Kurokuma looked at her leader, someone she had grown over the years to see as a dear friend. "So Hinoke...what do you think will be our next mission? Now that Kakashi is the Hokage, things finally seem to have settled between the villages. We're only receiving missions from small villages within the five nations." She questioned. The jonin scratched his beard in contemplation.

"You know, I really don't mind either which way. I just live day by day, enjoying the time I have with my comrades. This village is my home, and I want to do everything I can to ensure my comrades in this village survive and thrive in this time of temporary peace." The honey skinned man responded.

The mint haired kunoichi crinkled her nose in dissatisfaction. "You are always such a twit. All mushy and caring about everyone but yourself. You could stand to have a few more moments of selfishness in your life." She muttered softly, her freckled nose still scrunched up in lack of amusement.

"Yo! Hinoke! Back from that mission already?!" A shaggy black haired man said as he and another man entered Shushuya. "Yes, Kotetsu, we are back from that escort mission." He replied with a stifled sigh. 'Not these bozos again', the jonin thought to himself. The new man invited himself to their booth, while his companion stood there with an unsure look upon his face. "Is it alright if we join you?" The other long haired man asked, to which Kurokuma nodded slightly as she shot down another glass of sake.

"We're not paying for your drinks though." Hinoke interjected, suddenly more stern than usual. "Oh don't be such a buzz-kill! Drinks are on us!" The bandage faced intruder proclaimed, his partner letting out a disgruntled groan. "Name's Kotetsu. The kill-joy I call my partner is Izumo." The seemingly irresponsible, shaggy haired ninja said, introducing them both.

The more respectable of the two took out what appeared to be a handkerchief and placed it on the table before putting his hands down to rest them. "Ah. So we have sticky fingers, and clean freak. What an interesting pair you two make." Kurokuma said with a soft chuckle. Izumo's eyes widened at the statement. "He's...sticky fingers?" He questioned, placing his hand over his mouth to restrain a laugh as Kotetsu became very offended and loud, proclaiming his protest.

"Kotetsu, was it? Let's just say, I spend enough time in the Hokage's office to pass by you sneaking pure syrup. Have you always had such unusual food cravings?" She asked softly, taking another sip of her sake. The germophobe's eyes seemed to only widen further at the accusations, although they were not inaccurate to any extent.

"Yes." The swift and simple reply traveled from the syrup loving ninja's lips. Kurokuma could not keep her giggles at bay. "I'm sorry...I just needed to let you know. If it makes you feel any better, I have an unrealistic love of chips." She added softly, sipping at her sake again as to try and avoid talking much further. Suddenly, all the males at the table exploded into uproarious laughter. Her expression contorted, she knew not what she had done to cause such an outbreak.

Kotetsu cleared his throat and the laughter began to sizzle down. "Is she always this...uh...blunt?" He asked, a smirk still playing on his face as he tried to keep from breaking out in laughter once more. Hinoke simply nodded and sipped his sake, clearly enjoying this side of his teammate who seldom spoke, if only to insult a comrade until the sun dipped passed the horizon.

Many drinks were passed around, and many hours passed as well. The four seemed to be getting along swimmingly after the initial tension had dissipated. They had discussed their most trivial missions, the ones that were the most hilarious, the most life threatening. They'd all been on so many adventures, yet rarely had the opportunity to interact as a group. This was shaping up to be a regular routine by the looks of things.