I've Never Been to a Pink Barbershop

The next day, at first light.

In the Hokage's Office, Mitarashi Shixiao led three newbie Genin to accept a C-Class mission to escort intelligence to the Land of Hot Water. The mission involved intelligence, but it was not classified. A Chunin could have completed it, so having a Jonin in Shixiao Squad was rather excessive.

"Shixiao Squad has completed fifteen D-Class missions, all with excellent results. In light of your outstanding performance, I'll assign this C-Class mission to you." Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe and nodded at Zixiao. His gaze swept over Duke and the other two, lingering briefly on Asuma, while most of his attention remained on Duke.

Duke showed no stage fright as he studied the Third Hokage in his prime. Aside from the academy opening ceremony, this was the second time he had met the Third Hokage. Compared to his aged appearance in the future, the current Third was brimming with vigor. Every gesture radiated a sharp, imposing aura. Asuma clasped his hands behind his head and turned his face aside, looking thoroughly uninterested. Kurenai, meanwhile, was full of admiration as she carefully watched the Third Hokage.

"Shixiao Squad guarantees the completion of the mission!" Zixiao said solemnly. He accepted the scroll and tucked it into the inner pocket of his Jonin vest.

"Zixiao, no need to be so serious. With your strength, a C-Class mission like this should be easy," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile. He shot Asuma a discreet look, but Asuma had turned his head away and failed to notice it. Otherwise, he might have caught the hint of apology in his father's eyes. Being born into the Hokage's family meant he was destined to be different from children his age. His father, occupied with official duties, could not give him much paternal affection.

"A ninja must not let their guard down just because of a mission's rank!" Zixiao said. Rather than speaking to Hiruzen Sarutobi, he was more likely teaching Duke and the other two.

"Then I'm relieved. Take good care of the three of them. They are all the village's future." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded gravely.

Zixiao accepted the order, gave his assent, and led the three from the Hokage's Office straight to Konoha's gates. After submitting the mission roster, he led the four of them out of the village. This was the first time any of them, including Duke, had left Konoha. Since arriving in this world, this was Duke's first real contact with the outside world. The excited trio chirped nonstop, finding everything they saw new and fascinating.

"Our destination for this mission is a border town in the Land of Hot Water, northeast of the Land of Fire. The deadline is generous, so there's no need to rush there." Mitarashi Shixiao walked behind the three. Out of professional habit, he constantly surveyed hidden corners, judging where enemies might be concealed and where traps could potentially be laid.

Zixiao held nothing back. Along the way, he guided the three and poured out years of experience, teaching them that only cautious ninja could survive for long. Compared to direct confrontation, most ninja were better at sneak attacks and ambushes. With careful planning against an unsuspecting target, it was common for Chunin to assassinate or poison Jonin. He also explained quite a bit about poisons and traps, stressing the importance of antidotes, and only stopped once their heads were spinning.

"The Land of Hot Water lies between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. Because of the two major ninja villages, Konoha and Hidden Cloud Village, Yugakure in the Land of Hot Water has gradually declined. Its lack of competitiveness has led to fewer missions, and fewer missions mean insufficient funds to train new ninja. Yugakure cannot escape this vicious cycle. Before long, this ninja village will become history."

"Oh, that's really tragic!" Asuma shook his head. Powerful Konoha would never face such a situation.

"The ninja world is this cruel. Compared with powerful Konoha and Hidden Cloud Village, Yugakure's mission success rate is far too low. Elimination is inevitable. Even within the Land of Hot Water, most citizens choose to submit missions to the two great ninja villages. I hear the daimyo of the Land of Hot Water is considering abolishing Yugakure because of budget deficits." Zixiao sighed. Though the Land of Hot Water was not large, Yugakure had once enjoyed quite a reputation in the Shinobi World. Who would have thought that time would change everything, leaving it all in the past?

"What if war breaks out? If the Land of Lightning invades, wouldn't they have no room to fight back at all?" Duke asked.

"The daimyo would hire ninja from Konoha, or hire Rogue Ninja, even Missing-nin," Zixiao said.

"Missing-nin? Isn't that dangerous?" Kurenai asked curiously.

"Because they're cheap! Compared to ninja from official ninja villages, Rogue Ninja and Missing-nin demand much lower pay. They band together into mercenary forces and survive through war. Unless they're insane, even Missing-nin won't pick fights with their employers. Under normal circumstances, they're actually quite welcome."

"So that happens too!" Asuma said in surprise. "I always thought Missing-nin lived day to day, constantly being hunted down. I never expected them to take missions too."

"It's all for survival!" Zixiao sighed, then said feelingly, "Whether through war or other missions, every ninja village is constantly squeezing the others' space. Weakening others is another way of strengthening yourself. If you don't want to be surpassed, you can only join in..."

"Can't everyone sit down and talk things out properly?" Kurenai said weakly. Even as she spoke, she knew it was impossible and shook her head.

Zixiao fell silent for a moment before changing the subject. "Well! This is all too distant for you Genin. It's more practical to think about how you'll have fun once we reach the Land of Hot Water. We have to retrieve the intelligence, and we'll be staying there for three days. This is the Land of Hot Water, after all. Its hot springs are famous!"

"That's awesome!"

"So amazing! It feels like Teacher Zixiao knows everything!"

