With the arrival of members of the Ino-Shika-Cho family, the atmosphere of the banquet has risen to a new level.
Everyone took turns toasting the six people with their drinks. Of course, Nara Rokumei's toasting was relatively polite, and some people even just exchanged smiles with Nara Rokumei, not daring to go any further.
After all, Nara Rokumei now holds a high position and wields power second only to the emperor. If something goes wrong today because of toasting and makes him lose face, then every one of us will be in deep trouble!
As for the other five people, out of envy for their families, they all offered toasts. Nara Rokumei initially did not stop them, but after seeing Torifu Akimichi's flushed face and Yamanaka Unkai's somewhat stiff movements, he stopped them.
Nara Rokumei finally spoke up, "Hey everyone, let's not try to persuade you anymore. A little alcohol is fine, but too much is bad for your health. Besides, we're all going to have dinner together later..."
After Nara Rokumei, although he didn't say anything more, everyone understood what he meant, and the number of people urging him to drink immediately decreased.
Nara Rokumei walked over to the five of them and sighed helplessly, "You guys are really something else. Hurry up and circulate your chakra to expel the alcohol. It wouldn't be good if you embarrassed yourself at the banquet later!"
After saying that, he said helplessly, "This drinking contest is both a good thing and a bad thing. Didn't you see Uchiha Kō watching all this with a smile? But aren't there many people trying to get others to drink?"
Thinking of this, he instructed Nara Shikaku to keep a close eye on his uncles and elders, and to make sure they were forced to drink the alcohol, as he was going to offer them a toast!
After saying that, Nara Rokumei picked up his wine cup, filled it with fine wine, and walked to Uchiha Kō's side. Uchiha Kō smiled at Nara Rokumei and said, "It's quite lively today!" Uchiha Kō's words were neither warm nor cold.
He was not dissatisfied with this behavior because he knew Nara Rokumei's character, and he also knew that the three families would not form cliques for personal gain, at least not now.
"Lord Hokage, this toast is for you. Thank you for giving Nara Rokumei a chance to enter politics, and for taking care of Nara Rokumei all these years! I'll drink this first!" With that, Nara Rokumei bowed and raised his cup so that the rim was slightly lower than Uchiha Kō's.
Uchiha Kō smiled, then clinked glasses with him. "I also wish your clan prosperity and many descendants!" Uchiha Kō also drank it all in one gulp, then turned the glass upside down to indicate that he had finished.
Nara Rokumei felt a little uncomfortable because he wasn't suited to drinking strong liquor, but now, for his own sake and for the sake of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, he had to offer a toast!
"This second cup of wine is to honor the Lord Hokage for his years of hard work and dedication, working day and night to finally transform Konoha into the strongest village in the Ninja World, making the Konoha proud and attracting tribute from all nations!" With that, Nara Rokumei offered another cup of wine and downed it in one gulp.
His expression then twitched, and his face flushed red. This was undoubtedly an embarrassing act in front of Hokage Uchiha Kō and everyone else, leaving those present puzzled as to why.
Uchiha Kō, however, knew perfectly well what was going on. "This second cup is to toast our enduring friendship. Through twenty years of trials and tribulations, we have shared joys and sorrows, which has led to Konoha's current strength and prosperity!" After saying this, he drank another cup.
With a smile on his face, Uchiha Kō exuded heroic spirit. Compared to Nara Rokumei, he was a dashing young master, with an imposing presence. Truly, a young man of jade-like beauty, a peerless gentleman!
Nara Rokumei suppressed the burning sensation in his stomach and poured another cup of wine. "This third cup..." Before Nara Rokumei could finish pouring, Uchiha Kō grabbed his hand.
"Lu Ming, I know your feelings. We've been brothers for a long time, and I remember that!" Uchiha Kō laughed. "Drinking is fine in a little, but too much is bad for your health." Uchiha Kō used Nara Rokumei's words to persuade Nara Rokumei.
Uchiha Kō was well aware that Nara Rokumei was worried that while his clan members were frequently being toasted, others, due to their status and position, would not toast Uchiha Kō, thus causing Uchiha Kō to become wary of the Nara Clan, Yamanaka Clan, Akimichi Clan.
It's not that Nara Rokumei has changed, but rather that Nara Rokumei has always been cautious. He wouldn't allow, nor could he allow, such a thing to happen, so there's only one way: to tarnish his own reputation.
Uchiha Kō felt sorry for Nara Rokumei. He said slowly, "Owl, your life started from nothing. To have Lu Ming's support in Torifu and the Yunhai is truly a blessing beyond measure! Owl, you know how to repay kindness. This kindness will never be forgotten!"
Nara Rokumei's eyes suddenly turned red and swollen. Taking advantage of his drunkenness, he cried, "Lord Hokage Lu Ming, I have no regrets in this life for having met you. I, Lu Ming, swear to be loyal to Lord Hokage! The descendants of the Nara Clan will also unconditionally support all of Lord Hokage decisions."
He knelt on one knee to show his loyalty, Uchiha Kō smiled as he helped Nara Rokumei up, "If you do not betray me, I will not betray you!"
