Late Night, Kawakaze's Room – Hatake Clan Estate
On a spacious, sturdy tatami mat, a man and woman lay entangled like an octopus, their limbs intertwined. The faint aroma of baijiu lingered in the air, mingling with the soft sounds of sleep.
Tsunade's back was to Kawakaze, her iconic green windbreaker discarded on the ground. She wore only a short-sleeved undershirt, her relaxed breathing a testament to deep slumber. Kawakaze, meanwhile, had one large hand resting on her softness, a mischievous grin twitching at his lips, even in his dreams.
Tsunade slept like a contented cat, blissfully unburdened by the tragedies yet to come in her life. Her thighs pressed against Kawakaze's legs, and her whole body nestled into his arms, as though seeking comfort even unconsciously.
The night grew warmer as time passed, causing Tsunade to squirm slightly. This small movement was enough to rouse Kawakaze from his dreams.
The sensation under his hand was remarkably soft. His first half-asleep thought was, Am I hugging Onimaru again?
I swear, the next time I get drunk, I'll make sure that dog doesn't sneak into bed. Why am I always stuck sleeping with it?
As frivolous thoughts flitted through his mind, Kawakaze gave a lazy squeeze, but something felt... off. This didn't feel like fur.
Opening his eyes, he was met with a sight that fully sobered him in an instant—a light yellow double ponytail.
"Holy cow!" he blurted internally. "Has my dream come true?"
His hand reflexively squeezed again, and Tsunade stirred awake. Something pressing against her back felt out of place and uncomfortable.
Her hand instinctively reached back to investigate. What kind of strange weapon is this?
Realization dawned on both of them simultaneously. Kawakaze's face turned a brilliant shade of red.
Tsunade's memory caught up to her in fragments. She recalled drinking with Kawakaze, draping an arm around his shoulder, and stumbling back to the room together. She must have collapsed on the bed afterward.
Her eyes snapped open in full clarity, and with the reflexes of a seasoned Jōnin, she shot up from his arms and onto her feet.
Standing on the tatami mat, she executed a seamless series of movements, her sharp agility on full display despite the situation. Kawakaze could only stare, his brain too foggy to process what had just happened.
Tsunade's face flushed crimson, the color spreading all the way to the tips of her ears. Her mortified gaze darted between Kawakaze and herself. Then she realized her outer garment was the only thing missing.
So, I just got drunk and fell asleep on the bed?
She exhaled in relief. Not a big deal... right?
But this is the first time I've slept next to a man! she fumed internally. And I was even hugged like a pillow! My... my chest must be bruised all over by now!
"Kawakaze," she started, her voice unsteady, "we're... innocent?"
Her question carried both suspicion and the hope for reassurance.
"Yes! Completely innocent!" Kawakaze stammered, his hands raised in a defensive gesture. "I'll take responsibility, though!"
That declaration sent Tsunade into a coughing fit.
"Cough, cough! Kawakaze, that's not what I meant!"
She waved him off hurriedly, attempting to defuse the situation. "Where are Nawaki and Kushina?"
The sudden change in topic caught Kawakaze off guard, but it worked. The tension in the room began to ease.
Tsunade kept talking, partly to distract herself. Even if you're good-looking, Kawakaze, I'm not that easy to win over, okay?
Kawakaze nodded, grateful for the shift. He, too, was relieved no one else had come into his room during the night. With any luck, this awkward incident would remain their little secret.
"I'm not sure either. Let's head out and take a look."
The sky outside was pitch black, the evening having long since settled in.
Tsunade picked up her discarded clothes from the floor and wrapped herself up tightly. Kawakaze, now fully awake, followed her out the door. Together, they walked into the living room, where the Hatake Clan's butler was stationed.
"Have you seen the two kids who came earlier today?" Kawakaze asked, his tone polite and approachable. Despite his occasional antics, he prided himself on good manners, a habit ingrained from years of proper education.
The butler, ever calm and composed, bowed slightly. "Young Master, Master Nawaki and Miss Kushina have already been sent back safely."
Seeing their confusion, he elaborated further. "The two of you had quite a bit to drink, so I arranged a room for Lady Tsunade to rest in. You didn't think much of it at the time and left the rest to me. I had the Clan escort you both back to your respective rooms. Rest assured, absolutely no one knows you… rested together."
