Happy times are always short-lived.
Naruto lay sprawled out on the wooden floorboard, his chest rising and falling as he stared blankly at the ceiling. His limbs felt like lead, his body hollowed out as though every last drop of energy had been drained from him.
Beside him, Hinata let out a small, satisfied sigh. Her lips curved into a gentle smile as she fixed her clothes and tidied up her hair. Naruto, however, was clearly in low spirits. His usually bright eyes seemed dull, his movements sluggish.
Sure enough, there were only exhausted bulls… and no ruined fields.
The sound of hurried footsteps clattered through the corridor outside. Hinata stiffened, startled. She quickly pulled Naruto up, whispering frantically, "Naruto-kun, hurry, put on your clothes!"
They barely managed to get dressed when, after more than ten seconds, the wooden door creaked open.
"Sister! Huh? Brother Naruto is here too?"
The intruder was none other than Hanabi Hyūga, Hinata's younger sister.
Hanabi stepped inside, her pale lavender eyes taking in Naruto's awkward expression and forced smile. Tilting her head, she asked curiously, "Brother Naruto, why do you look like your mental state isn't very good?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head, forcing a sheepish laugh. "Ah, nothing, nothing at all!"
Hinata quickly interjected before her sister could press further. "Ah, Hanabi, why did you come looking for me?"
Hanabi folded her arms and replied, "I just came back from outside. I heard that Naruto's parents visited our house today. Are they here to arrange an engagement, sister?"
Hinata's cheeks flushed, but she nodded with a soft smile. "Mm… absolutely."
Hanabi clapped her hands together happily. "That's wonderful! Sister, you've been secretly in love with Naruto for so many years, and now you've finally achieved your dream. Hey, Brother Naruto—you better treat my sister well from now on!"
Naruto straightened up, nodding earnestly. "Of course. I'll take care of her."
Hanabi grinned widely. Ever since childhood, she had noticed how her sister's eyes always followed Naruto. To see the two finally come together filled her with joy.
"Oh, by the way," Hanabi added suddenly, "Father wants you to come over, Sister."
Hinata nodded. "Okay, I'll be there right away."
With that, she followed Hanabi out of the room, leaving Naruto behind. Once the sisters disappeared down the hallway, Naruto struggled to his feet, moving stiffly.
He clutched his waist and groaned. A wave of dizziness washed over him.
"No good… I need to recover somehow."
Closing his eyes, Naruto called inwardly: Kurama, lend me your power!
In the sealed space within him, the massive Nine-Tails opened one eye and looked down at him with clear amusement.
"Oi, Naruto… you look like you've just come back from fighting a war," Kurama rumbled. "You know, when we fought Kaguya, you didn't look this pathetic."
Naruto waved his hand tiredly. "You wouldn't understand…"
Forget Kaguya… Hinata is way scarier.
Kurama tilted his head, tails swishing. "What happened with you just now? Why did you suddenly ask me to lend you strength? And… why did I hear Hinata crying earlier?"
Naruto turned red and quickly waved his hand again, silently begging the fox not to ask.
Kurama huffed. "Hmph. You humans are ridiculous."
Still, the fox released his chakra. The warm, powerful energy surged into Naruto's body, instantly speeding up his recovery. Kurama's chakra always accelerated regeneration, one of the reasons Naruto could bounce back so quickly after battles.
A faint grin tugged at Naruto's lips. "Alright… recovery complete!"
He gathered up some garbage, leapt out of the Hyūga mansion through a window, and bounded across rooftops until he reached the outskirts of the compound. After discarding the trash, a sticky discomfort clung to him. Sweat still trickled down his back.
"I need a bath," Naruto muttered.
Instead of going straight home, he made his way to one of the many bathhouses scattered across Konoha. He chose a familiar one he had visited before. The owner immediately recognized him.
"Ah, it's Naruto Uzumaki!" the man greeted warmly. "You've done so much for the village. Today's bath is on the house!"
Naruto shook his head. "No way. I'll pay the regular price."
The boss smiled knowingly and still upgraded Naruto to a private room—free of charge.
Moments later, Naruto sank into the steaming hot water with a deep sigh.
"Ahhhh… so comfortable…"
He draped a towel over his forehead, letting his body soak and relax fully. For the first time that day, his mind began to clear.
This… this is exactly what I needed.
He lingered for twenty minutes before finally standing, stretching his arms, and heading toward the dry steam room. But just as he slid open a curtain, loud voices caught his attention.
"Come, drink, drink!"
"Oh, sir, your drinking capacity is amazing!"
"Hahaha! Of course—who do you think I am? I am one of the Legendary Sannin… Jiraiya-sama!"
Naruto froze. "…?"
He followed the voices and pulled back the curtain. His eyes widened.
"Ero-Sennin?!"
There, sitting cross-legged with a flushed face, was none other than his master, Jiraiya the Gallant. The older man had both arms draped around voluptuous foreign women, a jug of sake in hand.
Jiraiya blinked drunkenly when he saw him. "Oh! Naruto! Come, come, sit down!"
Naruto's face darkened. "What the hell are you doing here, Pervy Sage?!"
When Naruto didn't move, Jiraiya hummed in mock disappointment. "What? Don't be shy. I told you to sit down! What, are you scared Hinata's gonna scold you? Hah! You're a man—you have to have your own convictions!"
With a drunken laugh, he extended his hand. His hair suddenly extended outward, Lion's Mane Jutsu wrapping around Naruto and yanking him into the room.
"Oi! Let me go!" Naruto protested, but Jiraiya simply shoved one of the women into Naruto's arms.
"You, go keep my apprentice company!"
The woman giggled, but Naruto frowned, gently moving her aside. He marched up to his master, scowling.
"Ero-Sennin, does Granny Tsunade know you're here?"
The mention of Tsunade made Jiraiya freeze. Then, with a pained expression, he laughed bitterly and shouted, "So what if she knows? That woman… she never considers my feelings!"
He raised his cup and downed it in one gulp, then slammed it on the table. "More sake! Keep pouring!"
Naruto's chest tightened. He knew instantly—something had happened between Jiraiya and Tsunade.
He took the cup from his master's hand and gestured for the women to leave. "Go on. Give us a moment."
"Hey! Don't leave! Come back!" Jiraiya slurred, struggling to stand, but Naruto pushed him back down.
"Sit, Pervy Sage!"
Naruto frowned. "What happened? Did you and Granny Tsunade fight?"
Jiraiya waved dismissively. "Tch. Kids shouldn't pry into adult matters."
Naruto sighed, shaking his head. "I may still look like a kid… but I've already been through one lifetime. Don't treat me like I don't understand."
Jiraiya stared at him for a long moment. Then, suddenly, his lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Heh. In this life, tell me—have you and Hinata finally gone beyond holding hands?"
Naruto flushed but didn't deny it. He grinned proudly instead.
That response made Jiraiya jolt upright. "Wait… you mean, you and Hinata…?"
Naruto nodded.
"When?"
"…Just today."
Jiraiya's jaw dropped. His eyes watered dramatically.
"You… you damn brat… uuuuuuuu!"
And so, the Pervy Sage—Legendary Sannin, teacher of the Fourth Hokage—sat in the bathhouse, bawling his eyes out at the news of his student's first night with the girl he had always loved.
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