"A tea party?"
Kurenai slammed the kitchen knife in her hand onto the chopping board.
The impact sent the half-chopped bulb of garlic rolling onto the floor.
"What does a little brat like you know? Can't you see we're discussing diplomatic relations between two nations?"
Mei Terumi scoffed.
A red-nailed finger twirled a lock of curly hair beside her cheek.
"Konoha really has no manners these days."
"Where did this muddy little monkey come from, tracking dirt all over Sen's floor?"
"Who are you calling a muddy little monkey?!"
"Shoo, shoo. I don't have the mutant varieties you're looking for."
"Sen, don't lie to me."
"I've been watching from outside for three days."
"The datura growing in your backyard are as big as washbasins."
"They even glow green in the middle of the night."
"I've already wrecked my dad's pathetic little experimental plot."
"He chased me out with a broom this morning."
Ino stuck her chin out, utterly convinced she was in the right.
Sweat trickled down her neck into her collar.
"I don't care."
"Starting today, I'm sleeping in your garden."
"I'm not leaving until I figure out that datura's genetic mutation, even if it kills me."
Kurenai walked over with an icy expression.
Her soles clacked against the floor.
"Listen, Ino, can't you see there's no room left here?"
"Even the Mizukage has to sleep on the couch."
"And now you want to dig up the backyard? Are you trying to tear the estate apart?"
Mei Terumi took exception to that.
A cold edge crept into her eyes.
"Who said I was sleeping on the couch?"
"There are empty rooms upstairs, aren't there?"
"Chojuro, hurry up and move my things!"
Trembling, Chojuro stood wedged at the turn in the stairs with a trunk on his shoulder.
He could