The lodging house, Hot Spring Inn Oborozuki, was an old establishment tucked away at the end of a quiet sloping street deep within the hot spring town.
A three-story wooden building, its eaves hung with faded indigo-dyed noren curtains.
The paper sliding doors glowed with warm lamplight from within.
A faint scent of sulfur hung perpetually in the air, mingled with the slightly astringent smell of aged timber.
In the innermost suite on the second floor, the outer room served as a tea parlor for guests, while the inner room was the bedchamber.
Tsunade sat cross-legged by the low table in the tea parlor.
An empty money box lay open before her.
Her face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Shizune knelt across from her, holding Tonton as she carefully wiped Tsunade’s face with a warm towel.
A small bruise marked her temple, whether from bumping into something amid the chaos at the casino or from hitting herself in frustration after losing, it was impossible to tell.
“1,270,000 ryo.
A full 1,270,000 ryo, Tsunade-sama!” Shizune’s voice trembled with tears.
“You said you’d only play until sunset, but then you…
you even put the advance payment for the medical treatment on the line.
Now forget about the gambling ship to the Land of Lightning, we don’t even have money for tomorrow’s meals…” “Enough!” Tsunade slapped her hand away in irritation.
“Lost is lost.
I’ll win it back next time.
Is the hot water ready?
I want to bathe.” “It’s been ready for a while, but…” The rasp of the sliding door interrupted Shizune’s complaint.
Yamada Souji stood at the entrance, clearly fresh from his bath.
His silver-white hair was damp and plastered to his forehead, droplets still falling from the tips, tracing along his well-defined jawline before disappearing into the loose collar of his dark gray yukata.
Over a year of proper nourishment and the complete eradication of his bloodline disease had allowed his once-slender frame to grow taller and more mature.
Though he remained lean, his shoulders had begun to broaden into a more upright frame.
His skin, after soaking in the hot springs, glowed with a healthy luster, no longer bearing that bone-deep pallor.
Still, the most striking feature remained his eyes.
They were once again covered by a dry strip of black cloth.
Against the faint flush left by the bath, that strip of black stood out all the more starkly.
It was tied behind his head in a simple flat knot, the trailing ends resting on his shoulders.
Even with his eyes covered, he made his way straight to the opposite side of the low table, effortlessly avoiding every floor cushion and tea utensil before taking his seat, his movements relaxed and completely natural.
“The hot springs are excellent,” he remarked, his voice carrying a slight post-bath huskiness.
“The milk bath pool really lives up to its reputation.
My skin does feel smoother.” Shizune instinctively nodded along before her shoulders slumped again.
“Souji-kun, you’re still in the mood to enjoy the hot springs…
We’re about to go bankrupt and end up sleeping on the streets…” Tsunade remained silent.
Her golden eyes, as sharp as surgical scalpels, had been fixed on Souji from the moment he entered.
Her gaze swept over his still-damp hair, the faint outline of his collarbone beneath the yukata, and the hand resting casually on his knee.
The joints of his fingers bore almost imperceptibly faint, unnatural reddish marks, like traces left behind by flesh that had healed at an unnaturally rapid pace.
And there was something else.
Despite having bathed, beneath the steam from the hot spring and the scent of herbal soap, there lingered an exceedingly faint odor of blood.
Not fresh blood.
Rather, the kind that had been frozen at extremely low temperatures before being forcefully thawed, carrying with it an unsettling, icy aftertaste.
“You fought someone.” Tsunade suddenly spoke.
It wasn’t a question.
It was a statement of fact.
The air inside the tea room froze for a brief moment.
Shizune stopped wiping Tsunade’s face and looked at Souji in surprise.
Tonton let out an uneasy “Puyo,” shifting restlessly in her arms as his tiny nose twitched toward Souji.
Souji reached for the iron kettle warming over the brazier and poured himself a cup of hot tea.
Steam rose slowly, blurring half of his face beneath the black blindfold.
“Yeah.” He admitted it without hesitation, taking a sip of tea.
“Just a little trouble.
I took care of it.” “Little trouble?” Tsunade scoffed.
Leaning forward with her elbows on the table, she fixed him with a sharp stare.
“‘Little trouble’ that made you use the Shikotsumyaku and draw blood?
What kind of ‘little trouble’ could there possibly be in a peaceful place like the Land of Hot Water?” Souji set down his teacup, lightly tracing the rim with his fingertips.
“It was people from the Hidden Mist,” he replied evenly.
“They probably never gave up looking for me.” “Hidden Mist ANBU?” Shizune’s expression immediately changed.
