It was Kimimaro's fourth day traveling with Naruto.
Naruto was sharing his hunting experiences gained in the past week, like how it was hard to detect the ruffed grouse bobbing about in the thicket due to its camouflage, and he had to listen for the drumming sound of the rapidly beating wings to locate the ground-dwelling bird. Of course, he left out the fact that Kurama had taught that to him.
Kimimaro realized that Naruto hadn't asked anything about him despite the boy's manifest curious nature. He wondered if Naruto was considerately avoiding that on purpose.
Well, he supposed it wouldn't be a good idea to ask why Naruto was in exile, either.
As dusk fell, the air around them became more humid.
"Kimimaro, do you smell something? …Kimimaro?" Naruto frowned and asked.
What made Kimimaro frown was not the pungent smell of sulfur, but the noises that seemed to come from where thick steam rose up into the purple pink sky. He could hear people laughing and shouting in the distance.
"Naruto, just a reminder, don't reveal your identity to anyone you meet," Kimimaro said.
"I won't," Naruto remembered the day they met and laughed.
The trail led into a valley, where a bridge spanned the gap between two cliffs. At its end stood a Torii gate, a brass plaque hanging from the top:
"Welcome to Yugakure no Sato (Village Hidden in the Hot Springs)."
Beyond the gate stretched a shopping street. Hordes of people who looked like travelers swarmed the avenue. Naruto was thrilled by the lively crowds, but Kimimaro remained wary. The complete lack of guards at the entrance struck him as suspicious.
They passed a myriad of shops offering traditional crafts and snacks. Some sold souvenirs—lanterns, parasols, dolls, sandals, and chopsticks—while others sold street foods like shrimp tempura, matcha dango, unagi rice balls, and soybean biscuits, their rich aromas drifting through the air.
Families on vacation indulged in shopping sprees, their arms weighed down with bags of purchased goods. Ninjas with headbands of all villages casually strolled past each other.
Kimimaro wasn't used to the harmonious atmosphere. It was very different from that of his hometown, where everyone always seemed all wound up for a fight.
As they walked through the bustling street, Naruto's eyes lingered wistfully on the tantalizing food stands, until something else caught his attention. Stopping in front of a wall of festival masks, he rested a hand on a dark orange kitsune mask—one he had never seen back in Konoha, but resembling the big fox inside him.
Had he never noticed it before, or did Konoha's shops simply not sell them?
Maybe they avoided orange kitsune masks because they reminded people of the Nine-Tails' attack…
"Hey, kid! See something you like?" a voice called from over the counter.
Naruto quickly pulled his hand away. "No, sir. Just looking. Gotta go—"
"Aww, you'd look adorable in that mask. Go get your mom and dad to buy it for you," the shopkeeper said with a warm smile.
"Oh, uh," Naruto spluttered. He had never been welcomed in a shop before, much less encouraged to come back.
Before he could respond, Kimimaro stepped forward. "Sir, do you know where we can find the cheapest place to stay around here?"
"Oh, you've asked the right person!" The man grinned. "My friend runs a resort hotel just three blocks away—Kawayu Spa. Huge outdoor hot spring pool, best rates in town."
"Umm… is there one without hot springs? We just need a bed," Kimimaro asked.
The shopkeeper looked puzzled. "No hot springs? That's what visitors come here for. Where are you kids from?"
"We, uh… spent too much on a nice bath last night, so we're looking for something cheaper," Kimimaro replied. "Never mind. Thanks for the suggestion, sir."
Without another word, he took Naruto's hand and led him away.
They bought a bag of baked potatoes for dinner because according to the vendor, potatoes grew in abundance throughout the country, making them the cheapest option. After filling their rumbling stomachs, they booked a bunk room at Kawayu Spa for the night. Since there wasn't an in-suite bathroom, Naruto headed to the public restroom, while Kimimaro returned to the lobby to ask for a map and some water.
"How was your day in Yugakure?" asked the convivial hostess.
"The potatoes are delicious," Kimimaro answered, and the hostess chuckled.
"And the people here… they look so peaceful and carefree. There's laughter around every corner."
