The Celebration Wine is Poured for You

That night, Qianyu's small courtyard was brightly lit and filled with boisterous voices. A high-profile private celebration was underway.

Konoha's rising generation, along with the heads or representatives of the major clans, had all gathered there.

The atmosphere was lively. Tsunade had long since cast aside the dignified bearing of the Hokage, drinking cup after cup with several veteran clan heads. Her cheeks were flushed red, and her laughter rang out freely. Naruto's recovery was astonishing; he had already moved on from the emotional upheaval of the day and was huddled together with Sasuke, who had just been discharged from the hospital and still had a bandage wrapped around his arm.

One of them noisily described the events of the day and his declaration that he would "become Hokage," while the other remained expressionless as ever, though his gaze occasionally fell on Naruto with a faint, almost imperceptible focus.

Watching Tsunade grow increasingly drunk and start tugging at Shizune, clamoring for another jar of sake, Qianyu shook his head helplessly. He picked up his fruit juice and walked over, reciting in a low voice only the two of them could hear, half-joking and half-serious:

"The celebratory wine has been opened for you, but don't get carried away too soon. Handle every order properly, then you can go home and face the people of Konoha with peace of mind."

Tsunade raised her bleary eyes to look at him and slapped a hand onto his shoulder. "What... what kind of crooked poem is that! Brat, quit nagging. Come on, have a few drinks with me!" As she spoke, she moved to pour Qianyu some sake.

Qianyu was now nearly six feet tall, straight-backed and striking even among a crowd of teenagers and adults. Standing beside him, Sasuke and Naruto really did seem a size smaller. He took the sake Tsunade handed him without any fuss and tipped his head back, draining it in one crisp motion.

The banquet did not gradually break up until late at night. After seeing off the final guest, the courtyard was left in a mess of cups and dishes. Looking at Tsunade, sprawled across the table in what appeared to be a dead-drunk state, still muttering, "One more... let's gamble...," Qianyu felt a faint ripple stir in his heart.

"Any ANBU around? Send a few people out to help clean up the courtyard," he said to the empty air.

"Yes, Lord Qianyu." Several black shadows appeared soundlessly. After bowing respectfully, they swiftly began cleaning up.

Qianyu walked over to the table, bent down, and carefully scooped Tsunade into his arms. She felt surprisingly heavy, carrying the scent of alcohol along with her own faint fragrance. Tsunade had an excellent figure; even passed out drunk, the allure and strength unique to a mature woman remained unmistakable. Her golden hair lay slightly disheveled against her flushed cheeks. Her normally imposing features had softened, her long lashes trembling faintly, giving her an entirely different kind of temptation.

Carrying her toward the bedroom in the main house, Qianyu's steps remained steady. He lowered his head to look at the woman in his arms, his thoughts in turmoil. Reason told him that she was his teacher, the Fifth Hokage, his elder... yet some restless emotion deep within him quietly began to grow beneath the influence of alcohol and the night.

He gently laid Tsunade on the bed in her room, removed her shoes and socks, and pulled a thin blanket over her. Yet after finishing all that, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood by the bed and silently watched her for several seconds.

He sighed and said softly, "If you keep pretending to sleep, I'm really leaving."

Tsunade, who had supposedly been dead drunk, had her lashes tremble violently a few times before slowly opening her eyes. There was not a trace of drunkenness in them. Only complex emotions she could not hide.

She simply looked at Qianyu, her lips moving without making a sound.

Qianyu's heart suddenly lurched. A certain impulse instantly overwhelmed all reason and hesitation. He abruptly leaned down, bracing both hands on either side of Tsunade's body, and without the slightest hesitation, pressed his lips directly to hers, still scented with wine.

Tsunade's body stiffened sharply. Her eyes flew open, and her hand instinctively pressed against Qianyu's chest as if to push him away. But the instant it touched his solid chest, the strength in her hand inexplicably faded.

The kiss was not particularly gentle. It carried the urgency unique to youth, along with an air that brooked no refusal. Between their lips and teeth lingered the taste of sake and faint fruit sweetness, as well as the sound of their heartbeats suddenly quickening.

After an unknown amount of time, Qianyu abruptly raised his head. His chest heaved violently, his eyes dazzlingly bright, though they also held a hint of panic from having done something bad. Looking at Tsunade's wide-open eyes, now veiled in a mist of moisture, he said nothing. He turned and, like a startled rabbit, darted to the window with a whoosh, shoved it open, and leaped out. After only a few bounds, he vanished into the night, moving so fast that only an afterimage remained.

In the room, Tsunade was left lying alone on the bed. Slowly, she raised a hand and lightly touched her lips with her fingertips. The scorching sensation seemed to remain there still. Only after a long while did she force out a low curse from her throat. "...That little bastard!"

