Naruto: Boruto Returns to Shippuden

Chapter 127 Hot Spring

Jiraiya turned to face Boruto, his expression serious as he asked Boruto again, "Are you really going on this mission with me? This mission is extremely dangerous, and there's a high chance we'll die because of it."

Boruto clenched his fist: "Yes, I'm ready!"

After receiving a definite response from Boruto, Jiraiya gestured for him to follow closely behind, and the two headed towards the Konoha gates.

Jiraiya calculated the time in his mind, estimating that Naruto should have already discovered that the so-called "secret learning plan" he left behind was just a prank. If they didn't leave quickly, Naruto would probably catch up with them, and then they really wouldn't be able to leave.

As they walked out of the gates of Konoha Village, Boruto became very interested in the mission Jiraiya had mentioned and couldn't help but ask, "What kind of mission is it?"

Jiraiya looked at Boruto and slowly said, "I received intelligence from Tsunade that Konoha ninjas have frequently seen two ninjas wearing Akatsuki robes contacting another organization."

Boruto frowned. Why was it another mission related to the Akatsuki? It felt like he was dealing with the Akatsuki all the time lately.

"That organization is even more mysterious than Akatsuki. They only care about money and don't care about good or evil. Their main responsibility is to collect the corpses of ninjas and pay them money based on the value of the corpses."

Jiraiya paused for a moment before continuing to explain, "Our mission this time is to investigate the connection between the Akatsuki and that other organization."

After hearing Jiraiya's explanation, Boruto looked surprised: "I didn't expect there to be such an underground organization. What are they collecting corpses for? To conduct human experiments?"

Boruto recalled the severed limbs he saw when Orochimaru took him to his secret base after he was captured, and a chill ran down his spine.

Boruto simply couldn't understand why anyone would have such a strong interest in using corpses, a perverse hobby.

Jiraiya shook his head slightly, his expression becoming even more solemn. He continued, "We still don't know their true purpose, and the mastermind behind it all remains a mystery."

"But this organization is by no means just a simple place for trading corpses. It is more like an underground organization that can drive powerful ninjas at the top of the ninja world to work for it. I heard that they have strongholds in major countries."

Boruto nodded slowly. It seemed that there was a dark side to this world that was unknown to many, and that they were doing these shady things. Boruto then asked Jiraiya, "So what are we going to do now?"

Boruto pondered that if they were facing such a dangerous intelligence-gathering mission, they should have a clear and meticulous action plan, otherwise it might lead to unpredictable consequences.

Jiraiya smiled slightly, then patted Boruto on the shoulder: "So first, we need to find a hot spring inn. It's a good place to gather more information. After all, they're well hidden, so we have to be careful and not alert them too much."

Boruto nodded slightly in agreement, but then frowned: "Oh, I see. We need to find a hot spring first... Wait! What does soaking in a hot spring have to do with gathering intelligence!?"

Jiraiya crossed his arms and smiled slyly: "Intelligence work doesn't always happen on the noisy battlefield. Sometimes, the most inconspicuous place is the best place to hide secrets. Hot spring inns are places where people relax and let their guard down, and they are more likely to say things they wouldn't normally reveal."

Jiraiya silently pondered that the main purpose of this mission was to gather intelligence, rather than to directly confront the Akatsuki organization and engage in a real battle.

There shouldn't be any unexpected problems, probably...

......

After a long day's journey, Jiraiya finally brought Boruto to the entrance of a hot spring inn nestled in the mountains, where they prepared to rest for a while.

Boruto looked around and noticed that the hot spring inn seemed rather deserted, with hardly any guests inside, and only a few wisps of smoke slowly rising from the chimney on the roof.

He couldn't help but have some doubts. Could a place like this really gather useful information about the Akatsuki? It looked more like a place for relaxation.

Boruto then gently tugged at Jiraiya's sleeve: "Can we really gather information here? This doesn't look like a place where something big is going to happen."

Jiraiya waved his hand calmly: "It's alright. Even if we don't gather any information, we can still rest here for a while. After all, we've had a long day."

Immediately afterwards, Jiraiya led Boruto into the hot spring shop, where the proprietress immediately greeted them with a smile: "Welcome! Which type of hot spring would you two like to soak in? We have many types of hot springs here, each offering a different experience."

Jiraiya leaned against the counter and asked the proprietress half-jokingly, "Proprietress, do you have a mixed bath with more beautiful women here?"

Boruto sighed helplessly, muttering to himself that he had thought Jiraiya was here to seriously gather information, but it turned out he was just here to collect material.

Upon hearing Jiraiya's words, the proprietress frowned slightly. She hadn't expected that this man, who was clearly quite old, would still be so indecent, especially while having a child with him, and would still make such a request.

Although the landlady felt somewhat embarrassed, she tried her best to remain polite, gently covering her face with her hand and forcing a smile: "Business hasn't been good at the inn lately, so..."

"Besides you and your grandson, there were only those two young men from earlier. Besides, this hotel doesn't support mixed bathing."

Upon hearing the landlady's words and learning that the hot spring inn did not offer mixed bathing, Jiraiya immediately lost interest.

He didn't press further, but instead chose an ordinary hot spring pool, intending to relax and soak in the hot spring.

......

At this moment, Boruto had already taken off all his clothes in the changing room, only wrapping a towel around his waist, and was about to step over the barrier into the hot spring pool.

However, just as Boruto was about to enter the hot spring pool, his gaze suddenly fell on a basket of clothes in the corner.

Boruto noticed two distinctive outfits among them. He had seen these outfits on Itachi Uchiha before; they were the Akatsuki robes worn by Akatsuki members.

"Boruto, what's wrong...?"