The small, roadside teahouse buzzed with the low hum of travelers and clinking cups. You sat at a corner table with Sasuke, Karin, Jūgo, and Suigetsu—Taka in full, finally catching a break after days on the road.

Karin stirred her tea with a huff, “Finally. A place with decent seating. My legs were about to fall off.”

Jūgo nodded politely, quietly grateful for the peaceful moment.

Suigetsu leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head. “Man, I thought we were gonna starve before we hit civilization. I was this close to starting on Jūgo's ration bars.”

Across the room, a pair of rough-looking travelers whispered, clearly not subtle enough. One nudged the other, nodding toward you.

“...She with that group? Damn... I’d love to get a closer look at her. Bet she’s fun to play with.”

Suigetsu’s chair creaked sharply as he leaned forward. The grin on his face was gone, replaced by something darker.

“Hey,” he called out, too loud for it to be casual. “What was that you said?”

The men blinked, startled. “Mind your own business, pal.”

Suigetsu stood up, stretching his arms with a cracking sound that felt more like a warning. “See, nah. I was minding my business. Until I heard some bottom-feeding creep talking like that about someone in my group.”

Karin raised a brow. “Your group?”

“Shut up, I’m having a moment,” Suigetsu snapped, then turned back to the strangers. “Listen, I get to be the weird one around here. That’s my thing. You don’t get to be creepy. Not unless you want me to knock your teeth in.”

Sasuke didn’t even look up from his food. “Do it outside. Don’t get blood on the floor.”

Jūgo sighed softly, already preparing to drag Suigetsu back before things got out of hand.

Suigetsu gave the men one last sharp grin. “You’re lucky the boss is grumpy and the tea here’s not half-bad. Next time you even look at her sideways, you’ll be sipping dinner through a straw.”

The creeps scrambled out quickly, muttering apologies. Suigetsu plopped back into his seat with a smug grin, stealing a dumpling from your plate.

“See?” he said, mouth full. “Only I get to be a menace. It’s practically a trademark.”

Karin rolled her eyes. “And yet you wonder why no one invites you anywhere.”