Chapter 10: This Woman Can Hold Her Liquor
By noon, Nawaki was utterly spent after a morning of rigorous training, his arms so heavy he could barely lift them. Fortunately, Tsunade was there. With a deft touch of her Mystical Palm Technique, she alleviated his muscle fatigue.
Kushina, ever the spirited one, leaned over to rub Nawaki's arm a bit. The relief was instantaneous, making her wonder if it had been worth showing off so much strength.
"Alright, let's eat!" Kawakaze announced, his tone cheerful as he led the group toward the dining hall. His sister-in-law had already made arrangements, so all Sakumo had to do was show up and enjoy the meal.
When they arrived, the dining room was abuzz with servants bustling to set the table. Dish after dish was laid out: Fuqi feipian, fried peanuts, beef braised in soy sauce...
Kawakaze had spent years experimenting with culinary delights, and the Hatake Clan's chefs had become adept at creating dishes perfect for pairing with sake.
"This is a specialty of our Hatake Clan," Kawakaze explained with a smile, gesturing toward the dishes. "I gave special instructions to the chef for today."
He graciously arranged for Tsunade to sit beside his sister-in-law while he took the seat across from her, with Nawaki and Kushina positioned further down the table.
Tsunade's eyes lingered on the unfamiliar dishes. As someone who had experienced her fair share of feasts, she was still taken aback by the unique presentation. Do wealthy families always eat such different foods? she wondered, carefully maintaining a neutral expression despite the rumbling in her stomach.
As the last of the dishes arrived, Kawakaze clapped his hands. "Bring two bottles of the baijiu!"
This was a noteworthy moment. Since arriving in this world, Kawakaze had been unimpressed by the lightness of sake. Driven by dissatisfaction, he had taken it upon himself to brew a stronger, homemade version—baijiu.
Unfortunately, it hadn't caught on with others, leaving it a Hatake Clan specialty. Kawakaze and Sakumo drank it frequently, though yesterday's excess had clearly taken its toll on him.