Tsunade left first, leaving Shinji and the other three standing where they were.
After exchanging glances, it was Shizune, the most "experienced" among them, who finally spoke up.
"Let's find an inn to settle in first. Lady Tsunade probably won't be coming back tonight."
Her words carried a hint of helplessness, mixed with a touch of gritted teeth.
Hearing this, Shinji and the others immediately understood the implication, covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.
The four of them walked along the gradually brightening commercial street. About halfway down, they came across a three-story brick-and-wood building.
A pinewood plaque above the entrance read "Pine Wind Inn," and a string of red lanterns hung by the door, clearly indicating a clean and tidy establishment.
"Let's go with this one," Shinji said, pointing at the sign.
No one objected.
Pushing the door open, Asuma strode straight to the counter and slapped down a stack of banknotes. "Two top-floor rooms, next to each other."
The mission team had public funds, which would be settled later.
The innkeeper was a friendly middle-aged man who smiled and agreed. He stepped out from behind the counter and led them upstairs.
Walking down the hallway to the end, the innkeeper pointed to two adjacent rooms.
"Here you are, guests. If you need dinner, you can head to the lobby on the first floor."
He politely added this before bowing and retreating.
"Then I'll share this room with Shinji," Asuma said, casually pushing open the door and walking in while rubbing his shoulder. "I'm exhausted after these past couple of days."
Kurenai Yuhi chuckled softly and looked at Shizune. "Then Shizune and I will take this one."
Just as Shinji was about to enter his room, he suddenly met Kurenai's gaze.
She subtly winked at him and gestured with her hands, forming the word "go," before following Shizune into the neighboring room.
Shinji understood immediately, nodding lightly with a smile.
The room wasn't large but was impeccably clean. Pushing open the wooden window, the noise of pedestrians below drifted up with the breeze.
Asuma half-lay on the tatami, looking utterly relaxed and bored.
As soon as Shinji entered, he suddenly seemed to remember something and slapped his forehead. "I'm heading out for a bit. I'll come back later on my own."
"It's almost dark. Where are you going?" Asuma turned over, looking puzzled.
Shinji shrugged, answering vaguely, "It's rare to visit the capital of the Land of Fire. I just want to see if there's anything useful around."
Hearing this, Asuma lost interest and waved his hand, yawning. "Come back early."
Shinji smiled and turned to leave the room.
At the same time, in the neighboring room.
"Shizune, I'm heading out," Kurenai said.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Shizune looked up.
"No, no need. I'm just going for a casual stroll. I might be back a bit later," Kurenai quickly waved her hands. "You rest first."
With that, she quietly slipped out of the room.
Shizune watched her retreating figure, muttering suspiciously under her breath, "Where could she be going so late?"
As soon as Kurenai stepped out of the room, she glanced to her left and saw Shinji leaning against the corridor wall, waving lightly at her.
She immediately raised a finger to her lips, hurried over to him, lowered her voice, and curled her lips into a smile.
"Let's go."
After speaking, she naturally linked arms with Shinji, and the two quietly made their way downstairs together.
...
On the bustling street, Shinji and Kurenai Yuhi walked side by side at a leisurely pace. Shops on both sides were brightly lit, and the calls of street vendors rose and fell, filling the entire long street.
Kurenai suddenly pointed toward a small stall and said softly, "Shinji, should we try this?"
Shinji followed her direction and saw a stall selling dango.
He remembered clearly that dango was Kurenai's favorite snack. Back in their school days, she would often take detours to visit various dango shops.
Shinji smiled knowingly.
"Sure."
He gently took her hand, and they walked over together.
The dango vendor, seeing a young man and woman, smiled and struck up a conversation. "Oh, are you two a couple?"
Kurenai's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled and looked at Shinji, waiting to see how he would answer.
Shinji cleared his throat lightly, his tone serious yet carrying a hint of mischief. "Not yet."
The vendor was taken aback, clearly not expecting that answer.
A man and a woman walking so close, with such intimate expressions—they didn't look like ordinary friends at all.
The vendor chuckled awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. "What would you two like?"
Kurenai covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, looked up at the menu on the stall, and pointed at a few items. "This one, this one, and that one."
"Two of each, please."
Seeing the customers were generous, the vendor immediately became more enthusiastic. "Coming right up! Please wait a moment!"
While waiting, Kurenai clasped her hands behind her back, tilted her head slightly, and looked at Shinji with a teasing glint. "What do you mean, 'not yet'?"
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she eagerly awaited his response.
"Of course, it's because someone still hasn't made it up to me," Shinji teased with a smile.
The memory of that night at the Fire Temple, when he had almost kissed her, was still fresh in his mind.
"Tsk!"
Kurenai made a light sound of disapproval, reached out to pinch his waist gently, and said coquettishly, "Shinji, don't let your thoughts wander."
A few minutes later, each holding several skewers of dango, they walked away, eating and chatting with laughter.
The vendor watched their flirtatious retreating figures, pursed his lips, feeling as if he had been force-fed a mouthful of "dog food," and grumbled inwardly, "If this doesn't count as a couple, then what does!"
As the night deepened, the street grew even livelier. Shinji and Kurenai strolled along, stopping here and there, sampling dango, taiyaki, red bean soup, and ordering a cup of matcha.
Later, they entered an accessories shop, where Kurenai browsed with interest, picking out forehead protector accessories and small sachets.
Following the flow of the crowd, they watched street performances—Fire Release Sparklers, Clone Juggling, Shuriken Throwing...
Unconsciously, their hands found each other's again, clasped tightly.
Shinji leaned down slightly, bringing his lips close to Kurenai's ear, a smile playing on his lips. "Is this a date?"
Kurenai wrinkled her small nose and let out a soft hum. "You're just accompanying me while I shop."
But in her heart, she quietly added: This dummy, of course we're on a date.
Even as she said this, the hand holding Shinji's tightened its grip ever so slightly.
Just then, a middle-aged woman from a nearby shop called out with a smile, "Young man, why not pick out some clothes for your girlfriend?"
She pointed further down the street. "Later, there will be a fireworks display at Suzaku River. It's a rare opportunity—take someone you like to see it."
Kurenai's eyes instantly lit up. "There's a fireworks display?"
She clearly looked forward to it, already pulling Shinji along as she spoke.
"Wait."
Shinji gently held her back, pointing to a nearby shop: "Let's get you changed first."
He then gestured toward the people on the street.
Most of the pedestrians heading toward Suzaku River wore light and beautiful yukata.
Kurenai Yuhi hesitated slightly: "This—"
Shinji squeezed her hand, looking at Kurenai expectantly: "I want to see how you look in a yukata."
Kurenai's cheeks flushed bright red in an instant. She shot him a reproachful glance but still nodded softly: "Alright!"