Kidnapping and a Promise

Hyuga K still looked shaken as he stared at Hyuga Iwa. "Let's go back."

Hyuga Iwa did not answer immediately. Instead, he went to an intersection and scanned the distance and the sky. Finding nothing unusual and hearing no emergency evacuation alarm, he let out a quiet breath.

"No, I'm going to follow them and take a look. If you want to go back, go by yourself."

With that, he chased after the sound of the whistle. If Hyuga Iwa remembered correctly, it had come from the direction of the village gate.

"Hey, Hyuga Iwa, you're not really going, are you?"

"Hey—ugh, wait for me..." Hyuga K gritted his teeth and followed.

"Hehe, I knew I hadn't misjudged you, K."

"Argh, I was the one who misjudged you. I didn't expect you to be such a busybody."

"Relax, relax. This is the Leaf Village. There won't be any danger."

By the time Hyuga Iwa and the others arrived, a crowd had already gathered at the gate. The Uchiha Clan shinobi had even set up a cordon, keeping the onlookers outside.

After much difficulty, Hyuga Iwa and Hyuga K squeezed their way to the front. Hyuga Iwa immediately felt himself bump into someone's leg. Looking up, he was somewhat surprised to see the older Uchiha he had met earlier.

Feeling rather pleased with himself, Hyuga Iwa flashed a broad smile and greeted him. "Hi, what a coincidence. I didn't expect us to run into each other again."

Uchiha Akikaze's eyes and mouth twitched as he looked at the overly familiar Hyuga brat.

Still, having run into an "acquaintance," Uchiha Akikaze's mood improved considerably. He nodded kindly and gave a quiet acknowledgment.

"Hey, Uchiha big brother, can you tell me what happened?" Seeing that he seemed easygoing enough, Hyuga Iwa continued asking.

"Someone seems to have been kidnapped, then rescued. Sigh, why are you asking about this?" Uchiha Akikaze answered briefly before seeming to remember something and questioning him in return.

"I'm just curious. Tell me."

"If you won't tell me, I'll look for myself."

"Oh, right. My name is Hyuga Iwa. Pleased to meet you."

Feeling his blood pressure rise again, Uchiha Akikaze simply ignored Hyuga Iwa and walked to the side.

Yet inwardly, he quietly thought, Hyuga Iwa, huh? Interesting little brat.

Seeing that Uchiha walk away, Hyuga Iwa hurriedly grabbed Hyuga K beside him and moved forward.

Hyuga K, who had been standing there in stunned silence, was pulled by Hyuga Iwa and shoved from behind by the crowd. He fell flat on his face.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" x2

"I should be asking you that!" x2

"Then you go first." x2

Hahahaha

After a long while, the two finally recovered. Hyuga Iwa motioned for K to speak first.

"Iwa, you're amazing. You actually weren't afraid of that Uchiha."

"Hmph, what's there to be afraid of? Aren't we all from the same village?"

"I still think they're terrifying. I was so scared just now that I couldn't even speak."

"It was alright. Uchiha people are just a bit arrogant. They're actually not bad people."

"Really?"

"Of course. Didn't you just see that?"

"I guess that's true."

"Alright, enough talking. Hurry up and see what's going on."

"Okay."

"Can you say anything besides 'okay'?!"

"Okay."

The good mood Uchiha Akikaze had felt after watching those two Hyuga brats make fools of themselves was completely ruined by Hyuga Iwa's words.

Uchiha were arrogant? He actually called me arrogant?

Am I arrogant?

Am I?

!!!

While Hyuga Iwa and the others were talking, two more ANBU members arrived. Without wasting words, they spoke briefly with a Uchiha captain, then took away a red-haired girl.

When Hyuga Iwa looked over, he happened to see her blazing red hair, as well as the blond-haired boy beside her.

Red hair and blond hair?

Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze?

So this was the incident where Kushina was kidnapped?

Hyuga Iwa did not know much about many minor events in the world of Naruto, but he did know about several major characters.

What was this called?

A meeting ordained by fate?

Hyuga Iwa could not help thinking that.

Still, he wanted to confirm it, so he moved toward that Uchiha.

"Big brother, who's that blond-haired big brother?"

Uchiha Akikaze, lost in thought, considered for a moment before answering, "Minato Namikaze. His name is Minato Namikaze."

"Okay."

So it really was them!

Minato Namikaze's young, handsome face was filled with a youthful smile as he spoke to an ANBU member who had arrived later.

Hyuga Iwa stood there, considering whether he should go introduce himself. After all, Minato would become the Fourth Hokage someday. It would be perfect if he could make a good impression now.

But before he could act, Minato Namikaze left with one of the ANBU members.

Before leaving, Minato Namikaze seemed to sense something and glanced in Hyuga Iwa's direction.

Hyuga Iwa and Minato Namikaze met each other's eyes, then smiled at one another without prior agreement.

Hyuga Iwa watched Minato Namikaze leave, preparing to say goodbye to that Uchiha.

Uchiha Akikaze and his partner were directing the Military Police Force personnel as they removed the cordon.

The two spoke while they worked.

"Captain Akikaze, what were you talking about with those two Hyuga brats just now?"

"Oh, nothing. I just thought that brat was interesting, so we chatted a little." Unsure how to answer, Uchiha Akikaze casually brushed it off.

"Okay."

"Okay what? Let's go."

"Hey, Captain, those two brats are coming over."

"I'm leaving first." Without a second thought, Uchiha Akikaze turned and left. As he walked, he thought, He actually called me arrogant. Fine, then I'll be arrogant. So what?!

"Aren't you coming?"

"Okay, okay, wait for me."

