"What's wrong?"
Naruto noticed Kitagawa Minamoto had halted his progression. Curious, he extended his neck to observe ahead.
Soon, he detected a female observing them from short distance.
"Oh, it's Hinata?"
"Yes, your classmate."
Minamoto returned to awareness and implemented affirmative cranial gesture, but Naruto responded with mischievous facial expression suggesting pleasure.
"Why did you halt upon observing her? Could it be..."
"Idiot."
Minamoto extended his appendage and vigorously disturbed Naruto's cranial hair. This juvenile consistently produced nonsensical vocalizations.
Still, Minamoto comprehended Naruto's perspective. At this temporal point, Naruto hadn't implemented significant attention toward Hinata.
Or rather, Hinata merely constituted another classmate to him.
His ocular focus remained on Sakura, who consistently orbited Sasuke. Not until Nagato arrived in Konohagakure with his "rice bags," and Hinata defended Naruto, would seed implantation occur.
"Truly exemplifying failure to appreciate proximate value..."
Minamoto contemplated internally. But as they engaged in humorous interaction, Hinata had already approached.
"Na...Naruto-kun, and Minamoto-senpai..."
Her facial region displayed heightened coloration, her cranium lowered, and her vocalization demonstrated slight impediment.
Yet her ocular organs appeared to intermittently observe Minamoto.
"Extended temporal interval since previous interaction, Hinata."
Minamoto released Naruto's cranium and directed facial expression suggesting pleasure toward Hinata.
"Why are you unaccompanied? Aren't you implementing domicile return?"
"Father transported Hanabi to visit acquaintances and isn't present at domicile, so I implemented early educational attendance..."
Hinata responded softly, maintaining cranial lowering, her shy demeanor causing Naruto to implement cranial scratching.
"I comprehend."
Minamoto didn't experience significant emotional response. After momentary contemplation, he produced facial expression suggesting pleasure.
"Well, I was planning to accompany Naruto for sustenance. Why don't you join us?"
"Wha...what?"
Hinata's facial coloration intensified. She desired to communicate previous sustenance consumption, but as prominent family member, she required politeness maintenance.
Besides, she felt additional consumption wouldn't constitute problem...
Moreover, Minamoto-senpai seemed to possess peculiar attraction—inexplicable familiarity sense.
And pressure sense...
This complex emotional state left Hinata uncertain regarding refusal implementation.
Her indecision caused Naruto to experience awkwardness, but Minamoto maintained unconcern and implemented decision with facial expression suggesting pleasure.
"Then it's established. Let's proceed. We'll consume sustenance at Ichiraku today."
"O...okay..."
Observing Minamoto's decisiveness, Hinata finally implemented gentle affirmative cranial gesture and followed with lowered cranium.
"Tch, she demonstrates significant shyness."
Walking beside Minamoto, Naruto couldn't suppress whispered vocalization, then produced mischievous facial expression suggesting pleasure.
"Hey, she appeared to maintain continuous ocular focus on you, Minamoto."
"Can't implement prevention. It constitutes normality."
Minamoto implemented shoulder elevation.
"Standing together, wouldn't you direct ocular focus toward the tall and aesthetically pleasing individual instead of the short and silly one?"
Comparing his height with Minamoto's, Naruto immediately displayed facial coloration.
"...You inconsiderate individual!"
But Minamoto lacked motivation for Naruto interaction. He had observed Hinata's earlier actions.
Apparently, he didn't constitute the only individual experiencing strange sensation—Hinata did too!
"Is it because of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline?"
Minamoto contemplated, and increased consideration produced increased plausibility.
His bloodline development had achieved ten percent, and the Hyūga bloodline originally stemmed from the Ōtsutsuki!
Even though the ninja world branch had experienced significant degeneration compared to the lunar branch, Hinata still constituted "Byakugan Princess."
Her pure Byakugan would naturally attract Minamoto, and Minamoto's bloodline traits would naturally attract Hinata.
"Ramen! Ramen! Uncle!"
Upon reaching the ramen establishment, Naruto couldn't suppress vocalization, much to Ayame's annoyance.
