Mount Baiyue

Early in the morning, the shrikes outside the window were calling incessantly.

As the curtains were drawn back, the birds on the power lines scattered and flew away. The dazzling sunlight streamed into the room, casting a golden halo over the boy's muscular chest, and his well-defined abdominal muscles rose and fell gently.

"Ah~~~ Ha~~~"

The long yawn rose to its peak, then plummeted down in a 90-degree vertical curve.

Katsuki, clutching her messy, bird's-nest-like hair, swayed as she walked towards the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

The cool, flowing water washed away the last trace of sleepiness, allowing me to clearly see my reflection in the mirror.

They had been in the Land of Hot Springs for a week. A week ago, they successfully escorted the nobleman back to his territory, and the three of them received an extra reward in addition to their regular wages.

So, at Kushina's insistence, the three of them stayed temporarily in Yugakure, wandering around the famous hot springs of the Land of Hot Springs, appreciating the different sensations of each hot spring. Otome even used her spare time to start compiling a book about hot springs, a book introducing the differences between each hot spring.

Of course, as is customary, one should return to the village as soon as possible after completing the task.

However, there are always loopholes to exploit. For example, being injured during a mission and having to recuperate locally are good excuses. Moreover, given their special status, as long as they don't cause too much trouble, no one will usually investigate these minor matters.

As a key group under observation, the information about Katsuki and his group staying in the Land of Hot Springs for sightseeing was sent to the Hokage's desk early on. However, after reading it, the Third Hokage did not express any opinion, treating it as if it were an ordinary work report.

Even Danzo, a cunning man, threw the report into the furnace after reading it.

There's nothing to worry about. A monster capable of destroying half of Sunagakure, and a monster possessed by Tailed Beast —what's there to fear about two monsters together?

"Knock knock!!"

"Katsuki, hurry up! I'm going to check out of the house first, we'll wait for you downstairs."

"I understand, I'll be right down."

In the corridor, Kushina dragged a rather heavy suitcase away from Katsuki's room. The dull creak of the wheels indicated that the thing was definitely heavy. Otome was slightly lighter, but it was still quite heavy.

This was their haul from the past week. Besides soaking in hot springs, they explored every street and alley of every hot spring town, buying a bunch of nonsensical things. At least in Katsuki, most of it was pointless. For example, Kushina bought several stones, while Otome bought a thick book of rose specimens...

As the sound of the wheels faded into the distance, Katsuki wrung out her hair, slung her small backpack over her shoulder, and left.

"Sister, if we run ourselves, we can get to Mount Baiyue very quickly. Why take this donkey cart..."

On Kitsuchi road in the wilderness, an open-top oxcart moved slowly along.

Katsuki sat on the right side of the oxcart, looking at Kushina and Otome across from her with a sorrowful expression.

"How can running around like this feel like a vacation? We're on holiday, not on a mission. Why run so fast? Besides, we can enjoy the scenery while traveling by car," Kushina retorted fiercely.

Looking out at the overgrown wilderness and sparsely scattered groves, Katsuki felt even more depressed. What was so interesting about this? Most of the Land of Land of Hot Springs was like this. He had seen enough of it in the past week, so much so that he had gone from being interested to being numb.

"Well--!!"

Katsuki sighed and stopped arguing. She knew she couldn't win against her older sister anyway, and it was just a waste of breath.

Otome listened silently to the siblings arguing, admiring the complete collection of specimens she had bought on Rose Street in Yugakure.

The oxcart looked slow, but fortunately it wasn't too far from Mount Baiyue. Before lunchtime, we could see the pale mountain peaks, and the surrounding scenery had changed; the temperature here had dropped considerably.

Mount Baiyue, a famous mountain in the northern part of the Land of Hot Springs, is covered with snow all year round. At its foot, hot springs emerge, with more than forty springs. Relying on these unique snow mountain hot springs, Baiyue Town has become the largest hot spring town in the northern part of the Land of Hot Springs. It is said that there are more than a hundred inns here.

"Awesome!!!"

Kushina stuck her head out, looking at the approaching snow-capped mountain, and shouted excitedly.

Back when they were in Uzushio Village, it never snowed on the island. Although it snowed in Konoha in winter, the mountains near the village weren't very high, and the snow would melt away completely once the weather warmed up. To be honest, this was the first time Kushina had ever seen real snow-capped mountains, peaks covered in ice and snow all year round.

"Snow-capped mountains, is this what snow-capped mountains are like? They're amazing!"

"Hmm, that's impressive."

Otome also put away the complete collection of specimens and, together with Kushina, stuck her head out of the oxcart to look at Mount Baiyue. Like Kushina, Otome, who grew up in Konoha, also had never had the chance to see a snow-capped mountain, which was one of the reasons why she agreed to Kushina's reckless vacation plan.

"Luckily, there are no traffic laws now..."

Katsuki watched the two of them stretching their necks as if they were trying to transform into giraffes, unreliable thoughts swirled in her mind.

"Um--?"

He let out a soft exclamation and Katsuki as he scanned the pine forest on both sides of the road. Just now, he had sensed a malicious gaze.

Glancing at the excited Kushina and Otome, Katsuki's fingers trembled slightly. He decided against joining their hands in Hand Seals, not wanting to spoil his older sister's fun. He silently made a mental note: whatever kind of Gyuki they came from, he'd investigate them thoroughly once they got to the inn. With Mind's Eye of the Kagura, a detection radar with a range of ten kilometers, he didn't believe that anyone other than the White Zetsu and their gang of perverts could escape his senses.

In the pine forest.

Two burly figures, bundled up like bears, huddled in the snow.

"Is it confirmed?" Bear Number One asked his sharp-eyed colleague in a low voice.

"That's right, it's the target, the Uzumaki Katsuki, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki." Number Two said nervously, constantly looking left and right, afraid that Katsuki or Kushina would suddenly jump out from a corner. "Damn it, I have a feeling that Uzumaki Katsuki has discovered us, we'd better get out of here..."

"Hiss--"

"What the hell? What's this plague god doing running all this way? Is it not enough that Konoha beat up the Sand Village ninja, is he planning to start a war with us now?" Number One was older and ignored his younger colleague's neuroticism. His charcoal-black face contrasted sharply with the white snow.

"No way? They're carrying all those bags and riding in an oxcart, they must be here for a vacation, right?" Number Two was startled and immediately forgot about the retreat.

"Fool, don't be so optimistic. In our line of work, we always have to consider the worst-case scenario... Besides, I don't believe that Konoha's natural disasters would come here specifically for a vacation. Just across Mount Baiyue is the land of the Land of Frost. With these two's abilities, those useless Frost Ninja are no match for them. They could easily march right into our village..."

Number Two was dumbfounded.

"No, this matter must be reported immediately, with the highest level of encryption. This must be reported to Lord Raikage as quickly as possible."