The butler punctuated his explanation with a sly wink, his mustache twitching in a manner that could only be described as lewd.
Kawakaze's face darkened. This guy's imagination is running wild.
But he had to admit, the butler had handled the situation masterfully. Discretion, efficiency, and respectability—truly the hallmarks of a good servant.
"You've got it wrong!" Kawakaze blurted, his reaction swift and animated, as though someone had stepped on his tail. "There was no resting together!"
"Yes, yes, my mistake," the butler replied, bowing repeatedly in mock contrition, though his expression betrayed a knowing smirk.
Tsunade, observing the exchange, rolled her eyes. The whole thing felt like a scene straight out of a comedy opera. My innocence... gone!
While she couldn't recall her drunken antics clearly, she was keenly aware that in the eyes of Sakumo and Nayuki, her image as a proper lady was already shattered.
"Kawakaze, I'll be heading back now," Tsunade cut in abruptly. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and she wasn't keen on staying a second longer.
"Ah, it's so late," Kawakaze said, a hint of concern in his tone. "Why don't you have something to eat before you go? A little food helps after drinking." He even considered arranging for some yogurt to settle her stomach.
Tsunade shook her head, quickly finding an excuse. "No, I'm worried about Nawaki."
Kawakaze didn't press the matter. "Alright, let me walk you home then."
He led her through the Dojo and out to the front gate of the Hatake Clan estate, where they stopped.
"Kawakaze, I'll take my leave now," Tsunade said softly, glancing at him. Her gaze lingered for a moment too long, and a faint blush crept across her cheeks.
Then she turned and walked away, her figure illuminated by the moonlight.
Kawakaze stood still, watching her retreating form as she moved further and further away. The moon cast a soft glow over the path, and soon she neared the corner, about to vanish from sight.
"I'll take responsibility for Tsunade," Kawakaze murmured under his breath, his voice carried only by the night breeze.
Whether Tsunade heard him or not, she didn't turn back. Her silhouette disappeared with a flicker as she rounded the corner.
It was only then that Kawakaze raised his right hand to his nose.
The faint scent of baijiu (a Chinese distilled liquor) lingered on the woman's hands, sharp enough to make Kawakaze wrinkle his nose. For a moment, he considered walking straight out the door. Instead, he shook his hands briskly, as if brushing away bad luck, and headed home.
After a quick shower, Kawakaze made his way to the dining room, where he ran into Sakumo, who appeared to have sobered up. Despite the faint awkwardness between them, Sakumo offered a small, knowing smile as he sipped on some yogurt before settling at the table.
Dinner was already laid out, though Nayuki was nowhere in sight. Kawakaze slid into the seat beside his older brother and reached for the yogurt.
"Kawakaze," Sakumo began, licking a bit of yogurt from his lips, "is there something going on between you and Tsunade?"
Kawakaze froze for half a second before continuing to eat, though the tension in his shoulders gave him away. His brother's keen intuition and Tsunade's behavior earlier must have clued him in.
Sakumo felt a twinge of melancholy, a sense of being out of touch with the younger generation. After all, it had taken him years of slow, methodical effort to finally win someone over. Was Kawakaze playing matchmaker? Was Tsunade even aware of it?
"Yes, that's right. Tsunade is the sister-in-law I've booked for you," Kawakaze said boldly, his tone almost cheeky. "What do you think? Isn't she beautiful? Don't we make a great match?"
Kawakaze made no attempt to hide his intentions. What was the point? If Big Brother disapproved, what could he do about it? Beating his brother in a fight was out of the question, and neither he nor Tsunade were exactly adept at managing their finances. If they left the Hatake Clan, it was likely they'd run into trouble.
Sakumo regarded his younger brother for a long moment before breaking into a slight smile. "Quite a match," he said simply, reducing a thousand thoughts into two words. As long as Kawakaze was happy, nothing else mattered.
Truth be told, these two oddballs were surprisingly well-suited to each other. One was adept at stirring up trouble, while the other could stir up even more.
Relieved by his brother's blessing, Kawakaze couldn't suppress his grin. "A marriage blessed by family is a happy one," he quipped, raising his yogurt in a mock toast.
The two brothers quickly finished their dinner and retreated to their respective rooms. Another day passed in the Hatake household.