"You little brat, have you been sneaking drinks?!"
The bottle opener in his hand was undeniable evidence. Yagura's movement froze for a brief moment.
Knowing he'd been caught red-handed, there was no way to weasel out of this one. Still, Yagura scoffed lightly in his mind and tried to play it cool.
"I just happened to find it here."
"You little punk."
Karatachi Natsuhiko knew his son far too well—one look at Yagura's expression, and he was certain the kid was lying through his teeth. With a swift step forward, he grabbed hold of him.
Then, with a clenched fist, he lightly knocked Yagura on the head.
"You're ten years too young to be drinking. No, twelve years!"
"You people send kids off to be shinobi and kill people, but drinking is off-limits?"
Yagura muttered in protest.
"Not that it tastes good anyway. Meh." Compared to what he had tasted before, this didn't even come close.
Watching his son and grandson go back and forth, Karatachi Grandpa chuckled.
"That's why you're still just a kid. Alcohol is a man's romance."
"Your grandfather's right."
Natsuhiko took the bottle opener from Yagura's hand, used it, and then tossed it aside. With one hand, he spun Yagura around and nudged him toward the kitchen.
"Go get yourself some juice."
"Ohhh~~"
....
Yagura: Isobu, what do you like to drink? Milk tea, juice, or alcohol?
Isobu: (after thinking for a moment) Water.
Yagura: ...Respect.
...
The two older men sat down, clinked their cups together, and drank.
Yagura returned with a bottle of juice in his hands, while Karatachi Hiyori followed behind him, carrying a tray of food, carefully walking in step with the child.
"Father, Natsuhiko, don't drink too much."
Natsuhiko tried to plead his case. "Hey~ It's a rare family reunion, and Yagura just showed off a little in Konoha. It's a day of celebration! A few extra drinks won't hurt."
"Gimme, gimme."
Bending down to hand off the dishes to an eager-to-help Yagura, Hiyori firmly responded,
"No way. One bowl, one bottle each. We agreed."
Seeing his father's face fall, Yagura laughed at him.
"Henpecked."
"Where did you even learn that word?"
Natsuhiko shook his head with a chuckle and raised his cup toward his father.
"Dad, a toast to you. Uh… Happy New Year."
The Chunin Exams had come and gone, December had passed, and now it was a new year—Year 43 of the current era.
Bringing the New Year traditions into the family was something Yagura had started.
With a bit of juice on his lips, Yagura smiled, swinging his legs happily.
"Yeah, Happy New Year to you too. You worked hard last year."
After downing his drink, Karatachi Grandpa's tone took a shift as he smirked.
"But this year might be even tougher. Be ready."
Natsuhiko nodded and took another sip.
"Got it."
Listening to them talk in riddles, Yagura asked curiously,
"Why do you say that?"
"Your grandfather is retiring."
Natsuhiko added, "I'm taking over as the clan head."
"Huh?!" Yagura was surprised. "Just like that?"
"Hahaha, I'm not getting any younger. I should've retired ages ago."
Karatachi Grandpa looked relaxed. "If your father hadn't been stationed away for so long, I would've stepped down long ago."
All the fault of the Third Mizukage!
Damn you, Third Mizukage! Do you even realize you delayed an old man's retirement?!
"I've barely been home a few days, and he's already dumping clan affairs on me."
Natsuhiko took another sip, the bitterness in his smile unmistakable—so familiar to Yagura.
Ah, that's it! The classic corporate worker's exhausted smile!
It was the unmistakable difference between students and working adults.
—The weariness only known to those who've experienced the daily grind!
Yagura deeply related and clinked glasses with him. "You're in for a rough ride. Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year."
Natsuhiko returned the toast, but when he saw the knowing look in Yagura's eyes, he hesitated.
"Why do you look so… sympathetic?"
It wasn't the look a son should give his father—it was the look of a fellow corporate drone, a colleague bound by shared suffering.
I understand your pain as a worker. You understand mine.
I laugh at your misery. You can laugh at mine.
The problem was—
Damn it, what work-related suffering has this brat even experienced?!
"Heh, hic."
Yagura took a small sip of juice, smirking but trying to hide his schadenfreude. A tiny burp escaped him from the carbonated drink.
"You should be ready too."
Karatachi Grandpa suddenly grinned at Yagura, his eyes gleaming.
"This year, you might have it even tougher than your dad."
"Me?"
Yagura blinked, pointing at himself. "Why?"
He was just a kid. His dad was handling the clan. What could possibly involve him?
Wait a minute—
A thought occurred to Yagura, and he hesitantly looked at his father. "Dad… don't tell me—"
With a single chop to the head, Natsuhiko cut off Yagura's wild speculation, his face darkened.
"Not what you're thinking. Absolutely not."
He had no idea what Yagura was imagining, but he was certain it wasn't anything good.
Better to stop him now before he said it out loud.
Otherwise, the flying slipper technique might have to be deployed.
"Hey! Don't leave me hanging!"
When Hiyori brought out more dishes, Yagura was still fuming, trying to get answers from his grandfather, but he got nothing.
His face puffed up in frustration, like a steamed bun.
This was like a doctor telling you you're terminally ill, that you'll suddenly drop dead one day, but not telling you what disease you have or when it will happen.
Or like being sentenced to death and thrown in prison without knowing your crime or when the execution would be.
Too cruel!
First, he needed to eat something to calm down.
Rubbing his hands together, Yagura's eyes shone as he stared at the piping hot fried shrimp.
Natsuhiko stretched his leg out and kicked his son lightly. "Go help your mom!"
Dodging his father's kick, Yagura quickly jumped up and ran to the kitchen.
"Fine, fine. Mom, which dishes are ready?"
"Everything's done, they're on the table."
Food came first. He'd think about everything else after eating.
At the mention of food, Yagura moved fast, grabbing a plate in each hand and rushing back.
Of course, he wouldn't go empty-handed.
With a crab leg between his teeth, he slurped up the meat while savoring the spicy garlic flavor. Absolute bliss.
Natsuhiko sighed, looking at his wife. "Alright, alright, let the kid handle it. Hiyori, sit down and take a break."
Grandpa nodded in agreement, swirling his drink. "That's right, that's right! He's grown up now, he can't just eat for free."
Yagura glared at the two lazy adults but shrugged and ran back to grab the last two dishes.
A family of four… and one pet. The perfect household.
Isobu: (rage intensifies) WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PET?!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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