Chapter 5

Welcome back! Here's another chapter for everyone. Thank you all for your continued support in reading my story. I really appreciate it.

Okay, I don't own Naruto since its owned by Masashi Kishimoto and the Japanese company Shueisha.

This is just a fanfiction and I ain't making any money from this.

If I owned Naruto, I would have given my boy Gaara a harem. He deserves it.

Chapter 5.

Six days had passed since they settled in the quiet inn on the outskirts of the village. The living room was dimly lit by the soft morning sunlight slipping through the worn paper windows, casting golden rays across the wooden floor. A faint breeze rustled the faded curtains, bringing with it the scent of dew and distant trees.

Naruto lay sprawled out on the couch, arms dangling off the edge, one leg bent awkwardly over the backrest. He stared up at the ceiling, eyes half-lidded, his chest rising and falling in slow, even breaths. For once, the silence wasn't filled with grunts, yells, or the sound of clone poofs. Just peace.

Sunday. His only rest day.

It still felt foreign.

Every other morning, he would've already been up by six—sometimes earlier if Tsunade was feeling particularly sadistic. Breakfast first, always, and then came the relentless grind. Shizune would hand him a thick book filled with basic information he should've learned years ago back at the academy—things like how chakra coils developed in toddlers or how kunai angles changed with wind resistance. Boring stuff, maybe. But it was the truth. Not the half-baked versions he'd been fed for years by disinterested teachers who couldn't be bothered to teach him properly.

Then came the worst part—that drink. A weird green sludge packed with more vitamins than he could count. It tasted like mud and smelled like seaweed that had been left out too long. He had tried dirt before—back when he was seven and a group of academy kids had pinned him down and forced him to lick the ground. This tasted almost exactly like that. Maybe worse. But Shizune made him drink it every morning, and Naruto, as much as he gagged, choked it down.

After that came the meat. Meats he'd never tried before—rich, fatty, protein-packed things he couldn't even pronounce, paired with colorful vegetables that didn't make him throw up anymore. Tsunade and Shizune had told him the truth during a check-up: the reason he hated vegetables so much was because the orphanage workers had been poisoning his food. Slow, subtle. Enough to make him sick, weak. And he'd believed for so long that it was just him.

It made his stomach twist to remember.

Stretching and warmups followed, which he'd never done properly before. His muscles screamed at first, but he was getting used to it. Then came the clones—dozens of them, maybe hundreds—walking up trees with chakra control, practicing that humming-style footwork Tsunade had drilled into his skull, hurling kunai while twisting mid-air, scribbling down sealing formulas with painful precision. He couldn't afford another explosion; he still had burns from last time.

He handled the physical training himself. Laps. Push-ups. Sit-ups. Kicks and punches against the wooden log until his fists stung and his arms trembled. The memories from his clones returned each time—tired, sore, aching—but never broken. They always managed to laugh at him whenever Tsunade pelted him with rocks during reaction training.

"Freaking buttholes," he muttered to himself once, remembering how they snickered in his head.

But even with all that… he felt it. The difference. His body was changing. He was faster, stronger, more aware. Tsunade told him it was thanks to the Nine-Tails' healing. Every time he pushed his muscles to the point of tearing, they healed stronger. It was insane. And it was working.

That thought was comforting.

The sound of footsteps broke the stillness. Sharp and confident.

"Are you gonna lie there all day, or are you coming with me?" Tsunade's voice cut through the air like a kunai.

Naruto blinked, turning his head lazily toward her. She stood in the doorway, one hand on her hip, the other tossing a small sack of money up and down like it weighed nothing.

"Where?" he asked, dragging himself up with a groan. He wore only a pair of black shorts that were way too big for him and a faded burnt orange shirt that nearly swallowed him whole.

"Buying you clothes," she said flatly.

She tossed the sack up once more and caught it with a grin. "Jiraiya sent me some cash for exactly that."

Naruto blinked again, slowly sitting up straighter.

New clothes?

