Chapter 64: Hot Spring
Wasn't he just brainwashed by Danzo Shimura? How in the world did they supposedly grow up together like that? Renji grumbled inwardly to himself, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief bubbling up inside. But despite his irritation, he still extended his hand and hauled Sai up from the dirt-covered ground, pulling him to his feet with a firm grip. After all, in the eyes of Naruto and the rest of the team, Renji's reputation was still that of the reliable, kind-hearted guy who always had everyone's back—no need to shatter that image right now.
"Only those who've truly spent real time with Sasuke, sharing those deep moments and battles, can understand that he's nothing like what you're claiming," Renji said, locking eyes with Sai and delivering his words with an unyielding, determined tone that left no room for doubt. Don't even bother asking why he was saying this—it was just that old urge to put on a show and make his point crystal clear kicking in again, like an instinct he couldn't quite shake.
Sai clung to Renji's hand without releasing it, a subtle, barely noticeable smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he completely tuned out everything Renji had just declared. When it came to Uchiha Sasuke, Sai had zero interest in hearing any kind of defense or justification from Renji; it only fueled the resentment simmering deep within him.
"You don't get Sasuke at all, and that's exactly why you're spouting nonsense like that," Renji replied, his gaze fixed on Sai with a strained expression, as if holding back a storm of emotions.
"Don't you dare say it again," Renji added, repeating the warning with a voice that grew noticeably heavier, laced with a sharper edge of authority.
He's defending Uchiha Sasuke yet again! Sai's jaw clenched tighter, his teeth grinding subtly in suppressed fury.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra (72,456,500 / 100000000)]
"Renji, you're showing bias toward them once more, aren't you?" Sai's smile stayed plastered on his face, unchanging and eerily calm, but the malice swirling in his eyes surged forward like an unstoppable tidal wave, dark and overwhelming.
"Renji is our comrade through and through—he's not biased toward us at all; he just knows the real truth about what Sasuke is truly like, deep down!" Naruto burst out excitedly, his eyes sparkling with fierce loyalty and unbridled enthusiasm, lighting up the tense atmosphere around them.
Great! Renji was still solidly on their side, standing firm without wavering!
This was awesome—pure relief washed over Naruto's features.
"Comrades? What kind of comrades do you think you are, anyway?" A chilling edge crept into Sai's smile as he shot back with biting sarcasm, his words dripping with disdain. "Have you ever seen Renji back when he was just a kid, vulnerable and growing up?"
"Have you gone through those brutal, grueling training sessions right alongside him, pushing limits day after day?"
"If we're talking real comrades here, then he and I were the original partners from the very start!"
"It was way earlier than whatever bond you claim to have with him!"
"What gives you the right to talk so boldly and confidently right in front of me like you know everything?"
"You!" Naruto's temper flared up instantly at Sai's provocative words, his emotions boiling over into a raging storm of agitation that made his whole body tense and ready to explode.
"Enough, both of you!" Kakashi finally intervened, unable to hold back any longer as he shot a cold, piercing glare at Sai and Naruto, who had been bickering nonstop during their entire journey. How much longer were these two idiots planning to keep this pointless quarrel going? It was giving him a massive headache, throbbing relentlessly in his temples.
"Now, you've got exactly two options to pick from here," Kakashi stated in a completely expressionless tone, his voice flat and commanding, cutting through the chaos like a sharp blade.
"Option one: You can stay right here and keep arguing your hearts out, going at it for a full day and night if that's what it takes—doesn't matter to me one bit."
Kakashi swept them with another icy glance, emphasizing his indifference.
"Option two: We hit the road right now, pick up the pace, and make a beeline for the hot spring inn so we can all unwind with some proper, comfortable lodging and relaxation."
Once Kakashi laid out the choices, he stood there silently, waiting for their decision without a hint of impatience showing on his masked face.
Just think of it as him shelling out some cash to dodge this brewing disaster and keep the peace!
Kakashi tilted his head upward, staring at the sky at a dramatic forty-five-degree angle, as if seeking solace from the clouds above.
That's when he noticed Renji doing the exact same thing—gazing skyward at that same theatrical angle, mirroring his exasperation perfectly.
Kakashi: "..."
For Renji, this choice was a no-brainer, utterly unquestionable in his mind. There was no way in hell he'd let anything derail his chance to soak in those heavenly hot springs and melt away the day's stresses. So, under the weight of his intense, unyielding stare, the endlessly squabbling Naruto and Sai finally piped down, falling obediently silent as they turned toward the hot spring inn, the tension easing just a fraction.
"..."
Kakashi let out a deep, weary sigh—hadn't a single one of them actually listened to his words? This whole Jonin team leader gig was exhausting; maybe he should just hand it over to Renji and call it a day!
With that thought, Kakashi fished out his trusty Icha Icha Paradise from his pouch once more, flipping it open and diving back into its pages, instantly forgetting the drama that had just unfolded.
They rolled into the hot spring inn just before dusk settled over the landscape, the fading light casting a warm glow on the traditional buildings.
…
In the men's bath area, Renji, Sai, Naruto, and Kakashi lined up side by side along the edge of the steaming pool, sinking into the soothing hot spring waters together, letting the heat seep into their weary muscles.
