After entering the territory of the Village Hidden in Hot Water (Yugakure), the number of bandits and thieves quickly dwindled.
Even though the Village Hidden in Hot Water actively reduced its military strength, it was still the ninja organization of the Land of Hot Water. No matter how much they declined, they were still overwhelmingly powerful against ordinary people.
"Wow, it's so lively!" Shizune clapped her hands happily, temporarily forgetting the unpleasantness of the journey.
As if worried that Setsuna might say something shocking again, Hizashi quickly interjected: "Since we've made the trip to Yugakure, you guys should find a hot spring shop and relax. For Taijutsu users like us, hot spring therapy not only soothes muscles but can also heal some internal, hidden injuries."
Guy's eyes lit up, but he looked slightly worried. "Hizashi-sensei, won't we be too relaxed? We haven't even started the mission yet."
Hizashi smiled. "Rest and effort go hand-in-hand in training. Don't let yourselves get too tense."
Shizune asked, "What about you, Hizashi-sensei?"
Hizashi replied, "I'll go meet the mission requester first, and then I'll join you later."
"Is that really okay?" Shizune felt a little guilty that they would be soaking in the hot springs while Hizashi-sensei handled the mission handover alone.
Setsuna laughed. "It would actually be worse if we went with him. We know our own strength, but the people of Yugakure don't. If they saw a team taking an A-Rank mission with a few kids in it, they might think the Leaf Village is deliberately giving them the runaround."
"Oh, that makes sense!" Guy looked enlightened. He looked at Setsuna, who was half a head taller than Hizashi-sensei, and said enviously, "I wish I could grow taller quickly, so I could look as dependable as you, Setsuna Big Brother!"
After Hizashi left, Guy and Shizune gathered around Setsuna and asked, "Setsuna Big Brother, which hot spring should we go to?"
"We should go to..." Setsuna looked around and suddenly let out a small "Huh." "Are they here too?"
"Huh? Who?" Guy was confused.
"It's Minato-senpai's team. Come on, let's go say hello." Setsuna led the two toward the entrance of a hot spring inn.
Guy immediately spotted the figures standing at the entrance and enthusiastically shouted: "My rival, Kakashi of the White Hair!"
Hearing the self-assigned nickname, Kakashi twitched with embarrassment.
"Setsuna Big Brother! Guy! Shizune!" Obito, standing nearby, waved frantically and was very excited.
The group met up. After a brief exchange of greetings, Setsuna asked, "Obito, what are you guys doing in the Land of Hot Water?"
Obito boasted proudly, "We took a B-Rank escort mission! What about you guys?"
"We took an A-Rank mission," Guy explained.
"An A-Rank mission!" Obito staggered back as if blinded by sunlight. "You guys are already taking A-Rank missions?! Kakashi, this is all your fault for slowing us down!"
Kakashi gave him a deadpan look. "You should really try to be more self-aware."
Just as the two were about to start arguing again, a well-fed man dressed as a merchant next to them exclaimed, "Taking an A-Rank mission at such a young age, that's truly impressive."
Setsuna asked, "And this is?"
"Uncle Kazu is the person we're escorting for this mission. We're supposed to escort him to the Land of Frost, but Uncle said the Land of Frost is freezing cold, so he treated us to a hot spring soak before we go. He's a super good guy!" Obito explained cheerfully.
"Haha, it's the least I can do," Kazu chuckled heartily. "You all work much harder than I do. An A-Rank mission must be quite complicated, right?"
"Not really. We mainly just have to wipe out an organization called the Jashin Cult," Guy blurted out quickly, before Setsuna could even remind him about the rules of confidentiality.
"The Jashin Cult!" Kazu's face changed. He lowered his voice and said, "You must be careful. I hear the ninja in that cult are complete lunatics. They feel no pain, and some of the monsters even enjoy suffering."
He then waved his hand mysteriously. "Be careful that they don't have people nearby. Let's not talk about this anymore. We should go bathe in the hot springs."
Not long after, Hizashi and Minato found them, having apparently run into each other on the way.
Shizune and Rin went to the women's bathhouse, while Setsuna and the others immersed themselves in the open-air hot spring on the other side. The group chatted about everything, feeling completely relaxed.
"It's strange, when you think about it," Hizashi commented. "The Land of Hot Water has such a warm, pleasant climate, yet the neighboring Land of Frost is full of biting wind and piercing cold. Such a huge climate difference between two adjacent countries."
Kazu laughed. "I did hear a saying once. Legend has it that a Reaper's sword, named 'Frost's Sorrow,' is plunged into the earth of the Land of Frost, and that's why the climate there is so bitterly cold."
Setsuna found himself speechless. "Frost's Sorrow," huh? Why not just call the sword "Frostmourne"?
Minato smiled and shook his head. "I've never heard of any Reaper having such a divine artifact."
The Reaper Death Seal originated from the Uzumaki Clan, and Minato's knowledge of the "Reaper" was probably second only to Kushina's. He knew the Reaper actually uses a short blade.
Just then, water splashed beside Setsuna, followed by a groan: "You really have to soak in the water to feel the meaning of life."
Setsuna looked to his side and instinctively raised an eyebrow. The man's clothing looked like that of one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, perhaps Raiga Kurosuki?
Setsuna had some recollection of him, as he was one of the three lucky individuals who survived the Eight Gates technique—meaning he could pull up a chair next to Madara Uchiha.
He just wondered why a ninja from the Mist Village would be here.
Setsuna didn't dwell on it. Since he was in a squad with Guy, if they ran into the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist during the Third Great Ninja War, just as in the original timeline, then it would just be bad luck for the "Tragic Seven."
The expected conflict didn't break out. The group enjoyed the rest of their time in the hot spring harmoniously.
After the hot spring, Minato's team set off toward the Land of Frost. Hizashi didn't forget to warn them: "The Land of Frost is close to the Land of Lightning. Be extremely careful. Those barbarians are the most unreasonable of all."
"I'll be mindful," Minato replied with a serious expression. He hadn't forgotten that the Cloud Village still held him responsible for the deaths of those three invading ninja a while back.
Even though the Cloud Village hadn't made any moves for nearly a year, he certainly couldn't be careless.
After seeing Minato's team off, Hizashi said, "Alright, let's go execute our mission. I've already confirmed the Jashin Cult's hideout from the village chief."
"Huh? We found the hideout that easily?" Setsuna sounded surprised.
Shizune looked worried. "Could it be a trap?"
"I don't think so," Hizashi said hesitantly. "I also asked some of the other villagers. They said that hideout has been there for a long time, not just recently established. It's just that their doctrine has become increasingly extreme in recent years."