His fingers unconsciously rubbed at the hem of his shirt. The fabric was worn, stretched out, and riddled with tiny holes. It had been his for as long as he could remember.

He wasn't sure how to feel about letting it go.

"And Jiraiya said you shouldn't wear anything orange," Tsunade added, catching the coin pouch in one hand and pointing at him with her index finger like a stern teacher.

Naruto's eyes widened. "Oi, orange is awesome!" he protested, throwing his hands in the air.

For a moment—just a fleeting heartbeat—Tsunade saw them. Two ghostly figures flickering into place beside Naruto like memories made flesh.

To his left stood a teenage girl with long crimson hair flowing down her back, her fiery eyes narrowed in annoyance, arms crossed over a cozy yellow sweater. "Oi, don't judge me," she snapped. "I like yellow! It looks cool on me."

To Naruto's right, another teenager appeared—a boy with unruly blond hair that spiked back like a golden flame, his features strikingly sharp and familiar. He wore a red sweater and leaned casually on one leg, his calm, warm expression aimed at Tsunade.

"Why do I like red?" he said with a faint chuckle, voice smooth and gentle. "It reminds me of Kushina's beautiful red hair. I never realized how stunning the color was until I met her. So yeah… I like red."

Naruto stood between them, completely unaware. Orange. A perfect blend of red and yellow. Tsunade stared, heart tightening. The universe, in its strange way, had pulled colors from both Minato and Kushina—their fire and light—and somehow poured them into Naruto.

It wasn't just his personality or his eyes. Even his favorite color was a reflection of his parents.

A bittersweet ache settled in her chest.

"Hey, are you okay?" Naruto asked, tilting his head slightly. His brows furrowed in concern. "You look kinda sad…"

Tsunade blinked, snapping out of the vision. She rubbed at the corner of her eye quickly, masking the sudden sting. "Huh? Yeah, why?"

Naruto didn't press. He had a habit of letting people hide their pain—probably because he'd learned to do it for so long himself.

"Jiraiya said you need to pick out some shinobi clothes," she said, her voice lightening with an exaggerated huff. "And a lot of casual stuff that actually fits. Seriously, you're swimming in those rags."

"You serious?" he asked, rubbing his eyes and sitting up fully. His oversized shirt slipped down one shoulder, and the shorts hung low on his hips, cinched only by a fraying drawstring.

Tsunade smirked at the sight. "Dead serious. Jiraiya sent enough to stock you for the next few years, and believe me, we're not letting you spend another minute looking like a walking traffic cone."

Naruto frowned. "Hey! Orange is awesome."

"Not in the way you've been wearing it," Tsunade replied dryly, tossing the coin pouch to him. He barely caught it with both hands, the weight surprising him.

"You sure Jiraiya didn't rob a noble for this?"

"Don't ask questions you don't want answers to," she said with a wink.

Naruto stood, rolling his shoulders and yawning. His muscles ached in that strangely satisfying way they always did now after training—tight but alive, like his body was finally catching up to the strength he'd always believed he had. "Alright, alright, I'll get dressed. Just give me a second."

As he shuffled off to the bedroom, Tsunade leaned against the doorway and called after him, "And no picking the first orange thing you see or I'm dragging you back to the tailor myself."

Naruto's voice came muffled through the door. "Tch, fine! But I'm still getting a headband with flames or something cool."

The front door of the modest inn creaked open, and Naruto stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. The sleepy little town was wide awake now—vendors shouting over each other, shinobi and civilians brushing past with purpose, children darting between legs like wild squirrels. The faint scent of grilled yakitori and fried dumplings lingered in the air.

It was just past noon.

Naruto squinted up at the cloudless sky, then down at his outfit, tugging at the hem of his shirt. It wasn't nearly as baggy as what he used to wear—still a little oversized, sure, but now only two sizes too big instead of five.

Progress.

