Naruto, are you all so good at self-seduction

Land of Hot Water.

In the quiet of the night, a cold moon hung in the sky.

Knock, knock, knock...

Kurenai opened the door to find Asuma standing at her doorstep.

The smell of alcohol hit her, making her furrow her brows.

"What's up at this hour?" Kurenai asked.

"Asuma," he began, but upon seeing her, all the words he had prepared suddenly vanished.

"What's wrong with your door?" he asked, noticing the awkward "patch" on the wooden door.

Kurenai's expression dimmed slightly.

"I once forgot my keys and had to break it open."

"Oh." Asuma chuckled, but awkward silence followed.

"Is there something you need?"

"I'm heading out for a mission tomorrow; it's the one I mentioned to you before."

"Alright, be careful on the road."

"Um… is there anything you want me to bring back for you?" he offered.

"No, I'm good, thanks."

Asuma stood by the door, feeling a bit out of place. He glanced around the dimly lit hallway but knew from Kurenai's calm demeanor that she didn't intend to invite him inside.

"Good luck with the Special Jounin Exam," Asuma said stiffly.

"Thanks."

"...Sorry to bother you, I'll let you rest early."

Feeling awkward, Asuma fiddled with his hands, finally scratching his cheek with his index finger.

"…"

Watching Asuma's dejected silhouette retreat, Kurenai felt a twinge of sympathy.

After all, they had grown up together; even if she didn't harbor deep feelings for him now, she couldn't deny she had imagined a future with him.

"Asuma."

Asuma paused, suddenly turning around.

The look of hope in his eyes made Kurenai feel guilty; she instinctively averted her gaze.

"…Drink less alcohol, and smoke less too."

"Oh… okay."

Asuma seemed surprised for a moment before quickly nodding in agreement.

"Good night." A smile returned to his face as he waved goodbye.

Bang.

The door closed softly behind her.

Kurenai leaned against the door and looked up at the chandelier on her ceiling, her mind racing as she pondered over the encounter.

"Just let me be…"

Land of Hot Water.

A famous hot spring town where travelers from various countries often come dressed in unique garments.

It used to have its own ninja military power, the Hot Springs Village, but after the war, it was intentionally weakened by the daimyo and gradually declined. It was hence dubbed the "Village Hidden in Hot Water." However, due to its beautiful natural scenery and tourist resources, it has gained worldwide recognition over time and is leaning towards becoming a neutral country.

Oboro covertly followed Asuma to a small town and rented a room in the same hot spring inn adjacent to Asuma's.

He acted rather boldly, disregarding whether Asuma would notice.

He had been instructed by both the Hokage and Danzo to avoid acting prematurely and to conceal his true identity from Asuma as much as possible.

From the Hokage, he viewed Asuma's mission, which was an elimination mission targeting the manipulative cult ninjas appearing within the Land of Hot Water.

Considering the description, it did not seem particularly difficult; however, the Hokage had received reports from other ninja villages that many ninja teams had been lost in that area, which was the primary reason Sarutobi had refused Asuma's request to proceed alone.

In terms of task grading, the difficulty of B-Rank missions fluctuated significantly; tasks expected to involve combat with ninjas were classified as B-Rank or higher.

To reach A-Rank difficulty, the mission must pertain to the dynamics of the villages or nations, which could trigger conflicts or wars. Despite this standard, some B-Rank tasks could actually be more challenging than A-Rank ones.

Soaking in the misty hot springs, Oboro was only a few meters away from Asuma but hidden from view by the white steam.

What a comforting break to enjoy on a winter day...

Oboro thought to himself, considering inviting Shisui to try this place someday.

Once the hot spring session was over, Asuma returned to his room, while Oboro began to gather intelligence regarding the mission in town.

Asuma didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about the task, showing lackadaisical attitude.

However, Oboro did manage to obtain some useful information.

The so-called "Immortal God Cult" had been seen propagating their doctrines in town, reportedly demonstrating terrifying rituals involving beheading and revival, attracting many townsfolk and travelers to their beliefs.

The legend of the Immortal God seemed to have been deliberately spread. The cult's members were currently gathering twenty young women for their worship ceremony, claiming they could heal all ailments and even resurrect the dead.

Clicking his Sharingan into action, Oboro observed one of these cult members expounding a convoluted sermon while gaining a flyer detailing the worship process.

He realized many were passionate about this, likely those with incurable loved ones clinging to the hope of a divine figure's assistance.

After returning to the inn, Oboro placed the flyer in front of Asuma's door before heading back to his own room to rest.

Upon noticing the flyer, Asuma soon became unsettled.

"What a stroke of luck," he muttered under his breath.

Determined, Asuma took the flyer and moved to the location indicated within, where he encountered three cult members clad in black robes, only to be stopped and informed that men were not allowed to attend the worship.

Using Henge no Jutsu, Oboro transformed into a young woman and effortlessly gained entry, casting a disdainful glance at Asuma as he passed by.

The flyer had clearly stated that they were only gathering twenty young women, yet Asuma had still foolishly shown up.

It was fortunate that Asuma wasn't too foolish himself; upon turning away, he utilized his own transformation technique to blend in seamlessly.

Oboro and the group of women were led to a secluded chamber, where Asuma, in his female form, began conversing with the other girls, attempting to gather more details regarding the cult's worship ceremony.

By evening, the three cult members guided the group away from the town, traversing through forests and rivers until they reached a slightly hidden cave.

What kind of god hides in the shadows, requiring worship in darkness?

Oboro pondered as he sized up the surrounding terrain, calculating his escape routes should a battle ensue.

Asuma's thoughts mirrored his own, as he continuously scanned the area with alert eyes.

Upon entering the cave, a damp and murky atmosphere engulfed them. After crossing a shallow stream, they found themselves in an open area that carried an unusual scent.

Here, stone steps were artificially carved, with an altar before them containing a shrine, and giant candelabras lining both sides, illuminating the dim cave.

Rather shabby.

Oboro mused, reflecting on how the cultists couldn't even manage the bare minimum of presentation.

"Worshippers of the Immortal God, welcome to our sanctuary," a man in a white robe approached them with a smile.

"Your devotion shall earn you the blessings of the Immortal God, fulfilling your desires."

The crowd erupted into excitement.

"Really? I want to heal my mother."

"My father has been ill for a long time."

"So do I!"

The girls exclaimed eagerly, causing a sense of triumph to flicker across the white-robed man's face.

"To worship the Immortal God, you must be pure in body; you must drink the Holy Water to proceed with prayers," the white-robed man instructed.

The cultists who had led them in presented what they called "Holy Water," carried on a tray filled with wooden cups, which were distributed to everyone.

Upon taking a sip, Oboro recognized it as a green liquid resembling a drink, emanating a strange fragrance.

With his Sharingan activated, Oboro noticed that the liquid contained a unique chakra.

Some girls eagerly drank from their cups, and their eyes quickly dulled as they succumbed to the effects of the genjutsu.

Only then did Oboro grasp the plot: the chakra-infused water served as a medium to trap the drinkers within the cult's illusions. The pleasant aroma in the cave resonated with the "Holy Water," rendering even ninja unable to dispel its chakra and escape.

Smash!

Asuma hurled his cup to the ground. "Don't drink that! He's a fraud!"

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