All Old Foxes-Why Play Tricks? Tsunade and Naruto's Battle of Schemes

Naruto never needs to prepare a draft when he lies, he has no psychological burden, and he never considers whether the other person has already seen through him. He mainly relies on his ability to read the room when speaking.

He could confidently fabricate a ridiculous lie in front of Tsunade. He knew Tsunade's personality well; even if she saw through his lie, she wouldn't bother to admit it.

She doesn't care and won't investigate further.

At this time, Tsunade was in the most chaotic period of her life. She had lost all her family and lover, and she also suffered from hemophobia. She had almost lost interest in life and had no desires.

As expected, Tsunade simply smiled and didn't say anything.

She saw a familiar look in Naruto's eyes. Even though it was their first meeting, he acted as if they were old friends who had met just yesterday.

Shizune was the first to spot him. Tsunade glanced at him and thought the blond-haired man looked familiar. After a moment's thought, she instructed Shizune to rescue him.

In fact, Shizune had already woken up groggily before she even began examining Naruto. This astonishing vitality slightly surprised Tsunade and piqued her interest.

Tsunade's Forbidden Jutsu, Yin Seal, is Ninjutsu that stimulates the body's life force. The Senju Clan's immense wealth allowed her to create it without restraint.

Who could blame her? She possessed pure blood and was the eldest princess of the Senju Clan.

Even though she knew the Uzumaki Clan possessed such tenacious vitality, a striking characteristic of the Uzumaki Clan was their red hair. At this moment, Tsunade didn't recognize Naruto and didn't connect him to the Uzumaki Clan.

That's precisely why she became even slightly interested. If she could uncover some secrets, it might be helpful for her research on Regeneration Technique.

Naruto, on the other hand, didn't think that far ahead. He simply felt that he had already traveled through time and space, and since he had happened to run into Tsunade, he couldn't let her go so easily.

That wretched old woman almost caused my own chaotic situation to explode.

You're being naughty; if you offend me, you can forget about getting away with it. This time, if I don't drag you to your grandma's house, I'll call you Mom.

The two, each harboring their own secrets, exchanged a knowing smile, a smile that was unusually bright.

Thinking to herself, Naruto (Tsunade) thought, "Sorry, this time, you can't escape!"

The innocent Shizune raised her head, her short hair hanging down, looked at the blond guy and then at Tsunade, and suddenly felt a little uneasy.

These two have only just met, yet they seem like they've known each other for ages. And is Lord Tsunade's signature smile a trap?

Shizune knew Tsunade all too well; this teacher of one of the Legendary Sannin was anything but serious. She was always gambling or cheating, using practically every trick in the book.

Fortunately, Tsunade still has her bottom line; even if she cheats someone out of money, she'll pay it back after a while. The cheated customers are only angry for a moment, but no one questions the Senju Clan's foundation.

"Where are you going?" Tsunade asked with a smile, her expression full of concern.

"Oh, I want to go to the Land of Hot Water."

Naruto continued, following Tsunade, saying he wanted to travel with Tsunade so he could find an opportunity. But he wasn't stupid; he wouldn't say it so bluntly.

Coincidentally, Tsunade thought the same thing. Only by working together can one have a chance.

"The Land of Hot Water is quite far. Do you even know the way from here?" Tsunade started talking nonsense with a straight face, without blushing at all.

"I don't know this." Naruto shook his head, his face full of innocence.

"I'm so sorry, I can't help you with that." Tsunade said apologetically, as if she really meant it. Shizune, who was standing next to her, believed her and breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's alright." Naruto smiled and wasn't in a hurry.

If you reject him now, he has plenty of ways to "accidentally" Tsunade and the other woman in the next place and see who has the worst character, you old woman.

Every time Tsunade tries to cause trouble, she never has a moment's peace. She either has to play along with her act or she has to go against her conscience and turn a blind eye to Tsunade's treacherous behavior.

At first, seeing Tsunade's interested expression, she was a little worried, but now that she heard Tsunade politely decline, she felt relieved.

However, before she could even exhale, Tsunade spoke again.

"Shizune, let's go."

"Oh, oh." Shizune lifted her foot to leave, but suddenly caught sight of Tsunade out of the Tsunade and immediately stopped in her tracks.

Tsunade looked at her meaningfully, her eyes holding a familiar, unspoken message. Shizune's heart skipped a beat, and her pulse quickened.

Seeing Tsunade's silent lip movements, Shizune swallowed hard.

Tsunade (silently): "You know what I mean."

