Late at night.
Gin and Sakumo, surrounded by women with perfect figures, finally stumbled out of Black Rose, both reeking of alcohol.
The cold night wind helped them sober up a little.
Gin shot a sideways glance at Sakumo.
"You filthy adult, taking a minor to drink at a hostess bar," he muttered as he returned to his original form with a poof.
Gin, after all, was only thirteen. He still had a long way to go before reaching adulthood.
Sakumo, equally unimpressed, gave Gin a sideways glance of his own.
"Weren't you the one having the time of your life?" he retorted.
This brat showed no respect for the three ninja prohibitions. He drank even more than Sakumo did, and there was no stopping him.
And to make it worse, they had spent all of Sakumo's money in there. Some women even wanted to take Gin to a hotel for…well, 'exercice'. If Sakumo hadn't intervened, he didn't know what would have happened.
Sakumo massaged his forehead, feeling utterly defeated. Is this kid really just thirteen? Sure, ninjas mature quickly, but this is a bit much.
"I was just playing along with you," Gin said, his voice full of confidence. After all, once they were inside, it wasn't like they could just walk out. Given the atmosphere, what man could turn away?
Even if he was still technically a boy, that hardly seemed relevant.
"Ha." Sakumo snorted. "I was gathering intel. You didn't seem too focused on that."
"Sure, and gathering intel here was a real challenge for you, wasn't it?" Gin shot back.
Of course, they had gathered quite a bit of useful intel—recent Kumogakure movements, the situation in the Land of Lightning, and even the fact that the Raikage had made an appearance in this city. It was almost unbelievable.
According to one of the drunk women, the Raikage had shown up just a few days ago.
The two bickered back and forth as they walked down the street, neither willing to let the other have the last word, until they spotted a still-open tavern and decided to stop.
Once inside, the tavern was bustling with activity. The clinking of cups and the rowdy cheers of patrons made the place feel more like a lively marketplace.
Gin and Sakumo found a secluded corner, which was one of the few available seats, and ordered some local delicacies, a glass of sake, and…a glass of juice.
Gin blinked in confusion.
"I ordered sake, not juice," he grumbled at the waitress.
The tall, blonde waitress looked at him without any expression. "Minors aren't allowed to drink," she stated flatly.
Gin touched his face and realized he was back in his normal form. He flashed an awkward smile and sipped at his orange juice.
Sakumo laughed heartily, clearly enjoying the moment.
"And you, letting a kid drink alcohol—what were you thinking?" The waitress wasn't going to let Sakumo off the hook either. Gin's flushed face and the strong smell of alcohol on him made it clear he had been drinking, and it didn't look good for the adult responsible for him.
Sakumo, now thoroughly embarrassed, downed his drink in silence.
Once the waitress was satisfied that both had learned their lesson, she walked away.
The two exchanged sheepish glances before Gin spoke up again. "Great body, terrible personality."
The waitress, who hadn't walked far enough away to miss that comment, casually flicked a spoon across the room, hitting Sakumo square in the forehead.
"What?!" Sakumo pointed at Gin, about to explain it was him who made the comment, but the waitress was already gone.
Sakumo fumed, not knowing where to vent his frustration.
Gin, on the other hand, burst out laughing.
"You totally deserved that."
Then, from a nearby table, a hushed conversation caught their attention.
"I heard some Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure ninjas were seen in the Land of Lightning recently."
Gin and Sakumo's ears perked up. This was new information they hadn't uncovered yet.
Several men were engaged in a lively discussion.
"What could they be doing here?"
"My guess is they're here to bow down to our Land of Lightning," one suggested.
"They're not here to attack us, are they?" another asked. Though the Land of Lightning had a united populace, there wasn't much in the country that seemed worth other villages' attention.
"Just be careful. Those other villages' ninjas are notorious for being ruthless," one man warned.
"Enough talk, let's drink!" someone else shouted, and the conversation was drowned out by the clinking of cups once more.
Gin and Sakumo exchanged a look. This was something worth investigating. Regardless of what these other villages' ninjas were planning, the information could be vital for Konoha.
The tavern remained a chaotic mess of noise and chatter, with patrons making wild claims and speculations—most of which were likely exaggerated or false. Unlike in the lower regions where the war had taken its toll, this place felt completely removed from the conflict.
Suddenly, the tavern grew quiet.
Gin and Sakumo turned toward the entrance to see two men walk in, wearing Kumogakure headbands. Both had dark skin and pale yellow hair—the unmistakable look of Kumogakure shinobi.
"Cheers to our Kumogakure ninjas!" the tavern owner shouted from behind the counter, raising his glass.
The entire tavern erupted into cheers.
"Kumogakure ninjas are really loved here," Gin observed as the two shinobi were swarmed by admiring patrons.
"That's because the Land of Lightning's daimyo has a close relationship with Kumogakure," Sakumo explained. "Unlike the Wind Daimyo, who neglects Sunagakure, or the detached relationship between the Land of Fire and Konoha, Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning are almost inseparable."
He continued, "While Kumogakure strives to claim the title of strongest village, they also never forget to serve the Land of Lightning. That's why they're so well-regarded."
The two Kumogakure shinobi quickly integrated into the crowd, mingling with ease.
"It looks like Kumogakure is preparing to mobilize," Sakumo observed. This city was the closest one to the lower lands, and any move Kumogakure made in the ongoing war would likely pass through here.
Gin and Sakumo quietly drank their respective beverages, though Gin eyed Sakumo's sake longingly. Tonight was the first time Gin had tasted alcohol since coming to this world.
Late into the night, the two Kumogakure shinobi finally left the tavern, visibly drunk.
Gin and Sakumo exchanged a glance before standing up simultaneously.
Sakumo pulled out a small pill and tossed it into his mouth, then handed one to Gin.
"It's a sobering pill," he explained.
Gin popped the pill into his mouth, the bitter taste spreading across his tongue.
"Boss, we'll take the check!" Gin called out.
(End of Chapter)
====
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]
====