Chapter 93: Going to a Nightclub with Shisui
Uchiha clan grounds, the clan head's residence.
Deep into the night, a dim yellow lamp still glowed behind the paper window.
Shisui hunched over his desk, ink still wet, scrolls piled like mountains at his side.
At twenty-six, he'd already served seven years as the Uchiha clan head. The years had worn away his initial inexperience; now only steadiness and composure showed in his features.
Since the Uchiha became Konoha's foremost clan, clan affairs flowed like an endless stream. Every detail, large or small, ultimately landed on his desk.
Working late into the night had long become habit.
From the inner room came the steady breathing of his wife and daughter.
Three years ago, he'd married a woman from the clan three years his junior; now their daughter was two years old, sleeping sweetly.
All around was silent except for the scratching of brush across paper.
Tap, tap.
Crisp, brief knocking suddenly sounded. Shisui's brush paused slightly.
He raised his head, brow unconsciously furrowing.
At this hour, no one should be visiting.
An urgent ANBU report? Yet Konoha had enjoyed six peaceful years—favorable weather, stable livelihood.
Since the year Uchiha Yu split the desert with one strike, intimidating all sides, no one dared provoke Konoha's authority.
He set down his brush and, though puzzled, still rose to walk toward the door.
The door slid gently open to reveal a tall figure standing quietly in the moonlight.
A black-haired, black-eyed youth raised his gaze—it was Uchiha Yu.
"Yu?" Shisui was somewhat surprised. "So late—is something the matter?"
Yu's expression seemed somewhat complex, lips curving in a slightly stiff smile as he said politely:
"Sorry, Shisui, to disturb you so late. Nothing urgent—I just wanted to have a drink with you. Do you have time?"
Shisui stepped aside. "Of course, Yu. Tea or sake?"
To this youth who'd saved the Uchiha clan, he naturally wouldn't refuse such a small request.
"Sake."
Shisui seemed slightly surprised. "If I remember correctly, you never drink."
Yu smiled faintly, though his eyes held no mirth. "Just felt like it tonight. Any suitable place to go?"
Shisui pondered briefly.
His wife and daughter had long been asleep—certainly inconvenient to disturb them.
And proper izakayas would have closed hours ago.
That left only those less "respectable" establishments...
Shisui hesitated slightly before saying, "There is a place, only... it may not suit your habits."
He knew this friend had barely left home in six years, spending days drinking tea and sitting quietly in his courtyard, rarely venturing out voluntarily.
Such places might be too unfamiliar and raucous for Yu.
Yu shook his head dismissively. "No matter—as long as there's sake."
Seeing this, Shisui didn't hesitate further and nodded. "In that case, come with me."
He formed seals, creating a shadow clone to continue handling affairs at the desk while his real body stepped into the quiet night with Yu.
Paradise Pavilion, Konoha's largest nighttime entertainment establishment.
This place only opened at night, lights blazing until dawn.
Well-dressed officials and wealthy merchants constantly came and went, mostly accompanied by graceful women with flowing glances.
Those women smiled like flowers, cheeks tinged faint pink, steps light as they entered and exited with clients.
When Yu arrived at Paradise Pavilion's entrance following Shisui, his steps involuntarily paused.
His gaze shifted with some surprise toward Shisui beside him, eyes clearly saying:
Never thought someone with your upright appearance who has a two-year-old daughter would come to such places.
Shisui felt uncomfortable under that gaze and coughed awkwardly, voice lowered in explanation. "Some clan heads prefer to conduct business here... At this hour, proper establishments are already closed."
Heaven could witness—Shisui truly wasn't a regular. Even when forced to come a few times, he'd only drunk and discussed business, never crossing any lines.
The greeter was a voluptuous woman with flowing eyes. Seeing Shisui and Yu, her eyes immediately brightened as she approached with a smile:
"Oh my, if it isn't Lord Shisui! What wind brings you here today?"
Hearing this, Yu's gaze once again fell meaningfully on Shisui, the teasing in his eyes almost tangible—So you really do know your way around.
Shisui steeled himself and avoided his gaze, deliberately keeping a straight face and using a businesslike tone. "Arrange a quiet private room."
He felt truly wronged—you're the one who came to my house in the middle of the night asking me out for drinks, yet now you're giving me that "so you're this kind of person" look...
Yu said nothing more and followed Shisui into the private room.
Worthy of Konoha's top entertainment venue, the interior was luxuriously appointed with a boldly rendered nude painting hanging centrally.
The two had barely sat on the sofa when two women in revealing kimonos with graceful figures quietly arrived, kneeling beside them to pour sake.
The woman serving Yu froze the moment she saw his face clearly—she'd never seen a man of such outstanding appearance. Her heartbeat quickened suddenly, not even noticing sake overflowing the cup's rim.
Only when her companion lightly nudged her elbow did she snap back to attention and hurriedly apologize. "M-most sorry!"
Yu paid no mind, only responding with an indifferent "It's fine" before picking up his cup and drinking alone.
Shisui saw his low spirits and knew this friend must have encountered some troubling matter, yet didn't feel it appropriate to ask. He simply accompanied him silently—he'd always respected others' privacy and would never presume to pry if the other party didn't wish to speak.
The two drank wordlessly, cups filled and emptied again and again.
The woman kneeling beside Yu had long lost focus, gaze frequently lingering on his refined profile. Such an extraordinarily refined young man was truly rare in Konoha.
With his qualities, he had no need to come to such places—likely just crooking a finger would have countless girls willingly throwing themselves at him.
Thinking that perhaps in moments she might intimately interact with such a person, her heartbeat accelerated and her body grew faintly warm in certain places...
Yet three hours passed and the two still only drank in silence.
The two women constantly poured drinks, arms long since numb and sore, hearts growing increasingly confused—by past experience, by this hour, clients would have already made moves emboldened by drink.
Yet this handsome young man truly only drank, as if they didn't exist at all.
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