The sea breeze clung heavy with salt as Raven and Yumi moved along the mist-shrouded coastline, the distant crash of waves a steady rhythm against the rocks. The land had grown damp and marshy, the air thick with moisture that beaded on Raven's mask. Yumi's tails swayed as she glanced sideways.
"How do you plan on finding Gato?" she asked, voice cool and probing. "That kind of man keeps his empire buried beneath layers of shadows."
Raven's reply came smooth, confident. "I'll talk to an information broker. And I know exactly where to find one."
A day later, they entered Kirishima Port, a bustling trade town alive with salt-stained markets, fishermen's calls, and the shouts of merchants unloading their cargo. Raven's eyes scanned the streets until they landed on a glowing casino front, lanterns burning through the drifting mist. A faint sense of nostalgia tugged at her chest, memories of Tsunade Senju and smoky gambling halls resurfacing — coins stacked high, lessons in risk and instinct whispered over the sound of dice.
"One of the best places to find an information broker is in a casino," Raven murmured.
Yumi narrowed her golden eyes. "Are you sure you don't just want to cheat with your Rinnegan and line your pockets?"
Raven chuckled softly. "Oh, Yumi… why not both? While we look for our broker, I may as well walk away richer. I happen to have fifty ryō on me."
Yumi rubbed her temple with a paw. "For a one-year-old, you're already breaking a dozen laws."
"I'm only one year old physically," Raven replied smoothly. "My reincarnation is much older."
"Whatever," Yumi muttered.
They pushed through the swinging doors into the casino. The air hit them thick — smoke, perfume, the clatter of dice and coins. Lanterns cast golden hues across tables crowded with gamblers. A roulette wheel spun lazily at the center of the room, its painted colors gleaming in the light.
Raven walked forward without hesitation, slapping her crisp 50 ryō onto the table. "Red. Seventeen."
The wheel turned. The ball clattered, bounced, and settled on 17 red. Murmurs rippled through the watching crowd as chips slid toward Raven.
Yumi eyed her sharply. "How did you—?"
Raven offered no explanation, only a faint tilt of her head. In truth, she had nudged the ball ever so slightly with her Rinnegan's pull of gravity.
Bet after bet followed. 100 ryō became 200. Two hundred became four. Four became eight. Eight climbed higher, each spin precise, each outcome inevitable. Soon, even the casual players had stopped to watch the masked gambler who won every round with unnerving certainty.
At the peak of the tension, Raven pushed her entire stack — 1,000 ryō — onto a single number. Gasps echoed as the wheel spun. The ball danced, teetered, and fell exactly where she had called it. Her pile doubled again.
Yumi muttered, "You're either a genius or a lunatic."
"Both," Raven replied, voice calm under the mask.
Time blurred. An hour later, Raven sat before a mountain of chips, nearly 100,000 ryō in total. The crowd buzzed with disbelief, whispers trailing in every direction.
She rose, gathered the winnings, and approached the cashier's counter. The woman behind it bowed nervously, her hands trembling as she looked at the tower of chips. "Madam, such an amount… it will take some time to count and exchange. Could you please wait in the lounge?"
Raven inclined her head, the gesture smooth and unhurried. "Of course. Take your time."
She and Yumi moved into the guest lounge — a quieter chamber beyond velvet curtains, lined with cushioned chairs that smelled faintly of salt and smoke. The chatter of the main floor dulled behind the walls, replaced with the muted hum of the sea outside.
Raven sank into one of the chairs, her mask catching the lantern glow, posture relaxed yet alert. Yumi lingered nearby, her tails brushing lazily across the floor, eyes fixed on the door.
Moments later, footsteps echoed. Slow, measured, deliberate. A shadow stretched across the room as a figure stepped inside, pausing just short of the lamplight.
The stranger's gaze fixed on Raven. After a long silence, their voice cut through the smoky air.
"You've drawn quite a bit of attention tonight."
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