Battlefield.
THUD!
Woah!!
Minato and co at distance were exposed to the shockwave that spread after the lightning impacted, exclaiming and toppling down.
At the point of impact, a large area was covered with dust but from the dark clouds above rain finally began to pour down, clearing the surroundings relatively quickly.
Thup! Thup!
With the Kusanagi fixed on his back again Kazuki who looked no different from the start of battle walked into the main explosion point and stopped right before a huge charred body.
Gamabunta and Katsuyu were nowhere to be seen as unable to withstand the attack and summoned back to the respective sage regions though the charred body of Manda lay before Kazuki.
The massive snake looked barely alive and seemed to have lost the power to speak or do any little movement; its eyes that barely moved stuck at Kazuki, fear evident in them.
Poof!
Cough!! Cough!!
Suddenly the mouth of Manda seemed to be forcefully opened from the inside as black smoke puffed out followed by an intense sound of coughing, three figures with shredded attire and trembling legs walking out.
Thud!
"Huff… That was close… I almost saw the death god…
The sannin walking out Manda couldn't stay on their feet as going down on knees, Jiraiya while taking in deep breaths sharing how he just returned from death.
"Spar my foot! We were clearly used as a testing material for that jutsu"
Tsunade looked frustrated and angry as well, the battle that just occurred was by no means a spar and the three of them barely escaped death by hiding inside manda's mouth.
Now she finally understood why kazuki had appeared to spar out of nowhere, he clearly wanted to test that jutsu which pulled down lightning from the heavens.
"Using fire style continuously to form hot air that rose up to create thunderclouds and then pulling natural lightning down on the opponents, what a genius!"
Orochimaru who looked injured and exhausted like the other two was busy analyzing that last jutsu which incapacitated everyone, emotion and acknowledgment on his face for Kazuki after understanding the principle behind that jutsu.
--------------------------------
Konoha.
The night sky was beautifully lit by the full moon and stars mattered across, the light illuminating the bustling village down below as well.
Akimichi BBQ.
The restaurant run by the famous Akimichi clan of the leaf served some important customers tonight as all the chefs worked meticulously in the kitchen.
Nom-Nom!!
Gulp!!
In a private room the sannin who had just received a beating and were bandaged all over devoured meat like savages as the hokage along with Minato, Nawaki and Kushina watched them with awe and dread.
"Whoa! Please leave some for us as well" Kushina who had hardly taken a bite couldn't help but request in a pleading tone, whatever the chefs brought in was totally going in the stomach of Tsunade, Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
"No, this is your punishment for doing nothing when we were getting beaten down" The more they ate the more their chakra seemed to be replenished so Orochimaru and Jiraiya completely ignored Kushina though Tsunade taking a second break shutting kushina down.
Ha… Ha…
At her words Minato and other two showed a sad look and turned their eyes to gaze at Kazuki angrily, who at this couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.
The appetite of the sannin couldn't empty the stock of the restaurant as eventually the others got to eat as well, though something interesting happening at this moment.
"We lost fair and square though there's no real shame if you think about it deeply; you are hokage and that title itself is a testament to your might"
"How about you defeat us in something else… something else like drinking?" Saying that Tsunade raised her eyebrows provocatively at Kazuki and picked up a sake bottle on the table to shake it before him.
"…."
Women…
At her words Kazuki showed a speechless face and just said one word inwardly, he knew Tsunade was pissed at him and in one way or another wanted to defeat him in something and make him feel the same way she was, typical women revenge.
"Umm… you know I'm fifteen right?"
"Oh~ is the great hokage-sama chickening out from a challenge?"
Ugh!
Kazuki who wanted to use his age to reject the challenge was left speechless again as with a wide smile on her beautiful face taunted him mercilessly.
HA!!
"Sure, let's do it! If any of you manage to outlast me, I'll give the same rewards I promised for the fight earlier though if you lose… no mission remuneration for half a year"
His words fell and the face of everyone in the room changed, no one truly expected him to actually accept this challenge.
"Gamble? Let's do It!"
Drinking and Gambling together were more than enough to bring Tsunade's excitement for this challenge to reach its peak, couldn't wait to start.
Orochimaru who got another opportunity to get scroll of seals didn't back out from the challenge and entered as well, Jiraiya just for the sake of drinking with everyone drinking as well.
And so the drinking battle started with only Minato choosing not to drink, Kushina and Nawaki bravely taking part in the challenge as well.
"I'LL BE THE GREATEST HOKAGE EVER!!!"
