Spending Your Own Money Brings Peace of Mind

The young ninjas walked along the Shopping Street, and people they passed kept greeting Tsunade, their words full of warmth and affection.

In Konoha, Princess Tsunade was a well-known figure. Pretty much everyone in the village knew her, and she was immensely popular.

Even civilians knew that the princess would be the next Fourth Hokage. It was practically set in stone.

The current Third Hokage was just a placeholder who had taken the position to fill the gap.

"Tsunade is really popular," Chiri said quietly.

"No, what's popular is money—a walking cash cow," Mimi replied.

Hinata Hitomi and Chiri both looked utterly confused.

"Once something ends up in Tsunade's hands, the Senju send over the money afterward," Mimi said. "Tsunade never bargains. How could she not be popular?"

"Is that so?" Chiri asked, somewhat surprised. "Shouldn't someone tell her?"

"She's spending money to buy popularity," Mimi said. "It's a cheap deal. Some people want to buy it and can't."

"So Tsunade isn't losing out either, right?" Chiri was beginning to understand.

"That's right." Mimi nodded. "Let me tell you a little secret. If you ever need money, challenge Tsunade to a bet. She'll be very happy."

"Hey! What are you all whispering about?!"

After finally shaking off the crowd that had been pestering her, Tsunade turned to look at the three behind her, then rushed over and planted her hands on her hips fiercely. "If you see something you like, tell me already!"

"Mm, not yet," Mimi said.

"You!" Tsunade was a little annoyed. So far, she had not spent a single coin.

Jiraiya had wanted to buy something, but she had not let him.

She just felt uncomfortable if Mimi did not get to spend the money!

Mimi had plenty of things she wanted to buy, but there was no need to spend a child's money. Besides, she had another purpose for coming to the Shopping Street.

"How about we play a couple of rounds?" Mimi said.

"You mean?!" Tsunade's eyes immediately lit up.

"Exactly what you're thinking." Mimi pointed at a shop.

"Could it be?!" Tsunade whipped around to stare at the sign of the casino.

"You all brought money, right?" Mimi asked.

Hinata Hitomi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Orochimaru nodded coldly.

Jiraiya shook his head frantically.

"If you don't have any money, you can owe it for now, Jiraiya," Mimi said. "I'll lend you some first."

As she spoke, Mimi counted out some money and stuffed it into Jiraiya's hand, leaving him no room to refuse.

"Then, bug girl, let's settle this at the gambling table!" Seeing everyone agree to go to her beloved casino, Tsunade was filled with heroic spirit as she took the lead and strode ahead.

Mimi followed, then turned to look at Jiraiya, who was still hesitating. "Not coming? Don't regret it."

As she spoke, a swarm of Kikaichū crawled over Mimi's mask, and she turned to leave.

Jiraiya swallowed.

After struggling internally for a while...

He started walking and followed the others.

At a real casino, a beginner's luck was unreliable. If you won money, the price of fate's gift had long since been marked in secret.

Five hours later, the group emerged from the casino.

For a moment, they were all in very different states.

Orochimaru's face had turned even colder, and the corners of his mouth twitched from time to time.

He glanced at Mimi and silently swore, If I gamble again, I'm a dog!

Then he secretly calculated how long he would have to live on Instant Noodles this month.

Standing at the casino entrance, Mimi counted her winnings as though no one else were around. "Don't mind it. Money doesn't disappear; it just changes hands. Look, we can keep shopping and keep having fun. Don't worry, I'll pay. It's a gambling-table tradition—the winner treats."

Ah, sure enough, spending money she had earned herself really brought peace of mind.

Mimi nodded in satisfaction.

At her feet, Tsunade had collapsed to her knees with both hands on the ground. She felt as if she would never be able to lift her head again, with only two words echoing through her mind: I lost.

But someone beside her looked even more miserable.

Jiraiya squatted on the ground with his arms wrapped around his knees. Despite the blazing summer heat, he felt especially cold and trembled all over.

