Ah, that's the stuff!
Just can't help sounding like an old man, huh?
It just means that nothing beats relaxing like this!
Miss Tenten, I really can't thank you enough for bringing me my things.
Don't mention it!
I was planning to take some time off to go to a hot spring anyway.
Anyway, I'm so relieved that things are going smoothly
with you and the sensei.
After all, you know how Guy Sensei is, right?
I'm not quite sure if I'm fitting in, but I'm managing somehow…
I mean, he's the type to jump right in without thinking,
and stir up trouble, right?
Yeah, I sorta get the idea.
Knowing Guy Sensei,
I'm sure even now as we're here doing this,
something's gonna—!
That was Mr. Guy just now!
YOUTH
It appeared!
A ghost…appeared!
The Steam Ninja Scrolls: The Haunted Inn!
How's Guy Sensei doing?
He's quietly sleeping right now.
Also…
You're a bodyguard, but a woman first.
Remember not to rush out naked like you almost did!
I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking.
And besides, there's not much you can do alone
if Guy Sensei's unconscious.
Especially if Kakashi Sensei's gone off somewhere.
Did you call me?
Kakashi Sensei!
Hey!
C'mon! Don't scare us like that!
Where have you been?
I went out to buy hot spring bean jam buns.
Please let me know when you leave!
What's the point of guarding you otherwise?!
Sorry, sorry!
I heard from an employee earlier that Guy collapsed?
What did he do?
Well…
We won't know what really happened
until Guy Sensei regains consciousness.
But he kept saying,
– "It appeared!" – It appeared!
What appeared?
A ghost.
But he probably…
mistook it for something else.
No…
Maybe a ghost really did appear!
Huh?
It wouldn't be unusual here…
…right?
This building, this ambience and all…
Especially,
– that room you two are staying in… – The ghost…
I wouldn't be surprised if it's haunted.
…appeared!
There's no such thing as ghosts!
It's more fun if there are!
No.
I'm responsible for security and I swept the room thoroughly.
The furnishings, appliances, the attic and behind the sliding doors…
There was some trash, but I didn't find anything unusual at all.
Maybe you should look again.
There might be a corpse plastered behind the wall.
There is not!
Now that you mention it,
the bean jam buns that were in the room…
They were gone before I knew it,
so I went out to buy more. It's so weird.
I figured Guy just ate them all.
But he insisted,
"I didn't eat them!"
Maybe it's the ghost's doing!
Can you please stop that, Miss Tenten?
Well, Guy Sensei is a weirdo, but he's not a prankster or a liar.
Hmm… You have a point there.
Right?
See, it's a ghost!
I understand!
I'll prove to you that there's no such thing as ghosts!
Let me be blunt.
This inn is haunted, correct?
Huh?
Earlier in the detached room, Guy Sens—
…our companion saw one!
Not only that, all the bean jam buns disappeared suddenly, and—
I'm sorry for asking such a weird question!
You see, she doesn't know what to say!
There's no such thing as—
He…saw it?
Huh?
Can you tell us more about it?
It's all right. We're shinobi from the Hidden Leaf Village.
Hey! Miss Tenten!
We won't cause any trouble.
Originally, this hot spring was built during the feudal era
as a healing retreat for wounded soldiers.
In time, the wars ended and it became an ordinary hot spring inn,
but over time, rumors began to spread
about our guests seeing a ghost in armor.
To stop the rumors, a large-scale exorcism was conducted.
Since then, we've conducted our business with no problems at all.
But some strange things have been occurring these past few days.
I left a plate of food that a guest didn't finish over there,
and suddenly, it was gone.
It's happened several times that it creeped me out.
I would hear a thud in a room that's supposed to be empty…
And I'd find bedding scattered all over the place.
Several guests said they saw a figure in the outdoor baths.
But I went to look, no one was there.
It's a ghost, I'm sure of it.
There's no way!
With the leftover food,
an animal probably stuck its head through the window and ate it.
It's not unusual for stacked-up bedding to just fall over.
And the figure in the outdoor baths was probably just some steam.
You're trying real hard to convince yourself, aren't you?
We'll just verify each incident one by one.
First, let's go check out the kitchen.
But blaming a ghost makes things so much more interesting!
What is this?
Why isn't it attached securely?
That's not safe!
This is the only statue on a stone pedestal.
The rest are wood.
It's a pretty large stone.
Maybe this one just couldn't be moved.
Hmm…
Seems like it has some significance though.
