By noon, Nawaki was utterly spent after a morning of rigorous training, his arms so heavy he could barely lift them. Fortunately, Tsunade was there. With a deft touch of her Mystical Palm Technique, she alleviated his muscle fatigue.
Kushina, ever the spirited one, leaned over to rub Nawaki's arm a bit. The relief was instantaneous, making her wonder if it had been worth showing off so much strength.
"Alright, let's eat!" Kawakaze announced, his tone cheerful as he led the group toward the dining hall. His sister-in-law had already made arrangements, so all Sakumo had to do was show up and enjoy the meal.
When they arrived, the dining room was abuzz with servants bustling to set the table. Dish after dish was laid out: Fuqi feipian, fried peanuts, beef braised in soy sauce...
Kawakaze had spent years experimenting with culinary delights, and the Hatake Clan's chefs had become adept at creating dishes perfect for pairing with sake.
"This is a specialty of our Hatake Clan," Kawakaze explained with a smile, gesturing toward the dishes. "I gave special instructions to the chef for today."
He graciously arranged for Tsunade to sit beside his sister-in-law while he took the seat across from her, with Nawaki and Kushina positioned further down the table.
Tsunade's eyes lingered on the unfamiliar dishes. As someone who had experienced her fair share of feasts, she was still taken aback by the unique presentation. Do wealthy families always eat such different foods? she wondered, carefully maintaining a neutral expression despite the rumbling in her stomach.
As the last of the dishes arrived, Kawakaze clapped his hands. "Bring two bottles of the baijiu!"
This was a noteworthy moment. Since arriving in this world, Kawakaze had been unimpressed by the lightness of sake. Driven by dissatisfaction, he had taken it upon himself to brew a stronger, homemade version—baijiu.
Unfortunately, it hadn't caught on with others, leaving it a Hatake Clan specialty. Kawakaze and Sakumo drank it frequently, though yesterday's excess had clearly taken its toll on him.
At his command, a servant promptly brought out jars of the potent liquor, its label unfamiliar to Tsunade.
"What kind of sake is this baijiu?" she asked, a touch of doubt in her voice. Had she suddenly become the unsophisticated guest in the midst of the Hatake Clan?
"Haha, it's my homemade strong alcohol," Kawakaze chuckled. "Give it a try. If it's not to your liking, we'll switch to something else."
He popped the cork on one of the jars and poured generous servings into their cups. The dining room was instantly filled with the sharp, intoxicating aroma of the liquor.
Nawaki and Kushina wrinkled their noses, their faces contorted into comical frowns at the overpowering smell.
Sakumo, ever the gracious host despite his own reservations, raised his cup with a slightly awkward smile. "To welcoming Tsunade to the Hatake Clan! Let's drink together!"
Tsunade promptly picked up her cup, clinking it against Sakumo's.
"Sip-sip."
The four of them downed their cups in unison, each grimacing slightly as the fiery alcohol hit their throats.
Sakumo reached for his favorite dish to ease the burn, and the others soon followed suit. Nawaki and Kushina eagerly dove into the pig's trotters they had been eyeing, their hands and faces soon glistening with oil as they devoured the tender, flavorful meat.
Tsunade, however, found herself appreciating the strong liquor. With a peanut popped into her mouth to complement the sake, she savored the pairing like a seasoned connoisseur.
The lively atmosphere was infectious. Kawakaze and Sakumo engaged in animated conversation, occasionally joined by Tsunade, who held her own despite the rapid pace of the drinking. The first jar of baijiu was quickly emptied, and they were already halfway through the second—each jar holding two full kilograms of the potent brew.
As the alcohol flowed, so did the words. Sakumo, usually reserved and aloof, now wore a broad smile, his face flushed with drink. He leaned forward with a friendly gesture. "Tsunade, you've got a bold way of drinking. I like that!"
He poured another round, raising his cup once more. "One more—this one's to your health!"
Gone was the cold and distant demeanor. With two bright red patches on his cheeks and a grin wide enough to rival a blooming chrysanthemum, Sakumo looked every bit the approachable big brother next door.
But Tsunade wasn't having it. Her brow arched as her gaze sharpened. What did he mean by "bold"? Was he looking down on her?
