I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 577 Men don't have the excuse of drunken promiscuity or being unable to control themselves; those are just pretexts.

"Come in."

Having just finished dealing with the issues of gold storage and Shukaku's placement, Tatsuma was pulled into a small tent by Yokura. This was not the command tent, but Yokura's living tent.

Tatsuma raised his hands and said, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"What's wrong? Didn't we say we'd talk when we got back?"

Ye Cang released his grip, frowned as he looked at Chenma's standard surrender gesture, and said, "I don't like looking at this face."

"Let's talk."

The vines on Tatsuma's face twitched, revealing his true nature, and he said, "Are we just going to stand here and talk like this?"

The command tent at least had tables and chairs, although they looked old and creaked with the slightest movement, but at least you could sit and talk. Ye Cang's tent, on the other hand, only had a cot and a box for personal belongings underneath, with nowhere to sit.

You can't exactly sit on the bed, can you?

Ye Cang bent down and pulled out a box from under the bed, saying, "There's a place to sit."

As she spoke, she opened the box, took out two bottles of wine, hooked the box shut with her foot, and then kicked it next to Tatsuma. Tatsuma sat down and caught the wine that Yekura threw to him.

Looking at the somewhat faded label, Tatsuma said, "They probably don't know, but I don't have bad habits like smoking or drinking."

"You've never drunk alcohol before?"

Yecang was somewhat skeptical. Although ninjas were required to abide by the three prohibitions, especially underage ninjas, alcohol, sex, and gambling were strictly controlled. However, precisely because these prohibitions were so strict, many ninjas couldn't wait to break them when they came of age.

Although Yekura didn't rush to break her vow, she wasn't as wary of alcohol as she was when she was a minor, especially after becoming a Jonin, when attending drinking parties even became a necessary form of socializing.

Logically speaking, Tatsuma should be more familiar with these procedures, since he is more popular in Konoha than in Sunagakure, and more people should want to befriend him at the dinner table or drinking party.

"I just try to avoid drinking as much as possible. Alcohol is not good for the body, especially it can cause irreversible damage to the nervous and cardiovascular systems, so try to avoid drinking as much as possible."

As Tatsuma spoke, he made no attempt to unscrew the bottle caps. These two bottles of wine were a bit old and probably not cheap. Although Yekura had paid for them, wasting money was not a good habit.

Although he, Sakamoto Tatsuma, committed murder, arson, and planned wars, causing countless families to be displaced, he was a thrifty and hardworking good kid who supported the CD operation and would turn off the water and electricity when he left.

Over the years, the only time I've intentionally wasted food was a few days ago, but that chef's cooking skills were, in fact, wasting food.

"Stop talking nonsense."

Yecang didn't believe that Tatsuma would be a model student. He snatched the unopened bottle from Tatsuma's hand and then placed his own opened bottle in Tatsuma's hand.

"Ton ton ton~"

Yecang opened the bottle of wine in his hand, tilted his head back and drank half of it. Chenma hesitated for a moment and then chose to drink with him, saying, "You drink, I'll drink casually."

He even lectured, "Brewing wine is a waste of food and water. I think you, as a member of the Land of Wind, should understand this even better, and should even actively resist alcohol."

"This was imported from your Land of Fire."

"That's alright then."

Tatsuma pressed the bottle neck to his lips, turned the bottle upside down, applied a tiny bit of the bottle to his lips, and then put the bottle down.

"When adults tease children, they dip their chopsticks in more alcohol than you drink."

Ye Cang said dismissively, but Chen Ma didn't fall for this low-level provocation. Holding the wine bottle, he seemed to have no intention of moving again.

Seeing that Tatsuma refused to continue drinking, Yekura didn't press him further. Instead, he tilted his head back and took another large gulp, then asked, "What is your purpose in coming here?"

"How about this answer: I'll help you fight against Rasa?"

"Not very good."

Sitting on her bed, Yekura said, "Would anyone be happy because of failure?"

Perhaps that wasn't the whole reason, but Tatsuma did come to help her. However, this didn't make Yekura happy, because only those who are backward or have failed need help from others.

In her competition with Rasa, Yokura was indeed at a disadvantage, but that did not mean she hoped to receive Tatsuma's assistance as a result.

The two don't have much of a relationship, but in their past interactions, Ye Cang has always been at a disadvantage. One of her biggest wishes right now is to be able to stand on equal footing with the guy in front of her.

At least you can look the other person in the eye on equal terms, instead of being a one-sided recipient of help. Some people use the help they receive from others as proof of their social skills, and even take pride in it.

But Yekura wouldn't do that. She has something she wants to prove, and she hopes that if she wins, the decisive factor will be herself, not this kind of charity from others.

However, the mismatch between her ideals and abilities led her into a situation where, without help, she was destined to fail.

"Ton ton ton~"

The bitter wine stung his throat and his heart ached. Ye Cang raised his head and drank it down, then put down the bottle, staring intently at Tatsuma. Tatsuma also raised his bottle and then kissed his lips again.

He gently licked the wine that had seeped into his mouth with his tongue, and his face, which was slightly contorted with emotion, showed that he did not like the taste.