Shizune: "."

She now somewhat regretted following Tsunade, but fate had other plans, and it was beyond the control of a lowly Genin like herself. She sighed silently and could only let out a loud "Eh!"

"What's wrong? Shizune?" Tsunade turned around, looking puzzled.

This left Shizune speechless. Looking at Tsunade's completely natural performance, she had no choice but to continue acting, even though she was unwilling.

"Um... Lord Tsunade, have you forgotten? We seem to have a journey through the Land of Hot Water, and that's what we Lord Oshin last time."

"Oh, I remember now." Tsunade pretended to suddenly realize something. In reality, there was a Lord Oshin Orioru, who was just the owner of a steam bath in the Land of Wind.

Naruto sneered inwardly, scoffing. He thought to himself, "This old woman is trying to teach a master actor how to play the fool. While I was putting on my acting show, you were probably out there losing money."

"The Land of Hot Water? What a coincidence. I wonder if I could come with you?" Naruto lowered his head slightly, behaving just right.

His expression was hesitant and apprehensive, as if he were speaking with great courage. But in the instant he lowered his head, there wasn't a trace of emotion in his eyes.

You mentioned the Land of Hot Water, and then something happened Land of Hot Water. If you'd known I was going to the Land of Snow, should you have said you were planning to go to sea with me?

We're all old foxes, why are we talking about Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio?

Perhaps Tsunade's acting skills are indeed quite good, at least enough to fool most people, but Naruto is no longer a novice, and his two lifetimes have made him incredibly cunning.

He glanced at it briefly and knew he must have something on him that Tsunade would be interested in. As for what it was, he didn't think about it in detail.

The old woman wouldn't want his kidneys, although he knew that Tsunade's shamelessness was comparable to his own, but at least she wasn't a dangerous person like Orochimaru.

They're either after a person's skin or their kidneys—it's so perverted! Naruto even suspected that Orochimaru might have traveled from some kidney-producing superpower.

"Shizune." Tsunade didn't answer immediately, but looked at Shizune, as if asking for her opinion.

"Huh?" Shizune was already numb. She opened her mouth to refuse, but when she caught a glimpse of Tsunade's expression, she had no choice but to give in. "Lord Tsunade, why don't we go together?"

"Won't this cause delays?" she asked hesitantly.

"No, there's plenty of time." Shizune gritted her teeth, almost grinding them to powder. "The journey will be boring anyway, so let's go together. At least we'll have someone to talk to."

"Alright then," Tsunade with a reluctant expression.

"Lord Tsunade," Naruto said smoothly. As soon as he finished speaking, both the older and younger women looked at him and immediately realized what he meant.

Tsunade was only stunned for a moment, but apart from thinking that this person learned really fast, she did not notice any other problems.

"If you like, just call me that." Tsunade waved her hand, not lingering on the matter.

Naruto felt a cold sweat break out on his back, but he just chuckled and quickly masked it. Fortunately, the other party would never have considered something like time travel, as there was no precedent for it.

The two exchanged another smile, and just like that, the group set off in a daze. As for why it was the Land of Hot Water, he had considered it beforehand.

The Land of Hot Water is very close to the Land of Fire, so going there won't delay our Land of Hot Water. We can also take the opportunity to search the Land of Hot Water and see if we can find anything.

After all, the belief in Evil God originated in the Land of Hot Water. Although Naruto harbored resentment towards the indescribable Evil God, he didn't mind taking advantage of them.

Tsunade was even less interested; going anywhere was just another form of entertainment, and she wasn't short of money. The Land of Hot Water was a paradise for hot springs, so she could soak in them and, incidentally, trick that person into coming to be her research subject.

Thus, a world of only Shizune and unease was created.

Bored during their journey, Naruto pretended to sit on the grass and throw pebbles. He threw several square pebbles with impressive skill, which made Tsunade itch to join in.

"Do you know how to play dice?" she asked.

"No." He shook his head honestly, as shy as a little lamb.

Seeing this, Tsunade's playful side was piqued, and she licked her lips and said.

"How about I teach you?"

Seeing the tempting fruit swaying heavily before his eyes, Naruto was somewhat distracted. After a moment's thought, he nodded with a hesitant expression.

"All right."

Shizune sat to the side to rest, not participating. She seemed to prefer out of sight, out of mind, knowing that even if she had an opinion, it would be futile.

Besides, she had no reason to stop Tsunade from having fun. Tsunade had already lost everything, and this was the only hobby she had left. If she were to stop her, her life would become far too bleak.

