บท 17: Ninjutsu

The sun began to set over Konoha, painting the sky in shades of orange, but inside the casino, time seemed to stand still. Tsunade, with disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes, stared intently at Chen.

"Little Chen," Tsunade pleaded, her voice hoarse from hours of shouting, "lend me another 500,000 Ryō. I can feel my luck about to turn!"

Chen, arms behind his back, raised an eyebrow. "Lady Tsunade, gambling is like sake. A little makes you happy, too much ruins you, and it seems you've already drunk the whole barrel."

Tsunade let out a nervous laugh, her hands trembling slightly. "But this time it's different! I can feel it in my... in my..."

"In your chest?" Chen finished the sentence, his face impassive.

"Exactly!" Tsunade exclaimed, then realized what she had said and blushed.

Chen sighed, putting his money away. *If self-control were a bet, she'd have lost already,* he thought, walking away from the casino with Tsunade following closely.

As they walked through the streets, Tsunade tried to persuade Chen with increasingly absurd promises.

"I'll make you my heir!" she declared at one point.

"Lady Tsunade, you currently have nothing to inherit," Chen replied dryly.

Finally, Chen stopped in front of a sweets shop. "Lady Tsunade, would you like a dango?"

"You can't buy my silence with a... oh, that looks delicious!" Tsunade changed her mind mid-sentence, her eyes fixed on the sweet.

Sitting on a bench, eating dangos, Tsunade looked at Chen with puppy-dog eyes. "Boy, how can you not trust your sister?" Before Chen could respond, Tsunade pulled him into an unexpectedly strong hug, burying his head between her breasts.

Chen, with his face buried in Tsunade's generous cleavage, took a deep breath, intoxicated by her scent. He managed to lift his head and say, "If I trusted you, we'd both be living under a bridge right now. Don't forget the 500,000 Ryō you owe me."

Tsunade laughed nervously, avoiding Chen's eyes. "About that..."

Chen looked at her steadily. "You never thought about paying it back, did you?"

"Well, I..." Tsunade began, but Chen interrupted with a resigned sigh.

"Forget it, consider it a gift," Chen said, his voice mixing exasperation and affection.

Tsunade's eyes lit up. She pulled out a scroll from her bag and handed it to Chen. "Here, take these ninjutsu in exchange for what I owe you."

Chen took the scroll, surprised but grateful. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."

Tsunade smiled widely. "That's what big sisters are for. If anyone bothers you, just tell me and I'll turn them into dango paste."

Chen couldn't help but smile. Although he didn't need protection, Tsunade's gesture was touching.

Suddenly, Tsunade's stomach growled so loudly that a nearby bird flew away, startled.

"Looks like your stomach is as hungry for food as you are for gambling," Chen joked. "How about I treat my new 'sister' to dinner?"

Tsunade jumped up, her energy renewed. "I thought you'd never ask! I know a place that serves the best sake... I mean, the best food in Konoha."

...

Chen and Tsunade entered the bar, the aroma of fried food and sake filling the air. Tsunade, with bright eyes, shouted her order:

"Fried chicken, dumplings, and a bottle of sake! No, make that two bottles!"

The waiter, clearly accustomed to Tsunade's exaggerated orders, just nodded resignedly.

Soon, the table was filled with dishes, and Tsunade attacked the food as if it were her last meal. Chen, not wanting to be left behind, began to devour his food at a similar pace.

"Oi, Chen!" said Tsunade, her mouth full of chicken. "Eat slowly, no one's going to steal your food!"

Chen, with cheeks puffed out like a hamster, tried to respond: "Mmm... mfff... it's faster this way."

Tsunade burst out laughing, almost choking on her sake. "You look like a squirrel storing nuts for the winter!"

The dinner continued with laughter, half-told anecdotes with mouths full, and occasional burps that made other patrons look at them in horror.

At the end of the night, they stood in front of the bar, ready to say goodbye.

"Well, little Chen," said Tsunade, her voice a bit slurred from the sake, "it was a fun night. Remember, if anyone bothers you, just tell me and I'll give them a lesson they'll never forget."

Chen smiled. "Thanks, Lady Tsunade. And thanks for the ninjutsu."

Tsunade winked at him. "Use them well."

...

Later at home, counting his money, his eyes widened. "Three million Ryō... gambling is the best!" he exclaimed, before recalling his ability to attract the opposite sex. "Well, maybe it's a combination of luck and... natural charm."

With a satisfied smile, Chen pulled out the scroll Tsunade had given him from his backpack. As he opened it, his eyes lit up with excitement. The five ninjutsu were:

1. Strength of a Hundred Seal

2. Water Style: Explosive Water Dragon Bite

3. Earth Style: Earth Wall

4. Lightning Style: Ground Flash

5. Water Style: Water Wall Formation

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