I'm Invincible, Okay?

The ambiguous atmosphere lasted only a short while.

Yes, only a short while.

And it ended with Tsunade stepping on his foot, leaving Chishima Chiba injured once again.

But Tsunade was just that unruly, and Chishima Chiba had been prepared for it.

The two of them climbed ashore, soaked through and uncomfortable, though there was no need to worry about catching a cold or anything of the sort.

With their nearly identical constitutions, illnesses would hardly affect them as long as their physical foundations were not damaged.

The afternoon lessons continued, and both Tsunade and Chishima Chiba had forgotten all about what had happened in the stream.

Dating did not interfere with improving his combat ability. Chishima Chiba understood that clearly. As for Tsunade... she probably felt about the same, right?

Still, the occasional lapse in concentration during her lessons betrayed Tsunade's cold-faced, calm appearance.

Her heart was in turmoil.

Time was like a thief. Without anyone noticing, it stole some things away while leaving other things behind.

After a full day of lessons, Chishima Chiba had accumulated quite a bit more knowledge, while Tsunade felt as though Chishima Chiba was about to drain her completely dry.

He learned far too quickly, and his talent was excellent, just like she had been back then.

The pressure had suddenly shifted onto Tsunade.

On the way back, Tsunade remained silent and looked rather dejected, but Chishima Chiba seemed to possess mind-reading abilities as he accurately voiced what she was thinking.

"Think I'm learning too fast and I'm about to squeeze all that little knowledge out of you?"

Having her thoughts exposed, Tsunade looked a little flustered and could only deny it forcefully. "No!"

Chishima Chiba glanced at Tsunade's tsundere expression before looking away. "I know. But if you put the effort you spend researching Gambling Techniques into studying various Ninjutsu texts, you'd probably be better off."

"Like you need to tell me that?" Tsunade glared back at Chishima Chiba, then muttered quietly, "But researching Gambling Techniques is fun..."

"Of course it's fun. Losing every bet means warming others while warming yourself."

"Shut up!" Tsunade refused to accept that. "I beat you several times!"

"At most, it was twice." Chishima Chiba held up two fingers and waved them before Tsunade's eyes.

"Hmph! I can beat you a third time, a fourth time, countless times!"

Tsunade's competitive spirit exploded, and she immediately stopped walking. "Come on, let's gamble!"

"Do you have any money?" Chishima Chiba curled his lips.

"..."

"I do." Chishima Chiba pulled a stack of crumpled bills from his pocket. "I'll lend it to you first, but there'll be interest."

"Fine! Just wait for me to crush you with my Gambling Techniques!"

Three minutes later.

Tsunade stared at the single remaining bill, heartbroken beyond measure. Her expression hardened as she slapped that last bill down in front of Chishima Chiba.

Another three minutes later.

Tsunade, now saddled with a second round of debt, blankly slapped the last remaining bill down in front of Chishima Chiba again.

The final three minutes were the darkest three minutes of Tsunade's life. She took on a third round of debt and lost everything once more.

"Want to keep going?" Chishima Chiba asked.

"Again!" Tsunade was instantly revived at full health, her Fighting Spirit soaring once more.

"Pay back the money first. Principal plus interest comes to... hmm, 20,000 ryō."

(ΩДΩ)

"How much?" Tsunade was stunned.

"20,000 ryō." Chishima Chiba repeated himself, his tone exceptionally firm. "Don't even think about gambling with me again until you pay up!"

"I..." Tsunade choked on her words. Looking awkward, she edged closer to Chishima Chiba and, for the first time ever, took the initiative to grab his arm and shake it. "One last time, okay?"

A woman who acted cute had the best life.

Though being cutesy all the time could get sickening, Chishima Chiba truly could not withstand Tsunade doing it once in a while.

"One last time?"

"Mhm, mhm, mhm! One last time!"

