Dusk fell like gauze, and the misty steam mingled with the sulfuric scent unique to hot springs, drifting softly through the air.
Renya and Hashirama, both dressed in yukata provided by the hot spring inn, stepped slowly out of the bath, their wooden clogs clacking lightly against the floor.
In Hashirama's arms, a scruffy stray cat with mottled fur had curled into a fluffy ball, purring contentedly and occasionally rubbing its head against his large palm.
"Little Renya, what do you think we should name this cat?"
Clearly, he was considering adopting this stray...
Renya didn't quite understand Hashirama's decision, but still helped him come up with a name.
"This cat's a tabby. Let's just call it Tanihana."
"Hahaha, that's a great name. From now on, you'll be called Tanihana." Hashirama cheerfully ruffled the fur of the cat in his arms.
Tanihana instinctively licked his palm, seemingly fond of the name.
"Hashirama-san, you want to adopt this ugly cat?" Renya frowned and muttered with dissatisfaction, "It's hideous, just toss it away."
"Meow meow meow~" Tanihana seemed to understand and meowed indignantly at Renya.
"Oh? You mangy thing can understand human speech?" Renya raised an eyebrow.
In the ninja world, ordinary stray cats didn't understand human language—only summoning beasts possessed the intellect for that.
The fact that this stray seemed to comprehend him... was a bit surprising.
"Meow meow meow~" Tanihana rolled its eyes at Renya, as if to say: [What did you expect, human?]
"Hahaha, I knew Tanihana was clever." Hashirama gently stroked the cat's head, and Tanihana narrowed its eyes in pleasure.
"Such a cunning little ugly thing," Renya muttered under his breath.
He really had no interest in pets—especially ones that looked so... odd.
...
Leaving the hot spring inn, the two of them strolled along the street.
Under the eaves of roadside shops, dozens of vermilion lanterns glowed softly.
Men and women in yukata wandered about leisurely.
Vendors on both sides of the street called out enthusiastically, their voices overlapping. The smoky aroma of candied chestnuts, the sweetness of grilled taiyaki, and the mellow fragrance of sake all mixed in the air, drifting right into their noses.
Renya instinctively swallowed. He was indeed a little hungry.
They'd been on the road for days without eating anything decent.
"Little Renya, you hungry?" Hashirama asked with a grin. "Come, I'll take you to get something to eat."
He led Renya to an izakaya.
(T/N: An izakaya is a type of casual Japanese pub or tavern that serves a variety of small dishes and alcoholic beverages, similar to a tapas bar or gastropub.)
"The hot spring inn's hostess said this place has great grilled tai fish ramen. Supposedly the broth is made from a secret recipe that's over a hundred years old."
Hashirama swallowed and then ushered Renya inside.
...
As they entered, the thick aroma of bone broth enveloped them, making both of them involuntarily gulp again.
To be fair, this century-old shop might actually be something special.
Tatami mats lined the floor, and the warm glow of candlelight cast customers' silhouettes onto the paper sliding doors, behind which quiet conversations could be heard.
The proprietress, wearing an apron, came forward enthusiastically.
"Welcome, both of you. Please follow me."
They sat at a low table by the window. Tanihana was placed inside a bamboo basket lined with a thick blanket, immediately curling up to nap.
Hashirama took the menu and pointed at the signature dish.
"Two bowls of tai fish ramen, and one hot spring egg."
Soon, steaming bowls of ramen were placed on the table.
Golden-brown grilled fish floated in the broth, soft-boiled eggs soaked in amber soup, and the green scallions and pinkish pork slices were arranged with care.
Hashirama picked up a piece of fish, blew on it gently, and fed it to Tanihana, who had climbed back onto his lap. The little guy eagerly licked at it, getting broth all over its whiskers.
"Hashirama-san, this little fellow seems to have clung onto you," Renya commented, scooping up a spoonful of broth. "Too bad it's so—"
He was abruptly cut off by Tanihana's sudden meow.
At some point, the little guy had climbed onto the table and was now staring eagerly at the pork slices in Renya's bowl.
Renya: "..."
Hashirama laughed and tore the pork from his own bowl into small pieces.
"Tanihana, over here."
Upon hearing that, Tanihana happily trotted over and began munching on the offered pork slices.
After eating its fill, it returned to the bamboo basket to nap again.
Renya sighed.
"This guy is seriously ugly and lazy."
...
After dinner, the two of them left the izakaya.
At some point, Tanihana had woken up and was now perched on Hashirama's collar, curiously eyeing the street lanterns.
A sweet, roasted aroma drifted in from the distance, and Hashirama's eyes lit up.
Ahead, at a dango stand, the vendor was skewering glutinous rice dumplings coated in sugar glaze.
"Little Renya, want a little dessert?" Hashirama turned to him. "I think that place's tricolor dango looks really good."
Without giving Renya a chance to reply, he walked up to the stand.
Renya stared at his excited back and sighed softly.
"Only children like sweet things."
After living through two lifetimes, he considered himself long past the age of loving candy.
But then, two skewers of dango—pink, amber, and white—were handed to him.
"Who says only kids like sweets?" Hashirama wiggled the skewer, the sugar glaze sparkling under the lantern light.
He winked and stuffed one skewer into Renya's hand.
"Try it—this shop's owner used to make desserts for the daimyō."
Even Tanihana got excited and stuck out its little pink tongue to reach the nearest dumpling, only for Hashirama to dodge with a chuckle.
Under Hashirama's expectant gaze, Renya helplessly bit into a pink sakura-flavored dumpling.
The soft glutinous rice melted between his teeth, blending with the sweet-sour jam and rich honey.
Renya's eyes instinctively squinted with delight. The taste was surprisingly good.
"Little Renya, good, right?" Hashirama asked gleefully.
Hearing that, Renya suddenly realized he'd let his guard down.
He turned his head, blushing slightly, and coughed.
"I-It's okay, I guess."
"If you like it, eat more." Hashirama, ignoring Tanihana's angry meowing, handed him his remaining dango.
Renya instinctively took it and stared blankly at the skewer in his hand.
What... am I even doing?
Tanihana, noticing this, began meowing even louder, as if shouting:
[Human, you've changed!]
Seeing Renya not refuse, a smile crept onto Hashirama's lips.
It reminded him of the times he spent with Madara.
That guy had been the same as Renya at first—stubbornly refusing to eat sweets.
In the end, Madara had caved under Hashirama's pleading and reluctantly ate a dango.
As for whether he liked it or not, Madara had never given a straight answer.
But seeing Renya's reaction now, Hashirama finally understood.
Because Madara's expression back then had been exactly the same...
"Meow meow meow~"
Tanihana suddenly leapt down, circling around Renya's wooden clogs.
"You greedy ugly cat."
Renya bent down and fed it a dumpling.
"Meow~" Tanihana swallowed it whole, eyes sparkling with anticipation—clearly asking for more.
It looked up, only to see Renya holding two empty bamboo skewers.
Tanihana: "Meow meow meow!!!"