Sweet Trip to the Land of Hot Water (2)

Hot Spring Town.

True to its name, hot spring inns line the streets one after another.

Hot Spring Town boasts another unique landmark.

Right in the middle of the town's main street lies a distinct white dividing line that splits the town in two.

This line is the national border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water. The town was built directly upon this border, symbolizing the harmonious alliance between the two nations.

The streets are bustling with tourists from both countries. While the influx of visitors brings significant revenue, it has also greatly improved the town's infrastructure. The roads are wide, and streetlamps are spaced at short intervals along both sides.

The two chose an establishment that looked high-end and, conveniently, had the fewest people.

"Welcome! Please, come in!"

A staff member with a sweet face and a pleasant voice bowed in greeting.

Obito completed the registration, took the room key, and headed upstairs with their luggage and Tsunade.

Tsunade watched with a silent smile as Obito eagerly handled the check-in and requested only a single room with a large bed.

She felt quite at ease with Obito; although he liked to run his mouth and had a habit of being a bit handsy, he always knew where to draw the line.

Obito is something of a hidden millionaire now, so the room they rented was naturally top-tier. Opening the door revealed a modern, spacious living room with luxurious decor.

Setting down the luggage, Obito said, "You go take a bath first. You've been running around all day. I'll go order some food."

"Alright. Get a bottle of sake; I'm in the mood for a drink." Tsunade was quite pleased with the young man's thoughtfulness.

"OK!" He gave a thumbs-up, flashed a grin revealing his White Fang-like teeth, and struck a pose characteristic of Might Guy.

"What a dork..." Tsunade shook her head, took out a change of clothes, and walked into the bathroom.

The silhouette of a person could be seen through the translucent bathroom door. Good grief... the owner of this shop is a man of culture.

After Tsunade finished washing and came out in her bathrobe, the dining table in the living room was already spread with delicious food and the sake she had requested.

In truth, the quality of life for a ninja is generally quite average. Since they spend most of their time on missions in the wild, there isn't much room for luxury, and military rations are notoriously awful.

It is far from the happy life one might see in anime; one must remember that ninjas exist primarily as weapons of war.

"You go wash up too, you stink..." Tsunade sat down, pinched her nose, and said with exaggerated flair.

"Sigh... if I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered ordering food. We could have just taken a bath together; what a waste, what a waste." Obito stood up to find his bathrobe, teasing her as he went.

The bathroom was still filled with steam and lingering fragrance from her bath. Obito turned on the shower, rinsed off quickly, put on his bathrobe, and went out to enjoy a sumptuous feast with the beauty.

Konoha.

A tall figure walked aimlessly down the street. He wore a long red cloak, wooden clogs on his feet, and a forehead protector with the kanji for "Oil" (Abura) that revealed his identity.

Jiraiya.

He already knew about the situation between Tsunade and Obito. He felt heartbroken and dejected—is he not charming enough for her? Or does that woman Tsunade just prefer younger men?

Forget it, he might as well head to the Bathhouse. Only beautiful women can soothe his scarred and battered heart!

Jiraiya wore an incredibly lecherous expression as he crab-walked his way into the Bathhouse...

"Ah... I'm so full!" After eating and drinking his fill, Tsunade's face was slightly flushed. She leaned back, supporting her body with her hands, and sighed.

Because of her sitting posture, this pose made Tsunade's figure look even more explosive.

Obito was stunned into silence.

"Hey... why are you having a nosebleed again? When we get back to Konoha, I'm taking you to the hospital for a check-up." After Tsunade adjusted her posture, she noticed two streams of blood flowing from under Obito's nose.

"It's nothing... I'll just call someone to clean this up." He grabbed a tissue to wipe his nose and scrambled up.

She is simply too far out of reach...

An hour later...

"Let's go soak in the hot springs. I asked around when I was ordering food; the springs at this inn are quite special."

"They even have a mixed-gender bath prepared specifically for couples!"

Heh, the little fox tail is finally showing, Tsunade thought to herself.

"Let's go."

Guided by a waiter, they arrived at a courtyard with an antique, rustic design. In the center of the courtyard was a circular pool, with white steam rising from the water.

"Please enjoy yourselves, guests. I shall take my leave." The waiter bowed, exited the courtyard, and closed the door.

"You go in first, and turn around!" Tsunade commanded.

"Alright, no problem~ Don't slack off!" Obito took off his bathrobe and jumped into the spring.

It was actually quite hot... but it felt truly indulgent.

After Tsunade entered the spring, she sat in the water, revealing only a bit of her skin below her collarbone. "You can turn around now."

"This is so comfortable. If only I had a hot spring at home," Tsunade said.

"Then we can just stay a few more days. We're on vacation anyway, so we can do whatever we want," Obito replied.

"The Third Hokage only gave me half a month off. I'm not as slippery as you; you dropped out of the Ninja Academy before you even graduated."

"Yes, yes, you are the legendary Sannin, Lady Tsunade, whom everyone respects."

"Splash..." Lu Ming got a face full of hot spring water splashed by Tsunade.

"You've done it now! Today, I'll show you the true power of your master Obito!" Obito put on a fierce expression and lunged toward Tsunade!