Konoha's Hot Springs

"Thank me? Haha... Sasuke, this is all I can teach you. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself. You can take off the weights too."

Hearing Masayo's words, Sasuke removed the sleeves and took the weighted iron rings off his hands, dropping them onto the ground with a series of clanging impacts.

"Whew..."

Sasuke let out a light breath. After removing the weights, he felt an unprecedented sense of freedom throughout his body. He felt incredibly light, and his punches and kicks were faster and more powerful than before.

Masayo took out a scroll and stored away all the weighted iron rings.

"To celebrate you passing the Ninja Academy's assessment, let's go soak in a hot spring after we eat ramen. My treat."

Masayo invited Sasuke.

"The Ninja Academy's assessment wasn't difficult at all!"

Following behind Masayo, Sasuke muttered as they headed to Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha.

Ichiraku Ramen was truly a magical place. Back when Masayo had thought he lacked the talent to become a ninja, it was where he had wanted to work. After all, the prerequisite for everything was staying alive long enough to spend your money.

Konoha's hot springs were man-made. There were men's baths and women's baths, mixed bathing was not allowed, but private VIP rooms could be reserved.

"Oh... It feels like every cell in my body has come alive. So comfortable."

Masayo leaned against the edge and groaned contentedly.

Sasuke leaned against the edge as well. His fair skin was enough to make even girls jealous.

"A private reservation? Masayo, I've heard some things about you."

"Oh? What things?"

Masayo looked at Sasuke curiously and asked.

Filled with conflict and hesitation, Sasuke could not help saying, "I heard that you and that big celebrity soaked in a hot spring together?"

Masayo: ...

"When did you start gossiping about useless things like that?"

Masayo rolled his eyes at Sasuke speechlessly. Sure enough, gossip was in everyone's nature. Even Sasuke was the same.

"That time, Koyuki used her authority on her own to turn the men's bath into a mixed bath and reserved the whole place. But other than the final step, you know what happened."

Masayo answered lazily with a yawn.

Sasuke froze, then asked in confusion, "Then what kind of relationship do you two have? Lovers? But you said you were still single!"

"Below marriage and dating, we're more like lovers, I suppose. She has her own career to pursue. Koyuki's pride would never allow her to become a decorative vase following behind a man, and I wouldn't become a freeloader's decorative vase either. I have my own pride."

Masayo's words left Sasuke completely bewildered. He still could not understand the thought processes of Masayo and Kazahana Koyuki, two career-driven powerhouses.

"Money can make the devil turn millstones. Money isn't everything, but having no money is absolutely impossible. Like right now, this was originally a women's bath, but after I reserved it, didn't they obediently let us use it?"

"What... This is actually the women's bath? Why did you specifically reserve the women's bath?"

Sasuke looked at Masayo in surprise and asked.

Masayo spread his hands and answered, "What else could it be? The men's bath is full right now. By the time we finished eating at Ichiraku Ramen, it was already dark. This is peak customer traffic, and I had to pay double before the owner agreed to reserve it."

Sasuke: ...

So he had misunderstood. He had overthought it.

Bang!

Suddenly, the sliding door opened. A blonde girl wrapped in a bath towel walked in. Her long golden hair was tied behind her head, and the abrupt change startled both Masayo and Sasuke.

"Ino?"

Masayo and Sasuke's eyes widened. They were soaking in the hot spring, completely exposed to Ino's gaze!

"Ah, Teacher Masayo, and Sasuke!"

Ino shyly covered her eyes, though it was unclear what those gaps between her fingers were supposed to block.

"What's going on? Ino, I've already reserved this place. How did you get in?"

Masayo's gaze turned cold as he scrutinized Ino, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Ah, Teacher Masayo, I'm not a pervert. The attendant at the front told me to come here. Wait, isn't this the women's bath? And Teacher Masayo, why are you here with Sasuke?"

Sasuke curled his lip, wearing an indifferent, aloof expression. One should not look at what was improper. His gaze had never landed on Ino, and Masayo was the same. She was just a kid, only slightly better than Sakura. There was nothing worth looking at.

"Sorry, sorry, gentlemen, I'm terribly sorry. The attendant at the front desk made a mistake. Please forgive us."

Suddenly, the owner hurried over and apologized to Masayo and Sasuke in the hot spring.

"A mistake? Heh... Owner, this time, we happened to run into someone we knew, so nothing serious came of it. But if it had been someone unreasonable and difficult, wouldn't they have thought the two of us were being perverts? I paid more than double, and you still made a mistake."

Masayo would not let it go. His icy voice made even Ino feel a chill run down her spine. Masayo was genuinely angry.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, truly sorry. Our staff had no idea. We're willing to compensate you for your losses. Our establishment will cover all of today's expenses for both of you."

"Hmph, it's not like I can't afford this little money. I don't want this happening again. Owner, and Ino, if you keep staring, your eyes are going to fall out. Get out..."

The final four words were full of resolve, making the owner's and Ino's hearts suddenly skip as though they had encountered something dangerous. They quickly retreated, though before leaving, Ino secretly took another look at Sasuke and Masayo before immediately departing.

"I'm sorry, Miss Ino. This was our mistake. We've prepared a separate private room for you."

"Ah, okay!"

Ino nodded, but the images of Masayo and Sasuke in the hot spring would not leave her mind.

"Wow, I can't believe I got to see Sasuke soaking in a hot spring. And Teacher Masayo, he might not be as handsome as Sasuke, but he's so refined! And he even has that V-line waist. No wonder that big celebrity fell for him."

The smile on Ino's face grew increasingly twisted.

"Hahahaha... Forehead girl, what can you possibly use to compete with me now? Sasuke and I have seen each other completely naked! Hahahaha..."

Masayo did not know about Ino's madness this time. Because of what had just happened, both his and Sasuke's good moods had been completely ruined, leaving them angry.

Most people would probably think they were taking advantage and then complaining about it, but if that situation really happened to you, you would be helpless. No matter how much people talked about gender equality, women were still seen as the weaker side and had an innate advantage. If it had not been Ino just now, but some stranger or some self-righteous person, things likely would not have ended so easily.

"Are you still soaking, Masayo?"

Sasuke came out, wrapped in a bath towel, and asked.

"I lost the mood a long time ago. Seriously, what kind of nonsense was that?"

Masayo got up as well and wrapped himself in a bath towel. After changing clothes, they parted ways and headed home separately. As Masayo passed Naruto's home, the lights were brightly lit. In his line of sight, Naruto was holding a forehead protector and striking poses endlessly in front of a mirror.