Hyuga Iwa awkwardly watched the Uchiha disappear into the crowd. He rubbed his nose, suddenly losing interest.

"Let's go eat ramen," Hyuga Iwa suddenly suggested.

"Ramen? Teuchi's ramen?"

"Yeah. I've only heard it's delicious. I've never had it before."

Hyuga K's eyes lit up. "Great, let's go! I haven't had it in a long time either. Ah, I really miss the taste of the ramen there. And now that you mention it, I'm hungry too."

"Oh, right. Do you know the way?"

"I'll lead the way, I'll lead the way."

Hyuga K took the lead, guiding Hyuga Iwa through the crowd.

After Hyuga Iwa and Hyuga K left, a figure emerged from a corner. With an expressionless face, he watched the two disappear into the distance, seemingly lost in thought.

If Hyuga Iwa had seen this person, he would certainly have recognized him. It was Shimura Danzō, whom Hyuga Iwa had seen earlier at the Hyuga Clan Grounds!

Following Hyuga K to the entrance of the ramen shop, Hyuga Iwa saw the four words "Ichiraku Ramen" leap into view.

Ichiraku Ramen had only been open for a short time. Teuchi had fled alone to the Leaf Village, and in order to make a living, he had opened this ramen shop.

Perhaps because the owner lacked money for repairs, it looked rather rundown from the outside.

But none of that mattered. As long as the ramen was delicious, good wine needed no bush. As long as it tasted good, people would come.

And Teuchi's ramen was exceptionally delicious!

Hyuga Iwa and Hyuga K lifted the curtain and found empty seats.

"Teuchi, I'll have a bowl of tonkotsu ramen."

"Teuchi, I'll have a bowl of miso ramen."

"Alright, please wait a moment. One tonkotsu ramen and one miso ramen."

Sitting in his seat, Hyuga Iwa looked around and spotted two bowl-cut heads wearing green shinobi outfits.

"Wah, Dad, the ramen tastes so amazing. It would be wonderful if we could eat it every day."

"Guy, Dad wants to eat it every day too, but we don't have enough money."

"Wah..."

Listening to the father and son's conversation, Hyuga Iwa roughly guessed their identities.

What kind of day was this? He had run into so many of them in a row.

Right, the Eight Gates!

And this taijutsu!

How could I have forgotten it!

Hyuga Iwa realized that he could use the Eight Gates as a reference for his own taijutsu training, and their philosophy of taijutsu training was fairly compatible with his own.

Then he should introduce himself first.

Thinking it, he did it. Hyuga Iwa walked over to their table. "Hello, my name is Hyuga Iwa. May I get to know you?"

"Ah, oh, hello. My name is Might Guy. You can just call me Guy." Encouraged by Might Duy, Guy introduced himself.

"Does it really taste that good here? It's my first time eating here."

"Yeah, it's really delicious."

"Is that so? Oh, my ramen's ready. I'm going back to eat."

"Keep it up!" Guy's gleaming teeth flashed before Hyuga Iwa's eyes.

Keep it up? Why would someone say that about eating ramen?!

"Thanks. I'll come find you to play sometime."

"Really? You're really willing to be my friend?"

"Yeah. Is that alright?"

"Of course! Then where can I find you?"

"My dad and I live by the woods on the west side of the village. There's a small river there, so it's easy to find."

"Okay, I'll come find you tomorrow."

"Mm, then it's a promise."

"It's a promise!"

Inside the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage listened to Minato Namikaze's account with a grave expression.

Just then, the office door opened from outside, and the expressionless Danzo walked in.

"Hiruzen, have you found out who did it?"

"Yes. Unless something unexpected happened, it should have been Kumogakure."

"Hmph, those muscle-brained brutes. We can't tolerate this any longer. Since they want to start trouble, the Leaf Village cannot remain silent!"

"Yes, that's right."

"Well said."

His two old friends and assistants, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, also nodded in agreement.

They had been bullied to this extent; the Leaf Village could not remain silent. Otherwise, it would be seen as weak and easy to bully in the Shinobi World. Moreover, this was still wartime, and localized wars throughout the Shinobi World had never ceased.

After considering it for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed. "Alright. I'll make the arrangements."

"Then make your arrangements. I have no objections, but give her to me. Root will train her from now on."

"No."

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew whom Danzo meant and rejected his request without hesitation.

"Teacher Mito already came to see me today. Kushina will be personally taught by her from now on. Besides, the Uzumaki Clan is better at Sealing Jutsu. Neither you nor I are skilled in it."

Hearing that Mito Uzumaki, the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, would personally teach her, Danzo had no further reason to object and could only agree.

"Then that's settled." Danzo flicked his sleeve and vanished into the darkness once more.

"Someone, go call Orochimaru."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

"Orochimaru, I have a mission for you. Take a look."

Hiruzen Sarutobi handed a mission scroll to his disciple, Orochimaru.

Orochimaru accepted the mission scroll and opened it to read.

"It's actually an S-rank mission. Teacher, if I am to complete this mission, I will need the army's cooperation." After thinking for a moment, Orochimaru made his request.

"Alright. I will appoint you as deputy commander of the front line. They will cooperate with you."

"Mm, then there was no problem. I'll make preparations and leave at once."

"Fine. Go."

"Yes."

Orochimaru left the Hokage's Office briskly and decisively. At this point, he was still a highly responsible Leaf Village ninja. Hiruzen Sarutobi trusted him greatly and believed that, with his strength, he could definitely complete the mission.

After returning home, Orochimaru carefully read through the mission scroll. There were only a few words on it, yet they weighed as heavily as Mount Tai: Find a way to eliminate Hidden Cloud Village's Jinchuriki!