A group of young Shinobi walked along the shopping street, and people along the way greeted Tsunade with warmth and affection.
In Konoha, Princess Tsunade was a well-known figure, recognized by virtually the entire village, and very popular.
Even commoners knew that the Princess was the next Fourth Hokage; it was a foregone conclusion.
The current Sandaime was merely a placeholder.
"Tsunade is very popular," Chiri whispered.
"No, what's popular is money, a walking fat sheep," Miki replied.
Hyuga Hitomi and Chiri looked on with questioning expressions.
"Once an item is in Tsunade's hands, the Senju will send the money," Miki said. "Tsunade never haggles, so how could she not be popular?"
"Is that so?" Chiri was a little surprised and said, "Shouldn't someone tell her about this?"
"It's spending money to buy popularity," Miki said. "It's a cheap transaction; some people want to buy it but can't."
"So Tsunade isn't losing out, right?" Chiri began to understand.
"Exactly," Miki nodded and said, "I'll tell you a little secret: if you're short on money, you can gamble with Tsunade; she'll be very happy."
"Hey! What are you all whispering about?!"
Having finally shaken off the pestering crowd, Tsunade turned to look at the three behind her, rushed over, and, with hands on her hips, fiercely said, "What have you set your eyes on? Tell me quickly!"
"Hmm, not yet," Miki said.
"You—!" Tsunade was a little annoyed. So far, not a single penny had been spent.
Jiraiya had wanted to, but she hadn't let him.
She just felt uncomfortable if Miki didn't spend this money!
As for Miki, she had many things she wanted to buy, but she didn't need to spend a child's money. In fact, Miki had another purpose for coming to the shopping street.
"How about we play a couple of rounds?" Miki suggested.
"Are you talking about?!" Tsunade's eyes immediately lit up.
"Just what you're thinking," Miki pointed to a shop.
"It can't be!" Tsunade sharply turned her head to look at the casino sign.
"You all brought money, right?" Miki asked.
Hyuga Hitomi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Orochimaru nodded indifferently.
Jiraiya shook his head frantically.
"If you don't have money, you can owe it for now, Jiraiya," Miki said. "I'll lend you a little."
With that, Miki counted out some money and, without allowing refusal, stuffed it into Jiraiya's hand.
"Then, Insect Woman, let's settle it at the gambling table!" Seeing that everyone agreed to go to her favorite casino, Tsunade became magnanimous and took the lead, striding forward.
Miki followed, then turned to look at the still-hesitant Jiraiya, saying, "Aren't you coming? Don't regret it."
As she spoke, a group of Insects crawled onto Miki's mask, and she turned and left.
Jiraiya swallowed hard.
He struggled internally for a while…
Then he took a step and followed the others.
At a real casino, a beginner's luck is unreliable. If you win money, the gift of fate has already been marked with a price in the dark.
Five hours later, everyone emerged from the casino entrance.
For a moment, their states varied.
Orochimaru's face was even colder, his mouth twitching occasionally.
He glanced at Miki and thought to himself, *If I gamble again, I'm a dog!*
He secretly calculated how long he would have to eat instant noodles this month.
Miki stood at the casino entrance, openly counting her winnings, and said, "Don't worry, money doesn't disappear; it just transfers. See, we can continue shopping and playing. Don't worry, I'll pay. It's a gambling tradition: the winner treats."
Ah, sure enough, spending money you've earned yourself brings such peace of mind.
Miki nodded with satisfaction.
At her feet, Tsunade knelt with her hands on the ground, feeling like she would never be able to lift her head again, only the words "lost" echoing in her mind.
But beside her, there was someone even more miserable.
Jiraiya sat on the ground, hugging his knees, shivering all over, feeling particularly cold despite it being mid-summer.
"Jiraiya, it's six hundred thousand, your debt. Don't worry, once you become a Shinobi, you'll earn it back with three B-rank missions. Considering future inflation, it's not too much for me to charge a little interest, is it? Let's say six percent interest. Compared to those who charge ten percent, I'm very merciful."
Jiraiya shivered even more violently.
Three hundred Ryo was already enough to eat a round trip through the shopping street!
It was clear what level of enormous sum this was.
But who told him to try to be a hero and help Tsunade win it back?
Thinking of this, Jiraiya slapped himself twice on the face.
But his relationship with Tsunade had grown closer, so for a moment, he didn't know if he had won or lost.
Chiri felt a little sorry for the three members of First Class. Miki hadn't let her play, and just watching made her heart pound.
Gambling was truly terrifying!
She herself would definitely not come.
Hyuga Hitomi, on the other hand, patted her small chest, looking relieved as if she had survived a disaster.
She had lost, but not much.
She considered it money spent on a lesson.
"Get up, Big Forehead, aren't you going to play anymore?"
"Play! Why wouldn't I play!" Tsunade scrambled up and said fiercely, "Treat me to a meal!"
How much money could a meal cost?
"Come on, pick whatever you like," Miki chuckled. "Don't be shy, choose the most expensive things."
Konoha didn't even have those high-end restaurants.
"Damn it!" Tsunade mumbled, following Miki's steps, thinking, *We've gambled together, so we're gambling buddies now. I'll eat you out of house and home.*
Unlike her usual anger, Tsunade felt pain.
Therefore, her appetite was a bit large.
For their late lunch, everyone ate with great relish, feeling very happy and joyful.
"Insect Woman! I want to eat this!"
"Insect Woman! I want to eat that!"
"Insect Woman! I want all of these, these!"
"Insect Woman!…"
By the time Tsunade came jogging over with her hands full of skewers, Miki sighed.
Look how happy the child was.
"Here, a reward for you. Take it and spend it," Miki pulled out a wad of money, not even bothering to count it, and stuffed it into Tsunade's pocket.
Tsunade looked at the money in her pocket with a complex expression, feeling a pang of sadness.
She sniffled, held back the tears welling in her eyes, and with a proud tilt of her head, huffed, "Consider yourself sensible, you fellow!"
"Don't eat yourself to death," Miki said with a double meaning.
"Hmph, I have a big appetite!" Tsunade didn't catch the hint and said, "Are you scared now?! I'll eat all that money back!"
That was impossible. Mito had given a full million.
No matter how much you ate, at most, it would be less than a thousand Ryo.
"As long as you're happy," Miki thoughtfully adjusted Tsunade's collar.
Tsunade froze in place.
But she didn't dodge.
Ah, this idiot didn't notice this provocative gesture.
Miki couldn't help but let her hand drop, feeling bored.
If Tsunade had bristled and slapped her hand away, Miki would have been more stimulated.
That's it? How uninteresting.
"Bastard!" With that, Tsunade ran off.
She could still keep eating.
They walked and ate along the way, unconsciously arriving at Miki's destination.
Konoha's famous weapons shop, Mandenten.
She wasn't there to buy, but to sell.
Miki walked into the shop. Tsunade had already run far away, with Jiraiya following her.
Compared to asking Miki for money, it was easier to ask Tsunade.
"Little Shinobi adults, would you like to buy anything?"
The owner always addressed the village children this way; even a Kunai was money.
The success rate could skyrocket.
Miki looked around. The goods were well-stocked, and expensive too. She hadn't come to the wrong place.
"I'm not here to buy things; I'm here to sell things."
Miki said, looking at the owner.
The owner was startled; this wasn't the first time such a situation had occurred.
Children from the village would come to sell scrap metal for snacks.
They often exchanged their fathers' tools for money.
"Alright, little Shinobi adult, what would you like to sell?"
First on the Newcomer List for the second dimension…
It was truly unexpected, although she had a slight premonition.
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