"This hot spring feels off."Naruto's words made the others startle.
Especially Kiba, who had nearly jumped into the pool.
Kiba frowned suspiciously at the hot spring water but saw nothing unusual."This pool looks really clean. What's wrong with it?"
Naruto didn't explain further. He directly grabbed the male attendant who had just dumped something into the water.
Fixing the man with a sharp gaze, Naruto demanded,"What powder did you just put into the pool?"
The attendant didn't panic at all. Instead, he wore a professional smile as he replied,"Just ordinary medicinal powder—it promotes blood circulation and speeds up metabolism."
Seeing how calm the man was, Naruto felt a little surprised. 'Was I just overthinking it?'
'Have I stayed in Konoha so long that I've developed mild paranoia?'
He shook his head, dismissing the ridiculous thought.
No—between the malicious intent that Kurama had mentioned and the string of oddities just now, there was definitely something wrong with this hot spring.
In a flash, Naruto appeared beside the attendant, grabbing the back of his collar with one hand.
Dangling him like a chicken, Naruto held the man over the water and pressed,"If it's really medicinal, then let me treat you. Free of charge—why don't you jump first?"
Seeing that Naruto was serious, Shikamaru and Shino frowned.
If it had been someone else, they might've thought Naruto was going too far.But Naruto, with the way Konoha treated him… nothing would be surprising.
Naruto's fingers slowly tightened. The attendant looked down at the hot spring, his eyes flickering.
The next second, he cried out,"Wait!"
Naruto smirked, as if he'd expected it."Talk. Was this your idea, or did someone order you?"
"It was the boss lady of this place. She told me to drug the spring. Said she'd pay me 200,000 ryō if it worked."
Hearing this, everyone's expression darkened—even Neji frowned.
"What kind of drug?" Naruto pressed.
The man sighed. Knowing he was finished, he could only confess."It's a poison that silently invades the organs after soaking… it causes severe damage to health."
Shikamaru and the others broke into a cold sweat.
'Even in a hot spring, they try something this vicious?'
Shikamaru imagined living Naruto's life. Just thinking about it made the trouble-averse boy's scalp tingle.
Suddenly, Naruto remembered something."The three girls who came with us—did you drug their pool too?"
The man shook his head."The boss lady only told me to target your room."
Only then did Naruto exhale in relief.
If Sakura had soaked in poison, it wouldn't matter as much.But Naruto didn't want Hinata and Ino to be dragged into this because of him.
Meanwhile, Hinata, Ino, and Sakura were already soaking in their own spring.
Steam rose around them, reddening their cheeks.
As they relaxed in the warm water, the three girls gossiped.
Ino drifted through the water, her pale shoulders occasionally breaking the surface.She swam to Hinata's side, and by habit, their shoulders brushed.
Eyeing Hinata's Byakugan, Ino grinned mischievously."Hinata, your Byakugan can see through things, right? Be honest—have you ever secretly used it to peek at Naruto's body? No lying!"
Suddenly asked such a question, Hinata's face went scarlet. She stammered,"I—I… haven't…"
Ino sighed in disappointment."Aww, I was hoping you could tell me if Naruto has abs. I mean, you can already tell from his clothes that his figure's amazing."
For Hinata, the topic was far too much stimulation.
But Sakura, on the side, was very interested. She also wanted to know if Naruto had abs.Only, because she usually clashed with him, she couldn't bring herself to join in.
Then Hinata said something that left both Ino and Sakura shocked."Naruto… does have abs. I saw them once during training… by accident."
"Ah???"
Both girls gasped at the same time, staring at the blushing Hinata with strange expressions.
Ino felt a surge of envy.I really want to see them too…
If Naruto ever found out what these girls were chatting about, he'd think—kids in the shinobi world are way too precocious.
On the other side, Naruto confronted the boss lady.
The voluptuous woman walked into the private room. Seeing her plot exposed, she dropped her act—the smile on her face vanished, replaced by tears of resentment brimming in her eyes.
"You demon fox! You killed my husband and two sons, and now you dare come enjoy the hot spring they built with their own hands? You deserve to die!"
The commotion drew the attention of Kakashi's team, though they didn't appear themselves. Instead, they notified the Konoha Police Force.
Her motive didn't surprise Naruto.
"You didn't even confirm the truth, yet you tried to harm me. Don't blame me for being ruthless."
Carrying out his ninja way of tooth for a tooth, Naruto grabbed the boss lady just like the attendant earlier.
Her curvaceous figure was on full display in this posture.But Naruto wasn't in the mood to admire her. He simply tossed her aside like garbage, flinging her toward the spring.
At that moment, two figures flickered into the room.
One, wearing the uniform of the Police Force, caught the falling woman and set her down safely.
Their leader was a black-haired, stern-faced jōnin. His rigid demeanor gave off an air of severity.
The Police Force used to be run by the Uchiha clan.After their massacre, the major clans shared the duty.Most members now came from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans.
This leader was an elite jōnin of the Sarutobi clan.
He glared at Naruto coldly."So young, yet already so vicious! Even if she's guilty, punishment lies with the Police Force—not your hands!"
Naruto itched to instantly open Sage Mode and unleash a Sage Art attack to cut them down.
But remembering his plan to steal the Scroll of Seals, he restrained himself. Acting now would definitely ruin everything.
Instead, he took one last look at the boss lady, memorizing her face and chakra.'One day, I'll make her pay for crossing me.'
The woman shivered under his gaze.
Though Naruto had already mastered Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Flying Thunder God, the Scroll of Seals still held many forbidden techniques worth learning—Edo Tensei, the Reaper Death Seal, Spirit Transformation, Yin Seal, the Eight Gates…
After the Police Force hauled her away, Naruto lost interest in the hot spring and left.
The next night.
Naruto followed the directions Mizuki had given him and arrived at the hiding place of the Scroll of Seals.
If not for Mizuki, he never would have guessed—the Scroll was hidden inside the Sarutobi estate.
Under cover of night, Naruto vaulted the wall and slipped inside.