The rain had finally eased as Souta and Hinata stepped out of Riverside Haven, the morning air crisp.
The streets of Kawa Crossing bustled faintly—merchants sweeping mud from their stalls, dockhands shouting over the river's steady rush.
Souta adjusted his pack, and glanced at Hinata. She stood beside him, her cloak pulled tight, hood shadowing her face. The color was back in her cheeks, her steps steadier than they'd been in days.
"Ready?" he asked, tilting his head toward the road leading out of town. "We overstayed here."
Hinata nodded, her eyes scanning the street with a flicker of Byakugan before settling on him. "Yes. Let's move. The sooner we're gone, the better."
They set off, the muddy path sucking at their boots as they left Kawa Crossing behind. The river glistened to their left, a silver ribbon winding through the landscape, while sparse trees dotted the fields ahead.
"Souta,"
turning to her. She'd stopped a few steps back, her head tilted toward a faint shimmer in the distance—a break in the trees where steam curled upward, faint against the gray sky. "There," she said, pointing. "Hot springs. Can we… stop? Just for a bit?"
He raised an eyebrow, following her gaze. "Hot springs?" The idea hit him—days of mud, sweat, and blood caked on both of them, no chance to clean up since this mess started. She hadn't bathed in gods-know-how-long, and he probably smelled like a wet dog. Still, he smirked, crossing his arms. "What, you wanna soak while I stand guard? I'm not your personal towel boy."
Her cheeks flushed, and she glared at him, though it lacked real heat. "I haven't bathed in days," she said, her tone clipped. "Neither have you, but I'm not rude enough to point it out. Wait here—please." She adjusted her pack, her movements deliberate, and started toward the springs without waiting for his answer.
"Fine, fine," he called after her, waving a hand. "Go get pretty, princess. I'll keep watch. Don't drown or anything." He grinned as she shot him a look over her shoulder, her lips twitching like she wanted to say something back but couldn't be bothered. She disappeared into the trees, the steam swallowing her silhouette, and Souta leaned against a trunk, dropping his pack with a thud. The quiet settled in, broken only by the distant gurgle of the springs and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
A soft splash pulled him back. The springs weren't far—maybe fifty yards through the trees—and curiosity tugged at him. He smiled to himself, pushing off the tree. Just a peek. She'd kill him if she caught him, but the risk made it fun. He slipped through the underbrush, quiet as he could manage for a guy with no ninja training, until the trees thinned and the hot springs came into view.
Steam rose in thick curls from the water, a natural pool carved into the rock, its surface rippling faintly. Hinata stood at the edge, her cloak and kimono discarded in a neat pile on a flat stone. She'd kept a thin undershirt and shorts—modest, practical—but the damp fabric clung to her, outlining every curve he'd teased her about.
Her dark hair spilled loose, sticking to her shoulders as she stepped into the water, letting out a small, unguarded sigh as the heat hit her. The bandage on her arm was off, the faint remnants of those dark lines stark against her pale skin, but she moved easier now, the tension melting from her frame.
Souta stopped maybe twenty yards out, crouching behind a bush, his breath catching despite himself. She was… damn.
He shifted, a twig snapping under his boot, and cursed inwardly as her head snapped up. Her Byakugan flared, veins pulsing around her eyes, and she locked onto him in an instant, her gaze cutting through the steam like a blade. "Souta!", her voice sharp enough to slice. "What are you doing?!"
Caught. He stood, hands up, grinning like an idiot. "Uh—just checking the perimeter! Making sure no creeps sneak up on you!" He took a step back, but her glare pinned him in place, her flush deepening—not from the heat, he'd bet.
"Get. Out," she hissed, one arm crossing her chest, the other pointing at him like she could will him away. "Now!"
"Going, going!" he said, backing off, still grinning. "You look good, though—real good! Water's doing wonders!" He ducked as a rock sailed past his head, splashing into the bushes behind him. She'd scooped it from the pool, her aim deadly even half-soaked and pissed.
"Idiot!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the trees. "I'll drown you myself next time!"
He laughed, retreating fully now, her curses fading as he made it back to the path. Worth it, he thought, leaning against the tree again, his heart pounding from the thrill of it. She'd kill him later—maybe literally—but the image stuck, burned into his head. Hinata, fierce and beautiful, steaming mad in more ways than one.
Hinata emerged eventually, her hair damp and tied back, her kimono back in place, though the undershirt still clung faintly under it. She strode up, her face almost full of fury, and stopped a foot away, arms crossed. "You're a pig," she said, her tone flat but her eyes blazing. "I should've thrown a bigger rock."
"Probably," he agreed, smirking. "But you didn't, so I'm calling it a win. Feeling better?"
She huffed, looking away, but the flush on her cheeks wasn't just anger now. "Yes," she admitted, grudgingly.
...
Meanwhile, far away in a modest house, a red-haired woman sat slouched on a worn sofa, her eyes narrowed at the ceiling. Kushina Uzumaki tapped her fingers against the armrest, a restless rhythm that matched the churn of her thoughts.
"Hmmmmmmmmmm…" she hummed, the sound low and drawn out, irritation simmering beneath it. Where has that idiot gone? Why isn't he back after so many days? She leaned back, her wild crimson hair spilling over the cushions, and scowled.
She'd dragged him into her chaos, fed him her cooking, and now he was off who-knows-where, probably grinning that stupid grin while she stewed. If he's not back soon, I'll hunt him down myself, she thought, clenching a fist. And he'll regret it.