Chapter 7

The sun had dipped below the mountains at last.

A cool evening breeze whispered through the village. It carried the promise of rain, which prompted shopkeepers to cover their stock. Konohagakure would endure a long, stormy night.

Kazumi did not mind the chill in the air; on the contrary, she enjoyed it. All she could think about now was a warm cup of tea and some cozy socks.

But that would have to wait.

Ding-a-ling!

There weren't many open tables at Anago. It hardly came as a surprise; bars in Konoha started filling up around 5:30 p.m. – about thirty minutes after dinnertime. Kazumi scanned the room, hoping to find one of her friends.

"Huh," she mused. Her lips curled into a smile.

Kakashi Hatake had been the first to arrive. He was seated by the wall, his nose wedged between the pages of a romance novel.

When she reached him, Kazumi placed her fingers on the head of his book. She applied just enough pressure to get the man's attention. "More 'light reading,' Kakashi?"

"Well, that was the hope anyway," he said nonchalantly. "Are Asuma and Kurenai with you?"

"Nope." Kazumi sat opposite him. "Guy isn't here yet, either."

A tealight burned in the center of the table. The flame danced in its cradle, illuminating the space between them.

"Wait a minute." She had his full attention. Kakashi closed the book and looked her squarely in the eye. "You invited Guy?"

"Actually," she corrected, "he invited himself."

"…Right."

"What?" Kazumi reached across the table for a drink menu.

"Nothing." His tone remained flat as he spoke. "It's none of my business, really."

"No, seriously," she prompted. "What is it?"

Kakashi took a menu from the pile and leafed through it. "He's smitten, Umi. You shouldn't encourage him." He reestablished eye contact and cocked his head. "Unless…you're interested."

"I'm not encouraging him!" she insisted, leaning over the table. Her momentum almost knocked the tealight on the floor. What a disaster that would have been. "And I'm not interested," she whispered, repositioning the candle. "He's not even my type."

"Oh? You have a 'type' now?"

She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Can we just…not talk about it? That'd be great."

Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

The door swung open and another patron entered the bar. Kazumi's eyes were glued to the menu; she had no intention of turning around. With any luck, it would be Kurenai or Asuma.

"Well," Kakashi muttered, "here we go."

Sure enough, it was none other than Might Guy. He wove through the crowd, promptly making his way across the room. Upon reaching their table, he pointed at Kakashi. His eyes were ablaze with passionate fire.

"Ah, Kakashi. My rival." He clenched his fist. "I should've known you'd be here."

"Give it a rest, Guy." Kakashi crossed his arms and sighed. "I'm not in the mood."

"I cannot do that," he countered. "I challenge you…to a drinking contest."

A hush descended over the room. Everyone – including the bartender – stared at the man in green.

Finally, an elderly man stood and raised his cup. "Kanpai!"

The crowd erupted in revelry. "Kanpai!" "Omedetou!""Banzai!" Strangers – men and women alike – raised a toast to good health. To the dismay of the waitstaff, beer, rice wine, and liqueur splattered on the floor.

"Well, that settles it,"Guy said. He hailed one of the waitresses and pointed at their table. "Eight shots of sake, please! On me."

"No," Kakashi interjected, "I'll handle it." He dispensed a sizable sum from his pocket and placed the ryō on the table. He wouldn't allow Guy to pay; it was a matter of pride. "A bottle of your finest, please. And make it ten…each."

"I knew you couldn't resist." Guy struck a pose. "You're too hip, Kakashi."

Meanwhile, Kazumi busied herself with the menu. Though she had no intention of ordering, she read the description of each drink to pass the time. She wanted nothing to do with their competition.

Where were Asuma and Kurenai? Had they forgotten about their plans? Each time the bell jingled, Kazumi spun around and scanned the room. She became increasingly disappointed as the minutes ticked by.

"Can I get you anything, Umi?" Guy offered. He settled in beside her, bearing a grin ear to ear. "A beer – or maybe some shochu?" His smile could light the entire village if he tried hard enough.

"No thank you," she replied. When the bell rang again, she looked over her shoulder. Alas, the guest was just another stranger. "One of us has to stay sober. I guess it'll be me." This was not how she had envisioned her evening.

