Two words to describe it: Gambling Freak

Monday morning.

Hikawa followed his usual routine: first a run, then swordsmanship practice.

Passing by the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore, he stepped inside and received some good news.

Tsuchihashi had already found a novelist to begin writing "Taimanin."

According to the plot, "Taimanin" was divided into three volumes: upper, middle, and lower.

If things moved quickly, the first volume might be published as early as next week.

After finishing his Konoha-Style Swordsmanship practice, Hikawa took a shower, then headed to school with Yuhi Kurenai.

They arrived fairly early; less than a third of the seats in the classroom were filled.

Many of the students who came even earlier were frantically finishing their homework, occasionally sneaking a copy from someone else.

Hikawa said a quick word to Yuhi Kurenai and returned to his seat.

He casually pulled out a medical text and began reading.

"Um... may I bother you for a moment?"

A crisp voice sounded.

Hikawa looked up and saw Rin Nohara.

"I'd like to ask you about a problem."

Rin Nohara stated her purpose.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the medical text in Hikawa's hand.

What was that?

Did the school have this textbook?

"What problem?"

Hikawa was a little surprised.

Unlike Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara's grades were quite good.

In the previous three monthly exams, she had consistently ranked in the top three for theory.

Since Hikawa was a transfer student, he had only taken one exam.

He treated it as just for fun.

The next monthly exam would be the Final Exam he had been looking forward to.

"This problem."

Rin Nohara bent down and spread open the notebook in her hand.

"There are four ways to solve this problem."

Hikawa casually picked up a pen and said, "Like this, and like that."

Rin Nohara's eyes widened instinctively.

There were actually four methods?

"Alright, anything else you don't understand?"

Hikawa tapped lightly on the notebook as a conclusion.

"No... nothing."

Rin Nohara snapped back to attention and said earnestly, "Thank you."

The small interruption ended.

Hikawa continued reading his medical text.

Rin Nohara returned to her seat.

After finishing her homework, she couldn't help but zone out a little, her gaze unconsciously drifting toward Hikawa.

Good-looking and a genius—she wondered if she could become friends with him.

And that book—was it a medical text?

Rin Nohara had always dreamed of becoming a Medical Ninja.

But she never imagined Hikawa would start learning Medical Ninjutsu in his first year.

The bell for class rang.

As expected, Obito Uchiha was late yet again.

The morning lesson was on the "Ninja Rules."

As a ninja, one needed an iron will, especially during missions, to resist all temptations.

In Hikawa's words: "Heaven above, I stand with gambling and drugs—never!"

Time passed, and soon it was dusk.

As the end of school approached, restlessness filled the classroom—no one had any mind for the lesson.

Sarutobi Asuma glanced at Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai, then couldn't help grinding his teeth.

I'm stuck in early morning classes!

Though he wanted to spar with Hikawa again, what he sought was a victory settlement, not a repeat of defeat.

He planned to spend this time studying under Sarutobi Hiruzen first, and only go back when he had absolute confidence in winning.

Until then, he had to endure.

Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help but sigh. Was this the price of growth?

"Rin."

Obito Uchiha nudged Rin Nohara with his elbow and asked, "Where should we go play after school?"

"Pay attention to the lesson."

Rin Nohara reminded him in a low voice.

Suddenly, her gaze froze, her pupils contracting slightly.

"That's..."

Obito Uchiha followed her line of sight toward the door.

Beneath the hazy sunlight stood a figure.

Without even speaking, she drew everyone's gaze.

"It's Tsunade-sama."

Hatake Kakashi paused, then said involuntarily.

Rin Nohara instinctively covered her mouth, her heart feeling like it might leap out.

She was actually seeing a living Tsunade-sama?!

"Tsu... Tsu..."

Shizune patted Hikawa's arm reflexively, unable to get the words out for a long moment.

"Is it really that dramatic?"

Hikawa didn't quite understand, and asked.

"That's Tsunade-sama!"

Shizune stared at Tsunade, saying, "The greatest kunoichi in the Ninja World!"

Greatest?

Take the middle character out and it'd be about right.

Hikawa couldn't bear to tell Shizune the truth.

Tsunade showing up now was most likely because her gambling itch had flared up, and she wanted him to help ease it.

An inevitable commotion stirred in the classroom.

Sarutobi Asuma, for his part, was perfectly calm.

As the Hokage's son, he'd seen the Konoha Three Ninjas countless times.

But watching his classmates act like they'd never seen the world before, he couldn't help feeling smug.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, scanned around for a moment, and finally spotted Hikawa.

"Tsunade-sama."

Eiichirō quickly put on a respectful demeanor.

"How much longer until class ends?"

Tsunade asked casually.

"We can end class right now."

Eiichirō paused, then asked, "Is there something you need?"

He rapidly ran through the entire class's profiles in his head, but couldn't find anyone connected to Tsunade.

Was she looking for Sarutobi Asuma?

"I'm here for Hikawa."

Tsunade said calmly.

Eiichirō's heart jolted.

He had that kind of connection too?

"Hikawa!"

Eiichirō turned and called out loudly, "Come out."

Sarutobi Asuma's expression stiffened.

Why is it Yukawa again?!

"What's going on here?"

Obito Uchiha froze, asking without thinking.

Hatake Kakashi frowned slightly.

Could it be that Hikawa had also learned Medical Ninjutsu?

If that were true, the Final Exam would be far more troublesome than he'd imagined.

For a moment, even he—called a genius—felt the pressure.

Rin Nohara suddenly remembered the Medical Texts Hikawa had been reading that morning.

Beyond her shock, a hint of admiration rose in her heart.

Under everyone's gaze, Hikawa walked to the door.

"Let's go."

Tsunade-sama didn't waste words; she turned and left.

Hikawa quickly followed.

After a few seconds of silence, the classroom grew lively.

Eiichirō saw this but didn't stop them; there were only a few minutes until class ended anyway.

"What does Tsunade-sama want with Hikawa?"

"Is she going to teach him Medical Ninjutsu?"

"Hikawa-kun is amazing!"

Thanks to Tsunade's reputation, everyone started gossiping.

"What's the big deal?!"

Sarutobi Asuma couldn't take it anymore and stood up to speak.

The people nearby all wore strange expressions.

Sarutobi Asuma trembled under their stares, his heart filled with grief and indignation.

It's just Tsunade!

Believe me, next time I'll bring the Hokage to show you!

Hikawa and Tsunade left the school.

As expected, the direction she headed was straight toward the Casino.

"How does it feel to be the center of attention?"

Tsunade's face showed a teasing expression as she asked, "Does it make you feel light-headed?"

"Not really."

Hikawa said casually.

A bunch of six-year-old kids couldn't get him excited.

That sharp, huh?

Tsunade stopped, reached out, and ruffled his head hard. "What's with the grown-up act?"

"I'm just telling the truth."

Hikawa said, a little helpless.

"I lost five hundred thousand ryō today."

Tsunade shot him a glare. "If you don't win it back for me, watch your butt."

"No problem."

Hikawa nodded.

Back in the day, Chen Daozai turned 20 into 37 million; winning 500,000 was no issue for him.

He was a gambling freak—no, wait—the God of Gamblers.