At the same time, on the border of the Land of Earth, Aomori City.
Under the night sky, Aomori City was ablaze with lights, a stark contrast to the desolation elsewhere in the Land of Earth.
This port city, located on the border, had been leased to the Land of Stars five years ago and had undergone earth-shattering changes in just a few short years.
Skyscrapers had risen from the ground, neon signs flashed incessantly.
The streets were bustling with people… merchants, tourists, and Ninja from various countries mingled together.
Casinos, nightclubs, and high-end restaurants were everywhere.
This place had become the most prosperous den of iniquity in the entire Ninja World, and was also called the [City of Depravity] by some.
In the center of the city stood a thirty-story skyscraper.
The sign on the rooftop spelled out the three words [Royal Grand Casino] in giant neon lights, dazzling and eye-catching in the night sky.
At this moment, inside the VIP area on the top floor of the casino, however, it was a sharp contrast to the noise outside.
Inside the magnificent, golden hall, various expensive gaming devices sat quietly. The high rollers who had been spending fortunes here had been politely 'invited' out by the casino manager.
Heavy velvet curtains were drawn, cutting off the outside view. Only the huge crystal chandelier on the ceiling cast bright, soft light.
In the center of the hall, beside a giant gaming table covered in dark green velvet, the atmosphere was tense.
The owner of the casino, a short-statured man wearing a tailor-made, extremely luxurious suit and gold-rimmed glasses, Gato, stood respectfully to the side, both hands presenting a sealed, gold-edged special deck of playing cards to Menma, who sat on one side of the table.
Gato's face was piled with flattering and cautious smiles, fine sweat beads even appearing on his forehead, showing no trace of his usual demeanor as the head of the [Gato Group], which could stir up clouds and rain in the Ninja World's business circles.
Standing behind and to the side of Menma was a figure with an even more gloomy and terrifying presence, Kakuzu.
He wore a black robe, and at his feet were ten metal sealed boxes. He was opening them one by one, revealing neatly stacked, large-denomination Land of Stars banknotes that emitted the fresh scent of ink!
Each box represented an enormous wealth of one hundred million ryo!
Watching this money being stacked like bricks on the gaming table, even someone as money-grubbing as Kakuzu felt his green pupils twitch uncontrollably, his heart aching with every pound, but he dared not raise any objection.
On the other side of the gaming table sat a woman of strikingly different disposition.
She had a proud figure and beautiful appearance, her long golden hair tied into a ponytail, with two strands of hair falling over her forehead. She was the legendary one of the [Sannin], Tsunade.
She wore a loose coat and was holding a huge gourd of alcohol, tilting her head back for a drink. Her face had a post-alcohol flush and a hint of impatience.
Shizune stood nervously behind her, holding a small pink pig, Tonton, tightly in her arms, her face full of worry.
Tsunade's gaze swept over the ten open money boxes opposite her, and her pupils also contracted slightly.
She was someone who had seen the world, but seeing one billion ryo in cash piled directly before her eyes was still a visually impactful experience.
What concerned her more was the Shura on the opposite side, and the bodyguard behind him who emitted an aura that even she found strange.
She could sense that the bodyguard's strength was unfathomable, his Chakra... peculiarly strange, but very vast, definitely one of the strongest she had ever seen in her life.
"Hey, kid!" Tsunade slammed her gourd of alcohol onto the table with a 'thud', breaking the silence, and asked with a tipsy tone, "With such a big setup, what are the rules? What do you want to gamble on?"
Menma took the deck of cards from Gato, skillfully opened it, and while deftly shuffling, producing a pleasing 'shuffling' sound, said in a calm tone, "You choose the game: blackjack, poker, or dice, which you Ninja prefer. But I decide the bet."
"The bet?" Tsunade frowned slightly, a cold smile curling on her red lips. "What do you have your eye on of mine? The Strength of a Hundred Seal? Or some forbidden technique scroll?"
She guessed he was after her secret medical techniques that she kept in reserve. After all, the Land of Stars' investment in the medical field was famously lavish, and she had already sold many medical technologies and Ninjutsu.
Menma stopped shuffling, gently placed the cards on the green velvet tabletop, looked up, his deep gaze fixed on Tsunade, and slowly uttered a few words: "I want the specific coordinates of the Shikkotsu Forest."
"What?!" Shizune was the first to exclaim in shock.
Tonton in her arms also seemed to feel the tension, squeaking uneasily, "Pupu pupu."
Tsunade's drunkenness instantly dissipated by more than half, her eyes becoming sharp, her body leaning slightly forward, emitting a powerful pressure. "Coordinates? You don't want the summoning contract? Kid, what are you planning to do to Katsuyu Sage?!"
The Shikkotsu Forest was one of the Three Great Sage Regions, and Katsuyu Sage was a mentor and friend to her. She would never allow anyone to target Katsuyu Sage!
Facing Tsunade's overbearing pressure, Menma's expression didn't change at all, his tone still calm. "I mean no harm to Katsuyu Sage. I just have some questions I need to ask her in person. The reason I want the coordinates is because I don't like being 'invited' over through someone else's summoning technique. That would make me feel indebted. I prefer... to visit on my own."
Tsunade stared intently into Menma's eyes, trying to find any trace of a lie, but those eyes were like a bottomless, cold pool, revealing nothing.
She let out a cold snort: "Hmph! Easy for you to say! Do you think you can just go to the Shikkotsu Forest whenever you want? Who knows what your intentions are!"
Menma seemed to have expected this and didn't argue, simply saying, "So, I'm using this one billion ryo to gamble for the coordinates. You win a round, take one hundred million. I just need to win one round, and you tell me the coordinates, or lend me the summoning scroll. A fair trade, each relying on luck. How about it?"