When do you plan to leave?

Yekura suddenly asked a question. Ever since she learned that "Ginpachi-san" was Sakamoto Tatsuma, Yekura knew that he wouldn't stay here for long.

"I don't know. The Chunin Exams are coming up soon, and my students will probably be participating. As their instructor, I should go back."

Chenma wanted to cross his legs, but the box was a bit short, making the movement look a little awkward, so he gave up after trying it once.

Yecang brushed her hair aside and said, "That was a very lucky child, wasn't it? To have you by his side as he grew up."

"It's a pity that I'm not a responsible teacher. I've never been one. Whether it's that child or the other students, I've never been there for them as they grow. What they become is the result of their efforts or their laziness."

"Was your lecture that day a demonstration of your teaching abilities?"

Yekura was referring to the classroom where the two had met a few days earlier, where "Ginpachi-sensei" had given a subpar lesson as the teacher.

Chenma scratched the stubble on his lip, then shook his head and said, "That was an act."

"I told you, how could you be so bad?"

"I'm not usually that patient."

After Tatsuma finished speaking, Yekura was silent for a moment, and her gaze towards Tatsuma became strange. That day in class, Tatsuma's impatience with those children was completely undisguised.

Is this really the patient demeanor that Tatsuma is portraying?

If he wasn't lying, then being his student might really not be a lucky thing.

"It's hard to imagine that someone like you would have things he's not good at."

Yekura took a sip of her drink to hide her embarrassment, while Tatsuma shrugged and said casually, "What kind of person am I?"

"Hmm, powerful, intelligent, rational to the point of being ruthless? And also annoying."

The conversation had barely begun when the bottle in Yecang's hand was already empty. She casually tossed the bottle aside, leaned over and snatched the nearly empty bottle from Tatsuma's hand, and started drinking again.

Tatsuma gently rubbed his now empty hands and said, "You really are shallow. I thought you could see through these halos to the deeper layers of me."

As he spoke, Tatsuma's tone was filled with loneliness. Yekura raised her eyes and asked, "Under the spotlight, what kind of person are you?"

"A handsome face, a sexy physique, and... outstanding strengths."

"roll!"

Although she had a premonition that Tatsuma wouldn't say anything serious, Yekura still couldn't help but roll her eyes when she heard his reply.

Yekura stared at Tatsuma, unable to understand why someone who could talk about dirty jokes so seriously couldn't even understand her almost explicit hints once.

Or did he understand, but simply choose not to respond? If so, why doesn't he respond? Is it because he refuses to respond to her, or because he doesn't get a response from anyone else?

"Are you someone who strictly adheres to the three ninja prohibitions?"

Yekura lay down on the bed, turning her head to look at Tatsuma. Tatsuma replied, "Probably."

"No. You're a gambler, the biggest gambler in the ninja world, but even you're not as fond of gambling as someone else."

Yekura's words began to become somewhat incoherent. She continued to drink alcohol while lying in bed. If it weren't for her years of ninja training, she would probably have either spilled the alcohol on the bed or choked on it.

The three forbidden things for ninjas—alcohol, lust, and gambling—do not refer to drinking, lust, and gambling, but rather to the lack of morality when drunk, the loss of judgment when lustful, and insatiable greed.

On the surface, Tatsuma is a ninja who almost never violates the three ninja taboos, but he is also the person who most likes to break ninja taboos, and an out-and-out gambler.

Chenma's gambling behavior has gone beyond the bounds of reason and rationality, yet this same person adheres to the prohibitions against sex and alcohol.

Although she didn't explain the background, Tatsuma understood. He took the wine that was almost gone from Yekura's hand, even though he knew Yekura couldn't possibly be drunk so early.

"My greed has always been measured. I am greedy when others are fearful, and fearful when others are greedy. I understand what I want. All processes are just processes, and I will not indulge in them."

Someone like me is very boring. Don't be fooled by your brain; the person it constructs can be anyone, but it won't be anyone real, including me.

As he spoke, he picked up the bottle cap from the ground, put it back in, stood up, pulled the blanket from Ye Cang's bed, covered her with it, then turned and walked towards the tent exit. After taking two steps, he stopped and said:

"Remember to take off your ninja tool bag and shoes after I leave."

After saying that, his face was covered with vines, transforming into the face of "Mr. Ginpachi," and he lifted the curtain and went out.

Yekura, who had already reached for her waist to untie her ninja tool pouch, paused, twisting her body and craning her neck to look at the gently swaying curtain.

"Stinky man"

A cold wind swept across his face, and Tatsuma let out a long breath. Even in the height of summer, the desert night was unusually cool, but Tatsuma didn't need the cold wind to help him calm down.

Because he couldn't help himself. As a man, Tatsuma knew what "can't help himself" meant; it simply meant he hadn't truly understood what responsibility was.

Tatsuma already understood, and therefore, not wanting to take on those responsibilities, he could endure everything.

Anyone with a mature mind can control their spirit and flesh, and it's not difficult, it's just a little regrettable.

(End of this chapter)