Qianyu, who had fled through the window, ran wildly all the way to a riverbank far from the courtyard before stopping with one hand braced against a tree trunk, gasping for breath. The night wind blew against his burning face, but it could not dispel the tangled mess and joy in his heart. He shook his head, deciding not to think about that hopelessly complicated relationship for the time being. He planned to take a walk along the river and calm himself down.

Yet he had not gone far when, in a shadowed corner beside the outer wall of his own courtyard, he spotted a lone figure.

"Sasuke?" Qianyu raised a brow and walked over. "What are you doing here? Aren't you going back to rest?"

Sasuke lifted his head, his eyes especially deep beneath the moonlight.

"Qianyu," Sasuke said in a low but unusually clear voice, "I feel like... Konoha isn't right for me. You're all too... comfortable. But the man I have to kill..."

He did not continue, but Qianyu already understood. Itachi's appearance, the gap in their strength, the burning hatred... all of it was driving Sasuke down that predetermined path.

Qianyu fell silent for a moment. He did not comfort him or analyze the pros and cons as he usually did. He merely nodded and said calmly, "Come to my place tomorrow morning. I'll take you somewhere."

The next morning.

When Qianyu woke up, Tsunade had clearly gone to the Hokage Building early. Was she avoiding the awkwardness of last night? The corner of Qianyu's mouth curved upward. He did not dwell on it, and after washing up, he headed out.

Sure enough, Sasuke was already waiting outside the courtyard, standing straight with a cold expression.

"Let's go." Qianyu led him directly to Naruto's new home.

Karin answered the door. Her red hair was neatly arranged, and she looked well. "Qianyu? Sasuke? What are you doing here? Naruto... Jiraiya took him to the training grounds early this morning for special training. He said they needed to make the most of their time."

When her gaze swept over Sasuke, it paused slightly. A flash of amazement crossed her eyes, and she quietly muttered, "So handsome..."

"Perfect." Qianyu nodded. "Sasuke needs to see Naruto about something. The training grounds, right? Let's go."

The two of them brought Karin to a public training ground on the edge of the village. Sure enough, Jiraiya was in the middle of the field, having Naruto practice some kind of chakra shape transformation. Seeing Qianyu arrive with Sasuke and Karin, Jiraiya looked somewhat surprised.

"Qianyu, kid? What's up? I'm giving this brat special training." Jiraiya scratched his head.

"There's something we need to do. Sorry to trouble you." Qianyu spoke politely, then turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, before you leave, there's probably something you want to do, right? Like... have a fight with Naruto."

"Leave?" Naruto abruptly stopped moving and stared at Sasuke in shock. "Sasuke? Where are you going?!"

Looking into Naruto's blue eyes, filled with confusion and concern, the long-suppressed blaze in Sasuke's heart—mixed with jealousy, unwillingness, and fury at his own weakness—burned fiercely once more.

Naruto had once been far inferior to him, yet now he had grown so much. He had a sister, the recognition and support of so many people... while Sasuke was still shackled by hatred and helplessness!

"Naruto," Sasuke said coldly, his voice carrying deliberate distance and provocation, "I'm leaving Konoha. Fight me. If you can stop me, then do it."

"What?! Leaving Konoha? Sasuke! Why?!" Naruto panicked, his voice suddenly rising as the chakra inside him stirred faintly with his emotional turmoil.

Qianyu looked around and shook his head. "This isn't the right place. Let's go somewhere else."

Jiraiya frowned. "Two genin fighting, and this place isn't enough? What, are they going to tear down the training ground?" His understanding of Naruto and Sasuke's strength was still stuck around the time of the Chunin Exams. Though he knew both had potential, they were still only genin.

Qianyu merely smiled without explaining and took the lead out of the village. Though puzzled, Jiraiya followed. Naruto hurried after them anxiously, while Sasuke followed in silence. Karin watched Naruto with concern and trailed behind at the end.

The group arrived at a secluded valley outside the village.

"That's more like it. This place has the right atmosphere." Qianyu looked around and nodded. "Go all out. Jiraiya is here watching, so nothing serious will happen."

By now, Naruto's emotions had reached their limit. He glared fiercely at Sasuke. "Sasuke! Even if I have to break your legs, I'm keeping you here! You're not leaving!"

Before his words had even faded, Naruto charged forward with a roar! There was no technique to it, only raw power and speed!

Sasuke's eyes sharpened, and his Sharingan activated instantly. Within that scarlet glow, the tomoe spun rapidly! He easily caught Naruto's reckless trajectory, sidestepped, and drove a vicious side kick into Naruto's waist!

Bang! Naruto staggered back several steps from the kick, but immediately steadied himself, turned, and lunged forward again. The two instantly clashed!

At first, relying on his more solid taijutsu foundation and the Sharingan's perception, Sasuke firmly held the upper hand, suppressing Naruto until he could barely cope. Naruto's attacks carried plenty of force, but in Sasuke's eyes, they were full of openings.