Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 204
🕑 Added 2025-02-24 21:19:49 +0000 UTCAs the peace negotiations among the Five Great Shinobi Villages were temporarily put on hold, the flames of war burned even more fiercely along the northern borders of the Land of Stone and the Land of Iron.
But honestly, even when the negotiations weren't on hold, the shinobi from the three villages weren't exactly holding back.
Both Suna and Kumo had intensified their attacks.
And Iwa? They had proved that having a larger army did make a difference.
When you had numbers and deep pockets, fighting two villages at once wasn't impossible.
Especially after Iwa had officially hired Akatsuki to join the battle, filling in their gap in high-level combat power.
Thus, despite being outnumbered, they had managed to fight to a stalemate.
This war had brought a boom to the gambling industry across nations.
If people placed bets on the Chunin Exams, then of course they would bet on three major shinobi villages slashing at each other.
Nothing fueled the gambling industry quite like a Great Ninja War.
But according to the industry's rules, ninja villages had to get a cut afterward—after all, if you were running a betting pool on them, you had better pay up.
Win or lose, that was between the villages. For the merchants, whatever money was owed had to be paid in full.
In the shinobi world, there were two main places where betting pools were set up.
One was within the ninja villages themselves—especially during joint Chunin Exams, where the villages took a direct cut.
The other was in casinos.
The Land of Fire's capital, home to the Fire Daimyō, was the most prosperous city in the country and in the entire shinobi world. It boasted numerous casinos at all levels, from those that catered to commoners to those that only the wealthiest and most powerful could enter.
Some places were so high-end that if you weren't both rich and powerful, you wouldn't even want to step inside—you'd just embarrass yourself.
The capital had always been this way. In high-end establishments, it wasn't the customers who chose the casino, but the casino that chose its customers. Mid- and low-tier venues, on the other hand, were fiercely competitive—if they didn't keep innovating, they'd get crushed by their rivals.
This principle applied to more than just casinos—it was the same for all entertainment venues.
As the protectorate of Konoha, the Land of Fire had received news of the failed Five Kage negotiations before anyone else.
And no city had gotten the news faster than the capital.
The grandest casino in the city, located in its most bustling commercial district, was said to be directly owned by the daimyō's family.
Its official owner had spared no expense in making it dazzlingly extravagant. The designer had skill—despite its overwhelming gaudy gold decor, there was still a hint of elegance in the layout.
But one thing was unmistakable: its unique style served as an immediate warning to anyone passing by—this was not a place for ordinary folk. Be mindful of yourself!
The guests here weren't necessarily rich, but they were certainly powerful.
And if someone wasn't rich or powerful yet was still treated with respect inside? That was even more terrifying. It meant you should never try any underhanded tricks against them.
Otherwise, you might succeed in winning money—but you wouldn't live to spend it.
At one of the casino's gambling tables, a group of well-dressed individuals sat, while their attendants stood behind them.
But since "most" of them were attendants, that meant there were exceptions.
For instance, standing among them was someone who made even the seated guests feel uneasy.
"How about we call it a night?" A middle-aged nobleman, dressed in fine clothing, wore a flattering smile.
The person he was trying to please was a beautiful woman sitting at the gambling table, her expression less than pleased.
By appearance alone, the woman was clearly much younger than the man.
She had an alluring figure, delicate features, and seductive, light-red lips. Her long, blonde hair was tied into two thick ponytails.
At a glance, it was clear she wasn't a noble from the capital. Instead, she carried a rough, wandering aura.
At first, some of the so-called "high-status" men had found her wild and tempting—like a juicy, untamed mare. They had been eager to try their luck with her.
But once they saw who was accompanying her, they quickly backed off and pretended they hadn't noticed her at all.
They had guessed her identity.
"Breaking news! Breaking news!" Suddenly, from the high platform where announcements were made in the casino, a voice rang out excitedly.
"Konoha's ANBU was ambushed! Kumo is a confirmed suspect! The negotiations are officially off!"
The entire room erupted in chaos!
Some cursed their bad luck.
Some smiled subtly, maintaining their noble composure.
And some were more straightforward—either loudly cursing Kumo for being reckless or laughing and calling them "useful idiots."
