Tsunade

Zeus and Gaara decided to spend the night in this small town. After discreetly taking more Ryo from passing shinobi, Zeus purchased a room with two beds at a hotel. Gaara quickly fell asleep, likely due to the relaxing hot bath.

In contrast, Zeus felt compelled to venture out and explore the city's nightlife. He had a particular place in mind, the one he had longed to visit. Sneaking out of the apartment through the window, Zeus quietly made his way through the town. Although he encountered several inebriated men on the streets, he paid them no mind.

Eventually, after some walking, Zeus arrived at the entrance of a gambling center. Without hesitation, he entered and encountered a man dressed in black who blocked his path. Behind the counter stood another man, less intimidating in appearance.

"To enter, you must exchange your money for chips to facilitate transactions," the man behind the desk explained. Zeus effortlessly followed suit, emptying his pockets of all the Ryo coins he had accumulated. The sum amounted to approximately 86 thousand Ryo, a considerable amount compared to what one could earn from completing B-rank missions.

It seemed that Zeus had successfully robbed some wealthy individuals. "Thank you for your cooperation," the man said, taking a stack of tokens from beneath the table. Zeus swiftly stowed them away in his deep pockets, maintaining silence throughout the process. The bodyguard allowed him to proceed, and as Zeus stepped behind the curtains, he was greeted by a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.

Poker tables buzzed with intense concentration as players strategized and bluffed. Slot machines chimed with each hopeful pull of the lever, and roulette wheels spun, placing bets on numbers and colors. The air crackled with anticipation, as these games offered both opportunities for triumph and the risk of loss.

Without much delay, Zeus chose an unoccupied seat at one of the ongoing poker games. There were currently four players, including himself. One man had an unremarkable appearance but displayed an abundance of chips on his table. Another man seemed even more ordinary, struggling visibly with the game.

However, the most intriguing figure was a woman seated across from Zeus. She possessed a striking appearance, with long golden hair flowing freely and framing her face and back. Her sharp, intense amber eyes met his gaze analytically.

Zeus's attention briefly shifted to the seemingly less prominent woman standing beside her. With short dark hair, she surprisingly cradled a plump pig in her hands, indicating she might be a maid or similar occupation.

'It appears she's not faring well,' Zeus thought, observing the number of chips on her side of the table. Though it wasn't an insignificant amount, the imprint of a fist near her and her sidelong glances filled with hostility towards two other men revealed her substantial losses.

Emptying his pockets of chips, Zeus placed them all on the table, attracting the attention of onlookers. Then, he nodded to the dealer.

The game commenced shortly after, with Zeus maintaining silence. He received a pair of cards and glanced at them discreetly before placing them facedown on the table, as though he hadn't seen them. Leaning back in his chair, a faint smile curled at the corners of Zeus's lips. He observed as the dealer gradually revealed the cards: a three, a nine, a jack, a queen, and finally, a king. A sparkle gleamed in Zeus's eyes, yet his face remained impassive.

Subtly, Zeus pushed a towering stack of chips forward, indicating a substantial raise. The other players exchanged glances, their brows furrowing in uncertainty. It was challenging to contend with newcomers since their playing style couldn't be assessed without prior experience.

After a few seconds, the player with fewer chips decided to fold, discreetly placing his cards on the table. Tension filled the room as Zeus continued raising, his bets becoming progressively audacious. The other player scrutinized him with doubt, his hand quavering slightly. Clearly, he struggled to determine if Zeus was bluffing or not.

Eventually, however, the man chose to fold as well, leaving only the golden-haired woman in the game. While she was undoubtedly no stranger to high-stakes games, even she felt a flicker of doubt when confronted with Zeus's unwavering composure. It all boiled down to one question: bluff or not?

Smiling, Zeus pushed all his chips to the center of the table. The others leaned forward, anticipation thick in the air. Zeus's eyes flickered with excitement, and the woman sighed, following his lead despite the dark-haired woman's advice to stop.

"That was a good attempt, I suppose," Zeus murmured as he propelled the cards forward, revealing two kings. He held an almost unbeatable combination—a three-of-a-kind—resulting in a deep frown on the golden-haired woman's face. "You see, I prefer never to bluff."

"Why didn't you stop when I asked you to? Now, where will we sleep?" Zeus overheard the two women quarreling, which brought a smile to his face. The golden-haired woman remained fixated on the cards, utterly defeated.

Zeus stood up from his seat, collecting his winnings with a grin. However, his movement was halted midway when the golden-haired woman grabbed his hand, locking eyes with him. "One more game."

"No, thank you," Zeus replied, still smiling. "I'm not particularly fond of playing poker. Besides, it seems you have nothing left to bet with."

The golden-haired woman momentarily glanced down at the empty spot on her table, but her thoughts raced swiftly. She raised her head again. "How about a test of strength?"

"Strength?" Zeus scratched the back of his head, genuinely surprised by the unexpected turn of events. "What would I gain if I win?"

The woman surveyed her surroundings, her gaze lingering suspiciously on the pig for a moment before sighing. "If you win, I'll owe you a favor. It may not seem like much, but it holds more value than all that money."

Zeus pondered the proposition, entertained by the idea. "Alright, let's do it." They swiftly exited the building, settling at an outdoor table, facing each other. Zeus stretched his arm, and the golden-haired woman mirrored his action.

Tension thickened in the air as Zeus locked eyes with the woman. Their hands clasped in a gripping embrace, muscles strained, and tendons bulged as the contest commenced instantly. Fueled by her desire to reclaim the money and fortified by years of training, the golden-haired woman channeled her immense chakra. Yet, Zeus's hand remained resolute, impervious to the full force exerted by the woman.

"What?" she managed to utter, a sense of disbelief washing over her as an incredibly heavy weight descended upon her wrist. Struggling and gritting her teeth, she attempted to push back, causing shockwaves that shattered the table beneath them.

"You're quite skilled," Zeus smiled, noticing the abundant natural energy surrounding them. He skillfully channeled it into his right hand, causing veins to bulge on his skin. "However, not skilled enough."

With a surge of power, Zeus exerted all his might. Dust swirled into the air as the golden-haired woman was imprinted into the ground, unable to withstand her opponent's strength.

"I win," Zeus declared, his smile unyielding as he observed the golden-haired woman lying on the ground in utter disbelief at her defeat. Throughout her life, she had never been bested in a contest of pure strength, leaving her astonished that a random stranger had obliterated her.

"I will remember your favor for when I require assistance," Zeus stated, turning away and waving his hand as he strolled off. "Also, Lady Tsunade, I don't believe this place is suitable for a legendary ninja."

Tsunade's frown deepened as she continued to gaze at Zeus's departing figure, struggling to recall who he might be. There was a nagging feeling that she should recognize him, but nothing came to mind. Eventually, she sighed. "What kind of monster have I encountered? Not only did he steal my money, but I now owe him a favor."

***

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