The three of them turned their heads to look back in unison.
They saw a slender beauty with vibrant red eyes and slightly curly long hair, leaning one hand on the backrest of the sofa behind Sōsuke, smiling as she looked at them.
It was Kurenai Yuhi, and she was alone.
Even the unsociable Kakashi knew very well that when a female acquaintance walks into a lively restaurant alone and asks them, 'You're here too?', the unspoken request for them to share a table that will follow is already so overwhelming that it's impossible to refuse.
Sure enough.
When Kakashi's gaze fell on Sōsuke opposite him, he saw that Sōsuke, who had been slightly tipsy just a moment ago, stiffened by half a point, and even his smile seemed a little unnatural.
It was as if he had sobered up instantly.
Seeing him like this, even Kakashi, who had been feeling a bit heavy-hearted a second ago, couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth, looking as if he was enjoying a good show.
Who said Ninja don't like gossip?
Unfortunately, the stiffness on Sōsuke's face lasted for less than a second before he smiled as usual and said:
"Drinking again, Yuhi?"
"Want to join our table? We still have two plates of meat that haven't arrived yet."
As he spoke, he casually introduced Itachi next to him: "This is Kurenai Yuhi, from a famous Genjutsu family in the Village."
"Then I won't be polite."
Kurenai Yuhi first gave him a confident smile, then her gaze fell on the only stranger at the table, a young man: "And this is?"
"I am Uchiha Itachi, please take care of me, senior."
Compared to when they first met, Uchiha Itachi was noticeably more accustomed to the situation, and his reactions to strangers were no longer as slow as before.
"Oh! The genius of the Uchiha Clan?"
"He's still so young."
"Truly remarkable."
As she spoke, her gaze roamed over the seats for a moment. Kakashi subtly moved his seat, making way for the spot directly facing Sōsuke.
Kurenai Yuhi smiled at him, then naturally sat down and waved to the waiter:
"Two more bottles of shochu, and one bottle of vodka."
"Yuhi, you..."
Sōsuke looked at her helplessly.
Although this woman usually appeared composed like a Yamato Nadeshiko, her drinking capacity was famously high among their friends.
However, despite saying so verbally, he continued to tell the waiter:
"And wasabi octopus."
"Yes—"
The general's response came from afar at the counter.
"You understand quite well, Sōsuke."
Kurenai Yuhi's gaze lingered on his face, her tone naturally teasing.
"She doesn't like sweets, only good wine and appetizers," Sōsuke said, pointing to Kakashi beside him, "It's not just me; even Might Guy and Kakashi remember it."
Kakashi's face immediately darkened.
It's one thing to mention himself at this moment, but to be grouped with Might Guy?
Sōsuke, you scoundrel!
"Just drowning my sorrows in alcohol."
"Speaking of which, Kakashi actually took off his mask; that's quite rare."
"Isn't that great!"
Kurenai Yuhi exclaimed in surprise, patting his arm.
"Masks get greasy easily," Kakashi said, naturally steering the conversation back on track: "I haven't seen much of you lately, Yuhi. Is there some trouble? Sōsuke is here too, coincidentally."
Sōsuke shot him a feigned angry glance.
However, Kurenai Yuhi didn't notice their eye contact. Hearing this topic, she immediately put a hand to her forehead, distressed: "It's still about that child from the Kurama Clan."
"Originally, the Kurama Clan head thought his daughter had a Kekkei Genkai illness, but after a hospital check-up showed no problems, they considered the possibility of Genjutsu, which is how they found me."
"I've been checking for the past few days, and there have indeed been violent fluctuations in her spiritual energy, but no Genjutsu reactions."
"I've been poring over various ancient texts at home recently, but I still haven't found anything. I really don't know what to do."
"The Kurama Clan?"
Noticing this topic, Sōsuke subconsciously looked up and asked, "If I remember correctly, isn't that the legendary Kekkei Genkai family said to be able to deprive the five senses and turn illusions into reality?"
"Yes, that's them," Kurenai Yuhi said, then suddenly looked up at him as if remembering something, "Speaking of which, Sōsuke, you also have deep attainments in Yin Release, right? Is your research related to this area?"
"It's not closely related, actually."
"Recent research has primarily been in the area of soul materialization, and we've had more cooperation with the Katō Clan."
Sōsuke said, pondering for a moment, "However, it's not impossible to consider taking a look."
"That would be wonderful."
Kurenai Yuhi clearly let out a sigh of relief: "The child's psychological condition feels like it's reaching a critical point."
Just as they were speaking, their ordered drinks and dishes arrived.
Kurenai Yuhi took the shochu and naturally went to pour it for Sōsuke.
However, before the bottle touched the rim of the glass, the glass was covered by a large hand.
Looking up, Sōsuke still wore his usual gentle and warm smile; even now, it was as approachable as ever.
However, he said: "There's still a bit here. Fill Kakashi's glass first."
He raised his glass in Indication, and indeed, about half a mouth's worth was still floating at the bottom.
Kurenai Yuhi's movements paused for a moment, her gaze unconsciously shifting away, but she said nothing, and her smile didn't change in the slightest. She obediently poured into Kakashi's glass.