"Reduce volume, please. It's not like I can't detect auditory input. Learn from Minamoto, would you?"
"Alright, alright, minimal noise constitutes acceptability."
Teuchi didn't experience concern. He responded cheerfully while initiating noodle preparation.
"Just momentary delay, it'll achieve readiness soon."
"Gratitude, Uncle!"
Naruto implemented seated position happily. Once everyone achieved seated position, he observed Hinata, who still displayed facial coloration and maintained cranial lowering, experiencing boredom. He turned to Minamoto.
"What occupies your cognitive processes? You barely implemented vocalization during transit."
"I'm contemplating training."
Minamoto implemented ocular rotation and casually dismissed Naruto's inquiry, his gaze briefly sweeping over Hinata.
Currently, he maintained focus on single question: What constituted the lunar inhabitants' situation?
Meeting Hinata today represented pure coincidence, but the sudden unease sensation had captured his attention.
Both he and Hinata had clearly experienced something. So what about those lunar Ōtsutsuki?
"Could I gradually sense the lunar Tenseigan through bloodline development?!"
He had been contemplating that lunar eye for extended duration.
Even before Ōtsutsuki bloodline acquisition, he had always desired opportunity to defeat the frail and feeble.
A lunar civil war had eradicated their entire clan, leaving only Ōtsutsuki Toneri.
If he didn't locate methodology to exploit this opportunity, he'd be implementing self-disappointment.
But the problem was, lunar access constituted significant complication.
If Toneri hadn't implemented Hinata abduction, Naruto and others might never have discovered lunar passage.
"After all, even Zetsu didn't implement lunar visitation to observe his maternal figure."
Of course, Zetsu might have lacked knowledge, or perhaps he knew lunar inhabitants existed and didn't dare implement reckless action.
But Minamoto couldn't very well request Zetsu for directional guidance, could he?
"Cease contemplation. Consume your ramen!"
While he experienced deep contemplation, Teuchi had already served ramen. Naruto eagerly implemented hand rubbing and produced facial expression suggesting pleasure.
"Hinata, implement consumption! He's financing our sustenance today. This inconsiderate individual has tricked me into financing numerous meals. This time, we should maximize benefit!"
"Tha...thank you for financial provision."
Hinata's face displayed increased coloration again at Naruto's words, making him implement cranial scratching in confusion.
But to him, nothing else maintained significance. Ramen constituted priority!
"I'm initiating!"
Without further communication, Naruto began devouring his portion, which amused Minamoto.
"Reduce consumption rate. No one's competing with you. Oh well, implement personal preference."
Observing Naruto consume as if experiencing extended hunger, Minamoto advised him but didn't implement additional communication. He separated his chopsticks and prepared to eat.
And he experienced very positive emotional state!
"At this temporal point, lunar civil war has likely concluded. Survivor quantity remains unclear, but they probably all constitute frail and feeble..."
Frail and feeble meant he could implement forceful action!
The only concern was if those individuals detected him preemptively.
Perception demonstrates interaction, as Hinata's earlier behavior demonstrated.
Moreover, those on the moon, utilizing Tenseigan, had been observing the ninja world!
Otherwise, Toneri wouldn't have possessed Hinata knowledge.
The Tenseigan inherently constitutes Ōtsutsuki power. If they "observed" him and experienced fear, choosing concealment and passage sealing, it would constitute problem.
There indeed existed another ninja world Ōtsutsuki, the concealed one—Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
But he and Isshiki demonstrated difference. Isshiki had transformed into "Karma" and attached himself to Jigen, while Minamoto maintained wholeness!
"So I need to implement diligent training, detect lunar Tenseigan early. I can't permit its escape..."
Minamoto implemented self-directed affirmative cranial gesture, occasionally observing Naruto.
He realized Naruto seemed to convey luck—like today's Hinata encounter.
However, just as he prepared to initiate consumption, he suddenly observed Jiraiya rushing toward him.
"Hey, juvenile, so you're here. Cease consumption. We've acquired mission!"
"..."
Minamoto hadn't implemented vocalization yet, but Naruto, who was busy consuming, suddenly displayed facial pallor...
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