"So many people, arrange two single rooms for us."
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei soaked in the hot spring, thinking about how to guide Brother Jiraiya to open the door to a new world. He had already given him the key yesterday.
"Brother Jiraiya, is the novel good?" Lord Mitsuki Kōmei asked slyly.
"It's good. I want to create novels of the same genre in the future."
"To write novels, you need inspiration, and the hot spring resort is the easiest place to find it. Come on, I'll take you to broaden your horizons."
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei led his three companions out of the private room, through the men's changing room, and quickly entered the women's bathing area.
"I'll only demonstrate once; pay close attention."
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei walked step by step along the wall to the door, gently pulled open a slit in the curtain, bent down, poked his head out, and stared inside without blinking.
"How was it? Did you learn? Now it's your turn to try."
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei watched the three approach the women's bathing area. Tsunade and Uchiha Guo were not inside, so he let them look. He then quietly returned to the men's hot spring.
He thought, I must leave Brother Jiraiya and his three good friends with an unforgettable memory. This experience will be an indelible… stain on their lives.
"Boss, I just saw three suspicious guys enter next door. They might be peeping at the Kunoichi bathing."
During the day, he had led the three to win a lot of money, enough to cover medical expenses. On the way back to the private room, Lord Mitsuki Kōmei noticed Danzo soaking in the hot spring in the room next to theirs. What a coincidence!
"Elder Danzo is also soaking in the hot spring. Do you mind if I join you?"
"Lord Mitsuki , come in."
"Elder Danzo got off work quite early."
"After finishing my tasks, I had nothing to do, so I came to soak in the hot spring for a while."
"With Elder Danzo's ability, becoming Hokage would be more than enough. Assisting the Hokage is just a piece of cake, isn't it!" Lord Mitsuki Kōmei continued to provoke Danzo, "It's a pity Senju Tobirama chose Hiruzen Sarutobi as Hokage."
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei kept referring to him as Hokage's assistant, and Danzo felt immense annoyance. The slight goodwill that had emerged yesterday instantly vanished, and his dislike for Hiruzen Sarutobi increased by another Rank.
"Ah, catch the perverts!"
The Kunoichi's dolphin-like screams echoed throughout the entire hot spring resort. The women's bathing area fell into chaos, and women, hastily wrapped in bathrobes, rushed out of the bathhouse, while the male Ninja watched with relish.
"Elder Danzo, let's go take a look together."
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei got dressed and entered the women's bathing area with Danzo.
The first thing they saw was Brother Jiraiya and his two companions lying on the ground, their faces bruised and swollen. Tsunade and Uchiha Guo stood nearby, fully dressed. Tsunade's fists were tightly clenched, and her sleeves were rolled up. She had been quite ruthless, breaking several bones in their arms and legs.
"Hiruzen's Disciples are becoming increasingly unruly, actually forming a team to peep in the women's bathing area. I'm going to ask Hiruzen right now how he educates his Disciples."
Danzo, who was beside Lord Mitsuki Kōmei, spoke first, his spearhead pointed directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Danzo hadn't expected such an unexpected gain from soaking in a hot spring. Hiruzen Sarutobi was basking in the glory of his three Disciples, making his position as Hokage more and more stable.
He wished he could immediately fly back to Root and arrange for Root members to spread the news, using the opportunity to strike at Hiruzen Sarutobi and seize more power.
Brother Jiraiya fell, bleeding from his nose, making a sound that led to their discovery. The three were then thoroughly beaten by Tsunade.
They would never know that there was an informant in their group who had reported them. Their fate of being beaten today was already sealed.
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei walked over to Tsunade and patted her back.
"Tsunade, calm down. They're young, and it's normal to be curious. A beating is enough."
"You bastard Mitsuki , were you with them?"
"Don't wrongly accuse a good person! I was with Elder Danzo the whole time, soaking in the hot spring. I only came over after hearing the screams and getting dressed."
