Shizune's office light was still on.
Shizune stood by the door, Tonton in her arms.
No matter how she tried to hide it, worry was written all over her face.
"Lady Tsunade, do you really not need me to come with you tonight?"
She asked it carefully, her voice so soft it was almost afraid to disturb the air.
Tsunade sat in her chair without looking up.
She kept flipping through the document she had already read three times.
"No."
Her tone was broad and casual,
as if she were talking about something utterly ordinary.
"I'll go myself. He's just some brat. You think I can't handle him?"
Shizune opened her mouth,
wanted to say something, then swallowed it back down.
She had been with Tsunade for too many years.
She knew her too well.
When Tsunade acted like this,
it usually meant she was unsure of herself.
Tsunade's gaze rested on the file,
but not a single word entered her head.
Of course she would never admit that she felt unsettled.
Who was she?
Tsunade of the Senju. Granddaughter of the First Hokage. One of the legendary Sannin. The Fifth Hokage of Konoha.
What kind of scene hadn't she seen?
What kind of person hadn't she dealt with?
But the moment she thought of that guy, of the warm breath against her ear when he spoke,
of waking up that morning with her whole body aching as if it had been pulled apart,
of that line he used - "what happened between us" -
her heart started fluttering again.
It was a strange kind of panic.
Not fear.
Something else…
Something even she couldn't put into words.
She set the file down, rose to her feet, and walked to the window.
The sun was sinking below the horizon, dyeing all of Konoha in a wash of gold and crimson.
Far away, the faces carved into the Hokage Rock emerged and faded within the dusk.
"It's just dinner."
She said it to herself, softly.
Shizune watched from behind.
Tsunade's back looked even straighter than usual.
She lowered her head and looked at Tonton in her arms.
Tonton looked back at her.
"Go on."
Tsunade turned around, and the usual calm had already returned to her face.
She patted Shizune on the shoulder, her tone light.
"Stop worrying so much. Get some rest."
Shizune nodded and left the office with Tonton in her arms.
The door shut softly behind her.
That afternoon, a Sand shinobi had delivered Teizawa's invitation.
Shizune took it, glanced at it, then passed it over to her.
Tsunade opened it. There was only one line written inside:
"Six tonight. At the restaurant. Don't keep me waiting."
The handwriting was neat.
Not nearly as irritating as the man himself.
Tsunade folded the invitation and put it away.
Quietly, she let out a breath of relief.
Not an izakaya. A restaurant.
Not drinks. Just dinner.
And not a hotel room.
If it was only dinner, then what exactly was she nervous about?
She took a deep breath
and forced down that faint, inexplicable unease.
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Tsunade returned home.
She went straight into her bedroom to change.
Her wardrobe was filled with all kinds of clothing.
She stood in front of the mirror for a long while.
On impulse, she finally chose a long, plain-colored robe.
Not flashy, but not too severe either.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Then redid her hair.
The moment she realized what she was doing, her face turned bright red.
"It's not like I'm going on a date!"
She snapped at her reflection.
In a fluster, she pulled her hair apart and tied it up carelessly.
Then she stood in front of the mirror for another three minutes.
In the end, she fixed her hair properly all over again.
At exactly six, she was standing in front of the inn.
The sunset had already faded, leaving only a trace of red at the edge of the sky.
Warm light shone from the windows of the inn.
She stood there, taking a deep breath. Then another.
It was just dinner.
That was what she kept muttering to herself, but her feet refused to move.
The hallway was quiet, with only the sound of her footsteps echoing.
When she reached Teizawa's door, she stopped.
Light spilled through the crack beneath it, and faint movement could be heard inside.
She raised her hand
and hesitated.
Her hand hung in the air for three seconds.
Then she knocked.
Knock, knock.
Footsteps sounded from inside, coming closer and closer.
The door opened.
Teizawa stood there in dark casual clothes,
his hair neatly combed back.
He looked clean and composed.
The moment he saw Tsunade, his eyes lit slightly.
That familiar smile appeared on his lips.
"You came."
Tsunade looked at him and suddenly felt as though the anxiety of the entire walk over had been completely unnecessary.
She lifted her chin and said in her usual bold, offhand tone,
"Weren't you going to treat me to dinner? I'm hungry."
Teizawa smiled and stepped aside.
"Come in."
The moment Tsunade entered the room, she froze.
There was a copper pot in the center of the table.
Charcoal burned beneath it, and the broth inside was bubbling vigorously, sending white steam curling upward.
Surrounding the pot
were plates and plates of ingredients.
Meat sliced paper-thin, fresh vegetables, white tofu, clear noodles…
And a few things she didn't even recognize.
Red, green, white - the whole table was packed full.
"What kind of way is this to eat?"
Tsunade blinked.
She had lived this long, and it was her first time seeing food served like this.
Teizawa pulled out a chair for her with a smile.