"Jiraiya, it's six hundred thousand. That's your debt. Don't worry—once you become a ninja, you can earn it back with three B-Rank Missions. Considering how prices will soar in the future, it's not too much for me to charge a little interest, right? Just six percent. Compared to those who charge ten percent, I'm being very merciful."

Jiraiya trembled even harder.

Three hundred ryō was already enough to eat his way through the entire Shopping Street!

You could imagine what level of fortune that was.

But he had wanted to play the hero and save the beauty, helping Tsunade win it back.

Whenever Jiraiya thought of it, he slapped himself twice across the face.

Still, he had grown closer to Tsunade. For the moment, he could not tell whether he had lost or gained.

Chiri could hardly bear to watch the three from First Squad. Mimi had not let her play, yet even watching from the side had made her heart pound wildly.

Gambling was terrifying!

In any case, she would never do it herself.

Hinata Hitomi, meanwhile, patted her small chest, looking relieved to have survived a disaster.

She had lost, but not much.

She would treat it as paying for a lesson.

"You're up, Forehead. Not playing anymore?"

"Play! Why wouldn't I play?" Tsunade climbed to her feet and said viciously, "Buy me food!"

Food only cost a few bucks.

"Come on, pick whatever you like." Mimi chuckled. "Don't be polite. Go for the expensive stuff."

It was not like Konoha had any high-end restaurants.

"Damn it!" Tsunade muttered as she followed Mimi, thinking, We played cards together, so we're gambling buddies now. I'll eat you bankrupt.

Unlike her usual anger, Tsunade felt pain.

As a result, her appetite was a little bigger than usual.

Everyone enjoyed the belated lunch immensely, and they were all happy.

"Insect Girl! I want this!"

"Insect Girl! I want that!"

"Insect Girl! I want both of these!"

"Insect Girl!..."

By the time Tsunade came jogging over with skewers filling both hands, Mimi sighed.

Look how happy the kid was.

"Here, this is your reward. Take it and spend it." Mimi pulled out a wad of money without even counting it and stuffed it into Tsunade's pocket.

Tsunade looked at the money in her pocket with a complicated expression, suddenly feeling a little bitter.

She sniffed, forced back the tears welling in her eyes, then haughtily raised her chin and snorted. "At least you've got some sense!"

"Don't eat yourself to death." Mimi meant more than one thing by it.

"Hmph, I've got a big appetite!" Tsunade failed to catch the implication. "Scared now? I'll eat all that money back!"

Impossible. Mito had given her a full one million.

No matter how much she ate, it would not even add up to a thousand ryō.

"As long as you're happy." Mimi thoughtfully straightened Tsunade's collar.

Tsunade froze in place.

But she did not dodge.

Ah, this idiot did not realize it was a provocative gesture.

Mimi lowered her hand in disappointment.

If Tsunade had bristled and slapped her hand away, Mimi would have gotten interested.

That was it? Boring.

"Asshole!" Tsunade shouted, then ran off.

She could still keep eating.

They wandered and ate along the way, and before they knew it, they had reached Mimi's destination.

Konoha's famous weapon shop, Manten-dō.

She was not here to buy. She was here to sell.

Mimi entered the shop. Tsunade had already run far ahead, with Jiraiya following her.

Compared to asking Mimi for money, it was easier to ask Tsunade.

"Honored little ninja, what would you like to buy?"

That was how the shopkeeper addressed all the village children. Even a single kunai cost money.

The chances of making a sale rose dramatically.

Mimi looked around. The stock was complete, and the prices were high. She had come to the right place.

"It's not to buy something. It's to sell something."

Mimi said, looking at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper froze for a moment. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

The village children often came to sell scrap metal in exchange for snacks.

They would often take their fathers' tools and trade them for money.

"Alright, little ninja, what would you like to sell?"

It had reached first place on the newcomer rankings in the ACG category...

I honestly hadn't expected it, though I'd had a faint feeling it might happen.

A new week, a new day—if everyone has any votes, please cast them.