As soon as Lord Mitsuki Kōmei finished speaking, he caught a glimpse of his three companions lying on the ground, struggling to raise their right hands and give him the middle finger. They muttered, "Shameless."
The three unfortunate souls were admitted to Konoha Hospital. Lord Mitsuki Kōmei went alone to the Hokage Office.
"Mr. Sarutobi, I have already toured Konoha Village. Tomorrow, before leaving Konoha Village for the Land of Fire's capital, I want to issue an S-Rank mission for your three Disciples to protect me for two months. Will you accept the mission?"
"Lord Mitsuki 's mission is something I eagerly seek. I will accept the mission on their behalf."
"That's excellent. I won't delay your work, Mr. Sarutobi. Farewell."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite reluctant. His three Disciples were at the best age for Cultivating, and accepting Lord Mitsuki Kōmei's mission would waste two months.
However, Brother Jiraiya and Orochimaru had been caught peeping in the women's bathing area, and Danzo was present, so they started causing trouble as soon as they returned. It was probably a good idea to send them away to avoid trouble.
Over the next two months, Lord Mitsuki Kōmei went to the Land of Fire's capital and sold a carriage.
He accompanied Tsunade to Tanzaku Gai twice.
He traveled across much of the Land of Fire, visited scenic spots, and explored several dangerous areas, but unfortunately, he did not find the entrances to the three Holy Lands.
The grain trade negotiations had been completed. The Land of Fire would provide the Land of Water with five hundred million ryo worth of grain within six months, to be delivered in three installments.
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei and Tsunade's relationship had made some progress; it was beyond friendship, but a thin veil separated them from being lovers.
Under a dim, drizzly sky, in the Land of Fire's port, Lord Mitsuki Kōmei and Tsunade shared a paper umbrella, strolling through the streets.
"Bastard, after two months, I'm finally going to get my mission reward. I can go to the gambling house again, though I probably won't win a single hand."
"You can come to me. I can lose to you anytime."
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei turned his head, staring intently at Tsunade, and raised a finger to his lips.
"I'll be waiting for you in the Land of Water to get me drunk, and let you win a dozen times."
"Bastard, don't mention that again. I'm never drinking with you again."
Ten-year-old Tsunade's cheeks were flushed. She inwardly blamed Lord Mitsuki Kōmei, wondering how he could say such a thing and what would happen if others found out.
"Tsunade, why don't you come back to the Land of Water with me? I can make you the Lord's wife, you know."
Tsunade was silent for a moment, then shook her head.
"Not yet. My grandmother can't leave the Village, and I need to stay and accompany her. Perhaps I'll go in the future!"
"Then I'll wait for you in the Land of Water. Let me give you a gift before I leave."
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei gently took Tsunade's right hand and placed a ring on her ring finger.
"Wear this ring, and you are mine. If anyone tries to approach you in the future, just beat him up."
"The ring is a special Ninja tool. Injecting Chakra into it allows for short-distance teleportation. You must never take it off."
"You domineering bastard, who is yours?"
Tsunade mumbled softly.
"I know. Here, this necklace my grandfather passed down to me, I'm giving it to you."
"Does this mean we've exchanged tokens of love?"
"If you say so, then it is. I won't admit it anyway. Kōmei, you should go. The fleet is ready, and Guo Er has already arrived."
Tsunade stared intently at Lord Mitsuki Kōmei's face, wanting to engrave him in her heart.
"I'll come to see you when I have time, little Tsunade."
"I'll wait for you. The room you stayed in, I'll always keep it for you."
By the pleasure boat, Lord Mitsuki Kōmei pulled Brother Jiraiya over, "This is for you, Brother Jiraiya. I hope to read your work soon."
Brother Jiraiya nodded vigorously, "I definitely will!"
Lord Mitsuki Kōmei gave Orochimaru a book on biological genetics.
Standing on the deck, Tsunade's figure grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared. The pleasure boat, setting sail once more, began a new journey.