Split seventy-thirty: Uchiha Mai took five million, and Tsunade took the remaining 2.16 million.
Although two million was only a fraction compared to the ten-odd million she had lost before, Tsunade was already quite satisfied. After all, this was the first time she had seen any money come back.
"Little brother, my dear little brother Mai, is your card skill hard to learn?" Tsunade asked warmly as she tucked the money into her wallet and put an arm around Uchiha Mai.
Ugh~
Kakashi, standing nearby, felt terrible all over. He was so disgusted he wanted to throw up.
Ten days ago, she had been calling him brat this, brat that. Now that she knew he could win money, it was little brother this and dear brother that. Disgusting!
"That depends on talent." Uchiha Mai did not answer directly.
"Then how do you think your big sister's talent is?" Tsunade puffed out her chest.
"Very big—no, I mean, Sister's talent is exceptional. Texas Hold'em was made for you.
"If you can become the Ninja World's best medical ninja, your math skills definitely cannot be poor. If you can become a ninja surpassing Jonin, your learning ability cannot be poor either.
"As long as you systematically practice five thousand hands, you should be able to get started and become a decent card player."
Five thousand hands, at one or two hundred hands a day, meant she could get started in a little over a month. This was doable.
After doing the math, Tsunade's gaze toward Uchiha Mai immediately became fervent. She had to learn this kid's card skills.
All this time, whenever Tsunade gambled, she lost no matter what she played. Forget losing money by relying on luck—even in games that clearly involved a lot of skill, she had never bothered to seriously study the techniques.
Of course, perhaps she had simply never met a good teacher and could not learn anything useful.
Before crossing over, Uchiha Mai had loved playing cards. He mainly played Yu-Gi-Oh! and Texas Hold'em, and out of boredom, he had also studied some Texas Hold'em GTO Theory in depth.
A professional had found his calling!
"Little Minato..."
Tsunade turned toward Master Minato with a smile and patiently persuaded him. "Has anyone ever told you that your team composition is terribly unreasonable?
"During the Second Shinobi World War, I strongly advocated for the medical ninja policy and established the Medical Corps, greatly reducing Konoha ninja casualties.
"After the war ended, medical ninja gained the old man's attention and officially entered the mainstream.
"In Konoha teams, aside from specialized squads such as Ino-Shika-Cho, Taijutsu Squads, and Genjutsu Squads, regular teams would try their best to include a medical ninja, or have one member learn medical ninjutsu.
"Actually, from the moment I saw your team ten days ago, I had already been considering this issue.
"After observing him for the past ten days, I can say with certainty that Mai has great talent for learning medical ninjutsu. As long as he studies under me for a few years, he can inherit my mantle and become a first-rate medical ninja.
"Little Minato, what do you think?"
Ugh~
Kakashi curled his lip in contempt again. So Princess Tsunade, one of the Sannin, was this shameless?
Were you craving his body? You were clearly craving his card skills, you shameless woman!
"Lady Tsunade, I forgot to tell you that I tested my chakra attributes a long time ago.
"My chakra attributes are Fire and Yin, with a little Lightning mixed in, though it isn't very pronounced." Uchiha Mai raised a hand in objection.
Without Yang Release, how the hell was he supposed to learn medical ninjutsu?
"What does a little brat like you know?"
Tsunade planted her hands on her hips and snapped, "Chakra attributes can be developed after birth.
"I guarantee it in the name of the Ninja World's greatest medical ninja: you definitely possess Yang Release. It is just hidden rather deeply and needs a famous teacher to guide you and bring it out."
When in doubt, say he was a late bloomer.
Uchiha Mai: "..."
During my rapid growth phase, instead of learning Fire Style, genjutsu, and taijutsu that I can master easily, I should go learn medical ninjutsu? Wouldn't that make me a complete idiot?
"Lady Tsunade, let's stop talking about all that empty nonsense."
Uchiha Mai laid his cards on the table. "Come back to Konoha with us.
"Afterward, you teach me some taijutsu techniques, and I will teach you first-rate Texas Hold'em skills. A fair trade."
"You want to learn my taijutsu?"
Tsunade was slightly surprised. Didn't the Uchiha always like playing with fire and genjutsu? Still, this deal was not a loss.
"It's a deal!" Tsunade held out a hand.
Smack!
Uchiha Mai high-fived Tsunade in pledge. "It's a deal."
At this point, the mission Sarutobi Hiruzen had assigned them—"bring Tsunade back"—was more than halfway complete. All that remained was to bring her back and collect the reward.
Minato, Kakashi, and Might Guy were filled with emotion. This mission really was strange. They had not even done anything yet, and it was already over.
Tsunade was eager to return home and could not wait to go back to Konoha and learn first-rate Texas Hold'em skills.
She kept urging Minato onward. Once Master Minato had purchased everything on Kushina's list and stuffed it into the Storage Scroll, the group set off on their return journey, eating snacks and humming songs.
Not long after leaving Tanzaku Town, Namikaze Minato, walking at the very front of the group, suddenly frowned as he sensed that something was wrong.
But he did not raise the alarm and simply continued walking ahead.
Soon afterward, Uchiha Mai also noticed that something was off around them. He subtly alerted Kakashi with a look, signaling that there was an ambush.
A ninja had used the Transformation Technique to disguise himself as a tree beside the road. His purpose was unknown, but he was most likely targeting Minato's group.
As for who in the team they specifically wanted to assassinate, that was unclear. Uchiha Mai guessed that Tsunade was the true target. Aside from Tsunade, no one else was worth ambushing.
Kakashi nodded slightly, having also sensed that something was off. Just as he was about to warn Might Guy, Uchiha Mai stopped him with a look.
If you told Might Guy, wouldn't that reveal that we already knew the enemy had been exposed?
With just one glance, Kakashi understood Uchiha Mai's meaning. He abandoned the idea of informing Might Guy, silently slowed his pace, and moved to the rear of the group.
Within a few breaths, the team's formation had shifted into a defensive arrangement: Uchiha Mai at the front, Might Guy and Tsunade in the middle, and Kakashi covering the rear.
On the surface, the group continued chatting and laughing as though they had noticed nothing.
Just as they were about to walk out of the enemy's encirclement, a green tree by the roadside suddenly transformed into a human figure. The figure rapidly formed hand seals and slapped both hands onto the ground, sending a bolt of lightning hurtling toward Tsunade in the middle of the group with blinding speed.
Lightning Style: Earth Flash!
The instant that person revealed himself, another three or four trees followed suit, exposing themselves and using ninjutsu at the same time to focus fire on Tsunade at the center of the group.
Just as Vietnam's trees could talk, the Ninja World's trees could use ninjutsu. Perfectly reasonable, right?
The enemy's target was Tsunade!
"Protect Lady Tsunade!" Master Minato gave the order, using the Body Flicker Technique to dart behind one enemy and slash his Kunai across the man's throat.
Protect our tank.jpg
"A few worthless trash fish think they can ambush me, Tsunade? What a ridiculous dream!
"Heavenly Foo... um..."
In fact, Tsunade had also long noticed the ambushers on both sides of the road.
With one hand on her hip, she gave a proud snort. Just as she was about to leap up and use Heavenly Foot of Pain to clear the field, she saw Minato slash one of the enemies across the throat.
The Kunai pierced the ambusher's throat. As the wind passed over the cut, a fleeting yet magnificent blossom of blood bloomed.
Tsunade's bold declaration abruptly stopped. Bloody terror seized her mind, leaving her frozen in place and trembling uncontrollably.
As Master Minato took an enemy's life with one stroke, he also crippled their side's strongest combatant.
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