The owner watched him leave, shook his head, and went back to his accounts. The assistant beside him asked quietly.
"Boss, when Lord Genya said he wanted to hear some music... did he mean respectable music?"
The owner did not even look up.
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't."
The assistant shut his mouth.
Konoha's Red-Light District was quiet during the day and only began drawing customers at dusk.
When Genya and Hashirama arrived, the sky had just darkened. Lanterns lit up one after another, bathing the entire street in red.
Hashirama stood at the entrance to the alley, staring wide-eyed at the colorful signs and the girls beckoning from the doorways.
"Genya, is... is this really all right?"
His voice sounded a little unsteady. Most of his drunkenness had faded, but curiosity won out.
Chuckling, Genya walked inside with practiced ease and spoke to the Madam who came to greet them.
"Give us your best seats."
The Madam's eyes lit up when she saw him, then brightened further at the sight of Hashirama behind him. She had not recognized the God of Shinobi-she had recognized money.
"Gentlemen, upstairs, please. Right this way."
The best seats were on the second floor, directly facing the stage. They offered an unobstructed view from a particularly revealing angle, taking in every step, every turn, and every arc of a lifted skirt.
Genya settled onto a cushion, and Hashirama sat beside him. Before they had even warmed their seats, several attendants entered with drinks and snacks.
They wore thin gauze robes, their long hair draped over their shoulders, and moved with gentle grace.
One poured wine for Hashirama, another poured for Genya, and a third knelt behind them, gently kneading their shoulders.
On the stage below, the geisha formed a line and began dancing slowly