Nature Is Hard to Change

Humiliation—utter humiliation.

She, Tsunade, had roamed the ninja world for so many years, yet today she had actually been played by some brat.

If word got out, how was she supposed to show her face?

But why hadn't she heard what Hikari had been thinking just now?

Could it be that he had discovered she could hear inner thoughts?

With that suspicion in mind, Tsunade released her killing intent. The surrounding gawkers instantly scattered, clearing a path straight to the casino for her.

She, Tsunade, would prove through her actions that the title "Big Fat Sheep" would never again be attached to her.

Storming into the casino, Tsunade expertly made her way to a gambling table.

Watching the dice cup shake, Tsunade's attention was completely drawn to it. She failed to notice a chubby figure coming to stand beside her.

"Bet big or small! No changing bets once they're down!"

The dealer shook the dice cup and set it on the table beneath everyone's watchful eyes.

"Place your bets!"

"Bet early, get rich early!"

One gambler after another quickly placed their money in the designated spots. After Tsunade put hers on "big," the fat man Hikari had disguised himself as with the Transformation Jutsu placed his money on "small."

Big, small, triples.

There were only those three simplest choices. By normal reasoning, the odds of triples were far lower than either big or small.

"No changing bets once they're down! No changing bets!"

The dealer urged them again. At a time like this, he had to build up the atmosphere—the more people who bet, the more he earned.

"Open!"

After the last gambler placed a bet, the dealer shouted and lifted the dice cup.

"123, small! Six points!"

Seeing that she had lost, Tsunade's expression tightened at a visible speed.

This concerned her reputation as the "Big Fat Sheep." Losing in the very first round was not her style.

Haha, gambling with Tsunade is great. No need to think at all—just bet the opposite of whatever she picks!

Tsunade: ???

Am I hearing things?

Why am I hearing that bastard Hikari's thoughts here?

No matter what Tsunade bets on, I just need to bet the opposite. I'm guaranteed to win!

It really was him!

Tsunade gritted her teeth in fury.

Not only had this guy secretly followed her here, he was even mocking her gambling skills. She, Tsunade, was the future Gambling God—how could she stumble here?!

"Bet big or small! No changing bets once they're down!"

As the dice cup began to shake again, Tsunade grew tense once more.

What Hikari? At that moment, the dice cup had completely captured her attention.

Half an hour later, Tsunade walked out of the casino in a daze.

She had lost everything.

It was not much money, but it had been an important battle on her road to becoming the Gambling God.

To suffer such a crushing defeat just like that—she truly could not accept it.

Let's go, let's go. Looking at Tsunade like this, won't she go get drunk at a tavern and then get carried off by someone?

The annoying inner voice appeared again. Tsunade's eyes shifted, and she headed into the tavern across the street.

"Boss, bring me your best wine and dishes!"

She refused to believe that Hikari would just stand by and do nothing while she drank herself unconscious.

There was an element of gambling in this move, but she was certain she had won this bet.

Hikari returned to his original appearance and sat across from Tsunade.

"Hehe, you've still got the nerve to come over here?" Tsunade immediately mocked him, giving Hikari quite a scare.

No way, is Tsunade really angry?

She shouldn't be. People say she's broad-minded and doesn't stoop to others' level. Could it be that Tsunade's huge boobs are fake?!

Crunch, crunch!

Tsunade nearly shattered her silver teeth. That bastard actually dared to slander her little darlings in his head. This was absolutely intolerable!

"You, take out the money you won in there just now!"

Huh, Tsunade discovered my Transformation Jutsu?

That shouldn't be possible. Even Madara Uchiha's Eternal Mangekyo shouldn't be able to see through any traces of my Transformation Jutsu!

No, I need to test her!

Having made up his mind, Hikari scratched his head and looked at Tsunade with a puzzled expression. "Where did I win money? Could it be that Lady Tsunade won a lot of money at the casino?"

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

Congratulations my ass!

Tsunade clenched her fists, really wanting to land a Super Strength Punch on Hikari's infuriating face.

"Don't ask me why. A woman's intuition, that's why!"

"Will you hand over the money willingly, or will you wait for me to beat you up before handing it over?"

"Uh..."

"What's the difference?" Hikari asked, genuinely confused.

Tsunade revealed a devilish smile. "Of course there's a difference. If you hand it over willingly, I won't hit you. But if you refuse to cooperate, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

What a shameless Fifth Hokage, Tsunade of the Senju Clan!

When it comes to shamelessness, I, Hikari, acknowledge you, Tsunade, as the strongest!

After making a Madara joke in his head, Hikari gave a standard eight-tooth grin. The sight of his white teeth made Tsunade even angrier.

"Are you sure you can defeat me?"

"A friendly reminder: you still don't know what method I used when I grabbed your arm earlier!"

Tsunade fell silent.

Tsunade was discouraged.

Then Tsunade raised her head again, her eyes filled with unyielding resolve.

"Don't think I don't know that you only won so much by betting opposite me. And now you won't even give me a share?"

Hikari shrugged and spread his hands.

"Ah, I just won't give you any. What can you do about it?"

"Oh, and you nearly made me forget. After I cured Rock Lee, I was the one who paid for your drinks. Not only that, you took all the money from my wallet. Think about how you're going to answer for that!"

"Did something like that happen?" Tsunade's face was full of confusion.

If he had not experienced it personally and known there was nothing wrong with his brain, Tsunade's acting was so convincing that he would have nearly believed he had remembered it wrong.

You're this good at acting, so why don't you debut as a celebrity?

Now that you mention it, that famous actress Fuji Fuyuki still hasn't come to the Hidden Leaf Village. What's going on with that?

Tsunade knew about actors, but she had no interest in responding.

She did not even want to be Hokage, much less some troublesome actress.

If possible, Tsunade only wanted to be a freeloader, eating and sleeping every day. If she had a little money for a small gamble now and then, that would be perfect.

"Lady Tsunade, a person can't be this shameless. Taking your subordinate's money to support yourself—don't you find that embarrassing?"

"I don't!" Tsunade answered seriously.

"So you're refusing to admit it?" Hikari was getting angry too.

That was all his hard-earned money.

He had written word by word, earned money from publishing to marry a wife, and it had all been taken by Tsunade.

Although it was only a tiny fraction of his savings, it was still an important fortune to Hikari.

"Oh my!"

Sensing that Hikari was in a bad mood, Tsunade quickly forced a smile.

"Wasn't I drunk and forgot? How about I sell Shizune to you for one hundred million ryō?"

Seeing Hikari hesitate, Tsunade hurriedly pitched her offer. "Shizune knows Medical Ninjutsu, and she's a jōnin too. Selling her to you for one hundred million ryō is already very cheap!"

Looking at Tsunade, who was now heading down the path of utter shamelessness, Hikari was completely speechless.

"Shizune isn't worth that price. How about you sell yourself to me instead?"

The smile vanished from Tsunade's face, and she became completely serious. As one of the Sannin and the Hokage, her imposing aura made her seem untouchable.

"Is that any way to speak to the Hokage?"

"You want to buy me?"

"Hehe!"

"Let me tell you, one hundred million ryō isn't enough. You'll have to pay more!"