"This is what you call... a relaxing place?" Natsuki stared dumbfounded at the steaming hot spring before him.
"Of course! Hot springs improve blood circulation and relieve fatigue. They also open up your pores and soothe aches and pains. There's Loads of benefits!" Kurenai explained.
"We've been busy for a whole month. To properly reward you, I rented out this entire place." She continued, "I initially wanted to take you on a trip outside the village, but unfortunately, Konoha is short-staffed right now. I managed to wrangle only half a day off, so this was the closest option."
Kurenai stood alluringly at the edge of the pool. With a delicate tug at her shoulder, her dress slid down in an instant.
The sudden expanse of creamy white skin nearly blinded Natsuki.
"The water temperature is perfect," Kurenai said, dipping a dainty foot into the water and testing it with a pleased expression.
Then, she carefully stepped into the hot spring, creating ripples that spread out like the descent of a goddess.
Standing waist-deep in the water, she beckoned: "Natsuki, come on in! Don't be shy, you're a grown man now."
"Uh... fine," Natsuki mumbled, reluctantly entering the water in his swim trunks.
A grown man can't keep acting like a child, can he? He thought.
Suddenly, a splash of water hit him square in the face.
"Hmph! We only have the afternoon, and you're dilly-dallying!" Kurenai huffed, sticking her tongue out at him.
Provoked, Natsuki retaliated, swinging his arms and sending waves of water crashing toward his sister.
Kurenai was caught off guard. She quickly dove underwater, swimming like a mermaid to get behind Natsuki.
Then, with a sudden burst, she leaped out of the water and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Heh heh, how do you like that? You dare splash water on your older sister?" Kurenai gloated, feeling Natsuki stiffen beneath her.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him like a koala.
"That move's a foul! You can't just... body slam me like that," Natsuki stammered, feeling the pressure against his back.
"Hee hee, this isn't a match! There are no rules, so no fouls!" she teased. "If you're so capable, then get me off!"
It had been a while since Kurenai had teased her younger brother like this.
It reminded her of simpler times.
Since becoming a ninja, it was always mission after mission.
There was so little time for leisure.
"Oh, is that so?" Natsuki said with a smirk.
He discreetly manipulated the gravity around him, pulling Kurenai off him and into the air. She flailed like a beached whale.
Then, just as suddenly, the gravity released.
Kurenai shrieked as she plummeted back into the water, creating a massive splash.
Before she could yell at him, Natsuki had already wrapped an arm around her waist and captured her lips with his own.
The combination attack left Kurenai gasping, melting into his embrace.
After a brief moment, Natsuki released her.
He braced himself for a beating and a torrent of scolding.
But instead, Kurenai sank deeper into the water, hiding her face, only her eyes and nose peeking out.
Her gaze was soft and hazy, incredibly shy.
"Cough, well you started it." Natsuki quickly changed the subject. "How about you give me a back rub, Sis? Training has been brutal lately."
"Hmm..." Kurenai started to agree, but then remembered she was the one who ended up soaked.
"Why the fuck should I give you a rub? Why don't you rub me." She lightly kicked Natsuki underwater with her foot.
However, her foot connected with something hard, sending a sharp pain through her sole.
"Ow! ... Fine. Just this once," Natsuki winced, quickly composing himself and changing the subject again.
Almost lost my cool there.
He thought, pointedly picking up a washcloth.
"Humph!" Kurenai leaned against the edge of the pool, enjoying the soothing warmth of the water and her brother's begrudging service.
This half-day vacation was worth it! Although, someone seemed to have a different opinion.
…
Three days passed in a flash.
Finally, the last stage of the Chunin Exams arrived: the third round, the official matches.
The venue was a massive coliseum, newly decorated for the occasion like a grand festival.
The stands were packed with spectators.
In the main seats, the Third Hokage and the Fourth Kazekage were already in place.
The proctor for the third round was Genma Shiranui, one of the Fourth Hokage's former guards.
He drew a card and announced in a loud voice:
"The time has come! All examinees, please enter the arena!"
Instantly, figures blurred as they used the Body Flicker Technique to flash into the arena, showing off in front of the crowd.
But when Natsuki, holding Hinata's hand, descended slowly from the air, the atmosphere instantly erupted.
"Whoa! Whose kid is that? He can actually float in the air?"
"One has the Byakugan, so definitely Hyuga. But I don't recognize the other."
"What kind of jutsu is that? So cool! Dad, I want to learn that!"
"Damn, Natsuki's entrance is way too awesome!"
The spectators were awestruck by their grand entrance. Even Hiruzen, known as the Professor, didn't possess such a flight technique.
"Those two kids are showing off a bit too much, aren't they?" The Third Hokage muttered, a vein throbbing in his forehead.
Been Hokage for decades, and I never made such a flashy entrance. He thought.
"Haha, well, they're young. That youthful exuberance is quite nostalgic," the Fourth Kazekage chuckled. "It seems Konoha has unknowingly nurtured two remarkable talents. Quite enviable indeed."
But beneath his amiable smile, a snake-like glint of coldness flickered in his eyes.
join my patreon for 50+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/HyppoTL