The Journey to the Land of Hot Water

As soon as Tianqi reached the entrance, he used Medical Ninjutsu to heal his swollen face.

Good grief, Tsunade's in a foul mood today. Remembering her furious expression, Tianqi shook his head.

"Sir Ninja, can we set off?" Tang He asked as soon as he saw Tianqi coming over.

"We can leave in a moment. They should be here soon." Just as Tianqi finished speaking, Jiraiya and the other two arrived.

"Big Brother Tianqi, why'd you run so fast? You could've at least waited for us!"

Seeing Jiraiya panting, Tianqi wisely ignored him and turned to introduce Tang He instead.

"This is our client, Tang He. Our mission is to escort him safely back to the Land of Hot Water."

Looking at the three who had appeared before him, Tang He wore a doubtful expression. "Sir Ninja, they're so young. Can they really do the job?"

"We're too young? I, Lord Jiraiya, could handle an escort mission like this all by myself. You're looking down on us?" Jiraiya shouted when he heard Tang He dismissing them.

"That's right. Please don't underestimate the strength of a ninja," Tsunade and Orochimaru added.

"Don't let their age fool you. They're all quite capable. Protecting you will be a piece of cake." Seeing that Tang He didn't think much of the three, Tianqi gave him a gentle reminder: their mission was to protect him, after all.

"Let's hope so." Seeing Tianqi put it that way, Tang He didn't press the matter.

"Yoshi! Then let's set off. Our destination is the Land of Hot Water!" Tianqi gave the order to depart.

The group set off with great fanfare. At their usual ninja pace, they would have arrived in no more than seven days. But now that Tang He, an ordinary person, was with them, Tianqi and the others had to walk every step of the way.

"I didn't expect that taking our time and enjoying the scenery along the way could be so pleasant," Tianqi remarked. Usually, he traveled as fast as possible, finished the mission, and returned to the village. He'd never really tried taking a leisurely walk like this.

Jiraiya and the others also gazed around curiously. They'd never traveled far from home before; at most, they'd explored the area around Konoha. The world beyond filled them with endless wonder and anticipation.

"Big Brother Tianqi, you travel a lot. Do you know what the world outside is like?" Jiraiya asked.

"What else would it be like? Mountains, rivers, and ninjas, same as anywhere." Tianqi wasn't particularly curious about the world outside. Rather than constantly traveling around, he'd rather stay in Konoha every day.

"Big Brother Tianqi, you're giving Jiraiya such a halfhearted answer. Aren't there any fun places or good food out there? You've been on so many trips—surely you know!" Tsunade rolled her eyes at him.

"No matter how fun the outside world is, it can't beat Konoha. Konoha is our home, after all."

Seeing Tianqi speak with such seriousness, the three were deeply moved. That was right—Konoha was home! Just as they were getting sentimental, Tianqi made a sudden turn.

"But the food and fun outside really can't compare to Konoha's. Konoha has plenty of good food and fun, and all those pretty young ladies there—not only are they beautiful, they're sweet talkers, too. How could anywhere else compare to Konoha?" As Tianqi spoke, a lecherous expression spread across his face.

"Isn't that right, Jiraiya?" Tianqi asked, looking at him.

"Absolutely!"

Smack! "A kindred spirit, through and through!" With that, the two slapped their palms together.

Well, Tianqi was an adult now, and he'd started taking an interest in women.

"Big Brother Tianqi, can you stop being as lecherous as Jiraiya? Why not learn from someone like Orochimaru?" Tsunade rolled her eyes at the two of them.

Tianqi glanced at Orochimaru and shuddered. Be like Snake Auntie? No thanks. If I can't even experience being with a woman, what fun is there in life?

"Tsunade, I'm not wrong. If you don't believe me, ask Tang He." Tianqi didn't dwell on the subject of women. Instead, he told Tsunade to ask Tang He.

"Konoha really is the best place I've ever seen. Everyone has a happy smile on their face, and there's no war. The outside world truly can't compare to Konoha." Tang He stepped forward to say this himself. It's a shame my country can't be like Konoha, he thought, but kept those words to himself.

"See? I told you I wasn't wrong. Tang He agrees, too. You're lucky to have been born in Konoha," Tianqi said smugly.

Tsunade ignored Tianqi and turned to Tang He instead.

"Uncle Tang He, is life outside really that bad?"

At Tsunade's question, Tang He thought for a moment before answering.

"It's worse than bad—it's downright awful. Places protected by a major ninja village are all right, but places without that protection are constantly at war. Rogue ninjas are everywhere, and ordinary people can barely get enough to eat. You could walk out the door one day and get slashed by a rogue ninja, losing your life just like that." As Tang He spoke, his expression darkened.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru both fell thoughtful at Tang He's words.

"I never imagined life outside was so difficult. It's hard for me to picture it while I'm in Konoha," Tsunade said, deeply moved.

"Someday, I'll become a powerful ninja and bring peace to the Shinobi World, spreading it to every corner," Jiraiya declared confidently.

"Count me in." Even Orochimaru rarely agreed with Jiraiya, but at that time, he hadn't yet turned to darkness. His heart was still full of justice.

"I believe that one day, people will understand each other." Jiraiya spoke a famous line.

Hearing Jiraiya's words, Tianqi paused in surprise. Then he poured cold water on them. "Wherever there are people, there'll be conflict, and conflict leads to war. Mutual understanding is impossible. All we can do is try our hardest to stop conflict and war."

"Big Brother Tianqi, I finally came up with something profound, and you had to pour cold water on me?" Jiraiya complained.

"I'm not trying to pour cold water on you. I'm just telling you how things really are." As soon as he said this, Tianqi sensed the Chakra of two Genin up ahead.

Are they hiding there, waiting to ambush us? They're finally here. Tianqi kept talking to Jiraiya as if nothing were wrong, without giving anything away.

"You'll understand what I'm saying one day, Jiraiya. And you two, Tsunade and Orochimaru—don't be too naive. Wherever there's light, there has to be darkness. There are things you can't see with your own eyes." Tianqi spoke up to warn the three, hoping they'd understand.

Hearing Tianqi suddenly say this, and noticing his gaze drift toward the bushes ahead, Tsunade and Orochimaru immediately realized there were enemies. Tsunade quietly began protecting Tang He, while Orochimaru prepared to strike at any moment. Only Jiraiya was still arguing with Tianqi.

"Big Brother Tianqi, I don't think you're right. I believe the Shinobi World will eventually find peace, and people will come to understand one another," Jiraiya said to Tianqi earnestly.

At that moment, two ninjas suddenly sprang out of the bushes and hurled a pair of Shuriken at Tianqi. The Shuriken struck him, and he fell to the ground.

Watching Tianqi, who had just been talking to him, get killed, Jiraiya froze in place.

The two ninjas then charged at Jiraiya, but he still hadn't come to his senses. He remained frozen.

"Jiraiya! Watch out, Jiraiya!" Seeing the two rushing toward Jiraiya, Orochimaru hurriedly warned him.

"Idiot!" As Orochimaru spoke, both his hands transformed into snakes and wrapped around the two attackers.