Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Every Gamble Will Lose
Inside the dimly lit Yunxiao store, the flickering glow of a laptop screen cast dancing shadows across the cluttered room. A video was playing, the voice from the speakers breaking the silence with an unexpected exclamation, "Oi! The kid is kind of hot!"
The words hit Peter like an electric current, making him shiver involuntarily. Goosebumps rapidly spread across his arms, betraying his discomfort despite his best efforts to appear calm. He hunched closer to the screen, his fingers jittery as he frantically slid the mouse pointer, desperate to skip the embarrassing clip.
"Damn it," Peter muttered under his breath, cheeks burning with embarrassment. "This is way too childish. Just give me the candy already!"
With a sharp click, the video changed. The new clip that appeared immediately caught his eye — this one was far more enticing. A sly grin crept onto Peter's face as he leaned forward eagerly. "Hehehe, now this is more like it! I really like this one!"
He reached out instinctively toward the side table where he usually kept his supplies, ready to reward himself. But after patting around the surface for a few seconds, his smile faded.
"Huh? Where did the napkins go?" Peter frowned, confusion knitting his brow. "I'm sure I put them here…"
His fingers rifled through the space again, searching anxiously, but the napkins were nowhere to be found. Panic prickled beneath his skin. Without a second thought, Peter pushed himself up from the recliner, tension rising in the air like a gathering storm.
His eyes scanned every inch of the room. From the piles of magazines on the desk to the shadowed corners near the counter, he was meticulous, almost desperate. Finally, a small glimpse of white caught his attention — a familiar pack of napkins lay inconspicuously beside a low, unassuming counter.
Peter bent down quickly, grabbing the napkin with a triumphant smile and returning to his chair, heart pounding with relief.
He sank back into the recliner and pulled out the napkins, preparing to indulge himself after so many exhausting days of non-stop work. "I deserve this," he muttered. "Just a little break..."
But just as he was about to relax, a sudden, crisp doorbell rang out through the store — clear, pleasant, and altogether too timely.
"Welcome!" came a warm, polite greeting from the entrance.
Peter nearly jumped out of his skin. The sound struck him like a thunderclap, his entire body trembling with surprise. In a panic, he hastily closed the laptop and shoved the napkins into his trouser pockets, muttering bitterly, "Why now? Why not earlier?"
Despite the sudden intrusion, Peter quickly composed himself. He smoothed his clothes, stood upright, and forced a polite smile as he moved toward the entrance.
"Welcome!" he greeted, voice steady despite his racing heart.
But the sight that greeted him was unexpected enough to stop him in his tracks.
At the threshold stood a woman with flowing golden hair, stunningly beautiful and regal. A diamond-shaped mark adorned her forehead, and her figure was striking — especially the large curves that made it impossible to look away.
Though she appeared to be in her fifties, she exuded a youthful energy that belied her age. Peter's mind raced as he recognized her immediately.
This was none other than Senju Tsunade — the infamous "gambler" of Konoha's shadowy underworld, known for her ties to the triad of vice: prostitution, gambling, and drugs.
Peter had already encountered Orochimaru, and now fate had thrown Tsunade into his path. If he could just meet Jiraiya, he could claim to have rubbed shoulders with all of Konoha's most notorious underworld figures.
Tsunade walked into the store with a woman behind her — Shizune — who glanced around curiously. The moment Tsunade crossed the threshold, a strange feeling churned deep within her chest. It was an uneasy sensation, as if something unseen was pulling her in conflicting directions.
"Lady Tsunade," Shizune whispered, tugging at the corner of her mistress's robe, "look how luxuriously this place is decorated. Nothing cheap here — we should hurry!"
Tsunade, however, brushed aside the advice with a roll of her eyes. "Stop yammering, I have my own pace," she murmured under her breath.
Shizune sighed but said no more, gently stroking the small pig she carried in her arms.
"When I can't afford a proper meal," she said quietly, "I suppose you'll have to do."
The pig — Tuntun — blinked slowly in contentment, only to suddenly open his eyes wide with a shocked expression as if understanding the implication.
Peter, oblivious to the whispered exchange, stepped forward with a bright smile and asked, "What can I help you with? We have everything you might need!"
His exaggerated enthusiasm surprised Tsunade, but rather than doubting him, she felt a strange trust blooming inside her. It was as if Peter's confidence guaranteed the truth of his words, and that gave her a spark of hope.
After a moment of silence, Tsunade looked him squarely in the eye, her expression turning serious.
"Boss," she said, voice low but intense, "do you have anything that can improve luck?"
Peter blinked, taken aback by the question. "Uh, may I ask why?"
Tsunade's eyes darkened with frustration as she explained, "I love gambling, but I'm always losing. Every day, I lose more money. I owe millions now." Her hands slammed the counter in anger. "If I could just improve my luck, I'd win it all back!"
Peter's mind flashed back to the stories he'd heard. Tsunade was infamous for her terrible luck at gambling — so notorious that the underworld called her "the fat sheep of the ninja world." The moment she sat at the table, everyone else only needed to bet against her to turn a profit.
And all the money they earned? It was, ironically, money lost by Tsunade.
Despite her status as one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, Tsunade was drowning in debt. Debt collectors frequently came to her door, and she had to run away just to avoid them. If not for her strength, she might have been forced to pay off her debts with her body.
Her streak of bad luck stretched back years. The only time she managed a win was against Jiraiya — and now Jiraiya was dead, lost in the Rain Country.
"Do you have something for me, boss?" Tsunade's voice wavered with hope. But seeing Peter's hesitation, her heart sank. "Maybe there's nothing here for someone like me…"
Peter quickly snapped out of his reverie and smiled. "Don't give up just yet. I haven't finished explaining. There are items to improve luck, but they might not be suitable for you."
Disappointment washed over Tsunade's face. She lowered her gaze, her shoulders sagging.
"Oh, I see… maybe I'm just destined to be unlucky forever."
Peter raised a hand to stop her. "Wait! There's more. Even if those luck-enhancing products aren't right for you, winning every time doesn't just depend on luck."
Tsunade's eyes flickered with interest. "What do you mean?"
Peter straightened up, confidence surging through him. "Gambling isn't only about luck. The real key is skill and strength — your own ability to control the game."
Tsunade stared at him, a mixture of skepticism and hope stirring within.
Peter continued, "Think about it. If you train your mind and your techniques, study the odds and the psychology of your opponents, you can tilt the scales in your favor. Luck might give you a head start, but skill wins the race."
Tsunade looked away for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Maybe… maybe I've been relying too much on luck."
Peter smiled warmly. "Exactly. And that's where I come in."
He reached behind the counter and pulled out a small, ornate box. Opening it, he revealed several peculiar items — some shimmering talismans, some ancient coins, and a few hand-carved chess pieces.
"These aren't magic charms," Peter explained. "They're tools. Each one helps sharpen your mind, improve your focus, and boost your confidence."
Tsunade picked up a talisman, feeling its smooth surface beneath her fingers. For the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of belief — a chance that maybe, just maybe, the tides could turn.
Peter's words echoed in her mind as she weighed the choice ahead. She could continue gambling on luck alone, or she could train and fight for her wins — mastering the game instead of hoping fate would smile her way.
As Tsunade pondered, Shizune leaned in, whispering, "Maybe this time, Lady Tsunade will finally win."
Peter smiled softly, watching as the gambler in front of him dared to hope again.
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