A small town in the southern region of the Land of Hot Water.
Known for its beautiful scenery and steaming hot springs, this little town had long attracted visitors from all over. But recently, a spate of disappearances involving outsiders had begun to affect its tourism industry.
Kiyosuke arrived in the town. Inns were everywhere, and the streets bustled with people from all across the nations—dark-skinned men from the Land of Lightning, shark-toothed folks from the Land of Water, and vendors from the Land of Wind selling gold dust while wearing desert scarves.
"The guy said their main base was here. Wonder if they've already cleared out."
The Cult of Jashin might be wild and reckless, but they weren't idiots. Knowing their power was limited, they preferred to hit and run. Since their headquarters was a potential liability, they often relocated it to avoid being exposed.
As he walked, Kiyosuke suddenly felt a strange, uncomfortable gaze on his back, paired with a familiar chakra signature. He turned his head—and there stood someone he hadn't seen in ages.
Pakura.
"Well, well, long time no see, Pakura. I'm surprised you're still alive."
Pakura's face darkened. She had absolutely no desire to talk to this guy. Could he be any worse at talk?
It had been a few years, and while she used to look fairly average, her appearance had drastically changed. If he had to describe it, it was like watching a flat plain grow into a hilly landscape, with tectonic activity promising to turn it into a mountain range someday.
The human body truly was a mysterious thing.
"I had no desire to see you either!" Pakura snorted and turned to leave.
Kiyosuke shook his head and suddenly asked,
"Heading to the Land of Water?"
"No comment."
"If you're not, good. Don't go. You might die."
Kiyosuke offered the warning with sincerity—though he was pretty sure this wasn't when Pakura was supposed to die.
Back when Pakura died, she already had students. He still didn't know why Kirigakure had specifically requested her presence, only to send her off to die.
After all, between the Land of Wind and the Land of Water lay the Land of Rivers, a massive Fire Country, the Land of Waves, and a wide sea. They weren't even in a position to fight.
Even during the so-called chaotic First Great Ninja War, only Kirigakure and Iwagakure had fought across territories. Both villages lost their Second Kage, and their Third Kage took over. The Land of Wind, as always, played the role of a little brother—completely unrelated to the Land of Water and certainly not in any condition to fight it.
Besides, Kirigakure shinobi really didn't do well in the Wind Country's harsh climate.
"Can you not jinx me like that?" Pakura said irritably.
"Hehe, I'm only trying to give you some friendly advice. Don't put too much trust in your Fourth Kazekage. Just saying... I still want to go on a date with the future you."
"You bastard!"
Pakura was instantly fuming. Back then, she'd been young and naïve—tricked by this perverted freak into agreeing to a "date ten years later." Every time she remembered it now, she wanted to dig a hole in the ground with her toes from secondhand embarrassment.
"You here to pick a fight?"
"Nope, just on a mission." Kiyosuke grinned.
Not that he'd tell her what kind of mission—it was standard protocol for shinobi to keep their assignments confidential. Pakura wouldn't tell him hers either.
"Alright, I've got a mission to get to. Stay alive, and don't go to Kirigakure."
Kiyosuke smiled.
"I still want to have that amazing date with you when we're both twenty."
"Aaaaargh!!!"
Pakura let out a scream of embarrassment. Kiyosuke, unfazed by the stares from passing pedestrians, burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! Are you shy? Don't worry! Any girl would get flustered in front of a guy this handsome!"
That... was clearly not shyness.
The people around them gave disapproving stares. Pakura, furious, drew her kunai.
"You bastard! Killing you right here sounds like a great idea!"
She lunged—but Kiyosuke caught her wrist effortlessly.
"Yare yare. That temper of yours... girls are better when they're gentle."
Compared to Terumī Mei's gentle personality, Pakura was downright explosive—like a powder keg waiting to go off.
"Like hell I'd be gentle with someone like you!"
"Hehe, but gentle girls are cuter."
Kiyosuke chuckled, releasing her wrist and hopping back.
"See you around. Don't forget our date—I'll be looking forward to it."
"Aaaaaaahhh! Asakawa Kiyosuke! Who the hell would go on a date with a bastard like you?!"
Pakura shouted as she chased after him, but in the blink of an eye, he vanished. Her chest heaved in frustration, and after taking a sip of tea at a nearby teahouse, she finally calmed down.
She had only come to the Land of Hot Water to relax a bit—only to bump into that guy!
Talk about bad luck.
Once Kiyosuke confirmed that Pakura had teammates with her, he stopped paying attention. After all, she was killed by Kirigakure—specifically used as a disposable pawn by the Fourth Kazekage, lured there under the guise of a top-secret mission, then ambushed and murdered.
Seeing she had comrades with her, he didn't bother tailing her.
Instead, he turned his attention to investigating the Cult of Jashin.
Snakes slithered out from under his clothing, vanishing into the underbrush.
Kiyosuke himself checked into a local inn.
Soaking in the hot spring, he let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ahh, this feels great."
Mist swirled around the bath, making visibility poor. From across the steam, he heard someone ease into the water.
"Man, this is the good stuff. You can't get this anywhere else. The hot springs in the Land of Hot Water are just different."
The voice sounded familiar. He couldn't quite place it, though.
"Yeah, totally. I've got a hot spring at home too, but somehow the ones here feel way better."
"Wait, you've got one at home? That's crazy lucky."
"Eh, it's nothing special. My family just happened to pick a good location."
They leaned back against the bath's edge, chatting idly.
The mist was thick, and neither could see the other clearly.
"Want a drink?" the man across from him asked.
"No thanks. I'm underage."
"Haha, fair. Drinking underage isn't great. I've got juice, though."
"Nice, I'll take some."
"Sure thing!"
A wooden tub floated over, carrying not only sake but also some fruit juice from the inn.
Kiyosuke poured himself a cup. From across the bath, the other man called out,
"Come on, let's have a drink together."
"Sure."
He wrapped a towel around himself and walked across the spring.
As he approached, the other man's face became visible through the mist.
Blue hair. An eyepatch. Paper charm earrings dangling from both ears.
Ao: "..."
Kiyosuke: "..."
What a small world!