Ten days ago, Tsunade had received a direct order from Sarutobi Hiruzen and immediately set off toward her mission location without delay.
The mission scroll delivered by the Third Hokage outlined the situation in explicit detail. Over the past month, a disturbing pattern had emerged—Konoha had lost contact with multiple informants stationed deep within Amegakure (Rain Shinobi Village). The final agent managed to send a distress signal before all communication was cut off.
The implications were clear. Amegakure was no ordinary enemy, and Hanzō of the Salamander was no joke.
Sarutobi Hiruzen strongly suspected that Hanzō had orchestrated the disappearance of Konoha's spies. Given the sheer danger posed by Rain Shinobi's elusive and brutal leader, Hiruzen decided against sending an ordinary reconnaissance squad. Instead, he needed a Kage-level shinobi to investigate firsthand.
However, Konoha's current elite forces were occupied elsewhere.
Jiraiya was on an extended mission, Orochimaru was entangled in high-priority operations, and even Hatake Sakumo, the legendary "White Fang of Konoha," was unavailable. That left Tsunade—the only active Sannin within immediate reach.
Hiruzen had full confidence in her abilities. Even if she encountered Hanzō himself, she had enough power to escape unscathed. Or so the Hokage believed.
Yet, what Hiruzen did not realize at that time was that he had underestimated Hanzō of the Salamander.
Without hesitation, Tsunade departed Konoha and infiltrated Amegakure with relative ease, navigating through the city's endless downpour. However, something felt off.
Normally, Konoha's informants maintained subtle but consistent activity within Amegakure's underground networks. But now? It was as if they had simply evaporated. No traces, no whispers, not even a single coded message from their usual drop sites.
Tsunade could have returned at that point. She had confirmed that the informants were missing, fulfilling the minimum requirements of her mission. But the Princess of the Senju Clan was not one to settle for half-measures.
These weren't low-ranking field agents—Konoha had mid-to-high-level informants embedded within Amegakure's administration. The only one with the authority to purge them so cleanly was Hanzō himself.
But who was Tsunade?
She was the granddaughter of the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama!
Walking away without answers? Reporting back without results? That wasn't her style.
And, truthfully, Tsunade had been frustrated with Konoha's leadership lately. Certain recent developments had made her feel as though the village elders viewed her as nothing more than a figurehead—a "princess" who existed solely to preserve the Senju lineage.
She wanted to prove herself.
She wanted to remind the world that she was not some fragile heir, but a warrior of the Senju Clan!
With renewed determination, Tsunade expanded her investigation.
Her inquiries led her to rumors of a highly skilled information broker operating within Amegakure's criminal underworld. According to whispers in the city's dark alleys, this broker knew everything about the Land of Rain—for the right price.
Intrigued, Tsunade traced the broker's location, only to discover that their meeting point was…
A casino.
Tsunade's body tensed.
Her mind screamed at her to focus on the mission, but her blood—her cursed Senju gambling blood—began to boil.
Still, she clenched her fists and restrained herself. The mission comes first.
But just as she was about to meet the informant, fate played its cruel hand.
Because that was when she met him.
Her greatest nemesis.
At first, she barely paid attention to the unremarkable-looking man seated across from her. He had a harmless smile, a relaxed demeanor, and none of the sharp edges she associated with dangerous shinobi.
But then…
He played.
And he won.
Again.
And again.
Tsunade's heart pounded with growing frustration.
It wasn't about the money anymore.
It wasn't even about the mission.
It was about pride.
Her dignity as the Senju Princess!
No matter how hard she tried, the man across from her never lost.
By the time she realized how deep she was in, it was already too late.
Then, just as she was about to make a breakthrough…
The man lifted the table.
He was done playing.
He was leaving.
Leaving?!
Tsunade's fury erupted. You think you can just walk away after humiliating me?!
Without thinking, she stood up abruptly, her presence filling the room with an oppressive aura. Her sharp amber eyes locked onto the man with an intensity that would make most shinobi flinch.
Her body language screamed a single message:
"You're not leaving until I win."
However, the man merely chuckled.
"Well, since this lady believes I'm unbeatable," he mused with a grin, "I'll give you a fair chance."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"The stakes?" she demanded.
"All the money on the table," he said casually. "If I win, the bet ends. If I lose, the winnings are yours."
Tsunade's mind spun.
This is practically a free win!
All she had to do was win once, and she'd reclaim her honor and walk away as the biggest winner of the night.
"You've got a deal!" she declared, radiating confidence.
The thin man and obese young man sitting nearby showed no reaction, completely indifferent to the absurdity unfolding before them.
Mizuki Ryosuke, meanwhile, internally sighed.
Lady, are you really that confident?
But then, he spoke again.
"…I have one condition," he added. "I get to decide the challenge."
Tsunade barely hesitated. "Fine. What are we betting on?"
Ryosuke's smile widened.
"…Strength."
Tsunade blinked.
"What?"
"Let's settle this with arm wrestling."
Silence.
Tsunade's stunned expression was priceless.
For a brief moment, she simply stared at the man before her, as if trying to comprehend just how stupid he was.
Then, slowly, her lips curled into a confident smirk.
"…Are you serious?"
"Of course."
Tsunade's smirk turned into a grin.
This guy just handed me the win on a silver platter!
Even though she had used the Transformation Jutsu to alter her appearance, her raw strength hadn't changed.
There was no one in this room who could even dream of matching her power.
As the realization sank in, the disguised Princess of the Senju Clan let out a small chuckle.
"…Alright," she said smoothly, her golden hair shining even under the dim casino lights. "You're on."
And in that moment, Mizuki Ryosuke knew…
He had just stepped into the den of a sleeping dragon.
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