Tsunade's boisterous voice directly shattered her genteel demeanor.
"Really?"
Such a joyous festival, yet she has to drink herself into a stupor?
Hakushi saw Shizune standing there helplessly and knew how hard her night would be.
"Hey, Tsunade, there you are."
Another voice joined in.
Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, had shed his Ninja Suit and donned casual clothes, exuding a mature masculine charm.
Though the grin on his face still reeked of mischief.
Moreover, his eyes kept sneaking peeks at Tsunade's impressive chest.
Pervert.
Beside him stood a pale-skinned man, exuding a cold-blooded aura, akin to a snake.
Orochimaru, also one of the Sannin.
Was tonight a Sannin gathering? Hakushi mused with interest.
No need to worry now, with these two here. Tsunade's drunken state wouldn't burden Shizune alone to get her home.
"It's you, Jiraiya. Didn't you say you'd join Minato for this festival?"
Tsunade asked.
"Don't mention it. These youngsters are getting more impressive one by one. With Minato and Kushina together, I'd just be a third wheel causing them discomfort."
Jiraiya smiled wryly.
"Do you even have moments when you consider others' feelings?"
Tsunade verbally jabbed.
"So, how about grabbing a drink tonight? Orochimaru too, we haven't had a drink together in ages, right?"
Jiraiya, unfazed by Tsunade's sarcastic jabs, extended the invitation.
"Don't drag me into this."
Orochimaru frowned, realizing that these two, notorious for drinking to the extreme, often ignored others' troubles until they were staggering.
Lousy character, even worse drinking habits.
"What's the harm? With that guy Danzo, you've grown cold towards me, now's the time to rekindle our friendship."
Jiraiya hooked an arm around Orochimaru's shoulder, laughing jovially.
"Idiot."
Orochimaru snorted, turned his face elsewhere.
"Drinking alone or with others doesn't matter... Oh, by the way, Hakushi, can I ask you a favor?"
Tsunade turned to Hakushi.
"Favor? What is it?"
"The three of us are going drinking, Shizune is left in your care."
Tsunade pushed the bewildered Shizune forward.
Hakushi was about to protest, but Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were already fading into the street, leaving only Tsunade's waving in the distance.
"Then, it's all yours."
"..."
No room for him to refuse.
Hakushi scratched his head, feeling troubled.
Darn it, now he couldn't sneak off with Ruri for some alone time.
Tsunade-sensei, you demon! You're not even a compassionate Medical Ninja!
"Um, Hakushi-senpai, Ruri-senpai, I'll trouble you. Don't worry, I won't be a bother."
Shizune approached meekly, bowing politely.
"Trouble? I think more people make it lively."
Hakushi continued scratching his head and chuckled.
"Hypocrite."
Ruri interjected bluntly.
Walking towards a nearby clothing store.
Hakushi said to Shizune, "Shizune, why don't you play around on your own first? I'll come fetch you later."
Shizune thought for a while, understanding well enough that tagging along with Hakushi and Ruri would make her a third wheel, awkward for them and herself, nodded slightly.
"Then I'll grab a bite at that barbecue place."
Shizune pointed at the barbecue shop that Hakushi and Ruri had just visited.
"Great. It's all yours, once Ruri and I finish shopping, we'll come get you."
Hakushi took money from his wallet and handed it to Shizune, encouraging her to enjoy a hearty meal.
◎
Darn it! Darn it!
The last Konoha festival, yet I can't have a romantic time with dear Hakushi!
This was Ayane's vexed thought.
Wearing the kimono gifted by Hakushi, yet still unable to fill the emptiness within.
In front of her spread an array of foods — takoyaki, grilled skewers, stir-fried noodles, eagerly stuffing bite after bite to vent her dissatisfaction.
"Boss, fifty more skewers of takoyaki, and ten bowls of char siu ramen! Hurry!"
"Yes, yes, coming right up."
Such an adorable girl, yet why can she eat so much? The shop owner eyed the girl devouring food with trepidation.
At this rate, he feared his shop's closure.
After all, he was the one who wrote "Eat continuously for three hours and it's free" to attract customers, only to end up with a genuine big-eater queen.
She had been eating non-stop for an hour and a half, a relentless flow from hand to mouth.
"Even if Lord Hiashi asked us to enjoy ourselves, you don't have to eat like this,"
Next to her sat Hyuga Toma, a Jonin from the Hyuga Branch Family, stunned by Ayane's rapidly diminishing mountain of food.
If it weren't confirmed Ayane's identity, he'd suspect she's a spy sent by the Akimichi Clan.
Even among the Akimichi Clan, few ate like this.
"There's more than just our group protecting Lord Hiashi, won't you join me, Toma-senpai?"
"No thanks. I'm here to safeguard Lord Hiashi."
"Oh."
Ayane had only been courteous, not expecting him to sit and join her, demonstrating her self-awareness.