Two days later.
A small town on the border of the Land of Rivers, Hot Spring Street.
Because their Konoha shinobi uniforms were too conspicuous, Chiga and the other two had already changed out of their shinobi attire and dressed like ordinary civilians as they walked down the street.
After all, they were in town now, where there were many people and countless eyes. No one could say for sure whether some of them might also be enemy shinobi in disguise.
The small town was fairly prosperous. On both sides of the wide streets stood all kinds of hot spring inns, hotels, and casinos.
There was even a red-light district. The scantily dressed young women were alluring and graceful as they waved to passing pedestrians.
"Senior Minato, our base isn't in there, is it?"
Chiga glanced at Minato and asked.
"How could it be?"
Minato shook his head, then continued, "Even I don't know the exact location of the base. We need to find someone here who can take us there."
"That's too bad. I thought I'd get to go in and experience it for myself!"
Chiga looked at the young women with curiosity and an exploratory gaze. He couldn't help feeling a little regretful. Even counting both his lives, he had never gotten the chance to experience it.
Minato rolled his eyes at Chiga. "Don't mess around. Haven't you memorized the Three Ninja Prohibitions?"
"I'm just curious."
"Heh, there's nothing wrong with being curious. But the problem is, at your age, do you have a weapon to deal with them?"
Minato looked at Chiga's lower half with a faint, ambiguous smile.
After the three of them had made boasts to each other that night, they had become much more familiar with one another and could even joke around harmlessly