The Wager

This small wooded hill was usually deserted, giving her and Dan plenty of time for their dates here. But today, the noise and commotion had disturbed them, and the anger in her heart urgently needed an outlet.

The hot-headed Wind God and Thunder God completely ignored who was up there. Kaede figured these two idiots didn't even recognize Tsunade or Dan Katō, as they kept swinging their arms, tearing into the cliff face.

"You two bastards!~"

With a furious roar, Tsunade leaped from the cliff, her fist clenched as she hurtled toward Wind God. Her green coat flapped wildly in the rapid descent, while Wind God grinned wide, as if delighted by the sight.

His massive fist rose to meet Tsunade's.

"Tsk, that's cold!"

A clear crack of bone rang out as Wind God was sent flying by Tsunade's enraged punch. The sheer force dragged his body across the ground, carving a long trench. If Dan hadn't told her to go easy, she'd have smashed him to pulp.

Confused, he looked at his brother flying off, then turned to Tsunade. Thunder God scrambled over to help his brother up.

"Brother, your hand?"

"Hand... can't move it." Wind God lifted his twisted, limp hands that dangled uselessly, standing with Thunder God's support.

"It hurts so much, Thunder God."

"Brother, let's run. This woman's too strong. We can't beat her."

"Thunder God, let's bolt."

Seeing they couldn't win against Tsunade, they wanted to flee, their expressions cautious as if afraid of being caught. But with their loud voices, their intent was already heard by Tsunade.

"Really... a pair of clowns." Kaede stared at the two fools, muttering under his breath.

Tsunade's forehead was lined with veins, her clenched fist barely restrained. Just as Wind God and Thunder God prepared to run, she stomped the ground, shattering it, and appeared before them in an instant.

"Idiots!"

Raising her hand, she flicked both their heads with a single motion. They were sent flying, embedded into the cliff face.

Wind God and Thunder God's strength was nowhere near Tsunade's level. Fighting her was like adults beating children—one punch, one kid down.

"Boss lady, we're sorry! Spare us!"

Prying themselves out of the cliff, the two saw Tsunade storming toward them, dropped to their knees with a thud, and shamelessly begged for mercy.

Tsunade's fist, carrying a gale, stopped right beside their heads.

"You give? Will you dare attack villagers again?"

"We never will again!"

She withdrew her strength, turned to Dan Katō, and flashed a brilliant smile—so radiant, nothing like the violent woman from moments ago. Dan Katō smiled back, warm and sunny, like an ordinary couple deeply in love.

"You go back, send someone to take them away and lock them up."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," replied Sparrow, whose hands were already crippled.

Once Sparrow vanished with a Body Flicker, Tsunade finally had time to look at Kaede. After all, that flame-like fan was far too eye-catching. Tsunade utterly detested the Uchiha Clan—so much so that she couldn't stand the sight of them.

She knew her grandfather's death was deeply tied to Uchiha Madara, and her granduncle had always been highly wary of the Uchiha.

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

Tsunade couldn't help but think maliciously.

Seeing Tsunade turn to him, Kaede straightened his clothes and hair, disheveled from his earlier hasty escape, and said respectfully, "Tsunade-sama."

The princess of Konoha, Tsunade-hime—he couldn't help but show respect.

"Evil little Uchiha brat, hmph!" Tsunade crossed her arms, her chest even more prominent, and glanced at Kaede with no intention of engaging.

"Sorry, kid. Tsunade has a temper—she's like this with everyone. Don't mind her." Dan Katō stepped between Tsunade and Kaede.

"I just wanted to thank Tsunade-sama for her help earlier. Now that I've done that, I won't disturb you two." Kaede had no interest in kissing up to someone who gave him the cold shoulder. Tsunade might be high-ranking, but she wasn't a breakthrough for his own troubles. No need to linger.

Turning, Kaede decided to head home. He must not have checked the almanac today—running into such a mess, nearly getting himself killed. Time to go home, curl up in his warm little bed, and calm his restless heart.

"Kid, what kind of attitude is that? A simple sentence counts as thanks?" Tsunade shoved Dan aside, her angry voice stopping Kaede mid-step. She looked down at him, chin raised in arrogance.

From Kaede's angle, he could just see the rise and fall of her peaks.

He glanced, then quickly looked away.

"Truly vast... I wonder if Dan's gotten a handful." Kaede

"Tsunade-sama, what do you want? I'm just a student at the Ninja Academy—I've got no money!" Kaede put on a pitiful face, starting to plead poverty. Even if he had money, he wouldn't cough it up, and besides, he really was broke. He wasn't ignorant of the legendary reputation of Konoha's Three Ninja—gambling, women, and booze. Tsunade's nickname as the Big Fat Sheep wasn't new.

How to thank her? With money, of course!

But sorry, my pockets are cleaner than my face.

With that, Kaede flipped open his pockets—completely empty.

"See? I've got nothing."

"Damn brat, even poorer than me."

Tsunade cursed viciously in her heart.

But on the surface, she put on a righteous front.

"Kid, are you looking down on me? Would I ask you for money? Do I seem like that kind of person? As expected, you're an evil little Uchiha brat—truly insufferable."

Kaede only wanted to say, "Who are you trying to fool? Everyone knows who you are. How many times have you turned into a little girl to dodge debts? Stop pretending."

But he didn't dare! He didn't want to end up like Wind God and Thunder God, getting zapped into static.

"Then how else should I thank you?"

Tsunade looked at Kaede, momentarily at a loss. Her gaze on him grew deeper, tinged with some resentment.

"How about this: once I become a Jonin and earn money from missions, I'll pay you back. I can write an IOU."

"Heh, brat, you want to become a Jonin? Dream on."

Haha, here comes the real deal.

"How about we make a bet? If I can safely become a Jonin, I'll repay Lady Tsunade's favor today, valued at 100,000 ryo. What do you say? Dare to bet?"

Tsunade looked at Kaede with suspicion. She sensed something off but couldn't figure out what this brat was up to. Still... as long as there was money to be had, who cared?

"Fine, I'll take that bet."

"Good, Lady Tsunade, it's a deal."

Kaede left with his head down, looking dejected. It wasn't until he got home that he burst out laughing, drawing his mother Xiang's inquiry.

After brushing off his mother, he looked at the written bet in his hand and kept laughing.

Tsunade's hidden trait: she lost every bet she made. The only time she won was when something bad happened to her. She had only ever won one bet—against Jiraiya—and lost him in the process.

This bet between him and Tsunade was practically a life-saving charm.

At the very least, it was a comfort to his mind.

Meanwhile, on the street, Tsunade and Dan talked about Kaede's strange behavior earlier.

"Why did he say he'd pay you back after becoming a Jonin? Can't Genin earn money from missions too?" Dan asked.

"Maybe he thinks Jonin earn more," Tsunade replied casually.

Just a weird kid. Nothing worth paying attention to.