“They tracked you all the way here?
How many were there?
Souji-kun, are you hurt?” As she spoke, she instinctively moved to set Tonton down so she could examine him.
“Six.
I’m not hurt.” Souji’s voice remained calm.
“The location was remote.
I didn’t alert the Hidden Hot Water ninja.
I left no survivors.
There probably won’t be anyone tailing us for a while.” He spoke so casually that it almost sounded insignificant.
Yet both Shizune and Tsunade could hear the danger hidden beneath those few simple words.
Six Hidden Mist ANBU.
They had ambushed him at a location of their own choosing.
Yet he had emerged completely unscathed and wiped out every last one of them.
That kind of strength…
Tsunade leaned back in her seat and folded her arms, the concern in her eyes easing slightly.
“Tch.
Those mad dogs from the Hidden Mist.
The Third Great Ninja War ended years ago, yet they’re still carrying out those internal purges.” “Then again, even though the Bloody Mist policy was officially abolished, that lingering madness won’t disappear in just one or two generations.” She paused before casually glancing at Shizune.
“Come to think of it, what year did the Third Great Ninja War end again?
Konoha…
Konoha 47?
Or was it 48?” Shizune answered immediately.
“Konoha 48, Tsunade-sama.
That was when the nations gradually signed the ceasefire agreements.” “Although the large-scale battles had already ended before then, small skirmishes continued until that year.” She remembered the dates clearly.
“After that, although the Five Great Nations still had occasional border conflicts, there haven’t been any full-scale wars since then.
Right now, every nation is focused on recovery and development.” “Konoha 48…” Yamada Souji repeated softly, unconsciously tapping the tabletop with his finger.
“Then that means this is…
Konoha 59?” “Exactly.” Shizune nodded.
“This year is indeed Konoha Year 59.
Is something wrong, Souji-kun?” “Nothing.” Souji shook his head, his blindfolded face turning toward the night outside the window.
“I was just thinking…
time really does pass quickly.” Konoha 59.
He quietly calculated to himself.
Naruto Uzumaki, the Child of Destiny, should be nine years old this year.
Three years younger than this body’s current age.
That meant there were still three years left until that pivotal turning point: the Konoha Crush.
Three years.
Neither long nor short.
“Hey, kid!” Tsunade’s voice pulled him back to reality.
“Since the Mist ninja managed to track you here, that means your whereabouts have already been exposed.” “So what’s your plan now?
Still planning to stick with us?
Just so we’re clear, I’m not going to act as your bodyguard for free.” Souji smiled and turned toward her.
“You’re worrying too much, Tsunade-sama.” “The Hidden Mist’s target is me.
It won’t drag anyone else into this.” “Besides, I’m responsible for seeing the Yamada Trading Company’s shipment through to its destination.
As for my own safety, I can handle it.” “Hmph.
Suit yourself.” Tsunade clicked her tongue and scratched her head irritably.
What a shame.
She hadn’t managed to squeeze a protection fee out of him.
“Shizune, stop sitting there in a daze.
Go ask the inn if they have any cheap sake.” “If I’ve already lost all my money, I might as well drink enough to feel like I got some of it back.” “Tsunade-sama…
we really don’t have any money left.” “Tch.
Put it on that kid’s tab.” Tsunade pointed directly at Yamada Souji.
“Didn’t he say he’d cover our room and board?
Drinks count too.” Souji chuckled softly.
He pulled a small coin purse from the sleeve of his yukata and slid it toward Shizune.
“There’s some spare change inside.
Sorry to trouble you, Shizune-san.” “And…” As he spoke, he took out several larger-denomination banknotes and placed them on the table.
“Consider this my personal thanks for everything you two have done for me over the past year.” “It isn’t enough to make up for Tsunade-sama’s losses tonight, but it should be enough to help with your immediate situation.” Shizune looked at the stack of banknotes, then at Tsunade, unable to make up her mind.
She wanted to refuse out of pride, but she and Tsunade-sama truly were on the verge of bankruptcy.
Tsunade stared at the money for several seconds before suddenly reaching out, snatching it up, and tucking it into her robe in one smooth motion.
“That’s more like it.
Shizune, go buy some sake.
The most expensive kind.” “And pick up some snacks too.
Pickled vegetables will do.
That’ll save us some money.” Shizune could only laugh helplessly as she picked Tonton up.
“Yes, yes, yes.
Anyway, Souji-kun, thank you.” After thanking him, Shizune picked up the coin purse, slid the door open, and left the room.