From One Hand to the Other, It's All My Money!

"Teacher, a little farther to the left."

"Yes, smile, smile."

"Great! Perfect! Just like that!"

Behind the camera, Yecheng pulled out every trick he knew to direct her. With such a fantastic model finally available, he had to get his fill of photos in one go!

Tsunade still wore her tea-green robe over a white top and fitted trousers, but even that could hardly conceal her impressive figure and outrageously exaggerated curves!

The only shame was that Yecheng had originally copied plenty of poses from models for a long-established coconut milk brand in his previous life. They would absolutely showcase her most impressive measurements for the promotional cover shots.

But Tsunade's answer was no!

What a shame!

Only after taking hundreds, if not a thousand photos, did Yecheng finally feel satisfied and let Tsunade go rest.

Exhausted, Tsunade slumped against the studio's leather sofa. Her long golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, tied into two ponytails only near the ends.

This was the first time she had discovered that simply having her picture taken could be so tiring!

Yecheng came over excitedly to show her the fruits of his labor.

"Look, Teacher. I think these poses turned out really well, and these..."

Tsunade hooked an arm around him and furiously ruffled his hair with her left hand. "Were you messing with me on purpose? A couple of pictures would've been enough! Why take so many?!"

If Yecheng hadn't pulled this stunt, she would have been doing battle in a casino instead of being posed like a doll here!

Yecheng finally struggled free and said, speechless, "After I made you look so good in those pictures! You really have no conscience!"

"Really?"

"Of course!"

Tsunade leaned over skeptically.

In the photo, she held her head high and her chest out, one hand on her hip and the other extending a cup of milk tea. A breeze stirred her hair, and she wore a victor's bold smile, as though the whole world lay in her hands.

The woman in the photograph looked radiant and spirited, so good she hardly seemed like herself!

Tsunade's cheeks flushed slightly, and she grew excited.

"Well?"

Yecheng chuckled. "If we enlarge this photo and print it out with an advertising slogan, I'm sure milk tea sales will reach new heights!"

"An advertising slogan? What's that?"

Tsunade was puzzled.

"Kids and grown-ups love it-drink it from childhood to adulthood!"

Yecheng promptly sold out his ally. "Uncle Inoichi came up with it."

Yecheng glanced at Tsunade's towering peaks in the photo. Paired with a slogan like that, it would defy all reason if it didn't sell like crazy!

Tsunade didn't seem to notice anything. She simply stayed slumped there, resting.

Little did Yecheng know, her head was filled with thoughts of having a good time at the casino to release the stress of work!

Working is bullshit. It's not something people should have to do!

Yesterday, Yecheng had paid a visit to the Nara Clan.

Both sides understood without needing to say it, and they quickly settled the various details, including how future milk tea profits would be divided.

Shikaku was indeed wise. He knew that this new drink would sweep across the entire shinobi world sooner or later, and he deliberately raised the question of whether they should print Konoha's emblem on the milk tea packaging.

He was actually probing Yecheng about exactly where Tsunade stood.

Not just anyone could use the Konoha Emblem. What he was really asking was whether Tsunade had any intention of becoming Hokage.

He had certainly asked the right person.

Perhaps Tsunade had no particularly strong desire to become Hokage, but Yecheng could give her one.

In short, without even knowing it herself, Tsunade had already been sold out by Yecheng.

After the meeting, Yecheng approached Inoichi Yamanaka, who was heading home alone.

"Uncle Inoichi, doesn't watching Uncle Choza make all that money make you jealous?"

Once again, Yecheng issued a devil's invitation to Inoichi Yamanaka.

"Yecheng, do you have another plan?"

Inoichi Yamanaka's breathing quickened slightly.

When he had learned that Ino was getting close to Yecheng, he had actually been very opposed to it.

What father would want to see someone make a move on his precious daughter?!

But now, after seeing the Akimichi Clan rake in money, he had changed his mind.

Yecheng is a talent!

If Yecheng could really give the Yamanaka Clan a helping hand, he wasn't entirely unwilling to turn a blind eye to their relationship!

