Konoha Drunkard

"Is there anything else you need, Lord Shanks?"

When the three Green-skinned Guys went to the Hatake clan to find Kakashi, only Genma Shiranui and Shanks were in the private room. Genma Shiranui knew from the look in the eyes of this big shot that the big shot had kept him behind for something.

"This is a miraculous medicine that I worked hard to get. When you've gotten Kakashi down to his limit, drop two drops into his drink. Remember, only two drops. Keep the last drop for you; you might need it later."

Shanks gave Genma Shiranui a knowing look that any man could understand, sending a chill down Genma's spine.

Good heavens, he never expected these big shots to be so shameless, even capable of such despicable acts as drugging people. No wonder they managed to rise to the top.

Of the four, Shanks still felt that Genma Shiranui was the most reliable. The Hokage's bodyguard needed to be dependable, that was the primary requirement. Might Guy was too easily intoxicated; if he got into a drinking contest with Kakashi, who knew if he'd even remember Tsuchiya? Ebisu was a bit timid and unreliable, and Hayate Gekko, the consumptive, was no good either—what if he coughed and accidentally swallowed all three drops…?

"Lord Shanks, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Genma Shiranui hesitated as he held the small medicine bottle.

"What are you thinking! I'm afraid that Kakashi will get knocked out by you guys and I won't wake up when I get to Kurenai. Then all our efforts tonight will have been for nothing. This medicine is for him to sober up. Do you think I'm that kind of person? I can't put too much medicine in because I'm afraid that Kakashi will be completely sober all night and won't do anything. Then all our efforts will have been wasted."

Shanks should give himself a thumbs up for this reason!

571. Comes once a month

"Sogatari! As expected of Lord Shanks, he's so thoughtful!"

Genma Shiranui suddenly realized, "Yeah, with Kakashi's weak drinking capacity, he could easily overpower him by himself. Now there are four of them, it's no wonder he's drunk to death."

"Young man, you have a lot to learn! I used to tell Minato and the others that the difference between a super genius and an ordinary genius is not talent, but brains! When you realize this, you might be able to rise to the top. It's hard to say about the Double Flower, but you'll definitely be a Red Stick."

Out of consideration for his connection with Mai Shiranui, Shanks gave him a lesson. As for what he understood, that was up to him, since he was just following what was written in the book.

"Yes! I will definitely think carefully about what Lord Shanks said from now on."

Genma Shiranui nodded excitedly and assured him, "This is the teaching of Shanks from Konoha! There aren't many people left who can be taught by Shanks these days. Besides the young Uchiha clan leader, there's only Garp left. But he's no longer a teacher!"

Countless young people in Konoha lamented that they were born at the wrong time. If only they had been born a decade or two earlier, when Shanks was still a teacher, how wonderful it would have been!

Look at what they said: "The difference between a super genius and an ordinary genius is not talent, but brains!" How insightful!

Such words are not something an ordinary person can say; the prerequisite is that one must be at least a super genius to possess such insight.

.........

"Swiftwind? Where are you all going?"

Meanwhile, on their way to find Kakashi at the Hatake clan, Green-skinned Guy and his friends encountered another classmate, who was also Hayate's former friend and now worked in the Anbu Interrogation Department: Morino Ibiki.

"Cough! Cough!... I was just about to look for you. It's been a long time since we got together. I happen to be free tonight, so I was thinking of inviting you guys out. I was just about to go find Kakashi and then look for you, but I didn't expect to run into you first."

Hayate, the consumptive, wasn't entirely lying to his friends; after all, he genuinely intended to invite Kakashi out for drinks. However, Ibiki Yoshinaga was just a thought of it. He almost forgot that if he didn't invite his friends on his bachelor party night, Kakashi probably wouldn't believe him. So, he added this on a side note. Anyway, Shanks was treating tonight, and with his wealth, he didn't care about having one more person.

"Really? That's a coincidence. Kakashi and I just got off work. He's probably just gotten home. Let's go together."

Ibiki Morino said that working in the interrogation room of the Dark Division, facing so many prisoners all day with a stern face, it's nice to relax with my colleagues occasionally, so that I'm not so dark inside.

...........

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

"Kakashi! Open the door! I know you're home. It's rare that we all have time tonight, let's get together! Hayate is getting engaged, tonight is his last bachelor night."

The four arrived at the Hatake clan's gate. Before Hayate could even think of a way to speak, Green-skinned Guy was already banging on the door. Luckily, the Hatake clan's gate was sturdy enough that it didn't break despite Guy's banging.

"Clap clap clap!"

"Kakashi, did you hear that? We know you're home. The lights are on. Come out!"

"Clap clap clap!"

"Kakashi, you're really not giving us any face. We're all classmates, and we've come all this way to invite you. Why don't you come out and open the door too?"

