The legendary big fat sheep truly lived up to her reputation. Her luck could not have been worse.
Xin leisurely returned the dice to the cup.
He did not even shake it hard, merely giving it two casual, gentle shakes in midair.
Clack.
The dice cup landed.
Xin casually lifted the lid.
Four, five, six.
Fifteen in total.
"Sorry, I won."
Xin leaned back in his chair, looking at Tsunade.
"Now, I'll give you two choices."
Xin held up two fingers.
"First, come back to Konoha with me and become Hokage. Second, pay me back seventy million ryo."
Tsunade stared fixedly at the three dice, her teeth aching with anger.
As one of the illustrious Sannin, how could she possibly give in to a thirteen-year-old brat?
"I refuse to choose!"
Tsunade slammed the table, her eyes bloodshot.
"Again! That round didn't count. I hadn't warmed up yet! Let's keep gambling!"
Shizune turned pale with shock and hurried forward to grab Tsunade's arm.
"Lady Tsunade! You can't keep gambling! We don't have any money to pay him!"
Shizune was so anxious she nearly cried.
"Shut up!"
Tsunade flung Shizune's hand away, completely carried away.
"I'm going to win it all back, with interest!"
Watching Tsunade look like a gambler driven mad by losses, a glint of cunning flashed through Xin's eyes.
"Sure. Since you're in the mood, Lady Tsunade, I'll play as long as you like."
Xin spoke calmly.
"Same rules. Double the stakes."
For the next ten minutes, the only sounds in the tavern were the rattling dice cup and Tsunade's furious roars.
In the second round, Tsunade rolled five, and Xin rolled twelve. Tsunade lost.
In the third round, Tsunade rolled seven, and Xin rolled fourteen. Tsunade lost.
The fourth round.
The fifth round.
Within a mere ten minutes.
Tsunade played seven rounds in a row without winning a single one.
Her rolls grew smaller each time. In the final round, she even made the bizarre blunder of shaking all three dice out of the cup, resulting in an automatic loss.
Tsunade braced both hands against the table, panting heavily.
Her hair was disheveled, her eyes full of madness and unwillingness to accept defeat. Her composure had completely shattered.
"Again! There's no way I can keep losing forever!"
Tsunade snatched up the dice, still demanding to continue.
Xin reached out at just the right moment and held down the dice cup.
"Lady Tsunade, I think we should stop here for today."
Xin looked at her calmly.
"You might not have worked out exactly how much you owe me now."
Xin withdrew his hand and began listing the amounts.
"First round, seventy million ryo."
"Second round, one hundred and forty million ryo."
"Third round, two hundred and eighty million ryo."
"Fourth round, five hundred and sixty million ryo."
"Fifth round, 1.12 billion ryo."
"Sixth round, 2.24 billion ryo."
Xin looked at Tsunade, his tone utterly level.
"Including the seventh round you just lost, Lady Tsunade, you now owe me 4.48 billion ryo."
The moment that astronomical figure was announced.
The tavern fell deathly silent.
Tsunade's eyes widened in utter disbelief.
Her mind went blank, unable to process such an enormous number.
4.48 billion ryo.
That money was enough to buy several small countries!
Tsunade hurriedly turned toward Shizune, who stood nearby, frantically questioning her with her eyes.
Shizune's face was already ashen.
She looked at Tsunade in despair and nodded stiffly, confirming the accuracy of the amount with her eyes.
Shizune's eyes also conveyed a deep, unspoken helplessness.
"I tried desperately to stop you just now, but I couldn't. I was even afraid you'd kill me with one punch."
Tsunade looked at the despair in Shizune's eyes.
She slowly turned back to look at the little dice cup on the table.
Tsunade was utterly dumbfounded, unable to utter even a single word for a moment.
Looking at Shizune's despairing eyes, Tsunade swallowed.
"Um... young man."
Tsunade rubbed her hands together, plastering a fawning smile across her face.
"4.48 billion ryo really is a bit much. How about we talk it over and knock a little off?"
Xin sat in his chair, his gaze cold.
"There's nothing to discuss."
Xin's voice was flat.
"I'm only giving you two options. Either come back to Konoha with me, or pay off all 4.48 billion ryo right now."
Tsunade gritted her teeth, clenching both hands into fists.
Her eyes shifted as she secretly calculated.
As long as she knocked this brat unconscious and escaped in the confusion, this rotten debt would naturally be wiped clean.
Tsunade pushed off hard with both legs.
Whoosh.
She used the Body Flicker Technique, her figure becoming an afterimage as she moved straight behind Xin.
Tsunade raised her right hand, violent chakra gathering along its edge as she brought a sharp knife-hand strike down toward the back of Xin's neck.
Shizune covered her mouth in fright, with no time to call out and stop her.
One second before the strike landed.
Xin vanished from his chair without warning.
Tsunade's knife-hand strike cut through empty air, stirring up a powerful gust.
The next second.
Xin stood steadily in the spot Tsunade had originally occupied.
Tsunade whipped around, her eyes wide.
She had not seen how Xin moved at all. That speed was already far beyond an ordinary Body Flicker Technique.
It was practically on par with the Second Hokage's and Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique back in the day.
A sheen of cold sweat appeared on Tsunade's forehead.
"I... I just wanted to test your skills."
Tsunade gave two dry chuckles, forcing out an excuse.
"To see whether a youngster like you had improved."
Xin kept his hands in his trouser pockets and did not expose her lie.
Seeing that force would not work, Tsunade's eyes shifted again.
"Fine, I agree."
Tsunade put on an air of compromise.
"It's already late today. We'll leave for Konoha first thing tomorrow morning."
With that, she grabbed Shizune's arm.
"Shizune, let's go back to the inn and rest."
Tsunade hurried out of the tavern with Shizune.
Watching their retreating backs, Xin sneered.
He had long since seen through Tsunade's little plan to flee overnight, but could not be bothered to expose it on the spot.
Xin stood up and walked out of the tavern.
He left the inn and headed straight toward a dark corner not far outside the tavern.
"Come out."
Xin stopped and addressed the empty alley.
"Hiding in the shadows and spying isn't a good habit."
Rustling footsteps sounded in the darkness.
Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi slowly emerged from the shadows.
Orochimaru's face was as pale as paper.
The stumps of his severed arms were wrapped in thick bandages, with bright red blood still steadily seeping through them.
Kabuto Yakushi stood beside him and pushed up his glasses, his eyes full of wariness.
Xin looked at Orochimaru's bedraggled state.
"Your arms are completely ruined."
Xin spoke bluntly.
"Stop hoping Tsunade can treat you. She can't even save herself now. You'd better give up on seeking her help sooner rather than later."
Orochimaru stared fixedly at Xin, undisguised, icy killing intent flashing in his snake-like pupils.