In Naruto: Drinking Makes Me Stronger

Wait.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes shifted. Sentimentality had not worked, so what about temptation?

"Ahem, Yuu, as long as you participate in these Chunin Exams and bring glory to Konoha, I have a bottle of fine liquor I can give you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed twice and spoke.

As for what he had said earlier about making Yuu quit drinking? Hiruzen Sarutobi pretended he had never said it.

"Hmm? Really?"

Sure enough, Yuu's eyes lit up.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was feeling rather pleased with himself, Yuu's next words nearly made him choke.

"It's a deal. I'll take the exam, and you'll give me a whole room full of fine liquor!"

Yuu said, his eyes shining as he slapped the table.

Your ears sure worked well!

The corner of Hiruzen Sarutobi's eye twitched.

When had he ever said he would give Yuu a whole room full of fine liquor?

He had clearly said one bottle!

Did Yuu think fine liquor was free?

Although he was the Third Hokage, he did not have much private savings.

If he really gave Yuu a whole room full of fine liquor...

"Yuu, I said one bottle. One bottle of fine liquor. You heard wrong."

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained helplessly.

"Old man, you... you're going back on your word! You clearly said a whole room full of fine liquor! I've got decades of drinking experience. I've never misheard anything after drinking! I'm not going!"

Yuu immediately flew into a rage when he heard that.

Decades of drinking experience, my ass!

Even if you started drinking in the womb, it's only been nine years!

But then he remembered that Yuu really had been drinking for seven or eight years.

Hiruzen Sarutobi helplessly rubbed his face.

"Fine! As long as you take first place in the Chunin Exams, I'll give you a whole room full of fine liquor!"

Seeing Yuu like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood that he would have to pay up. Gritting his teeth, he agreed.

"Deal! Come on, pinky swear!"

Yuu's slightly drunken face was now utterly serious.

"Anyone who lies has to swallow a thousand needles!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like his whole face was about to cramp. In the end, unable to refuse Yuu, he went along and completed this "contract" with him.

"Alright, then... then get the liquor ready. I guarantee I'll cut down every single one of those people coming to take the exam!"

Yuu patted his chest and declared confidently.

"Wait!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had just breathed a sigh of relief, but Yuu's words immediately made him tense up again.

How had he forgotten about that!

Yuu might very well be unable to tell friend from foe during the exam!

Kakashi and the others were bloody proof of that!

If Yuu cut down all of Konoha's people during the exam...

Not only would they fail to display Konoha's strength to outsiders, they would become a laughingstock instead!

"Um, Yuu, could you perhaps not drink during the days of the exam?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to persuade him earnestly.

"Not drink? For several days? I'm not going!!!"

The moment Yuu heard that, he turned to leave.

"Wait, wait!"