The sight of the ruler and his ministers united in heart and mind moved everyone present. No one had expected Nara Rokumei to be so loyal to the Hokage, Uchiha Kō.
Nara Rokumei wiped away his tears, stood up, and said, "Gentlemen, what are you waiting for? Doesn't such a wise Lord Hokage deserve your toast?"
These words shocked everyone present, and those who reacted quickly immediately stood up to offer a toast!
Hatake Sakumo stepped forward and knelt on one knee. "Sakumo has never been convinced of anyone's worth in his life. Even if Uchiha or Senju Hashirama were powerful, Sakumo would still feel that he is inferior to them."
"In this life, Hatake Sakumo only respects one person, and that is you, my elder brother. You saved my life with a Sakumo word, and after you came to Sakumo, Sakumo gave me an important position. I am very grateful. Today, I am taking this opportunity to offer you a toast at your banquet!" After saying this, Hatake Sakumo filled Uchiha Kō's wine glass, and then filled his own.
Then he raised his hand, lowered his glass, clinked glasses with Uchiha Kō, and drank it all in one gulp, expressing his gratitude to Uchiha Kō.
Uchiha Kō smiled and drank the cup, "Sakumo's loyalty and righteousness are unparalleled throughout history. It is my honor to work with Sakumo!"
Seeing that Uchiha Kō was so easy to talk to, everyone stepped forward to offer him a toast.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Lord Hokage, thank you for making us proud!"
"Lord Hokage, I am a rough man, not good with words, but I am willing to give my life for you! I will give my life without regret!"
As the atmosphere grew lively, Uchiha Kō remained calm, accepting all drinks offered. He drank twenty or thirty cups in a short time, his expression unchanged, still chatting and laughing.
The ladies of the house watched this scene and started making fun of it.
Uzumaki Kushina looked at Tsunade and said, "Tsunade- neechan, is brother-in-law such a drinker? He's had at least thirty cups by now, hasn't he? His face isn't red, and he's not even out of breath."
Nohara Rin also said with a smile, "Yes, teacher, look at Master, he's drunk thirty cups of wine and is still chatting and laughing, a true hero of the world!"
Tsunade sat in the center of the group of ladies, watching Uchiha Kō chatting and laughing in the distance, sipping wine and gesturing about the world. She smiled and said, "It's not that he can drink a lot, but that he respects everyone in Konoha, so he accepts everyone who comes."
"It is Tsunade honor, Tsunade, to have such a man as my husband!" Tsunade said with a smile.
The group of wives exclaimed in admiration, "As expected of the Hokage's wife, her words are truly different. At this moment, Tsunade is not only speaking up for her husband, but also creating the image of an excellent politician for him."
They felt that Tsunade's words were somewhat self-deprecating and elevate Uchiha Kō too much, because they believed that Uchiha Kō's success was inseparable from Tsunade's capable assistance.
When Uchiha Kō was at the bottom of his career, Tsunade resolutely stood up to support him, using the power of her clan—the entire Senju Clan —to support him. This is something that many other female members of the main Uchiha Kō clans could not do.
She was passionate and fearless, always of one mind with Uchiha Kō. When husband and wife are of one mind, their strength can break metal. It's more accurate to say that Tsunade felt honored to be Uchiha Kō's wife.
Rather, it's more accurate to say that the couple supported each other and progressed together. This couple is not only a model of a Konoha couple today, but their love story has also been spread throughout the entire Ninja World by a famous writer.
Jiraiya was writing when he suddenly sneezed. He touched his nose and sneezed, "Who's talking about themselves?" He continued writing, "Uchiha Kō, the new generation's God of Shinobi, summons the third power Susanoo, above Sunagakure to confront the Third Kazekage!"
Jiraiya never imagined that his novel, * Uchiha Kō Biography, would become a sensation throughout the Ninja World after only covering the Land of Rain battlefield arc.
This made him realize that the quality of a book lies not only in its eroticism, but also in its ability to convey the protagonist's will and spirit. Such books are not just popular for a time, but are true masterpieces.
Therefore, he finished writing "Icha Icha Paradise" and vowed that he must finish writing "Heroic Ambition" before writing "Icha Icha Paradise" to occasionally cultivate his sentiments.
At this moment Jiraiya has deviated from his original destiny and is striving to become a great writer and literary master.
When a person has ambition, he will rise to the occasion; this is a kind of maturity, a unique kind of maturity.
Striving and working hard to realize one's ideals is a way to express youth!
This kind of youth deserves to be celebrated; so it was for Uchiha Kō, for Tsunade, and for Jiraiya.
Jiraiya looked up at the starry sky outside the window, a smile playing on his lips. He seemed to have abandoned the pursuit of base pleasures and turned to a deeper spiritual realm.
I believe that Jiraiya will become a great writer and a true hero in the future, rather than the Pervy Sage that others call him.
Orochimaru, sensing something amiss, put down his work in the laboratory, walked up the steps, stood on the ground, and gazed at the starry sky. "I wonder how envious my counterpart in another world would be of me!"
After a long period of research, he has discovered that the world is not as they perceive it to be. Every person and every event, at key historical junctures, makes different decisions that affect the final outcome.