of them cooped up in the Konoha Orphanage—he'd never once eaten out before.
Right now, Menma was devouring the ramen like a prisoner freshly released from a long sentence, slurping it down in huge, greedy mouthfuls.
It even drew the attention of the two ninjas nearby.
But upon seeing it was just some headband-less kid inhaling his noodles like a starving ghost reincarnated, they lost interest.
After polishing off the massive bowl, Menma set down his chopsticks, patted his belly, and let out a satisfied sigh.
He might have been using the Transformation Technique, but his real body was still that of a child—no way he wouldn't feel stuffed after all that.
"Glad you enjoyed it, customer," Uncle Teuchi chuckled, his eyes squinted in laughter.
For a ramen chef, nothing beat the sight of a customer beaming with satisfaction after the last slurp.
"Money's on the table." Menma slapped a 50-ryo bill down and stood to leave.
Teuchi picked up the cash, watching the kid's retreating back with a vague sense that something about him felt... off.
Stepping out of Ichiraku Ramen into the night breeze, Menma oriented himself by memory and ambled toward the Hyuga Clan compound.
"Stuffed now—time for a little exercise." As he walked, he pulled out a white three-eyed fox mask and slipped it on.
Hyuga Clan residence.
A ninja with a cloth mask slipped quietly into the clan head's private quarters.
"Too easy." Gazing at the little girl sleeping soundly on her bed, the masked intruder pulled a sedative-soaked handkerchief from his vest and pressed it over her face.
Once the drug took hold, he scooped her up and vanished in a flash.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—
Deep within the Hyuga Clan grounds, the masked ninja dashed at full speed, little girl dangling from one hand.