Tsunade stared at Uchiha Raizen with a look of deep resentment.
Raizen shrugged, wearing an expression of pure innocence.
Tsunade's eyes were locked onto the chips in Raizen's hands. If she didn't get some money tonight, she and Shizune would be sleeping on the streets.
Suddenly, Tsunade stood up and slammed her hand against the wall, "Kabedon-ing" Raizen into his seat. Her massive "assets" loomed like an approaching mountain range as she looked down at him. "Lend me your chips. I'll pay you back double when I win."
With those "Great Peaks" pressing in, Raizen took a sharp, heavy breath.
If I don't lend it to her, is she going to crush me to death with those things?
"Are you going to lend it or not?"
Tsunade was going for broke. She leaned in even further; her chest was a mere hair's breadth away from Raizen's face. If she didn't get a loan, she'd have to sleep in the gutter with Shizune. As a Sannin and the possessor of Konoha's greatest "assets," how could Tsunade Hime sleep on the street?
"I'll lend it!"
Raizen's eyes were wide. It would be a crime not to look at a view this close.
However, he didn't dare have any truly wicked thoughts. Tsunade possessed a terrifying, monstrous strength; one punch could turn him into meat paste. In the original story, even Jiraiya nearly died after taking a single blow from her.
"Now that's more like it!"
The moment Raizen agreed, Tsunade broke into a radiant smile.
Raizen added, "I'll lend it, but we need to put it in writing. You have to pay it back on time."
"No problem," Tsunade nodded.
"Are you sure about the double repayment?" Raizen asked.
Tsunade laughed heartily. "I said double, so it's double! Do you think I can't afford it?"
"Fine." Raizen nodded. Lending money to the Legendary Sucker was a guaranteed win—for the house. "How much do you need?"
Tsunade stated, "One million Ryo."
"What?!" Shizune's eyes nearly popped out. She cried out, "Lady Tsunade, we don't need to borrow that much!"
Tsunade waved her off. "What do you know? I'm going to win back everything I've ever lost!"
"But Lady Tsunade, you've never actually won before!" Shizune whispered dejectedly.
"One million Ryo it is." To Raizen, a million Ryo was pocket change. "Do you want it in chips or cash?"
"Cash!" Shizune blurted out desperately.
Tsunade glared at her. "Cash? No! Give it all to me in chips and coins!"
Shizune's eyes welled with tears. "Lady Tsunade, if we lose it all, we'll have nothing left! Let's keep some for a hotel!"
Raizen spoke up. "Do you two have nowhere to stay? I happen to own a hotel right next door. I can provide the two of you with free accommodation."
"Really?! That's fantastic!" Tsunade's eyes lit up. She rubbed her hands together. "Let's write that receipt! Today I'm going to sweep the floor and win it all back!"
Raizen signaled a waiter to bring paper and a pen. Once the IOU was written, Tsunade cheerfully signed her name and pressed her thumbprint.
Raizen tucked the paper away and handed a large box filled with one million Ryo worth of chips to Tsunade. She looked at the treasure chest, her eyes shimmering.
Now that she had capital, Tsunade was done with the small-time slot machines. She clutched her chips and marched straight to the dice table.
The dealer's eyes lit up when he saw her. In the gambling world, who didn't know the Legendary Sucker? Betting against her was like opening a sack and waiting for the money to fall in.
Raizen followed behind her, watching with great interest.
The dealer shook the dice cup and set it down. "Place your bets, customer."
Tsunade slammed her entire box of chips onto the table with grand bravado. "Everything on Big!"
Shizune and Tonton (the pig) stared with wide eyes. If she won, they were set; if she lost, they were doomed. Shizune's palms were dripping with sweat from the tension.
"No more bets."
"Open!"
"One, Two, Three... Small. House wins."
The dealer smiled broadly, raking in every single chip Tsunade had placed.
"Ahhh!" Shizune wailed. "It's gone! Gone again!"
"Oink!" Tonton let out a human-like cry of despair. Her pig feed for the day was gone.
"How is that possible?!"
"Dammit!"
Tsunade gnashed her teeth in fury. "I don't believe this! I'm going to win!"
She stood up and once again "Kabedon-ed" Raizen against the wall. With those "Great Peaks" looming over him and her face dark with frustration, she growled, "I need to borrow more."
Being this close, Raizen got another clear, unobstructed view.
"I'll lend it!" he shouted.
"Hehe! Good brother! I'm claiming you as my little brother right now. If you have any trouble in the future, your Big Sister will cover you!"
Hearing Raizen's answer, Tsunade broke into a brilliant smile.
Raizen's eyes sparkled. Tsunade is the future Fifth Hokage. With her backing me, my clan revitalization project will be unstoppable across the entire ninja world! Raizen wasn't worried about her not paying. He smiled. "Big Sister, how much more do you need?"
"Ten million Ryo," Tsunade said, sensing Raizen's connection to the casino and deciding to go big.
"What?!" Shizune gasped. Ten million? If she lost that, how long would it take to pay back? And at double interest, that was twenty million!
Raizen replied, "No problem."
"All in chips again?"
Tsunade nodded firmly. "All chips. I'm going on a killing spree."
Soon, another IOU was signed. Raizen went into the back and returned with staff carrying ten million in chips, setting them before her. Tsunade's eyes were practically shooting lasers.
The dealer, seeing the new chips, shook the cup vigorously and slammed it down. "What's the bet this time, customer?"
"Still on Big. I'm putting down all ten million. Do you dare take the bet?" Tsunade glared at the dealer.
The dealer subconsciously looked at Raizen. Raizen gave a subtle nod.
"Accepted."
"No more bets."
"Open!"
"Two, Three, Four... Small. House wins."
The dealer gathered the chips with a polite smile.
"I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS!" Tsunade was now completely tilted.
She stood up and marched toward Raizen again. A moment later, he was pinned to the wall once more, getting yet another front-row seat to her legendary "assets."
This time, Tsunade borrowed twenty million Ryo.
The dealer shook the cup. "Place your bets."
Tsunade stared at the cup, gritting her teeth. "Twenty million. Still on Big. I don't believe the house can pull 'Small' every single time!"
Every chip was piled onto the "Big" section.
The dealer wiped sweat from his brow. The stakes were so high that even his hands were trembling. If he lost this, he'd be out of a job—or worse, his boss might skin him alive. He slowly reached for the cup, his fingers shaking.
"Open it, dealer. We're all waiting," Raizen said calmly.
Hearing his boss's voice, the dealer's heart steadied. He slowly lifted the cup.
"Two, Two, Three... Small. House wins." The dealer let out a massive sigh of relief.
Thud.
Shizune collapsed onto the floor. It was all gone. And with the double-interest clause, they now owed... sixty-two million Ryo.
Even if Lady Tsunade sold Shizune into slavery, they could never pay it back.
Tsunade stared at the dice, her face blank and numb. She was in total shock. She had lost. Again.
"I don't believe in this curse!"
Tsunade stood up once more, her eyes fixed on Raizen.
Raizen's heart skipped a beat. Is she going to pin me to the wall again?
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