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In the private room of the barbecue restaurant, red-orange lights illuminated the space.
Tsunade and Shizune were slightly taken aback by Uchiha Hikaru's behavior.
Hikaru swallowed the barbecue calmly. Shizune, still flustered from the earlier moment of physical contact, studied the man sitting across from her.
Tsunade also examined him, picking up the green robe she had tossed aside and wiping the wine from the corner of her mouth.
He had long, spiky black hair and a handsome face, but his demeanor was offâlike someone suffering from a chronic illness. With that kind of behavior, he must be from the Sarutobi clan. But then again, he didn't have the usual scruffy beard. Maybe he just shaved often?
Hikaru's gaze involuntarily shifted toward Tsunade's chest.
At that moment, Tsunade became more convinced: this shameless brat had to be a Sarutobi.
But once she concluded he was from that clan, Tsunade lowered her guard a bit and looked at Hikaru with renewed interest. It was rare, but she hadn't expected to find such a good-looking guy among the Sarutobi.
Under the influence of alcohol, her tone carried a hint of playful teasing.
"Well now, isn't the handsome Sarutobi kid going to introduce himself?"
Hikaru raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression mildly puzzled.
"I'm the current deputy head of the Uchiha clanâUchiha Hikaru."
"Uchiha?!"
Tsunade and Shizune exclaimed in unison, and Tsunade's relaxed demeanor instantly vanished. Her brow furrowed deeply, her thoughts in turmoil.
Why would someone from the Uchiha clan come to see her? Normally, those kinds of visits came from the Sarutobi side. Why now from the Uchiha?
In her mind, the Uchiha weren't exactly beloved in Konoha. Why would the old man assign such an important mission to one?
No wonder he was so good-lookingâhe was an Uchiha. That explained it. But why was his personality so different from the typical arrogant Uchiha?
Tsunade grabbed her robe from the seat, stood up, and headed for the door.
"Shizune, we're leaving."
Shizune, still captivated by Hikaru's looks, was pulled back to reality by Tsunade's voice. She hurried to catch up.
She leaned toward Tsunade's ear and whispered, "Lady Tsunade, we haven't paid the bill yet..."
Tsunade opened the door and turned to look at Hikaru, who was still calmly eating barbecue.
"It's fine. This handsome little Uchiha will cover it, won't he?"
There was a definite edge to her voice.
Still focused on his food, Hikaru nodded.
"Of course, Lady Tsunade. You should get some rest. Jiraiya and I will come find you again tomorrow. It's getting late."
Tsunade paused, slightly surprised. This Uchiha was actually... reasonable? He wasn't like the usual stuck-up, battle-obsessed types.
But waitâJiraiya was here too?
Her heart stirred with mixed emotions. Memories of a long-lost comrade bubbled to the surface.
"After all, women have to take care of themselves as they age."
Just as Tsunade was beginning to reminisce, Hikaru's remark sent her charging forward, fury flaring in her eyes. She swung her right fist with tremendous force.
The wooden floor cracked beneath the pressure of her movement. Her punch roared through the air, whipping up the curtains and flattening everything on the table.
Boom!
The sheer impact scattered dishes everywhere, shattering them against the walls. The crashing of ceramic made Shizune wince. This was what it sounded like when the tab came due.
But the fist never hit its mark.
A black skeletal structure wrapped itself around Hikaru, blocking Tsunade's attack.
He turned calmly to face her. The MangekyĹ Sharingan had appeared in his eyes.
Only then did Tsunade realize just how wrong she'd beenâthis wasn't some ordinary Uchiha kid. He had awakened the MangekyĹ at such a young age!
But Tsunade wasn't one to back down. This punk dared to call her old? He needed a lesson.
"Brat, when I was fighting on the battlefield, you were probably still drinking your Mama's Milk!"
Hikaru's gaze shifted to her again, clearly unbothered, and he nodded slightly.
Seeing his eyes wander yet again, Tsunade's fury spiked.
Hikaru raised his right hand to his mouth and bit down. A few drops of blood slid down his fingers.
Blood.
Tsunade's eyes widened, her body locking up in an instant. Her hemophobia slammed into her like a freight train. She collapsed, eyes dilated, limbs trembling.
Shizune rushed over, helping Tsunade off the ground in a panic.
She shot a fierce glare back at Hikaru.
"Uchiha Hikaru, you've gone too far! You know full well what blood does to Lady Tsunadeâ!"
"Don't forget to pay the bill! Hmph!"
And with that, she turned and stormed out.
With Shizune's help, the two returned to the hotel across the street where they had originally booked a room.
Hikaru stayed seated a while longer before rising. Outside the room, the shop owner stood stiffly, clearly nervous.
He bowed slightly, wringing his hands together.
"S-sir Ninja⌠your food has been packed and placed at the front desk. Please get some rest."
The man was shakingâhis feet visibly trembling.
Hikaru pulled 100,000 ryĹ from his pocket and handed it over.
"This should cover the damages."
The shop owner's eyes went wide, and he dropped to his knees.
"Lord Ninja! I⌠I didn't mean to offend you! How could I accept money from you? It was that blonde woman's fault!"
Hikaru's expression darkened. So this is what the villages beyond the Five Great Nations were likeâcivilians terrified of shinobi to their very bones.
"Stand up."
The man remained kneeling, but looked up, eyes filled with a desperate hopeâand sheer terror.
Then he saw the Konoha forehead protector on Hikaru's brow. Some of the fear drained from his face.
"I said, stand up."
Hikaru's cold command sent the man scrambling to his feet, drenched in sweat.
"Take it. It's compensation."
The tone left no room for refusal. The shop owner reached out with trembling hands to accept the money.
Expression unreadable, Hikaru turned, grabbed the packaged food, and left for the hotel across the street.
The shop owner stood there, dazed, in the mess of broken dishes and overturned tables.
Not all shinobi were arrogant tyrants, after all.
Maybe⌠that ninja had been angry because of his reaction.
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