Uchiha Takashi acted as soon as he made up his mind, immediately calling Fū Uchiha over.
Uchiha Takashi was not the sort who liked dragging things out. He liked thinking things through on the spot and acting right away, doing whatever came to mind. Or perhaps that was simply an Uchiha trait.
After giving Fū Uchiha a few instructions, Uchiha Takashi took two Uchiha clansmen with him to the Land of Hot Water.
...Ka-chunk (scene transition sound effect)...
"Third Elder, up ahead is Hot Water City, the capital of the Land of Hot Water. We can rest there before heading to Hell Valley," said Hen Uchiha, who had accompanied Uchiha Takashi.
"This is the Land of Hot Water. Since there are volcanoes all over the place, it's famous for its hot springs. You can try the therapeutic hot springs here, Third Elder. They're really comfortable."
Uchiha Takashi rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Hen, did we come here to enjoy ourselves? We're here on serious business!"
Hen Uchiha said as though it were perfectly reasonable, "But we need to rest even when we're on serious business. Before we head to Hell Valley, we can contact the clansmen responsible for guarding it."
Uchiha Takashi let out a long sigh. Remembering that Hen Uchiha was only a ten-year-old child after all, he nodded and said, "All right, then. Just a short soak..."
"Ah, this feels so good!" Uchiha Takashi's eyes narrowed slightly, his head tilted back, and he felt all the tension in his body ease.
He submerged his entire body in the warm spring water, feeling the heat continually seep into him. It was practically heavenly.
The other, taciturn Uchiha clansman, Sora Uchiha, was also completely immersed in the comfortable atmosphere.
Hen Uchiha slowly gave him a thumbs-up. "What do you think, Third Elder? I wasn't wrong, was I? The hot springs here really are comfortable."
Uchiha Takashi did not particularly want to move, but he still did his best to smile and raised a finger. "Well done..."
"Ah... this feels great..." Just as the three were thoroughly enjoying their soak, the attendant slowly walked in.
"My lords, an Uchiha lord is here to see you." The attendant bowed, but before he could ask whether to show the visitor in, the man outside had already entered.
"Third Elder!" The booming voice made Uchiha Takashi lift his eyes slightly, and he saw a man with spiky hair walk in.
Ah, just as expected. All Uchiha have spiky hair. But why is he looking at me like that?
Although Uchiha Takashi was somewhat puzzled, he did not dwell on it and drawled, "What is it?"
The Uchiha clansman rubbed his eyes, seemingly unable to believe that the ten-year-old before him was the Third Elder. He had only heard that the Third Elder was very young, but he had not expected him to be this young.
And he's already visiting places like this at his age? Is that just what you'd expect from the Third Elder?
He stood there in a daze. Only when Uchiha Takashi gave him a displeased look did he finally come to his senses and hurriedly speak with respect.
"Third Elder, here's the situation. The First Elder already told us that you would be coming to Hell Valley to investigate the Chinoike Clan.
"And weren't you the one who sent someone to contact us and tell us to come find you?"
Uchiha Takashi's eyes snapped open. Oh no, how long have I been soaking? I completely forgot about that.
"Ah, this brain of mine. So young, yet already so old. I completely forgot. But since you're here, let's talk business."
Uchiha Takashi patted his head, then asked, "What's the Chinoike Clan's current situation?"
The Uchiha clansman immediately took a sheet of paper out of his clothing and began reading from it.
"We don't really know much about how the Chinoike Clan is doing right now. After all, we've never been inside Hell Valley.
"We've only heard that the conditions in there aren't very good, so presumably the Chinoike Clan isn't doing very well either.
"However, based on what their liaison told us, we've learned that the Chinoike Clan should currently number around two to three thousand.
"Their current clan head is called Naka Chinoike. We aren't too clear on any other specifics. After all, we haven't entered Hell Valley and had dealings with the Chinoike."
After listening, Uchiha Takashi closed his eyes and thought for a moment. The Chinoike population is down to only two or three thousand? They used to be just like the Uchiha.
Although the Uchiha population had not been large back then either, it certainly would not have fallen to a mere two or three thousand. It seemed the Chinoike really were having a miserable time.
However, the worse off the Chinoike were, the better it was for Uchiha Takashi. After all, the more miserable they were, the better his chances of persuading them to join the Uchiha.
While the two were talking, several women slowly walked in, swaying their hips. The woman in front spoke in an affectedly sweet voice.
"Dear guests, are you enjoying your soak?"
Seeing this, the Uchiha clansman delivering the report clicked his tongue twice inwardly, then looked at Uchiha Takashi with an extremely strange expression and said,
"Third Elder, since you're about to get down to business, I'll be off. I won't disturb you. Bye-bye." With that, he turned and left.
His train of thought abruptly interrupted, Uchiha Takashi opened his eyes in confusion, only to see that the women before him wore revealing clothes that showed off their figures to the fullest.
The woman leaned down slightly, giving Uchiha Takashi an eyeful. His breath caught, and his face immediately turned red.
"Y-you, what are you doing? What's going on?" he stammered.
Beside him, Hen Uchiha scratched his head. "Third Elder, didn't you know? This is one of the services here."
Uchiha Takashi stared at Hen Uchiha in shock. "How can you act like this is perfectly normal? Is this service legitimate?"
Hen Uchiha was thoroughly puzzled and spoke as though it were obvious. "Of course it's legitimate. This is a legal business! Is there a problem?"
Uchiha Takashi hurriedly shook his head. Could I have gotten the wrong idea? Is this a massage service?
So he asked Hen Uchiha tentatively, "Let me ask you something. By this service, do you mean a finger exercise service?"
"Uh, Third Elder, what are you talking about? Isn't this service just xx? Don't you know?"
When Uchiha Takashi heard those three words, his whole body immediately flushed red. Embarrassment and feelings he could hardly put into words spread through his heart.
"Say that again." Uchiha Takashi's eyes widened, as though he could not believe his ears. Hen Uchiha could only repeat those two words.
Only then did Uchiha Takashi confirm just what kind of establishment this was! Goddammit, this is a brothel!
That was right. Uchiha Takashi had forgotten the era again. This was the Warring States period. Alongside their hot spring services, practically every hot spring establishment in the Land of Hot Water also offered brothel services.
And the women before him had come precisely to provide that service. Every one of them swayed her hips, showing off her figure and her proud assets.
Only ten years old, when had Uchiha Takashi ever seen anything like this? He immediately felt heat in his nose, and a stream of blood flowed out.
Uchiha Takashi shook his head hard. No, no, I can't do this. I'm only ten! My body hasn't even finished developing!
"Third Elder? Are you all right? Why are you bleeding?" Hen Uchiha asked worriedly.
Uchiha Takashi raised a hand and lowered his head. "I'm fine. You stay here. I'll go out and cool off first. I'm feeling a little hot, almost like I'm getting heatstroke. I'm going out for some air."
Now he finally understood why the Uchiha clansman who had come to report had looked at them so strangely. Heh, so this is that sort of place. No wonder.
Hen Uchiha's mouth hung open, and he did not know what to say. Third Elder, it's winter right now! What do you mean, you're so hot you're almost getting heatstroke?