Barbecue restaurant.
"Pakura, I'm in a good mood today. Let's eat a lot."
"I even brought some strong wine. Let's have a drink and relax when we get back!"
Kazuyama Gekkō pulled a bottle of medicinal wine from his pocket. He had made it himself a few months ago, after making several trips to Orochimaru's research base to gather ingredients.
Tsk, tsk, all top-quality herbs—deer antler, deer penis, all just the basics. And look at this hundred-year-old ginseng!
"You drink it yourself. That wine of yours isn't fit for human consumption!"
The moment Pakura heard "medicinal wine," her face flushed red, and she shot him a vicious glare, looking like she was about to slap him.
She remembered that night all too well and had no idea where this bastard had gotten that stuff.
No, wait, didn't this jerk give Fugaku and Mikoto two huge jars of medicinal wine for their wedding? Hmph, he must've picked up this nonsense from his sensei.
Always claiming it's for "scientific research," but he's just fooling around with shady stuff!
Orochimaru: ...I didn't! I'm innocent! It's all the work of my useless disciple!
Kazuyama: Exactly! My sensei recommended it! I got all the ingredients from him!
He walked into the barbecue restaurant with a big grin, but the next second, Kazuyama froze.
What was he seeing?
What's up with that yellow hair and red hair combo?
Weren't they supposed to be having a candlelit dinner at home? How did they end up here?
Even Pakura was stunned. She had seen Minato in the crystal ball earlier, looking frantic and helpless.
"Hey, Kazuyama, back from your mission?"
"Come eat with us."
At that moment, Minato seemed to have completely forgotten the heartbreak of his ruined dinner and was happily eating with Kushina.
When he spotted his good friends, he eagerly waved them over—and also noticed the bottle in Kazuyama's hand.
"Tsk, tsk, seriously? You come out to eat and still bring your own booze."
"But it looks pretty good. Come on, pour me a glass."
Kazuyama: ...
Pakura: ...
"Pakura, come sit over here. Let those two mess around on their own."
"Hey, Kazuyama, pour me a glass too. That stuff looks good."
Kushina grabbed Pakura and sat her down next to her, casually pulling out two sake cups and placing them on the table.
Minato also dragged Kazuyama over. Only when he got close could he smell the strong scent of alcohol on Minato.
Looked like he had already had quite a bit. Still, Kazuyama understood—after all, anyone would be upset if their carefully planned dinner got wrecked.
"Kazuyama, you don't even know how rough it's been for me."
"I had everything ready tonight... sigh!"
"I don't know what happened. Three different people showed up at my house and completely ruined my dinner."
"I had no choice but to bring Kushina out for barbecue."
"Hey, hey, hey! Stop being so stingy and fill up the cups already!"
After drinking, Minato had completely turned into a chatterbox, surprising Kazuyama all over again.
So, the usually serious guy becomes a talkative mess after a few drinks, huh? Turns out even the most proper people are secretly a little wild.
"Are you two sure you want to drink this?"
Kazuyama asked, a bit uncertain. He knew exactly what kind of effect this medicinal wine had.
It was made specifically for wild nights—he only drank it at very special times.
"Drink! Why wouldn't we?"
"Stop being stingy! Pour it up!"
Well, with that said, Kazuyama didn't hesitate. He poured Minato and Kushina each a glass, then filled one for himself too.
"Pakura, not drinking?"
"Come on, have a glass!"
"Kazuyama, what are you doing? Pour Pakura a glass too!"
Seeing that her friend was empty-handed, Kushina quickly spoke up.
After just a little drink, Kushina's red hair and flushed cheeks made her look like an actual chili pepper.
"I'll pass. I haven't been feeling too great lately, so I'd better not."
Pakura waved her hands quickly. She knew exactly how powerful that wine was and had no intention of drinking it.
She still hadn't forgotten what happened that night—or the miserable state she was in the next day. Better safe than sorry.
"Really? Forget it, I won't drink then."
"Boss, give me a glass of orange juice!"
...
The barbecue continued as Kazuyama raised his sake cup.
"They say plans can't keep up with changes. Since we ran into each other, come on, Minato, let me toast you!"
Seeing this, Minato immediately clinked glasses with him and downed the medicinal wine in one gulp.
Kazuyama's eyes twitched hard, almost popping out of his head.
Bro, that's medicinal wine, not regular shochu!
How strong is it? How many herbs are in there? And you just gulped it down like that???
As he shifted his gaze, Kazuyama's mouth twitched again when he saw Kushina down her drink in one go too.
No wonder they're family. With a drinking style like that... tonight's gonna be wild.
"Hey, hey, why are you being so careful? You can't even finish that little bit of sake in one gulp?"
"Who are you looking down on?"
Kazuyama: ...I give up! You can actually down this stuff in one shot?
Staring at the medicinal wine in his cup, Kazuyama glanced at Pakura and caught the teasing look in her eyes, making his heart burn with competitive spirit.
Heh, fine, just one gulp, right?
Lifting the cup, he drank it all in one shot. Feeling the burning heat of the medicinal wine, Kazuyama almost roared:
"Refreshing!"
Then he quietly said to Chōmei,
"Chōmei... remember to discreetly help me get rid of the alcohol later..."
Chōmei: ...You little weakling, can't even handle it yet still pretending? Now you want me to clean up your mess too.
...
As the barbecue went on, Minato and Kushina's faces grew redder and redder, making Kazuyama and Pakura click their tongues in amazement.
It was clear the medicinal wine was kicking in.
"So hot..."
"Boss, don't you have any ventilation here? It's getting hotter and hotter."
The shop owner looked at Kushina's flushed face and was speechless.
Minato didn't say anything, but he had already stripped down to just a short-sleeved shirt.
Even so, he was still burning up, his head spinning from the alcohol.
"What's going on today? Why is it so hot?"
"I can't eat anymore. I feel like I could run dozens of kilometers right now."
Although Kazuyama had drunk quite a bit too, thanks to Chōmei helping him process the alcohol, he was feeling great.
"Tsk, tsk, you two lightweights, can't even handle a little wine."
"I think you two should just give it up already. Do you even know who you're messing with? They call me 'the guy who can handle a thousand drinks without getting drunk.'"
Listening to him boast, Pakura rolled her eyes.
Others might not know, but she sure did.
This bastard was definitely relying on Tailed Beast power to suppress the alcohol. She had learned that the hard way.