Before the crowd could digest the information, the announcer spoke again.
"The strongest Uchiha of this generation—Masashi—has personally traveled to Ame! Ame's 'God' has declared his support for Konoha!"
This time, the reaction was more subdued.
Not because the news wasn't shocking—on the contrary, it was too shocking.
For these casino patrons, gambling was just entertainment.
What truly caught their attention was the fact that Masashi had gone to Ame.
Ame's "God" had gained immense fame in recent years. He had proven that he had every right to call himself a god—far surpassing his predecessor, the Salamander.
Only someone as powerful as Masashi could make him take a stance.
With Ame openly siding with Konoha, the implications were immense for these high-ranking figures.
For the nobleman accompanying the blond woman, however, there was only excitement.
"See? No one's in the mood to keep playing. How about calling it a night?"
"Your place?" The woman scoffed. "Forget it. I still remember how your wife looked at me last time."
"Oh, come on! She didn't know then, but when I told her later, she was in awe of you!"
"Yeah, yeah. Your house is too big. I'm not used to it. I'll just stay with Shizune." The woman yawned. "This place is so boring. Not even any good booze."
The man laughed awkwardly.
It wasn't that there wasn't alcohol—she just didn't like how they served it here.
He had come to realize that this woman preferred more down-to-earth places.
Glancing around at the overly restrained patrons, he sighed inwardly.
He still didn't understand why she had stayed in Konoha back then, leading to this situation.
"Alright, alright. You go do your thing. Just leave me some money to spend."
"Fine. At least let me arrange a place for you to stay tonight. It's rare for you to visit the capital—let me do my part." The nobleman gave in, while his attendants silently retreated to make the arrangements.
They had followed her long enough to know exactly how to prepare.
Meanwhile, the young woman standing beside the blond woman finally couldn't hold back anymore.
She knew very well—her master was a heroine who could spend the night in a casino.
"Tsunade-sama, I think no one's in the mood to gamble anymore. Why don't you rest for the night?"
"Shizune, you're such a buzzkill..."
Tsunade knew exactly what her nominal disciple—but actual caretaker—was thinking.
Such an unadorable child. Did she really have so little faith in my gambling luck?
Well… Tsunade herself didn't believe in it either.
Things were better in the old days. That smug, shameless uncle who claimed he could do anything but always lost to her in cards with a grin. He even cheated on purpose just so she'd notice, making sure she wouldn't suspect anything.
What a clumsy man.
He was so sharp and cunning—so how did he end up dead?
Her grandfather too. And her granduncle. The uncle died even before her granduncle, then later came Dan and Nawaki.
In the end, the title of Hokage was nothing but a curse.
Those who wanted to be Hokage, those who became Hokage—every single one of them was a hopeless idiot.
The worst part? This damn casino was taking bets on the upcoming shinobi war, and the noise was getting on her nerves.
"Forget it. I'm done." Losing interest, she tossed her cards onto the table and stood up. "Shizune, let's go."
Shizune quickly followed.
"Eh?" A nobleman noticed she was already leaving like the wind, without even waiting for the servants to return. He hurried after her.
But Tsunade didn't even look back. She simply waved a hand in dismissal.
Seeing this, the nobleman chuckled bitterly and gave up.
Fine, fine. In the Land of Fire, no one could afford to provoke this woman.
By now, the city's high-ranking officials must have already been informed of her arrival at the daimyō's estate. They would make sure their subordinates kept their eyes wide open and let her enjoy herself however she pleased.
After all, she was the granddaughter of the First Hokage and one of the Legendary Sannin.
In this city, where even common folk had a sharp sense of survival, she could do whatever she wanted.
Those who failed to read the room simply wouldn't survive here.
As she left the casino, Tsunade strolled aimlessly through the streets, with Shizune following closely behind.
To Shizune, Tsunade held many identities.
She was the idol of every medical-nin in Konoha.
She was her uncle's beloved.
She was her mentor.
"Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade suddenly stopped in the middle of the bustling night market, bathed in neon lights.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama?"
"What kind of person am I?" Tsunade remained still, not turning around. Her voice carried a hint of fatigue.
"You are Tsunade, the most captivating woman in this world."
