Ren Uchiha had to admit—he was a failure of a man.
Up until now, he had never stepped foot into that forbidden Peach Blossom Spring that made one's heart race just by looking at it. He had always wanted to taste the sweetness of the foreign Sakura!
Today! TODAY! Finally, his dream was within reach!
Giving himself a mental pep talk, Ren looked at the geisha before him. She wore high-heeled wooden clogs, an exquisite kimono, and had a waist as slender as a willow tree, with a silhouette as perfect as a peach. Just looking at her back made one want to reach out and... well, you know.
Ren swallowed hard, ran a hand through his hair, and put on a suave smile. He raised a polite hand and waved:
"Hi~!"
The big sister with the alluring curves turned around, looking surprised. "Oh? Little brother, do you need something?"
Ren nearly choked. Little brother?! I'm not small at all, you better stop looking down on me! His mind went blank, and he forgot everything he was going to say next.
"Uh... well... it's just..."
He stammered, unable to form a sentence. He wanted to slap himself. Ren Uchiha, have some backbone! Just tell her you've got a 100,000 ryo deal to discuss!
Bolstering his courage, Ren looked up—and was immediately greeted by a "mountain peak" so high it touched the clouds. His breath hitched, his face turned red, and the words stuck in his throat.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
"My, what's wrong, little brother?"
"Actually... I have a 100,000 ryo business deal I want to..." Ren trembled as he held up the cash.
Suddenly, a fragrant breeze swept past. A slender, pale hand reached out and snatched the 100,000 ryo note. Then, a voice as clear as a silver bell rang out:
"No, he doesn't."
Ren jumped in fright and spun around. There, descending from the sky like a tigress protecting her territory, was Mei Terumi. She stared at him with an expressionless face.
Stare...
The air seemed to freeze.
"Ah! A Ninja-sama!" The geisha's scalp went numb with fear. Young ninjas these days are so bold, getting caught in an affair in broad daylight! She quickly bowed to Mei. "Forgive me, Ninja-sama! I don't know this little brother at all!"
As she bowed, the loose collar of her kimono offered a wide-open view of "snow-white scenery." Ren's heart started thumping in sync with the jiggling "peaks." He felt a heat rush to his nose. It was as if a puppeteer was controlling his head—he couldn't look away!
THWACK!
Mei's hand-sword chopped down on his forehead, her smile twitching with an angry vein. She grabbed Ren's face and forced it toward her. "It's fine, it's fine! Now scram!"
Mei glared at the geisha's "proportions" and felt a cold wind blow through her own heart. She definitely didn't sound like things were "fine."
The geisha didn't wait. She bolted inside and flipped a sign on the door: "Legitimate business. No one under 18 allowed!"
Ren felt the "BGM" of a tragic movie playing in his head.
Mei turned to Ren. "Was it pretty?" she asked, her emerald eyes flashing with a dangerous killing intent.
Ren, sensing a primal threat, shook his head frantically. "Not pretty! Not pretty at all!" He snorted with disdain, holding up three fingers. "Just vulgar commoners!"
Mei finally smiled and let go of him. She playfully waved the 100,000 ryo note. "So, what were you saying? What did you want to do with this money?"
Ren laughed awkwardly, reaching out to casually snatch the note back so he could circle back later.
Wait... it didn't budge?
He looked down at Mei. She was smiling at him, her eyes shimmering. The early spring wind tossed cherry blossom petals around her, dancing behind her reddish-brown hair. Against the backdrop of the steam-filled city and the warm sun, the bustling crowds and clattering carriages seemed to fade away.
The only thing Ren could hear was the rapid thumping of his own heart.
A clumsy sentence slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it:
"I... I just remembered. I want to buy you some Sakura mochi. I... I also want..."
A pale finger pressed against Ren's lips. Mei's lips curled into a breathtaking smile. Like a spirit of the spring breeze, she gently took his hand.
"You don't have to pay. I'm very rich. Let's go shopping together! Whatever you want, I'll buy it for you~"
Ren, like Tom's cat being toyed with, let himself be led away into the spring light, his brain completely offline.
Meanwhile...
At the izakaya entrance, Hidan was kicked out onto the street by Seiichiro, followed by two rock-hard steamed buns.
"Beat it, brat. Walk yourself back to the Steam Village," Seiichiro sneered, his hand on his sword hilt.
"You're dead!" Hidan screamed, clutching his 'bun-shaped weapons'. "If Ren Uchiha finds out you treated me like this, he'll kill you!"
Seiichiro laughed. "Oh? Still stubborn? Your 'Big Brother' said he doesn't want to see you right şimdi! If you're smart, scram before I help you 'ascend'."
Hidan's eyes widened. "He... he said he doesn't want to see me?"
Fighting back tears, Hidan scrambled away. He sat in a corner two blocks away, chewing on a dry bun, feeling miserable. No way... I risked my life for him! He wouldn't do this to me!
Just then, a familiar, clear voice reached his ears, stammering awkwardly:
"I just remembered... I want to buy you some Sakura mochi. I... I also want..."
Hidan looked up—and his jaw hit the floor.