Undercurrents Surge

"You guys go in and relax first. Experience the local specialty hot springs," Aburame Keiichi waved his hand and instructed the group.

"Teacher Keiichi, aren't you coming?" Morino Kei asked with a confused look.

"I have some matters to discuss. You go ahead," Aburame Keiichi shook his head.

Morino Kei was about to ask further, but Uchiha Kai tugged at his sleeve, stopping him.

"Then we'll be going. Teacher, you go ahead and be busy," Uchiha Kai replied with a smile.

"Then I'll make arrangements for you. The hot springs at our establishment are among the best in all of Yugakure. I'm sure you'll be satisfied."

Chishima Tsurume smiled and walked out from behind the counter to guide them. As she moved, her graceful figure could no longer be hidden.

"Wow~ I heard Yugakure has mixed bathing... Could it be..." Morino Kei put on a lecherous expression, his saliva almost dripping from his mouth.

"Haha... We do have that option, but our establishment doesn't. This young man seems very curious," Chishima Tsurume replied with a wry smile.

"You wanna die!" Hyuga Rei punched Morino Kei on the head, stopping his intention to spout more nonsense.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble. This guy is usually unreliable..." The girl apologized profusely to Chishima Tsurume, covering her face.

"Hehehe~ It's alright. This young man is just blunt. He probably didn't mean it. After all, it's normal for boys his age to be interested in mixed bathing."

As she spoke, Chishima Tsurume took two steps forward and pinched Morino Kei's cheek with her slender hand.

"Urk--"

Morino Kei, who had been smirking moments ago, froze on the spot. Feeling the gentle touch on his cheek, his brain went into overdrive, and his cheeks turned an unnatural red.

"Um... um..." The tall youth stammered, unable to utter a single coherent sentence.

"Hehehe~ So cute." Seeing the flustered boy she had teased, Chishima Tsurume burst into laughter.

"Here are your room keys. They correspond to lockers with the same numbers. You can store your clothes in the changing room."

Chishima Tsurume withdrew her hand, releasing Morino Kei, and handed out three key cards.

"I hope you all have a pleasant time."

After taking the key cards, Uchiha Kai, supporting the dazed and bewildered Morino Kei, entered the men's changing room. Hyuga Rei headed to the women's changing room on the other side.

"Now, let's talk."

Seeing that all his students had entered the bath, Aburame Keiichi straightened his expression and spoke in a deep voice.

"That's exactly what I intended." Chishima Tsurume extended her hand and pointed towards a small room. "This way, please."

Outside the hot spring bath, in a small inn by the street.

A cramped single-bed room was packed with over a dozen people dressed in dark combat uniforms, all wearing masks with a wave-like pattern.

"How's the reconnaissance? Have you figured out the background of that crazy woman from before?" The man in the lead sat in an armchair and asked his subordinate.

Upon hearing this, a thin man with short hair stepped forward, bowed slightly, and began to speak.

"Based on previous intelligence and information extracted from witnesses, we have preliminarily pinpointed the target's location."

As he spoke, the man took out a map from his bosom, unfolded it, and pointed to a location marked in red.

"The woman who infiltrated our task force, stole classified information, and was severely injured. After investigation, we found she has a long-standing business in Yugakure." The man pointed and continued.

"It's this hot spring establishment. It's quite famous but rarely has customers. The renovation materials are all top-tier, yet the prices are ridiculously low. It's a business that clearly operates at a loss but has stood for years."

"There's ample reason to suspect this is the woman's base of operations, a hub for contacting the forces behind her."

The short-haired man explained in a deep voice, while the leader nodded occasionally in agreement.

"Indeed, Yukino. Your intelligence work is as thorough as always." The man nodded in praise.

Yukino bowed his head slightly in respect.

"It's all thanks to Lord Seiryuu's guidance." Yukino didn't hesitate to flatter, which pleased Kiriki Seiryuu immensely.

"Heh~ Continue."

"Yes. After scouting the area a few days ago, we can confirm that the establishment is no longer run by that woman, but by a fifteen-year-old girl named Chishima Tsurume, who is that person's adopted daughter."

Yukino continued.

"Hmm... So that woman probably didn't make it and died, huh?" Kiriki Seiryuu leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, his tone flippant.

"Most likely. After all, being hit directly by Exploding Blade Shibuki, even the legendary God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, would have met his end. Let alone some mere woman."

Recalling that terrifying weapon, Yukino's eyes trembled.

"Hmph, whether she's dead or not is unimportant. What matters is where the information she stole is, and what that information signifies, you should all be very clear."

Kiriki Seiryuu turned and surveyed the men, speaking in a low voice.

"This is the final deadline... If we can't retrieve it, or if it falls into the hands of another village..." The man's eyes widened, revealing a dangerous, beast-like glint.

"At that point, we'll all lose our heads..."

"Do you understand?!" Kiriki Seiryuu shouted.

"Understood!" The Mist Ninja Anbu present trembled and responded in unison.

"Lord Seiryuu, you don't need to worry too much. Ever since that madwoman escaped into the Land of Hot Water, we've had her completely locked down. She absolutely hasn't taken a single step out of that shop," Yukino said obsequiously.

"She's most likely already dead in there... and the intel is definitely hidden there, probably guarded by her adopted daughter. We couldn't make a big move directly before due to interference from other countries' informants."

"We could only investigate customers who went to that shop in secret, but we never got any leads, which stalled the mission.

"But now that you're here, things are different. With you leading, the informants planted by other countries in Yugakure won't be able to stop us. We just need to act with overwhelming force and capture that woman's adopted daughter in a very short time."

"Once we succeed, we'll leave quickly. With you backing us, those individual country spies won't dare to intervene. This mission is bound to succeed." Yukino's tone carried a hint of fanaticism, as if he were a fervent follower of Kiriki Seiryuu.

"Mmm~ Not bad. Now that I'm here, there's no need to worry about any stray cats or dogs blocking our way. If they dare to come, I'll cut off their heads." Kiriki Seiryuu nodded with great satisfaction as he listened to his subordinate's boasting.

"After all, ninja are beings who respect strength above all else. Dealing with these insects is as simple as crushing them and giving them the greatest despair." A smile, twisted and terrifying, appeared on the man's face beneath his mask.

Watching the two men flattering each other, a Mist Ninja Anbu, who had been holding back for a while, suddenly spoke.

"Captain Seiryuu, I have important intel to share." Shikamaru suddenly said.