The noren curtain of Ichiraku Ramen was pushed aside, and a wave of fragrant steam billowed out to meet them.
"Old man Teuchi, one bowl of Tonkotsu Miso Ramen with extra chashu," Menma said, leading Hinata into the shop. He pointed to the standing menu on the floor and turned to her. "What would you like, Hinata?"
"I... anything is fine..." Hinata lowered her head, her fingers twisting nervously as she spoke in a voice barely audible.
"Then make it the same as mine." Menma pulled out a stool and sat her down at the counter.
It was currently the lunch hour, and there were three other customers in the shop. Teuchi looked up from the swirling steam, squinting his eyes with a smile. "Oh, it's little Menma! Is this a new friend?"
Since moving into the heart of the village, Menma would occasionally stop by Ichiraku to see if he could run into Naruto or Kakashi. However, likely because Naruto was still too young and the main plot was still nine years away, he hadn't crossed paths with either of them yet.
"Hey, have you seen young Junta lately?" While waiting for the ramen, the conversation of a nearby customer drifted into Menma's ears.
"Haven't seen him in days. I even went by his place yesterday, but no one answered."
"Didn't that kid just get back from a mission? How could he just vanish?"
"Maybe he got assigned to a higher-level task?"
"He's been a Genin for years; what kind of elite task would he get?"
"That's the weird part. Sato also went missing a few days after he got back."
Hmm?
Menma listened silently as the villagers—who appeared to be low-ranking Genin—discussed the disappearance of their friends. Fragments of the original plot began to resurface in his mind.
It looks like Orochimaru is about to defect. Menma had been planning to "borrow" some things from the Sannin for a while now. He had long coveted the technology the Snake Sannin possessed.
While the Reanimation Jutsu (Edo Tensei) likely wasn't perfected yet, the genetic research, cloning techniques, and the Hashirama cells in Orochimaru's possession were absolute treasures.
"Here you go, little ones. Your ramen." Teuchi's voice snapped Menma out of his thoughts regarding Orochimaru's potential escape route.
Two steaming bowls were pushed in front of them. The chashu shimmered in the rich broth, and the soft-boiled eggs glowed like amber.
"Th-thank you..." Hinata whispered as she accepted her bowl with both hands.
Slurp—
The two began to eat. Menma had already eaten a meal before heading out, so he paced himself. Halfway through, he noticed Hinata. She started with small sips of broth, but her pace accelerated rapidly. Before long, she had finished the entire bowl.
Even for a three-year-old, this appetite was legendary.
"Old man Teuchi, another large bowl, please," Menma called out, seeing Hinata's flushed face—a sign she wasn't full yet.
"N-no... I'm fine..." Hinata tugged at her sleeve, embarrassed. In her upbringing, a lady was expected to eat elegantly and sparingly, never devouring large portions like a boy.
"Eat up. It's on me," Menma said, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
Teuchi was fast. Moments later, a steaming, oversized bowl of Tonkotsu ramen was placed before Hinata.
"Enjoy!" Teuchi added a side of tempura between the two of them with a wink. "A gift for a loyal customer and his new guest. On the house!"
Menma was already full, so he pushed the tempura toward Hinata. Looking at the mountain of food, Hinata's eyes misted over again. Since her earliest memories, she had never truly been allowed to eat her fill. Sometimes she was even lectured for eating a bit too much.
Who would believe that the eldest daughter of the Great Hyuga Clan had never had a full stomach? This simple, casual gesture from Menma felt warmer to her than the cold, rule-bound walls of her estate.
After the second bowl, Menma moved to order a third, but a blushing Hinata frantically grabbed his sleeve and shook her head.
"Let's go then. I'll walk you home."
By the time they stepped out of Ichiraku, the sun was beginning to dip. Menma reached out and naturally took Hinata's small hand in his. Their shadows stretched long across the pavement.
Hinata looked down at their joined hands. Having someone lead her so firmly gave her a sense of security she had never known. She looked exactly like a good girl being led astray by a "bad influence."
As they walked toward the Hyuga Compound, Hinata suddenly jerked to a halt, freezing in place.
"What's wrong?" Menma felt the tension in her hand and turned his head.
A palm strike infused with Gentle Fist chakra whistled toward his face!
"You damn scumbag!"
The fiery roar of "Big Sister" Hinata echoed through the air!
——————
The Hokage's Office
"Hokage-sama!" A masked ANBU ninja materialized in the center of the room. "The latest investigation regarding the missing persons in the village!"
The ninja presented a scroll with both hands. Hiruzen Sarutobi, his face grim beneath the Hokage hat, took the scroll. He had already prepared himself for the worst.
Lately, more and more ninja had been vanishing. Though they were mostly Genin, the pattern was enough to raise Hiruzen's suspicions. As he unfurled the scroll and saw the primary suspect identified in the report, his pupils contracted.
"Kakashi," Hiruzen whispered.
Zip—
An ANBU wearing a white cat mask appeared behind Hiruzen, kneeling in wait.
"Assemble the First Division. Follow me... to apprehend Orochimaru!" Hiruzen's voice was deep and laced with heartbreak.
"Understood!" Kakashi vanished to gather the troops.
The ANBU—the Assassination Tactical Special Forces—was divided into four divisions, each consisting of four squads, totaling about seventy members. While average members were Chūnin-level, squad leaders were at least Special Jōnin, and division commanders were Jōnin. The overall commander was an elite Jōnin like Kakashi.
Moments later, Hiruzen had donned his combat gear. He personally led a team of three Jōnin, three Special Jōnin, and a dozen Chūnin into the forest on the outskirts of Konoha.
The lead ANBU signaled a halt. Everyone landed silently on the forest floor. A sensory ninja wove a sign. "Hokage-sama, the entrance is right here!"
"Kakashi, Sparrow—follow me inside. The rest of you, secure the perimeter!" Hiruzen commanded.
Leaving the perimeter to the others, Hiruzen nodded to the ANBU mask-named "Sparrow." The ninja hurled a kunai equipped with an explosive tag.
BOOM!
The smoke cleared, tearing away the camouflage. A dark tunnel, looking like the gaping maw of a serpent, lay open before Hiruzen and his two elite guards.