The dusk on the mountaintop deepened, and the autumn wind began to turn cold. After gazing at the moon until they grew drowsy, the two obediently headed down the mountain and returned to the courtyard. After wishing each other good night, they went to their respective little buildings.
Rikusei's body clock woke him right on time. Seeing Danzo and the others still sleeping peacefully in their rooms, he carefully washed up and got dressed, then went downstairs, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
A faint glow from the dusky sky outside the window brought a touch of dawn, driving the darkness from the room.
The constant clattering of impacts and muttering in the hall caught his attention, interrupting his preparations to head outside for his morning exercise.
"Big, big, big!"
The dice cup swayed through the air, blurring into an afterimage as it clattered. Perhaps the moment had finally come, because it suddenly came down on the table. A dull thud echoed through the hall.
The broad, powerful hand covering it clenched slightly, waiting for the dice inside to settle. When the trembling finally stopped, he began to lift the cup—only to see the result. Hashirama, who had been full of anticipation, covered it up again and closed his eyes in despair.
Instead of going out for his morning exercise, Rikusei leaned over the stair railing, thoroughly amused by the Konoha Gambling King entertaining himself. He had long known the man's luck was absurd, but today he was experiencing firsthand just how absurd it really was.
Seeing Hashirama's expression begin to change, Rikusei knew the miraculous muttering was about to start again.
"Senjutsu! Shake it over the chest for a guaranteed high roll!"
Mysticism couldn't save someone who was hopelessly unlucky, Rikusei thought to himself. A few years from now, you'll even teach