The four of them stood in front of Kaspersky's house. Green-skinned Kai knocked on the door for over ten minutes, but Kaspersky didn't come out to open it. Green-skinned Kai was getting impatient. "I challenged you to a one-on-one fight, and you pretended not to hear me. Now there are so many people around, and you're still pretending to be dead."

"...I'm not deaf yet. I was taking a shower just now... Gale, this is my engagement gift for you!"

Just as Greenskin Kai was about to kick down the door, it opened, and Kasper, holding an exquisitely packaged gift box, said helplessly to Greenskin Kai.

If Green-skinned Guy keeps talking, he'll really be called the Uchiha overpowered protagonist.

"........."

The gift handed over by the consumptive ghost, Jifeng, at their wedding was completely unexpected!

"He really forgot!"

"His engagement is such a big deal, and it's only been a month since we were classmates, yet he's already forgotten about it!"

Looking at the gift box in his hand, the consumptive ghost Hayate didn't know whether to be sad or happy. His classmate Kakashi was just like Shanks had said, not even caring about his classmate's engagement.

However, seeing the gift box in his hand... the Hatake clan has never been stingy. Last time, Kakashi gave him and Yugao each an incredibly precious short sword that could channel chakra. He wondered what it would be this time...

"Maybe it wouldn't be bad to get engaged every month from now on..."

"where are we going?"

After presenting the gifts, Kadian looked at the four people.

"At the Konoha Hotel, Kagenma is already waiting there."

After putting away the gift box, Moonlight Gale realized he had more important business to attend to; he needed to go back and discuss the monthly engagement with Xiyan.

.......

"Come on! Kakashi, bottoms up! There are still three more to go! It's been a long time since you've drunk with us!"

There was no private room in Konoha. Ebisu, his face flushed and reeking of alcohol, held two enormous glasses filled with strong liquor. He placed one in front of Kakashi. To complete the mission assigned by the big boss, Ebisu was truly going all out. His mentor had become a monk, and no one in the village was protecting him anymore. These past few years had been the most difficult for him among the group. He had been too arrogant when his mentor was around, but now that his mentor was gone, few people treated him well. Now that he finally had a chance to latch onto the big boss's coattails, how could he not work his hardest?

To get Kakashi drunk, Shanks ordered only high-proof liquor, the kind that could be set on fire. Not to mention the young people, even an old alcoholic like Shanks wouldn't dare to drink it. But Ebisu forced Kakashi to drink two large glasses right away, and afterwards, everyone, while Morino Ibiki was completely bewildered, took turns getting Kakashi drunk.

"What's going on? Isn't tonight Hayate's bachelor party? How come Kakashi is the main character now?"

However, everyone was having such a good time drinking that Ibiki Morino even came in and made Kakashi drink two cups.

"...I...can't...do...anymore...I really...can't...drink anymore!"

Kadian, slumped over the table, struggled to lift his head, speaking incoherently and with a drunken expression.

"It's a rare occasion to be happy, a man can't admit he's no good, Kakashi! Get up and fight him!"

Green-skinned Kai, reeking of alcohol, urged him on. His green vest was already pulled up, revealing his muscular physique.

"Yeah! Kakashi, it's been so long since you've gotten together with us. You have to drink these three cups! I'll get you the other two, you can drink one and rest for a bit."

The most sober person present was Genma Shiranui. It wasn't that he was cheating, and he did drink some, but he only drank plain water. He had an important mission, so he needed to stay alert.

572. Hanging out with the Naruto makes all the difference.

Just as Kakashi struggled to straighten up and picked up the large cup of sake that Ebisu handed him, he didn't notice that Genma Shiranui took advantage of the moment to take out the small medicine bottle that Shanks had given him from his ninja tool bag and put a drop in the inner cup of the two cups of sake in front of him.

Although Kakashi didn't notice, Ibiki Morino, who was still sober, did. Just as he was about to warn him, he was kicked. Turning around, he saw Hayate Gekko, who was pretending to be drunk and lying on the table, giving him a look that meant he should keep quiet and pretend he didn't see anything.

".......What's going on?"

Ibiki Morino leaned closer to his friend and asked in a low voice.

"Ahem, ahem! This is Lord Shanks's idea. Don't ask yet. I'll explain after I get Kakashi drunk."

Moonlight Gale lay on the table, explaining in a low voice that Kaden's alcohol tolerance was so high that even if all of them worked together, this consumptive could easily drink him under the table. However, he really couldn't handle this kind of strong liquor. After drinking two cups, seeing how enthusiastic Green Skin Guy and Ebisu were, he simply pretended to be drunk and let them perform.

"Sugata! Kakashi, there are still two cups left, hurry up and drink them, we can't lose to Ebisu!"

Knowing it was a mission assigned by a powerful figure, Ibiki Morino also joined the battle. Unlike Ebisu, he didn't have the desire to curry favor with someone powerful, nor did he have the desire to compete with Kakashi in everything, like Guy. He was simply a pure ninja, and he would complete the mission assigned by the powerful figure with 100% dedication.

