Chapter 23: It's like saying I always go to the women's baths.
Mei Terumī scooped up a spoonful of strawberry ice cream and popped it into her mouth, closing her eyes in bliss as she savored the sweet - tart flavor and the coolness spreading across her palate.
There was no ice cream in the Land of Water, so this was Mei Terumī's first taste of such a delicious dessert. Since girls generally have a sweet tooth, she immediately fell in love with ice cream.
However, Yue Yan, sitting beside her, watched Mei Terumī with her eyes curving into a cute smile. Especially when he saw the several empty ice cream bowls beside her, he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Although ice cream wasn't exactly a luxury, it wasn't cheap either. Yue Yan felt a twinge in his heart after treating Mei Terumī to so many bowls of ice cream.
"What's with that look on your face? What? Are you feeling wronged because you treated me?"
"No, as long as you're happy."
Yue Yan curled his lips and showed no intention of paying attention to her.
After Mei Terumī finished the last bite of her strawberry ice cream, she licked her thin lips with a hint of longing. She also noticed Yue Yan's pained expression when he paid the bill. Being kind - hearted, she decided to forgive Yue Yan for his previous rudeness.
"By the way, you're also a candidate for this Chunin Exams, right? Why haven't I seen you in action before?"
"I'm just a medical ninja. Leave the fighting to my teammates."
"Really? (in a skeptical tone)"
Mei Terumī looked at Yue Yan with a "Are you kidding me?" expression on her face.
"You're a medical ninja? No way! You're clearly so powerful. Even I... Well, you're just a bit weaker than me."
Yue Yan just shrugged, indicating that she could believe it or not.
Although Mei Terumī was cute and would grow into a sexy and mature woman in the future, she was just a little kid for now. Yue Yan couldn't muster any interest in her.
After all, in his previous life, if he had any inappropriate thoughts, he'd probably be taken away by the police for being a pervert.
Moreover, Mei Terumī was a ninja from another village. Not wanting to be misunderstood, Yue Yan planned to leave as soon as Mei Terumī finished her ice cream.
"Hey, are you even listening to me?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
Originally, Mei Terumī was arguing that it was impossible for a medical ninja, especially one as young as Yue Yan, to be that powerful. But Yue Yan hadn't listened to a word she said.
"I'm asking your name. Are you a ninja from one of those big clans, like the Uchiha Clan?"
As she spoke, Mei Terumī started rummaging through Yue Yan's clothes, looking for the iconic Uchiha Clan fan - shaped crest.
Maybe Mei Terumī didn't understand the concept of gender differences at this age, or maybe she was deliberately trying to get revenge. Not finding the Uchiha Clan crest on his clothes, she reached for Yue Yan's pants.
This sight made Yue Yan leap away in fright.
"Hey, that's going too far! Don't try to pull my pants down!"
Seeing Yue Yan's strong reaction, Mei Terumī showed a sly smile. Seeing this smile, Yue Yan knew she must have done it on purpose.
"Okay, stop joking. Let me introduce myself. I'm Mei Terumī."
"Hongchi Yue Yan, an ordinary civilian ninja."
Hearing that Yue Yan was a civilian ninja, Mei Terumī was surprised for a moment. She didn't suspect that Yue Yan was lying. After all, she had witnessed Yue Yan's strength before. He was an absolute genius ninja. If such a talented young man were from a big family, he definitely wouldn't feel heartache just because he treated someone to a few ice creams.
However, because of this, Mei Terumī also sighed inwardly, wondering if another Minato Namikaze was about to appear in Konoha.
Although Minato Namikaze didn't officially gain fame in the ninja world until the Third Ninja World War, as a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Sannin of Konoha, Minato's genius name had already emerged among other villages.
Looking at the time and finding it was getting late, Mei Terumī planned to leave. But before leaving, she didn't forget to leave a harsh word.
"Remember this, boy. When we meet in the next round of the exam, I won't show you any mercy."
After saying that, without giving Yue Yan a chance to speak, Mei Terumī turned around and left. Judging from her bouncy steps, she was obviously in a very good mood.
Watching her retreating back, Yue Yan shook his head with a smile. Even though she would become the Fifth Mizukage in the future, she was still just a little girl now.
Xiaolan, who had kept quiet beside Yue Yan all along, stared at the direction where Mei Terumī left for a long time and couldn't help frowning. For some reason, she didn't like Mei Terumī. Even she herself couldn't explain this feeling clearly. It was like an instinct, like someone was trying to steal Yue Yan away from her.
"Damn it!"
"You want me to stay away from her?"
Yue Yan was a little confused when he heard Xiaolan's words, but he didn't think too much about it. He picked her up and stroked her head. Xiaolan closed her eyes comfortably because of Yue Yan's head - stroking.
"Anyway, Mei Terumī is a ninja from another village. We probably won't have many chances to meet in the future."
Stopping thinking about these things, Yue Yan held Xiaolan in his arms and watched the people coming and going on the street. Suddenly, thinking of something, Yue Yan suggested, "Xiaolan, how about we go to the hot spring? I've never given it a shot before."
"Damn it!"
"Okay, let's go together."
Yue Yan came to the hot - spring bathhouse in Konoha, intending to use the hot spring to wash away the fatigue on his body.
However, as soon as he stepped in, an old woman started leading him towards the women's bathing area.
After Yue Yan explained again and again and was on the verge of taking off his pants to prove he was a boy, the old woman finally believed that he was male.
After changing his clothes, Yue Yan, extremely speechless, took Xiaolan into the men's bath.
As soon as he entered, he heard a noisy sound.
"Kakashi, why do you even wear a mask when you're taking a hot spring? Don't you think it's strange?"
"Mind your own business."
"Hey hey hey, is it because you're ugly that you don't want to take off your mask? I'm gonna uncover your true face today."
As soon as Yue Yan walked in, he saw Obito Uchiha and Kakashi fooling around. Minato Namikaze, the Team - Leading Jonin, was smiling as he watched the scene.
"Yo, Obito Uchiha, Kakashi. You two are still so full of energy."
Seeing Yue Yan's delicate face surrounded by water vapor, Obito Uchiha, who didn't realize it was Yue Yan at first, blushed.
"Yue... Yue Yan, are you here?"
Looking at Obito Uchiha's expression, Yue Yan knew what he was thinking and couldn't help rolling his Byakugan.
"I'm here to take a hot spring bath. Should I be in the women's bathing area?"
"Right. You look so much like a girl that I almost mistook you."
Seeing Obito Uchiha scratching his head awkwardly, Yue Yan was speechless.
"Your team members should be together. If I went to the women's bathing area, aren't you afraid I'd catch a glimpse of Rin in the nude?"
Obito Uchiha immediately did a kneeling prostration right in front of Yue Yan.
"Please, never go to the women's bathing area. This is my lifelong request, at least not when Rin is there."
Yue Yan: (???)
"What you said makes it seem like I always go to the women's bathing area."
"Who can tell?" Obito Uchiha mumbled quietly.
"Stupid Obito Uchiha."
Kakashi rolled his dead - fish eyes and gave a disgusted look at the embarrassing Obito Uchiha.
"Damn Kakashi!"
Seeing the two starting to scuffle again, Yue Yan shrugged and went to sit next to Minato Namikaze.
"Hello, Aniki Minato Namikaze."
"Long time no see, Yue Yan."
Minato Namikaze showed his usual gentle and sunny smile as always.