Small Profit of Ten Million!

Land of Fire.

Early morning of the fifth day.

The caravan slowly entered the streets of Kikyo Town.

"Brother Chiba."

"Won't you consider a long-term partnership?"

Yamada pulled two more large-denomination bills from his money pouch.

He wanted to tie this reliable Chunin to his caravan for good.

"Sorry."

"I still have missions in the village."

Chiba accepted the extra commission, then calmly declined him.

After bidding farewell to the caravan.

Chiba did not choose to return to Konoha. Instead, he slipped into a dark, damp alley.

After confirming that no Anbu were watching him.

His hands rapidly formed seals as the chakra within him stirred slightly.

Poof!

A cloud of white smoke exploded in the alley.

As the smoke dispersed.

A Wandering Samurai dressed in a short gray cloth shirt appeared.

To make the act convincing.

Chiba had even given himself a shallow fake scar on his left cheek.

Then.

Chiba headed straight for Tanzaku Street!

A few hours later.

The bustling, prosperous sight of Tanzaku Street came into view.

Shops lined both sides of the broad street.

The signs of taverns, Izakayas, and underground casinos flashed without pause.

The air was thick with the scent of cheap cosmetics, pungent alcohol, and the sour sweat of gamblers.

This was a gathering place for all sorts of people.

Chiba strolled along the edge of the street, seemingly casually sweeping his gaze over the attendants soliciting customers.

He did not visit the information shops hidden in the dark alleys.

Paying for information was certainly quick.

But Chiba did not want to leave behind the fatal clue that someone was asking about Tsunade.

The safest method was the clumsiest one.

Search the casinos one by one.

There were dozens of casinos of all sizes throughout Tanzaku Street.

Chiba was in no hurry at all.

Still disguised as a Wandering Samurai, he wandered from one establishment to another.

Until the afternoon.

Chiba entered a luxurious underground casino called Golden Toad.

The moment he lifted the heavy curtain.

A thick wave of smoke rushed into his face.

Amid the roaring crowd were the wild laughter and curses of gamblers.

Just then.

A shrill, crisp female voice pierced through the noise.

"Lady Tsunade!"

"You really can't bet anymore!"

"We don't even have money for lodging tonight!"

Following the voice.

The enormous gambling table in the center of the casino was surrounded by gamblers with bloodshot eyes.

A blonde woman occupied the best spot.

She wore a green robe with a huge "Gamble" character printed on the back.

With a fierce slap of her hand against the table, she pushed the large pile of chips before her into the area marked "Big."

Beside the blonde woman stood a black-haired girl holding a pink pig in her arms.

They were Tsunade and Shizune.

Finally, he had found her.

Chiba stopped in his tracks, a glint flashing through his eyes.

But he did not immediately go over and strike up a conversation.

The casino was a chaotic mix of people, and spies were everywhere.

No one could guarantee that there were no Konoha agents in the crowd.

Then.

Chiba walked toward the exchange counter.

He traded all the money on him for casino chips.

Immediately afterward.

Like an ordinary gambler, he forcibly squeezed through the crowd of onlookers and sat in an empty seat beside Tsunade.

The dealer shook the dice cup wildly.

The three dice clattered loudly inside.

Smack!

The dice cup was slammed heavily onto the solid wooden table.

"Place your bets!"

the dealer shouted.

"Big!"

"It's definitely Big!"

"All my luck today has been bottled up for this round!"

Tsunade bit her red lips tightly and stared fixedly at the dice cup holding her fate.

Her hands pressed against the tabletop as her chest rose and fell violently.

Chiba glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

The First Hokage's granddaughter was famous throughout the Ninja World for her bizarre curse of losing every gamble.

The next moment.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chiba pushed all the chips he had just exchanged onto "Small."

At the sight.

Tsunade's brows immediately drew together.

She glanced at this guy who had suddenly appeared from the corner of her eye.

Where the hell did this bastard come from?

He actually dared to go against me!

"Open it!"

"One, two, three—six points, Small!"

The dealer abruptly lifted the dice cup.

The entire casino erupted in deafening cries.

The gamblers who had bet on Small cheered madly.

Tsunade, however, clutched her head with both hands and let out an agonized wail.

Even Tonton, the pet pig in Shizune's arms, let out a "snort," looking utterly despairing.

Meanwhile, the chips before Chiba instantly doubled.

The gambling continued.

The dealer picked up the dice cup again and began shaking it with flashy movements.

Tsunade refused to believe in such nonsense.

She abruptly turned to Shizune.

"Take out the reserve funds!"

"Lady Tsunade, that's our food money for tomorrow!"

Shizune shook her head frantically, tears nearly flying from her eyes.

"Enough nonsense!"

"I'll definitely turn it around this round!"

Tsunade snatched the money pouch from Shizune's arms and quickly exchanged it for chips.

"This time, Small!"

Tsunade slapped all her chips onto the area marked "Small."

Chiba did the opposite.

He pushed all the chips in his hand onto "Big."

Tsunade sharply turned her head and glared viciously at Chiba.

This brat was definitely doing it on purpose. He actually dared provoke her so openly!

"Open it!"

"Four, five, six—fifteen points, Big!"

The dealer's voice rang out again.

But his words were like a heavy hammer smashing brutally into Tsunade's heart.

Whoosh—

The entire casino erupted again.

Tsunade froze completely in place, her mind blank.

The chips before Chiba doubled once more, already piled into a small mountain.

"Again!"

Tsunade's gambler mentality was completely enraged.

She slammed the table and roared, directly asking the Casino Boss for a high-interest loan.

The Casino Boss was naturally happy to lend money to such a fat sheep and immediately brought over a tray of black chips rimmed in gold.

Third round.

Tsunade stared hard at Chiba.

"I'm betting Big!"

Chiba's expression did not change as he pushed all his chips onto "Small."

"Open it!"

"Two, three, four—nine points, Small!"

Fourth round.

Tsunade gritted her teeth and bet on Small.

Chiba immediately slammed his chips onto Big.

"Open it!"

"Three, five, six—fourteen points, Big!"

Fifth round...

Sixth round...

For the entire afternoon.

An incredibly bizarre tug-of-war played out inside the Golden Toad Casino.

Whenever Tsunade bet on Big, Chiba would definitely bet on Small.

Whenever Tsunade bet on Small, Chiba would immediately place a heavy bet on Big.

And without exception.

Chiba won big!

Tsunade lost miserably.

"Ten million ryo..."

Looking at the completely empty tabletop before her.

Then looking at the bags beside Chiba, filled with cash boxes.

Tsunade's whole body trembled uncontrollably.

The high-interest loans she had borrowed had already accumulated into an unimaginably terrifying sum.

Shizune had long since collapsed onto the floor.

Tonton in her arms was crying so hard it was nearly fainting.

"Lady Tsunade..."

"We're completely finished..."

Tsunade abruptly rose to her feet.

She kicked over the solid wooden chair in front of her and shot Chiba a vicious glare.

That look was as if she wanted to devour him alive.

Just as Chiba secretly went on guard—

"Things are getting hairy, run!"

Tsunade grabbed Shizune from the floor and bolted toward the casino's back exit.

Judging by the way she ran, she was clearly an old hand at this!

"Catch them!"

"Don't let the fat sheep get away!"

The Casino Boss roared himself hoarse.

More than a dozen fierce-looking thugs immediately grabbed their clubs and chased after them.