Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

"Boss, four catties of the finest beef. And two jugs of sake," Kawakaze said as he entered a barbecue restaurant. Work was important, but one couldn't neglect a good meal.

The beef in Kumogakure was renowned for its tenderness, and the sake was equally famous—this was a chance he couldn't pass up.

"Okay, have a seat inside, and I'll bring it to you when it's ready," the shirtless owner replied, standing in front of the grill. His dark skin glistened with beads of sweat.

"Forget the sake," Orochimaru interjected, frowning. This was Kumogakure, not Konoha.

"Just a little bit," Kawakaze said, leaning closer to Orochimaru's ear. "Not drinking will make us stand out."

Orochimaru glanced around and saw that every man in the restaurant was from Kumogakure—and all of them were drinking.

"I'm not feeling well today, but if you want to drink, I'll drink with you even if it kills me," Orochimaru said, covering any gaps in their story. He glanced briefly at the owner, who was still busy.

Unexpectedly, the owner caught Orochimaru's look and smiled ambiguously, giving him a wink and shaking his biceps for good measure.

"I have something very nourishing here. Want to try it?" the owner offered.

"What is it?" Kawakaze asked instinctively.

The owner gave Kawakaze's muscular frame a quick glance and shook his head. "You don't need it."

"What is it?" Orochimaru pressed, feeling mildly insulted by the owner's dismissive attitude.

"Ox kidney and bull penis, fresh. Great tonic. Eat it if you want to be strong," the owner replied with a grin.

Orochimaru's expression changed instantly. You're the one who needs a tonic—your whole family does!

"No, I'm not uncomfortable in that area," Orochimaru said, suppressing his irritation as he walked inside to find a seat. He took two deep breaths to calm himself.

"Haha~" Kawakaze couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"It's fine, just bring it on," Kawakaze said, noticing the boss's disheartened expression as his well-meant offer was declined. He decided to accept the tonic outright.

"Okay," the boss replied with a smile, regaining his composure as he returned to the barbecue.

"The boss has good intentions," Kawakaze remarked as he sat down across from Orochimaru. There was no malice behind the offer.

"What? Do I have to thank him?" Orochimaru shot Kawakaze a sideways glance, clearly irritated. He felt like sewing Kawakaze's mouth shut.

"You can just thank me. I arranged it for you," Kawakaze teased.

"I already said I don't need it. Are you—" Orochimaru began, but his words turned vulgar, and Kawakaze instinctively tuned them out.

At this point, Kawakaze might have been the only person capable of irritating Orochimaru so thoroughly without provoking murderous intent. Anyone else might already have been reduced to a digestible form inside Orochimaru snakes' stomach.

"Finished?" Kawakaze asked nonchalantly, picking his ear with his little finger before blowing on it. His casual demeanor was infuriating.

"I have nothing to say to you," Orochimaru muttered. He had learned what it meant to waste words on deaf ears. Kawakaze truly didn't care.

"Fine, if you don't want to talk, let's start with some kidneys," Kawakaze said, distributing the freshly served kidneys to Orochimaru and pouring some sake.

The service from the waiter was impressively attentive.

"Try it, it's not bad," Kawakaze said as he enjoyed his food.

Orochimaru, half-skeptical, picked up a skewer and took a bite. His eyes immediately lit up—Kumogakure-style grilled kidneys were surprisingly good.

"What do you think? I wasn't lying, was I?" Kawakaze asked with a grin. "Here, have some bull penis," he added, generously handing Orochimaru a larger skewer.

"Can I not eat it?" Orochimaru frowned, feeling slightly uncomfortable. At the same time, he was a bit disappointed—he truly had no use for such a thing.

"It's better to prepare for the future. Trust me, you won't regret it," Kawakaze replied, already enjoying his own portion with gusto. He finished the skewer in no time and seemed ready to order more until Orochimaru stopped him.

One was enough for Orochimaru, though he did feel a subtle warmth in his lower abdomen afterward. The boss hadn't been exaggerating—it really was potent.

"That's enough eating. Let's drink some sake," Orochimaru said, raising his cup to clink it with Kawakaze's.

"Boss, ten bull penises!" came a loud voice, followed by hearty laughter.

Kawakaze glanced over, narrowing his eyes as he noticed a group of seven or eight Kumo Ninja entering the restaurant. The leader of the group was built like a bull himself—he hardly seemed like someone who needed ten bull penises.

"You're here again. You've been spending quite a bit lately," the boss said politely as he welcomed them in. It was clear from their casual conversation that they were familiar with each other.

"What do you mean spending? I just love this kind of food," the leader retorted with a grin, leading the group to a table.

Coincidentally, they sat not far from Kawakaze and Orochimaru, and their conversation was clearly audible.

The group of burly men began talking about women, missions, and grumbles about their daily lives.

Orochimaru showed no interest in their chatter, but Kawakaze listened intently.

Their casual conversation provided Kawakaze and Orochimaru with a surprising amount of useful information. At a time when the two were at their wit's end, the Kumo Ninja unwittingly came to their rescue.

...

"Jonah is getting violent more and more often. I'm afraid he won't live long."

"He's only fifteen years old. A hard-luck child," one of the Kumo Ninja said. He was part of the Sealing Team and had participated in the sealing of the Two-Tailed Jinchuriki multiple times. Having known Jonah before he became a Jinchuriki, he could only feel sorrow for his fate now.

