"Big sis... all the chips here are already in your hands. If you want to continue... ha, haha, we'll have to go get some more from storage first."
The casino worker following Tsunade could no longer mask his nerves. At this point, his laughter was a mixture of anxiety and forced optimism — he didn't know what would happen next, but one thing he did know was that his job was definitely gone.
"Is that so?"
Tsunade cracked her knuckles, stretched lazily, and then decided it was time to stop playing.
It feels awesome to keep winning — people often get swept away by that sense of being unbeatable and unstoppable. Fortunately, Tsunade was a ninja; she wouldn't let herself become completely addicted… it was time to walk away.
She reached up, plucked a single chip off the top of the towering stack, gave it a light flick with her thumb, caught it in her palm, and closed her fist around it.
"I'm in a great mood right now... an unusually good one. So consider it my treat — everyone can split up the rest."
What she said was like tossing a lit match into a barrel of gasoline. In an instant, the entire casino erupted. For gamblers, those piled-up chips alone were already tempting enough, and they'd barely managed to restrain themselves from grabbing them earlier — only because Tsunade had already knocked out several people for trying to sneak chips away.
But now that she said this, it meant even she couldn't control what came next, unless she wiped everyone out at once.
Tsunade gracefully stepped aside as countless gamblers surged toward the chip pile. The clinking sounds of the small round chips collapsing and colliding became cheerfully musical.
The chips were real — but whether the grabbers could actually cash them in at the casino was an entirely different story.
Right now, Tsunade felt inexplicably happy — clearly more than just from winning a big game.
The only chip she kept was originally intended as proof to Haseo, who always mocked her gambling skills, showing that she truly could win. But after thinking about it, she eventually gave up on such a meaningless gesture.
Tsunade figured even if she did say something like that, Haseo still wouldn't believe her... but on this point, she was absolutely wrong. Not only would Haseo believe her, he'd probably take it extremely seriously.
Combined with the omen of Tsunade actually winning, plus the "First's Death Curse," who knows what might happen — but at the very least... someone's life could be in danger.
It was already past noon and the weather outside was nice. Tsunade casually handed the remaining chip to a child running down the street.
At that moment, Tsunade realized she was getting hungry. Keeping a healthy routine was really important to her — it's part of being a doctor who truly believes in preventive medicine and daily balance. Yet when she patted her pockets, she discovered she was completely broke — regardless of everything else, today was yet another day where she ended up with zero cash.
Just another day in the life.
If she wanted to eat, she'd have to go home.
Today was Uzumaki Yayoi's scheduled treatment day, so Tsunade had to return on time. It was also one of the reasons why that casino managed to avoid bankruptcy.
Yayoi's condition remained unchanged as always, but today's treatment was slightly different from previous sessions.
"Yayoi," Tsunade began, "after all this time, I'm sure you already understand your physical condition well enough. Because of the severe damage your body suffered during childhood, any treatment we provide now can only be gentle—done carefully so as not to backfire.
Introducing outside energy recklessly will only worsen your situation.
Truth is, medicine has its limits. What I've been giving you so far is the best we've got to keep things stable... at least for now.
So moving forward, there's no need for these repeated therapy sessions anymore... until I find a better way."
As she spoke, Tsunade handed a file folder containing documents to Uzumaki Yayoi.
Tsunade had temporarily standardized the treatment method for Yayoi, meaning it didn't necessarily have to be performed by her alone... receiving treatment in Konoha would simply be more convenient.
"I understand, Tsunade-sama."
Obediently nodding, Yayoi accepted the documents. Her childhood experiences had affected not only her physical health but also shaped her personality significantly.
She had no will of her own, always drifting along with whatever came her way — hardly ever pushing back or showing any real displeasure... naturally complying with Tsunade's instructions without question.
Even now, Yayoi was still more of a placeholder than a person — barely present, easily forgotten... just another background character in someone else's story. When would she finally start writing her own lines into existence?
That evening, Haseo noticed a slight change in his household standing.
"What now? Again? Seriously, why do I always end up on the floor?"
"'Again' is kind of the whole point here."
"Tsunade, disasters happen every second in this world. Some people lose their lives, while others' experiences barely rise to the level of grumbling about 'bad luck.'
But regardless of whether it's natural calamity or man-made misfortune, I believe it's wrong when someone unfortunate vents their anger onto unrelated people." Haseo sighed helplessly.
He suspected Tsunade had lost badly today, and because he cracked a few ill-timed jokes upon her arrival home, things ended up like this.
Luckily, he still didn't know the truth — that Tsunade had won over the entire casino.
Still, even with those words spoken, Haseo quickly located his designated spot — the floor.
Gentle moonlight poured through the open window into the second-floor bedroom. Yet no matter how soft the moonlight might be, it couldn't soften the hardness of the floor beneath him... Oddly enough, Haseo didn't mind sleeping on the floor sometimes — because it usually meant he'd be off the hook for chores later.
However, he also wondered whether Tsunade actually preferred this kind of hard board bed, since every time he slept on the floor, she would soon join him there.
"Yinsheng, are you asleep... I need to tell you something."
"Not yet. But if it's exhausting, then I'm already asleep right now."
Yeah, some people are like that—they fall asleep in an instant and always manage to doze off at just the right moment.
Tsunade leaned close to Yinsheng's ear and whispered something softly.
Yinsheng shot upright, then slowly lay back down again.
"So… Does this mean I've finally been freed from 'forced labor'?"
"…That's your reaction?"
Though Tsunade was clearly dissatisfied with Yinsheng's response, she couldn't help but think to herself, "Just like you."
"No no, I just... Well, honestly, I don't even know what to say right now.
After all, what needed to be done got done—even though it took an insane amount of effort and pain. Honestly, it was pretty much a blood-and-sweat saga.
But today, I've finally given you half of my very best—half my chromosomes."
Without a doubt, "Tsunade's great victory" meant nothing less than a life-or-death crisis.
"Yinsheng… Has anyone ever told you that you're always overly wordy?
I think sleeping on the floor still isn't enough—we should start sleeping in separate rooms. After all, I need to stay in a good mood."
Firstly, plenty of people had probably pointed out Yinsheng's verbosity before, but habits die hard, and Yinsheng himself never really intended to change.
Secondly, calling it a "blood-and-sweat saga" sounds harsh, almost as if negating the entire experience altogether.
"Huh?"
"You didn't understand? I said, get out."
Tsunade gave Yinsheng a powerful kick and sent him flying outside… Seems his husband status still has a long way to go—what uplifting news!
Unlike the usual "retreat without disappearing," from that day onward, Konoha heard absolutely nothing about the Haseo couple for a very long time.
True retirement means real disappearance.
A complete vanishing act.
P.S.:
Thank you to Shizaiweiren_ from Qidian for the generous coin reward—congrats on becoming the top patron of this book.
Thank you to Feng Sanwang (5000 coins), Hu Da Guyi (3000 coins), Ting De Jin Qu Suan Wo Shu and cmfrrr, each contributing 1000 coins.
Thank you to Zui Meng, Shuyou, Jiang Ge Ge, Yo Jiu A, and Sanyousei for your generous support.
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