Undercurrents

"You go on in and relax first. Try out the local hot springs," Aburame Keiichi instructed, waving a hand at the group.

"Teacher Keiichi, aren't you coming?" Morino Kei asked, puzzled.

"I still have some things to discuss. You go ahead," Aburame Keiichi said, shaking his head.

Morino Kei was about to press him, but Uchiha Kai tugged on his sleeve to stop him.

"We'll go on ahead, then. You go take care of your business, Teacher," Uchiha Kai replied with a smile.

"Then allow me to show you around. Our hot springs are among the best in all of Yugakure. I'm sure you'll enjoy them."

Chishima Tsurume smiled as she came out from behind the counter to guide them. Once she moved, it was impossible to miss her graceful figure.

"Wow~ I heard Yugakure has mixed bathing... Could it be..." Morino Kei wore a lecherous look, barely managing to keep the drool from spilling out of his mouth.

"Haha... We do offer that, but our establishment doesn't. You seem awfully curious, young man."

Chishima Tsurume replied with an amused, helpless smile.

"You're asking for it!" Hyuga Rei punched Morino Kei on the head, stopping him from spewing any more sleazy remarks.

"Sorry to trouble you. He's always been unreliable..." The girl covered her face and apologized profusely to Chishima Tsurume.

"Hehe, it's all right. This young man speaks his mind. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm. After all, it's perfectly normal for boys his age to be interested in bathing together."

As she spoke, Chishima Tsurume stepped forward and pinched Morino Kei's cheek with her slender, delicate fingers.

"Uh—"

Morino Kei, who had been grinning mischievously just moments ago, froze on the spot. Feeling the gentle touch on his cheek, his mind went blank, and his face flushed bright red.

"Um... um..." The tall boy stammered, unable to get a single sentence out.

"Hehehe~ You're so cute." Chishima Tsurume laughed, her whole body shaking as she watched the boy she'd teased fumble helplessly.

"Here are your locker tags. Each one corresponds to a locker where you can leave your clothes in the changing room."

Chishima Tsurume withdrew her hand, letting go of Morino Kei, and handed them three numbered tags.

"Enjoy yourselves!"

After taking the tags, Uchiha Kai led the dazed and flustered Morino Kei into the men's changing room. Hyuga Rei headed the other way into the women's changing room.

"Now, let's talk."

Once his students had gone into the baths, Aburame Keiichi composed himself and spoke in a low voice.

"I was just about to suggest the same." Chishima Tsurume pointed toward a small room. "This way, please."

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

More than a dozen people in dark combat uniforms crowded into a cramped room with a single bed. Each wore a mask marked with a wave-like pattern.

"How did the investigation go? Have you figured out the background of that madwoman from before?" The man at the head of the group sat upright in a chair and questioned his subordinates.

At his words, a thin, short-haired man stepped forward, bowed slightly, and began to speak.

"Based on our earlier intelligence and what we extracted from eyewitnesses, we've narrowed down the target's location."

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

"After checking, we discovered that the woman who infiltrated our action squad, stole classified information, and was gravely wounded has a long-standing business in Yugakure." The man pointed at the map as he continued.

"This hot spring bath. It's quite famous, yet rarely sees customers. The building and furnishings are all top of the line, but the prices are absurdly low. It's clearly a money-losing business, yet it's remained open for years."

"We have good reason to suspect that this is the woman's base, a place where she contacts the forces behind her."

The short-haired man explained in a grave voice. Beside him, the leader nodded now and then in agreement.

"Good. Your intelligence work is as thorough as ever, Yukino," the man praised with a nod.

Yukino dipped his head respectfully.

"That's thanks to your guidance, Lord Seiryuu." Yukino immediately offered a flattering remark, earning a satisfied look from Kiriki Seiryuu.

"Hehe~ Go on."

"Yes. After surveilling the place for the past few days, we confirmed that the shop is no longer run by that woman. It's now managed by a fifteen-year-old girl named Chishima Tsurume, the woman's adopted daughter."

Yukino continued.

"Hmm... So the woman probably didn't make it and died, then." Kiriki Seiryuu leaned back in his chair, arms folded, his tone flippant.

"Most likely. After all, she took a direct hit from Exploding Blade Shibuki. Even the legendary God of the Shinobi World, Hashirama Senju, might have met his end from that. A mere woman wouldn't stand a chance."

At the thought of that terrifying weapon, Yukino's gaze wavered.

"Hmph. Whether she's dead doesn't matter. What matters is where the stolen intelligence is—and what the information it contains means. You all understand that perfectly well."

Kiriki Seiryuu turned to look around at them and spoke in a low voice.

"This is our final chance... If we can't recover it, or if it falls into the hands of another village..." The man's eyes widened, revealing a dangerous, bestial gleam.

"Then we'll all lose our heads..."

"Understood?!" Kiriki Seiryuu barked.

"Understood!" The Mist Ninja Anbu in the room shuddered and answered in unison.

"Lord Seiryuu, there's no need to worry too much. Ever since that madwoman fled into the Land of Hot Water, we've kept her under constant watch. She hasn't set foot outside that shop." Yukino spoke ingratiatingly.

"She most likely died in there... The intelligence must be hidden there, and her adopted daughter is probably guarding it. Before, the spies from other countries kept us from acting openly."

"We could only secretly investigate the customers who'd visited the shop, but we found nothing, and the mission made no progress."

"But now that you're here, things are different. With you leading us, the foreign spies embedded in Yugakure won't be able to stop us. We only need to strike like lightning and capture that woman's stepdaughter in no time."

"Once we have her, we can leave at once. With you backing us up, those spies from other countries won't dare act. This mission is as good as done." Yukino spoke with a fervor that made him sound like Kiriki Seiryuu's devoted follower.

"Hmm~ Good. Now that I'm here, we don't have to worry about those nobodies getting in our way. If they dare show up, we'll cut off their heads." Kiriki Seiryuu nodded in satisfaction as he listened to his subordinate's flattery.

"After all, strength is what rules the shinobi world. When dealing with vermin like them, all we have to do is crush them and leave them in utter despair." Beneath his mask, the man smiled, his expression twisted and terrifying.

After enduring the two men's mutual flattery for some time, a Mist Ninja Anbu who had been holding back finally spoke.

"Captain Seiryuu, I have important information to report." Shikamaru suddenly spoke.