Tobirama finally looked up, his tone decisive.
Hashirama kept walking. "Just one hug."
Expressionless, Tobirama held out a hand and planted it squarely against Hashirama's forehead, forcibly stopping him half a step away.
"Stay away from me."
"Big brother, you're in the way of my bookkeeping."
Hashirama stood there with his arms raised for two seconds, then visibly wilted.
"Oh..."
He turned dejectedly and went back to carrying plates.
Seeing this, Izuna felt some of the sourness in his heart fade.
Madara glanced at Hashirama and coldly spat out a word.
"Serves you right."
After a stretch of work, Zhang Yu found a moment to open the system panel and take a look.
[Current gold coins: 4,500] [Current summons: 0]
Zhang Yu stared at the numbers and grinned at first, then clicked his tongue.
"I've got money, but no summons."
"What a pain."
Four thousand five hundred gold coins was already a considerable amount.
If he had any summons left, he would definitely pull out another powerhouse to hold down the fort.
But his summons were at zero now, so all he could do was look at the money.
Zhang Yu thought it over, then decided not to dwell on it and opened the system shop.
Since he couldn't recruit anyone for the time being, he would stock the tavern to the brim first.
[Ding!] [Purchase successful: one batch of beverage ingredients] [Purchase successful: one batch of pastry ingredients] [Purchase successful: assorted jerky, nuts, icing, flour, butter and spices] [Total gold coins spent: 4,000] [Current gold coins: 500]
Zhang Yu looked at his sharply reduced balance without the slightest regret.
Money had to be spent to bring a return.
With more goods in the tavern, more customers would naturally come.
Then gold coins and silver would flow back in together, and the snowball would keep growing.
Besides, Konoha still had the Third Hokage.
The old man's face had turned green the last time Zhang Yu had fleeced him for a hundred thousand ryo per bottle of erguotou, but if Zhang Yu brought out more rare goods, he didn't believe for a second that Hiruzen Sarutobi could resist.
"The old man's secret stash of money should be more than that, right?"
"I'll squeeze him for more later."
The thought put Zhang Yu in an even better mood.
After closing that night, the tavern finally fell completely quiet.
Izuna took the initiative to go into the kitchen, and before long, waves of fragrance drifted out.
Zhang Yu followed the smell downstairs, and his eyes lit up as soon as he sat down.
The table was already covered with dishes.
There was beast meat sizzling with oil, fish soup simmered until milky white, fragrant stir-fried mushrooms, neatly sliced cold dishes, and several plates of snacks to go with the drinks. The aroma whetted everyone's appetite at once.
Hashirama was the first to sit down, his eyes shining.
"Izuna, your cooking is incredible."
Izuna brought the last dish to the table and spoke calmly.
"I used to cook often in the clan."
Madara sat off to the side and spoke casually.
"Izuna has always been a good cook."
At that, the corners of Izuna's mouth lifted slightly.
Zhang Yu had just picked up a piece of meat when he noticed that although Madara was sitting at the table, he wasn't in high spirits.
He ate the food, but said little.
Clearly, what had happened during the day was still weighing on him.
Zhang Yu set down his chopsticks, turned around, and pulled a slender, transparent bottle from behind the counter.
"Madara, try something good."
Madara looked up at him.
"What is it this time?"
"Vodka."
Zhang Yu set the bottle on the table and pulled out the stopper. A strong alcoholic scent immediately rushed out.
Hashirama's nose twitched.
"That's strong."
Tobirama looked over too, frowning slightly.
"Stronger than erguotou?"
"Much the same kind of thing."
Zhang Yu smiled and poured Madara a full glass.
"You're in a bad mood today. This is just the thing to drink."
Madara didn't waste words. He picked up the glass and downed it in one gulp.
The moment the liquor entered his mouth, Madara's brows drew sharply together.
It was too strong.
It was like a ball of fire burning all the way from his throat into his chest, fiery and stimulating, with an astonishing kick.
But after that fire went down, his whole body relaxed at once.
The pent-up feeling in his chest seemed to have been blasted open by that mouthful of liquor.
Madara set down the glass, let out a long breath, and looked down at it.
"That packs a punch."
Hashirama's eyes lit up.
"Is it really that good?"
Zhang Yu smiled, picked up the bottle, and poured himself a glass too.
"The way you drank it just now wasn't the best. I'll show you the authentic way."
He first picked up a large piece of roast meat and took a hearty bite, grease filling his mouth.
Then he grabbed his glass, threw back his head, and drained it.
With the strong liquor down, Zhang Yu exhaled heavily and waved a hand.
"Ura!"
The shout startled Hashirama, but then he grew excited.
"I can do that!"
He immediately copied Zhang Yu, picking up meat and wolfing it down before raising his glass and draining it in one gulp.
The alcohol went to Hashirama's head, and his face reddened a little, but the next second, his eyes lit up.
"Great!"
"This stuff is great!"
"The meat settles it, and once the liquor goes down, your whole body warms up!"
"Ura!"
Zhang Yu laughed. "Yes, that's the spirit!"
Watching the two of them, Madara poured himself another glass with a solemn face.
This time, he didn't drink it straight away. He copied Zhang Yu, eating meat first and then drinking.
After one gulp, the kick of the liquor combined with the savory meat, and it really was more satisfying than before.
The corners of Madara's mouth twitched slightly.
"Not bad."
Izuna watched with interest and poured himself a small glass to try.
After drinking it, even the roots of his ears turned red, but he still nodded seriously.
"No wonder you like it, brother. It really is strong."
Tobirama had intended to watch a little longer, but Hashirama had already passed a glass to him.
"Tobirama, you have some too!"
Tobirama glanced at the clear liquor in the glass, then at the people around the table, and finally accepted it.
Soon, the people at the table began copying them one after another.
Pick up meat, breathe out, raise the glass, and down it.
Before long, the atmosphere at the table had thoroughly warmed up.
Hashirama drank with the most enthusiasm. Though Madara still didn't say much, his expression was noticeably more relaxed than before.
Izuna drank with Madara while occasionally picking out food for him.
Tobirama also put aside his cold expression for once, sitting quietly as he ate meat and drank.
Soon, they were all copying Zhang Yu, picking up meat, breathing out, and raising their glasses. Sitting in a circle around the table laden with food and drink, they ate great mouthfuls of meat and drank vodka in great gulps.
The vodka's delayed kick was even stronger than Zhang Yu had imagined.
At first, it was fine.
Everyone at the table picked up meat, raised their glasses, and shouted "Ura!" The more they drank, the more it went to their heads.
Hashirama was the first to let loose.
He held a glass in one hand and had the other arm around Madara's shoulders. His face was bright red, and his voice was even louder than usual.
"Madara!"
"Let me tell you!"
"Peace really hasn't come easy!"
Madara had been drinking with a cold expression, and he frowned deeply when Hashirama put an arm around him.
"Hashirama, let go."
"No!"
Hashirama's eyes had turned red, and he was being outrageously sentimental.
"If I'd understood you sooner back then, would we have been able to avoid fighting at the Valley of the End?"
"I built Konoha so children wouldn't have to go to war anymore."
"But look at it now. The Uchiha are gone, and Konoha has become like that too..."