"I used to deal with these things often, so I know a little more. Once you become experienced ninja, you'll surpass me in no time." Zixiao laughed heartily, encouraging them.

"Then let's head for the Land of Hot Water..." Hearing about hot springs, Asuma perked up. "If we pick up the pace and get there earlier, can we stay longer?"

"In theory, yes, but this isn't a high-level mission. To be safe, I don't intend to increase our speed."

"What a buzzkill!"

Deep within the vast forests of the Land of Hot Water, enormous trees towered everywhere, blocking out the sunlight so completely that it never reached the ground. In the shadows, two figures in black cloaks held a secret conversation from opposite sides of a giant tree.

"Our spy beside the daimyo has sent reliable news. The daimyo can no longer bear the massive annual investment in Yugakure and has decided to abandon it."

"That useless trash! He's just a coward who enjoys the shelter of his ancestors. The moment the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire intimidate him, he hides in a corner and trembles like a rat. Without us Yugakure ninja fighting without regard for our lives, where would he get his luxurious lifestyle, power, status, and wealth? We Yugakure ninja traded our lives for all of it. Now, just to curry favor with the two great nations, he wants to sacrifice us. Such a shortsighted daimyo will destroy the Land of Hot Water sooner or later!"

"Indeed. If Yugakure no longer exists, who will resist invaders? Those mercenaries who turn with the wind, or the samurai he keeps?"

"No need to be angry. He's only trash. Even with powerful ninja protecting him, replacing him would merely take a little more effort. The problem lies with the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. If we do not dispel their covetous ambitions toward the Land of Hot Water, replacing however many daimyo won't help."

"Those damned great nations have never taken us seriously. Once we grow stronger, we'll definitely make them pay!"

"The daimyo's notes have already been secretly taken out by ninja from both countries. They hid themselves well, but this is still the Land of Hot Water—our Yugakure territory. I already have their intelligence. Find them and seize back the notes... Konoha or Cloud Shinobi, leave none alive!"

"Exactly. We can't let them have it easy."

"However, we suffered severe losses in the Second Great Ninja War and need time to recover. It is indeed shameful for the two great nations to exploit our weakness, but we cannot foolishly charge at them either. That would only give them an excuse to start a war."

"Then what should we do?"

"Let those God Cult fanatics tear at each other with them. Don't they call themselves the messengers of gods? The Land of Hot Water is in danger. It's time for them to come out and save their believers."

"No matter the outcome, it will be a victory for us Yugakure ninja."

A border town in the Land of Hot Water had originally been only a marketplace where passing merchants exchanged goods. After years of development, it had grown into a sizable town. The countless traveling merchants and residents who had moved there made the town lively and prosperous, turning it into one of the Land of Hot Water's major tax centers. Combined with its beautiful scenery and renowned hot springs, it had become a city that never slept.

A famous attraction in the Land of Hot Water: Hot Spring Street.

The broad street bustled with people. On either side stood all kinds of hot spring inns, hotels, and casinos. Scantily dressed women soliciting customers could be seen everywhere, calling out to passersby. Behind them were pink storefronts bearing mysterious signs. Male customers who entered seemed frantic, as though they had urgent business to attend to. When they came out, some were listless, some radiant, and some stared painfully at their wallets.

"What kind of place is that? A hotel? Those people's expressions are so strange!" Asuma secretly glanced at the deep white cleavage of an older woman by the roadside, then turned to the "all-knowing" Mitarashi Shixiao, his eyes full of curiosity.

"..." Mitarashi Shixiao pretended not to hear. If he said something he should not at a time like this, the Hokage would definitely kill him on the spot at Konoha's gates.

"That's a barbershop. A place that specializes in hair washing and cutting," Duke said with a suppressed laugh.

"So amazing! Barbershops in the Land of Hot Water don't even need to wear clothes! And there are so many barbershops here!" Asuma exclaimed in shock. He silently resented his old-fashioned father. The outside world was so wonderful, yet under his leadership, Konoha stubbornly refused to progress.

"A man may lose his head, but his hairstyle must not be messed up. Where there's demand, there's a market. It's perfectly normal for there to be more barbershops." Duke spoke with a straight face, feeding Asuma crooked nonsense.

"..." Kurenai's face was full of black lines. Girls really did mature earlier than boys their age.

"Even so, there are way too many." Asuma always felt Duke was hiding something. The pink storefronts seemed to possess an endless allure, making him feel strangely warm.

"You'll understand once you grow up, Asuma. Maybe one day you'll come to barbershops often to take care of your hairstyle."

"Really? But I think their skills are only average. The hairstyles of those customers coming out aren't good-looking at all." Asuma sneaked another look, feeling increasingly that something was odd.

"Whether the hairstyles look good or not, you'll know once you go in and try it," Duke urged.

"Hey, I keep feeling like you're setting me up." Asuma had wanted to agree, but instinctively felt it was inappropriate. He turned to Mitarashi Shixiao and asked, "Teacher Zixiao's hairstyle is so cool. You must get it taken care of often. What exactly are barbershops like?"

"..." As Kurenai listened to the two talking past each other, the black lines on her face multiplied.

"Shut up. I brought you here to soak in hot springs, not to worry about barbershops. And don't ask me anything else about barbershops. Your teacher has never been to a barbershop. Not once." Mitarashi Shixiao held Duke and Asuma down, stopping them from continuing their nonsense.