On the other side.
Tsunade was strolling through the market of the Land of Earth, accompanied by Kurotsuchi.
Tsunade leaned closer and quietly tugged on Kurotsuchi's hand.
"Kurotsuchi, tell me, where's the biggest casino in the Land of Earth?"
"Ever since I became Hokage, I haven't gambled for so long… my hands are itching for it.｡◕‿◕｡"
Kurotsuchi: "..."
"Hokage-sama, Shinju was seriously injured and still hasn't woken up. Aren't you worried about him at all?"
Tsunade waved her hand dismissively.
"Tch, what's there to worry about? That guy was… was… pretending to be cool and overdid it, hurt himself. Not my fault. (o´Д`o)ノ"
After barely patching up her own excuse, Tsunade wiped the sweat off her forehead.
That was close! Almost slipped up there!
No one knew Shinju's strength better than she did. With that terrifying amount of chakra, there's no way he'd pass out just from creating a mountain.
Still, that guy's acting was pretty damn convincing—she'd almost been fooled herself.
Kurotsuchi, hearing Tsunade's words, simply assumed the Hokage of Konoha didn't like Shinju and said nothing more.
Instead, she pointed to a direction ahead.
"Turn right up there—you'll find the biggest casino in the Land of Earth."
"Hokage-sama, be careful. You could lose tens of millions in just minutes in there."
"I won't be accompanying you. I'm a bit worried about the vil— cough, I mean, I've got things to deal with back in the village."
After saying that, Kurotsuchi left a few attendants behind for Tsunade and returned to the village herself.
Tsunade turned, watching Kurotsuchi's retreating figure.
She knew exactly what was going through that girl's head.
"That Shinju kid sure doesn't lack luck with women. (ﾉ∇︎〃 )"
She murmured under her breath.
Then, turning around, she headed straight for the casino.
"Today, I have to win!"
...
In a high-end ward of the Land of Earth's Ninja Hospital.
With steady breathing, Shinju counted the days and decided it was about time to wake up.
So, he slowly opened his eyes...
At that exact moment—
The door to the ward slammed open!
Shinju instinctively shut his eyes again.
The visitor was none other than Kurotsuchi herself...
She walked over and sat down beside the bed, carefully studying the handsome boy's face.
Slightly pale skin, perfect facial contours, and long, faintly trembling eyelashes...
A walking girl magnet… unbelievable!!
Kurotsuchi unconsciously leaned in closer... and closer...
She tried to convince herself, Stay calm, stay calm!
You're just getting a better look, that's all!
Just taking a look—nothing to be nervous about… (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)
Ah, whatever. I've already leaned in this close… might as well give him a little peck! (⌯︎¤̴̶̷̀ω¤̴̶̷́)✧︎
Just a tiny one…
As that thought crossed her mind, her lips began to pucker instinctively...
At the same time, Shinju—ever alert—felt the girl's presence growing closer and closer.
Wait a sec. Is this woman planning to take me out while I'm wounded?!
Damn it, Iwagakure really does play dirty! Ծ‸ Ծ
And so, Shinju's eyes shot open!
The next instant, his gaze met Kurotsuchi's head-on.
Kurotsuchi: Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
"I-I-I… th-th-there was drool on your face! I was just going to wipe it off!"
After stammering for a good few seconds, Kurotsuchi finally blurted out that ridiculous excuse.
Compared to her flustered state, Shinju was much calmer—he simply assumed this was a failed assassination attempt and the girl was panicking.
"It's fine. I can wipe it myself."
He lifted the hem of his hospital gown naturally and wiped his mouth.
At that moment, Kurotsuchi's eyes caught a glimpse of the sharply defined muscles and smooth lines of Shinju's abdomen...
Hiss~~
"W-what a waist! 罒▽罒"
The next second, blood rushed to her nose, her mind went blank, and she collapsed onto the bed.
Shinju: (꒪⌓꒪)???
"What the—what's wrong with her? Don't tell me she failed her mission and took poison to end it?!"
Fortunately, Shinju was an excellent medical ninja himself. A quick burst of medical chakra later, Kurotsuchi came to.
When she woke up, her face flushed bright red—she couldn't even face him and bolted out the door.
Sitting up in bed, Shinju muttered with certainty,
"Iwagakure's hatred for me knows no bounds!"
"Looks like Konoha is still the safest place."
"But speaking of Iwagakure… they have two tailed beast Jinchuriki, don't they? Maybe I'll drop by someday..."
As he said that, Shinju suddenly felt a chill in his wallet.
"Strange… I already paid off the Land of Earth's debt. Why do I feel like something else is about to cost me more money? (‧_‧?)"
...
Meanwhile—
Inside the largest casino in the Land of Earth.
Tsunade smiled awkwardly.
"One more round! Just put it on my tab!"
The staff member looked at her helplessly.
"Ma'am, you've played eighteen consecutive rounds and lost over two hundred million already. Maybe you should settle your bill first?"
Tsunade: ⊙▽⊙
"I… lost that much?"
The staff member sighed with pity.
"We even gave you a discount out of respect for Iwagakure. Otherwise, the loss would've been even greater. (||๐_๐)"
"Ma'am, you seem like someone important—you're not thinking of skipping the bill, are you?"
Tsunade: "Wha—of course not! I'll just… call my disciple over to pay for it! ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ"
...
Some time later.
Shinju staggered out of the casino, looking as if all his life force had been drained.
Next to him, Tsunade looked sheepish.
"Um… Shinju, this one's on me. Your master couldn't control her hands. It won't happen again, I swear. Definitely not again."
Shinju: "You're planning to have a next time?! (ꐦ ಠ 皿 ಠ)"
"Do you have any idea how long it took me to save that money?!"
"Do you know how much hard work I put in for it?!"
Tsunade: "Didn't you earn it from bounty hunting anyway? Ծ ̮ Ծ"
Shinju: "And bounty hunting doesn't count as hard work?! 凸(｀0´)凸"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Tsunade fell silent for a moment. Then she muttered,
"It's fine… I'll secretly pull some funds from the village budget to repay you later. (〃∇〃)"
"The whole Mountain Range affair already cost the village a fortune in preparation. But since you resolved it with one Crystal Release and a few days of fake injuries, there's plenty left over. Sneaking out two hundred million won't be an issue. (´∇ﾉ｀*)ノ"
Shinju sweatdropped. "That's how you manage being Hokage?! （─.─||）"
"You're going to use the village's money to pay off your gambling debts?! (▼皿▼#)"
Tsunade: "..."
"Then how about you be Hokage, and I'll go work off the debt instead? （--0027▿--0027）"
Shinju: "That… forget it. (||๐_๐)"
"You keep the Hokage job. Pay me back whenever you can. →_→"
Tsunade's face instantly brightened.
"Ah, my dear Shinju, you're such a reliable student—so much better than that hopeless perverted Jiraiya! ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )"
Shinju sighed. "Anyway, on a serious note… I want to take a look at the Jinchuriki in the Land of Earth. What kind of excuse should I use?"
Tsunade shrugged.
"What excuse could you even use? They won't let you see them anyway. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Shinju frowned. "Why not?"
Tsunade explained, "You've been pretending to be unconscious, so you don't know. The Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, was killed—rumor says it was Akatsuki's doing."
"And since Iwagakure found out that Akatsuki is still hunting tailed beasts, they've already put their own Jinchuriki under heavy protection..."