The Bet

This little grove had always been deserted, and she and Dan had happened to have time for a date here. But today, the place was noisy and chaotic, disturbing them. She was burning with anger and badly needed to vent it.

The hot-tempered brothers, Wind God and Thunder God, didn't care who was up above. Kaede figured the two blockheads didn't even recognize Tsunade and Dan Katō, and they kept swinging their arms as they tore apart the cliff.

"You two bastards!~"

With a furious roar, Tsunade leaped down from the cliff, her hand clenched into a fist as she charged at Wind God. Her green coat fluttered as she plunged rapidly toward the ground. Wind God gaped, as if he'd just seen something delightful.

A massive fist met Tsunade's.

"Tsk, that's refreshing!"

The crack of breaking bones rang out clearly. Tsunade's furious punch sent Wind God flying, his body carving a long trench in the ground. If Dan Katō hadn't told her to go easy, she could have smashed him to pieces.

Thunder God watched his brother fly away in confusion, then turned to look at Tsunade. In a panic, he ran over to help his brother up.

"Brother, your hands?"

"My hands... I can't move them." Wind God raised his twisted, limp hands and got to his feet with Thunder God's support.

"It hurts so much, Thunder God."

"Brother, let's run. That woman's so strong. We can't beat her."

"Thunder God, let's run."

Realizing they couldn't beat Tsunade, the two tried to escape. They looked cautious, as if afraid someone might notice them, but their loud voices had already given them away.

"Honestly... they're a pair of clowns." Kaede stared strangely at the two idiots and muttered under his breath.

Tsunade's forehead creased with irritation, and her clenched fist started twitching again. Just as Wind God and Thunder God prepared to run, she stomped down hard. The ground shattered, and she used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of them.

"Idiots!"

She raised her hand and flicked each of them on the head. They went flying and crashed into the cliff.

Wind God and Thunder God were nowhere near Tsunade's level of strength. To her, beating them was like an adult beating up children—one punch, one kid down.

"Big Sis, we were wrong! Please spare us!"

The two pulled themselves out of the cliff. When they saw Tsunade approaching in a rage, they dropped to their knees with a thud and begged for mercy without an ounce of dignity.

Tsunade's fist, trailing a fierce gust of wind, stopped right beside their heads.

"Do you give up? Will you ever attack villagers again?"

"We won't do it again!"

She withdrew her strength, turned, and flashed Dan Katō a radiant smile. She looked so bright and charming that she was nothing like the violent woman from a moment ago. Dan smiled back, gentle and warm. The two looked like an ordinary couple deeply in love.

"Go back and get someone to take them away and lock them up."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Sparrow responded, his hands already crippled.

Only after Sparrow used the Body Flicker Technique to leave did Tsunade have time to look at Kaede. That fiery fan was hard to miss. Tsunade despised the Uchiha Clan, so much so that she didn't even want to look at them.

She knew that Uchiha Madara had played a major role in her grandfather's death, and her great-uncle had always been deeply wary of the Uchiha, too.

If that Uchiha brat had been alone just now, she would have pretended not to see him and let those two idiots beat him to death.

Tsunade entertained the thought with no small amount of malice.

When Kaede noticed Tsunade looking his way, he straightened his clothes and hair, which had gotten a little disheveled when he fled in a panic. "Lady Tsunade."

He couldn't very well show disrespect to Princess Tsunade, Konoha's princess.

"Uchiha brat, you're evil. Hmph!" Tsunade folded her arms, her already generous figure looking even more imposing. She glanced at Kaede and showed no desire to talk to him.

"Sorry about that, kid. Tsunade's got a bad temper with everyone, so don't take it personally." Dan Katō stepped between Tsunade and Kaede.

"I only wanted to thank Lady Tsunade for helping me just now. Now that I've thanked her, I won't keep you two." Kaede had no interest in making a fool of himself by trying to ingratiate himself with someone who wasn't receptive. Tsunade might have high status, but she wasn't a way out of his predicament, so there was no need to get tangled up with her.

Kaede turned, deciding to hurry home. He must have left the house without checking his horoscope. He'd run into this rotten mess and nearly gotten himself killed. He needed to get home and lie in his warm little bed, then calm his racing heart.

"Kid, what's with that attitude? You think a simple thank-you is enough?" Tsunade pulled Dan aside and stopped Kaede from leaving, her voice edged with anger. She lifted her chin and looked down at him haughtily.

From where Kaede stood, he had a perfect view of the peaks and valleys.

He glanced at them, then quickly looked away.

"Those really are impressive. I wonder if Dan's had a chance to—" Kaede...

"What do you want from me, Lady Tsunade? I'm just a student at the Ninja Academy. I'm broke!" Kaede pulled a long face and started pleading poverty. Even if he had money, he wouldn't hand it over—and he really was dirt poor. He knew all about the Konoha Sannin's reputation for drinking, gambling, and women. Tsunade's nickname, Big Fat Sheep, was hardly new.

How should he thank her? Obviously, by handing over money!

Well, sorry, but my pockets are even emptier than my face is clean.

As he spoke, Kaede turned out his pockets. They were empty.

"See? I don't have anything."

"Brat, you're even poorer than me," Tsunade cursed inwardly.

But outwardly, she put on a righteous expression.

"Kid, are you looking down on me? Do you think I'd ask you for money? Am I that kind of person? You really are an Uchiha brat, born evil. You're so annoying."

Kaede wanted to say, Stop pretending. We both know the truth. You've done who knows how many things to avoid paying your debts, like turning into a little girl to trick people. Why are you putting on an act?

But he didn't dare. He didn't want to end up like Wind God and Thunder God, getting beaten until sparks flew.

"Then what should I do to thank you?"

Tsunade looked at Kaede and couldn't think of anything right away. She only stared at him, her gaze growing more and more intense, with a hint of resentment.

"How about I pay you back once I become a Jonin and earn some money from missions? I can write you an IOU."

"Heh, kid, you think you'll become a Jonin? Dream on."

Ha, here came the real show.

"How about we make a bet? If I safely make it to Jonin, I'll consider today's debt to Lady Tsunade paid in full—100,000 ryo. What do you say? Dare to bet?"

Tsunade looked at Kaede in confusion. She sensed something was off, but couldn't figure out what the kid was up to. Still... if there was money to be won, why worry about all that?

"Fine, I'll take that bet."

"Great, Lady Tsunade. It's a deal."

Kaede lowered his head and walked away, looking a little dejected. He didn't let out a loud laugh until he got home, drawing questions from his mother, Xiang.

After placating his mother, he looked at the written bet in his hand and laughed again.

Tsunade had a hidden talent for gambling: she lost nine times out of ten. She only ever won when something bad happened to her. She'd only won a bet once—against Jiraiya—and she won him, but lost herself.

This bet between her and Kaede could count as a life-saving charm.

At the very least, it would give him some comfort.

Meanwhile, as Tsunade and Dan walked down the street, they talked about Kaede's strange behavior.

"Why did he say he'd pay you back once he became a Jonin? Couldn't he earn money from missions as a Genin?" Dan asked.

"Maybe he thinks he'll earn more as a Jonin!"

Tsunade replied casually.

He was just a strange kid. There was nothing worth paying attention to.