Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Underground Cavern

In the Hidden Leaf Village, near the commercial street adjacent to the Hokage Rock, stood a high-end, elegant bathhouse club renowned for its privacy and refined environment. Within a private suite, lavishly and exquisitely decorated, the bathwater was drawn from a hot spring that flowed down from the Hokage Rock itself.

It was said that to maintain the establishment’s exclusive status and natural luxury, the bathhouse owner spared no expense in hiring Leaf Village shinobi skilled in Fire Style, ensuring the hot spring water was always kept at the perfect temperature.

At this moment, the bath in the private room was filled with water heated to over fifty degrees Celsius—the ideal temperature for a hot soak. Steam billowed from the water, shrouding the entire suite in a hazy mist.

Within the bath, two naked figures lounged comfortably. One, with tousled pale blue hair, was none other than Yufeng Kato, recently promoted to Jonin of the Hidden Leaf.

“Oh… ah… mmm… oh… this feels wonderful…” Yufeng Kato couldn’t help but sigh in contentment.

Next to him, the other figure was submerged completely in the water, their features obscured by the swirling steam.

These two were the famed bathhouse enthusiasts of the Leaf—Yufeng Kato and Jiraiya.

“No wonder this is called the most luxurious bathhouse in the Leaf…” Jiraiya emerged from the water, grabbing a towel to dry his hair before taking a piece of fruit from a small floating tray. He then nudged the tray, which floated upon the water, over to Yufeng. Upon it sat two bottles of premium sake and a selection of snacks.

“You really know how to enjoy life, Yufeng…” Jiraiya said, mimicking Yufeng’s relaxed posture as he soaked in the bath, sipping at the fine sake.

“The owner of this place is a wealthy merchant who recently moved to the Leaf from the Land of Hot Water. It’s only just opened, boasting a reputation for opulence, tranquility, privacy, and professional service—set on becoming the number one bathhouse in the village. I only stumbled upon it myself not long ago,” Yufeng replied.

“I’d originally intended to invite Tsunade to join me for a soak… but she refused. Since you’re about to leave the village to travel the shinobi world, I thought I’d invite you instead—as a send-off.”

“It’s always most comfortable here in the Leaf, but the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku has given me some tasks; I must leave and travel,” Jiraiya replied.

He’s going in search of the prophesied Child of Destiny, Yufeng mused. He understood the purpose behind Jiraiya’s journey, yet didn’t press for the details. Given their close friendship, he knew Jiraiya would have told him if he wished.

But what was the point in asking? Even if he said he already knew about the prophesied child foretold by the Great Toad Sage, and told Jiraiya directly—how would he explain how he knew? What would he say his source was?

Inventing a reason wouldn’t suffice; unless he was speaking to a fool, no sensible person would believe him. And shinobi—wielders of chakra and masters of deception—were certainly no fools.

Moreover, the shinobi world was home to many beings who had lived for over a thousand years. Did he truly think they were so easily deceived?

…

By now, more than half a month had passed since Yufeng Kato’s promotion to Jonin. The new class of young ninja, including Tsunade’s younger brother Nawaki and Yufeng’s niece Shizune, had graduated from the academy.

During this time, Yufeng had already handled all the necessary formalities and paperwork at the Hokage’s office required for his promotion. He hadn’t forgotten the promise he’d made to Tsunade before the Jonin exam—he’d asked her for a kiss, and she’d replied, “Let’s talk about it after you pass.”

After the exam, Yufeng sought out Tsunade, choosing a private setting where only the two of them were present, and brought up the matter again. To his surprise, Tsunade feigned ignorance.

Though a little disappointed, Yufeng was nothing if not patient; he’d pursued Tsunade for years already. Besides, her attitude towards him had grown much gentler and warmer—she no longer avoided or outright refused his invitations. Occasionally, she’d raise a fist in mock threat, but never seriously, and with no chakra behind the gesture; it was more a kind of playful Tsunade-style coquettishness.

He was confident that, sooner or later, he would win her heart. After all, patience was the hallmark of a shinobi—one who could endure loneliness.

Family, friends, and colleagues gathered to celebrate his promotion, for to reach Jonin was, for most, the pinnacle of a shinobi’s career.

But Yufeng Kato was not like most. For him, Jonin was merely a new beginning.

He had already begun to consider his future work arrangements. Compared to the lower and middle ranks, the expectations for Jonin in the Leaf were much more relaxed. In other words, Jonin enjoyed far more freedom.

Unless assigned to a specific post within the village’s many departments or units, a Jonin’s time was largely their own. Missions could be chosen based on ability, experience, or even personal interest.

Aside from obeying the Hokage’s orders and following superior officers during wartime, there was only the obligation to attend the periodic Jonin meetings held in the village.

The rest of the time was his to do as he pleased.

For Yufeng, the missions could not be neglected; he needed them to continue earning attribute points. His former teammates, Yuta Nanri and Itsuki Takenouchi, could no longer keep pace with his abilities.

They were of little help on advanced missions and could sometimes even be a burden. Moreover, his own skills were better suited to intelligence gathering, covert operations, and assassinations.

Upon his promotion, Yufeng reported to the Hokage’s office that he was leaving his original team, intending to undertake solo missions for the time being. He’d heard that the team had already been assigned a new recruit, and Yuta Nanri had been promoted to team leader.

Since becoming Jonin, Yufeng had been summoned several times by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Hokage probed him about his future assignments, hinting at possibilities but issuing no firm orders.

Yufeng was in no hurry to seize real authority within the village; his strength was still rapidly increasing, and while political power was a kind of strength, true power lay in one’s personal abilities.

When strength and reputation were recognized, authority and responsibility would naturally follow.

…

While Yufeng was busy handling the many affairs following his promotion, let us turn our gaze to the wider shinobi world—others were not idle.

In a small country at the intersection of the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth, somewhere within the Land of Rain—

Not far from the Hidden Rain Village, deep beneath the earth in a gloomy, damp cavern, little sunlight penetrated. Only in the furthest reaches of this cave could one find traces of artificial construction and the faint glow of light—a secret base that could not see the sun.

The cave was carved so deep for two reasons. First, to avoid the endless rainfall that soaked the surface of the Land of Rain; even so, the interior remained oppressively damp, but at least habitable.

Second, the cave was still relatively close to the Hidden Rain Village. Though the surveillance techniques of the Rain ninja might not match those of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the cave’s owner knew well of a technique called Rain Tiger at Will, which, combined with the village’s perpetual rainfall, made for a formidable detection network.

Though the cave’s master did not fear the Rain ninja, caution was necessary—being discovered would be troublesome, as he intended to remain hidden here for a long while.

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