Naruto: Drinking Makes You Stronger

"Kisame Hoshigaki... that's a real monster!"

The words hung in the air as the Kumogakure (Cloud Village) ninja, watching from a distance, realized the power they were dealing with.

"Konoha's brat, let's see how long you can keep your pride," one of them muttered, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Inuzuka Aki, Hyuga Haruki, and Aburame Yūnashi —a three-person squad—darted through the dense forest, their movements swift and purposeful.

"I'm so fed up with this ridiculous sticker!" Aki growled, his frustration boiling over.

"Aki, you've been complaining nonstop," Haruki replied, his brow twitching in irritation.

The situation wasn't any better for Haruki. While Aki and Yūnashi had placed their stickers on their foreheads, which looked silly but manageable, Haruki's sticker was right in the center of his brow. To make matters worse, it was adorned with a small, bright red flower—a humiliation to the proud Hyuga clan.

"Haruki, you—"

"Pfft! Hahahaha!"

Aki turned to speak but immediately burst into laughter when he caught sight of Haruki's absurd sticker.

"Aki, you jerk!" Haruki snapped, his face reddening in anger.

Suddenly, a sharp crack of electricity echoed through the woods.

"Lightning Release—Strike Bolt!"

A bolt of lightning tore through the trees, heading straight for the Konoha trio.

"Get down!"

Yūnashi reacted instantly, yanking Aki and Haruki to the ground just in time. The three tumbled into a heap, groaning in pain.

"Konoha's brats, quick on your feet, aren't you?" mocked one of the Kumogakure ninjas as he emerged from the shadows.

"How dare you attack us!" Aki growled, struggling to his feet despite the pain.

Yūnashi and Haruki were equally angered but bore visible injuries. Haruki's Byakugan had failed to detect the ambush in time, while Yūnashi's arm was partially paralyzed from the lightning strike.

The Kumogakure ninja sneered, noticing the stickers.

"What's with those stupid stickers on your foreheads? Konoha's finest? More like clowns!"

Aki's face burned with humiliation. The mocking laughter only fueled his rage.

"You bastards!" he roared, charging recklessly at the enemy.

"Aki, stop!" Yūnashi and Haruki shouted, but their injuries made it impossible to intervene.

"Fang Over Fang!"

With a fierce battle cry, Aki and his ninken spun through the air like twin drills, aiming directly at the Kumogakure group.

"Lightning Release—Blade of Thunder!"

Electricity crackled as the Kumogakure leader retaliated, striking back with precision. The battle escalated, with sparks and debris flying in all directions.

"Aki, are you okay?" Yūnashi asked, his voice strained as he struggled to stand.

"Cough! Cough!" Aki wheezed, clutching his ribs. "Damn it! That hurt."

Haruki activated his Byakugan, scanning the area. The Kumogakure ninjas stood unscathed, their Lightning Release techniques proving superior.

"These guys are no ordinary opponents," Haruki muttered, his frustration mounting. Yūnashi surveyed the battlefield, her insects scattered and charred. Their team was at a severe disadvantage.

"Konoha's losers, is this all you've got?" one of the Kumogakure ninjas taunted. "And that little red flower on your forehead? It suits you, Hyuga."

Haruki's fists clenched, his veins throbbing with anger.

Another ninja sneered, pointing at Aki. "That dog of yours looks tasty. Maybe we'll have some roasted ninken tonight."

Aki's temper flared, and he ripped the humiliating sticker off his forehead, stomping on it furiously.

"These damn stickers ruined everything!" he snarled.

But as he glanced at his injured teammates, guilt washed over him. His impulsive actions had worsened their situation.

The Kumogakure leader smirked, raising his hand for another attack.

"This ends now."

But before he could strike, a powerful slash of wind tore through the battlefield, forcing everyone to freeze.

"Enough."

Emerging from the shadows, Leo stepped forward, his sword gleaming ominously under the faint light.