Kakashi's gaze swept over the two of them, feeling a strange sense of emotion.
Sōsuke, that Guy... still the same as ever.
From a very young age, Sōsuke was able to get along with everyone around him; even a reclusive person like himself couldn't completely refuse him.
Cheerful, tolerant, gentle, and warm.
Though similar in age to him, he was more like an older brother caring for his younger sibling.
Even with ordinary talent and average strength, he always received love and respect from many people.
However, if he had to find a flaw in Sōsuke, it would probably be this one, wouldn't it?
This Guy who likes to toy with women's feelings.
Kakashi thought to himself, his gaze drifting to Uchiha Itachi.
Perhaps, not just women?
Uchiha Itachi quietly ate his meat on the side, thinking about what had just happened, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the three of them. He vaguely sensed the atmosphere was a bit subtle, but he didn't know what was going on.
Senior Kurenai Yuhi indeed had astonishing alcohol tolerance, just as Senior Sōsuke had said. It wasn't until she had finished off the fourth bottle of vodka by herself that she swayed slightly.
The dinner party was drawing to a close.
"Well, I'll leave Yuhi to you."
Kakashi said, patting Itachi, whose stomach was round from eating, on the shoulder: "I'll take care of this Guy."
Sōsuke put Yuhi's arm over his shoulder and waved to them:
"Then I'll trouble you."
Uchiha Itachi frowned, wanting to say that he was no longer a child who needed to be escorted, but looking at Senior Kakashi, he inexplicably felt that it might be better if he didn't speak.
Social etiquette, it truly is more complex than Ninjutsu... As the streetlights came on, the bustling street came alive.
Lanterns on both sides of the stone path swayed gently in the wind, casting mottled light and shadow. The Hokage Rock at the end of the street was clearly outlined under the moonlight. The aroma of sake wafted from several izakayas, mixed with the steam of grilled fish and oden, occasionally punctuated by the hearty laughter of Ninja.
The entire Village breathed slowly under the night sky.
A flush of intoxication colored Kurenai Yuhi's delicate cheek skin. The surrounding noise sounded exceptionally clear, and the distance between her and the person beside her also seemed exceptionally close.
But, at the same time, they were very far apart.
Although they had known each other for a long time, Kurenai Yuhi always felt that this distance had never shrunk.
But she never dared to point this out.
Unfortunately, even her drunken steps couldn't lengthen the path home any further.
In a daze, the two arrived at the gate of the Yuhi family courtyard.
"Yuhi, we're home now."
Sōsuke's gentle voice was always so reassuring.
Kurenai Yuhi still hung her head, tipsy, preventing anyone from seeing her pursed lips, and continued to lean on his shoulder.
It wasn't until she was gently shaken again that she vaguely lifted her head.
"Ah, we're here."
"Sorry... always troubling you, Sōsuke."
She didn't even realize that her voice was a little muffled.
Despite her frustration.
But she was gradually coming to terms with the cruel reality.
To Sōsuke, she was probably just a clingy and troublesome woman, like chewing gum, wasn't she?
Just as she was thinking this, she stumbled forward a couple of steps, then heard that voice suddenly pause and say:
"If it's Yuhi."
"Even occasional troubles bring a sense of certainty."
Hearing this, Kurenai Yuhi's steps faltered, and she subconsciously looked up at him.
Just this one sentence made her heart, which had been slowly sinking to the bottom and was about to accept reality, once again clench and entwine itself around the person in front of her.
As if noticing her slightly tense expression, as if she was gritting her teeth and trying hard to make some kind of decision, Aizen's eyes behind his thick glasses curved into a smile.
As they spoke, the distance between the two had imperceptibly narrowed to within a foot.
In the silent night, he naturally raised his hand, smoothed the long hair that had fallen by Yuhi's ear, gently tucked it behind her ear, inadvertently brushing her earlobe, which was probably warm from the alcohol, and said in a gentle voice:
"Smile."
"If the sun had a shadow, everyone would feel sad, wouldn't they?"
Kurenai Yuhi looked at him, her pursed lips seeming to tighten even more, yet she forced them into a slight upward curve, her voice as suppressed as possible, as she slowly leaned towards him:
"Is it only 'everyone' who is sad...?"
"Yuhi."
However, before she could finish her sentence, Aizen had already calmly stepped back, looking at her as gently as ever.
This short distance, however, was like a clear boundary, making Kurenai Yuhi unconsciously hold her breath. She struggled to suppress the words about to escape her lips, suddenly losing her earlier drunken demeanor.
Under the surge of anger, she completely sobered up.
At the same time, that suffocating feeling of being on the verge of something left her speechless for a moment, her gaze at the person in front of her growing more complex, even gritting her teeth.
There was a strong sense of contradiction, knowing her heart was being playfully toyed with by the other person, yet still relishing it.
The difficult silence lasted for a moment. She finally said nothing more, turned abruptly, and forcefully closed the courtyard gate with a heavy thud.
Aizen stood outside the courtyard gate, waited quietly for a moment, then turned and left... After a long while.
A thud of a door slamming came from inside the courtyard.