"NO, IT'LL BE ME!!THE FIRST FEMALE HOKAGE!!"
The loud shouts were heard by everyone in the restaurant as in the private room, a brown haired boy and red haired girl with red face and blurry eyes yelled at each other.
Thud!!
These words seem to squeeze out all the strength of the two as next moment both toppled, Nawaki passing out on the floor and Kushina barely awake leaning on the shoulder of Minato in the middle.
Minato who wanted to help Kushina straighten up stopped suddenly as a delicate hand touched his cheek, his face going slightly red.
"Minato…. You'll be the greatest hokage ever… not kazuki…not nawaki… not anyone else… I know it…
Mumbled Kushina while staring at Minato blankly, caressing his cheeks at the same time as well.
The words shook Minato the core and the red on his vanished, his blue eyes gazing at the red haired girl with infinite tenderness in them, a smile appearing on his face and his lips parting.
"Guess I have to try for the greatest hokage now, can't prove your words wrong Kushina"
Said Minato with a smile on his face while gently brushing down the red hair of Kushina with his hands, who had now passed out as well.
"HAHA!!! You are one heck of a lady killer for sure, Minato"
Jiraiya who witnessed the scene couldn't help but laugh out loudly and point minato out, who once again showed a slightly embarrassed face.
"I'll drop both of them back home, take care everyone!"
Minato embarrassed couldn't wait to run away so putting both nawaki and kushina on his shoulders and taking his leave, disappearing from the room.
HAHA!!
The drinking battle continued as the remaining four ate, drank, talked and laughed as gradually the alcohol began to affect even the mightiest ninja's.
Boom!!!
"106… 106…
Jiraiya toppling on the floor with love shaped eyes and a lewd smile on his face, smoke coming out of his head from the punch that sent him to darkness but the pervert instinct still conscious and words that put him to misery still coming out his mouth.
After a while the great prodigy Orochimaru seemed to have reached his limit as well, his eyes and face red from overdrinking as quietly he stood up and picking up Jiraiya walked out of the room without saying a word, silently admitting his defeat.
"Haha!! you are truly something; I must admit that"
Seeing Kazuki was the last one standing alongside her, Tsunade who looked tipsy couldn't help but praise him.
Gulp!
"I hope you have prepared an excuse for your loss already"
At her words Kazuki who had a slight red tinge on his face chuckled and gulped another bottle of sake down; placing it between fifteen empty bottles next to him, words escaping his mouth.
"NAH, I'D WIN!"
Responded Tsunade with a confident face, sending another mouthful of sake down her throat next moment.
The sky outside the restaurant began to brighten up and all the chefs of the restaurant lay exhausted in the kitchen, in the private room white sake bottles everywhere.
Thud!
A sake bottle slipped out of the hand of Tsunade who couldn't even sit straight and wobbled around, her drunk eyes focused on the man sitting next to her donning the white hokage robe, the red hokage hat on his head.
Kazuki's face was red as well but his eyes revealed some clarity, sitting upright.
Thud!
Finally, Tsunade couldn't hold on anymore and fell toward her right, her head ending up leaning on his left arm.
"You lost"
Said Kazuki in a slightly shaky tone, a smile on his face as he gazed at the drunk her.
You!!!
Haha!!
At his words Tsunade suddenly sat up straight and puffed up her cheeks to give him a straight angry look, Kazuki at this look perhaps due to alcohol unable to control his laughter and laughing out loud.
"Stop laughing!!"
Thud!
His word angered the drunk Tsunade even more as waving her hands she lunged at him, only for Kazuki to hold her from her shoulders and bringing her into his arms.
"I was just kidding, whether it was earlier or now… I saw the effort you put… you did great"
Said Kazuki calmly as he gently rubbed her back as the angry Tsunade at his words seemed to turn into a docile kitty, peacefully lying in his arms.
Lying in his arms Tsunade slightly looked up to gaze the face, the face that was so young but at the same time showed unnatural matureness, turning into a unique charm.
The memories of the past flooded open as she couldn't help but remember the number of times this face showed up when she was in trouble, saving her life, her brothers and so many others numerous times and suffering after doing all that.
Suddenly Tsunade found her eyes going blurry for a second as the face of a man with blue hair in his twenties replaced Kazuki's but only for a second, eventually getting replaced by Kazuki's again.
In all the memories that the blue haired man existed Kazuki began to take his place as lying in his arm Tsunade with an emotional look in her eyes suddenly smiling.
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