Year 62 of the Shinobi World Calendar.Duanshan Street, inside the tavern Forest Dwelling.
Every table in the house was full—at least a hundred patrons packed the hall. Outside, people crowded the entrance, trying to squeeze their way in. Business was booming.
Everyone was leaning forward, ears perked, eyes fixed on Su Mu as he sat atop a high platform, waving a folding fan and telling the tale of the God of Gamblers.
—
Next door, at the gambling hall.
Tsunade emerged with her assistant, Shizune, both looking thoroughly dejected.
"Tsunade-sama, we've already lost all our savings… Please, don't sell Tonton!" Shizune clutched the little pig tightly, trying to resist the ferocity in Tsunade's eyes.
"What are you so scared of? This wouldn't be the first time I've sold Tonton. It always manages to come back on its own." Tsunade grinned wickedly, eyeing the pig, who shivered in fear.
"But this time you sold her to a restaurant! That's different!"
"Enough talk! Once I win it back, I'll redeem Tonton!" Tsunade snapped.
In the midst of their argument, loud applause erupted from the tavern next door. Tsunade turned her head and saw a crowd gathered at the entrance—it looked packed inside.
Shizune still tried to plead, "Tsunade-sama, please reconsider—"
"Quiet," Tsunade interrupted, raising a hand.
She tilted her head to listen. The voice coming from inside the tavern was deep and magnetic. Her eyes flickered when she heard the words "God of Gamblers."
"First time I've heard of the God of Gamblers. Interesting."
Pushing through the crowd at the entrance, Tsunade and Shizune stepped into the tavern.
"As the saying goes, life and death are fated, and fortune lies with the heavens."
"The moment you sit down at that table, your fate is already sealed."
"Gao Jin's wife and child were killed, and he fell off a cliff and lost his memory. After countless trials, he finally sat at the table where his destiny would be decided."
"And the one who framed him? His cousin—Gao Yi—sat right beside him."
Su Mu's narration was vivid and captivating.
Below the stage, the crowd was deeply immersed. When they heard that Gao Jin's wife and unborn child were killed, many sighed in sorrow. And when it was revealed that the killer was his own cousin, their fury erupted.
"That Gao Yi is a monster! Betraying his own blood!"
"You think that's rare? The Shinobi World is full of people like Gao Yi!"
"Poor woman… and that unborn child."
The customers at the tables raised their cups in solemn respect—offering a toast to the God of Gamblers.
Su Mu gently shook his head and sighed:
"Even the God of Gamblers… is still human."
"So—did he win in the end?"
Suddenly, a bold female voice echoed from the doorway.
The tavern fell silent. All eyes turned.
Tsunade stood there in a gambler's robe, eyes locked onto Su Mu on the platform.
Su Mu smiled slightly and folded his fan. "Does the outcome matter that much?"
Tsunade frowned and repeated, "Did the God of Gamblers win?"
She wanted the ending—nothing else.
Su Mu sighed. Looks like she's pretty far gone.
"He won."
The moment those two words left Su Mu's mouth, Tsunade let out a mocking laugh.
"Great story—but reality's cruel. There's no such thing as a God of Gamblers."
The customers exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves.
"Well… she's not wrong. It's just a story after all."
"I really got caught up in it… almost believed it was real."
"If someone like that existed, every gambling hall in the Shinobi World would be bankrupt."
Tsunade listened, the corners of her mouth curling upward. Her eyes were locked on Su Mu, eager to see how he'd respond.
Su Mu stood up from the platform, a playful glint in his eyes.
"You say the God of Gamblers doesn't exist—then how about a match with me?"
Tsunade smirked. "What do you have to bet?"
Su Mu pointed to the necklace around her neck.
"If I lose, this tavern is yours. If you lose, I want that necklace. Deal?"
Tsunade hesitated, fingers brushing over the necklace.
Shizune cried out in panic, "Tsunade-sama! That's the First Hokage's heirloom! You can't use it as a wager!"
But Tsunade ignored her and nodded. "Fine. You're on."
The two of them sat down at a table.
Tsunade grabbed a bottle of sake and took big gulps, the alcohol spilling down her neck and… other places.
The male audience members immediately suffered simultaneous nosebleeds.
"Let's go. We'll play high card."
One of the waitresses shuffled a deck of cards in front of the entire tavern.
Then she dealt one card each to Su Mu and Tsunade.
Tsunade carefully lifted her card, peeking at the corner.
Su Mu casually glanced at his—eight. Some spectators behind him saw it too.
Tsunade's eyes lit up when she saw her card—thirteen.
"You've lost. No way around it. I should start thinking of a new name for this tavern."
Patron A: "Damn… the storyteller's going to lose his whole tavern!"
Patron B: "Where will I go to hear stories now?"
Patron C: "Only way he wins is if he pulls an ace—but he's no God of Gamblers."
Su Mu didn't reply. He simply closed his eyes.
"First storytelling achievement completed. Beginner's Gift Pack unlocked."
"Would you like to open the Beginner's Gift Pack?"
"Open it."
Ding! You've received: Gao Jin's full set of gambling skills from God of Gamblers!Ding! You've received: Gao Jin's jade ring!Ding! You've received: Unlimited-use signature chocolate from God of Gamblers!
Su Mu opened his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Tsunade sneered. "Stop stalling. Flip your card!"
Su Mu chuckled. "Don't rush. I have a feeling I might have the higher card."
Then, he pulled out a piece of chocolate and slowly placed it in his mouth.
That single action sent shivers down the audience's spines.
"Wait a sec! That move—eating chocolate like that…"
"Isn't that exactly how Gao Jin did it in the story?!"