Old Man Ichiraku kept talking animatedly, and the atmosphere grew strangely awkward.
After she finished three bowls, Old Man Ichiraku brought over another three right on cue. Hinata felt that only at Ichiraku's could she truly find the satisfaction of eating her fill.
While Hinata was still stuffing herself, Kakashi no longer had any mood to laze around. He had received an urgent summons from the Hokage and was now leaping across the rooftops, racing toward the Hokage Building at an astonishing speed.
Inside the Hokage's Office in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed hard on his pipe. Two people stood in the room: Konoha's self-proclaimed Azure Beast, Emperor Kai, Might Guy.
And one of the disciples he valued most, Rock Lee, whom he believed could become a ninja even with taijutsu alone.
Chapter 30: Well, Hinata Had to Take the Blame for the Hokage's Death Too
Their forgiveness-green skintight training suits, thick brows, and identical gleaming teeth made anyone seeing them assume they were father and son rather than teacher and student.
Not long ago, while the Hokage had been peacefully reviewing documents, Might Guy hurried into the Hokage's Office with Rock Lee.
Might Guy had worn a grave expression at the time, and Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately realized the severity of the situation. After all, unless there was an emergency, Might Guy was always his usual unreliable self in Hiruzen's eyes. Mist Ninja had entered the Land of Fire without notifying Konoha.
And they had come so close to Konoha. It was also highly possible that, after the battle, they had hidden somewhere within Konoha. They were even ninjas from the Yuki Clan, a Kekkei Genkai family.
Hiruzen Sarutobi considered the worst possible outcome. Could Mist Ninja be preparing to make a move against the Land of Fire again?