"Hiss… So spicy! So spicy! Is this even drinkable?"
"It's horrible! My throat feels like it's on fire! Help me!"
Two curious young girls, upon tasting alcohol for the first time, grimaced with discomfort. Their taste buds rebelled as they rapidly waved their delicate hands near their mouths, hoping to cool off.
"No more."
"Never again."
The girls pushed their glasses to the edge of the table, loudly declaring their distaste.
Naruto pressed his lips together tightly, suppressing his laughter.
"Drinking it all in one go? You kittens are asking for trouble."
Even for a grown adult, downing a glass of 48-proof baijiu in one go was no small feat. In some ways, Kushina and Mikoto were rather bold.
"You two fools, alcohol is meant to be savored slowly, like medicine that's bitter but beneficial," Naruto said nonchalantly, taking small sips from his own glass, his expression unchanging. "This is an excellent bottle of baijiu," he added calmly.
The girls exchanged glances, each seeing the same confusion in the other's eyes.
Could it be… that they had drunk it incorrectly?
"Pour me another."
"Me too."
Naruto smiled faintly, refilling their glasses. Following his example, Kushina and Mikoto lightly sipped the liquor this time.
Before long, the two girls were hiccupping incessantly. Their fair cheeks turned a deep shade of red, and their bright, enchanting eyes began to glaze over. Tears welled up in their pupils, forming a delicate, misty veil, making them look even more alluring.
"You jerk! Naruto, how dare you trick me! You're in big trouble now!"
Kushina's dark eyes sparkled with moisture as she glared at Naruto. Her small, pearly-white teeth clicked together as if she were imagining gnawing him like a bone.
Meanwhile, Mikoto's head began to wobble. Her eyes drooped shut, and, unable to hold her liquor, she collapsed forward, landing heavily on the table with a loud thud.
The impact rattled the table, knocking over a glass and spreading the potent aroma of baijiu through the air.
Naruto scratched his nose with a finger and sighed bitterly. "I might've overdone it a little."
"A little? You've practically set a terrible example for kids," came Kurama's resonant voice in his mind.
"Oh, you're awake, Kurama? Perfect timing. Help me clean up."
"Nope, not happening. I'm going back to hibernation. Keep it down," Kurama replied before falling silent, ignoring Naruto's calls.
Rubbing his forehead, Naruto muttered, "I should've known better than to let them drink so much…"
At that moment, Kushina stood up unsteadily from her seat, wobbling as she stumbled toward Naruto.
"You jerk, Naruto, I'm going to… hic… bite you for tricking me!"
After just a few steps, her foot slipped, and she tumbled toward the floor.
Naruto sighed in exasperation, bending down to catch her in his arms.
"Wake up, Kushina. If you're going to sleep, do it at home. All I've got here is the floor."
"Snore… snore…"
"Well, communication is clearly out of the question. Time for bed, I guess."
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
With a puff of white smoke, a solid clone appeared. The two Narutos exchanged a glance before setting to work. Each took a damp cloth to wipe the girls' faces clean. Then they carefully lifted Kushina and Mikoto, laid them on the bed, removed their shoes, and tucked them in.
"Thanks for the help, other me."
"No need to thank me; I'm you."
"Alright, dismissed!"
Naruto slumped onto the couch, tossing a slipper at the light switch.
Click.
The room fell into darkness.
With the blankets given to Kushina and Mikoto, Naruto had to make do with their jackets, which carried a faint, fresh scent of youth that lingered near his nose.
"Goodnight."
A long while later—
As steady breathing filled the room, the golden-haired boy had long since fallen into a deep sleep.
Unbeknownst to him, the red-haired girl stirred, swaying as she approached him.
Even without seeing, Kushina could sense Naruto's chakra in the darkness, as vibrant and warm as the sun, guiding her steps.
She toppled onto the couch, wrapping her arms tightly around the boy.
"Got you, Naruto," Kushina murmured, a silly smile gracing her lips.
The night passed without incident.
---
"Ugh… I feel awful."
"Ow… My head is killing me…"
When Naruto woke, a throbbing pain pounded in his head—a stark reminder of the 48-proof baijiu's potent aftereffects.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he tried to sit up and check on the girls.
Why does this feel so heavy?
He looked down and froze. Kushina was clinging to him like an octopus, her arms wrapped tightly around his torso.
Her cream-colored shirt had slipped off one shoulder, revealing smooth, snowy skin.
Her slender neck and delicate collarbones were faintly visible, teasingly so. The faint blue veins on her arm were discernible under the morning light.
Naruto gulped involuntarily, his Adam's apple bobbing as he fought to control himself.
"Kushina, wake up. It's morning."
"Don't bother me… my head hurts. Let me sleep a bit longer."
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