Can You See Me?

At the inn, Tsunade was somewhat restless. Shizune, on the other hand, had the look of someone obsessed with money. It wasn't her fault—after following Tsunade for so long, this was the first time she'd seen money actually come back from a casino.

Shizune cuddled her pet pig against her cheek and said gently:

"Today really is a lucky day, isn't it, Tonton? Just now, Lady Tsunade won us enough for the next three months' food and lodging. Otherwise, I'd have had to start wondering whether there was enough meat on you to feed us."

As she spoke, Shizune casually glanced toward Tsunade.

Lady Tsunade was especially strange today. She never seemed this upset when she lost money, so why was she so restless after winning?

In a daze, Tsunade Senju suddenly slammed one hand onto the table.

"Bang! Crack..."

There went another two...

Shizune tilted her head and held her forehead, her face full of heartache. This was already the third table this month...

"Shizune, pack our things. We're leaving immediately!"

Ever since leaving the casino, Tsunade had felt that something was wrong. The feeling was subtle and hard to describe, but it made her unable to sit still.

"Huh?"

Before Shizune could figure out what was happening, Tsunade Senju had already left the inn.

"Lady Tsunade, wait for me! I need to pack up our clothes and stuff."

Meanwhile—

"Ah, this is so boring... Are we leaving today? I was hoping to play here a little longer..."

Uchiha Sen sat in a chair and complained. He'd been having quite a good time today.

"Come now, Lord Sen. We've already spent quite a bit of time just traveling, and the mission destination is at the border of the Land of Iron. We can come back and play when we return."

Haku patiently explained from the side while Zabuza Momochi wiped the Executioner's Blade in his hands with a gloomy expression, saying nothing.

No matter what, I can't fall for his tricks again...

I need to remember this lesson...

"By the way, Lord Sen, are you Natsu, Gao Jin, or Luffy today?"

Haku took three sets of clothes from a scroll and laid them out before Sen. After getting used to it, he understood that Uchiha Sen simply liked playing the roles of characters from his fantasies.

Still, Lord Sen's imagination was a little too vivid. All three outfits looked strange somehow. But why did Luffy and Natsu both like wearing jackets? Wouldn't they get cold?

"Today, I'm Lord Sen!"

Haku nodded, opened another scroll, and respectfully presented a blue-and-white striped bedsheet.

"Understood. This is your invisibility cloak."

"Mm-hmm, very nice."

Sen took the bedsheet and wrapped his entire body in it, leaving only his little head exposed. He blinked at Haku and asked:

"Can you see me?"

[Try using your brain for once...]

Haku pretended to look around and asked softly:

"Where are you, Lord Sen? I only heard you calling me."

"Hehehe."

Covering his mouth, Sen suddenly felt playful. He hopped over to stand before Zabuza Momochi.

"Haha, you idiot Zoro! You can't see me, can you? Bleh bleh bleh~"

I swear, I really want to chop him in half. If I didn't know I couldn't beat him...

Zabuza's hands clenched and loosened around the Executioner's Blade, then clenched again. The veins bulging on his forehead were enough to show how furious he was.

My heart is as clear as ice; even if the heavens collapse, I won't be shaken...

I'll endure it... endure it!!

Zabuza's silence bored Sen, so he hopped out of the room under the bedsheet.

Just as Haku was about to follow, Zabuza stopped him.

"Fine, I'll go with Lord Sen. Pack everything up. We're getting ready to hit the road."

In truth, he was harboring some mischief of his own.

Heh heh, you made a fool of me last time. This time, I'll make you embarrass yourself in public too!

In the hallway, Sen, draped in the bedsheet, happened to run into Tsunade Senju, who had just come out of her room.

Hm?

Isn't that the person from last time?

What a strange outfit...

With the principle of avoiding unnecessary trouble, Tsunade Senju slightly turned aside and walked around Uchiha Sen.

But Uchiha Sen started circling Tsunade Senju...

"Haha, I remember you! You're that fat sheep from the casino last time!"

The moment Zabuza stepped out of the room, he saw the scene. The large character for "gamble" on the back of the green coat, the pale yellow hair, and that presence—there was no mistake. This woman was Tsunade Senju, one of the Legendary Sannin.

Hehe, I don't care what happens to you! Now someone will finally teach you a lesson!

At that moment, Shizune hurried out carrying their luggage.

"Lady Tsunade really is something, leaving without even waiting for me..."

"Hmm?!"

Starting trouble with girls at such a young age? Flirting with a woman when he was this little? Unacceptable!

Wait, did Lady Tsunade count as a girl...

Never mind!

"Assistant!"

With a sharp shout, Shizune rushed over and grabbed Uchiha Sen by the back of his collar with one hand.

"You little brat, why aren't you learning proper behavior? Running around under a bedsheet and harassing girls! It's you?!"

Zabuza Momochi grinned maliciously from the side.

Hahahaha, you're getting beaten up now, aren't you?

Serves you right!

Let's see if you can still act so cocky!

Eating without paying!

Howling like a ghost in the middle of the night every day!

God of Gamblers? Dragon Slayer Mage? One Piece?

Pah!

I refuse to believe you can still act tough now!

As Uchiha Sen's feet dangled in the air, he twisted his head toward Shizune and asked with a puzzled expression:

"Can you see me?"

[ Ding! To protect the host's dignity, Mangekyō Sharingan activated. Genjutsu attack automatically released. ]

"That's really ugly..."

Before Shizune could finish, Uchiha Sen's eyes abruptly changed. His black pupils turned crimson as three tomoe rapidly spun and converged, forming a star-shaped pattern.

Tsunade Senju inwardly cried out in alarm!

She swiftly struck Shizune while pressing one hand against Shizune's shoulder and injecting chakra into her.

"Hmm? What happened to me..."

Shizune had just regained her senses and still hadn't figured out what was going on when Tsunade Senju stepped in front of her. With a fierce expression, she demanded:

"Kid, who exactly are you?! Wasn't the Uchiha Clan supposed to have been exterminated?!"

Although she was away from the village, news of something this major had spread throughout the shinobi world. It was impossible for Tsunade Senju not to know.

"Eh, you can see me too?"

[ Ding! "Can you see me?" has automatically been set as the Mangekyō Sharingan activation phrase. Releasing genjutsu attack again! ]

The star pattern in his pupils shone brilliantly. Having learned from what happened just now, Tsunade Senju remained extremely vigilant and never met Uchiha Sen's eyes.

Zabuza Momochi also noticed the change in Uchiha Sen and hurriedly stepped in. He couldn't let things keep escalating—last time Sen's eyes had changed like this, he'd torn apart an entire courtyard.

"Lord Sen... These two aren't enemies. They're members of the village too. They can see you because you just exposed your head!"

"So that's how it is!"

Sen's pupils changed back, but the strange exchange left Tsunade and Shizune completely baffled.

With a bedsheet over him... was he really that hard to see?

What were they talking about?

Why couldn't they understand...?