It was worth mentioning that Naruto kindly closed the door behind himself as he left.
This wave of assistance made Jiraiya deeply grateful. He looked at Tsunade standing across the room, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. Finally, Jiraiya broke the silence. "Tsunade!"
Hearing his call, Tsunade turned her head and glanced at him. "Shut up."
Jiraiya's mouth closed with embarrassment. In front of Tsunade, he never had any confidence.
Tsunade walked over and pressed his arm experimentally. "Do you feel anything here?"
Jiraiya shook his head. Tsunade continued pressing downward in different spots.
"Tsunade, stop pressing." Jiraiya sighed heavily. "My whole body can't move except my neck. I don't know what technique Naruto used on me."
Tsunade spoke bitterly. "You deserve it. That's what you get for going to a hot spring hotel to peek at girls bathing. I think there must have been someone important to Naruto among the people you spied on. Otherwise, with Naruto's character, he wouldn't have gone this hard on you."
Jiraiya lowered his head, speaking with unusual honesty. "Naruto's girlfriend was there."
"Then you definitely deserve it!" Tsunade glared at him again with renewed anger. "If you don't change this peeping habit of yours, you'll keep doing it in the future. Next time, I won't heal you. By the way, this time I'm only healing you for Naruto's sake."
"I know, I know." Jiraiya nodded helplessly. He wanted to pat his chest in assurance but couldn't move. "Don't worry. I definitely won't do things like... gathering material... in the future."
"Whether you go or not is none of my business!" Tsunade pulled out her medical tools. Still, after hearing Jiraiya's promise, she felt slightly pleased.
Why am I happy about that? Tsunade's thoughts shifted, and she muttered, "A man's mouth is full of lies."
While Tsunade worked on treating Jiraiya inside, Naruto emerged from the room. Before he could speak, Kakashi interrupted. "Naruto, you all go have fun. I'm tired and want to rest."
In truth, Kakashi had been following them for days without a chance to read Icha Icha Paradise. Now that they'd finally stopped, he couldn't resist finding an excuse to indulge. He hadn't read in so long. He was starving for it.
"Okay, Kakashi-sensei. Go rest." Naruto didn't suspect anything. After Kakashi turned and left, Naruto addressed Sakura and Shizune. "Sakura, Shizune, why don't we go shopping? Buy whatever you want. Sasuke will pay for today's expenses."
"Oh! That's wonderful, Naruto!" Sakura exclaimed happily.
The pig-holding girl Shizune's eyes also lit up with sparkling anticipation. "Really, Hokage-sama? I haven't gone shopping in so long! Tsunade-sensei has been gambling constantly. Where would I get money for shopping?"
"Of course." Naruto nodded with complete seriousness. Sure enough, there are seventy ways to make girls happy. One of them is shopping. The rest is... well.
"What do you think, Sasuke?" Naruto looked at his friend. Sakura and Shizune turned their expectant gazes on Sasuke as well.
Sasuke ignored their hopeful expressions. He spread his hands dismissively. "Why should I pay? I won't do it."
Hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto immediately pulled him aside, turning their backs to Sakura and Shizune. He spoke quietly. "Sasuke, have you forgotten what your brother Itachi told you before he died? You have to work harder to restore the Uchiha family. You pay the bill, and Shizune and Sakura will have a good impression of you. That way, you can restore the Uchiha family."
Sasuke glanced at Naruto. "That was about Itachi. Now, didn't you give me the Reincarnation Technique? I'll learn it as soon as possible and revive Itachi. Then he can produce one hundred children per year."
"The reincarnation technique—we haven't solved its drawbacks yet. If you use it, you'll die. That's not good." Naruto patiently explained. "You can use it after we solve the problems. But that takes time. Maybe it'll be too late by then."
"Naruto, although what you're saying sounds correct, I always feel like you're tricking me." Sasuke looked at Naruto with deep suspicion, his eyes full of distrust.
"Tricking you?" Hearing Sasuke's accusation, Naruto felt genuinely offended. Anger colored his expression. "What is our relationship? We're best friends. Even family members. How could I trick you? Sasuke, it really disappoints me when you say that."
"Are you really doing this for my own good?" Sasuke's suspicious gaze didn't waver.
"Of course!" Naruto nodded, throwing an arm around Sasuke's shoulders. "It's just a little money. You're sitting on the entire Uchiha clan's property. This money is nothing. You won't lose anything."
After speaking, Naruto pulled Sasuke back in front of Sakura and Shizune. "Sakura, Sister Shizune—Sasuke was just joking with you. Right, Sasuke?" Naruto looked at him pointedly.
Sasuke met Naruto's gaze, then glanced at Sakura and Shizune. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. Whatever you want, just buy it."
"Oh! I knew Sasuke wasn't a stingy person!" Sakura latched onto Sasuke's arm enthusiastically.
Shizune also bowed. "Thank you, Sasuke."
