Kairen absentmindedly played with Wolon's head using one hand, tousling its fur until it curled into little waves.
But his attention was focused on the entrance, his ears twitching slightly.
"You sure are full of energy, old man!"
"Hahaha…"
Laughter echoed faintly from inside, mixed with the elegant sounds of flutes and pipes.
Kairen cursed silently in his heart. Damn it, while I'm stuck waiting here, other people have already gone in and out several times!
Kurenai gazed out at the passing crowd beyond the window and murmured softly,
"The entire shinobi world is engulfed in flames of war, yet the ordinary people's world remains untouched."
Kairen chuckled, pointing toward the Paradise of Bliss.
"How can you say that? The scent of gunpowder in there is just as strong!"
"Hmm… what do you mean?" Kurenai tilted her small, delicate face, full of confusion.
That was what they called being in the carriage yet unaware the carriage moves.
Tsunade's slender fingers pinched Kairen's cheek as she said in a clear, teasing tone,
"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure it's something indecent."
Tsunade had gradually learned to recognize Kairen's "racing" metaphors. As long as she couldn't understand what he was saying, it was definitely perverted—and deserving of a lesson.
Kairen pulled Tsunade's fingers off and looked at the white sake bottle in front of her.
"You're drinking? Pour me a cup too."
Tsunade took a light sip from her own cup. Hearing his request, she smacked her lips and said,
"What's a minor doing asking for alcohol? Don't forget the Three Taboos of a Ninja."
Kairen's lips twitched in annoyance. Three Taboos, my ass. In his past life, he'd done everything—smoked, drank, even dyed his hair.
He'd even played League of Legends!
Kairen picked up a meatball and gently fed it into Wolon's mouth.
"Mm~"
The bear's eyes squinted in bliss, a little snot bubble popping from its nose.
The izakaya was filled with a rich, mellow fragrance of alcohol. In his past life, Kairen had been a bit of a drunk himself, and the smell made his nose itch with temptation.
But Tsunade wouldn't let him drink. She kept him under strict watch.
Kairen sank into thought for a while, then suddenly froze—he could make alcohol using chakra! Even his Hundred Transformations technique could produce the appearance of alcohol, though it would dissipate without continuous chakra supply.
Wait, didn't he have water-type chakra?
Jiraiya could convert his own water chakra into oil, turning himself into a greasy old man, which enhanced the power of his Fire Release techniques.
So Kairen could do the same—convert water chakra into ethanol. It'd not only be drinkable but could also combine with fire to produce stronger flames.
He'd already thought of the perfect name for it—Fiery Liquor Technique.
Kairen immediately entered the system space.
The voice of the Infinite Resurrection System echoed in his mind: "Host's idea is logical. Water can indeed be converted into alcohol."
Kairen grinned and used his remaining 2,000 experience points to exchange for an Intermediate Ninjutsu Development Card.
"[Ninjutsu Development Card used successfully. Ninjutsu development commencing!]"
"1%..."
"50%..."
"70%..."
"100%!!"
"[Ninjutsu development complete. Please name your technique!]"
"Call it Fiery Liquor Technique!"
"[Technique successfully named. Fiery Liquor Technique recordedl!]"
Though he'd given it that silly name on the surface, deep down, Kairen secretly called it Liquor Release.
In that instant, the Liquor Release's chakra conversion formula, nature transformation principles, and chakra circulation patterns all flowed into his mind...
What is the nature of water? Is it softness? Smoothness? Or the all-encompassing gentleness of flowing life itself?
Water had many natures—Jiraiya's oil, the Slug Summon's acid, Hanzo's poison, Mei Terumi's moist mists...
From today onward, water's nature would include Kairen's liquor.
The process of brewing alcohol was complex—selection of ingredients, fermentation, distillation, and so on.
Simply put, alcohol was produced through the fermentation of sugars from grains.
In chemical terms, it looked like this:
C6H12O6 (Glucose) --(Catalyst, Heat)--> 2CH3CH2OH (Ethanol) + 2CO2↑
Hmm… Kairen had memorized that back in high school.
He opened his eyes. A moist shimmer flickered across his dark pupils.
He asked the waiter for a cup, then, under the gaze of three people and two bears, slowly raised his finger over it.
Tsunade, already a bit tipsy, her cheeks flushed, looked at him in amusement.
"Brat, what are you doing?"
Kairen's lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"I'll show you what Liquor Release is!"
"Liquor Release?!" the three said in confusion.
Kairen formed half a Tiger Seal with his left hand. His chakra surged outward, filtered through his heart, transforming into water-type chakra. Then, through a simulated fermentation process, it converted into ethanol.
A sweet, fragrant aroma began to waft from his fingertips. Crystalline drops fell one by one into the porcelain cup.
"Drip... drip... drip..."
Soon, a little stream of liquid poured out, filling the cup in an instant.
Kurenai's bright red eyes widened as she leaned closer and sniffed.
"That's alcohol! This isn't Water Release!"
Tsunade picked up the cup, her brown eyes carefully observing the clear liquid within. After a moment's analysis, she said,
"This is a transformation of water nature. The water doesn't dissipate—it behaves like Wood Release. This must be due to the special nature of the Senju Clan Sage Body's chakra."
Kairen nodded. Normally, techniques of Water and Earth release would fade away without continued chakra input.
But Wood Release was special—it didn't vanish, just like Yamato's wooden houses.
If Tsunade was right, this was indeed a trait of the Senju chakra.
Tsunade brought the cup to her nose and inhaled deeply. A rich aroma filled the air, tinged with a faint fiery note—the mark of Kairen's chakra.
She took a small sip, and her eyes lit up in surprise. Draining the cup, she gave Kairen a thumbs-up.
"Delicious. The color, flavor, and strength are all perfect!"
Kairen smiled—but suddenly froze.
Wait… this liquor had been created from his own body. In a sense, it was… his bodily fluid.
And Tsunade had just drunk it!
Didn't that mean...
"Gyahaha!" Kairen burst out laughing like a crow.
Tsunade blinked in confusion and pinched his cheek hard.
"Brat, what's with that creepy laugh? What nasty idea did you come up with now?"
Kairen pried her hand away and refilled the cup for himself.
He took a sip. The liquor slid down his throat with a faint burn, leaving a trace of heat and spice. In one word—exhilarating!
Tsunade wrapped her bare arm around his neck in a mock headlock, scolding him.
"Didn't I tell you not to drink? And you're still drinking!"
Kairen protested, "I diluted the alcohol content—it won't harm me."
His technique allowed him to freely adjust the strength of the liquor. At high proof, it could even become industrial-grade alcohol, potent enough to merge with Fire Release for devastating effect.
Tsunade roughly ruffled his hair. "Fine, do what you want. A little alcohol can't hurt you anyway!"
Then she pointed at him again.
"From now on, you're my personal sake gourd. All my drinks are your responsibility. Whenever I want to drink, you'll pour it out for me!"
Kairen nodded eagerly, face full of sincerity.
"If you want to drink, go ahead! My body's got plenty to spare!"
Tsunade grinned brightly.
"That's more like it!"
...
Night slowly deepened, and Tsunade grew even drunker.
She raised her cup toward Kairen and slurred, "Brat, one more!"
Seeing her completely drunk, Kairen relaxed as well—then opened his mouth and released Liquor Release directly.