Because this kind of thing could not only compensate for some of her weaknesses in physical skills at critical moments,
but it could also counter the Wind Release (Fūton) ninjutsu that was her biggest disadvantage,
it truly was killing two birds with one stone.
But was that really enough?
After thinking for a moment, Kazuki turned to Tenten and said,
"Sis, come with me tomorrow. I'll take you somewhere."
Tenten nodded without asking much, completely trusting her brother.
That night
Their parents returned home from a business trip, and they were delighted with the gifts Kazuki had bought for them.
When he brought up the topic of rebuilding their house, his father, Tianxiong, laughed and said,
"This is all thanks to you, Kazuki. If you hadn't secured that weapon supply order from Lord Hokage,
I doubt our savings would have been enough to renovate the house. The profits from that order…
Well, let's just say they were far greater than we expected!"
In this short period, Tianxiong had made a fortune and had become the most successful weapons dealer in all of Konoha.
The family's wealth had now reached an astonishing level—comparable even to some of the great clans in the village.
The next evening
Kazuki took Tenten out, leading her to a district quite different from their usual shopping areas.
The streets were dazzling with neon lights, bustling with activity even before nightfall.
Izakayas, entertainment parlors, and gambling houses lined the streets.
Laughter and shouting filled the air as drunken men staggered out of taverns, sake bottles in hand, yelling loudly.
Scantily dressed women stood at the corners, their revealing outfits designed to attract customers,
causing many intoxicated men to turn their heads.
At the entrance of the district, Tenten stopped in her tracks, giving Kazuki a suspicious glare.
It was as if she were seeing her brother for the first time.
"Explain yourself! Since when did you start hanging out in places like this?" she demanded, her expression filled with disbelief.
Kazuki spread his hands innocently.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Tenten huffed, crossing her arms.
"You brought me to a place like this and expect me to believe you haven't gone bad?! Hmph!
Is this where decent people go? Just wait until we get home—I'm telling Mom!"
Pouting in frustration, she turned to leave.
"Wait a second." Kazuki grabbed her arm, sighing.
"This is my first time coming here too. And I didn't bring you here to mess around—I want to show you something."
He thought to himself,
If Tenten sees that scene with her own eyes… her image of a certain someone might just come crashing down.
Reluctantly, Tenten agreed to follow him,
but only after he bribed her with her favorite takoyaki from a street vendor at the alley's entrance.
A few hundred meters later, they stopped at a small door with a noren curtain hanging over it.
A large kanji—賭 (gamble)—was painted boldly on the fabric.
From inside, muffled voices could be heard:
"Haha! Today's the day I finally clean her out!"
"Time to get rich! Lady Tsunade's finally back in Konoha after all these years—how can we not cash in on her bad luck?"
"You guys ready?"
"Of course! Just waiting for the big fish to bite!"
Kazuki stood outside the entrance of the casino, staring at the curtain with a speechless expression. After a brief sigh, he stepped inside.
Truthfully, Kazuki had no interest in gambling.
In fact, after years of studying ninja tools, he had long since deciphered the tricks casinos used. Whether it was dice, cards, or any other game of chance, his skills ensured that he could win against anyone. Losing was simply not an option.
Because of that, he found gambling utterly dull.
Besides, he wasn't lacking money. He took on missions purely to hone his strength through real combat, to experience the thrill of battle—the kind where one's life was constantly on the line.
If he weren't searching for Tsunade, he wouldn't have come to a place like this at all.
The once-proud Senju Clan had all but disappeared, leaving little trace of their former presence in Konoha. If there was anywhere in the village Tsunade could be found, it was the largest casino in town.
Pushing aside the curtain, Kazuki walked in, pulling Tenten along with him.
It was Tenten's first time in such a place, and her nervousness was evident. She hesitated, instinctively hiding behind Kazuki, peeking out cautiously as if afraid of the chaotic atmosphere.
The casino was packed. Inside, spacious rooms lined with tatami mats were filled with gamblers crowded around tables. The air buzzed with overlapping voices:
"Haha! I won again!"
"Damn it! Another bad bet! No, I have to win my money back!"
"Ugh, my luck is horrible today…"
The lively chatter and occasional groans of frustration blended together.
Just as Kazuki and Tenten stepped inside, a burly middle-aged man approached them. Judging by his demeanor, he was likely the owner of the establishment.
"We don't allow spectators here," he said, giving them a scrutinizing look. "If you want to watch, buy a ticket. Otherwise, get out."
This was a high-end casino. Even those who didn't gamble were required to pay an entry fee—an effective way to keep out those without sufficient funds.
Kazuki casually pulled out a coin pouch and shook it. "Two tickets."
The owner's gaze lingered on them for a moment. At first glance, they seemed far too young to be here—no older than twelve or thirteen. Normally, kids that age would be kicked out on the spot.
However, both of them were wearing Konoha's standard ninja attire, forehead protectors tied securely in place. That changed things. Ninja business was not something a casino owner wanted to interfere with.
After instructing one of the attendants, he had their tickets processed.
Once the fee was paid, Kazuki and Tenten made their way through the crowded rooms, checking each one.
Finally, from inside one of them, a familiar voice rang out—loud and unmistakably irritated.
"Damn it! Just you wait, you bastards! Today's the day I win back everything I lost!"
The voice belonged to none other than Tsunade.
The gamblers sitting around her chuckled nervously. Although they saw her as an easy target—a prime opportunity to rake in cash—they weren't foolish enough to ignore who she was.
After all, Tsunade wasn't just any ordinary gambler. She was one of Konoha's legendary Sannin. And while her luck was notoriously bad, at least she had the integrity to pay her debts without complaint. That alone was why people dared to gamble with her.
"Now, now, Lady Tsunade," one of the gamblers said with an appeasing smile. "It's all in good fun, right? The money you've lost is nothing—just a single mission, and you'll earn it all back."
"Besides, winning and losing all comes down to luck. It's not like we're ganging up on you."
"That's right," another chimed in, an older man who had likely been coming to this casino for years. "Even the First Hokage lost more often than he won when he played! Those rumors about him always being lucky—don't take them too seriously."
"You've had a rough streak lately, Lady Tsunade. Maybe today's your lucky day."
"Alright, enough with the flattery," Tsunade interrupted, clearly impatient. She waved her hand in a dismissive motion. "Less talking, more playing! It's not like I can't afford to lose, damn it!"
"Of course, of course," one of the gamblers said, grinning. "So, what are we playing today? Bridge again?"
"Fine by me."
Tsunade nodded without hesitation. Reaching into her cloak, she pulled out a thick stack of cash, casually counting it before slamming it onto the table.
No one in the room dared to cheat her—because they knew better than to try their luck against Tsunade in anything other than gambling.
After all, the last thing anyone wanted was to piss off a woman strong enough to level a battlefield with a single punch.
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