Yugakure.
After two days of trekking, the two crossed the forest stretching across the Land of Hot Water and finally returned to an inhabited area.
What appeared before Yūto was a village that seemed out of place in the Shinobi World. Famous for its hot springs, it was called Yugakure.
Yugakure was known as the village that forgot war. Far removed from warfare, it seemed exceptionally peaceful.
But peace was only Yugakure's outward appearance. The village had not fared particularly well over the past two years.
It had previously suffered constant harassment from the Jashin Cult. Now, although the cult had disappeared for some unknown reason, villagers were frequently being killed under mysterious circumstances.
Their deaths were exceptionally gruesome, as though they had suffered inhuman torture, nailed to walls or tree trunks.
This had been causing the elderly Yukage considerable trouble lately.
He wanted to commission ninja from the Five Great Nations to help resolve the murders, but the Five Great Nations were busy fighting a war and had no time to spare for missions from the Land of Hot Water.
"Hello, what's the name of that village up ahead?"
Yugito Nii swung her braid as she questioned a passing silver-haired boy.
The past two days had been fairly relaxing for her. At least she was under much less pressure than she had been in Kumogakure.
In the village, she had to face the villagers' endless rejection, but at Yūto's side, aside from occasionally being bullied, she felt very much at ease.
Yūto was a gentle bastard. He helped her wash her clothes, cooked for her, and also...
Demonstrated how to twist a rabbit's head off with his bare hands.
Last night, she had even had a nightmare. She dreamed she had turned into a rabbit, and Yūto had snapped