Just then, Tsunade took a deep breath and made a decision.
She formed hand seals and shouted softly, "Summoning Technique!"
Poof!
A puff of white smoke appeared, and a small slug, the size of a palm, its body crystal clear like jade with a few green stripes on its back, appeared on the gaming table, making a soft, cute sound: "Tsunade-chan~ What is it you summoned me for? Oh? It's so bright and pretty here!"
Its voice was full of delight. After all, the Shikkotsu Forest was dark and damp all year round, so getting out was always nice.
"Katsuyu-sama!" Tsunade briefly explained the situation.
The little slug turned its cute little antennae towards Menma.
The moment its gaze met Menma's, its soft body paused almost imperceptibly!
As a Sage who had lived for untold thousands of years, it was deeply connected to Natural Energy, its perception far surpassing that of humans.
On this young man before it, it sensed an extremely complex and vast aura. It had something akin to the all-encompassing power of the Six Paths Sage, mixed with a trace of the unsettling coldness and loftiness belonging to the Otsutsuki Clan, and even... something deeper, an aura it had never seen before.
"This sir... the aura you carry..." Katsuyu Sage spoke slowly, its voice still soft, but with a touch more solemnity. "It's truly unique."
"Actually, if you wish to see me, it doesn't have to be so troublesome. I can have Tsunade-chan lend you the summoning scroll. After signing the contract, you can summon my clone anytime, or I can guide you to the Shikkotsu Forest."
This remark surprised Tsunade again.
She knew Katsuyu Sage very well. Although this thousand-year-old sage was gentle in nature, it was extremely strict in its selection of contractors.
For centuries, only a very few among the Senju Clan were qualified to sign a contract.
'Why would Katsuyu Sage proactively offer to let Shura contract with her?'
Menma, however, shook his head, his tone carrying a persistence: "Thank you for the kindness. But I'm used to getting what I want in my own way. I don't like being indebted, especially when it comes to favors."
Katsuyu Sage was silent for a moment, as if understanding Menma's insistence. "What a strange human..."
It said to Tsunade, "Tsunade-chan, since this sir insists, let's do it his way. I believe he means no harm."
With that, it slowly crawled onto Shizune's shoulder, indicating it would no longer interfere.
Seeing that Katsuyu Sage had said this, Tsunade, though still having doubts, couldn't very well object further.
She picked up her gourd again, took another swig, and said to Menma with heroic gusto, "Fine! Kid, we'll do it your way! A bet it is! But don't think it'll be easy to win something from me!"
She looked confident, but those who knew her well knew that the more she acted like this, the more she might be bluffing, concealing inner unease.
Her 'curse' of losing every gamble was, after all, quite famous.
"Deal the cards." Menma gave a slight nod to Gato beside him.
Gato immediately bowed deeply, picked up the deck of cards with white-gloved hands, and began shuffling and cutting with the technique of a professional dealer, his movements smooth and precise.
First round, blackjack.
Gato slid two cards each to Menma and Tsunade.
Menma lightly turned over his cards: Ace of Spades, 9 of Hearts… 20 points!
This was already a very high score, a strong winning position.
Seeing Menma's cards, Tsunade frowned slightly. However, she felt it wouldn't be bad to finish this strange gamble in the first round.
After all, Katsuyu Sage didn't seem to mind.
But when she casually turned over her own two cards, the smile on her face instantly froze!
Jack of Spades, Ace of Spades!
Black Jack!
21 points! An outright win!
"This..." Shizune covered her mouth, unable to believe the cards.
'Tsunade-sama...'
'Had actually drawn the best possible hand on the first deal?'
A look of just right 'surprise' appeared on Menma's face, followed by a slight smile. "Looks like Princess Tsunade's luck is strong today. Kakuzu."
Kakuzu stepped forward expressionlessly and pushed the top money box in front of Tsunade.
One hundred million ryo!
Tsunade looked at the box of money before her but felt it was like a hot potato. Cold sweat beads appeared on her forehead.
'I had won money...'
'And won so decisively...'
'This is definitely not a good sign!'
With her constitution of losing every bet, every abnormal stroke of 'good luck' meant that a close person was about to meet with misfortune!
Second round, Tsunade 20 points, Menma 19 points.
Third round, Tsunade 21 points, Menma 20 points.
Fourth round, Tsunade 19 points, Menma 18 points...
...
Eight rounds in a row!
Incredibly, Tsunade had won eight rounds consecutively!
Eight heavy money boxes were now piled in front of her, worth eight hundred million ryo!
This would drive any gambler mad.
But Tsunade's face grew paler and paler. Her hand holding the cards began to tremble slightly, uncontrollably. The back of her clothes was soaked with cold sweat.
Shizune also realized something was wrong. Her arms tightened around Tonton, her face pale.
Tonton seemed to feel its master's fear too, letting out a low "Pupu..."
The surrounding air seemed to freeze.
Gato lowered his head, not daring to look at anyone's expression.
Kakuzu watched the ever-dwindling money boxes, his heart bleeding.
Ninth round.
Gato dealt.
Menma turned over his cards.
Queen of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts – 21 points!
Tsunade's trembling hands turned over her cards: 2 of Clubs, 7 of Hearts… a measly 9 points.
Menma looked at the cards, let out a soft breath, and smiled as if he had expected this. "It seems luck has finally come over to my side."
Clatter!
The cards in Tsunade's hand fell onto the table. She slumped into the luxurious gambling chair as if drained of all strength, her face pale, her eyes hollowly staring at the mountain of money boxes opposite her.
An overwhelming wave of fear and unease instantly engulfed her like a tide.
'What kind of disaster did this abnormal 'good luck' will bring?'