"Let's do it together." Kawakaze tilted his head back, gulped down the sake, and immediately refilled his cup.
Despite his efforts to keep up, Kawakaze already felt out of place. He was reaching his limit, longing for the comfort of his bed. Yet here were Sakumo and Tsunade, the type to dive into another round even after clearly drinking too much.
The two of them sighed, casting fleeting glances at Kawakaze's sister-in-law, before reluctantly taking small sips from their cups.
Meanwhile, Nawaki and Kushina, having eaten and drunk their fill, were bursting with energy. The pair had long since slipped away to the dojo, eager to practice. Their boundless enthusiasm was typical of children, especially when it came to things they loved.
"Kawakaze, come on, let's drink! You're quite handsome, you know," Tsunade teased, suddenly standing and moving closer. Draping her arm over his shoulders, she shot him a playful, flirtatious wink.
Kawakaze's cheeks flushed as her proximity—and the rather generous view—left him flustered. His gaze darted nervously, afraid he might lose control.
Scrambling to regain his composure, he lifted his sake cup, clinked it with hers, and downed its contents in one go.
"Tsunade," Sakumo slurred, his voice carrying the telltale weight of too much alcohol. "What do you think of my brother? Don't you think you two would make a perfect match?"
He grinned broadly and continued without waiting for a reply. "He's a good-looking guy, and let's not forget—the Hatake Clan is pretty wealthy. You wouldn't suffer if you married in, that's for sure."
Sakumo's words teetered on the edge of helpfulness and drunken meddling.
Tsunade, still surprisingly clear-headed despite her drinking, arched a brow. She sipped her sake thoughtfully before quipping, "I'm a great gambler. You wouldn't need to worry about me losing the Hatake Clan's fortune."
Kawakaze couldn't help but snort at the irony, deciding to play along. "You can lose, I can earn—it's a match made in heaven!" he said with exaggerated enthusiasm, adopting the air of a fool.
"The way you're looking at me is all wrong," Tsunade shot back with a sly smirk, draining her cup and setting it on the table. Her hands moved up to cup her ample chest.
"Is it because I'm too big?"
Kawakaze froze, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. He'd been careful to keep his gaze discreet, but apparently not discreet enough.
Tsunade leaned in, her expression mischievous. "If you like looking, then look all you want."
Before he could react, she wrapped an arm around his head and pulled him into her chest, smothering him in her softness.
For a moment, Kawakaze felt nothing but bliss. Then Tsunade tightened her grip, and he realized with growing panic that he couldn't breathe.
Across the table, Sakumo's sake cup slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. His mouth hung open in sheer disbelief. Was I supposed to see this?
Nayuki, Sakumo's wife, turned away in embarrassment, though she couldn't help sneaking a glance from the corner of her eye.
Summoning all his strength, Kawakaze finally pried himself free. He gasped for air, his cheeks blazing—whether from the sake, the mortifying situation, or a mixture of both was anyone's guess.
"Have you had enough yet?" he managed to croak.
Tsunade, still smiling, was utterly unbothered. She drained another cup of sake, then leaned in and planted a bold kiss on Kawakaze's cheek, leaving behind a vivid red lipstick mark.
"Haha! Kawakaze, you smell really good," she giggled, her drunkenness now fully apparent.
The sound of her laughter snapped Sakumo back to reality. Picking up his sake cup, he gave it a wary glance but didn't take another sip. Instead, he gestured to his wife for help.
"Let's call it a night," he muttered. His legs wobbled as Nayuki helped him to his feet. Leaning heavily on her, he mumbled, "This woman's alcohol tolerance is insane..."
Left behind, Kawakaze glanced helplessly at Tsunade, who was still laughing uncontrollably. With Sakumo and Nayuki gone, he was now completely on his own.
"Tsunade," he began cautiously, "you've had more than enough for one night. How about we continue this another time?"
"No way!" Tsunade declared, refusing outright. She grabbed the jar of baijiu and refilled both their cups. "Drink!"
Kawakaze could only grit his teeth and oblige. Knocking her out was not an option—she could probably knock him out first.
He had seen Tsunade punch a loan shark into oblivion before. If she got serious, he doubted the Hatake estate would survive.