The Biggest Creditor, Li Chuan

"Lady Tsunade, why don't we just pay them back?"

Shizune clutched the little pig Tonton, glanced back at the debt collectors who looked ready to swallow them whole, and helplessly suggested to Tsunade beside her as they ran for their lives.

However, Tsunade clearly had no intention of accepting her suggestion and clutched the box in her arms tightly.

"No, this is the last of my savings. Once we get to another town and win some money, we'll pay them back!"

Shizune rubbed her forehead and did not try to persuade her further, because she knew it would be useless.

"Lady Tsunade, over there! There are lots of people there—we can shake them off easily!"

Although the two were both powerful ninja, they rarely revealed their identities as ninja in front of debt collectors, lest the collectors learn who they really were and go to Konoha to collect the debt later.

When being chased by a large group like this, the best option was to run somewhere crowded, wait until the debt collectors lost sight of them, then quietly use the Transformation Technique to escape.

However, just as the two were about to rush into the crowd on the snack street, a monk wearing a bamboo hat suddenly raised the Zen Staff in his hand and blocked their path.

"Hey! In broad daylight, so many grown men are bullying two young ladies. How could this humble monk stand by and do nothing!"

Tsunade and Shizune could not display physical abilities too far beyond those of ordinary people, so they had no choice but to stop running.

Naturally, the debt collectors stopped as well.

"Where did this monk come from? Mind your own business! They owe us money and refuse to pay. We're only collecting what is rightfully ours. Even if the authorities came, we'd still be in the right!"

The lead debt collector raised the thick club in his hand and spoke angrily.

Li Chuan lowered his Zen Staff and performed a Buddhist salute.

"Indeed, repaying one's debts is only right. But you should not use such violent methods to collect them. How about this? How much do these two ladies owe you all? This humble monk can pay it for them first."

"Are you serious?"

The moment the debt collectors heard that the monk before them was willing to repay the money, their expressions immediately changed from anger to delight.

It did not matter who paid them, as long as they got their money. Then their task would be complete, and they could report back to their respective bosses.

Tsunade and Shizune had been preparing to sneak away while Li Chuan spoke with the debt collectors, but when they heard that this monk was actually willing to repay their debts, their eyes immediately lit up and they stopped.

"There's actually such a fool... such a good person in this world."

"Lady Tsunade, you owe so much. He might not have enough money to pay it all."

"Don't rush. Let's watch first. If he really doesn't have enough, then we'll run."

Though they said nothing aloud, a brief exchange of glances was enough for the two to settle on their next plan.

In short, they would play it by ear.

"I am serious. This humble monk's family is fairly well-off, and I have some spare money on me."

Li Chuan performed another Buddhist salute and answered earnestly.

"She owes me one million!"

"She owes me five hundred thousand!"

"She owes me three million!"

Upon hearing Li Chuan's words, the creditors all pulled out their promissory notes. After a rough calculation, Tsunade's gambling debts added up to a staggering thirty million ryo.

Even Li Chuan, who had been mentally prepared, could not help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

A normal A-rank mission from a ninja village only paid between one hundred and fifty thousand and one million ryo, and that amount still had to be split among the entire team.

How many A-rank missions would it take to earn thirty million ryo?

Seeing that Li Chuan seemed to be hesitating, Tsunade stuffed the box into Shizune's hands and dashed over to his side with a whoosh, putting on a pitiful expression as she said:

"Sir, I was young and ignorant, which was why I was deceived into owing so much money. If you would kindly repay it for me first, I'll write you an IOU and pay you back as soon as I have the money!"

In Tsunade's eyes, being chased around every day by dozens of casinos was naturally worse than owing money to this one little monk.

More importantly, this little monk looked like the kind of person with a very good temper. Even if she paid him back late, it probably would not matter. And who was she, Tsunade? Next time, she would definitely turn things around. Once she won some money, she would naturally repay the little monk in full.

"You're already fifty years old, yet you call yourself young and ignorant. As expected of you."

Suppressing the urge to complain inwardly, Li Chuan put on a troubled expression before finally sighing.

"Fine. I'm traveling at the moment anyway, so I don't have much need for money. I'll lend it to you to repay your debts for now. But miss, remember this: gambling means nine losses out of ten. You should not gamble again in the future."

"I'll remember, I'll definitely remember!"

Tsunade skillfully pulled out a pen and paper, quickly scribbled out an IOU for thirty million ryo, stuffed it into Li Chuan's robes, then dragged Shizune away and vanished down the street.

Li Chuan froze for a moment at the sight, then turned to the debt collectors and smiled.

"Then, everyone, follow me to the bank to withdraw the money."

From today onward, Li Chuan might be Tsunade's largest creditor.

The Fifth Hokage owed the Prince of the Land of Fire thirty million ryo. So long as he did not make any excessive demands in the future, Tsunade would surely show him some leniency for the sake of that IOU.

Money only had value when spent in useful places. Otherwise, if it was merely kept stored away, it was nothing but a pile of waste paper.

After taking the debt collectors to the bank to withdraw the money, he did not remain in the town any longer and continued toward the Land of Waves according to his plan.

At dusk, Li Chuan looked at the sea shrouded in thick mist, the faintly visible island ahead, and the half-built bridge, then murmured to himself:

"Let's wait here. Given the distance from Konoha Village to this place, they probably won't arrive until tomorrow."

After thinking for a moment, he walked to the shore and rapidly formed hand seals with both hands:

"Lightning Style: Earth Running!"

A fairly powerful current of lightning spread across the sea from his palms. Before long, four or five fish floated to the surface belly-up.

Taking out a long spear from the Mission Space, Li Chuan skewered the fish and began preparing dinner for the day.

Although most of the items in the Mission Space were cheap things, unlike ordinary items, they could be carried when traveling between worlds.

Even after arriving in the Naruto World, he could still retrieve at any time the items he had obtained while doing side missions in Sokovia.

So even while camping out in the wilderness, he could take out a tent, pillow, lighter, pot, bowls, ladles, basins, and all sorts of other daily necessities whenever he needed them.

Though it wasn't quite right to say they were all worthless—they were merely worthless in a modern society like Marvel.

If he ever entered a world with extremely backward technology, then even a random modern household item from the Mission Space might be sold as a treasure for a considerable price.

Moreover, that was not the Mission Space's only use. If used well, it could also provide enormous help in battle.