Naruto had a towel draped over his head like a makeshift crown, his cheeks flushed a deep red from the steam and warmth enveloping him.
Renji, meanwhile, was fully submerged up to his neck in the natural hot spring pool, where a faint, earthy sulfur scent wafted through the air, and he blissfully narrowed his eyes in pure contentment.
So damn refreshing! This was the good life, no doubt about it—pure bliss after all the chaos.
"Indeed, it's only when men strip down and bare their chests like this that they can truly become confidants, sharing the raw honesty of the moment..." Kakashi mused aloud, not missing a beat as he pulled out "Icha Icha Paradise" from nearby and casually flipped through a few steamy pages, his one visible eye scanning the text with evident enjoyment.
Always with that book—never a dull moment without it.
Spotting Kakashi engrossed like that sparked Naruto's curiosity to no end. He abruptly stood up, splashing water everywhere, and waded over toward Kakashi with wide-eyed interest. "Kakashi-sensei, what the heck are you always reading in there that's got you so hooked?"
Right at that instant, Sai's gaze was locked unblinkingly on Naruto's lower body, his face twisting into an expression that was hard to pin down—some mix of shock, amusement, and something oddly analytical.
After a long pause, Sai finally spoke up slowly, his voice carrying a deadpan tone. "You really are still a full-fledged man down there, huh..."
Kakashi's nerves shot through the roof; the last thing he wanted was for Naruto to catch a glimpse of the explicit "Icha Icha Paradise" clutched in his hand. No way was he letting anyone under eighteen get exposed to that kind of content—it was practically a rule etched in stone!
In a flash, he wrapped his bath towel around himself securely and bolted out of the hot spring pool, water dripping everywhere in his hasty retreat.
Sai's offhand comment successfully distracted Naruto, pulling his focus away from Kakashi. Not one to dwell, Naruto quickly slapped his hands over his lower body for cover, then ducked back under the water with a splash, yelling at Sai in embarrassment. "Hey, no peeking, you creep!"
"You keep yapping about 'little pecker' stuff—it's seriously annoying and embarrassing!" Naruto hollered again, his voice echoing off the tiled walls with raw anger.
Renji: "..."
I'm utterly speechless at this point—what a circus.
He'd even gone out of his way to personally craft one for the hot spring scene, making sure his own was the biggest and most impressive by far.
Heh, worth it.
When they all first entered the water, their eyes had inevitably wandered to Renji's impressive 'capital,' and the faces of Kakashi, Naruto, and Sai had all drained to a sickly green hue in collective envy and shock.
They were all human beings, so why the hell was the gap between them so ridiculously massive and unfair?
Just beyond a three-meter bamboo screen divider lay the women's bath, steam rising lazily on the other side.
Naruto's loud, unrestrained outburst carried right over the barrier, immediately drawing peals of laughter from the women soaking there.
In a sudden panic, Naruto remembered that Sakura was in the women's bath on the opposite side. Had she heard his idiotic shout blasting out so loudly just moments ago? The thought made his stomach twist.
A weird, flustered blush crept across Naruto's face, turning his already red cheeks an even deeper shade.
Compelled by impulse, he started swimming stealthily toward the bamboo screen, curiosity overriding common sense.
But right then, Kakashi—who was on the verge of exiting the bath entirely—suddenly called out to stop him. "Naruto."
"What is it, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto twisted his head around, confusion etched on his dripping face as he paused mid-stroke.
"I'll share something really interesting with you before I head out," Kakashi replied, his voice tinged with a sly, knowing smile that hinted at the punchline to come.
"Huh? Spill it—what's the story?" Naruto asked, his curiosity piqued even higher now.
Kakashi drew it out deliberately. "When Lord Jiraiya was young, he once had a brush with death that left him in pretty bad shape."
At those words, Naruto's expression shifted to dead serious in an instant, all playfulness vanishing.
Ero-sennin meant the world to him, so whatever this near-death tale was, it had to be no trivial matter—his heart raced with concern.
He leaned in eagerly. "What the heck actually happened to him?"
Kakashi continued at a measured pace, building the suspense. "Six broken ribs, fractured hands in multiple places, and several internal organs ruptured from the impact... Word is, it all stemmed from getting smashed hard by Lady Tsunade's insane, monstrous strength..."
Hearing that brutal detail, Naruto broke out in a cold sweat, chills running down his spine, while a burning question formed in his mind: Why on earth had Granny Tsunade gone so overboard in pounding Ero-sennin like that?
He didn't have to wait long for the answer to click.
Kakashi dropped his final bombshell and turned to leave, abandoning Naruto to tremble alone in the steaming bathwaters.
"Because he tried pulling off exactly what you're scheming to do right now."
Those words hit Naruto like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, exploding in his brain and making every piece fall into place with horrifying clarity.
So, Ero-sennin had once attempted to sneak a peek at Granny Tsunade while she was bathing, and that's why he'd endured such a savage, bone-crushing punishment—karma at its finest.
With that realization crashing down, Naruto ditched any lingering lucky streak mentality he had, swimming obediently back to Renji's side without another thought of mischief, his adventure thoroughly quashed.
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