Ten minutes passed before the waitress returned with their drinks. "What are we celebrating tonight?" she asked, placing the tray on the table.

"We are celebrating the spirit of competition." Guy put one of the shots in front of Kakashi. "He's a formidable opponent, but I will be the victor!"

"No," Kakashi corrected, lifting his drink. He positioned the rim of the cup between his lips. "What he will be is on the floor."

The waitress collected payment and backed away from their table. Her expression was one of utter bewilderment. "Okay, well…enjoy." It seemed that she and Kazumi were on the same page as far as the game was concerned.

"Alright," Guy announced, "Let's go. No holding back…san, ni, ichi!"

Kakashi's reflexes were sharp. He pinched his mask, tilted his head, and immediately drained the cup. He had been so quick, in fact, that Kazumi hadn't even seen the tip of his nose.

"Wait." She put her menu aside and eyed Kakashi. "Do that again."

Guy reached for his second shot. "We're just getting started," he said. "Okay, Kakashi. On your mark."

Kakashi grinned and brought the second cup to his mouth. He seemed to know what Kazumi was waiting for. "Why don't you count us down, Umi-chan?"

She would surely catch a glimpse this time. "Get ready," she prompted. "San, ni, ichi!"

Once again, Kakashi was too quick to catch. He knocked it back and reached for the next round before Guy had even recovered.

"How are you doing that?" Kazumi asked. The candle flickered, revealing the curiosity in her bright, blue eyes.

"What? Oh – you mean this?" Kakashi gripped his mask, pulled it down, and took the shot. It was no use; try as she might, Kazumi could not track his movements.

It was one of the oldest mysteries in Konoha. In his 27 years, only a few people had ever seen Kakashi's face. Kazumi, for one, hadn't had the pleasure. Until that moment, she hadn't paid it a second thought; what was he hiding behind that piece of fabric?

"Hey!" Guy exclaimed. "Wait for me!"

"You'll have to be quicker than that." The score weighed in Kakashi's favor. He'd finished three shots; Guy, conversely, had only finished two. If Kakashi continued at this pace, however, he'd run the risk of burnout. "Come on, Guy," he taunted, snatching another drink. "What are you waiting for?"

At the end of the night, two cups remained on the serving tray. Both of them belonged to Kakashi.

Might Guy did a drunken victory lap around the table. He could hardly walk, let alone run. Each footfall was a gamble; he could collapse at any moment.

"You should've paced yourself," he slurred, slumping into a chair. He draped an arm over Kazumi's shoulders and mumbled in her ear, "My strategy…was far more superfluous."

"Superior." Kakashi corrected.

"Yes I am." Guy fell forward and hit his chin on the table. He was out like a light.

The game had continued for far too long. Kazumi sighed and checked her watch. It was already 9:34 p.m. By the time she climbed to bed, it would be past eleven.

"Alright," she said, "I need to get home." Kazumi wriggled away from Guy and stood up.

Kakashi climbed to his feet. He had to rely on the wall for support; one misstep and he'd end up like Guy. "I'll walk you to your apartment, Umi-chan."

"No," she corrected. "I'll walk you to my apartment." Kazumi pushed in her chair. "You can spend the night."

"With you?" Kakashi nearly tripped over a chair. He recovered just in time and gripped the edge of their table. Smooth.

"Not with me," Kazumi corrected, "with my couch – or rather, on my couch." She reached into her pocket and fished out a sizable tip for their waitress. Given the ruckus they had caused, it was the least she could do. "What about Guy? I don't think we should just…leave him here."

"He'll be fine, Umi." Kakashi waved a hand dismissively. "I wouldn't worry about it."

Kazumi left a few ryō on the table for Guy, too – just in case. At the very least, he could get something to eat once the hangover set in. He and Kakashi were in for a treat tomorrow.

"Let's go," she said, wrapping an arm around his waist. The scent of alcohol lingered on his breath. "Jeez," she muttered, "you smell like the bottom of a bottle."

The two of them exited the bar and turned in the direction of Kazumi's apartment. As they staggered down the street, she couldn't help but think of Kakashi's students; how would their training fare tomorrow? Maybe, she thought, they'll be the first group to pass the survival test.