"Cloud Dew" Izakaya, Kumo.
Chad, Hibui, and Kiyui had returned to the village after finishing their mission, sightseeing, and shopping in the capital. The news that the daimyo was a cuckold was, naturally, reported under strict confidentiality to the Raikage and, indirectly, to Mabui, who was present.
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
Remembering the looks on their faces when they found out, Chad was in such a good mood that he went out for a drink after parting ways with his companions. Under the philosophy that a ninja shouldn't rely solely on missions, he had created several businesses with Hibui's help—though many of them existed to recover certain "lost recipes" he missed.
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
This izakaya had originally been no different from the others in the village, but after Chad acquired it, the menu was adjusted toward less traditional food, and drinks were served that could only be bought or ordered here.
One of the most popular drinks (especially among kunoichi, where it had become a rising trend thanks to Kiyui's promotion after the concerts) was sweet anise, which also happened to be Chad's favorite drink. But while customers drank mild portions, often mixed with other liquids to create various cocktails…
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
Chad had his own personal measure.
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
"Ah, much better!" He set down the small barrel he had been holding in one hand against the counter, now completely empty. "Tomioka, bring me another when you have a moment," he said casually, tossing some crunchy aged sheep cheese snacks into his mouth, savoring the satisfying crunch.
Normally, he had to restrain himself in case he was needed at the hospital or for other reasons, but now that he was on vacation, he could indulge a little.
Regular customers enjoyed the stunned looks of passing merchants and those who didn't usually come here as they watched Chad drink.
"Hey, Muramui," a merchant called out to an acquaintance from the village while swallowing his drink. "Judging by the height and width of that small barrel, that's at least twenty-five liters, right?" he speculated quite accurately, using his sharp eye and years of accumulated mercantile wisdom.
"Yes."
"That guy just finished his third barrel," the merchant continued.
"Correct. He's about to start the fourth."
"What he's drinking isn't water, it's…"
"Sweet anise," Muramui nodded, holding back his laughter at his friend's stunned expression.
"And the steam coming out of the pores of his body?"
"That just lets him drink more."
The merchant didn't know what to say, so he hurriedly finished his drink and ordered another. The rest decided that was a logical course of action and quickly followed suit, unknowingly increasing Chad's profits.
"Here you go, boss," Tomioka—the izakaya's manager and one of Chad's employees—brought over the barrel with some effort, being just a civilian. "Whew, I think I'm getting old. Oh, and I already prepared what you asked for in the back."
"Good. Any problems or matters I should know about?" Chad usually sent a clone to check on his village businesses, but today he was asking casually.
"Actually, there is something," Tomioka leaned an elbow on the counter. "Gimui's daughter is getting married, but the wedding is being held in the Land of Hot Water. She'll need a replacement for about a month, including the trip there and back."
"Oh, tell her to take a good bottle of soju for the occasion—a gift from me."
"That's very generous, boss! But the issue is… the place has been at maximum capacity for a while now. I'd like to suggest a possible expansion and hiring more staff," he proposed. "I think we could use that month, while Gimui is away, to do the construction."
"An expansion?" Chad stopped lifting the barrel and set it back on the counter, looking around.
To be honest, the profits from this izakaya were secondary. What he really wanted was a place where he could eat and drink his favorite things. Still, he hadn't expected this level of success.
"Do you have something in mind?"
"The rest of the staff and I were thinking that, aside from expanding the main area, we could add a second floor with panoramic views, taking advantage of the elevated location…" Tomioka clearly had been considering this for some time and had his ideas well organized as he explained how it could be done. "The only issue is that the construction cost would be a bit high—around eight hundred thousand ryō."
The price was lower than usual because they had acquaintances in construction who were willing to offer a discount.
"Take two and a half million ryō and build three floors with the same quality standards we already have. If there's any surplus, distribute it evenly among the staff as a bonus," Chad decided before resuming his drinking. "I'll write you a note—give it to Hibui later to get the money. I'll post a mission and the village will send some ninja to help with the construction. As for staffing, same as always."
Tomioka nodded. Men or women who had lost their partners on missions and had to raise children, ninja who could no longer serve actively, and so on.
People knew what kind of individuals worked here, and that was one of the reasons they came to support the business.
He himself had lost his wife on what was supposed to be a C-rank mission that turned out to be an A-rank one. Getting this job allowed him to give his two daughters a good life.
Chad checked the time and stood up. He went to the back room to seal what Tomioka had prepared into a scroll, and when he came out, he picked up the barrel he hadn't yet finished, taking swigs as he headed toward a hidden beach nestled among the rocks.
There, he stopped when he saw his youngest student training with her feet in the white sand, throwing strikes toward the sea that made the saltwater explode.
A young girl with purple hair cut to cheek length, dressed in a dark blue training outfit with a white sash, shifted her stance as she faced the waves with a confident gaze.
The most unusual thing about her was perhaps the green scales on her arms and the spiked membrane protruding from the back of her head.
A large wave rose, preparing to swallow her.
"Hyakumaigawara Seiken! (True Strike of the Hundred Tiles!)"
She extended two fingers forward in a slow rhythm, but a second later the wave burst apart, only splashing her lightly.
"It seems your taijutsu has grown stronger again, Isaribi," Chad commented as he approached her once she finished her routine.
"Ah, Chad-sensei!" Isaribi turned excitedly and ran across the sand toward him. "It's all thanks to the taijutsu set you showed me! This 'Gyojin Karate' feels like it was made for me, so it's not that complicated."
"Did you complete the underwater training?"
"Yes!" Isaribi pumped her fists enthusiastically. "I've already mastered the sixth movement you taught me, so I've been practicing that ninjutsu for a few days now. It still doesn't have that much power yet…" she admitted sheepishly. "But I've made progress with my Nature Transformation training, so it shouldn't take long to improve."
Since being rescued from Orochimaru's laboratories, Isaribi had changed greatly in mindset, confidence, and ability under her sensei's guidance.
When she arrived at the village, she feared she wouldn't be accepted or that she would cause trouble for Chad. But after learning how to "politely converse" with troublemakers as he taught her, no one commented on her appearance anymore.
"Do you have any regrets?"
Chad had offered her both the possibility of treatment to return her to normal and the option of turning her mutations into a new Kekkei Genkai.
Looking at her now, one could easily tell which decision she made.
"I don't!" Isaribi shook her head firmly. After everything that happened, the last thing she wanted was to become another powerless civilian with no options against the strength of others.
Chad nodded and didn't bring the subject up again.
"Remember, we'll be heading to Konoha for the Chūnin Exams soon, so make sure you have your things ready."
Even though Chad had requested a month of vacation, it didn't mean he would spend every day at once. He was the main representative and one of those who escorted Kumo squads to Konoha.
"I've already packed everything," Isaribi pulled a waterproof scroll from her ninja tool pouch and waved it. "But sensei didn't forget his promise, right? About the summoning contract…"
"I didn't forget, but it's better to do it when we're all together," Chad patted her on the head. "Do you know where she is?" he asked, referring to his other student. "I passed by her house on the way here, but she wasn't there."
"She's probably at the western forest training grounds, expanding her collection again," Isaribi shrugged. Since they used different areas to train efficiently, aside from relaxing together, coordination training, or missions, they didn't see each other very often.