"Tch. Where'd this little brat come from?"
Tsunade was staring daggers at the table when a kid suddenly popped up and, without hesitation, slammed all his money down on Small.
"And since when do casinos let kids gamble?"
She snorted internally—then her eyes narrowed.
The dealer looked completely unconcerned… and Tsunade even caught a faint chakra response.
Genjutsu?
So the dealer was likely under some kind of illusion.
"How boring."
After a brief thought, Tsunade decided she couldn't be bothered.
She'd been "traveling" for years—this sort of thing wasn't rare.
"But trying to beat me?" she thought coldly. "You're dreaming."
The dealer stopped shaking the cup and opened it.
Tsunade's expression stiffened.
"Small wins. Lady Tsunade… you lost again."
The dealer was drenched in sweat, but his eyes were glittering with excitement.
What a cash cow.
She really did seem cursed—no matter what she bet, she lost. At first, he hadn't believed anyone could be that unlucky.
Now?
He believed.
"Damn it!"
Tsunade slammed her fist onto the table—careful not to use real strength, or the whole thing would've been reduced to splinters.
She looked down.
Not a single chip left.
After a brief pause, she barked, "I'm borrowing money. Casino—lend me a hundred thousand."
"Lady Tsunade," Shizune finally snapped, "didn't you say that was the last round?"
One arm hugging the pink pig, the other tugging Tsunade's sleeve, Shizune pleaded, "Let's go. Enough is enough."
"No." Tsunade stood up and fixed the dealer with a cold stare. "Another hundred thousand."
The dealer's face twisted. After struggling for a while, he spoke carefully.
"Lady Tsunade… you already owe this casino five hundred thousand."
"And based on your current ability to repay—plus what other houses have shared about your… reputation…"
"We can't lend you any more."
"And, uh—by the way, your previous debt is due tomorrow."
"If you can't pay by then…"
"And if I can't?" Tsunade's brow arched.
The dealer forced a smile, sweat pouring down his face.
"Then your debt automatically increases to six hundred thousand."
"We hope you'll raise the money as soon as possible."
"Bastards. Stingy as hell." Tsunade muttered.
Still, she didn't lash out.
Her luck was terrible, but her character wasn't—she didn't beat civilians just because she was tilted.
As for her gambling "ethics"…
If she truly went insane from losing, she would default.
Six hundred thousand—what was she supposed to pay with?
"Hmph. Fine, fine. Tomorrow," Tsunade said lazily. "Shizune, we're leaving."
She strode out without looking back. Shizune froze for a beat, then hurried after her.
"Finally," Shizune sighed once they were outside, relief washing over her.
Then her face fell.
"Wait… six hundred thousand. Where are we supposed to get that?"
"Get what?" Tsunade was calm now, her head clear—even as her chest bounced like stormy waves with each step.
"We're leaving. Now."
"Who said I'm paying?"
"That's basically loan shark money. You think you can scam me? Hah."
"Lady Tsunade…" Shizune looked like she was about to cry.
This was really okay?
"Found them! They're there!"
A shout rang out.
They looked up to see a mob charging toward them with clubs and staves.
Shizune's face went stiff.
Collectors.
She didn't even know which town's debts these were anymore.
"Tch. Again?" Tsunade looked more annoyed than alarmed.
She'd dealt with this plenty of times.
She could always run.
Both of them were elite shinobi—never mind Tsunade, even Shizune wasn't weak.
If they wanted, they could drop a crowd of civilians in seconds.
But Tsunade's morals meant she wouldn't strike ordinary people.
She glanced around, then grinned.
"Alright, Shizune. Get ready to run."
"When we hit the next city, I'll treat you to a real feast."
"Lady Tsunade…" Shizune was caught between laughing and despair.
Tsunade's smile widened. "Then let's go. We'll race—see who—hm?"
Her expression snapped tight.
The smile vanished.
Something in her gaze sharpened into danger.
"Who's there?" Tsunade barked. "Come out!"
"What? There's someone else?" The collectors flinched.
They weren't ignorant of who they were chasing.
Tsunade's name—one of the Sannin—was far more famous than her "fat sheep" gambling legend.
They only dared come because Tsunade was notorious for not attacking civilians.
If she were anyone else, the casino owner would've swallowed the loss.
They searched frantically, found no one, and the collectors finally calmed down—then immediately got bold again.
"Quit bluffing! Pay up! O-or we'll tell every other house—no one will let you gamble again!"
"Shut up." Tsunade didn't even look at them.
Her eyes were locked on the shadowed corner behind a wall.
"Stop hiding. I can already feel your presence. Come out."
Then—
A low, heavy voice spoke from the darkness.
"Didn't expect to run into you here… Tsunade."
A tall figure stepped out, unhurried.
"Lady Tsunade… it's the Fourth Raikage!" Shizune recognized him instantly, her face turning grim.
"Heh. So it's someone important," Tsunade said, voice edged with mockery—though her eyes were cautious now.
She had no idea why the Fourth Raikage would be here.
"Since we all know who we're dealing with," the Fourth Raikage said calmly, ignoring the collectors entirely, "this becomes simple."
"One of my men was injured."
"I was considering how to treat him… and then I met you."
"So do me a favor."
"Save my subordinate."
"I'll deal with these debt-collectors as your payment. How about it?"
"You people from Kumo think you have the right to ask Konoha for help?" Tsunade tilted her head, still guarded.
"Don't forget—you tried to steal the Hyūga clan's Byakugan."
"And wasn't that resolved between the villages?" the Raikage raised an eyebrow.
Tsunade shook her head, unimpressed.
"Typical words from someone who already got what they wanted."
"This time what did you do? Let me guess—stole another village's secret technique?"
The Raikage sighed, but his gaze turned sharp.
"So it won't be easy."
"If you won't cooperate…"
"Then I'll force you."
"How interesting," Tsunade said, sober now—no alcohol, no blur, only steel.
"Do you even realize who you're speaking to?"
In an instant, both their presences surged—so dense they felt physical.
The collectors were blown off their feet like leaves in a storm.
A fight between shinobi wasn't something civilians could be near—
especially not between Tsunade and the Fourth Raikage.
The two stood facing each other, neither moving yet.
Then both of them noticed something.
Three figures were walking toward them.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
"…That kid from earlier."
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