Asuma, filled with resentment, was about to step into the tavern.
Before his foot even landed, a figure suddenly emerged from the shadows.
Madara Uchiha.
Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, and she crossed her arms over her chest.
The moment he stood at the door, the air, which had just begun to ease, instantly turned cold again.
Asuma paused in his steps.
Kurenai Yuhi also stopped instinctively.
She looked at the long-haired man in front of her and felt a sudden tightness in her chest.
Just the fact that this person was standing there made her feel oppressed.
Unlike the white-haired man from before.
Tobirama is cold.
Like a knife.
And this man represents oppression.
Like a mountain that could collapse at any moment.
Madara's gaze fell on Asuma's hand.
"Cigarette."
Asuma frowned.
"I've already pinched it."
Ban said coldly, "Smoking is prohibited inside."
Asuma paused for a moment.
"No smoking?"
He looked towards the doorway and the wall.
"I didn't see any no-smoking signs."
Ban's tone was calm, yet his domineering manner was unreasonable.
"Now we have it."
Asuma almost laughed out of anger.
Are all your store's rules set on a temporary basis?
Ban's eyes turned cold.
"Right."
"Just decided."
"Smoking is prohibited inside the Undead Tavern from the moment you enter."
"If you're not happy, you don't have to come in."
Asuma choked.
That's too domineering.
He couldn't help but say, "Shouldn't there be a first-come, first-served principle when opening a shop?"
"How would I know if there were no signs posted beforehand?"
Ban took a step forward.
I'll tell you now.
"You still need to discuss it?"
Asuma felt a lump in his throat.
In that instant, he instinctively took half a step back.
When he realized what was happening, his face turned even uglier.
He was a Jonin of Konoha.
The Sarutobi Clan.
Son of the Third Hokage.
He actually backed down by a single sentence from a tavern employee?
Kurenai Yuhi saw this and her expression became somewhat complicated.
She knew, of course, that Asuma wasn't bad-tempered.
But in today's matter, Asuma was indeed in the wrong first.
The sign said they were open in the afternoon, but he insisted on knocking on the door.
People reminded him that smoking at the entrance was bothering others, and he couldn't argue back.
Smoking is currently prohibited inside the store. Although it's a temporary measure, Asuma was just holding a cigarette, so it wasn't appropriate to continue arguing.
Zhang Yu had an even better view from upstairs.
"So, Ban is doing business now."
"Set rules on a temporary basis, and strike precisely."
"Can."
He immediately opened the red envelope interface.
[ Zhang Yu: Ban, excellent performance.]
[ Zhang Yu: The exclusive red envelope has been sent.]
[ Zhang Yu: A case of chilled beer.]
[ Zhang Yu: The exchange rule remains the same: ten bottles of beer can be exchanged for one bottle of vodka.]
The group chat went silent for a second.
Then a message from Madara popped up.
[ Madara Uchiha received a red envelope from the boss: a case of chilled beer.]
[ Madara Uchiha: Okay.]
Hashirama immediately lost his composure.
[ Hashirama Senju: Boss, is the rule of exchanging ten bottles of beer for one bottle of vodka permanent?]
[ Zhang Yu: It depends on their performance.]
[ Hashirama Senju: I understand.]
Suddenly, bubbles appeared in Tobirama.
[ Tobirama Senju: Brother, don't go looking for trouble with customers just because of vodka.]
[ Hashirama Senju: How could I possibly!]
Zhang Yu looked at the group messages and almost burst out laughing.
At the entrance.
Asuma finally put away his cigarette butt and said, forcing a smile, "Fine, I won't smoke inside."
The spotted figure did not move aside.
His gaze remained fixed on Asuma.
"Besides."
Asuma's face stiffened.
"What else?"
Ban said coldly, "Don't let the smell of smoke get onto the bar and liquor cabinet."
You smell bad.
Asuma finally couldn't hold back anymore.
"Your tavern has a lot of requirements."
Ban calmly said, "If you think it's too much, you can leave."
That same phrase again.
Asuma felt a lump in his throat, unable to exhale or swallow it.
He glanced at Kurenai Yuhi.
Hong stood beside him, her gaze gentle, but she didn't speak up for him.
Asuma felt even more aggrieved.
He originally intended to bring Hong here today to relax.
As a result, they were targeted continuously from the very beginning, starting at the entrance.
First, there was the white-haired man.
Next, a man with long hair.
Each one of them was more disrespectful than the last.
He finally couldn't help but mutter something under his breath.
"What a lousy tavern..."
The sound was very soft.
So quiet that ordinary people might not even hear it.
But the person standing at the door was no ordinary person.
Tobirama heard it.
Izuna heard it.
Madara heard it too, of course.
In an instant.
Ban's face fell.
The coldness and impatience from before had completely vanished.
Instead, there was a chill that made one's heart tighten.
He looked up at Asuma.
"What did you say?"
Asuma's body stiffened abruptly.
Kurenai Yuhi's expression also changed.
Almost instinctively, she reached out and pressed down on Asuma's arm.
" Asuma."
But it was too late.
Ban's aura suddenly changed.
At that moment, the entrance to the tavern seemed to be shrouded in an invisible shadow.
cold.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Asuma's forehead instantly broke out in a fine sweat.
He is a Jonin.
I've experienced battles and witnessed killing intent.
But the killing intent emanating from the man before them was on a completely different level from that of an ordinary ninja.
That wasn't simply about wanting to kill someone.
It felt like a battlefield was looming over us.
Corpses, blood, flames, and torn flags were all piled up before him.
Asuma's throat went dry, and his fingers instinctively reached for his ninja tool pouch.
But as soon as he moved his hand, Ban's gaze fell upon him.
Just one glance.
Asuma froze.
He had a feeling.
If he dared to pull out the Kunai, he would die in the next second.
Kurenai Yuhi's breathing faltered for a moment.
She is Genjutsu- type ninja, with a more acute sensitivity to changes in emotions.
Therefore, she knew better Asuma that the man before her was not bluffing.
He really intended to kill him.
Moreover, that murderous intent was so terrifying that it caused her Chakra to instinctively become disordered.
Inside the tavern, Zhang Yu was still watching the commotion.
Upon seeing this, his expression immediately changed.
"Oh no."
He knew that Ban's feelings for the Undead Tavern were different from others.
For Ban, this store is more than just a workplace.
Izuna is here.
There is wine.
There was a rare tranquility.
There are also a few places that can be considered his final resting place after his death.
Asuma's comment about "a run-down tavern" hit Madara's bottom line.
Ban took a step forward.
The floorboards were not broken.
The walls did not shake.
Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi both felt as if their hearts were being squeezed tightly.
Say it again.
Ban's voice was very soft.
But it's more dangerous than any of the previous sentences.
Asuma's lips moved, but she couldn't utter a word.
He's not without a temper.
But when faced with absolute killing intent, temper is utterly useless as a source of confidence.
Just as Ban raised his hand, a voice rang out urgently.
"Spot!"
Hashirama Senju rushed out of the front hall and grabbed Madara's shoulder.
At the same time, Uchiha Izuna also rushed over and grabbed Madara's wrist from the other side.
"Elder brother."
Izuna's voice was low, but urgent.
"Don't start a fight in front of the store."
Ban didn't look back.
His eyes remained fixed on Asuma.
Asuma's forehead was covered in cold sweat, which slid down his face. He felt as if he had been nailed to the spot.
Kurenai Yuhi's face was also pale.