"What are you doing, then?" Sawako asked Ebara.
"Oh!" Ebara said righteously. "I said I wouldn't peek, but that doesn't mean I won't look openly!"
Sawako: "…"
Is this human-level shamelessness?
"Go on. I swear I won't do anything improper," Ebara said, face pure.
Staring openly isn't improper? What's your idea of improper, then?
Sawako fumed. This guy was too shameless.
"Forget it. I can hold it," she said, glancing at the nearby river. "I'll wash up there."
She'd noticed the scenic spot with the river—perfect for her seduction plan.
Hearing this, Ebara eyed her suspiciously.
Sawako's heart skipped. Did he see through me?
Despite their short time together, she'd sensed that behind Ebara's sleazy facade was sharp cunning.
If he'd caught on, her and Kushina's escape chance was gone.
Ebara scanned her. "You're going to wash up there? You're not planning to…"
Sawako's heart pounded.
"…relieve yourself in the river, are you?" Ebara finished.
Sawako: "!!!"
She stared, dumbfounded.
Of all the guesses—seduction, escape—he thought that?
Did I overestimate him? Is he just an idiot?
Seeing her silence, Ebara laughed. "Knew it!"
"Gross!"
His disgust made Sawako even more exasperated.
"You're the one relieving in rivers! Your whole family does!" she snapped.
Ebara blinked. "How'd you know? Not just me—my dad did it too. From age three, I'd pee in the village's drinking river. My premium toddler urine made the village thrive. Once, my dad caught me and chewed me out: 'Ebara, how could you do that in broad daylight? You'll get caught! Do it at night, in a quiet corner!'"
Sawako stared at his rambling, feeling unhinged.
Who cares about your family's river habits?
"I'm not relieving myself! I just want to wash off the dirt and clear my head for the road," she said, swallowing her irritation.
"Fine, I'll go with you," Ebara nodded.
Sawako sighed in relief. Finally.
They reached the riverbank.
Sawako knelt, washing her face. As she went to drink, Ebara's words stopped her.
She nearly tossed the water away.
Seizing the moment, she pretended to slip, falling into the river.
"Help! Help!" she cried, feigning drowning while secretly channeling chakra for a sealing jutsu.
Even if Ebara was strong, a sealed chakra would make him a normal man—easy prey.
Then she'd hold him hostage, negotiate with Jiraiya, and free Kushina.
Solid plan. Just wait for him to bite.
This Daibi Toji's been eyeing me like a perv. He'll jump right in.
Sawako was confident.
Ebara, on the bank, saw her struggling and panicked. "I can't swim!"
Sawako: "???"
A ninja who can't swim?
"Wait, here's a log. Grab it!" Ebara said, hurling a massive log at her.
Thud!
It hit her forehead.
Sawako sank, vanishing from the surface.
"You okay?" Ebara shouted, frantic.
"Okay, my ass…" Sawako muttered, resurfacing, feigning weakness. "Save me…"
"Don't ninjas walk on water?" she hinted.
Ebara slapped his forehead. "Right! Forgot about that. Hold on!"
He darted across the water to her.
Sawako reached for his leg, planning to drag him under and seal his chakra.
As she grabbed him, she felt a chill.
Rip!
Her clothes tore.
When she tried pulling Ebara, he'd yanked her clothes to lift her.
The opposing forces shredded her outfit to rags.
She failed to drag him under.
"Sorry, didn't expect your clothes to be such low quality," Ebara said, apologizing.
His eyes, though, roamed her body.
Ebara, how could you? You should've torn the inner layer too!
Sawako's outer clothes were gone, but she wore a standard ninja fishnet undershirt.
"No big deal. Can you pull me up? I'm out of strength," she said, tempting him.
"Of course," Ebara said, jumping into the water.
Sawako's eyes gleamed, channeling chakra for her sealing jutsu.
But her shoulders were locked tight, immobile.
Ebara clung to her like an octopus—legs around her waist, arms pinning her chest and arms.
She could barely breathe, let alone form seals.
"Let go… I can't breathe…" she gasped.
"No way. If I let go, I'll fall in," Ebara said, tightening his grip.
Let her go? I'm not stupid. She can't seal, so why not enjoy her tight, warm, bouncy… heartbeat?