The Uzukage said " Arashi go join others outside. I want to talk Shunsui alone " as he commanded me.
I left the office and went towards the exit gate.
In the office the Uzukage said " Shunsui choose whoever you want from the anbu and they should guard you behind and scout ahead of you and let them stay out of sight as you go towards Konoha and come back " Shunsui nodded.
He replied " that would be unnecessary but how many should I take " in a quiet tone.
The Uzukage said " Not many but three would do the job but they should be good ones and you can choose them now before you depart " as soon as the Uzukage said that Shunsui disappeared.
...
Two hours later everyone was ready and was waiting for Kushina who was hugging her mother Anna.
After a lot of embraces and goodbyes we finally departed from the village.
We left with small carriage that only Kushina was ridding inside. Two horses were pulling the carriage. The horses were the primary carriage pullers of the civilians and nobles who travel in the elemental nations.
I was ridding the carriage with Kushina along side Akane and Hibari. We were privileged mainly because she was familiar with us. And others were frowning and had gloomy faces with envy.
The journey was quite boring and slow since we were not travelling like ninjas. But we were going in a fast speed in civilians perspective.
We reached the port within hours and we got our own ship that was prepared ahead of time.
I never had any sea sickness and was normal but others were a mess including Kushina who was not feeling alright.
The time we were travelling on sea was not a an experience worth remembering.
After a long and exhausting journey we finally reached the shore of the sea.
There were two routes to reach the land of fire from the Land of Whirlpools. One is going through the land of the Waves and the other is going through the land of Hot water.
We went through the land of Hot water route for one reason which is there was skirmishes in the land of Waves, so we went with the safe route.
We took our carriage and travelled in a fast paced speed with great stealth.
Within a day we arrive at the the hidden village of hot water. It was not that difficult getting in since we just told them our intentions and Uzushio's emblem.
We told them that we would just rest here for little time and we were on a escorting mission but we didn't show them who it was as we just said we were escorting a noble, Which Kushina and I were technically.
In the Uzushiogakure, there is no daimyo. The Uzukage is the supreme leader. He is both the Uzukage and Daimyo of the Uzushio. That makes him and his relatives the nobles which we basically don't
practice.
We were allowed inside the village. We booked a hotel to stay for the time being.
As we were talking on what we should do while we are here and some were throwing suggestions left and right.
Hibari suggested and said " We should explore more on this village while we are here. This village is famous for its hot springs. This village is a neutral village which means it is peaceful like our village and it thrives on tourism for its abundant and beautiful hot springs " Akane's eyes lit up and immediately nodded her head.
Kushina who was eavesdropping also came out and yelled that she would follow us.
It was not my decision to allow so I looked at Shunsui who was standing near us. He agreed without hesitation when he saw everyone looking at him. He was almost mute the whole journey and the only time he talked was when Akari annoyed him with questions.
When he agreed Akari said " I heard going to a hot spring is in every ninjas must do list, we are fortunate enough to experience it as soon as we took our first mission outside the village " we all nodded in agreement.
Even I never went on a hot spring in both this life and previous life so I was quite curious to experience it once.
We booked one place with two different sections, one for women and one for men. Basically every hot spring is like that. We boys took one hot spring while the girls took theirs.
Soaking in the hot spring was an incredibly soothing and refreshing experience. The moment I stepped into the warm, mineral-rich water, I felt a wave of calm wash over me.
The gentle steam rising from the surface created a tranquil atmosphere, and the natural heat melted away any tension in my muscles.
Surrounded by the sounds of nature and the soft bubbling of the spring, I quickly lost track of time, simply enjoying the quiet comfort.
The setting added to the experience in a profound way. Whether it was nestled in a mountain valley or tucked into a forest glade, the hot spring felt like a hidden sanctuary.
The contrast between the cool air and the warmth of the water was invigorating, especially when a gentle breeze brushed against my skin.
Watching the mist swirl above the water while taking in the views around me made the whole experience feel almost magical—like stepping into another world.
What struck me most, though, was the sense of renewal I felt afterward. My body felt lighter, my mind clearer. It wasn't just about physical relaxation—it was a mental reset, too.
The natural elements, the silence, and the simple act of pausing in a peaceful environment reminded me of the importance of slowing down.
Visiting the hot spring was more than just a pleasant escape—it was a moment of connection with myself and the world around me.
But the moment of peace didn't last lost when my teammates started murmuring and playing with the warm water.
I wished I was alone in moments like this. This made have an idea that I should form my own hot spring in the mountains and forests near where I train usually back at my home.