Main World.
Summer, Year 26 of Konoha.
New Capital, British Continent.
Consort Jin's chambers, Imperial Palace.
The doors swung open, and the fragrance of liquor washed over her.
It was no ordinary fragrance, but a mellow richness aged by time, brewed only after grain and spring water had breathed in wooden barrels for years. Rich without being sharp, mellow without being cloying, it was like a formless hand gently brushing through the nose and seeping into the lungs.
Tsunade stood in the doorway, her long golden hair loose over her shoulders, still wearing her dark gray training bodysuit. She had just returned from the Training Ground, her muscles still warm from training, fine beads of sweat seeping from her skin. She had only meant to take a shower and then eat. But she had not expected to find a pool the moment she opened the doors.
It was built from white jade, roughly five meters long, three meters wide, and waist-deep. The liquid was amber, clear and translucent, glowing softly in the candlelight inside the hall. A few rose petals floated on its surface, not as decoration, but to absorb minute impurities in the liquor. Several white jade cups stood along the edge, their sides covered in fine beads of condensation, clearly just taken from the ice cellar.
"I know you love drinking, so I prepared a pool of liquor for you." Toyotomi Yinglang's voice came from the other side of the pool. "It's all fine liquor."
The corner of Tsunade's mouth twitched. She entered the hall, her boots ringing crisply against the smooth stone slabs. Walking to the pool, she crouched, dipped a finger into the liquid, and put it in her mouth. Rich, smooth, sweet on the tongue, with a lingering finish. It was no ordinary liquor, but