Why don't you split the stone with your Chakra Blade?
Maybe you'll get cursed!
No way!
Are you being serious?
Just kidding!
Really!
And besides,
there's no way I can cut through something this solid!
Is your Chakra Blade that dull?
It's just that I haven't mastered using it.
Maybe my chakra isn't compatible with it as well…
Hey!
Guy's awake.
Hey!
I did not see a ghost!
What? But you were moaning…
"A ghost!"
It wasn't me!
There's no such thing as a ghost, right?
You probably mistook something as that.
Then how do you explain the bean jam buns
disappearing from this room?
Bean jam buns?
The outdoor bath, the kitchen, the bedding storage room…
Here at this inn… A ghost appeared in all of them.
I'll bet the ghost is behind the missing bean jam buns too.
No way! There's no way that would happen.
Stop saying such illogical things!
Illogical?
It's unusual hearing that word come out of your mouth, Guy Sensei!
You ate the buns, didn't you?!
No! I swear I didn't!
Of course, you didn't.
It was the ghost's doing!
That's wrong too!
Never mind that, Kakashi.
Let's go play ping-pong right now.
Why, all of a sudden?
Because there's a ping-pong table in the rec room!
I was gonna go take a soak now.
You can take a bath anytime!
I'm challenging you to a match of ping-pong, right now!
Let me take a quick soak, and you can wait for me here.
I want to play right now!
Oh, Guy Sensei…
Is there a reason why you don't want to stay in this room?
Are you scared to face the ghost who ate the bean jam buns?
Don't be ridiculous!
Anyway, let's go play ping-pong, Kakashi!
Damn it. Guess I have no choice.
He's really trying too hard.
Huh?
I've known him for a long time, so I can tell.
Guy Sensei's really freaked out by the ghost.
Wasn't it unnatural?
The way he brought up ping-pong out of the blue?
Really? To me, Mr. Guy always acts unnatural.
But is he really scared of ghosts?
Seriously, he's a real scaredy-cat.
Huh?!
Long ago, he just blurted out,
"Taijutsu is useless against ghosts, it doesn't work!"
I see.
I just thought of something really good.
It's going to get busy!
Miss Tenten?! Hey—!
Mirai, can you be our referee?
Who? Me?
Tenten ran away, so…
Huh? Oh, but…
You'll do it, won't you?
Uh, yes.
Okay, I feel great!
I'm ready anytime!
Today, for sure, I'm gonna—!
Point.
Aiming while I'm warming up my swing? You coward!
Oh, but you said anytime.
Never mind, the match starts now!
Okay, okay.
There.
This isn't the time to be doing this…
How's that?!
There.
I need to investigate the scene of the crime.
Huh?
FOREST OUTDOOR BATHS KITCHEN BEDDING STORAGE CORRIDOR DETACHED ROOM MAIN BUILDING The outdoor bath, the kitchen, the bedding storage room,
FOREST OUTDOOR BATHS KITCHEN BEDDING STORAGE CORRIDOR DETACHED ROOM MAIN BUILDING the corridor and the detached room…
FOREST OUTDOOR BATHS KITCHEN BEDDING STORAGE CORRIDOR DETACHED ROOM MAIN BUILDING All the sites where the ghost appeared
FOREST OUTDOOR BATHS KITCHEN BEDDING STORAGE CORRIDOR DETACHED ROOM MAIN BUILDING face the inner garden?
Who got it?
Yes?
Who got it?!
Uh…
I think it was my point.
I'm asking the referee!
Um, well… I couldn't tell!
Huh?!
What?!
It's fine.
We'll just call it a draw for today.
No, but I—
A draw, huh?!
I was so close!
I said, it was—
It was a draw!
Good grief.
I obliged you with a game, so I'm going for a soak now.
Wait!
Since we're here,
how about trying out some of the communal baths elsewhere?
Huh? The outdoor baths here are fine!
No, they're haunted…
Anyway, let's go somewhere! Okay?
Well, sure, fine…
Okay, let's go then!
What's wrong? Why the serious look?
Well…
All the places where the ghost appeared face the inner garden.
I'm just wondering if that means anything.
Is that what you were thinking of when you were refereeing?
I'm sorry!
You really take your job seriously, don't you?
I've told you, that you don't have to stress out so much.
It's just that people have been troubled by these incidents.
And I really want to prove that there's no such thing as ghosts.
Why do you want to disprove ghosts so much?
Huh?
Is there a particular reason behind it?