So in the private room, Genma Shiranui and Hayate Gekko pretended to be dead, Ebisu and Guy kept pouring Kakashi a drink, and Ibiki Morino kept cheering them on.

Shanks, observing from the next private room using his Observation Haki, was quite satisfied with the team's performance. What a perfect team! Some were the main attackers, some provided support, and some lured the enemy in. Everyone had a clear role and a unified goal. Shanks especially remembered Morino Ibiki, who played the support role. He was originally a background character in Kakashi's generation, born into poverty and not very noticeable. Later, through his relentless efforts, he was spotted by Sakumo and recruited into the Anbu. Now he was the head of the interrogation team under Inoichi, the captain. Sakumo also spoke highly of him, praising him as a pure ninja who didn't engage in any messy networking or currying favor. He always completed tasks assigned by higher-ups flawlessly. Although he wasn't part of Shanks' original plan, his appearance was still a good thing. Shanks wouldn't mind having a few more people like him. The Konoha Hotel was expensive, but as long as things got done, the money was well spent...

"Lord Shanks, the private room next door has finished. Would you like to pay in cash or sign a bill?"

The hotel owner came over and asked.

"...Sign the bill! Put it on Nara Shikaku's tab! And two bottles of special sake from the Land of Water, please. It's been so long since I've had any, but it's too expensive. I'm just having a good time today..."

Shanks, seeing how cooperative the hotel owner was, knew that Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, never carried cash, so giving him an extra fare was a good thing, since it wasn't his money anyway...

"Okay! Please wait a moment, I'll get it for you right away!"

The innkeeper walked out of the private room happily. The special sake from the Land of Water was only sold in Konoha by their innkeeper. It wasn't that it was particularly difficult to buy, but rather that the cost was too high. Ordinary taverns simply wouldn't stock such expensive special sake, because very few people could afford it, and those who could wouldn't go to their small taverns. So only the innkeeper of Konoha had the financial resources to stock it. However, the price was so high that they could only sell a few bottles a year. Today, he just went to ask about it, and he actually sold two bottles!

......

"Kakashi? Kakashi?... He's really drunk. Ibiki, you take Gai and Ebisu back, Hayate and I will take Kakashi."

In the next private room, Kakashi and his two companions were already passed out drunk. Genma Shiranui nudged Kakashi, who was slumped over the table, and seeing that he was completely still, he spoke to Ibiki and Hayate.

"Not bad, I'm very satisfied with your performance tonight. When Ebisu wakes up tomorrow, I'll tell him that I'll protect him whenever he comes to Konoha, but I'll also teach him to change his arrogant bad habit."

At this moment, Shanks pushed open the door and spoke to the three still conscious individuals. He knew perfectly well why Ebisu had been working so hard tonight; he wasn't blind. Asuma had become a monk these past few years, and Ebisu was now paying the price for his past arrogance. Aside from a few of his classmates, nobody paid him any attention. Why was Shanks able to be so arrogant from childhood? Because he had someone protecting him when he was young, and he had the power to be arrogant as an adult. Ebisu, however, didn't have that power. After Asuma's passing, those who used to dislike him completely ignored him.

He's working so hard tonight just to find someone to rely on again. Based on his performance tonight, and considering that Ebisu has indeed realized his mistakes and corrected them over the years, he might not get the "big brother" position, but he can still get the "small brother" position. A child who knows their mistakes and can correct them is a good kid, right?

"...Lord Shanks, what should we do from now on?"

Genma Shiranui asked.

"Just do as you said. When you take Kakashi to Kurenai, tell her that Sakumo hasn't come home yet, and you're worried about leaving Kakashi alone at home, so you'll take him there. If it works out, I'll prepare a big gift for each of you! A really, really big one."

After Shanks finished speaking, he left. Things had already come to this point, there was no need for him to follow. Besides, he had plenty of confidence in Orochimaru's research results for tonight... He simply wouldn't keep an eye on things; it would be too embarrassing...

"Hong! Open the door!"

Ten minutes later, Genma Shiranui and Hayate Gekko each carried Kakashi to the door of the girl with colored contact lenses.

"Fire Spirit, Gale? What's wrong with Kakashi?"

The girl with colored contact lenses who opened the door saw Kakashi, reeking of alcohol, being carried by two men.

"...Kakashi was drunk, and Lord Sakumo hadn't come back yet. We weren't comfortable leaving him home alone, so we brought him here."

Genma Shiranui said helplessly, looking as if he had already given up on him, but it was useless. If Hayate Gekko hadn't been on his side, he would have almost been fooled by Genma Shiranui.

Where did that honest and innocent Genma Shiranui go? Following the Hokage really makes a difference; his acting skills are top-notch.

"Please sit for a while, I'll go get you some water to sober up."

After the two helped Kakashi inside and put him down, Kurenai said politely, but only she knew what she was really thinking.