Konoha Year 59

The lodging house, Hot Springs Inn · Hazy Moon, was an old establishment tucked away at the end of a quiet slope deep within Hot Spring Town.

The three-story wooden building had faded indigo noren hanging from its eaves, while the paper screens on its sliding doors reflected the dim yellow light inside.

A faint scent of sulfur always lingered in the air, mixed with the slightly astringent smell of damp old wood.

The innermost suite on the second floor had a tea room for receiving guests in the outer section and sleeping quarters within.

At that moment, Tsunade sat cross-legged beside the low table in the tea room, an utterly empty cash box spread before her, her face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Shizune knelt opposite her with Tonton in her arms, carefully wiping her face with a hot towel.

There was a small bruise on her forehead, though it was unclear whether she had bumped it amid the chaos at the casino or punched herself in frustration after losing too badly.

"One million two hundred and seventy thousand ryo, a full one million two hundred and seventy thousand ryo, Lady Tsunade!"

Shizune's voice was on the verge of tears. "You said we'd only play until sunset, but then you... you even bet the advance payment for the treatment. At this rate, forget the gambling ship in the Land of Lightning—we won't even have money to eat tomorrow..."

"Enough nagging!"

Tsunade irritably slapped her hand aside. "A loss is a loss. I'll win it back next time. Is the hot water ready? I want a bath."

"It was ready ages ago, but..."

At that moment, the sound of a sliding door opening interrupted Shizune's complaint.

Yamada Soji stood in the doorway, clearly having just finished bathing.

His short silver-white hair clung damply to his forehead, its tips still dripping. Droplets slid down his sharply defined jawline and disappeared beneath the loose collar of his dark gray yukata.

More than a year of recuperation and the eradication of his Bloodline Disease had stretched out his once somewhat slight frame. He was still lean, but the beginnings of a straight, sturdy shoulder line were already visible.

After soaking in the hot springs, his skin carried a healthy glow, no longer bearing that deep-seated pallor that had seemed etched into his bones and blood.

The most striking thing was still his eyes. They were now covered once more by a dry black strip of cloth, and against his slightly flushed skin after bathing, that patch of black looked especially conspicuous.

The strip was tied into a simple flat knot behind his head, its two trailing ends resting over his shoulders.

Though his eyes were covered, he precisely avoided the floor cushions and tea set as he walked in, heading straight to the other side of the low table and sitting down with a relaxed, natural posture.

"The hot springs were nice," he said, his voice slightly hoarse from the bath. "The milk bath really lived up to its reputation. My skin does feel smoother."

Shizune unconsciously nodded along, then her face fell again. "Sōji, you still have the mood to soak in hot springs... We're about to go bankrupt and sleep on the streets..."

Tsunade did not respond.

Her golden eyes, sharp as surgical scalpels, had been fixed on Sōji ever since he entered.

Her gaze swept over his slightly damp hair roots, the faint outline of his collarbones beneath the yukata's neckline, and the hand resting casually on his knee.

There was an extremely faint, unnatural flush around his finger joints, like traces left by flesh healing rapidly.

And...

Despite having bathed, beneath the scent of hot spring steam and soapwort was a faint trace of blood.

It was not fresh blood. It was the kind of lingering smell produced when blood frozen at low temperatures was forcibly thawed, mingled with some chilling remnant that made one uncomfortable.

"You fought someone." Tsunade suddenly spoke, not as a question but as a certain statement.

The air in the tea room froze for a moment.

Shizune stopped wiping Tonton's face and looked at Sōji in shock. Tonton gave an uneasy snort in her arms, her little nose twitching toward him.

Sōji raised a hand, lifted the iron kettle warming on the brazier, and poured himself a cup of hot tea. Steam rose and blurred half his face beneath the black blindfold.

"Yeah."

He admitted it readily, taking a sip of tea. "Just some minor trouble. I cleaned it up."

"Minor trouble?"

Tsunade scoffed, leaning forward with her elbows braced on the table as she stared at him. "The kind of minor trouble that made you use Shikotsumyaku and drew blood? Where would a peaceful place like the Land of Hot Water find that kind of minor trouble?"

At that, Sōji set down his cup, lightly rubbing the rim with his fingertips. His tone remained calm. "They were from Hidden Mist. They probably never gave up looking for me."

