4: What's Wrong with Adults Having a Drink?
Although Zensuke used to have a Ninja father, his family didn't have much savings, so like Masahiro and Takashi, he lived in the outskirts of the Hagoromo Clan territory.
By the time Masahiro and the other arrived, it was already very late.
The sun was setting, and the white mourning banner that hadn't been taken down yet added a sense of desolation to the old Japanese-style house.
In the center of the living room, which barely qualified as a mourning hall, was the face Masahiro was familiar with, and Zensuke knelt directly in front of the portrait.
Masahiro feigned a relaxed demeanor, walked up to Zensuke, and asked, "Zensuke, have you eaten today?"
Zensuke's youthful voice revealed an undeniable sense of exhaustion, and the dark circles under his eyes were clearly visible: "I haven't eaten. I don't have much appetite."
"Then let's eat together? We bought a lot of good food!"
Masahiro held up the plastic bag in his hand. It contained ingredients he and Takashi had bought on the way over—expensive ingredients they usually couldn't afford.
"Really, you don't have to. Please don't worry about me."
Masahiro was about to say more, but Takashi patted his shoulder and shook his head slightly: "You should eat something. We'll go cook first and call you when it's ready."
The two familiarized themselves with the kitchen and busied themselves cooking. By the time the meal was ready, it was completely dark.
Three Saury, a plate of grilled meat, and several servings of pickles.
Although it couldn't compare to the living standards of Earth, this was indeed one of the few delicious meals Masahiro had eaten since transmigrating six years ago.
Seeing that Zensuke had no intention of coming over to eat, Masahiro walked over and pulled him up directly: "Eating is important, eating is important."
Zensuke, who was usually timid and only followed behind Masahiro, uncharacteristically shook off Masahiro's hand and shouted loudly, "I said I'm not eating! My father is dead anyway, and it doesn't matter what happens to me alone."
*Slap—*
Looking at the hysterical and somewhat irrational Zensuke in front of him, Masahiro slapped him hard.
The small group of three had been playing together for so long that friction was inevitable. Usually, Takashi acted as the mediator; he could always easily resolve conflicts within the group and cheer everyone up.
But this time, seeing Masahiro strike Zensuke, he uncharacteristically remained silent, just sitting quietly.
!?
Zensuke covered his red cheek and stared at Masahiro in disbelief.
Masahiro looked at Zensuke with disappointment: "Are you calm now?"
"I know you're sad. But if you don't eat and get sick, what then? How could your uncle rest in peace seeing you like this?"
"Moreover, the enemies who killed your father are currently harming more of our clansmen on the battlefield. Don't you want to live well and take revenge with your own hands?"
Unsure which sentence convinced Zensuke, his emotions gradually calmed down, and he lowered his head, remaining silent.
Masahiro didn't care what Zensuke was thinking; he pushed him to sit down: "Eat! Don't make me slap you again."
Watching Zensuke pick up his chopsticks and obediently eat, a smile finally appeared in Masahiro's eyes. He said gently, "I didn't hurt you, did I? Don't blame me, I really have no other way to deal with a stubborn mule like you."
Zensuke gently put down his bowl and chopsticks, looking tearfully at Masahiro. Paired with the red slap mark on his cheek, he looked utterly pitiful: "I won't blame you, Boss. I should thank you for helping me clear my head."
Zensuke usually called Masahiro "Boss," like that.
Masahiro was already in the orphanage when he transmigrated, so he treated the day of his transmigration as his birthday, making him a few months older than Zensuke.
Takashi, however, didn't care about these rankings. He followed Zensuke in centering the group around Masahiro, but he didn't call Masahiro "Boss" like Zensuke did.
"I understand now. I must eat well, grow up, then cultivate Ninjutsu, kill off the hateful Shimura Clan, and avenge my father."
"Of course. Together. Right, Takashi?"
"Mhm."
"If I die on the battlefield," Zensuke suddenly looked seriously at Masahiro and Takashi, "I'll trouble Boss to bring my body back. Just like Father's—"
Before he could finish, Masahiro gave him a knuckle flick: "What nonsense are you talking about? With Takashi and me here, there's no way we'll let anything happen to you."
Zensuke covered his head with both hands and whispered defensively, "If, I mean if!"
"There are no 'ifs.' I'm telling you, I'm super amazing." Masahiro ruffled Zensuke's hair vigorously: "You weren't there today, so you don't know, but I'm a super genius who extracted Chakra on the very first try."
"That's right, I vouch for him." Takashi chimed in after Masahiro: "I have to admit, with his talent, he will definitely become a top-tier powerhouse in the Ninja World."
"Really?! Boss."
"Exactly, exactly. Just follow me closely from now on. As long as Takashi and I are alive, you won't be in danger."
"Mhm! I believe you, Boss."
"Oh, right, how about we have some of this?" Masahiro suddenly pulled out a ceramic bottle mysteriously from his embrace.
"When did you buy that? How did I not see it?" Takashi tilted his head, confused, looking at the bottle of Sake in Masahiro's hand.
"Hmph, if you had seen it, would you have let me buy it?" Masahiro smugly shook the bottle in his hand and quickly poured a cup for everyone: "Here, Zensuke, try some."
"Boss, minors aren't allowed to drink alcohol." Zensuke looked conflictedly at the cup Masahiro offered him.
"Tch, let me ask you, what is an adult?"
"Probably someone who can be responsible for their own actions—"
"Then look closely. Which of the three of us cannot be responsible for their own actions?"
"I guess none—"
Since none of the three of them had an adult at home now, they naturally had to take responsibility for their own affairs.
"Exactly! We can take responsibility for our own actions, so we are adults in fact."
Masahiro was full of twisted logic: "What's wrong with adults having a drink?"
Takashi looked at Zensuke, who was already confused, and rubbed his forehead helplessly: "You rascal—Ugh—*cough cough*"
Before Takashi could speak, Masahiro took advantage of his distraction and poured the wine directly into his mouth: "Stop preaching! Drink this! Hehe."
Seeing this, Zensuke obediently drank the wine voluntarily.
"That's more like it! I'm telling you, Zensuke, today I took down Retsu in just two moves."
"Boss is amazing! But who is Retsu?"
"*Cough cough*, he's the grandson of the Third Elder." Takashi, who had been suddenly forced to drink, finally recovered.
"A defeated opponent isn't worth mentioning. I'll definitely be... *cough cough*"
After the first sip, the wine was spicy and choking, and Masahiro couldn't stop coughing violently: "Why is this wine so spicy?"
"Idiot, that's why they say minors shouldn't drink."
"Zensuke, why are you completely fine? I didn't realize you were hiding your true skills!"
"Never mind. I'm telling you, once my cultivation is successful, I will definitely punch Uchiha and kick Senju—"
"How did he get this drunk after just one sip?"
"Oh, Takashi, you—"
"Hehe—" Zensuke watched his two good friends bicker noisily, and the sorrow in his heart was somewhat diluted.
Father, please leave in peace. I still have Boss and Takashi accompanying me. I will definitely live well—A bright crescent moon hung high in the sky, and the ink-like curtain was studded with sparkling stars, resembling a galaxy made of fine, flowing sand.
The cold moonlight shone around the wooden house flickering with candlelight, and on the quiet earth, only the continuous chirping of insects seemed to silently echo the boy's heartfelt wishes.
.
.
.