Your wife was this fierce when she was young, did you know?

A connection?

Ye Ning couldn't imagine who might be coming, so he simply stopped trying to guess.

Indeed, food is the people's heaven.

Regardless of who shows up, nothing is more important than filling one's stomach!

"Say... Minato, it's been such a long time, don't you think it's a bit rude that we haven't visited Big Sister Tsunade yet?"

A boisterous voice drifted in from outside the barbecue restaurant.

Just by hearing that tone, one could easily imagine the personality of its owner.

Soon, a trio entered the restaurant.

Ye Ning, facing the entrance, noticed their faces immediately.

The woman in the lead had beautiful, long, fire-red hair, a hair clip pinned to the left side, and a wrist guard on her left arm. She strode in, giving off an impression of someone who acted with great haste. Beside her was a black-haired kunoichi of similar height, though her demeanor was much gentler; it was clear that her personality was the polar opposite of the red-haired woman.

Following the two was a well-proportioned blonde ninja, a faint, pleasant smile perpetually gracing his handsome features, making it easy for others to feel favorably toward him.

The identities of the three were instantly obvious.

The one in the lead was the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha, the mother of the original protagonist, Uzumaki Kushina!

That head of fiery red hair was simply too recognizable.

The blonde ninja behind her was, naturally, the wildly popular "Yellow Flash," Minato Namikaze!

As for that black-haired girl...

Ye Ning didn't really have much of an impression.

The only person he could think of was Sasuke's mother, Uchiha Mikoto.

Weren't the two of them supposed to be best friends?

"Minato, do you think we should pay a visit to Big Sister Tsunade's home after we eat?"

"I've already tried a few times, but I couldn't get in. Every time, I was stopped by other ninjas outside the clan grounds," Minato said with a bitter, helpless smile.

Nawaki had been their classmate, but he had died on the battlefield during the Second Shinobi World War.

As Nawaki's classmates, their hearts were heavy, to say nothing of his older sister, Tsunade.

Hearing the two mention Tsunade, Ye Ning looked at her, as she remained indifferent, simply drinking on her own.

"The people you said were coming to drink with you—could it be them?"

Tsunade rolled her eyes and didn't answer.

Just then, Uzumaki Kushina seemed to notice Tsunade. Her eyes lit up, and she excitedly pulled Minato and the girl who was likely Uchiha Mikoto over.

Arriving at their table, Kushina first gave Ye Ning a curious look, then sat down beside Tsunade without ceremony, leaning in boisterously.

However, Kushina was quite tactful; she didn't try to comfort Tsunade, instead just grabbing a bottle of liquor and pouring herself a glass.

Kushina's movements were so fluid and natural that Ye Ning was left dumbfounded.

Minato could only offer Ye Ning an apologetic smile, sitting down beside him in slight embarrassment.

With Tsunade, Kushina, and Mikoto occupying the other side, he couldn't exactly squeeze in there, could he?

Tsunade glanced sideways, not reacting much, and simply said coolly:

"Since you're here, drink with me. Otherwise, having a little kid here makes drinking alone feel rather strange."

Ye Ning: "..."

Are you serious?

You're going to take a jab at me too?

"Mikoto, do you want a drink too?"

Kushina shook the bottle at the girl beside her, just asking out of habit, but to everyone's surprise, she snatched the bottle right out of Kushina's hand. Instead of pouring it into a glass, she mimicked Tsunade and began drinking straight from the bottle.

With that bold posture, where was the ladylike demeanor from just a moment ago?

Ye Ning was stunned.

This is Uchiha Mikoto?

The gentle, devoted Uchiha Mikoto from the original story?

Huh?

This wild style—it's not even a step behind Tsunade, is it?

Are you telling me another drunkard has arrived?

Uchiha Fugaku... do you know your wife was this fierce when she was young?

Ye Ning suddenly discovered a golden path to riches.

In the Shinobi World, where the alcohol is so weak, this group of ninjas is actually drinking it with such relish.

If he were to produce the high-proof Erguotou or Niulanshan from his past life, wouldn't the people in Konoha go absolutely mad trying to snatch them up?

Of course, he was just thinking about it.

Unless he was as hammered as Tsunade, he wouldn't waste his time brewing alcohol instead of diligently studying ninjutsu.

The three drunks across from them were drinking with fiery enthusiasm, while the two boys on this side wore expressions of utter helplessness.

Minato Namikaze had joined them for a few cups at the start, but after a few rounds, he wisely chose to stop.

With the way they were drinking, it would be a miracle if they didn't get wasted; someone had to stay sober, right?

If they all got drunk and passed out in the middle of the street, it would be a massive embarrassment.

Since he couldn't stop them from drinking and his advice fell on deaf ears, Minato Namikaze had no choice but to shift his gaze away and strike up a conversation with Ye Ning:

"I'm Minato Namikaze, and they are Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto. May I ask who you are... I don't think I've ever seen you in Konoha before."

Although it was phrased as a question, there was nothing offensive about the way Minato Namikaze spoke; on the contrary, listening to him felt as refreshing as a spring breeze.

He was truly worthy of being called the "Little Sun" in the original story.

Ye Ning felt he couldn't compare to that kind of natural charisma.

"My name is Ye Ning. It's normal that you haven't seen me; after all, I only arrived in Konoha yesterday."

Just arrived in Konoha?

Minato Namikaze was startled, and a sense of vigilance immediately rose within him.

Having experienced the Cloud Ninja incident just a few years prior, Minato Namikaze almost instinctively suspected a spy, but a second thought made him realize that a spy wouldn't be dining at the same table as Tsunade, and he instantly understood he had misunderstood.

Although no one noticed his train of thought, a look of embarrassment still appeared on Minato Namikaze's face, and his cheeks even flushed slightly.

Ye Ning couldn't help but find it a bit amusing.

It was truly unexpected that Minato Namikaze had been such a shy young man in his youth.

What was even more unexpected was that such a shy guy could actually pull off a move like sweeping a girl off her feet under the moonlight.

"I share some blood ties with Tsunade. I came to Konoha simply to try and help her find some peace of mind."

Hearing this, Minato Namikaze understood instantly.

He then lowered his voice and leaned in, whispering, "Tsunade has been in a very bad mood lately. She's kept herself locked at home for months, only coming out occasionally to buy alcohol. She refuses to see anyone who tries to visit. If you can, I really hope you can offer her some comfort."

As he spoke, he seemed to feel that whispering behind their backs was inappropriate, glancing up every now and then with the guilty look of someone caught doing something wrong.