Coming down from the Hokage Rock with Kamizuki Hikari, Tsunade's expression was a mix of crimson embarrassnt and a hint of confusion.
Seeing her like this, Shizune couldn't help but start imagining so... rather spirited scenarios.
'As expected of Tsunade-sama, her tastes are truly... adventurous!'
Shizune silently mused, her eyes filled with admiration.
"Tsunade-sama, most of the docunts from the other day have been processed, but a new batch just arrived today. How about we get sothing to eat first and leave the rest for tomorrow?"
Tsunade shuddered.
Shizune's "a new batch" genuinely terrified her.
Thinking about spending every day buried in paperwork at the Hokage office, Tsunade felt like her whole being was crumbling.
This kind of life was not what she wanted.
'Looks like reform is absolutely necessary. But setting up the advisory council... that'll need so careful planning.'
Dividing up responsibilities among departnts was the easy part. As long as each departnt head handled the tedious, simple tasks, and only the critical issues were brought to the Hokage, things would run smoothly.
"Yeah, let's go eat."
Noticing Shizune's exhausted expression, Tsunade could easily imagine how much damage she'd taken from all those docunts. To turn a seasoned jōnin into this... yeah, she felt a tiny bit guilty.
'Shizune, I will make it up to you.'
'Definitely!'
Shizune eyed Tsunade suspiciously. They hadn't been back in Konoha for long, and aside from the money they'd squeezed out of Hikari last ti, they had no other inco.
They needed to budget carefully—if word got out that the Hokage had to swindle money around Konoha, it'd be the biggest joke in the shinobi world.
"Let's go to Ichiraku Ran! Tsunade-sama, what do you think?"
Ran?
Tsunade hesitated. She didn't particularly care about eating ran or not.
The real issue—no alcohol during als. That was the painful part.
"Hikari, what do you want to eat?" Tsunade shot him a aningful look.
'Hurry up and think of sothing, brat! I need a drink! I need a drink!'
Kamizuki Hikari responded with a warm smile. Just as Tsunade was expecting a smart suggestion from him, he said:
"I think ran sounds great!"
[Most importantly, it's cheap. At my age, I still haven't gotten married—I should start saving. If Tsunade keeps swindling , my assets might drop from ten digits to nine!]
Tsunade: 'Are you hearing yourself right now? Even Konoha's budget doesn't have that kind of money!'
'Fine. Ran it is.'
The three of them arrived at Ichiraku Ran. It was just about dusk—the setting sun cast a beautiful yet lancholic glow across the village.
The stand was still empty. Upon seeing Tsunade, Teuchi gave a hearty smile.
"Tsunade-sama! Welco! What would you like? Today's al is on the house!"
[Oh-ho~ Ōtsutsuki Teuchi's ran isn't so easily given away.]
Just as Tsunade was about to order, she heard Hikari's inner thoughts... and was suddenly at a loss for words.
Ōtsutsuki Teuchi?
Was Teuchi secretly a mber of the legendary Ōtsutsuki clan? What was he doing in Konoha—was he after the Scroll of Seals?
As Tsunade stared at Teuchi with an increasingly suspicious gaze, he blinked in confusion.
Had he done sothing wrong?
Could Tsunade-sama really be so incorruptible that even a small token of goodwill like a free bowl of ran was off-limits? In Konoha, offering a free al to the Hokage wasn't too much, was it?
"Boss, Tsunade-sama will have the Chashu Pork Tonkotsu Ran. I'll take the Beef Ran, extra at. Shizune, what about you?" Hikari said, deciding for her without hesitation.
Tsunade blinked but said nothing.
Ran wasn't really her thing.
She thought back to her days of wandering: dining like a queen when flush with cash, and skipping als when dodging debt collectors. Ran rarely featured in her diet.
"I'll have the Seafood Fish Ball Ran, thank you!" Shizune made her order and glanced at Tsunade.
'How strange. Since when has Tsunade-sama been so obedient?'
'Maybe Hikari's performance really impressed her.'
Looking at Kamizuki Hikari, who seed full of energy, Shizune nodded inwardly.
'Impressive stamina, to still be so lively after Tsunade-sama's... exertions.'
'Truly a man among n.'
"Eh? Hikari, when did you get back?" Teuchi's daughter, Aya, appeared in the back, her face lighting up at the sight of him.
Hikari smiled, then pulled a small box from his sleeve.
"I was on official business in the Land of Fire's capital. Picked up a little sothing for you—see if you like it?"
Tsunade and Shizune: What the hell?! Flirting with another girl right in front of two beautiful won—Hikari, do you have no sense of sha?
Aya opened the box to reveal a glittering piece of jewelry, her face lighting up.
"It's so pretty! This must've cost a fortune!"
"No matter how exquisite, a jewel is nothing if it doesn't find the right person. For it to shine on you, Aya, is its true blessing."
"Thank you, Hikari-nii!" Aya happily put the necklace on. Honestly, Hikari had good taste—the shiny gold accessory looked elegant, not gaudy.
"As long as you like it, Aya."
"Dad, give Hikari extra at! Look how thin he's gotten!"
Tsunade and Shizune: Thin?! This guy's practically a pig now! Girl, are your eyes working properly?!
Back in the kitchen, Teuchi was grinding his teeth.
This punk. Cos back and imdiately starts sweet-talking his daughter? Guys like this should've died out there!
"Uncle Teuchi, be generous with the at, okay? Even Aya can see I've lost weight—you wouldn't starve , would you?"
"Hikari! Don't talk to Dad like that—you know he'll get mad!"
"Alright, alright. I won't talk to the old man anymore. Still, Aya, you've gotten prettier since I last saw you. Soday, so lucky guy's gonna steal you away."
"Aww, you're exaggerating, Hikari-nii~"
*SLAM!*
Teuchi violently set a bowl of noodles on the counter, startling Aya. She was about to complain when she saw his thunderous expression and imdiately shrank back.
"Now, now, Uncle Teuchi, no need to be so grumpy!" Hikari said with a cheeky grin. "The world is so beautiful, yet you're so angry—that's not good for your health."
"Hmph! You wanna know why I'm angry?!" Teuchi glared at Hikari, his fury mounting.
"From now on, stay away from Aya. Finish your ran, then don't co back."
"Dad!" Aya cried out, shocked by how harsh his words were.
"Alright, alright, Uncle Teuchi. Look how scared you've made Aya. How about this—I won't freeload anymore, okay? Honestly, so petty for your age—it's not good for your health."
"You'd better an it." Teuchi swiftly pulled out a ledger from under the counter. "Alright then. That'll be 100,000 ryō."
"Wait, wait, hold on! Uncle, don't try to scam here! I'm warning you—I've had training!" Hikari took the ledger and flipped through it. His eyes widened at the dense entries. Finally, he put it back, puzzled.
"I don't rember eating this much..."
Teuchi said flatly, "Maybe you didn't. But Naruto and Maito Gai's team put everything on your tab. I run a small business here—no tabs allowed!"
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Read 40 advanced Chapters on my P@treon.
/KakuzuTL
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