Land of Hot Water

Although it was difficult, Shiyu had a way. Naturally, he used the Shadow Clone cheat, creating the maximum five clones to help him practice—in other words, training five times as fast.

After many days of practice, Shiyu had gained a lot of experience, and his chakra control had become much sharper. He could feel that the rubber ball was nearly ready to burst.

With his concentration at its peak, Shiyu made the chakra inside the rubber ball spin with even greater force. Then—

Pop! The rubber ball finally burst.

He had completed the first two stages of training. Only the most difficult—and most important—third stage remained.

The other team members, such as Kurenai, were still secretly practicing Taijutsu with Hizashi Hyuga. They were members of the same clan, after all, so Hizashi could teach her many of the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques. But Shiyu wasn't very interested; he had copied those techniques a long time ago.

Kakashi Nao hadn't been idle either. With Shiyu as his goal, he practiced tree climbing and Water Walking whenever he had free time. By now, he had excellent chakra control.

This scene really resembles the part in the original story where Team Seven fought Zabuza and Haku, Shiyu couldn't help imagining.

A few days later, they finally arrived at Yugakure, in the Land of Hot Water.

Yugakure was completely different from Konoha. Hot spring inns were everywhere, and the scenery was elegant. Even the flowers along the streets had been carefully tended. Yugakure really did have Konoha beat in that regard.

"This is the village known as the one that forgot war. Its hot springs are famous," Hizashi explained.

"I wonder where the information is. There don't seem to be any suspicious people around," Kurenai said.

"What exactly is White Rose? Is it the name of a shop?" Kakashi Nao guessed.

"This place is so big that I think we'll have to split up and look. If you spot anyone suspicious, remember to send a signal! I'll go with Mr. Noguchi." After speaking, Hizashi left with Noguchi.

"Come on. Let's take a look around too," Shiyu said to Kurenai and Kakashi Nao.

"Let's go to Rose Street! It's the most famous place in Yugakure! Everyone along the whole street loves growing roses!" Kurenai grabbed Shiyu and excitedly ran toward Rose Street.

Kakashi Nao felt a little awkward. He really was an extra wheel. He muttered, "Is it really that obvious that Kurenai likes Shiyu?"

Then he followed them at an easy pace.

Shiyu didn't think much of it. He was focused entirely on the mission.

He and Kurenai arrived at Rose Street, a famous street in the Land of Hot Water. It was more of a narrow lane than a street, but the scent of roses drifted all around them, and every household had roses growing by its windows and front door.

The breeze stirred, and the rose petals danced along with it. It seemed to clear the mind, and the scene was wonderfully romantic.

"What a beautiful street! I wish I could live here! Seeing such lovely flowers every day would make me so happy." Hinata Kurenai's fiery red hair fluttered in the wind as she gazed tenderly at Shiyu. Shiyu picked up on something.

But Shiyu thought, Ninja really do mature early. They're just kids, yet they're already starting to have these innocent feelings. What a sin.

Rose Street was famous throughout the Land of Hot Water, but perhaps they'd come at the wrong time. There weren't many people in the lane. After wandering around for a while, Shiyu quickly lost interest. Suddenly, a beautiful girl grabbed him.

"Hey, handsome, would you like to stay at our hot spring inn? Our prices are low, and the rooms are great!" A seductive-looking young woman gave Shiyu a mischievous smile.

"No thanks. We have other things to do," Shiyu replied at once. After all, the three of them were on a mission.

Shiyu shook his head and immediately headed toward another part of the lane. Just then, he spotted a man behaving very suspiciously.

The man crept toward a window, apparently looking at something. Whatever he was doing, he seemed very strange.

"Hmm? Who's that?" Shiyu spotted the suspicious man and immediately warned Kurenai and Nao, "Follow him!"

Kakashi Nao and Kurenai exchanged glances, nodded, and followed Shiyu.

Shiyu saw the man approach the rear window of a bathhouse.

"He's suspicious!" Shiyu rushed forward, tapped the man on the shoulder, and demanded, "Who are you? What are you doing?"

"Hey! Keep your voice down, my goodness!" The suspicious white-haired man turned around in shock. He hadn't expected this kid to ruin his good time.

Shiyu stared at him, dumbfounded. He instantly recognized who the man was.

At that moment, women's screams rang out from inside the bathhouse.

"Ah!! Someone's peeping!" All the women hurried to cover their private parts. Steam filled the bathhouse, so the white-haired man hadn't gotten a clear look.

"Ah! What is this man looking at?" Only then did Kurenai understand what was going on. Her face turned bright red.

Kakashi Nao understood too. "What a sin," he murmured, immediately turning away.

"Run! Run!" The white-haired man said nothing more and took off.

"Follow him!" Shiyu wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by. The three of them chased after the white-haired man.

"I can't believe Jiraiya has such a strange hobby! Peeping on girls in broad daylight!" Shiyu called out with a mischievous grin as he ran.

"Jiraiya? Who's that? You've got the wrong person!" the white-haired man shouted, continuing to run without admitting anything.

The man before them had pure white hair that reached his waist, a Forehead Protector inscribed with the character for "oil," red markings beneath his eyes, a red overcoat over brown clothes, wooden sandals, and arm guards.

If he wasn't one of the Sannin—Jiraiya—then who was he?

"Senior Jiraiya! I'm one of Teacher Sarutobi's newest students!" Shiyu called as he chased after Jiraiya.

"I don't remember having a junior like you! And how can you call that peeping? I was gathering material! Looking for inspiration! I'm going to write a book, you know! I'm a famous author!"

Hearing that, Shiyu was now completely certain. The white-haired man in front of him was none other than Jiraiya, the legendary Toad Sage and one of Konoha's Sannin.

"Then it really is you!" Shiyu was one hundred percent sure that the man in front of him was Jiraiya.

"Kid, you're really annoying!"

Jiraiya finally stopped and turned around, taking a good look at Shiyu.