"Ugh, Tsunade-sama, you've already lost all our money, where are you gonna get the money for that much sake? Just go upstairs and sleep already!"
Shizune, supporting Tsunade, looked utterly helpless.
Naruto looked in their direction, surprised to run into Tsunade and Shizune here in the Land of Lightning.
'What's she doing here? Don't tell me… is something going on between her and the Raikage?'
His mind couldn't help but conjure up some wild scenarios.
Seeing Tsunade in person, Naruto realized something else.
She might be older than dirt, but damn—she looked HOT.
And with that face and figure, did her actual age even matter?
After all, if you had to choose between a twenty-year-old Nobody and a fifty-year-old Tsunade… who would you pick?
Tsunade seemed to sense Naruto's gaze and glanced over.
When her eyes landed on his face, her expression sharpened slightly.
From him, she felt a strange sense of familiarity—warmth, even.
'Weird… Why does this kid give me that kind of feeling?' Tsunade was puzzled.
And right then, the system's voice rang out in Naruto's mind:
"Autonomous Mission Triggered: Study Medical Ninjutsu under Tsunade for one month. Reward: Truth-Seeking Orb Synthesis Method."
Truth-Seeking Orb?
Naruto's eyes lit up at the reward.
That meant it was time—he was ready to start walking the path toward Six Paths level.
The only question was: how to get Tsunade to train with him for a whole month?
He thought for a moment, then noticed the big, bold kanji on her back—, [Gamble.]
'Got it!'
At this moment, Tsunade and Shizune had found a wall-side table and sat down.
Tsunade adjusted her two, well, 'assets' and placed them squarely on the table.
With 'gravity' no longer weighing them down, she visibly relaxed.
"Shizune, if we can't afford ten bottles, surely we can still manage two? It was such a close call today. How am I supposed to sleep if I don't drink a little?"
Shizune, holding Tonton the pig in her arms—wearing a pearl necklace, no less—sighed and scolded her.
"No way! If you drink more, we won't even be able to pay for a room tonight."
Hearing that, Tsunade collapsed onto the table in defeat, her face smushed flat.
But moments later, she sat up and wiggled her shoulders.
Her eyes suddenly took on a sinister glint as they locked onto Tonton.
"Hey… how about we sell Tonton's necklace? That way we'd have money for sake and enough left to make a comeback tomorrow!"
Shizune immediately turned and hugged Tonton protectively.
"No way! Tsunade-sama, don't you dare even think about it!"
While they argued, Naruto approached.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're one of the Legendary Sannin—Tsunade-sama, right?"
Tsunade turned sharply, thinking a debt collector had tracked her down.
But when she saw Naruto's face, and confirmed she didn't owe him money, her demeanor relaxed.
"Pfft. 'Sannin'? That's just some lame title, nothing special."
Naruto grinned.
"Seems like you're having a rough time. How about a bet? If you win, I'll treat you to all the sake you can drink."
"And I'll even toss in 10 million ryō on top."
At the word bet, Tsunade's eyes sparkled.
Shizune, on the other hand, looked panicked and leaned in close to whisper:
"Tsunade-sama, my mom always told me—the better a man looks, the more dangerous he is. And this one is in a league of his own. Don't fall for it!"
But Tsunade just laughed.
"Shizune, you worry too much! You think I'm that easy to scam? This baby-faced brat can't possibly trick me!"
She rolled up her sleeves, propped one foot on the table leg, and leaned in close—her face mere inches from Naruto's.
Staring into his eyes, she felt that strange warmth again.
'Am I really getting old? Like, old enough to start finding every good-looking kid "familiar"?'
"Alright then, tell me! What are we betting on? What's the deal?"
"It's simple," Naruto replied. "If you lose, you'll train me in medical ninjutsu for one month."
"Train with me for a whole month? Kid, are you sure?" Tsunade raised a brow.
Naruto nodded.
Hearing the condition, Shizune let out a sigh of relief.
In her eyes, this was basically free money—Tsunade never won bets.
And if all she had to do was train this handsome guy? Not the worst deal. In fact… she could enjoy the view while she was at it.
"So then—dice? Cards? What'll it be?" Tsunade was already itching to start.
But Naruto shook his head slowly.
"None of that. Let's keep it simple and straightforward—we fight. One-on-one."
"A fight? As in, actual combat?" Tsunade blinked.
"That's right." Naruto nodded again.
Shizune's eyes lit up.
If it's a real fight, Tsunade might actually win!
…Right?
But then again… knowing Tsunade's luck…
She wasn't so sure anymore.
"Hahaha! Kid, you said it! Hope you're ready to fork over 10 million!"
Tsunade paused.
"Wait, hold on. Do you even have 10 million?"
Naruto pulled out a few solid gold ornaments.
"These should be worth enough, right?"
Tsunade glanced at the jewelry, her lips twitching.
"Don't tell me you scammed some poor little girl out of these. If that's the case, you're about to get beaten senseless."
"Relax. I'm no fraud, but I can be just as ruthless." Naruto smiled coolly.
Tsunade could tell from the tone—Naruto was provoking her.
"Let's go."
On an open training ground, Naruto and Tsunade stood facing off.
Meanwhile, Hidan had wandered over to Shizune, grinning like a fool.
"Hey there, pretty lady. Pissed him off, huh? Well, you're in trouble now."
Shizune hugged Tonton protectively. Standing side by side, the two of them weirdly looked like a good match.
"You should be worrying about your companion. Tsunade-sama's not in a great mood today."
"Hah? Companion? Me, worry about him?" Hidan burst into exaggerated laughter.
"Don't joke with me. I'm actually laughing over here."
Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest—only making her towering figure more imposing.
"Alright, kid. Make your move. Just don't cry later about me bullying a child."
Naruto didn't hesitate.
He vanished from his spot.
A second later, his foot was already crashing into Tsunade's chest.
The attack was so fast, the naked eye couldn't even register it.
Tsunade's battle instincts kicked in—she crossed her arms in front of her chest and activated her Strength of a Hundred technique.
She managed to block the kick—
But the moment their strength clashed, she felt a force she couldn't resist.
Naruto's kick sent her flying dozens of meters back.
She rolled across the ground, finally coming to a stop in a heap.
When she stood again, her hair and clothes were tousled.
Just one exchange—and she was already in such a sorry state.
When she looked at Naruto again, her expression had completely changed.
His speed was ridiculous.
And that casual kick… had overwhelmed even her monstrous strength.