"Of course," said the hostess, her eyes glittering with pride. "We aren't called 'the village that has forgotten wars' for nothing."
"The village that has forgotten wars?" Kimimaro echoed, astonished that such a place could even exist.
"The Hot Springs Daimyo declared that we are no longer a combat-related village. Our country boasts the best hot springs in the world, and we welcome tourists from everywhere. Foreign shinobi can put aside the burdens of fighting and killing, and heal their bodies and souls in our mineral-rich waters," she explained.
"That… sounds wonderful," Kimimaro murmured. He had always felt like an outsider among the Kaguya clan—battle-hungry barbarians who reveled in bloodshed. The thought of staying in a village like this, where even ninjas could rest and forget about war, felt almost too good to be true.
Naruto hadn't had a proper, relaxed moment on a toilet in a long time, and emptying his bowels felt like heaven. He was about to return to their bunk room when he heard a sudden scream.
"Come over to my deluxe king room, I promise you a splendid night, young lady," said a sinister-looking man, gripping the wrist of a young woman who struggled to pull away.
"I have a husband. He'll be back any moment," the woman warned.
"That's the same lie I hear from most women," the man laughed. "Now come with me, or I'll just carry you."
People passing through the hallway glanced at the commotion, but no one stepped in. The man began dragging the woman away from the entrance of the public bathhouse. She yelped and tugged frantically, screaming for help. Yet still, nobody intervened.
"Hey, you! Stop! Leave her alone, or I'll beat you up!" Naruto shouted.
The man turned his head to him. "Bahaha, what's a little squirt like you gonna do? Piss off."
Naruto charged. "Huhh-aaah!" He threw a punch, only for the man to take the hit with a nonchalant shrug. He grabbed Naruto by the collar and flung him across the hallway. Naruto hit the ground hard, groaning as pain shot through his body. He stood up, grimacing, preparing to charge again, when a familiar voice rang out from behind.
"Hey, Mom! Sorry we kept you waiting!"
Kimimaro came running toward the woman, waving, then paused, turning back to point at a tall, muscular man approaching from the far end of the hallway. "Dad's over there!"
The man saw the kid's father and scowled. "Guess it wasn't a lie."
Releasing the woman, he spun on his heel and quickly disappeared down the corridor.
"Are you alright?" Kimimaro asked.
"I'm okay. Thanks for coming," Naruto said.
"Thank you so much for saving me, that was so clever of you!" the woman cried.
"My pleasure."
"And you too, you were very brave," she smiled, bending down to gently pat Naruto's head. He beamed at her.
"Naruto, you knew you wouldn't stand a chance against him," Kimimaro said with a worried look.
"But nobody was going to help! All the grown-ups just turned away," Naruto protested.
"I think it's just the culture of this village," the woman said with a sigh. "People here are woefully indifferent to a stranger's plea for help. My aunt was robbed last year while on vacation here, and no one chased after the robber until a ninja from Kumogakure retrieved her wallet. I probably won't visit this place again."
Kimimaro frowned. "I thought Yugakure was the best place to live."
"There's a flaw in Yugakure's pursuit of peace," she explained. "People avoid getting involved in conflicts to maintain harmony, but in doing so, they become indifferent rather than truly peaceful."
"I would never want to be a ninja in Yugakure," Naruto muttered.
The woman smiled. "It's getting late. Your parents must be worried." She reached into her bag and pulled out a melon bun, handing it to Naruto. "I'm sorry this is all I have. Hurry back to your family. And stay safe."
Kimimaro watched as Naruto accepted the bun with a bright grin, as if a simple treat could wash away the risk he had put himself in. The way Naruto had thrown himself into danger without hesitation amazed him. Naruto believed in doing the right thing and acted even when no one else would.
Back in their room, Kimimaro and Naruto sat on the bottom bunk.
"This bun should be yours, Kimimaro. You saved that lady."
"No, you were the one who stood up to that man first."
They stared at each other for a second and giggled. "I guess we can share," Naruto said and tore the bun in half. "Here you go."
The melon bun tasted better than anything they had eaten.