Chapter 38: the legendary sucker's Confusion
Inside the largest casino on Tanzaku Street.
Tsunade walked to the largest "Big or Small" gambling table in the center of the hall. The surrounding gamblers seemed to sense the oppressive aura emanating from her, or perhaps they recognized her green robe and the large character for "Gamble" on her back, and they all subconsciously stepped back.
"La-Lady Tsunade..." Tonton, the little pig in Shizune's arms, was shaking non-stop. Shizunetugged at Tsunade's sleeve, looking like she was about to cry. "We don't have much money left. If we lose all of this, we'll have to sleep under a bridge tonight!"
"Shut up!"
With a wave of her hand, Tsunade slammed the last stack of bills from her pocket heavily onto the table.
Bang!
The mahogany tabletop shook with the impact.
"All in! Triple sixes, a leopard!"
The surroundings erupted in an uproar. Everyone knew the legendary Legendary Sucker lost every time she gambled, but betting directly on a leopard—how was that any different from giving money to the dealer?
The dealer was a middle-aged man with a mustache, his eyes crinkling into slits with a smile.
"Bets are closed! My dear guest, are you sure you won't change your mind?"
Tsunade stared fixedly at the dice cup. That shameless voice in her head had disappeared, but a line of golden text still floated there.
[Special Causal Reward: Absolute Good Luck(Limited to the next gamble only)]
"Open it! Open it quickly!"
"Then as you wish! Open!"
The dealer abruptly lifted the cup lid.
The originally noisy casino fell silent instantly.
Shizune had already covered her eyes, prepared to go fight stray dogs for territory tonight.
One second, two seconds passed.
The expected laughter didn't ring out; instead, there was the sound of everyone sucking in a breath of cold air.
Shizune peeked through the gaps in her fingers.
The next second, her eyes nearly popped out, and her jaw dropped right onto Tonton's head.
Six, six, six.
A leopard that swept the board.
On the green tabletop, those bright red pips were exceptionally striking.
"I-It hit?!" The dealer's hand was trembling, and his mustache twitched violently. According to the odds, he would lose all of this month's profits.
"My god! the legendary sucker won money!"
"Run! Whenever the legendary sucker wins, a natural disaster follows! A meteorite might even crash down in a bit!"
Someone shouted, and with a boom, the surrounding gamblers scattered, running faster than they would to save their lives. In gambling circles, the event of Senju Tsunade winning money was second in horror only to the Five Great Nationsdeclaring war.
Tsunade ignored those who fled and didn't reach for the mountain of chips pushed in front of her.
She just stared blankly at the three sixes.
It was actually true.
[Ding!]
While she was dazed, the ninja world sky screen in her mind flashed a new notification.
[This is a sincere gift from Konoha Academy's number one pervert, Uzumaki Naruto.]
[Note: Just as he thought in his heart—'As long as Granny Tsunade is willing to let me lean on her, what's the harm even if I steal all the world's luck to give to her?' Although this kid's motive is extremely impure, the effect is indeed outstanding.]
The corner of Tsunade's eye twitched frantically.
What did he mean by "let him lean on her"? This was clearly trying to take advantage of her! Also, the title "Granny" was way too grating! If that brat dared to stand in front of her, she would definitely let him know what a real "head-patting kill" was.
But after the anger, a chill crept up her spine.
"Shizune." Tsunade's voice was very low, devoid of emotion.
"Y-Yes! Lady Tsunade!" Shizune replied while hurriedly packing up the chips. "Although winning money is scary... this is all real money! Should we go pay off our debts quickly?"
"Pack up the things, we're leaving."
Tsunade picked up the check she had won and strode out of the casino.
Coming out onto the street, Tsunade leaned against the stone railing by the bridge, looking at the moon's reflection in the water. Another thought from that brat echoed in her mind.
[...Since that mangy snake Orochimaru has already appeared... although the Third Old Manstill looks healthy, he is old after all... whether he can pull through this time is still up in the air...]
"Orochimaru has appeared," Tsunade murmured to herself.
"Eh? Lady Tsunade, what did you say?" Shizunedidn't hear clearly.
"Nothing." Tsunade irritably scratched her long blonde hair.
This was the source of her unease.
If she had just heard some inexplicable thoughts, she would have treated them as a joke. But then, "Absolute Good Luck" had immediately come true.
It was like a warning that couldn't be ignored. If what that brat said about gambling was true, then what he said about the Old Man dying... could it also be true?
Has that guy Orochimaru really returned to Konoha?
"That kid named Uzumaki Naruto..." Tsunadetouched the necklace on her chest. "Not only can he speak in my head, but he can also... influence my luck?"
This was too absurd.
However, the burning sensation of the money won in her arms reminded her that all of this was real.
"Lady Tsunade, you're a bit off tonight." Shizunelooked at her worriedly. Usually, if they won this much money, Tsunade would have dragged her to the highest-class shop to drink all night long.
"Shizune, tell me..." Tsunade looked up, her eyes a bit lost. "If a kid I've never met before says he wants to... to sleep on my chest, while also desperately giving me money and luck... what is he after?"
Shizune was startled by these bold words, nearly throwing Tonton into the river.
"S-Sleep on that?! Who is so bold? Do they have a death wish!"
"Yeah, audacious." Tsunade suddenly sneered, a dangerous curve hooking her lips. "Wants to find death, huh? Fine."
She suddenly stood up straight and looked toward Konoha Village.
"Shizune, no more drinking. To the information house."
"Ah?"
"I said, go buy information." Tsunade narrowed her eyes, her lazy aura vanishing, replaced by the pressure of one of the Sannin. "I want to know everything that has happened in Konoha recently. Especially... everything about the Chunin Examsand that kid, Uzumaki Naruto!"
"I'll see just what kind of monster or ghost dares to set their sights on me."
Meanwhile, in Konoha Village thousands of miles away.
Naruto, who was about to walk into Ichiraku Ramen Shop to reward himself, suddenly sneezed loudly.
"Achoo!"
He rubbed his nose and looked around in confusion.
"Strange, it's not cold tonight... why do I feel a chill down my back? Is someone badmouthing me?"
He quickly put it out of his mind. Lifting the curtain and seeing the busy figure inside, a sunny smile immediately appeared on Naruto's face.
[Hehe, Sister Ayame's headscarf is tied very cutely today too. Since Tsunade is still too far away, it's also excellent to use the Ramen Goddess to farm a bit of Chakra recovery first.]
[Ding!]
[Detected that the host not only failed to restrain himself after remotely provoking an S-rank powerhouse, but instead quickly locked onto a new close-range target.]
[The system praises your spirit of 'life doesn't end, courting death doesn't stop'.]
[Obtained Reward: Summoning Contract · Enhancement (Passive skill, increases compatibility with the Toad Clan).]
Naruto scratched his head: "Toads? What do I want toads for? It's not like I can eat them. What a bizarre reward."
He had no idea that his every move was quietly changing the history of the Ninja World. And that "Tyrannosaurus Rex" he had awakened had already opened its eyes, following his scent.