Chương 171: Tsunade’s Journey Toward Becoming the Legendary Sucker

Mahoro Town was a prosperous settlement in western Fire Country, not far from the border of Grass Country. Thanks to the exceptional quality of several medicinal herbs cultivated there, it had served for years as one of western Fire Country's primary hubs for the herbal trade. Beyond its own harvests, specialty herbs from neighboring nations such as Rain Country, Grass Country, and Taki Country were also transported there by merchants.

Over time, what had once been a small village gradually evolved into a major economic center. Then came the Second and Third Shinobi Wars. Many wealthy merchants from Rain Country and Grass Country purchased property there. During peacetime, they could conduct business. During wartime, they could flee from danger. And if trouble arose, they could always hire Konoha shinobi for protection. A perfect arrangement. As the population swelled—especially the wealthy segment—the town expanded again and again.

Inevitably, another pillar industry emerged: entertainment and gambling. Casinos. Now, Mahoro Town ranked among Fire Country's most famous gambling cities, rivaling even Tanzaku Town. The difference was that Tanzaku Town produced no medicinal herbs. Its second major industry was cultural tourism, built around Fire Country's historical heritage. As everyone knew, when a town became famous for its casinos, its other entertainment venues inevitably flourished as well.

Besides herbal markets and gambling halls, Mahoro Town was packed with hot spring resorts, izakayas, and every sort of pleasure establishment imaginable. The women working there dressed far more provocatively than those in Konoha. This place was practically Tsunade's favorite destination and Jiraiya's personal paradise. After completing the mission of supporting Sarutobi Musashi's meeting with the Fūma Clan, Dongye zhen didn't return to Konoha. Instead, he brought Genma's squad to Mahoro Town.

The following noon, inside a hot spring inn— The four of them soaked in a flowing natural spring, letting their minds and bodies unwind. The shinobi world was rich with hot springs, each region boasting its own unique qualities. Since they were already here, it would have been a shame not to indulge. Moonlight Kumomi had once taught Dongye zhen that after every bout of killing, one should take time to relax and reset mentally. It had long since become a habit.

Besides, he wasn't old enough for the other forms of entertainment available. What else was he supposed to do? Raidō looked uneasy.

"Um... we're ANBU, right? Is this really okay?" Dongye zhen shrugged.

"That's why I had everyone change into civilian clothes before entering town." Genma couldn't have cared less.

"Iwaishi, you've really got to fix that timid personality of yours. What's there to worry about? The captain came up with the plan. We're just following orders." Raido chimed in as well.

"Exactly. Relax and enjoy yourself. We can't turn into Root-style mission machines. That's no way to live." If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Iwaishi still hesitated.

"But Captain, you came here under the pretense of a mission. Is the target really here?"

"Don't worry. Intelligence confirmed it, and I verified it myself after entering town." Dongye zhen closed his eyes comfortably.

"For now, your primary mission is to recover from fatigue and enjoy a good meal." Iwaishi silently surrendered. Fine. You're the captain. Whatever you say. After a lavish lunch prepared by the inn, the four gathered in their room and began applying disguises. Actual disguises. While Transformation Jutsu existed, it generated noticeable chakra fluctuations. Experienced shinobi could spot it immediately. Dongye zhen could conceal such traces. The other three couldn't. Transformation techniques weren't a cure-all.

Learning mundane disguise skills—altering one's appearance through makeup and wardrobe—was essential for infiltration work. Before long, they had changed clothes and subtly modified their facial features to appear older and more mature. Shinobi generally developed faster than ordinary civilians due to years of chakra training and physical conditioning. By fourteen or fifteen, most already possessed adult physiques. Among the four, Genma was the oldest and tallest.

Dongye zhen was technically the youngest, but his height trailed only slightly behind Genma's. Now, after his makeover, he resembled the spoiled heir of a wealthy family on vacation. Genma became his steward. As for Raido and Iwaishi? Naturally, they played the roles of loyal lackeys. Once everything was prepared, the group left the inn and entered the largest casino on the street. Just ahead of them, another pair had already stepped inside.

A mature woman with twin ponytails and an exceptionally generous figure strode through the entrance with confidence. Following behind her was a timid black-haired girl clutching a cash box to her chest. The girl knew full well that the money wouldn't belong to them much longer. At this rate, they might end up sleeping on the streets tonight. They were Tsunade and Shizune. At this point, it was still just the two of them. That pet pig, Tonton, probably hadn't even been born yet.

The moment Iwaishi spotted the mission target, he finally relaxed. As expected, the captain was reliable. What he still couldn't understand was why they had come into a casino. Wouldn't it be easier to simply approach Tsunade directly? None of them were even adults. They technically shouldn't be allowed inside. With that thought, Iwaishi cautiously glanced at the security guard stationed near the entrance. The man appeared to be in his forties, but Dongye zhen could sense the active chakra flowing through him.

He wasn't an ordinary civilian. Most likely, he was a rogue shinobi hired at considerable expense by the casino. His job was to prevent shinobi from sneaking inside with Transformation Jutsu. After all, letting civilians gamble against shinobi? How much money would a casino need before it could survive losses like that? The establishment strictly prohibited the use of ninjutsu and barred minors from entering. That was why the group had opted for traditional disguises instead of transformations.

The guard looked them over, his gaze lingering on the large cash box carried by Genma. Then he stepped aside without question. Casinos loved wealthy fools. And with Dongye zhen's deliberately arrogant, nose-in-the-air demeanor, he looked exactly like one. Inside the casino, Dongye zhen took a seat across from Tsunade at a Sic Bo table. Genma and the others stood behind him like loyal attendants. Soon, the game began. Whenever the dice were being revealed, everyone's eyes briefly focused on the table.

The rest of the time, they drifted toward Tsunade. It couldn't be helped. She was stunning. More importantly... She was enormous. The overwhelming majority of gamblers were adult men. Very few possessed the willpower to avert their gaze from those towering peaks. Dongye zhen, being an honest and upright individual, naturally didn't stare. He merely placed casual bets, losing more often than he won. Before long, however, people began noticing something strange. Why was that beautiful woman losing every single round?

At this point in time, Tsunade's reputation as the Legendary Sucker hadn't fully spread yet. Not many people in gambling circles recognized her. But this was a famous gambling city. Eventually, someone did. And even those who didn't know her identity quickly realized there was a walking disaster sitting at the table. For veteran gamblers, the solution was obvious. Bet the opposite of whatever she chose. Gambling in the shinobi world remained fairly primitive.

Dice games mostly revolved around simple wagers like big or small, without many complex variations. As the rounds continued, Tsunade hemorrhaged money at an alarming rate. Shizune looked increasingly devastated. Soon, only a small stack of bills remained. Tsunade herself didn't seem bothered. She was accustomed to losing. Ironically, while she desperately wanted to win, she was also afraid of winning. Every time fortune smiled on her, disaster inevitably followed.

Staring at the last of her money, she finally shoved it all onto a single wager. Triple threes. The highest-payout specific triple bet on the table. The number three held a certain significance for her. She had already decided. Once this money was gone, she'd move on and find another place to waste her time.