"Hidden Mist ANBU?"

Shizune's expression changed. "They tracked you here? How many were there? Sōji, you weren't hurt, were you?"

As she spoke, she instinctively wanted to put Tonton down and come inspect him.

"Six. I wasn't hurt."

Sōji's tone was calm. "The location was secluded, so I didn't alert anyone from Hidden Hot Water, and I left no survivors. There probably won't be any tails for a while."

He made it sound casual, but both Shizune and Tsunade could hear the danger behind it.

Six Hidden Mist ANBU had surrounded and attacked him at a location of their choosing, yet he had emerged unscathed and wiped them all out.

That level of strength...

Tsunade leaned back against her chair again and folded her arms, the concern in her eyes easing somewhat.

"Seriously, those mad dogs from Hidden Mist. The Third Shinobi World War ended years ago, and they're still doing that internal purge nonsense."

"Then again, the Blood Mist Policy may have been abolished in name, but that madness underneath won't disappear in just a generation or two."

As she spoke, she paused and casually asked Shizune, "Come to think of it, what year did the Third Shinobi World War end? Konoha... Konoha Year 47? 48?"

"It was Konoha Year 48, Lady Tsunade, when the nations gradually signed their armistice agreements," Shizune immediately answered.

"Although the large-scale fighting had already stopped before then, minor conflicts continued until that year."

She remembered such dates quite clearly. "After that, although the Five Great Nations still had border frictions, there really were no more major wars. Now every country is focused on recovery and development."

"Konoha Year 48..."

Hearing that, Yamada Soji repeated it softly, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously. "Then now should be... Konoha Year 59?"

"That's right!"

Shizune nodded beside him, then asked, "This year is indeed Konoha Year 59. Is something wrong, Sōji?"

"Nothing."

Sōji shook his head, his blindfolded face turning toward the night beyond the window. "I just feel like time passes so quickly."

Konoha Year 59.

He calculated silently. Naruto, that child of destiny, should have been nine years old this year.

He was three years younger than this body's age. That meant there were still three years until that important turning point: the Konoha Crush Plan.

Three years was neither especially long nor especially short.

"Hey, kid!"

At that moment, Tsunade's voice pulled him back to reality. "Since the people from Hidden Mist found their way here, that means your whereabouts have been exposed."

"What are you planning to do next? Keep sailing with us? Let me make this clear first—I'm not going to be your bodyguard for free."

Sōji smiled and turned toward her. "Lady Tsunade, you're worrying too much. Hidden Mist is after me. They won't involve anyone else."

"Besides, I need to see Yamada Trading Company's goods through to the end. As for safety, I can handle that myself."

"Hmph, suit yourself!"

Tsunade curled her lips and irritably scratched her hair. What a pity she could not take the opportunity to extort a protection fee.

"Shizune, stop standing around. Go ask the innkeeper whether they have any cheap alcohol. Since I lost all our money, I should at least drink enough to make it back."

"Lady Tsunade, we really don't have any money left!"

"Tch, put it on the tab. Put it on that kid's tab!"

Tsunade pointed at Yamada Soji with an unhappy expression. "Didn't he say he'd cover our food and lodging? Alcohol counts as food and lodging too."

Sōji laughed at that, pulling a small wallet from his yukata sleeve and sliding it toward Shizune. "There's some loose change inside. Sorry to trouble you, Miss Shizune. Also..."

As he spoke, he took out several larger-denomination bills and placed them on the table.

"Consider this my personal thanks for the two of you taking care of me for more than a year. It may not be enough to make up for Lady Tsunade's losses tonight, but it should help with the immediate problem."

Shizune looked at the stack of bills, then at Tsunade, unable to decide. She wanted to refuse with dignity, but she and Lady Tsunade really were about to go bankrupt.

Tsunade stared at the money for several seconds, then suddenly reached out, snatched it up, and tucked it into her clothes in one smooth motion.

"At least you know what's good for you. Shizune, go buy the alcohol. Get the most expensive kind, and bring some snacks too. Pickles will do—we can save a little that way!"

Shizune did not know whether to laugh or cry. She stood while holding Tonton. "Yes, yes, yes. Anyway, Sōji, thank you."

After thanking him, Shizune took the wallet, slid open the door, and left.