The impact of the Ten-Tails' rampaging a thousand years ago still reverberates throughout the ninja world.
Take the Land of Wind, for instance, where the Dragon Veins were severed.
Drought, barrenness, lack of resources…
But harsh environments weren't unique to the Land of Wind. From its western and northern borders, stretching to the northernmost Land of Snow, and even curving to affect the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning.
These places had all, to varying degrees, suffered the impact of that disaster a thousand years ago.
Examples include the toxic mist surrounding the Land of Bears, hemmed in by mountains; the extreme cold of the Land of Snow; the rock rain in the Land of Earth; and the thunderstorms in the Land of Lightning.
Yet, amidst this harsh environment, the Land of Hot Water, situated between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, unexpectedly reaped benefits from the aftermath of the disaster.
Volcanic hot springs!
The earth's leylines seemed to have shifted during the Ten-Tails' rampage, leading to the appearance of numerous volcanoes, large and small, within the coastal Land of Hot Water.
These volcanoes ceased erupting after the Ten-Tails disappeared, forming geothermal hot springs scattered throughout the land.
Thus, the Land of Hot Water earned its name.
…
"Roar…"
"Isobu, your spikes pricked me again!"
Hozuki Mangetsu, cradling a spiky turtle, jogged along with the crowd. The turtle wasn't large, but its spikes were somewhat sharp.
Isobu lazily opened its eyes, glancing at the surging crowd ahead. It painstakingly retracted its three tails that were dangling near Mangetsu's abdomen.
"You're running too fast!"
Hozuki Mangetsu carefully held the turtle with his arm, fumbling in his pants before letting out a sigh of relief.
"Heh, I have to say, if it weren't for my Water Release Secret Technique, I would have been riddled with holes by your spikes by now."
"Be careful next time, just don't poke me randomly."
Isobu grunted an "oh" and closed its eyes again.
"Hey, hey, don't sleep!"
Mangetsu shook the turtle in his arms, waking it up forcefully.
"I just heard someone say there's a really amazing hot spring ahead. How about I take you there for a soak?"
"I wonder if using my Water Release Secret Technique with the water from the hot spring will make me continuously steam?"
Isobu clearly wasn't interested in any hot spring. It grunted dejectedly and fell back asleep.
This little guy is too annoying!
…
"Esteemed guests, my humble hot spring inn begins its trial operation today."
"For seven consecutive days, both the men's and women's baths will be completely free of charge."
"All who enter my establishment will enjoy the most esteemed service. Everything within the hot spring inn is at your disposal."
The smiling proprietor, standing beneath a signboard bearing the characters 'Yan Tang' (Smoke Spring), enthusiastically introduced the benefits of his hot springs to the surrounding crowd.
Free!
These two words, at any time, could attract the attention of those who were fond of a good bargain.
Seeing that these people were clearly tempted by the free hot springs, the proprietor's gaze lingered for a moment on a few individuals in the crowd who looked like rogue ninjas, before throwing out an even greater temptation.
"Everyone!"
"Besides soaking in hot springs, my inn has a very magical feature."
"That is…"
"It contains a truly miraculous wishing spring!"
"This spring possesses a peculiar magic; one only needs to gaze into it for a while, and the spring's power will grant one's deepest wish."
As soon as the proprietor finished speaking, the people below, eager for a freebie, erupted in an uproar. After confirming the promise of free use of the hot springs multiple times, they swarmed inside.
"Huh?"
"Are there really such magical hot springs in the ninja world?"
Hozuki Mangetsu stood at the back of the crowd, craning his neck to peer inside.
It wasn't that he didn't want to push his way in, but the people in front were too frenzied. Upon hearing that the hot springs were free and possessed the ability to grant wishes, they erupted with an indescribable power, pushing him all the way to the back.
"Phew!"
"Truly terrifying!"
The wall of people in front of him finally dispersed, and Hozuki Mangetsu wiped his sweat with a look of awe.
It was easy for him to draw his sword and kill a ninja or two. But compared to these frenzied masses jostling for free hot springs, he still felt somewhat inferior.
"But thankfully, everyone has gone in. Isobu, let's you and I go in for a soak too, and check out this so-called magical hot spring!"
He jostled Isobu in his arms twice and then stepped inside.
…
"Idiot!"
"How could there be such a thing in the ninja world? Even if there were, it wouldn't be in a hot spring!"
"Falling for such a low-level scam? This kid is hopeless!"
Opposite the hot spring inn, Kyuubi perched on the windowsill of an izakaya, watching Isobu being carried into the hot springs by Hozuki Mangetsu, his tone somewhat sour.
He actually wanted to go too…
Orochimaru, dressed casually, glanced at Kyuubi while holding a wine cup.
"If you wanted to go, you just had to say so."
"There's no need to try and coax me into it by badmouthing Mangetsu."
Kyuubi twitched its ears and nuzzled up to Orochimaru obsequiously.
"Heh heh, I knew I couldn't hide it from you!"
"Then how about we go too?"
"I don't really want to soak in the hot springs, I'm just curious about this ability to grant wishes."
"You know, I hate seeing such deceitful practices."
"Let's go expose that black-hearted proprietor and take his hot springs!"
At this moment, Kyuubi showed no sign of its role as a protector of the ninja sect, exuding an aura of slyness.
Orochimaru shook his head helplessly and casually created a shadow clone.
"I won't go. There are too many people, and it wouldn't be comfortable to soak."
"Let the shadow clone take you! And keep an eye on Mangetsu, make sure he and Isobu don't cause any trouble inside."
Kyuubi readily agreed, trotting ahead of Orochimaru's shadow clone with anticipation, heading towards the hot spring inn across the street.
…
"Proprietor, where is this magical hot spring you mentioned?"
"Can you show me?"
Hozuki Mangetsu, wrapped in a large bath towel, had even Isobu bundled up in a towel, leaving only its steaming head exposed.
"Esteemed guest, you must be a powerful ninja, aren't you?"
The hot spring proprietor was quite bold. Seeing Hozuki Mangetsu's mouthful of sharp teeth, he showed no fear and instead bowed respectfully.
Hozuki Mangetsu's small sense of pride was immensely satisfied, and he grinned.
"Not powerful, not powerful."
"Just an ordinary ninja!"
The proprietor's smile widened, and he said cordially,
"Since you are a ninja, you shouldn't be squeezed in with these ordinary tourists."
"There are actually two places with such magical power. One is specifically prepared for young and powerful ninjas like yourself."
"Why don't I take you to another, even better and more magical hot spring?"
Hozuki Mangetsu was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, urging him on.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"