Yamaki Atsushi had originally wanted to keep as low a profile as possible, find an inn to rest at, and avoid unnecessary trouble. But in the end, he could not withstand the persistent pleading of the other two and finally agreed to fill their stomachs at this roadside shop before looking for an inn.
Though the three of them loudly toasted each other, they were drinking juice. Alcohol was one of the Ninja Three Prohibitions. Ninjas rarely drank, and drinking during missions was outright forbidden.
"This time, we have Yamanaka to thank for the early warning and that beautiful final Shuriken Throwing Art. If this had been a few years ago, when the Third Shinobi World War had just begun, you could have applied to become a Chunin." This close call had given Yamaki Atsushi an entirely new impression of Xingran. He would make a good subordinate, but unfortunately, this mission was only a temporary team-up. If Yamaki wanted Yamanaka Xingran as his subordinate, he would first have to get him into the Anbu.
"You flatter me, Captain Yamaki. Just call me Xingran." Xingran showed a professional smile, the result of his study of the Fourth Hokage. A friendly smile could bring comrades closer together, but at certain moments, it could also make enemies inexplicably wary.
Back when Xingran subdued Junpei, he had acted ruthlessly while wearing a kind, easygoing expression. It had startled Yamaki Atsushi, behind his cat mask, into unconsciously drawing a kunai on someone from the same village.
"Uh, don't make that expression at me. Um, don't misunderstand. I'm just not used to people being so enthusiastic toward me." Sure enough, Xingran's smile reminded Yamaki Atsushi of unpleasant scenes. Yet he still had to pretend they had not known each other before, so he explained himself as he spoke, feeling awkward all over.
Seeing Yamaki Atsushi react this way, Xingran found it even more amusing.
"The captain doesn't like people being too enthusiastic, but I do. I really like Xing Ran-kun being like this." When Junpei had been pinned to the ground by Xingran, he had not been able to see Xingran's expression. Seeing the atmosphere turn a little awkward now, he hurriedly cracked a joke, making Yamaki Atsushi's expression turn strange as he inwardly sighed that this idiot truly knew no fear because he knew nothing.
But Junpei had another thought in mind. What was wrong with Yamaki? According to Lord Hokage's orders, weren't they supposed to observe Yamanaka Xingran and guide him toward becoming more sunny and cheerful? Wasn't that their secret mission this time?
It was not easy for Xingran to get along so well with them. What the hell was with rejecting his enthusiasm? This idiot really had no idea what he was thinking.
Just as the two Anbu Chunin began suspecting each other of being idiots—
"It's open—five, five, six! Big!"
"Damn it, I lost again. Today is really cursed. Big has come up seven times in a row."
"Hahaha, I won."
Amid the noisy cursing, mixed with a few excited roars, the sounds reached Xingran and the other two.
It turned out there was a gambling house across the street from the oden shop. Every time the bets were placed and hands were off, a burst of commotion would follow.
Xingran had seen places where people gambled in Konoha before, but since this kind of entertainment involved the money-related prohibition among the Ninja Three Prohibitions, people generally had little interest in it.
Things were different now. After awakening Superman's super vision and X-ray vision, Xingran had never considered sources of income beyond missions. But when he noticed this gambling house, an idea suddenly surfaced in his mind.
His strength was still far too weak. A large part of the reason he had come out to take missions now was the pressure of making a living. Who would not want to spend twenty years quietly grinding, then emerge invincible?
If he could solve his livelihood problems through "financial fundraising," he would have plenty of time to train.
"You two keep eating. I'll go take a look over there." After giving them a heads-up, Xingran hurried into the gambling house across the street like a gambler desperate to win his money back.
Yamaki Atsushi and Junpei were mildly surprised. Then they unconsciously exchanged glances, thought of the same thing, and grimly wolfed down the food in their bowls. After paying, they headed for the gambling house as well.
When Xingran entered the gambling house, the decor was extremely casual—or rather, there was no decor at all. Inside a room with nothing but painted walls stood three large tables.
One table was for pai gow, while the other two were for dice.
Eager to verify his idea, Xingran first tested the place with his sensory abilities. As expected, just like the gambling houses in Konoha, the equipment here had been specially treated. He could not detect any information at all through his senses.
Then Xingran activated his X-ray vision. He could now freely turn it on and off, and because the stabilization period after his awakening had not yet passed, the depth of his vision was still increasing. It had now reached the point where he could barely see through a thin wall.
Sure enough, he easily saw the dice completely covered by the gambling equipment in the dealer's hand. One, three, three. This round was small.
"Let's go. Gambling is no good." Just as Xingran was about to step forward and place a bet, Junpei appeared behind him and pulled him outside without giving him any choice.
"Nine times out of ten, gambling leads to loss. Do you know about the legendary fat sheep?" Yamaki Atsushi also threw an arm around Xingran's shoulders, exerted force, and half-dragged, half-pushed him out of the gambling house.
After the encounter earlier that afternoon, both men thought Xingran was a pretty good kid. Along the way, they had observed him according to Lord Hokage's orders and found no signs of postwar trauma, which had made them rather pleased. Yet in the time it took to eat a meal, they had discovered a problem.
Could this kid have become addicted to gambling after the last time his whole team was wiped out? There was no intelligence in his file saying he had liked gambling before.
Gambling also fell under the money-related prohibition of the Ninja Three Prohibitions, and it was even more serious than spending money recklessly. A gambler's madness and lack of bottom line often made them unfit for the profession of ninja. Of course, Tsunade was an exception. Though Tsunade gambled and lost badly, she had good gambling conduct and strong control over her limits. She would rather be chased everywhere by debt collectors.
But how many people had Tsunade's principles? Nine times out of ten, gambling led to loss was no joke. In the shinobi world, it was common for people who had lost their heads in gambling to sell out their village's intelligence. The two Anbu members did not want the little brother they had just come to approve of to go down the wrong path.
"The legendary fat sheep." This was Xingran's first time hearing someone near him mention Tsunade, so he could not help repeating it. As for the gambling house, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. In any case, he had already confirmed that gambling for money was feasible.
"Yes, the legendary fat sheep. There are reports that this refers to our Princess Tsunade. Just like her grandfather, the First Hokage, she is addicted to gambling and has nearly gambled away the entire Senju Clan... Take a word of advice from your big brother: gambling is no good..." Seeing that Xingran's attention had shifted away from the gambling house, Yamaki Atsushi began tirelessly advising him. He even pinned the Senju Clan's decline on Tsunade's gambling, hoping to scare away Xingran's newly sprouted desire to gamble.
To be continued. Rolling all over the floor begging for recommendations. Quite a few brothers have added this to their collections, but even if you are stockpiling chapters, don't forget to send in a recommendation. Many thanks.
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