"Naruto-kun, this flower is so pretty!"
"Naruto-kun, hurry up!"
"Naruto-kun, come look — there are fish in this creek!"
"Naruto-kun…"
Hinata finally loosened up. Without Sasuke looming over them, she moved around the rocky ridgelines with an almost childlike joy, her soft voice flirting like a little song. Naruto strolled beside her, smiling, watching her dart back and forth like a swallow.
Hinata didn't often get to be this free — she was flushed and bright-eyed, thrilled to be with the person she cared about. Around other people she closed down; the Hyūga upbringing still showed. But alone with Naruto she relaxed into herself.
"What kind of person is Tsunade-sama?" Hinata asked.
"She's someone who will surprise you," Naruto answered.
"I'll be surprised then," she giggled.
"How did you know she's on Tantan Street?" she asked.
"I have intelligence channels," Naruto said. "I want to build a future for you, Hinata. To do that I've got to make money — lots of it. I'll work for you."
"You say that all the time. Say something new."
"Fine — I'm great, got it?" Naruto teased.
They walked and whispered to each other the whole way, like an old couple in training. The crowded market of Short Book Street bustled around them. Hinata peeked around anxiously. "Where is Tsunade-sama?"
"Follow me," Naruto said and headed straight toward the Victory Casino. Hinata's jaw dropped. Princess Tsunade — granddaughter of the First Hokage and one of Konoha's legendary Sannin — at a casino? Unthinkable.
At a gaming table, the dealer urged players to bet. People hesitated, waiting for the woman in green to move first. She shoved a huge stack of chips forward. The other gamblers grinned and bet against her. The dealer called the roll. "One… three… four… eight—small!" The gamblers laughed. Tsunade ground her teeth but tried to hold her composure.
"Shizune, where are the new chips?" she snapped.
"We're almost out of funds," said the woman next to her, worried.
The gamblers saw Tsunade as a walking bank. As she hesitated, someone behind her shouted, "She's done for today!" and suddenly slammed the table. The table split; dice and chips tumbled into a mess. Silence fell. No one dared to mock Tsunade — she never used ninja force for gambling, and she accepted losses like a person of honor.
Then a voice from behind rang out. "Not today. Tsunade-sama is not gambling."
The dealer panicked and scrambled, promising more chips and apologies. Tsunade whirled; the imposing figure who had spoken stepped up and tapped the table. The table shuddered under his touch. Naruto's presence made the casino tremble. Gamblers screamed and fled.
Tsunade bristled. "Who are you? What are you doing?" she demanded. She recognized the Konoha forehead protector on Naruto and Hinata and got more serious.
Naruto smiled politely but didn't answer her question. He turned to the casino manager: "Don't let Tsunade into your casino again. If you do, I'll tear this place down. Consider this a warning."
Naruto's tone wasn't loud, but it left no doubt. The room went quiet. Tsunade's chest rose and fell with anger, but facing Naruto's steady eyes she didn't know what to say. Shizune stared at Naruto with something like awe.
The casino manager bowed and promised to ban Tsunade in the future, begging forgiveness. Naruto allowed Tsunade and Shizune to leave first. She shot him an angry glare, and then strode out. Shizune clutched her little piglet and hurried after her.
Naruto and Hinata walked out behind them, unhurried and relaxed — their private walk continued exactly as if nothing monumental had just happened.
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