"Tch. Are you a magic mirror or something?" Tsunade muttered.
She recalled a childhood fairy tale told by a certain someone.
In that story, an old witch's favorite tool was a "magic mirror"—one she consulted daily, demanding to know if she was the fairest of them all.
Until one day, the mirror told her she was ugly and that her stepdaughter was far more beautiful.
Thinking of this, Tsunade suddenly laughed.
That was one of the few genuinely happy times in her life.
Back then, she was surrounded by loved ones who cared for her.
Her favorite childhood entertainment had been watching a certain someone get chased across the village by her furious granduncle. Even in the midst of being beaten, he never forgot to prepare her birthday gift.
Only that fool could provoke their ever-composed granduncle on a daily basis.
Even her grandfather couldn't manage that.
That small laugh made Tsunade feel better.
She resumed walking.
Shizune, though unsure why Tsunade had suddenly laughed, hurried to catch up.
After scanning her surroundings, Tsunade stepped into an inn.
"Anyone here?" she called out upon entering. Noticing the empty reception desk, she grinned. "Oh? So it's free?"
"Ah! My apologies! I'm coming right away!"
A young girl with braided hair dashed out from a hallway the moment she heard the word "free." She ran at full speed, as if afraid Tsunade would take advantage of the supposed offer.
Reaching the counter, she opened the registry book—but only then did she register the sight before her.
Raising her head again, her eyes landed on Tsunade's impressive chest. She froze, staring.
"Two rooms. Next to each other," Tsunade ordered.
"Ah! Sorry, yes! Right away!" The girl snapped out of it, face flushed with embarrassment.
Even though they were both women, it was rude to stare at a guest like that. She hurriedly completed the registration.
Tsunade, however, remained patient.
Not out of kindness—she simply didn't care.
Gambling and drinking.
That was her life now.
Once the rooms were ready, she entered hers and collapsed onto the bed.
A while later, an anxious Shizune peeked inside.
Seeing Tsunade sprawled unceremoniously, already fast asleep, she sighed and rubbed her forehead.
She fetched a pillow, placed it under Tsunade's head, tucked her in, and watched for a while to ensure she wouldn't vomit in her sleep.
Only then did she leave.
However, not long after Shizune stepped out, Tsunade's eyes opened.
She sat up, rubbed her temples, and grumbled before turning toward a dark corner.
"Are you guys done yet?"
From the shadows, a masked ANBU ninja emerged.
"Tsunade-sama..."
"I'm not going back. I'm eating well, sleeping well, and drinking well," she cut him off before he could continue.
"The daimyō is also worried about you."
"Heh..." Tsunade let out a cold laugh.
Like hell she didn't know what the daimyō was thinking.
Acting like her little attendant, following her to casinos just because she called him "cousin"?
Ridiculous.
"The village is doing just fine, isn't it? Why do they care about a washed-up ninja like me?" Tsunade said. "I'll be gone from this city by tomorrow. Whether it's the Hokage or the daimyō, they can all stay far, far away from me."
"Tsunade-sama, you know full well... The Uchiha clan—"
"I don't know anything."
That familiar tone made her blood boil. Cutting him off mid-sentence, Tsunade's expression darkened.
"What era do you think this is? Be realistic. Just let the next Hokage be an Uchiha already."
The old feud between the Senju and Uchiha clan had shaped Konoha's history.
Even today, that powerful historical force hadn't faded.
Ultimately, the Uchiha clan had grown too influential. Everyone knew that if something happened to the Fourth Hokage, the Fifth would inevitably be an Uchiha.
Would the Hokage remain safe?
That was hard to say.
The fact that the Third Hokage had lasted as long as he did was already a miracle—thanks to his personal strength and a solid team backing him.
The beneficiaries of the Sarutobi era had already lowered their expectations.
Fine, the Hokage could be an Uchiha.
But Hokage and their second-in-command both being Uchiha, or Uchiha allies?
That was a line they wouldn't cross.
"Let the Hokage be an Uchiha. You guys can just pick someone else for second-in-command."
Tsunade's tone grew more irritated.
"Let me make this clear—if it has anything to do with the Hokage, don't come looking for me."