"I heard he can't even get up anymore."

"It's his own fault," another chimed in. "Not just anyone can be a Jinchuriki."

"Lord Blue B is doing just fine!"

...

The group spoke casually and without concern. The village was well aware of the existence of the Jinchuriki, and there seemed to be nothing to fear.

"Good news," Kawakaze said with a slight curl of his lips. It seemed the Two-Tailed Jinchuriki was likely incapable of combat. If found, it could be captured without much resistance.

"This meal was worth it," Orochimaru added, finishing the last bite of bull penis.

The two exchanged knowing smiles, a plan beginning to take shape.

After eating their fill and finishing the sake, they paid the bill and left the restaurant. Across the street was a grocery store, so they wandered inside and began browsing casually.

When the Kumo Ninja from the barbecue restaurant finished their meal and stepped out, Kawakaze and Orochimaru quietly paid for a few items and followed them. They focused particularly on the member of the Sealing Team, who had revealed the most information about the Two-Tailed Jinchuriki.

"This doesn't look like the way home," Kawakaze muttered as they trailed the group. Though unfamiliar with Kumogakure, he recognized the large character for "Rai" on the tall building ahead—the Raikage Building.

"Stop talking nonsense. You live in the Raikage Building now?" Orochimaru snapped, urging Kawakaze to focus.

The two quickly retreated and waited silently not far away. To avoid attracting attention, they pretended to be engaged in a casual conversation.

...

As night fell, people began leaving the Raikage Building one by one. Among them was the ninja from the Sealing Team.

Kawakaze and Orochimaru watched as he said goodbye to his colleagues and left with another Kumo Ninja. The two followed from a distance. This time, the ninja was heading home.

After walking two blocks, they noticed that the two Kumo Ninja were neighbors. One lived on the left and the other on the right. As they parted, they called out to each other, agreeing to meet later for sake.

"What do you think?" Kawakaze asked Orochimaru tentatively.

"Kill him," Orochimaru replied in a cold, emotionless voice.

"Done," Kawakaze agreed.

The two ruthless men quickly slipped into the courtyard under the cover of darkness. The Kumo Ninja from the Sealing Team likely never imagined that his casual dinner conversation would attract the attention of two Kage-level ninjas.

The old saying held true: trouble often starts with what you say.

Once inside the courtyard, the two sensed the ninja's location after a brief moment. They crept closer and found him in the bedroom, changing into his regular clothes.

"Who?"

The ninja barely sensed their approach before losing all five of his senses. Orochimaru's Genjutsu was highly effective, making quick work of the situation.

Kawakaze stepped forward and knocked him out with a swift hand chop.

Bang bang~

Just as Kawakaze subdued the Kumo Ninja, a knock came at the door.

"A dead man is here," Kawakaze said with a small smile to Orochimaru.

"I'll go," Orochimaru replied, his figure vanishing instantly. Moments later, a muffled grunt sounded from outside.

Then Orochimaru returned, carrying someone over his shoulder.

"That was fast?" Kawakaze remarked.

"What do you think?" Orochimaru retorted coldly, clearly unimpressed.

"You want to handle it, or should I?" Kawakaze asked, ignoring Orochimaru's temper.

"It's not that I doubt you, but do you even know how to interrogate?" Orochimaru said in a low voice, fixing Kawakaze with a piercing stare.

"Fine, damn it. I know you're better, so you do it," Kawakaze said angrily, tossing the Kumo Ninja in his hand at Orochimaru. "I won't deal with this crap."

"Heh..." Orochimaru chuckled, carrying both subdued ninjas like they were nothing. Without another word, he turned and disappeared from Kawakaze's sight.

Left alone, Kawakaze grew angrier as he replayed Orochimaru's mocking laugh in his head. This guy is asking for it. I'll deal with him when he comes back.

With nothing else to do, Kawakaze lay down to rest, mentally reviewing their plan.

After a long while, Orochimaru returned alone. The two Kumo Ninjas were nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, you remember what that guy looked like, right?" Orochimaru asked, giving Kawakaze a kick.

Kawakaze, who was lying on the ground without a care in the world, grumbled but sat up. "I remember."

Bang!

Using the Transformation Technique, Kawakaze transformed into the exact likeness of the Kumo Ninja they had captured earlier.

"What do you think? Does it look like him?" Kawakaze asked, standing up to show off.

"Not bad," Orochimaru replied. He then used the Transformation Technique to assume the appearance of the other Kumo Ninja.

"Let's get our story straight. What information do you have?" Orochimaru asked as they both sat cross-legged.

"Your name is Yota Katsumura, and I'm Sousuke Kitahara, you're from the Sealing Team, and I'm an ordinary ninja."

"You like... I like..." he trailed off, ready to rehearse their roles.

...

Orochimaru explained everything he knew about the two Kumo Ninjas, giving Kawakaze time to absorb the information.

In the coming days, they would need to operate using these identities, so it was essential to understand enough personal details to avoid suspicion.

"Well, I remember," Kawakaze said, listening carefully. He understood the importance of this information. Such identities couldn't be obtained casually.

"We should try to minimize contact with others," Orochimaru added. "The more contact, the greater the risk of exposure."

Seeing Kawakaze nod in agreement, Orochimaru continued with the details.