Anyo followed Mabui to the temporary lodging Niannian had provided. The moment he entered, he was stunned by all the things of every size inside.
"Are you trying to empty out Konoha?"
Apart from a bed, there was not even anywhere to put his feet.
Mabui said, a little embarrassed, "Weren't you the one who told me to look around? After earning a salary for so many years, I can finally spend it. Of course I had to buy a little more."
Anyo asked in puzzlement, "You spent all those years in Sunagakure and never went out shopping?"
"Ah." At the mention of this, Mabui could not help sighing. "After coming to Konoha, I finally understood why there were wars in the Shinobi World. Compared to Konoha, Sunagakure's environment is too harsh. Even survival is difficult. Where would we get spare money to spend? All sorts of..."
"Enough lamenting," Anyo interrupted. "Since you've filled this place up, come outside with me and unwind."
"Unwind? Where?"
"The hot springs."
In the hot spring bath, Anyo took off his mask and reclined lazily in the water, enjoying the steaming heat of the open-air pool. He let himself relax, leisurely and thoroughly comfortable.
After washing away his fatigue, he sensed through his soul that Mabui had changed into a swimsuit and was staring unblinkingly at him. He could not help teasing her. "What, you want to soak here too? It's fine. I asked the owner; this is a mixed bath."
"Who wants to bathe with you? I just came to have a look." With that, Mabui scurried away, without saying what she had been looking at.
Before long, Anyo sank beneath the water. The mist amid the ripples grew even hazier, making the pool look like a fairyland from a distance.
A figure