"You dare mock Konoha?" he said coldly, his eyes filled with menace.

The Kumogakure ninjas instantly went on high alert.

"That sword... could it be the legendary Shusui?" one of them whispered, fear creeping into his voice.

Leo smirked, his grip tightening on the hilt.

"Let me show you what happens when you cross Konoha."

Just as all hope seemed lost, a figure emerged from the dense forest.

"That's..." Haruki Hyuga and Yūnashi exclaimed simultaneously, their eyes wide in surprise.

"Who?!" The three Cloud ninjas turned at once, only to spot a lone figure staggering out from the shadows of the trees.

"Huh? It's that drunk kid," one of the Cloud ninjas scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Looks like we can deal with all of you in one go. Konoha must be truly blessed today."

The three laughed mockingly, pleased to see an easy target stumbling right into their grasp.

From the observation room in Konoha, the tension was palpable. Several shinobi leaned closer to the screens displaying the events in the forest.

"That's Leo," Haruki Hyuga whispered, his voice tinged with both relief and desperation. "Leo, please, help us!"

Leo shifted slightly, his head tilting toward the sound of Haruki's plea. His gaze, however, remained fixated on the bottle of wine in his hand.

"Just a few clowns, and they think they can compare to this masterpiece?" Leo muttered under his breath, his tone almost dismissive.

"Drink... or save it?" he mused aloud, staring at the last bottle of wine as if it were a priceless treasure. His face was a storm of indecision, torn between savoring its contents or preserving it for later.

"Leo!" Haruki called again, his voice more urgent now.

But Leo remained silent, engrossed in his internal struggle.

"Forget it!" Inuzuka Aki growled, wincing as he tried to stand. "This guy's useless! Yūnashi and I will figure out a way to escape."

Haruki, however, shook his head. "Don't be so quick to judge. If he were truly just a drunk, the village wouldn't have put him in the exam."

Meanwhile, one of the Cloud ninjas stepped forward, his sword crackling with electricity.

"Let me handle this," he said, smirking.

But their leader raised a hand to stop him, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"Wait. That kid seems to care about that bottle of wine," the leader sneered. "Let's destroy it first."

With a flick of his wrist, the leader hurled a kunai aimed directly at the bottle.

Leo, sensing the attack, instinctively tilted his body.

"Whoosh!"

The kunai missed by a hair, but the sudden movement caused some of the wine to spill, dripping onto the forest floor.

"Tick—tick—tick."

The sound of the liquid hitting the ground echoed in the silent tension that followed.

"Ahahaha! Look at that idiot!" one of the Cloud ninjas jeered, clutching his stomach in laughter.

"Big brother's strategy is brilliant! This is too funny."

The leader chuckled darkly, already preparing for another strike. "It doesn't matter if I missed. Let's finish him off."

From the Konoha observation room, the mood shifted.

"These fools," a seasoned shinobi muttered, shaking his head. "They're toying with the wrong person."

He recalled the reports of Leo's earlier battles, where his drunken state masked terrifying strength and precision.

"Maybe if they run now, they'll survive," the shinobi thought, though doubt crept into his mind. The Cloud trio's Lightning Release skills were formidable, but against Leo, even their speed might not be enough.

Back in the forest, Leo stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the spilled wine. His hand clenched around the bottle as his eyes turned a menacing scarlet.

"You dared to waste my last bottle of wine," he growled, his voice low and filled with an ominous fury.

The air around him shifted, crackling with an unseen energy.

Ding! The Host's anger has reached critical levels!

Ding! Entering the Violent State of Wine!

The Violent State of Wine: Upon entering this state, the user gains enhanced strength, speed, and precision. Side effects: None (as long as more wine is available).

As the system's notifications rang in his mind, Leo stepped forward, his movements fluid yet lethal.

The Cloud ninjas faltered, sensing the change. The mocking smirks disappeared from their faces, replaced by a flicker of unease.

Unbeknownst to them, they had awakened a monster.