Beginners Luck

CH. 1

Prologue:

In a dark room is a lone woman crying as she sits at a table clutching a bottle in her right hand.

"She's gone… I can't believe she's really gone," thought the woman as she chugged down more of the booze from the bottle. "Why did my godson have to be taken as well?"

The woman finished the bottle and then shattered it against the far wall. A blinding light suddenly appeared in front of her as she was about to stand up to fetch another bottle. As the light slowly dimmed, the crying woman noticed that the light was taking the form of a blond haired blue-eyed short woman with fox ears wearing a white Kimono with a red obi.

"Who are you and what do you want?" demanded the crying woman with a start, as she stood up.

"Sit down Tsunade," the woman said with such authority that Tsunade did just that. "I am Inari (AN: one of the Shinto Kami)… so shut up, I have much to tell you. A fire Kami has approached me from another world and she wanted help to fix a mistake she had made. In her wrath, she had accidently struck down a mortal and the fire Kami wanted to give the mortal a chance for a new life in my realm. As I was agreeing to her request, the Shichifukujin noticed her, fell in love with her, and have become her… heh… Godparents…"

"If I may ask, but which of the seven Kamis of luck was it?"

"All of them… Some of them even gave her their blessings. Who and what was given … well… I think I'll let you figure that out for yourself," said Inari. "I wouldn't be surprised if the others may change their minds and give their blessings as well, but I doubt that they would let anybody know if they did."

"So why have you visited me," Tsunade asked as politely as she could.

"I noticed that you were in mourning for lost family members and I want to give you a blessing as well…"

"Really…" Tsunade whispered as she looked around for a gift of some kind.

"Really…" Inari replied as she motioned with her hand at a bundle of cloth that was lying in a basket that was suddenly sitting on the table. "I am giving you a daughter, Tsunade… raise her well for not only will I be expecting much from you, but the Kamis of both worlds are watching you," Inari warned as she disappeared.

Tsunade stood up and peered into the basket to see a small baby wrapped in swaddling clothes sucking its thumb. As Tsunade examines her, she notices that the baby has very pale skin and that she has a prominent black spot, which is encircling her left eye. Tsunade saw and began to feel the baby's small tuft of black hair.

"Heh… I think my obaasan would find you to be a cute baby… hmm… I think I'm going to name you after her… Mito… yeah, she'd be honored that I named you after her."

After checking Mito's omutsu, Tsunade staggered to bed.

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The blinding light of the morning sun pours thru the motel room window. In the distance, she can hear the sound of waves and the beating of a drum. Is this paradise? No, it isn't paradise, just another hung over morning for Tsunade.

"Why is the sunlight so loud this morning?" Tsunade thought as she started to regain consciousness. Slowly she sat up in bed and saw Shizune sitting at the room's table, feeding a baby with a bottle. "Who is that and why is that brat in my room?"

"Good morning, Lady Tsunade," Shizune said in a hushed tone, "I was feeding the daughter that Kami had given you last night. Kami too visited me and she suggested that I help you care for your daughter. This is a good thing since you were in no condition to care for the baby last night."

~FLASHBACK~

Shizune is packing her scrolls to prepare to leave the motel in the morning, when a bright light suddenly appeared in her room before coalescing into the shape of a blond haired blue-eyed short woman with fox ears wearing a white Kimono with a red obi.

"Who are you," Shizune said in a frightened voice.

"I am Inari, a Kami, and I have come to tell you that your sensei has been given a chance to redeem herself… I have given her a daughter. I want you to help care for her… go… Tsunade is in no condition to take care of the child right now," she said as she disappeared.

Shizune lowered her head and pondered the responsibility that Kami had just given her.

"Typical," Shizune mumbled to herself.

~End FLASHBACK~

As the memories of the previous night slowly seeped into her brain, Tsunade got up with a grunt and walked over to sit at the table to the right of Shizune.

"It really happened then… Well, I named her Mito after my obaasan. I think she would be a good opportunity for you to grow as a Kunoichi. I want you to take care of Mito and train her as well," she said as she stood up. "Don't worry; I'll assist you when I can. Well… hurry up, finish, and get ready to leave, while I go find a victim… ahem… someone lucky enough to loan me some money and we'll leave this place in the dust," Tsunade said as she left the room.

"I guess, it's just you and me kid," Shizune said as she looked down at Mito, as she suckled from the bottle.

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~Time skip, 5 years later~

"Okaasan…" a slender little girl with black short hair (wearing a grey short-sleeved shirt with black cargo shorts) called out as she came running up from behind Tsunade as she was walking to the casino.

"Mito… where is Shizune and why are you not with her training."

"I'm tired of running up and down trees, or floating leaves on my hands and feet. You said I could be with you today," Mito said with a sad puppy look on her face.

"I did, did I? Well, stay out of the way, I'm going to try to win some money."

"Good luck with that," Mito said under her breath.

"What did you say," Tsunade demanded as she glared at Mito.

"Nothing… I was merely wishing you good luck. So that you would win lots of money," Mito said with an angelic look on her face.

"Yeah right…" Tsunade said, as she stomped her way to the casino with Mito tagging along behind her.

Eventually, they walked to a small dingy little building. People of all sorts were either hanging out outside of the building, or going in and out of it. Some of the people noticed Tsunade and her daughter, but they only greeted Mito.

"Oi, Aiko-chan… how are you doing?" called out a little old man who always sat by the casino entrance. (AN: Mito goes by Aiko when she is in public, it's a nickname. It means love child or little loved one. People who somewhat know Tsunade still wonder who is Mito's Father.)

"Oh… I'm fine oji-san," Mito said with a bow. "I'm sorry, but I can't talk right now," she said with a small wave as she rushed to catch up with Tsunade.

When Mito finally caught up with Tsunade, she was already sitting at a table playing a game of cards.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Mito whispered in Tsunade's ear as she was about to exchange some cards.

"Nani?" (AN: She doesn't realize that Mito has been paying attention to the rules of the game since she first started tagging along with Tsunade into casinos.)

"I would exchange this one instead," she whispered as she pointed to one of the cards in Tsunade's hand.

"Oi… who's playing this game anyways?" the Dealer asked as Tsunade thought about Mito's suggestion.

"Shut up… I'm her Sensei," Tsunade barked at the dealer. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to try her suggestion," she thought as she laid down that particular card and asked for another.

After that, everyone took their turn and placed their bets. Then it was the decisive moment, as every started to reveal their hand.

"Nani…" the dealer said in hushed tones as Tsunade revealed her hand.

Tsunade just sat there as she waited for the winner to pick up his winnings, but nobody did all of the other players just sat there and scowled at her.

"Okaasan… pick up the money… you won," Mito says as she bumps Tsunade's side with her elbow.

"Nani?" the bewildered Tsunade says with wide eyes.

"I cannot believe I'm saying this… but… you won," the Dealer said with a smirk.

"You're coming with me from now on when I play cards," Tsunade whispers to Mito as she gathers her winnings. "Yes… I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," she says as she hands Mito some money.