7:00 PM.
Hatake Residence.
Kamizuki Hikari pushed open the door with a look of resignation, stepping inside to find Kakashi holding up various outfits, utterly indecisive about what to wear. Hikari couldnât help but scoff.
"Kakashi, seriously, arenât you done yet?"
Hearing Hikariâs voice, Kakashi immediately turned around. "Hikari! Quick, help me pick which one makes me look cooler!"
Hikari pointed at the mask covering Kakashiâs face. "So, you planning to take off that embarrassment shield?"
"Embarrassment shield? Iâm not that bad-looking!" Kakashi touched the mask, briefly considering removing it before giving up. "Nah, Iâve worn this thing in Konoha for years. Taking it off now would feel like walking down the street naked."
"How about you just wear the mask and go out without any clothes? Sounds good, right?" Hikari teased.
"Heh."
And just like that, the conversation ended with a dry chuckle.
Kakashi, a master of the art of deflection, kept rifling through his clothes in front of the mirror before his eyes settled on his usual jÅnin vest.
Ah, that vibrant greenâa glorious color symbolizing Konohaâs strength! Wearing this to a blind date would surely make an impression.
"Youâve been at this for half an hour." Hikari groaned. "Tsunade-sama already called Shizune over. Youâre both Konoha advisors now, practically equals. What, you scared sheâll beat you up after marriage or something?" Hikari was tempted to activate the Eight Gates just to drag Kakashi out the door.
"Alright, Iâll change right away! Wait for me, Hikari!" Kakashi hurriedly grabbed his jÅnin uniform and dashed into the changing room.
Hikari leaned against the doorframe, his gaze drifting toward the entrance.
Why was he even here for Kakashiâs blind date, anyway?
Shouldnât people usually bring someone uglier to make themselves look better?
Was Kakashi really that confident?
---
Izakaya.
Tsunade and Shizune sat in a private booth, a few bottles of sake on the table as they sipped leisurely.
Well, more accurately, Tsunade was drinking while Shizune poured for her.
Noticing Shizuneâs nervous, distracted expression, Tsunade set down her cup and poured one for Shizune instead.
"Here, Shizune, drink up!"
Shizune hesitated. "Is this really okay?"
"Whatâs not okay about it? Youâre so tense, anyone would think youâre the one getting married!" Tsunade teased.
"Tsunade-sama!"
Shizuneâs whiny tone sent a shiver down Tsunadeâs spine.
"Ugh, stop! Weâve known each other for years, and hearing you like this makes my skin crawl!"
"Hmph!" Shizune grabbed the cup and downed it in one go. Afterward, she smacked her lips. "Tastes pretty average. I donât get why youâre so obsessed with this stuff, Tsunade-sama. And itâs so expensive! Your Hokage salary canât possibly cover this!"
"Well, thatâs what youâre here for, right?" Tsunade swirled her cup lazily, the picture of a seasoned alcoholic. "You wouldnât let me starve, would you?"
"Tsunade-sama, youâre putting way too much pressure on me..." Shizune sighed. At this rate, people would think she was raising a daughter instead of serving under the Hokage.
Over the years, after Shizune had grown up, their roles had completely reversedânow it was Shizune taking care of Tsunade.
"Relax, relax! Even if you get married, Iâve still got Hikari to rely on. Heh, I wonât starve!"
"Hikari seemed pretty unhappy earlier. Did you fleece him too hard this time?"
"Pfft, donât worry. Hikariâs not that petty!" Tsunade waved it off, exuding confidence.
Seeing this, Shizune could only sigh and drop the subject.
Those involved were blind, while onlookers saw clearly.
From Shizuneâs perspective, Tsunadeâs attitude toward Hikari had grown increasingly... ambiguous.
Sometimes, Shizune even felt a twinge of jealousy.
She was the one who had been with Tsunade first. So why, after just a few days with Hikari, did Tsunade trust him so much? And now Tsunade was trying to marry her off? This was just unfair.
"Oh! Hikari! Kakashi! Over here!" Tsunade spotted the two and immediately waved them over.
Hikari dragged a hesitant Kakashi forward. "Tsunade-sama, why donât the two of us leave and give Kakashi and Shizune some space?"
"Donât worry, Iâve got it all arranged. Shizune, take Kakashi over there. Hikari and I will stay here and drink. And I promiseâjust these few bottles, no more! I swear on my title as Hokage!"
Kakashi was stunned.
Using the Hokageâs name for this?
Hikari, however, wasnât surprised.
Given Tsunadeâs personality, if someone offered the right price, sheâd probably sell Konoha without a second thought.
"Alright, weâll head over then."
Seeing Kakashi even more nervous than she was, Shizune suddenly felt a lot calmer.
As the two walked away, Tsunade poured Hikari a cup of sake with a sly smile. "Hikari, you must be exhausted these past few days. Sit, sit!"
Hikari eyed her suspiciously. Something was off about Tsunade todayâlike she was plotting something.
But fine. Whatever came his way, heâd handle it. He sat, took the cup, sniffed it to make sure it wasnât spiked, and downed it in one go.
"Hikari, if Iâve been a bit... unreasonable lately, or if Iâve done anything wrong, I hope youâll forgive me, okay?"
"Tsunade-sama, what are you saying? Youâre the Hokage. How could you possibly do anything wrong?" Hikari looked at her with a mischievous glint.
[Tch. Eating my food, drinking my booze, spending my money, and now you think a simple apology will make it all go away? Who do you think you are, some kind of goddess?]
[And this apology? No sincerity at all!]
[Everyone knows a proper apology involves showing some cleavage!]
Tsunadeâs smile slowly twisted into something far more dangerous.
âYou bastardâ!â
âI treat you like a friend, and you dare lust after my flawless, peerless body? And after spending some pocket change, you expect me to strip? Hah! Do you really think the Hokageâs dignity is that cheap?â
âIf you wanna look, show me your wallet first. Maybe if you impress me, Iâll consider it!â
"Donât say that. Even though Iâm beautiful, kind, gentle, and hardworking, nobody is perfect. I mightâve made a few mistakes here and there. So... you know what I mean, right?" Tsunade preened shamelessly.
[Iâve never met someone so utterly devoid of shame!]
-----
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