He wore a clean white T-shirt with the bold image of a steaming ramen cup on the front—limited edition, Ichiraku brand—and a pair of dark forest green cargo shorts that stopped just past his knees. Navy blue sandals covered his feet, which he already scuffed against the dirt road like a bored kid.

"You know I could pick out my own clothes, right?" Naruto said in a deadpan voice, glancing sideways at the trio beside him: Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton trotting adorably between them, a tiny four-leaf clover clipped to her ear like a badge of honor.

Tsunade didn't even look at him. "I'm not following you," she said casually, flipping a coin in the air. "I'm heading to the last casino in town. Gonna spend some of the money that pervert paid me to take care of you."

Naruto blinked. "Wait, Jiraiya paid you? Like, with actual money?"

"Of course he did," she replied with a shrug. "Said it was for time and suffering."

Shizune sighed from beside her, rubbing her temple. "Lady Tsunade, he explicitly said the money was for Naruto's care and well-being—not to feed your addiction."

Tsunade scoffed, pretending to be offended. "Excuse you. I quit drinking, didn't I?"

"Yes," Shizune said, narrowing her eyes. "But your gambling problem is still alive and kicking."

Naruto couldn't help it—he snorted.

Shizune continued, lowering her voice in an exaggerated gruff tone. "Make sure the brat doesn't look like a traffic cone for Kami's sake," she quoted, dropping her pitch to mimic Jiraiya perfectly.

Tsunade flinched so hard she nearly dropped her coin pouch. "Ugh! Don't do that voice! That's disturbingly accurate!"

Naruto stared wide-eyed at Shizune. "Whoa. That was terrifying. I thought the Pervy Sage possessed you for a second."

Even Tonton oinked in agreement.

Shizune smiled smugly. "It's a gift."

Tsunade muttered under her breath, "More like a curse…"

Before Naruto could take more than three steps, Tsunade's hand landed firmly on top of his head, halting him like a dog on a leash. He blinked up at her in confusion as she pointed off toward a particularly flashy building down the street.

"You see that one right there?" she said, nodding toward the gaudiest casino in sight.

In a town stuffed to the brim with gambling dens, this one still managed to stand out like a peacock at a funeral. The front was painted in blinding gold and crimson, with a giant spinning coin sign above the doors that read in bold, glittering letters:

"The Lucky Ryō — Winners Win Big or Losers Lose Everything."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. There, in much smaller print near the bottom, was the real kicker:

"We accept any kind of payment: money, sex, slavery, property… and even your soul."

He stared at the sign. Then slowly turned to Tsunade.

She gave him a cheeky grin and shrugged. "We'll be in there. Since you don't want us picking your clothes."

Naruto deadpanned. "Okay. Just… don't sell your soul."

Tsunade waved it off casually. "Relax. That's what Tonton is for."

The tiny pig let out an offended snort and turned her back to Tsunade with a dramatic little stomp.

Shizune sighed, rubbing her temple for what had to be the hundredth time that day. "Please don't encourage her," she muttered. "Seriously."

Then she turned to Naruto and offered a tired smile. "Just make sure there's not too much orange, alright?" She gave him a small wave. "We believe in you."

Naruto watched them go—Tsunade already sauntering into the casino with the confidence of a woman who'd been banned from at least three others, Shizune trudging reluctantly after her, and Tonton bringing up the rear with a little glare back at her traitorous owner.

He let out a long, dramatic sigh, hands shoved into his shorts pockets.

"No one understands orange," he mumbled to himself. "I'm the only one with taste."

Still, he wasn't dumb. Jiraiya had warned him that people got lost in this town more often than they'd admit—Four-Leaf Clover was notorious for its winding alleyways, identical storefronts, and general sense of "where the hell am I?" Naruto wasn't about to spend an hour retracing his steps.

So, sticking to the nearest boutique just across the street, he started walking with his usual casual swagger. He didn't know what he'd find, but one thing was certain:

There was definitely going to be some orange.

Even if he had to sneak it in.

"Help!"

