Land of Hot Springs
As soon as Takayama Haru entered the Land of Hot Springs, the system immediately activated.
\[Ding! Based on the host's current situation, three options are available!]
\[Option 1: Secretly bring Kushina to the most famous mixed-gender hot spring in the Land of Hot Springs. Reward: +10 Kushina affection, S-Rank Ninjutsu - Eternal Immortality.]
\[Option 2: Secretly bring Uchiha Mikoto to the most famous mixed-gender hot spring. Reward: +10 Mikoto affection, S-Rank Ninjutsu - Self Rebirth.]
\[Option 3: Generously invite everyone to the most famous mixed-gender hot spring. Reward: S-Rank Summoning Legacy - Myoboku Mountain, +10 Kushina affection, +10 Mikoto affection.]
All three were S-Rank rewards, but Takayama Haru was most drawn to the S-Rank summoning legacy — Myoboku Mountain.
He already had the S-Rank summoning legacy — Ryuchi Cave. What if he could get all three great summoning legacies?
Curiosity filled Takayama Haru's heart.
Compared to that, the S-Rank Ninjutsu — Sage Reincarnation and Self Rebirth didn't appeal to him as much.
Sage Reincarnation, like Orochimaru's jutsu, transfers the soul into another body for immortality. Haru didn't need that.
Self Rebirth was a forbidden jutsu that uses one's own life to surpass death. Haru wasn't interested in that either.
So, Haru brought everyone to the entrance of the famous mixed hot spring.
A big sign read: Mixed Bath!
Kushina blushed and glared at Haru.
She thought he was joking — he really brought her to a mixed bath?
And not even secretly — with this many people around?
What was Haru thinking?
Uchiha Mikoto also blushed, sneaking a glance at Haru, wondering if he specifically invited her.
At that moment, a scene popped into Mikoto's mind where a shy Kushina says, "Mikoto, Haru and I are going to take a bath. Want to join us?"
Mikoto blushed even deeper.
Could Kushina really say that?
Should she say yes or...yes?
Kakashi gave Haru a deadpan look. What was Haru-sensei trying to do?
Rin blushed. If Haru-sensei invited her, would she even say no?
Obito stammered awkwardly, "Sensei, this doesn't seem right...", sneaking a glance at Rin.
Don't be fooled by how young they were — the kids from the Hokage families matured early. The mention of a mixed bath made them all blush and their hearts race.
"What are you thinking?"
"Well, Obito, do you want to go in or not?"
Obito turned and replied, "Uh... it's not like I don't want to go."
Haru immediately said, "Come on, let's check it out."
With that, he paid the fee.
Obito got excited. "You're serious?"
Was he really about to bathe with Rin?!
Just imagining it was thrilling!
But... what about Haru-sensei, Minato-sensei, and Kakashi?
Obito felt conflicted.
Ten minutes later, Obito walked out with a confused look.
Haru smiled and said, "Obito, since the tour's over, let's head to the meeting."
Kushina, Mikoto, Rin, and the others burst out laughing.
Haru teased Obito.
Obito looked miserable. He'd already changed clothes and now he had to leave again?
"I... I..."
"Just follow Minato-sensei and learn well."
Haru patted Obito on the shoulder.
Obito, full of grievance, was dragged away.
Even Minato, who always acted upright, felt a bit sour watching Haru stroll in with both Kushina and Mikoto.
It had been a while before Minato even realized something didn't add up — why was Mikoto there too?
Also, wasn't Haru supposed to lead the team to the venue?
Why was he heading the group himself?
These thoughts made Minato feel even more frustrated.
...
Inside the hot spring, Kushina and Mikoto appeared before Haru — one with long red hair, the other with long black hair, both wrapped in towels and blushing.
Kushina nervously grabbed Mikoto's hand.
Mikoto also looked tense. She hadn't expected Kushina to seriously invite her to bathe together.
Haru hadn't expected this either. He had only wanted a private soak with Kushina.
Maybe she was too shy and pulled Mikoto along?
What was meant to be a couple's bath now became a trio.