Sasuke withdrew his arm without any hesitation. He turned to Naruto. "Then let's go."
On the busy street, Sakura and Shizune showed tremendous interest in shops selling cosmetics and perfumes. After all, they were girls. Girls loved beauty. And boys loved beautiful girls.
Shizune hadn't gone shopping in ages—mainly because she'd had no money. Even meal money had to be hidden and carefully rationed. Where would spare funds for shopping come from? Now, with the handsome Uchiha boy hosting and paying, Shizune didn't hold back.
Girls seemed born with a talent for shopping. They never knew fatigue. By evening, they'd eaten dinner out. Even at night, Sakura and Shizune maintained their peak energy.
On the way back, both girls carried bags large and small—half filled with clothes, the other half with cosmetics and perfumes. Both wore brilliant smiles, still discussing enthusiastically which store had the best quality products.
Naruto and Sasuke followed behind. Sasuke's face had darkened considerably, though definitely not from spending money. The amount Sakura and Shizune had spent was barely a hair on Sasuke's leg in terms of his total wealth. His black expression came from a different source: shopping was incredibly boring. Moreover, it wasted time.
"I should have just trained instead," Sasuke muttered darkly.
"Sasuke, think of it as relaxation." Naruto smiled, trying to enlighten his friend.
Back at the inn, Kakashi and Tsunade had just finished their meal. Kakashi had paid, naturally—Tsunade was completely broke. As for Jiraiya, the hotel staff would feed him in his room.
Seeing Naruto's group of four, Tsunade's eyes lit up immediately. She walked over. "Naruto! You're back. Don't worry about Jiraiya's injury. In three or four days, he'll be able to move freely."
"Then I'd like to thank Sister Tsunade for your hard work." Naruto's gratitude was sincere.
"Um..." Tsunade glanced at her student Shizune, then pulled Naruto aside. She whispered, "Naruto, can you lend me some money?"
She rubbed her fingers together, addressing Naruto with embarrassment. Borrowing money from someone younger—if she hadn't really developed a serious gambling addiction, she would never have asked Naruto for money.
Naruto didn't need to guess. He knew Tsunade wanted to gamble again. As someone younger, when his elder had bad habits, Naruto naturally felt obligated to advise her. "Sister Tsunade, you lose nine out of ten bets. Your gambling luck is terrible. You can only lose. I don't recommend gambling."
"Oh, Naruto, I know!" Tsunade spoke urgently. "But this kind of thing must be quit little by little. Everything can't be done overnight. Naruto, I don't want much. Just lend me ten thousand."
"Ten thousand?" Naruto shook his head. "I only have one thousand with me. The rest of the money was spent by Sakura and Sister Shizune shopping."
"That Shizune, spending money so lavishly without any sense!" Tsunade grumbled quietly. "One thousand is one thousand. Give it to me quickly, Naruto. I can't help myself."
Naruto pulled one thousand ryō from his pocket and placed it in Tsunade's hand. "I'm telling you the truth—there's really only one thousand."
Tsunade couldn't wait to snatch it. "I'll pay you back, Naruto. When I win money, I'll pay you back." After finishing, she glanced at the money in her hand with vague suspicion. "This money... why does it feel familiar?"
Of course it feels familiar. I snatched it from you. Naruto thought but didn't say aloud.
"Forget it. I'm going now. Thank you, Naruto!" Disregarding everything else, Tsunade just wanted to gamble properly. She turned around, walked out of the hotel, and headed straight for the casino.
Seeing this, Shizune approached Naruto. "Hokage-sama, how can you give sensei money to gamble?"
Naruto smiled with apparent indifference. "Sister Tsunade said when she wins, she'll pay me back."
Hearing Naruto's words, Shizune's face brightened slightly with sympathy. After thinking about it, she felt it necessary to tell him who her sensei really was, so Naruto wouldn't be deceived. After all, Naruto was young and easily fooled.
"Hokage-sama, you may not know this, but my sensei has absolutely terrible gambling luck. She loses nine out of ten bets. Every time she gambles away all her money, then borrows from the casino. Eventually, when she has no money left, she mortgages Tonton for cash. Then I have to put on disguises to avoid debt collectors."
"What? Sister Tsunade wouldn't be that kind of person, would she?" Naruto's expression showed perfect 'surprise' and disbelief.
Shizune nodded emphatically. "Sensei is exactly that kind of person."
"Doesn't that mean one thousand ryō isn't enough for Sister Tsunade to lose? Once she loses it all, she'll have to borrow money from the casino owner!" Naruto's face showed sudden realization. "That won't do. I have to go to the casino."
After speaking, Naruto disappeared in a flicker.
When he materialized in the casino, he saw Tsunade already sitting at a slot machine. The chips in front of her had dwindled to around one hundred ryō. She lost that quickly...
Naruto didn't disturb Tsunade. Instead, he quietly approached a waiter and grabbed him. "Call your boss over here."
The waiter, startled by Naruto's deliberately fierce expression, hurried off to find his employer.
