Outside the casino, the staff sent Tsunade off with grim faces.
Wasn't she the infamous "Legendary Sucker" Of the ninja world? Yet today, her luck had turned, and she'd won a fortune, leaving the casino reeling.
Satisfied with her haul, Tsunade called it quits.
As for whether the casino's backers considered retaliating, absurd. Tsunade was one of Konoha's Sannin. She rarely provoked others, but anyone daring to cross her was courting death.
Don't be fooled by her gender.
As a ninja, Tsunade was no stranger to killing. To rise as one of the Sannin, countless shinobi had fallen by her hand.
"Haha, Shizune, I can't believe I won so much today. I'm pretty amazing, right?" Tsunade laughed, while Shizune carried a suitcase brimming with their winnings.
"You're amazing, Tsunade-sama, but I'm worried about something." Shizune said, frowning.
"What's that?" Tsunade asked, glancing at her curiously.
"Whenever you win big, trouble always follows." Shizune said hurriedly, as if it were a curse haunting Tsunade.
"Now that you mention it…" Tsunade paused, recalling the pattern.
"Whatever. Trouble comes, I'll handle it." she said with a carefree wave.
"Alright, Tsunade-sama." Shizune sighed, her mind briefly flashing to Tengen.
Months had passed since they left Konoha. Wandering the ninja world with Tsunade, Shizune had stayed in some places for weeks, others for mere days.
She'd seen so much.
Each nation had its own unique customs and landscapes. Some places were peaceful, others chaotic, where death was commonplace.
These jarring experiences had spurred Shizune's growth.
"Shizune, I know why I won today." Tsunade said, halting abruptly.
"Trouble's here?" Shizune tensed, expecting a threat.
"No, because that little pervert Tengen showed up." Tsunade said, her taijutsu erupting as she lunged toward Tengen, her monstrous strength surging.
Tsunade knew her wins often heralded trouble, but Tengen's arrival was another trigger.
"Tengen?" Shizune froze, confused by Tsunade's words.
Looking ahead, she spotted a familiar young figure, it really was Tengen.
When Tengen noticed Shizune's mark, he'd headed to the casino, suspecting Tsunade might be there. Before entering, he spotted her and Shizune outside.
Clearly, Tsunade had seen him too, a faint smile curling her lips.
Then she vanished, reappearing before Tengen, her fist clenched with explosive force.
"Tsunade-sensei, is this how you say hello?" Tengen raised his palms, Armament Haki coating them, bracing against her monstrous strength.
A deafening boom echoed as the ground cracked and winds whipped around them.
Yet neither Tengen nor Tsunade seemed fazed.
"It really is you, you little pervert." Tsunade said, retracting her fist without pressing the attack.
"Tsunade, do you have to greet me like that?" Tengen said with a wry smile, relieved his taijutsu prowess had held up. Someone like Jiraiya would've been sent flying.
"You're calling me by name again." Tsunade said, her brow twitching. "As for why I attacked, I was just verifying your identity. Only the real Tengen could block my strength."
"Your verification method is a bit direct." Tengen said helplessly.
Who would impersonate him? It was unthinkable.
He wasn't particularly famous in Konoha, let alone the wider ninja world.
Deep down, Tsunade knew this was the real Tengen. Her reaction was almost reflexive, a habit from their time in Konoha.
"Tsunade-sama, Tengen, are you okay?" Shizune rushed over, clutching the suitcase, having been stunned by Tengen's sudden appearance.
"We're fine, Shizune. It's Tengen." Tsunade said.
"Hey, Shizune, long time no see." Tengen said with a smile.
"Tengen." Shizune's eyes glistened with emotion.
"Come on, let's find a place to sit and catch up." Tengen suggested.
"Sounds good." Tsunade agreed.
The trio soon settled at a nearby diner, ordering snacks and drinks as they chatted.
"Tsunade, Shizune, tell me about your last few months." Tengen said.
"We've seen so much! Every place has its own unique customs and sights. I wish you could've seen them, Tengen." Shizune said excitedly.
"Yeah, we've experienced a lot." Tsunade nodded.
They dove into stories of their travels across the ninja world.
After months apart, Tengen's sudden appearance warmed both Shizune and Tsunade's hearts.
Tsunade reminisced about Konoha. Though Tengen often acted roguish there, those moments now felt oddly endearing.
Time passed.
"Your lives sound vibrant." Tengen said with a smile.
"So, Tengen, why are you here?" Tsunade asked, curious. As a Konoha-nin, his presence was unexpected. Was he on a mission? If so, where was Orochimaru?
***
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