It was Kimimaro's fourth day traveling with Naruto. Naruto was sharing his hunting experiences gained in the past week, such as 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 taught that to him. Kimimaro realized that Naruto hadn't asked anything about himself despite Naruto's manifest curious nature, and wondered if Naruto was considerately avoiding that on purpose.
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 entered a valley, of which a bridge connected two sides and led to a Torii gate with a brass plaque that said "Welcome to Yugakure no Sato (Village Hidden in the Hot Springs)". Beyond it was a shopping street. Hordes of people who looked like travelers swarmed the avenue. Kimimaro was put on alert by the suspicious lack of guards at the entrance, but Naruto was thrilled by the lively crowds. They passed by a plethora of shops offering all kinds of traditional crafts and snacks. Some sold souvenirs like lanterns, parasols, dolls, sandals and chopsticks. Others sold street foods like shrimp tempura, matcha dango, unagi rice balls and soybean biscuits.
Families on vacation indulged in shopping sprees, carrying handbags full 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.
Naruto looked with wistful eyes at the tantalizing stands while they walked, until he couldn't help but stop at a wall of festival masks. His hand rested on a dark orange kitsune mask, one he had never seen back in Konoha, but resembling the big fox inside him.
"Hey, kid! Do you have something you like?" A voice came from over the counter. Naruto quickly retracted his hand away from the mask.
"No, sir. I'm just browsing. Gotta go now - "
"Aww, you'd look adorable with that mask. Go get your mom and dad to buy it for you," the shopkeeper said with an amiable smile.
"Oh, uh," Naruto was stunned by the cordial reception. He had never been welcomed at any shop, much less asked to come back later.
"Sir, do you know where to get the cheapest accommodation around here?" Kimimaro asked the shopkeeper before Naruto could respond.
"Oh, you've asked the right person! My friend opens a resort hotel just three blocks away, it's called 'Kawayu Spa'. You can chill in a huge outdoor hot spring pool with the lowest price you can find," the man answered.
"Umm, is there one without hot springs? We only need a bed," Kimimaro asked.
"I'm afraid there isn't. Aren't all visitors here for the hot springs? Where are you from, little fellow?"
"We spent too much on a nice bath last night, so we're looking for a cheaper one. Nevermind. Thank you for your suggestion, sir." Kimimaro took Naruto's hand and left.
They bought a bag of baked potatoes for dinner because according to the vendor, potatoes grow in abundance throughout the country and therefore are the cheapest to fill up one's stomach. After satiating their hunger, they booked a bunk room at Kawayu Spa to spend the night. Since there wasn't an in-suite bathroom, Naruto went for the public restroom, while Kimimaro headed back 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, to which the hostess chuckled.
"And the people look so peaceful and carefree. There is 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 was astonished that a place like that could even exist.
"The Hot Springs Daimyo has pronounced that we are no longer a combat-related village. Our country boasts the best hot springs in the world, and we welcome tourists from anywhere. Foreign shinobi can forget about the burdens of fighting and killing and heal their bodies and souls in the mineral-rich medicinal waters," the hostess explained.
"That… sounds wonderful," said Kimimaro. He had always felt like an outsider in the Kaguya clan, who were notoriously savage and battle-hungry barbarians. Now he is relishing the prospect of staying here as ninjas of this heaven of a village.
Naruto hadn't had a proper relaxed time in a while, and it felt like heaven He was about to return to their bunk room when he heard a little 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 pretty young woman, who tried to pull away from him.
"I have a husband. He's coming back anytime," the woman warned.
"That's a lie I hear from most women," the man laughed. "Now follow me or I'll have to carry you by force."
People passing through the hallway turned their attention toward the commotion, but none of them stopped to ask what was happening. The man started dragging the woman away from the entrance of the public bathhouse. She yelped and tugged frantically, screaming for help. Nobody bothered to lend a hand.
"Hey, you! Stop! Leave her alone or I'll beat you up!" Naruto shouted at the man.
"Bahaha, what's a little squirt like you gonna do? Piss off!" the man sneered.
Naruto charged at the man. "Huhh-aaah!" He threw a punch at him, only for the man to take the hit with a nonchalant shrug. He grabbed Naruto by the collar and tossed him across the hallway. Naruto stood up and grimaced with pain. Before he could charge again, Kimimaro's voice appeared from behind.
"Hey mom, sorry we kept you waiting!" Kimimaro ran from the far side of the hallway towards the woman, waving. He paused to turn back and pointed at a tall robust guy who was coming in their direction. "Dad's over there!"
The man saw the kid's father and muttered with a scowl, "Looks like it wasn't a lie." He let go of the woman and quickly escaped.
"Are you alright?" Kimimaro asked.
"I'm okay. Thanks for coming," said Naruto.
"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 bent down and smiled. Naruto beamed at her as she gently patted Naruto's head.
"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 in dismay. "The people are woefully unmoved by a stranger's plea for help. My aunt was robbed last year when she went on a vacation here. No one chased after the robber until a ninja from Kumogakure retrieved her wallet. I probably won't visit this place anymore."
Kimimaro was mystified. "I thought Yugakure was the best place to live in the world."
"There is a flaw in Yugakure's pursuit of peace. They tend to ignore disturbances in order to avoid getting involved in conflict. It becomes indifference instead of pacifism."
"I would never want to be a ninja in Yugakure," said Naruto.
The woman smiled. "It's late in the evening, your parents should be worried by now." She pulled out a melon bun from her bag and handed it to Naruto. "I'm sorry this bun is all I have in my bag. Hurry back to your family. And stay safe."
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 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.
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