The first place Naruto had looked had been the wrong place, of course. That didn't mean he didn't have to try there first. After all, it may well be things were relatively back to normal at least on some level when it came to people's routines.
Using the sage jutsu to cut down his search might have been cheating a little bit, but it also had a sense of appropriateness to it. The answer wasn't really any surprise to him, but it did cut down a bit of searching time. And considering things, that might be rather important.
Naruto walked into the bar and headed toward the back. The barkeep took a look at him and nodded. His target was at the back of the bar, almost hunched over it. A large sake bottle was being used like crutch to keep her from falling into the bar, her other hand under her chin.
Her eyes seemed to be looking at the mirrored surface behind the bar itself. Naruto didn't have any doubts she didn't see anything. He'd seen that look on his own face, when reflecting inward.
"Granny Tsunade?" She started very mildly and looked to Naruto as he went to sit in the stool next to him. Some customers decided it was time to move elsewhere as he did. He didn't know if it was for respect or fear of collateral damage. It didn't matter, it made things easier. He'd have to try to figure out a way to show gratitude later.
"Oh, Naruto... I was.." She looked at the sake bottle, her cheeks in a very mild flush. Naruto recalled Pervy Sage actually described it like the touch of rose to porcelain... usually when his own nose and cheeks had more in common with red paint. He smiled at the recollection, even so.
"Well." She smiled faintly herself. At his smile, or at her own thoughts similar... he didn't know. "I suppose I could do something novel and say the truth. I was drinking to Jiraiya's memory."
"Do it a bit more than the one time, I'd say...." Naruto shook head quickly before she started to respond. "No, I'm not criticizing. I..." He considered and took a breath. "Granny... can I ask you two questions? They're kind of important to me."
"Oh? Why me?" The eyes looked to him much more sharply. He smiled a bit more tightly, then matched that look back. Good, this was the Granny he did need to ask these things of.
"Because you know a lot more about all of us than, well, I do sometimes. Also, Pervy Sage... well, you're one of the few I think he'd have me ask these things." He grabbed at the back of his head in wry embarassment. "Even if he probably would have given me advice to ignore."
"Showing he'd already taught you well enough to know people's strengths and weaknesses." She snorted lightly. "Though I don't know I can agree with your assessment. Go on, though, ask."
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(Posted Mon, 28 Jun 2010 04:14)
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