But as for winning his approval?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

Yecheng put on a mysterious air. "Teacher loves gambling, but Tanzaku Town is just too far from Konoha."

Inoichi Yamanaka understood what he meant and nodded firmly.

"That's right. Tanzaku Town is much too far away. If Lady Tsunade ran into trouble on the road, that would be our fault! I'll ask the Third Hokage for permission to open a casino in Konoha right away!"

Yecheng heartily approved.

"The Yamanaka Clan specializes in mental techniques and often works in the Intelligence Division. You're very familiar with all sorts of tiny movements people make. I'm sure your keen eyes would keep cheating to an absolute minimum and build the casino's reputation."

At that, Inoichi Yamanaka's eyes shone even brighter, as though he could already see the casino's business booming!

Under normal circumstances, an application to open a casino would never have been approved.

Whatever else it might be, Konoha was a ninja village. The Hokage would never approve something devoted to pleasure that could easily corrupt ninja.

But times had changed. To keep Princess Tsunade in Konoha, surely the venerable Third would compromise!

A faint smile crossed Yecheng's lips. With that, the Yamanaka Clan was no longer a problem either.

Helping the Yamanaka Clan develop a new line of business was, first, a way to avoid favoring one clan over another and causing problems within Ino-Shika-Cho.

Second, Yecheng didn't want Tsunade to lose all her money gambling as soon as she earned any. If she had to gamble, she might as well lose it to his own people.

In short, after today, Ino-Shika-Cho had successfully joined the team!

And so, just as Tsunade finished her exhausting photo shoot and prepared to head home looking worn out, she heard that a brand-new casino had opened in Konoha.

Yecheng was slightly taken aback. Ninja really were fast. They had only settled things yesterday evening, and today the casino was already up and running.

Even a nuclear-powered donkey would have to admit defeat before efficiency like that!

In truth, Inoichi Yamanaka had watched Choza Akimichi making money hand over fist selling milk tea while he was still stuck with his little flower shop business...

It burned!

So he had pushed ahead at full speed, mobilizing the Yamanaka Clan's ninja to get everything ready in a single night.

Early that morning, he had personally submitted the application to open a casino to the Third Hokage and successfully obtained permission.

The moment Shizune heard about the new casino opening, her heart sank.

Could it be?!

Tsunade, meanwhile, perked right up!

"A casino opened in Konoha? I have to go play a few rounds!"

Rolling up her sleeves, Tsunade charged toward the casino, and no one could stop her.

"Lady Tsunade! Please calm down! Please think this through!"

Were the five hundred thousand ryo in dividends Choza Akimichi had brought yesterday going to be given away before they had even warmed in her hands?

No, she couldn't!

Anything but that!

A mask of anguish immediately settled over Shizune's face, and she hurried after her.

Yecheng smiled calmly, used the Transformation Technique, and followed them into the casino.

He had already reached an agreement with Inoichi Yamanaka: as Tsunade's apprentice, he would hold half the shares.

With that, the profits from milk tea and the casino alone would be enough to keep Tsunade firmly locked in Konoha!

As for Tsunade losing money at the casino?

Watching Tsunade confidently bet on "small" across the gambling table, Yecheng took an equal amount from his pile of chips and placed it on "big."

"Reveal!"

"Big!"

"What?!"

One hundred thousand ryo vanished just like that.

Tsunade was shocked. "My instincts can't be wrong. Small again this round!"

Beside her, Shizune wore a mask of anguish and was already thinking about how to explain this to Yecheng.

Should I just kneel down and lick his shoes?

Maybe he'll forgive me if I do!

Yecheng remained unruffled. He even felt a little like laughing.

Bet against Tsunade, buy a seaside villa.

She really lives up to her reputation as the legendary big sucker!

Wasn't that half of the milk tea profits simply moving from one hand to the other, right back into his own hands?

And the money had been laundered perfectly clean. No one would suspect him at all.

Watching the dealer push all the chips toward him, Yecheng suddenly remembered a line from a historical drama he had watched in his previous life.

It's all my money!!!