"It's called hot pot. Come on, try it."
Tsunade sat down suspiciously.
She watched as Teizawa picked up a slice of meat,
lowered it into the boiling broth,
counted a few beats,
then pulled it out, dipped it into a sauce bowl, and ate it.
"That's it?" she asked.
"That's it."
Tsunade copied him,
picked up a slice of meat, and dipped it into the pot.
She had no idea how long it was supposed to stay in there.
Her movements were a bit clumsy.
The meat nearly came apart in the broth before she could fish it back out.
Teizawa laughed softly and picked up another slice for her.
"Try this one."
Tsunade took it, hesitated for a second, then put it into her mouth.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
It was a flavor she had never tasted before.
The richness of the broth. The savory fragrance of the dipping sauce.
And the tenderness of the meat itself, blooming all at once across her tongue.
Layer after layer.
"Delicious!"
Even her voice came out different as her chopsticks reached for the pot again.
Teizawa watched her, the corners of his lips lifting.
Unhurried, he added more food to the pot.
Unhurried, he placed more into her bowl.
"I'm glad you like it."
Tsunade ate without even lifting her head, cheeks puffed full.
She looked nothing like the imposing Hokage she usually was.
"You bastard, I didn't expect you to know how to eat this well."
Her words came out muffled as her chopsticks reached for more meat.
Teizawa looked at her, his gaze softening.
Tsunade's hand paused for just a second.
Her face turned red at once.
She lowered her head quickly and pretended to focus on fishing vegetables out of the pot.
"Quit talking nonsense," she muttered. "It's just really good, that's all."
Teizawa only smiled and let it pass.
…
Then he reached behind him and took out a bottle.
The glass was long and slender, filled with a deep red liquid.
"Want some?" he asked.
Tsunade's chopsticks halted in midair, and she looked up at him warily.
"What are you plotting now?" There was a trace of tension in her voice. "Don't even think about-"
"No bad intentions." Teizawa cut her off, sounding innocent. "It's just wine."
Tsunade took it with obvious suspicion.
She held it up beneath the light and looked it over.
The dark red liquid shone like amber. It was beautiful.
She brought it to her nose and sniffed.
A rich fruity aroma.
It really didn't smell as harsh as sake.
"Really?" she still asked, unconvinced.
Teizawa had already poured her a glass and set it in front of her.
Tsunade picked it up and smelled it again.
Sweet.
Her mouth filled with the fragrance of grapes.
None of the sting of stronger liquor.
Only a soft, mellow sweetness.
She blinked, then took another sip.
Sweet again.
She liked sweet things. She always had, ever since she was little.
But all her life, the alcohol she drank had been strong.
Sharp. Bitter. Burning all the way down her throat.
That was the kind of drink that suited her.
This sweet, gentle thing barely felt like alcohol at all.
It was more like…
"Well?" Teizawa asked. "Good?"
Tsunade didn't answer. She tipped back the glass and drained it in one go.
"Another."
She pushed the glass toward him.
Teizawa smiled and filled it again.
Tsunade drank the second glass.
Then asked for a third.
Her face was flushed now, her lashes bright under the light.
"What's this called?"
"Wine."
"It's good."
She picked up the fourth glass and drank more slowly this time, as though reluctant to finish it too quickly.
Teizawa kept placing food into her bowl.
"Eat. Have more."
His voice was warm, almost coaxing.
Tsunade answered absently, lowered her head, and kept eating.
Then took another sip of wine.
The red flush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
She felt a little drunk.
Not truly drunk.
Just pleasantly lightheaded.
Like sitting beside a fire in the middle of winter, wrapped in warmth.
It had been a very long time since she'd felt like this.
Teizawa poured her another glass.
She held it, looking at the dark red liquid shifting inside.
Then suddenly said,
"You really are a strange person."
"Oh?" he said. "How so?"
"I can't explain it." She thought for a moment. "You're just… strange."
Teizawa smiled.
Tsunade looked at him and, for one ridiculous instant, thought that this brat actually looked pretty good when he smiled.
Then she immediately shook the thought away.
"Drink, drink!"
She raised her glass.
Teizawa lifted his own and lightly tapped it against hers.
"Cheers."
Tsunade drank hers dry in one go.
Before she could even lower the cup, Teizawa had already filled it again.
She felt a little embarrassed.
He'd barely drunk any himself. He kept pouring for her instead.
"You should drink too."
She nudged his cup toward him.
Teizawa picked it up and took a sip.
Tsunade looked at him and vaguely felt like she was being tricked somehow.
But she couldn't put her finger on why.
Then she took another sip of the wine.
Sweet. Warm.
Forget it.
What she didn't realize was that, with every mouthful she swallowed, the alcohol was quietly spreading through her bloodstream.
Her body was growing warmer and softer by the minute, and the cozy haze settling over her thoughts only deepened.
(End of Chapter)
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