On the way home Hiko kept wiping his mouth, as if the stale smell still clung there.
"Uchiha Hiko, you are not allowed to leave!"
Tsunade darted in front of him, blocking the road just like before.
Hiko blinked.
"You are not going to the casino, so why block me?"
"In short, you cannot go!"
She was guilty and could not find a reason, so she tried stubbornness.
He snorted.
"Afraid I will tattle?"
Tsunade nodded before she could stop herself.
Hiko lifted a hand, fighting the urge to pin her to the wall. He raked fingers through hair that had grown almost to his shoulders, then drew a long breath.
"Relax. I am not Jiraiya. Where your money came from is none of my business. I am not a gossip. Whether you gamble with it or do something else, it has nothing to do with me."
"Do not assume I will report you. You and I are not enemies."
Tsunade stared, then slowly nodded. Right. They were not enemies. They were at least friends. Why would he expose her?
Stealing from the clan treasury was small change. The Senju were rich and she was doted on. At worst she got a lecture.
She exhaled, then eyed him.
"Weren't you training? Why are you going home so early today?"
If school was in session, Hiko trained after class. On off days, he stayed at the grounds from dawn to dusk. Even the teacher had praised him to the class.
Hiko shrugged, though a flicker of wariness crossed his eyes.
"Tools broke. So I am heading home to study ninjutsu."
"Tools?"
She froze. To her, kunai and shuriken were everywhere. Then she remembered. Hiko was an orphan living on village and clan stipends. Ninja tools were expensive without a family backing you.
When she trained, she tossed not only kunai and shuriken but paper bombs by the handful.
"Oh, that is all? Ninja tools?"
She laughed, then scooped a fistful of cash and stuffed it into his hands. She winked, bright as a fox.
"Hee hee, finders keepers. Train in peace."
Her look screamed, Big sister has plenty.
Before he could answer, she cheerfully hefted the bulging pouch and trotted off toward the casino.
"Did I just get kept?"
Hiko stared at the money, dazed. Being funded by a five year old princess?
"Damn it. She just buried me."
By the time he came to, she was gone. He pocketed the money with a wry face. He would return it at school.
No matter how she got it, he could not spend a coin. Otherwise mud on the pants looked like mud, felt like mud, and smelled like mud. The Senju would come knocking.
He rubbed his forehead. He should have let her go and lose money in peace. Now he had a hot potato.
Someone had probably been watching. Senju or Uchiha, the story would spread. And if it reached the Uchiha elders, every rumor would get louder.
Hiko and Tsunade were about to become a fuse between two clans.
He showered, changed into clean clothes, and tucked the cash away to return. If all else failed, he would push for early graduation.
If the Third Hokage noticed him, great. If not, he could run with a wild team and scrape missions as a drifter.
Ready, he headed for the clan shrine. If they wanted to use him, he would still take the two jutsu.
"Uchiha Hiko?"
A veteran guarded the shrine. Outsiders could not enter. Even clansmen needed permission checked.
"Yes. The Great Elder granted me access. I am to select two ninjutsu scrolls."
"Go in."
The guard had been warned and waved him through.
"Ninjutsu is not about the highest rank. The right fit is the best fit."
"Thank you for the reminder."
True words, though not very useful when the shelves for children only held low rank. The A and S rank scrolls lived elsewhere. If they sat here with C and D ranks, what fool would pick a D.
Led below, Hiko stepped into a cramped vault of scrolls. The Uchiha had plenty, even after donating a mountain when Konoha was founded.
He did not browse. He had decided in advance.
He took two C rank fire techniques:
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu.
Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu.
The first was standard clan fare. The second was a C rank that could hit like a B with skill and setup. Used right, it could even brush A tier power.
Madara had proved how far flame could go.
Good kid, the guard thought. No dithering. Two C ranks, and one with room to grow.
Scrolls in hand, Hiko left. He would practice, then return them. Damaging a scroll meant a painful fine.
"Look, that is Uchiha Hiko. Who knew he would get cozy with the Senju princess."
"More than cozy. His parents are gone and money is tight. She is giving him spending cash."
"Tsk tsk. Impressive."
On the street, whispers chased him. Some eyes held surprise. Some, admiration. Some, contempt.
Surprised he could click with Tsunade. Impressed he could make her hand over money. Disgusted that he would spend someone else's.
Fame again, louder than last time. Wherever he walked, he would be a magnet. Not for strength, but for gossip with Tsunade at the center.
"Tsunade, you dumped a whole pot on me."
He ignored the chatter and went home. He had already sealed her money away to repay in class, and he would do it carefully so he did not stink up his name. Small problem. He could handle it.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
He unrolled the scrolls and began.
"..."
Sure enough, the myth of instant genius was a lie. He failed, and failed again. Never mind Dragon Fire. Even Great Fireball refused to settle in his hands.
While he trained, the story of Tsunade giving him money raced through Konoha. The Senju clan was furious and hauled her home. As for the cash she had stolen, everything except Hiko's handful had gone to the casino.
"Hokage-sama, the Senju are very unhappy. The Uchiha also refuse to bow."