Happiness really came unexpectedly.
Only the three of them were allowed inside today, by Haru's special permission.
Haru squatted at the edge of the spring, scooping water. It was warm, slightly white in color, and had a light sulfur smell — clearly a top-tier hot spring.
This really was the Land of Hot Springs!
"Come on in!"
Kushina and Mikoto nodded shyly.
Haru suddenly felt... this wasn't bad at all.
...
An hour later, the meeting between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud took place in a newly built conference room.
Minato's Team 7 was receiving the Hidden Cloud delegation.
Led by A, the Raikage's son, and his adoptive brother Killer Bee, the Cloud delegation also had a female secretary, but not the Black-Clothed Mabui.
Apparently, A's habit of choosing secretaries started young.
He was clearly a player.
Now he was furious, glaring at Minato.
What was Konoha playing at?
One blonde guy and three kids?
And the blonde says the actual leader isn't here yet?
Rin was nervous seeing the fierce-looking A.
Obito stared him down in return.
The atmosphere was tense and awkward.
Time ticked by, no one spoke.
Obito whispered, "Minato-sensei, where's Haru-sensei?"
Minato glanced at Obito. "It's not time yet."
A sneered. "Hmph, still not here? Clearly, Konoha doesn't take this meeting seriously."
"What's Konoha's deal?"
Just as Minato was about to respond, the doors opened.
A saw Haru walk in with both Kushina and Mikoto, and his face twitched.
This guy was a bigger player than him — one secretary? Haru brought two!
Haru smiled, letting the red-faced Kushina and Mikoto sit down first.
Then he said calmly, "We're not late, are we?"
Obito looked at Haru, then at the blushing Kushina and Mikoto, and thought, how great would it be to have one girl on each side?
If I become as strong as Haru-sensei... maybe I could have Rin on both sides?
Obito, once a pure-hearted boy, was being led astray by Haru.
A sneered, "So you're Haru?"
Rumor had it this guy was strong.
Didn't look like much now. Maybe Konoha was faking?
Either way, if they could draw out Haru and Minato — supposedly the two strongest of Konoha's younger generation — it was worth it.
This meeting in the Land of Clouds was a ruse.
They didn't plan to negotiate for the two tailed beasts and the Amber Sealing Pot — they planned to take them by force.
The real strike was in Konoha.
According to intel, Haru would leave again soon. He hadn't been to Konoha in years, supposedly searching for a child of destiny.
Orochimaru was in a lab outside the village, and Tsunade, after the Second Ninja War, was still traumatized by blood.
Konoha was in turmoil, and White Fang was absent.
Now that Haru and Minato were out, only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained as Konoha's real defense.
Meanwhile, the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki were likely nearby.
Along with them, thousands of Hidden Cloud shinobi!
Hidden Cloud emphasized combining ninjutsu and taijutsu.
Past Raikages had bodies strong enough to withstand spatial rifts.
Cloud shinobi often used Lightning Style to overcharge their bodies, strengthening their speed and power.
A thousand elite Cloud ninjas could breach Konoha's defenses and seize both the Jinchuriki and the Amber Pot!
A smirk spread across A's face.
Then Haru knocked on the table and looked at A. "Cloud Village really knows how to play dirty — even trying to steal homes?"
A's smirk froze.
Killer Bee glared furiously.
Everyone behind him looked stunned.
Everyone on Haru's side also turned to look at him.
Stealing homes?
Not far from Konoha, in the Forest of Death, thousands of Hidden Cloud shinobi had gathered.
They got this close because they'd slaughtered all the Konoha guards along the way.
But just as they reached the forest, someone unexpected stood in their path.
A single shadow clone of Takayama Haru blocked the entire army.
Facing the towering Third Raikage and the half-black, half-white Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Haru smiled.
"You've arrived?"
At those words, the Cloud shinobi's faces all changed.
It was only Haru's shadow clone — but it terrified them all!
Haru's sudden appearance made them realize...
Had Konoha known their plan all along?
Was this an intentional trap to lure them in?