Chapter 22: Not Quite Lovers, Always Winning at Gambling

In the heart of the Hidden Leaf Village, on the main commercial street, Kato Mikaze and Tsunade walked side by side along the wide road, enjoying a leisurely stroll together.

Earlier that afternoon, Mikaze had arranged a lunch gathering with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. After a hearty meal and a few rounds of drinks, the four agreed to meet again for a proper celebration once Mikaze passed the Jonin exam next Tuesday. With that, the group dispersed early.

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru had only just returned to the village that day. All three were now Jonin-level ninja of the Hidden Leaf, respected figures within the village, each with a mountain of personal affairs to attend to. After Mikaze’s welcome lunch ended, Orochimaru and Jiraiya bid farewell to Mikaze and Tsunade, leaving the two alone.

No one wanted to play the third wheel; thus, the four friends went their separate ways.

To speak plainly, among the three—Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya—Tsunade had the worst temper. As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, she was showered with affection from a young age and was known throughout the village as the “Princess of the Leaf.” Her temperament required no explanation.

Jiraiya, aside from the mutual affection both he and Mikaze held for Tsunade, was easygoing and carefree by nature—boisterous, friendly, and always up for mischief. He and Mikaze had been partners in crime since their Academy days, notorious for their pranks and antics.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, was cold and indifferent, almost to the point of aloofness. He cared nothing for those unrelated to him; his exceptional talent as a ninja left him obsessed with his own jutsu experiments, rarely sharing his attention with the outside world. To strangers, Orochimaru seemed distant and unapproachable. Lately, he had begun to delve into serpent-style techniques, and combined with his naturally snake-like eyes, he was already showing signs of becoming the “Lord of Serpents” as depicted in the original tale—a chilling, withdrawn presence.

As for Mikaze, after so many years of pursuing Tsunade, he had become well-versed in deciphering her true feelings. He could distinguish the words she truly meant from those she wanted him to interpret in reverse. For instance, when she was angry, it meant she wanted comfort and company. Or, as happened today, after the lunch when she suggested they go their separate ways, what she really meant was that she wanted him by her side.

If Mikaze ever really took her at her word and left her to her own devices, it would be a betrayal of all the times he’d endured her punches in pursuit of her affection. Besides, his plan for today had always been to spend the entire day with Tsunade—after all, it had been over half a year since they’d last seen each other.

Their relationship could best be described as "more than friends, not yet lovers."

Tsunade, from childhood, had been the cherished princess of the village—noble birth, prestigious teacher, exceptional ninja skills, and unmatched beauty. In recent years, as she matured, her figure had only grown more alluring. Aside from a foul temper, a penchant for violence, and a love of gambling, she was in every respect a wonderful girl.

But as the saying goes, “A persistent suitor will warm even a stone.” Mikaze had pursued Tsunade for so long that he had finally begun to melt her heart. And Mikaze himself was no slouch—handsome, capable, from a good family, and a childhood friend. All in all, he was more than worthy of Tsunade.

Now, the only thing left for Mikaze and Tsunade was to break through that final barrier and officially begin dating. In terms of physical contact, Mikaze had only managed to hold her hand—and even that required Tsunade to be in a good mood.

When he was younger, Mikaze had considered being forceful—after all, in the world of ninja, strength was everything. From the first time he’d read the original story in his past life, he’d always liked Tsunade, and saw nothing wrong with confirming their relationship early on. He had resolved to devote himself to her in this life, confident that as the man, he ought to take the initiative.

But reality in the ninja world was unforgiving. Tsunade’s monstrous strength, inherited from her grandfather, the “God of Shinobi” Hashirama Senju, was no joke. Mikaze could not best her in a fight.

From then on, their story followed the familiar patterns of adolescence—boys seeking attention through mischief, girls responding as only they can. Nearly every coming-of-age scenario had played out between the two of them.

Just before they graduated from the Ninja Academy, Mikaze confessed his feelings to Tsunade in public for the first time. Both graduated soon after.

During that first confession, Tsunade gave Mikaze a chance. They made a bet—a duel between ninja. The outcome would determine whether Tsunade would accept him.

It was a very “Tsunade” way of doing things.

If Mikaze won, Tsunade would accept his confession. If Tsunade won, she would reject it.

Everyone in the village knew Tsunade’s infamous luck—she lost every bet she made, earning her the nickname “the Legendary Sucker” in the world of gambling. Tales of her misfortune were legendary.

Mikaze eagerly accepted the wager. He’d been beaten by Tsunade as a child, but now, on the eve of graduation, he felt confident in his abilities—and with Tsunade’s constant losing streak, he was sure victory was in his grasp.

The result, as everyone knows, was that Mikaze lost. Tsunade defeated him, and his confession was rejected.

After that, Tsunade’s “losing aura” lost its effect on Mikaze. In fact, it seemed to reverse—whenever he bet against her, he always won. From then on, whenever Tsunade gambled away all her money, she would often come to Mikaze for “charitable donations.”

After parting ways with Orochimaru and Jiraiya at noon, Mikaze accompanied Tsunade home, allowing her to freshen up and rest, easing the fatigue of her journey. Once Tsunade had changed into her casual clothes, Mikaze went with her to the Ninja Academy to visit her younger brother, Nawaki.

Tsunade and Nawaki were the direct grandchildren of the First Hokage, belonging to the Senju clan. Once one of the founding families of the Leaf, alongside the Uchiha, the Senju’s history stretched back to the legendary Sage of Six Paths. Yet now, the clan had fallen; only Tsunade and Nawaki remained, and they no longer bore the Senju surname, simply going by Tsunade and Nawaki.

It wasn’t that the Senju had all perished. Rather, the clan’s decline meant they had merged completely with the Leaf. Years of war had decimated their numbers, and by the time of the First and Second Hokage, the Hidden Leaf Village was established. To foster the political unity of the village, the Hokage called upon the remaining clansmen to set an example—abandoning the Senju name and blending into the village as ordinary citizens.

This was not unique to the Senju. In other lands, similar practices existed. For example, in the Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Lightning, each Raikage inherited the name “A,” abandoning their original surname, while their assistants inherited the name “B.”

After their visit to Nawaki, Mikaze and Tsunade found themselves once again strolling down the commercial district in the heart of the Leaf Village.

“Mikaze, how are your preparations for the Jonin exam next Tuesday? You must be confident, right?” Tsunade asked.

“With your personality, you’d never apply unless you were sure. Let’s make a bet—I wager you’ll pass the exam!”

As they wandered, their conversation flowed easily.

“I always win when I bet with you…” Tsunade teased.

“Alright, you bet on me passing the exam. That means I’m sure to succeed. Besides, I’ve just mastered the Kato clan’s secret technique, the Spiritization Jutsu—my strength has increased greatly,” Mikaze replied.

“I’ll let you in on a secret. While I was training the Spiritization Jutsu—I’m thinking of calling it the Nurturing Spirit Technique—it basically eliminates the greatest weakness of the original jutsu…”

“Tsunade, there’s a milk tea stand up ahead. I’ll go buy you a papaya-strawberry milk tea, your favorite…”

PS: The rookie author humbly begs for support, recommendations, and bookmarks.