Shizune came running.
Chiba had just reached the manor gates when he saw her round the street corner with Tonton in her arms, panting so hard she could barely catch her breath. The piglet was being jostled around in her embrace and squealing nonstop.
"Lord Chiba!"
"Catch your breath first."
Shizune bent over and panted for more than ten seconds before straightening up. Her face was filled with a complicated mix of urgency, anger, and helplessness.
"Lady Tsunade... she took advantage of me going to the pharmacy for supplies to secretly raid the hidden compartment in the study and take her private stash! She took 150,000 ryo and ran off to the casino!"
Chiba raised an eyebrow.
"Which casino?"
"Golden Leaf Manor, the biggest one in Konoha's eastern district. She's in a VIP room. When I went looking for her, the guards said the guests inside couldn't be disturbed. I couldn't get in."
Chiba slipped his hands into his pockets and looked up at the sky. The sun had already begun to set. Only a little over an hour had passed since the first round of the Chunin Exams ended.
"How long would 150,000 ryo last her?"
Shizune's expression fell.
"With Lady Tsunade's gambling luck... she's probably already lost it all. She might even owe the house money."
Chiba was silent for two seconds, then the corner of his mouth curled upward.
"Fine. I'll handle it."
He turned and headed toward the eastern district, then looked back at Shizune after a few steps.
"Go back to the manor and wait. Don't follow me."
"But Lord Chiba, when Lady Tsunade drinks, her temper gets really—"
"I know."
Chiba turned the corner and vanished into the evening crowd, but he did not head straight for the casino.
On the commercial street in