Shōchiku-tei was one of Konoha's finest high-end restaurants.
But this was Sōken's first time stepping into this elegant, renowned establishment. It wasn't that he couldn't afford to dine and unwind somewhere like this. His age was the real limitation: before he turned twenty, his parents wouldn't let him drink. Even becoming clan head hadn't earned him an exemption.
To his surprise, Grandfather had been all for it, too.
He'd said that young people these days didn't take the "three ninja prohibitions" seriously, and that Sōken, as clan head, should lead by example and improve the clan's attitude. A little indulgence in drink, sex, wealth, and anger was fine for a shinobi, he'd said, but they must never become obsessed with such things, or their will would be dulled...
Sōken walked across the wooden floor, glancing around at the surroundings. They were following the hostess down a winding corridor. Sliding doors lined both sides, painted with spring blossoms and autumn moons, summer sunshine and winter snow. The beauty of all four seasons was captured on them, yet the corridor wasn't dim.
The owner clearly wasn't some stubborn traditionalist. The light of science dispelled the gloom, and the elegant electric lamps—shaped like cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and plum blossoms—made a marvelous pairing with the changing seasons painted on the doors!
"Whoosh—"
The hostess slid open a closed door.
They had arrived!
Sōken followed Hyuga Hiashi inside and found a room about six tatami mats in size. Cushions and a low table sat in the center, while a landscape painting hung on the wall. It looked beautiful, though Sōken didn't understand it. Looking out past the veranda, he could see an elegant, distinctive stone garden.
Finely raked white sand, stone arrangements, stone lanterns, and other elements had been combined by a master gardener