Three minutes later, Tsunade was still holding on. She played more cautiously, betting only small amounts each time, having learned to be thrifty and calculating.

Sigh... it was hard on the kid.

But with Tsunade's Gambling Luck, even betting small amounts could not stop her from losing every round. She lasted only five minutes before Chishima Chiba defeated her so thoroughly that she was left in complete disarray.

Her eyes had nearly rolled white...

"Still want to gamble?"

"Gamble!" Tsunade's voice actually carried a sob.

o(╥﹏╥)o

Seeing Tsunade's expression, Chishima Chiba hardened his heart again. Today, he had to help Tsunade quit gambling!

Even if it only lasted for a while, it would still be good.

The sky had completely darkened.

Naturally, the two figures crouching by the wall did not remain there.

Tsunade walked in front, her shoulders trembling, sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly.

Chishima Chiba followed behind, the rustling sound of him counting money repeating again and again.

"Have you counted enough yet?"

Tsunade turned around with red-rimmed eyes, but the first thing she saw was a neatly stacked, though still crumpled, bundle of bills.

"What are you doing?"

Chishima Chiba shook his hand. "Your spending money. But you can't use it for gambling."

"I... I... won't gamble with you anymore!" Tsunade's voice still broke intermittently, and her sniffling appearance was pitiful.

Chishima Chiba raised a hand and rubbed Tsunade's head, then gently patted it. "You need moderation, or there'll be plenty more times to cry in the future."

Tsunade felt a little wronged, but for the money's sake, she obediently nodded in agreement.

And at that moment, Chishima Chiba finally revealed his true intentions.

"Tsunade, for the next month, study Ninjutsu texts with me. If you stick with it, I'll write off all the debt you owe me. How about it?"

"Really?!" Tsunade lifted her little head, no longer caring about counting money. "You have to keep your word!"

"Pinky promise."

"Pinky promise."

Their little ritual of agreement complete, Tsunade forgot how miserably she had been crying before and happily lowered her head to count the money.

At the same time, she smugly thought that Chishima Chiba's money had ended up in her hands after all. This time, she had Won Big again!

They remained silent the rest of the way. Chishima Chiba did not ask anything and consciously followed Tsunade through the door.

Once inside, he again felt countless eyes boring into his back, but Chishima Chiba handled it much better than he had yesterday.

His room was right next to Tsunade's, and he was not even sharing a room with her. He had not said anything, so what were they glaring at him for?

Besides, they might become family someday. Wouldn't it be awkward if they kept glaring now?

"Little Chiba, come here quickly. Let Grandma have a look at you."

Uzumaki Mito was quite fond of Chishima Chiba, with something of a grandparent's special affection for a grandchild. "Why are you back so late today?"

"Tsunade and I went to play by the little river. We were planning to practice Water Walking, but..."

Chishima Chiba selectively recounted the day's events to Uzumaki Mito, while Tsunade chirped away at his side to back him up. The two cooperated flawlessly.

"You two are certainly diligent, but you can't keep skipping class so often."

After they finished, Uzumaki Mito tapped each of them on the forehead. "Takezawa Masahiro complained all the way to your Second Grandfather. He was planning to come over tonight to straighten you two out."

"Ah?!"

Chishima Chiba instantly cowered. Senju Tobirama was not someone easy to deal with; he was practically synonymous with troublesome.

"But don't worry. I stopped him for you two, so your Second Grandfather won't blame you."

"Grandma, you're the best!" Tsunade cried happily as she threw herself into Uzumaki Mito's arms, continuously rubbing her little head against her.

Chishima Chiba also bowed honestly in thanks, making Uzumaki Mito smile even more brightly.

"And I told your Second Grandfather that I'll be responsible for both of your studies from now on. You'll only need to show up at the Ninja Academy whenever there are exams."

There was such a good deal?!

Chishima Chiba looked at Tsunade, then at Uzumaki Mito, and felt that his beginner phase was freaking invincible!