A Highlight of Life (2)

"I heard a man got into the women's bath next door."

"Seriously?"

"It was a kid, and he was pretty handsome. Those beauties all screamed when they saw him."

"No wonder the vice-captain wasn't here."

"If only I were as handsome as Itachi."

"Vice-captain? What vice-captain?"

"Oh, it's nothing. If I went in with my clothes on, they'd probably scream too."

"Different kind of scream. If you went in, they'd only be scared."

"That's true. Though there are places that would definitely make them jealous."

"If you kept your pants on, you could indeed brag a little. But you've already taken them off—who are you trying to scare?"

"You're full of shit."

The other Anbu members muttered nearby and struck up conversations with a group of strangers. They'd been driven to one side, after all. Who wanted to bathe with men? Did they really think big arms and thighs would draw women's attention?

That would only attract men.

The men nearby came right over to ask how they trained and whether they could teach them. The worst part was that this bunch of perverts actually started touching them.

"Forget it. You weren't born with that kind of luck."

"Once you're old enough to want to go in, you won't be allowed in anymore."

"Don't look at how much the vice-captain is enjoying himself. Maybe he's suffering inside too."

"That's true."

"I was the same when I used to play in the mud with the village beauty. I only cared about playing and ignored her, even made her cry. Otherwise, I'd probably be lying around living off a rich woman by now. Why would I need to work myself to the bone like this?"

"You? With the village beauty? Stop bragging."

"Tsk, tsk. Don't drag me down in the future."

"Everyone's ignorant when they're young. My condolences."

"The village beauty is probably having kids with some other guy now, huh?"

"You stabbed right into my pain."

"Painful mask."

Kakashi soaked in the hot spring with an uncertain expression, watching the men beside him boast and joke around as they scrubbed themselves.

For some reason.

He suddenly felt an inexplicable disgust toward Itachi Uchiha, like the hatred of a man whose wife had been stolen. He couldn't explain it. Logically, he should've been utterly disheartened, so why did he feel such obvious hostility?

Could it really be as the Third Hokage and Lord Danzo had said?

That evil Uchiha Clan.

As for everything before this.

Sometimes men weren't that different from women. When you treated them well, they'd practically take their pants off for you. But once the two of you fell out, you became even more opposed to each other.

"Hmph!"

The Anbu members nearby naturally noticed their captain's expression. But as Konoha's elite ninja, every person selected for the Anbu was an outstanding powerhouse chosen from thousands. The arrogance in their bones was something one could only truly understand after spending time with these geniuses.

"Damned brat, just wait."

Kakashi could also tell this team would be difficult to lead. He spoke viciously, especially since that Oda Misuzu might even be involved with him.

If that got out, it would be huge news.

Anbu members weren't allowed to have feelings, especially feelings for teammates that arose while carrying out missions. That was absolutely forbidden.

Every rule had been established with bloody lessons serving as warnings.

Still, he was rather reluctant to punish that big-breasted beauty from the Anbu.

"Caw!"

A Crow circled in the sky before slowly landing in the distance to observe everything. Everything reflected in its black pupils entered Itachi's mind.

But all he could do now was close his eyes and rest. With so many beauties around him, dealing with them was exhausting enough.

"These people..."

Itachi looked helplessly at the women around him, who kept taking advantage of him, yet he still wore a bright smile.

Why did it feel like he'd become some kind of escort instead?

He was supposed to be here to relax. This was killing him.

His triangular physique narrowed around the eight abs above his slim waist, supporting his prominent pectorals. Every line of those bulging muscles brimmed with power, a feeling born only from youth and discipline.

Especially when droplets of water ran down the curves of his fair skin, the areas around his wounds tightened painfully as though in a stress response. That sense of power in his breathing carried a beastlike wildness, and every contraction made the beauties feel their own bodies tremble along with that strength. No, no, they really couldn't take it anymore—ahhh!

Who would've thought this little puppy would have such a perfect body at such a young age?

Oh my god.

The crowd screamed again. The men in the hot spring on the other side of the bamboo partition were utterly captivated, wishing they could climb over directly. Quite a few even pressed themselves against the bamboo, trying to listen more clearly or catch a glimpse of something.

Especially that sound of hot spring water gliding over smooth, creamy skin. Just hearing those slick sounds, like pearls large and small falling onto a jade plate, flowing along tender white flesh—

That alone was enough for them to eat several meals with.

"Mm, women really do like these young pretty boys."

A toad hopped nearby. Not far away, an old man held a brush between his teeth, with a large scroll beside him. His sloppy attire made him look like some wandering ninja.

After thinking for a moment, he began writing furiously. As the author of Make-Out Paradise, he needed inspiration at all times.

Of course, sometimes inspiration required him to use the Transformation Technique and go in to experience it personally. But perhaps because he didn't understand women, he was always exposed and thrown out by them. They even threatened to break his legs if they ever saw that old pervert again. That made things difficult in such a bustling area.

After all, he carried the adoration of hundreds of thousands of readers and fans. Naturally, this paid content had to be offered to his most beloved supporters.

But it looked like he really had a template now.

This was how he'd do it from now on!

Thinking that he could walk in openly without relying on a ninja pet like a toad to observe, the old man couldn't help grinning foolishly behind a tree. Before he knew it, the bridge of his nose felt slightly warm, as though something were slowly flowing out.

Pervy Sage didn't care about that. He casually dabbed at it with his brush and continued working through the night. After all, even a hero could be brought low by a single coin. Supporting himself and visiting bathhouses both cost money.

As an unaffiliated person, where was he supposed to get that much money? Konoha didn't even give him much each month.

The village was still recovering from devastation. Where would it find spare money to support idlers?

He didn't want to keep going to those shops full of older women. The smell was simply too overwhelming. Could it be that Pervy Sage himself couldn't enjoy beauties like young models?

Of course, preferably the Tsunade type.

But the reason he didn't dare to force his way in was also because Tsunade had left him with certain lifelong shadows back then.

Thinking of that, Jiraiya felt a slight headache.