The desperate cry echoed from a nearby alleyway, cutting through the steady hum of the busy street. Naruto paused mid-step, already half inside a small clothing shop, and tilted his head toward the sound. Curious, he jogged over to the mouth of the alley and found the source—a well-dressed girl around his age, her glossy brown hair perfectly curled, standing with one hand dramatically pointing down the narrow passage.

She looked like she'd just stepped out of a noble's manor.

Naruto blinked. "…What's going on?"

"My Tora-chan!" she wailed. "Nooo! Tora-chan, come back!"

The name hit Naruto like a kunai to the gut.

That name.

His eye twitched violently as an all-too-familiar memory surfaced—a certain fat, evil, furball of a cat wrapped in a pink ribbon, infamous for scratching chunin and disappearing for days at a time, always leading to him getting clawed, kicked, and humiliated during D-rank missions back in Konoha.

No… Not again. Not her.

Naruto actually turned, taking one deliberate step back toward the street, fully intending to pretend he'd seen absolutely nothing.

But then… he heard it.

Sniffling. Choked sobs.

He paused, jaw tightening as he stared up at the annoyingly beautiful blue sky.

"Kami, seriously? I get one day off a week…"

With a resigned sigh, Naruto turned back around.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, walking closer.

The girl turned to face him, tears streaking down her face, her expression crumpled in dramatic despair.

"No! Can't you see?! My mother's precious cat ran off!" she cried. "And if I don't find her, my mom is going to kill me! She told me to watch her!"

Naruto flinched at her volume but didn't say anything about it. Instead, he nodded slowly, face blank.

'Yup… rich girl.'

Still, he held out a hand. "Alright, how's your cat look? I might be able to find her."

Her tearful eyes widened with a tiny gasp. "Really?!"

Naruto nodded again, slowly, already regretting it.

She dug into her small silk purse and pulled out a photo—an actual, framed photo—of the cat. And there it was.

The cat.

Fat, smug, evil-eyed, and unmistakable. With a pink ribbon tied daintily around one ear like she owned the world.

Naruto felt his soul physically leave his body.

"…Tora," he muttered, suppressing the cringe that clawed at his spine. It took him, Sasuke, and Sakura three hours to catch this demon in cat form. And that was back when he had backup.

"She's Tora! She's my mother's favorite, and if anything happens to her—!"

"I got it," Naruto cut in, raising a hand. "I'm on it."

Before she could burst into another dramatic sob, he shot up to the nearest roof, leaping into motion like it was a C-rank mission instead of emotional blackmail.

Down below, the girl blinked and watched him vanish between buildings.

"…He's a shinobi?" she whispered to herself, eyes wide with surprise and a slight blush forming on her cheeks.

Naruto crouched on the rooftop, scanning the alleys and streets below like a hawk in search of its prey.

He wasn't sure what he expected.

But it wasn't this.

To his left, in a secluded courtyard, a man was enthusiastically licking the feet of a chubby woman reclined on a velvet chair like some kind of queen. Naruto made a face and immediately turned away, mentally setting that image on fire and burying it deep.

"Okay. Didn't need to see that. Ever."

To his right, another man stood in the middle of the street, absolutely covered in chocolate syrup. Head to toe. Just… standing there. Arms out. Spinning slowly like he was basking in the glory of being a walking dessert.

"…What is wrong with this town?"

Further down, he caught a glimpse of a woman tossing bills in the air while standing in a literal golden bathtub in front of an open window. Showering. With money. Meanwhile, a rich-looking guy lay face-down nearby, clearly unconscious and bleeding from the nose, like his body gave up from witnessing too much rich-girl energy.

Naruto pressed a palm to his face. "Jiraiya wasn't kidding… This town's cursed."

Then—movement.

His eyes snapped to a narrow alley below. There it was. The beast.

Tora.

The pink-ribboned menace herself was latched onto the face of a random child, claws digging in, tail thrashing with pure chaotic glee. The kid was screaming, arms flailing like he was being attacked by a swarm of bees. Tora hissed, yowled, and swatted the poor kid like she was practicing tiger-style taijutsu.

