The booth was now left with only Ryo and Tsunade.
Tsunade looked at the door Orochimaru had just exited and grumbled, displeased, "That old man Hiruzen… always a buzzkill."
Then, she immediately redirected her attention to Ryo, picked up the sake bottle again, and refilled both their cups. Her body swayed slightly from the alcohol. "Forget him. Let's keep drinking. Ryo, today… today we drink until we drop. No going home until we're drunk."
Ryo looked at Tsunade, who had clearly drunk too much and could barely sit straight. He tried to reason with her. "Tsunade, you've had enough. It's time to go back."
"No," Tsunade pouted like a stubborn child. Her long golden hair was a bit messy, draped over her shoulders. Her eyes were hazy but held firm resistance. "I'm happy. Nawaki's better… he's really better. I'm happy." She downed another cup. The alcohol shattered what little self-control she had left.
Her body slumped forward, collapsing onto the low table. The cup slipped from her hand.
"Tsunade?" Ryo stood up and walked over, trying to help her up.
But Tsunade suddenly raised her head. Her intoxicated eyes locked onto Ryo, who was now right in front of her.
Alcohol magnified every emotion. All the complex feelings she had long buried toward this man—the awe for his strength, the gratitude for his repeated help, the trust in his steady presence, and… the faint, unclear emotion that had begun to form after their previous moments of closeness—surged up all at once. Under the influence of alcohol, these feelings broke through all the barriers of logic and identity.
Her gaze was filled with a woman's confused and burning emotions, drowned in feeling.
She looked at Ryo's sharply defined face and the reflection of herself in his silver eyes. She laid all her emotions bare.
"Ryo…" she murmured, voice heavy with drink, but also softer than ever before. Almost shy.
She reached out, not for the hand he extended to help her, but to gently touch his cheek.
Her fingertips were warm, trembling, and carried the scent of alcohol.
Ryo stiffened slightly.
The gesture was too intimate. It crossed a line they hadn't stepped over before.
He could clearly smell the strong scent of sake on her body, mixed with her own unique fragrance. It formed a strange and striking temptation.
He could see the storm of emotions clearly swirling in her eyes.
"Tsunade, you're drunk." Ryo's voice lowered, trying to remain calm. He reached out, attempting to catch her wandering hand.
"I'm not…" Tsunade stubbornly shook her head. Her hand only moved more boldly.
Instead of pulling away, she used the closeness to place her other hand on his shoulder, her soft body leaning against him. The curve of her body pressed into him fully.
Her body was warm and full, pressing against him with a heat and elasticity that sent a powerful sensation through him. That enticing silhouette, paired with her slightly flushed expression, gave off a dangerous charm.
"Ryo… do you know…" Her breath landed hot and quick on his neck, reeking of sake. "I… I've always…"
She seemed like she wanted to say something, but the alcohol and emotion tangled her words. She simply looked at him, dazed and desperate, her golden eyes filled with an unspoken plea.
Suddenly, she tilted her head up. Carried by a hint of intoxication and reckless determination, she moved closer.
That moment of closeness lit the fuse. His mental defenses, already strained, snapped.
The heat radiating from Tsunade's body and her defenseless posture struck like the strongest liquor, igniting the emotions Ryo had suppressed for so long.
He had seen her strength, her vulnerability, her persistence, and her deep love for her brother. He had always respected her, understood her burdens, admired her will.
That deep-rooted feeling had been building slowly over time, kept down by duty, status, and her always-tough exterior.
Now, that final wall cracked.
The woman known to the world as strong and proud stood before him, revealing her raw emotions and lonely courage.
Ryo's silver eyes contracted.
The rational string in his mind, pulled taut for so long, snapped completely as her eyes met his with a rare dependence. The alcohol, the flood of emotion, it all surged.
Almost instinctively, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
He was no longer just passively receiving her emotions. He was responding.
His hold around her tightened.
Tsunade flinched slightly.
Ryo's sudden response made her mind go blank for a moment.
The impact of alcohol and raw feeling left her dazed.
Ryo's breath became heavier. His eyes were unreadable.
He no longer intended to stop at mere closeness.
Tsunade leaned her head back. Her thoughts were drifting.
She felt him draw even nearer.
"Ryo…" she murmured unconsciously, her voice strangely soft.
That whisper pulled him in further.
He looked at her dazed eyes and flushed cheeks in his arms.
She was no longer the towering Sannin, but a woman laying her heart bare.
That awareness stirred a deeper, stronger emotion inside him.
He stopped hesitating. With a firm movement, he lifted her.
Tsunade instinctively wrapped her arms around him, her warm face resting against his neck.
The sliding door opened.
Ryo stepped through the quiet back corridor of the izakaya with her in his arms.
The cool night breeze brushed past them but did nothing to calm the heat between them.
He was very familiar with the Senju compound.
He carried her through the courtyard, straight to her room.
The door shut gently behind them, shutting the world out.
The room was filled with Tsunade's scent. Moonlight filtered through the paper window, casting a soft glow.
Ryo laid her down carefully. Her silhouette glowed faintly under the moonlight.
Tsunade lay there, her golden hair fanned out.
The mix of alcohol and emotion had left her cheeks flushed.
Her chest rose and fell lightly. She looked up at Ryo with hazy eyes, a touch of shyness in her gaze, but even more trust.
She reached out again, her fingertips brushing his cheek gently.
Soon a night of passion began.
...
The room fell silent, leaving only their unsteady breathing.
That emotional exchange had exhausted them both, bridging what had long remained unsaid.
Tsunade felt an overwhelming fatigue.
Months of mental strain, the elation of Nawaki's recovery, the weight of alcohol, and now the emotional toll of everything that had just happened all came crashing down on her.
Her eyelids grew heavy. In the warmth and peace of his arms, her consciousness quickly faded.
Before she completely lost awareness, she instinctively snuggled closer to Ryo's chest, finding a spot of comfort.
She let out a soft murmur, thick with sleep. "Ryo…"
Her breathing slowed, becoming long and steady as she fell into deep sleep.
Ryo listened to her steady breaths and felt her fully relaxed in his embrace.
In the darkness, his silver eyes quietly watched the peaceful face of the woman in his arms.
He gently tightened his arms around her, holding her securely. His chin rested lightly on the top of her head.
A new emotion took root in his heart. A mix of tenderness, contentment, and a heavy sense of responsibility.
Moonlight silently streamed across their intertwined silhouettes, casting quiet shadows on the floor.
The night was still long. Drowsiness and fatigue soon washed over Ryo as well. He closed his eyes and let his consciousness drift into sleep.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)