Konoha.
In a corner of Konoha's shopping district is a Ramen shop the size of a shack. The lanterns illuminated across the neglected area, drawing in people seeking comfort in the form of endless noodles, sweet broth and cheap sake.
Tonight, the humble Ramen shop is hosting a peculiar group of ninja who attract more trouble than necessary.
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"Kami. Now I understand why Naruto is obsessed with this. " Tenten takes a deep inhale of the beef broth of her pork ramen, the big bowl of curly noodles soaking in the rich brown water with pork slices poking out, a boiled egg and mushrooms to nullify the tang.
"You can say that again. " Ino smirks, toying with her chopsticks as her bowl of vegan food looks more like an art project than actual food.
"Are you on a diet?" Tenten coils back at the stench of the heavy green bowl of noodles that Ino is adamant about finishing.
"It's a healthy diet, just enough consumption to keep me fit and help grow my muscles. " Ino boasts.
"Plus, it has avocado. "
"Eww."
While the two were bickering about diets, a certain Hyuga was sitting in the left corner of the Ramen shop, slurping down noodles with the haste of a starving man, her hands moving faster than her mouth could digest, and worst of all, she was four bowls deep.
"Hinata...I doubt the noodles will escape. " Kurenai chuckles softly, finding entertainment in the way her student is resembling the gluttony of a certain whiskered shinobi.
"Slllurp...K-Kurenai sensei–slurp," Hinata speaks through a mouthful of ramen.
The group's interaction was interrupted by Teuchi, the older tan-skinned owner of the shop comes to view, eyes closed, a welcoming smile on his face and proudly wearing his chef's uniform.
"Sorry to disturb, but I would like to gift you all with a complimentary bottle. "
thud
With a soft thud, Teuchi places a lime green bottle of sake, the type not found at local stores but in the back of bars and red light districts, where a gulp will burn the throat and set the heart on fire before easing its way through the blood.
"Teuchi-sama. I don't think they–"
"Give me!" Ino grabs the bottle like a fallen kunai, her light cerulean blue eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Who wants the first sip?"
[ 2 hours later]
Time blurred through laughs and giggles, broth tainted the polished table, the sake bottle stood proudly and was now placed inside a pile of bowls.
The women aren't doing so well, Ino's face is flushed pink, her eyes soft like a lazy feline, a smile plastered on her face, pressing her ample chest against Tenten's bicep.
The brunette kunoichi is fighting for her sobriety, her fair skin slightly flushed, nails scaring the wood and mouth open like a guppy.
"W-Wee–should get going. " Tenten slurs out.
On Ino's left, Kurenai sensei is staring down her sake bowl in deep thought, the scarlet eyed woman has spoken since the first hour.
Hinata is face down next to a small puddle of broth, the Hyuga heiress shows her level of tolerance by tapping out by the 3rd shot.
"No wonder Hyugas don't drink." Ino giggles, looking at Kurenai with an unhinged grin.
"Kurenai sensei...can I ask you something?" Ino tests the waters.
Kurenai glances at the blonde, her Ice Queen persona, assimilated by the sake.
"What is the question, Yamanaka?" Kurenai flatly responds.
Ino pushes on, "Are you and Asuma sensei a thing or is the rumours of Taiju conquering Konoha's Ice Queens true?"
The sounds of Teuchi collecting dishes with a slow shuffle muffled down.
Kurenai's red eyes stare into Ino's soul, a flash of anger passes. "Asuma and I are strictly friends. " Kurenai answers.
"And the second part of my question?" Ino teases.
Kurenai bites her lower lip, avoiding her eyes from Ino's for a split second to collect her thoughts. "My relationship with Taij is....complicated. " Kurenai ends it with a sip of the sake remaining, returning back to her musing.
"Aghh–complicated in the spicy sense or complicated as in you hate each other's guts?"
"Both."
"HUHH!?" Tenten chokes out, eyes bulging at the Jonin's response.
"Guys....my head hurts..." Hinata groans softly, the drunk Hyuga girl is battling her own demons currently causing a chemical imbalance of her body.
"Teuchi-sama. We've had enough for the night. Please can we get the bill."
Understood. " The ramen man nods at her.
"Hold up, Yuhi. What's the rush?" A voice slithers out with the signature cadence of an annoying special-Jonin.
"Anko." Kurenai rubs at her temple.
"In the flesh ladies, the night is still young~" Her beige coat flaps lightly.
"Why did you drag me into this? I don't even drink." Hana mumbles, clutching her bare arms, her upper body is protected by the Jonin vest over her tank top, showing her flat stomach with her abs highlighting in the lantern's light.
"This night just got better!" Ino squeals, leaping off her seat with newfound energy, the blonde abandons Tenten to entertain the new customers of the Ramen shop.
"Now we have three-fourths of the infamous Ice Queens." Ino lightly jabs her finger against Anko's fishnet top.
"Ow~" Anko fake-chuckles, her serpentine eyes tracing Ino's eyes.
"Blondie, just be warned, I'm not as sugar-coated as Yuhi over there." Anko snickers.
"Alright, Anko. Are you lot a part of Taiju-sama's harem?"
"No!" Hana snaps with a fiery blush.
"Yes." Anko counters."We share him like a pack of candy."
"ANKO!!" Hana and Kurenai simultaneously snap at her, the Inuzuka heiress, flashing her claws, Kurenai stood to her full height, without the difficulty of a person under the influence.
"We don't share anything! Especially not a man obsessed with violence!" Kurenai spat out.
Teuchi abandons his dishes, the drama suffocating his establishment with the subtle sign of impending chaos.
"Uhmm... can you all please take whatever this is outside?" Teuchi nervously chuckles.
"Woof! Woof !" Hana's triplets, Haiiromaru, Ginmaru and Kemurimaru take off running.
"Boys–" Hana calls for her companions.
The three blurs of grey ignore their mother, completely engaged by the scent of a familiar human.
"Woof!"
They bump into the man wearing a black yukata, midnight-hair in a ponytail and two bangs on the side of his face, framing his headband. A sheathed blade on his right hip, scarlet eyes shining under the moonlight.
"Taiju," Hana whispers his name.
"No way," Anko mutters, her earlier teasing gone, just a woman memorising a face she hadn't seen in a while.
"Taiju-sama!" Ino's drunken self screams out his name.
"Taiju-kun..."
"Bastard. "
Tayuya bumps his left shoulder, still wearing the kimono from the snowy village.
"Hi, we are also alive, thanks. " Tayuya scoffs out in annoyance.
Kin was on his right, a calm look on her pale flesh, her delicate fingers holding onto his elbow.
Yugao trails her fingers on her blade, Runa. Softly humming a tune.
Taiju is still absent-minded with his petting of Hana's three mutts.
"You boys miss me?"
"Woof!" Ginmaru bumps his knee.
Haiiromaru is leaning his weight against the back of Taiju's legs.
Kemurimaru sat in front of him on his hind legs, looking at him with full attentiveness.
"Miss Kurenai, your tab is ready. " Teuchi awkwardly calls out.
Kurenai barely heard his voice, her attention was on the Anbu member.
"We need to talk, now."