Others might not know, but Shizune, who had always been by Tsunade's side, knew the inside story. After her loved ones died one after another in battle, Tsunade developed hemophobia.

This means that Tsunade can no longer engage in medical work. Having lost her loved ones, she has also lost the career she has dedicated decades to, and now she has nothing left.

Even when people on the street recognized Tsunade and wanted her to practice medicine, Tsunade refused. If there was a suitable ailment, she would let Shizune practice on it.

But she would absolutely never lay a hand on the patient, not even when offering guidance. She initially couldn't stand the smell of blood, but it's gotten better over the past two years.

However, one still cannot see or touch blood.

Naruto was listening to Tsunade's earnest lecture, but in his mind, he was also pondering Tsunade's fear of blood. He silently thought, "Tsunade can't touch blood, what will happen when her period comes?"

Thinking this, Naruto's gaze involuntarily shifted downwards.

"Ahem." Tsunade naturally noticed Naruto, coughed, and stared at Naruto with some displeasure.

He snapped out of his daze, exchanged a glance with Tsunade, and didn't react much. He wasn't embarrassed at being caught; instead, he smiled and joked.

"I roughly understand the rules, but I might be a little rusty since it's my first time playing. Please don't bully me, Lord Tsunade."

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

"Lord Tsunade, you've lost again," Naruto said.

Tsunade was dumbfounded; she had played ten rounds and lost seven. She was still going to play a few more, but the fat sheep was indeed a fat sheep, showing no sign of stopping.

"Again, again," she muttered. "I'll remember the number you lost earlier, and I'll give it to you when we get to the Land of Hot Water."

"Okay." Naruto smiled, not minding at all.

He doesn't care about money at all. It seems absurd that Tsunade loses seven out of ten bets, but this is already Naruto's limit. If he doesn't deliberately throw the game, Tsunade won't win a single match even if she plays normally.

Tsunade had her own ulterior motives; she had no intention of paying. Losing was losing, being heavily in debt was bad enough, and this person seemed easy to fool anyway.

I did the research on the way, and then dumped him when I got to the Land of Hot Water, killing two birds with one stone.

Hmph!

The imagination is wonderful, but the reality is harsh.

Whenever Tsunade decides to thoroughly study Naruto, he always comes up with various excuses to coax Tsunade into continuing to play, like a delinquent student tricking his classmate into going online.

And as the number of times increased, his rhetoric became more and more skillful.

"Lord Tsunade must be tired. How about we make a bet?" Naruto took advantage of a break and went straight up to her. "I was lucky last time, but this time it's your turn to turn the tables, Lord Tsunade."

"Oops!! Oops! Lord Tsunade is amazing, as expected of a senior!"

Tsunade, saying that at almost thirty, she couldn't stand being flattered.

"Oh dear, it's really nothing."

She thought to herself, "Auntie, I'm getting a freebie! Play as much as you want! Do whatever you want!" She grinned and agreed, then sat down with Naruto again to continue playing.

The Shizune little girl watched coldly, not wanting to speak to the two gamblers at all, and sat quietly to the side, engrossed in reading. The road to becoming a top-level secretary is difficult and painful.

"We lost again." Tsunade somewhat discouraged.

She wasn't particularly addicted to it to begin with, but under Naruto's influence, she became increasingly eager to win. Although she lost more often than not, she occasionally managed to pull off a miraculous comeback.

Every time she turned defeat into victory, Tsunade experienced immense mental pleasure.

Finally, the three entered a market town.

Upon seeing the Tsunade, Tsunade immediately lost interest in playing with Naruto, greeted him briefly, and went inside. Naruto simply smiled and returned to the inn with Shizune.

Strangely, Tsunade sat in front of the machine, staring blankly at the colorful patterns on the screen. The sounds of the machine couldn't stir her emotions; her mind remained as still as water.

This left her somewhat dumbfounded; it seemed she had become indifferent to this hobby.

When Tsunade returned to the inn alone, dejected and heartbroken, she hesitated when Naruto extended an invitation. She wanted to say she was no longer interested, but seeing his expectant eyes, she ultimately couldn't refuse.

"I'll take a shower first, then I'll play later."

"Good."

In the bathroom, Tsunade showering under the hot water, steam rising from the shower. She felt a pang of regret; why had she accepted his invitation when she had clearly lost interest?

Those who are interested can go back and read Chapter 84, Tsunade.

The foreshadowing of their first meeting was planted there.