"Tsunade-sama, you're actually out of money already, aren't you?"
Uchiha Mai suddenly shouted.
Tsunade's deliberately carefree back stiffened for a brief moment, her relaxed expression freezing in place.
Damn it… how did this kid figure that out?
"Kid," Tsunade snapped as she turned around, "you'd better think carefully before saying something like that. Do you even know who you're talking to?"
She planted her left hand on her hip and pointed her right thumb at herself, radiating confidence.
"Standing before you is the granddaughter of the God of Shinobi, the sole heir of the Senju clan!
The disciple of the Third Hokage!
Konoha's strongest taijutsu ninja!
The greatest medical ninja in the ninja world!
One of the Three Legendary Sannin - Tsunade!"
"If I wanted money, all I'd have to do is take a few missions or treat a couple of wealthy merchants. How could I possibly be broke?"
"Stop pretending."
Mai snorted and walked around her, observing her closely as he spoke.
"In the casino, no matter how terrible your starting hand was or how bad your position, you always entered the pot."
"Even when you got a barely playable hand, you never read your opponents. You just kept calling all the way to the end."
"That proves two things. First, your gambling skills are terrible. Second, your addiction is huge."
"So huge that you won't leave the casino until you lose everything. So huge that even after going completely broke, you'll still borrow money to gamble."
"A hopeless gambling addict like you has definitely exhausted every high-interest loan available and is buried in debt."
"Your clothes have obvious grease stains from days ago. There's still gunk at the corners of your eyes, and your hair is a mess."
"That means you barely take care of yourself. In simple terms - you're lazy."
"A woman who no longer cares about her own appearance is already at rock bottom. Someone like that won't work unless she's completely cornered."
"And in the ninja world, the only places that hand out jobs are the underground exchange offices. I'm sure your creditors have people watching those places."
"The moment they spot you, they'll force you to take nonstop missions to repay your debts. And that's exactly what you don't want."
This wasn't wild guessing. In the original storyline, Tsunade really was hunted by debt collectors. Mai was simply connecting the dots and adding his own deductions.
Cue the classic there is only one true background music.
"You little brat…"
Tsunade clenched her teeth, her face flushing red, then pale. Her fist trembled as she fought the urge to punch him.
She was furious.
"Looks like I hit the mark," Mai said with a light chuckle.
"Putting it all together, going back to Konoha is your best option right now."
"At least there, you won't go hungry. And if the creditors show up, the Hokage will help cover for you and let you escape safely."
"And when you make money again and your gambling itch returns, we can play Texas Hold'em together."
"If you lose to me, at least one of us will be happy."
"You've got a sharp tongue, kid," Tsunade said coldly. "You sound very confident in your skills."
"I'm decent."
Mai shrugged. "If it's pure luck, who knows. But in Texas Hold'em, the only person in Konoha who might beat me is Nara Shikaku."
By now, Shikaku was already a jōnin, famous for his strategic mind. Poker would be right up his alley.
"Hmph. Then how about this?"
Tsunade rested her chin on her hand. "I'll lend you one hundred thousand yen. Win or lose, it's on me."
"If you can turn that into ten million within ten days at this casino, I'll go back to Konoha with you."
"In your dreams."
Mai rejected it outright. "If it's all your money, winning ten million just benefits you."
"Maximum split is seven - three. And the starting capital can't be less than five hundred thousand."
Even with confidence, Mai knew that turning one hundred thousand into ten million in ten days was far too risky.
"Only thirty percent for me?" Tsunade pouted. "I'm fine with five hundred thousand, but that split is harsh."
"Seven parts are mine. Three are yours."
"Then I'd be begging on the streets."
Mai slapped his thigh. "If that's your logic, then I'm not agreeing."
"Thirty percent of ten million is still three million. You get that without lifting a finger."
"And what if you lose?" Tsunade pressed. "The starting money is mine."
"If I lose, we still split seven - three."
Mai thumped his chest. "I'm an Uchiha, and I train under Minato-sensei. Thirty thousand is easy to earn."
Using someone else's money to gamble - classic risk hedging.
"Hmmm…"
Tsunade crossed her arms and thought for a moment. The kid was sharp, confident, and clearly understood the game.
"Fine," she said. "Deal."
"Then hand over the five hundred thousand," Mai said, extending his hand. "I'm pulling an all-nighter."
Tsunade pulled her wallet from her cleavage, dumped everything out, and counted.
Seven thousand yen.
Mai went silent.
So she really had nothing. Still, this was exactly what he expected.
"Do you have anything valuable you can use as collateral with Minato-sensei to borrow the money?" Mai suggested.
Tsunade's eyes lit up.
Nearby, Minato - who had been watching the whole exchange - felt like an invisible arrow had pierced his knees.
"Little Minato~"
Tsunade put on a gentle smile, took off her blue jacket, and handed it to him.
"This jacket was worn by my great-grandfather. It has great sentimental value."
"You've always dreamed of becoming Hokage, right? Today, I'll pawn this with you."
"Lend me five hundred thousand yen. You wouldn't refuse, would you?"
Minato smiled stiffly, painfully counting out the bills before handing them over.
"Tsunade-sama… please pay it back. This money was given to me by Kushina."
"You don't trust me?"
Tsunade punched him in the chest, licked her finger to count the bills, then grabbed Mai and headed back into the casino.
"Let's go. Tonight, we're cleaning this place out."
…
The next morning, Tsunade was shaking with rage, both hands wrapped around Mai's throat.
"I'll kill you!"
"Didn't you say you were good?! You lost over two hundred thousand in one night!"
"You're not much better than me, you brat!"
(End of Chapter)