Well…
If ghosts do exist,
you'd think my dad would come and see me, at least once.
Ghosts don't exist. That's why my dad hasn't appeared.
Maybe you just can't see him, and he's actually close by.
If I can't see him, it's meaningless.
Kakashi!
Why aren't you coming with me?!
Okay, okay! I'm coming!
Anyway, let's resolve this ghost scare quickly.
Right!
Kakashi!
I know already!
A breeze?
This is a—!
BATHS
What are you doing here?
I'm preparing to catch the ghost.
Oh?
Where's Tenten?
Actually, I can't find her anywhere.
All right then. I'll show you who the ghost really is.
You hear that, Guy?
F-Fine…
Show us.
Do you smell something burning?
Here it comes!
I-It appeared!
Success!
Miss Tenten?! What are you doing?
Watch out!
Oh, dear.
What's your name?
It's Tatsumi.
So, you're the ghost?
I'm sorry!
What's going on anyway?
I noticed that all the places where the ghost appeared,
faced the inner garden, so I had a hunch…
…that someone's been hiding here.
And by chance, I found a secret passage in this building.
The passage was added when this structure was built
for security and as an emergency escape exit.
As I was investigating,
I discovered signs of recent human activity.
So, I sealed all but one of the entrances.
Then I asked the employees to fumigate the passageway with smoke
in order to force the "ghost" out through the only exit possible.
And that was beneath the statue, right?
But I didn't expect you, Miss Tenten, to appear dressed as a ghost.
Anyway, why did you do that?
Well, it was so much fun watching Guy Sensei putting up a brave face.
I thought I'd pretend to be the ghost and scare him.
Still, you didn't have scare us right at that moment.
Well, everyone was so quiet and anxious.
I figured it was now or never!
Oh dear. And you? What are you doing here?
I was traveling, and didn't have any money.
At first, I just wanted a place to sleep,
so I snuck into the bedding storage room.
And you chanced upon the secret passage?
Yes.
Should we ask the Land of Steam to take her into custody?
Please, don't do that!
I really have to continue my trip!
But you don't have money, right?
That's…
You have a reason, don't you?
Could you tell us?
This trip is…
for my late mother.
Your mother?
My mother passed away from an illness the other day.
She was bedridden for a long time, and couldn't go anywhere.
So, I'm visiting all the hot springs that she dreamed of going to.
I'm doing this in her memory.
I see.
But doing this alone in your current situation will be hard.
You're right.
And I realize that.
Would it be possible to take her with us as far as we can?
Huh?
I'd like this trip to be something to remember her mother by.
I'll pay for her expenses!
– Are you serious? – Yes.
Fine by me.
Kakashi Sensei!
Well, we'll make it work.
Thank you!
Isn't that great, Tatsumi?
Thank you!
By the way, your Chakra Blade earlier…
Unless you learn to control your chakra a little more,
it's dangerous.
I know. I didn't think it was that sharp either.
Talk about latent potential!
Well, she is Asuma's daughter.
All right, this is where we part ways!
What's the matter, Guy Sensei?
You look awfully pale!
Let's…Let's get out of here quickly.
Huh?
It's not about being scared or anything.
That thing's dangerous…
That warrior in armor.
Huh?
Just taking one look at that guy who appeared in the middle of the night…
I just knew he wasn't of this world.
After he wandered around the room…
Mirai… He went in the direction of the room you were staying in with Tenten,
and disappeared.
A warrior in armor?
An employee mentioned that too!
But she said a thorough exorcism was done!
Oh!
When I did a security sweep of that room,
I peeled these off, thinking they were trash.
Hey! You weren't supposed to remove those!
What?!
LAND OF STEAM ONE DAY HOT SPRING TOUR GUIDE What's with all the gloomy looks?
Mr. Kakashi, were you able to sleep last night?
Yeah, I slept soundly!
I feel so relaxed…
Okay, on to the next stop!
You slept right through
while a warrior in armor wandered around?
I wonder about your mental state.
A large boulder's covering the hot spring!
I wonder if there's anything we can do? The villagers seem troubled.
Sorry to keep you waiting, Mirai! I'm here to help!
You're—! Mr. Choji!
I haven't had anything to eat! I'm going to waste away!
I can't move the boulder in the state I'm in now!
Next time on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations:
"The Steam Ninja Scrolls: Potato Chips and the Giant Boulder!"
Then, why are you here?!
THE STEAM NINJA SCROLLS: POTATO CHIPS AND THE GIANT BOULDER!