Soon, the boss appeared. "Honored guest, I'm the owner of this casino. May I ask what you need from me?"
"I'm a ninja." Naruto looked at the boss, speaking calmly.
The boss seemed stunned, not understanding Naruto's intentions. After several seconds of silence, he asked, "You're a ninja. Then what?"
Seeing that the title of ninja hadn't deterred the casino boss, Naruto pulled out a kunai and pressed it against the man's chest. "I'm a ninja. A ninja who kills without blinking."
In this world filled with ninja, the casino owner had obviously encountered them before. He maintained his composure. "Sir, if you have a request, I'll help if I can."
"That's it. Thank you, boss." Naruto withdrew the kunai. He pointed at Tsunade, who was shouting at the slot machine. "See that woman? Let me tell you—if she loses all her money and asks to borrow from you, don't lend her a single ryō. Otherwise, you'll find out what happens."
"I see. Easy to say. I understand." The boss nodded quickly.
Seeing the boss agree, Naruto flickered back to the hotel.
Back at the inn, Kakashi had hidden himself somewhere. Sasuke was training. Shizune and Sakura were still tirelessly discussing today's shopping expedition in their room.
Naruto had no choice but to visit Jiraiya's room.
Jiraiya's complexion looked excellent, with a feeling of spring in the air. Naruto laughed immediately, teasing, "Looking at Jiraiya-sensei's expression, it seems you got along very well with Sister Tsunade."
Jiraiya didn't mind Naruto's jokes. He smiled broadly. "Thank you so much, Naruto. Although Tsunade always speaks harshly to me, I can feel that she still cares about me."
"Naruto, you were right. Tsunade has me in her heart. Maybe she really is waiting for me to confess."
Regarding the newly confident Jiraiya, Naruto smiled as well. "I heard from Sister Tsunade that you'll be back to normal in three days. That's when Jiraiya-sensei should confess."
"Yes." Jiraiya nodded heavily. "Bless me, Naruto!"
"Of course. I wish Jiraiya-sensei great success very soon."
After talking for a while, Naruto saw Tsunade return looking dejected. He asked, "Sister Tsunade, why are you back already? Why not play a few more rounds?"
"Don't even mention it." Tsunade waved her hand dismissively. "How many rounds can I play with one thousand ryō? That casino owner was so unreasonable. I asked to borrow money and he refused! I would have paid him back when I won. He doesn't want free money—what an idiot."
Naruto smiled but didn't speak.
Jiraiya chimed in. "Tsunade, you should stop gambling. It's just throwing money away."
"Mind your own business!" Tsunade immediately glared at Jiraiya.
Then Tsunade asked Naruto to lend her more money, but Naruto refused, insisting he had nothing left.
Over the next three days, Naruto only lent Tsunade one thousand ryō at a time. Tsunade could only grudgingly accept it. She couldn't steal money from Naruto—she simply couldn't. One thousand ryō could barely last a few rounds.
On the final day, Tsunade found Naruto again. "Naruto, just this once—can you lend me more? Look how hard I've been working to heal your sensei."
"Okay, I'll give you ten thousand this time." Naruto smiled cheerfully.
Tsunade, having obtained ten thousand ryō, practically flew to the casino.
Naruto turned around and walked toward Jiraiya's room. On the way, he met Sakura. His nose twitched, and he suddenly said, "Sakura, why aren't you using the new perfume?"
Sakura replied, "The old one isn't finished yet."
"Hey, you just bought it—use it! Go use the new perfume right now. Then everyone come to Jiraiya-sensei's room. Sensei Jiraiya is healed and can walk around now."
"By the way, go call Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke too. We want to cheer for Jiraiya-sensei."
After Naruto finished speaking, he entered Jiraiya's room. Sure enough, Jiraiya's legs and feet were completely healed. He was walking around the room. Seeing him in such a leisurely mood, Naruto hurried over. "Jiraiya-sensei, what are you doing? Why didn't you confess just now?"
Jiraiya spoke helplessly. "Tsunade left too quickly. It was too late."
"She went to the casino. Go now. Strike while the iron is hot." Naruto's tone turned insistent. "As for how to confess, you should know better than me. I don't need to teach you."
At that moment, Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, and Shizune all entered Jiraiya's room.
"Jiraiya-senpai, congratulations on your recovery!" Sasuke, Shizune, and Sakura spoke cheerfully. Sakura looked especially happy—now that Jiraiya was fine, she didn't have to push him around in a wheelchair every day.
"I'm fully healed." Jiraiya showed a knowing smile. He obviously hadn't enjoyed sitting in that wheelchair.
"Jiraiya-sensei is going to confess to Sister Tsunade." Naruto's voice rang with authority. "To encourage him, each of us should give Jiraiya-sensei a hug."
"Yes! Yes! I wish Jiraiya-senpai success!" Sakura and Shizune echoed loudly, their voices full of enthusiasm.