It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that Karin woke up from her bed in the inn.
This wasn't her fault, since after last night's attack, Naruto-san had spent most of the night dealing with that guy called Hidan.
They hadn't returned to the inn until dawn.
Yawning, Karin still forced herself to wash up and change clothes despite her drowsiness, then went out to buy some breakfast before knocking on Naruto's door.
"Naruto-san, I brought you some breakfast."
Although Naruto had never ordered Karin around like those Grass ninja, Karin still wanted to do something for him.
Even if it was just small things within her ability.
Not only because she had been saved by him, but also because of the guidance and care he had given her during their time together these past days.
Since her mother's death, no one had treated Karin this way.
"The door isn't locked, just come right in."
After hearing Naruto's words, Karin pushed the door open.
The scene that greeted her made her stop in her tracks.
Naruto was sitting at a desk, concentrating intently on carving something, while in front of him was a chattering head.
Yes, just a lone head.
If it were anyone else seeing this, they might think they were still dreaming.
"You bastard! What exactly are you doing with my body?!"
"The evil god will punish you!"
"Sure, sure, let him come punish me."
The dismissive tone in Naruto's voice had no effect other than further angering that voice.
This head with slicked-back hair was naturally Hidan.
His body was now nowhere to be seen, with only his head placed on the table.
Naruto slowly rolled up a scroll marked "Body," completely ignoring Hidan's chattering beside him.
Originally, Naruto had thought Hidan's claimed "immortal body" might have some exaggeration to it.
But when he discovered that after piercing his heart, an hour had passed and this guy was still lively, he began to believe it somewhat.
As for why this guy now only had a head left... there was no need to elaborate on that.
Earlier, those Jashin cult members had been talking about "sacrifice" and such, and later Hidan kept muttering, "The evil god will punish you."
Naruto realized that this group wasn't those bounty-hunting ninja.
After a simple search, he indeed found several similar guys in the town.
So Naruto followed the trail and wiped out this group's entire nest.
But he had thought he would encounter at least one or two more "immortal bodies" like Hidan, only to discover that group was much weaker than Hidan, collapsing at the first touch.
But it was from their mouths that Naruto learned the truth about Hidan's "immortal body" and the secret technique he mastered: "Death Controlling Possessed Blood."
According to that group, Hidan's immortal body was essentially still a physical modification.
Rather than saying this guy now had an immortal body, it would be more accurate to say he was already half-dead.
This was confirmed when Naruto effortlessly sealed Hidan's body into a sealing scroll.
The torso without the head controlling it almost instantly lost its vitality.
Ordinary sealing scrolls couldn't seal living things.
In the ninja world, except for certain secret techniques, most sealing jutsu were like this.
Of course, the Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto was an exception. Tailed beasts were essentially more like specially-natured chakra rather than living creatures.
When hearing about the effect of "Death Controlling Possessed Blood," even Naruto couldn't help but click his tongue.
He couldn't guarantee whether such an unreasonable curse technique would work even on him.
Fortunately, this guy's attacks were really too weak, never mind blood, he couldn't even cut off a hair.
Standing up, Naruto looked at the still-chattering head and silently took out another blank sealing scroll.
Hidan, who had been extremely agitated just moments before, immediately became docile upon seeing this sealing scroll.
"Don't, don't seal me in there again!"
The experience of being sealed in a scroll apparently wasn't pleasant. Even a fearless guy like Hidan had given in.
Unfortunately, Naruto wasn't so easily persuaded, and he still sealed this head separately despite the other's struggles.
Hmm... he'd have to let Hidan out periodically to feed him.
This is what those Jashin cult members had said. Although Hidan had an immortal body, he still needed to absorb nutrients in time to maintain activity.
If he couldn't replenish energy for a long period, he would still die completely.
It feels like keeping a pet.
After putting away the "Head" and "Body" scrolls, Naruto finally had time to eat the breakfast Karin had brought.
"You worked hard last night too. It's all..."
"It's nothing! Naruto-san!"
As if knowing Naruto would probably blurt out something without thinking, Karin immediately interrupted him with a red face.
After the battle ended last night, Naruto had also seen the small items Karin had purchased.
Even someone as dense as him realized what had happened.
Seeing the little girl's shy appearance, Naruto timely changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, since it's inconvenient for you to use the hot springs right now, Karin, why don't we find a bathhouse to wash up?"
After all, they had sweated quite a bit during last night's ordeal, so washing up and changing into fresh clothes would be more comfortable.
Faced with Naruto's suggestion, Karin could only nod with a red face.
After finishing breakfast and packing clothes to change into, they finally left the inn.
Besides various special hot springs, this small town was also a bathing paradise.
While the entire Konoha Village only had a few bathhouses, this small town had over a dozen.
Each one had different features.
Rose baths, massage milk baths, and such. Naruto had lived on the seas for decades and had never seen such novel things.
Looking at the "dazzling array" of specialty bathhouses, Naruto silently marveled to himself.
If Jiraiya-sensei were here, he would definitely be enthusiastically perched on rooftops "gathering material."
Yes, just like that guy currently lying on the rooftop across the way.
...
Hmm?
Seemingly sensing the gaze from behind, Jiraiya put back the roof tile he had just lifted, then turned around.
His eyes met directly with Naruto's.
This moment, just like that moment.
Of course, Karin saw too.
Not just her. Several passing women also followed her gaze toward that direction.
"There's a peeping tom!"
A shrill female voice rang out, also marking the delay of the great author Jiraiya's next work's completion.
Naruto watched as Jiraiya-sensei fled in embarrassment amid the screaming, tumbling, and crawling while being pelted with various objects by bathing customers wrapped in towels below.
He silently pressed his palms together.
Rest in peace.
"Naruto-san, do you know that peeping pervert?"
"No, I don't know him at all."