Chapter 281 – Be Bold and Try
"Hehe, Big Sister, I'm back again!"
While Uchiha Itachi was arranging the rooms, Uzumaki Naruto spotted a familiar face at the front desk and immediately jogged over, grinning.
This was the same hot spring inn they had stayed at during their previous visit to the Land of Hot Springs. The hot springs here were well-known for their comfort and quality.
The front desk attendant was a gentle-looking young woman with fair skin. After taking a closer look at Naruto, recognition dawned on her face.
She smiled warmly. "Welcome back, little one."
Then, as if she noticed something, she covered her mouth in surprise.
"Oh my—are you a ninja now?"
She clearly remembered that the last time he had been here, the boy wore goggles on his forehead. Now, those had been replaced by a proper Konoha forehead protector.
As an attendant at a popular hot spring inn, she had seen countless guests and naturally recognized ninja forehead protectors. Konoha's symbol, in particular, was unmistakable.
After all, even ordinary civilians knew that Konoha was the strongest village in the ninja world.
Naruto proudly planted his hands on his hips.
"So you noticed! That's right! I'm Uzumaki Naruto—the man who'll become the Sixth Hokage!"
The attendant laughed softly and played along.
"Wow, that's amazing!"
Naruto's grin widened, looking as if his tail might start wagging any second.
"Idiot Naruto, are you coming or not?"
Uchiha Sasuke's impatient voice came from ahead.
"If you don't hurry up, we're going to the hot springs without you."
Naruto turned his head and saw Itachi-aniki, Sasuke, and the others already heading for the stairs.
"Coming!"
He waved goodbye in a rush and sprinted after them.
The front desk attendant smiled and waved back, watching him disappear upstairs.
At that moment, a young man hurried into the lobby.
The attendant withdrew her gaze and put on a professional smile.
"Welcome, sir. How many guests?"
Hyūga Castle glanced around but didn't see Naruto or the others.
He was certain they had entered this inn, which meant they had already gone upstairs.
He walked over and, for a brief moment, was distracted by the girl's appearance before quickly regaining his composure.
"I'd like a single room," he said.
As long as he booked a room, he would have access to the hot springs. Otherwise, the staff would definitely stop him from going upstairs.
Besides, the cost wasn't an issue.
"Of course."
The attendant handed him a room key.
After taking it, Hyūga Castle casually asked,
"By the way, did a group of one adult and three children just come in?"
Seeing her hesitate, he added smoothly,
"I'm with them—two black-haired, one blond, and one white-haired."
Since he described them accurately, the attendant didn't suspect anything.
"Oh, yes. They just went upstairs."
"Which floor?"
"And their room number?"
She told him directly.
"Thank you."
Hyūga Castle headed upstairs.
Because he already knew the floor and room number, he quickly caught up. Although Naruto and the others had gone ahead, Hyūga Castle moved faster and soon spotted them between the fourth and fifth floors.
Naruto's loud voice echoed down the stairwell.
Hyūga Castle slowed, his emotions fluctuating.
After taking a few steadying breaths, his eyes hardened with resolve.
He stepped forward.
"Please—wait a moment!"
The hallway was empty aside from the five of them, so they all turned around immediately.
Uchiha Itachi raised an eyebrow.
He recognized this young man—it was the one he had briefly locked eyes with earlier on the street.
So he had followed them.
Itachi calmly observed him.
No killing intent.
No immediate threat.
"What do you want?" Itachi asked.
This should have been their second encounter, the first being that brief moment earlier.
Meeting Itachi's gaze, Hyūga Castle forced himself to stay composed.
"Are you here for the green-skinned monster?"
"Green-skinned monster?"
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged confused looks.
Itachi's eyes flickered slightly.
Hyūga Castle immediately realized that they might not be here for the same reason after all.
Still, having already spoken, he pressed on.
"I'm from Konoha too," he said honestly. "My name is Hyūga Castle."
Naruto spoke up first.
"Hyūga? Then why aren't your eyes white?"
He had some knowledge of the Hyūga Clan—their pale eyes were a defining trait.
"I lost my Byakugan in an accident," Hyūga Castle replied calmly. "These eyes were transplanted later."
"And your forehead protector?" Naruto asked, circling him.
"Why aren't you wearing it?"
Hyūga Castle's heart skipped a beat.
The gazes on him had grown sharper.
Mistake him for a rogue ninja—and things could get troublesome.
Suppressing his nerves, he took out his Konoha forehead protector.
Naruto leaned in, checked it, then nodded.
"Why not wear it? Forehead protectors are cool."
Hyūga Castle ignored that comment and quickly redirected the conversation.
"The village was attacked," he said.
"Six dead. Four missing. All of them women."
Uchiha Itachi's interest sharpened.
A creature capable of such acts…
Still, nothing he couldn't handle.
Naruto clenched his fists.
"That monster's awful!"
He turned to Itachi eagerly.
"Itachi-aniki, let's go catch it and take it down!"
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