The Backgrounds of Your Classmates

After Iruka left, Sasuke sat down beside Itachi.

He was afraid that his brother and father would truly punish him for the trouble he had caused today.

He lowered his head and waited for a while, but everything remained calm!

He looked up in astonishment, only to see his brother and father also lost in their own thoughts, having no time to pay him any mind.

Sasuke couldn't help but feel a bit angry; how could they be so distracted at a time like this?

"Brother, Father, aren't you angry?"

Itachi looked at him this time, his eyes filled with deep affection.

How could I ever blame you? You are my beloved little brother.

"I'll spare you this time, but you must not skip school again tomorrow!"

Fugaku glared at Sasuke, his eyes filled with heavy reproach.

"How is that classmate of yours, Naruto?"

"He hasn't been crippled, has he?"

A look of disdain appeared on Sasuke's face. That dead-last, did he even deserve to be compared to him?

"He's fine, he won't die. Just a few bruises and a swollen face, that's all!"

Itachi and Fugaku exchanged a glance and shook their heads helplessly. Just bruises and a swollen face?

You have no idea that he is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. If you push him too far and he releases the Nine-Tails, you would be the first to die.

"Apologize to him when you go to school tomorrow, and invite him to our home as a guest!"

"After all, you were in the wrong first. While strength is important, your fists are not meant to be used against your own comrades."

Itachi was, after all, several years older than Sasuke, and he considered things with more maturity.

He was already thinking about Sasuke's future; Naruto might well become his lifelong friend.

"You want me to apologize to that dead-last? I can't do it!"

"The ninja world speaks through strength. A dead-last doesn't deserve to be in the same class as me."

Sasuke stiffened his face, looking unconvinced. His pursuit of strength had reached a near-maniacal level.

Father, Brother Itachi, Brother Shisui—they were all strong. Only he remained a weak Genin, not even having awakened the Sharingan.

He didn't want to hear others call him the second son of Clan Head Fugaku or the younger brother of the genius Itachi.

He wanted to hear them say "Sasuke's father" and "Sasuke's brother."

Itachi reached out and flicked Sasuke on the forehead again. "You!"

"Who do you think the people in your class are?"

"They are all children of the various clan heads in the Hidden Leaf. In such an environment, do you really think Naruto could be someone simple if he managed to get into your class?"

He couldn't speak of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but he still wanted to warn his brother not to push Naruto too hard.

Fugaku nodded, agreeing with Itachi's perspective.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was certainly under strict surveillance; if Sasuke pushed too hard, it might draw the attention of the village's higher-ups.

The situation was tense enough as it was; there was no need to invite further trouble!

"Listen to your brother!"

Seeing that both his brother and father were saying the same thing, Sasuke was still displeased, but he gave a reluctant "Oh" on the surface.

Hmph, once I eat a few more Chakra Fruits and become even stronger, let's see what you have to say then!

You think you can stop me just by grounding me?

Hmph, hmph!

In the Uchiha Clan, at Uchiha Izumi's home.

Tsunade arrived as promised and saw Uchiha Izumi and her mother already waiting in the living room.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

She walked straight to a chair, sat down, and took the bottle of wine from her robe.

Uchiha Izumi's eyes lit up—her hidden injuries could finally be healed—but the next second, her smile froze on her face.

There was only half a bottle of wine left; it was clear that Tsunade had been greedy and drank half of it herself.

"Lady Tsunade, you..."

Tsunade felt a bit awkward. It's all because this wine is too delicious! I couldn't help myself for a moment.

Uchiha Izumi felt helpless. Even though they had agreed to split it half and half, what if half a bottle wasn't enough to heal her hidden injuries?

But since she had agreed to this with Tsunade herself, it wasn't easy to say anything more.

"Izumi, can you let me have one more sip? Just one, I promise!"

Tsunade reached out to grab the bottle, but Izumi was faster, snatching it away with lightning reflexes.

She looked at her with utter disbelief; one sip? More like the whole bottle!

She hurriedly clutched the bottle to her chest, glaring at Tsunade with indignation.

"We agreed, half each! Are you trying to go back on your word, Lady Tsunade?"

Tsunade's face twitched. Hmph, fine, don't let me drink then. I'll just go to Zhou Cheng tomorrow and open another bottle—no, two! And I won't let anyone else have a single drop!

Uchiha Hazuki couldn't stop smiling. She had only recently learned that her daughter suffered from hidden injuries, and the wine in Tsunade's possession could heal them.

She had been anxious that Tsunade might not show up; as her former subordinate, she knew all too well just how much Tsunade loved her liquor.

If she had finished the entire bottle herself, no one could have said a word—it was her property, after all.

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"

"You are Izumi's great benefactor."

She used those words to effectively block Tsunade's hand as it reached toward the bottle again.

Tsunade gave a sheepish laugh and pulled her hand back.

Uchiha Izumi popped the cap, and the fragrance of the wine instantly filled the entire living room.

Tsunade's throat bobbed as she swallowed hard; no matter how many times she smelled it, it was always just as intoxicating!

Izumi took the glass her mother handed her, poured a full measure, and downed it in one go.

She wasn't a drinker and couldn't chug from the bottle like Tsunade, so she had to sip slowly from the glass.

As the wine hit her stomach, the sharp, spicy burn of the first time was gone, replaced by an incredibly mellow richness.

A few seconds later, a warm current radiated from her stomach throughout her entire body.

She couldn't help but let out a soft moan, her face flushing a deeper shade of pink.

She could clearly feel that her hidden injuries had been healed just a little bit more.

"This wine is truly miraculous; my injuries have improved again!"

Uchiha Hazuki's face lit up with excitement—it really worked!

This wine was truly that magical!

That Lord Zhou Cheng was such a good man!

Tsunade knew better than to act out at a time like this, so she could only watch helplessly as Uchiha Izumi drank cup after cup.

Cup after cup, it made her heart ache with impatience.

Before anyone realized it, Uchiha Izumi was already drunk!

Even though the wine had healing properties, it was still alcohol, and drinking too much would inevitably lead to intoxication.

She couldn't even stand steadily, collapsing into her chair with glazed eyes and a hazy mind.

Moments later, she slumped against the back of the chair and drifted off to sleep.

"She's drunk!"

"Help her to bed."

Uchiha Hazuki's eyes were filled with tenderness; the feeling of being drunk was never pleasant!

After thanking Tsunade once more, she carefully helped Uchiha Izumi toward the bedroom.

Watching them walk away, Tsunade shook her head and fixed her gaze on the wine bottle.

There was still a large mouthful left in the bottle.

Damn it, she didn't even tell me if her injuries were fully healed. Should I drink this last bit or not?

She fell into a dilemma, two voices warring within her mind.

After a long while, she stood up, walked over to the table, and picked up the bottle.

She screwed the cap back on, set the bottle back down, and turned to leave.

As she walked, she thought to herself, she absolutely had to pull more wine tomorrow!