Naruto sighed. "Yup. Demon confirmed."

He dropped down from the rooftop, landing smoothly just as Tora turned to face him. Their eyes locked. Hers, gleaming with malice. His, filled with raw, bitter memories of scratched faces, chewed sleeves, and the eternal trauma of D-rank missions.

"Hisssss!" Tora shrieked, fur bristling like she'd seen the Fourth Hokage himself rise from the grave.

Naruto glared right back, hands tightening into fists.

"Oh, it's on, furball."

The alley went dead quiet for a moment. Wind blew past. A single leaf drifted between them.

Then Tora bolted.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!"

Naruto launched after her, the chase beginning yet again—with one very annoyed shinobi and one very smug cat tearing through the town like a living cartoon.

Naruto landed lightly on a rooftop, eyes narrowing as he spotted a flicker of pink ribbon darting between the crowd below.

Without needing a word, he formed a quick seal. Poof! Three shadow clones appeared around him in a puff of smoke, each locking eyes with him.

They nodded in sync—no commands needed. They already knew the mission.

Capture the demon cat.

Tora.

The clones scattered instantly, leaping to different rooftops, flanking the alleyways below like trained hunters. Meanwhile, Naruto crouched and waited—watching, calculating.

There.

A blur of movement zipped through the alley.

"Target in sight," he muttered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Tora dashed out of the shadows, weaving between the legs of startled pedestrians like a streak of furred lightning. She knocked over a vendor's cart, leapt through a rack of dresses, and zipped under a group of nobles mid-conversation, leaving shrieks and confusion in her wake.

Naruto dropped in behind her, his sandals barely tapping the ground as he ran along the alley walls, rebounding from side to side like a blur of motion. No one in the crowd even saw him pass—just a flicker of orange and a rush of wind.

He flipped mid-air and spun gracefully, landing in a low crouch at the alley's exit, cutting off her escape.

Tora skidded to a halt, her back arched like a tiny tiger, yellow eyes glowing with irritation as she glared up at him.

Naruto stood slowly, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve, eyes locked on hers.

"Stupid cat," he muttered, cracking his neck. "You're lucky you belong to the Fire Daimyo's wife. Otherwise? I'd be the one chasing you for sport."

With a burst of speed, he shot forward again, the wind swirling behind him as he pursued Tora deeper into the maze of alleyways.

It wasn't just a chase anymore.

It was a dance.

Naruto Uzumaki versus Tora: Round Two.

And this time, he wasn't losing.

Tora glanced behind her, fur still bristling, ears twitching—and froze.

One of Naruto's shadow clones stood triumphantly behind her, arms outstretched, hands already closing around the smug little menace.

"Gotcha," the clone grinned.

Tora narrowed her eyes.

Then chomp.

The clone let out a dramatic, high-pitched squeal before poofing into a puff of smoke, disappearing with only a faint echo of, "Ow, my hand—!"

But the real Naruto, watching from above, only smirked. "Hook, line, and bite."

Because the clone wasn't the real trap.

From a rooftop just above, another clone launched into action—tipping over a barrel filled with thick, sticky black oil. It landed directly on Tora with a satisfying splat, covering her from head to paw in the gooey mess. The cat screeched in feline outrage as she lost her footing, slipping and sliding down the steep hill they were on like a screaming, angry fur missile.

And then came phase two.

Another clone leapt from the trees above with a devilish grin and dropped a bucket of golden honey squarely on the flailing, oily furball.

Tora barely had time to blink before FWOMP!—a full sack of flour exploded over her like a snowstorm. The powder stuck instantly, coating her in a thick, sticky white shell.

She hit the bottom of the hill with a splat and a groan, resembling a lumpy, angry powdered donut.

Naruto landed in front of her with a calm, cat-capturing grace, dusting his hands off like a man who'd just ended a legendary battle.

Tora hissed and tried to scramble up—only to let out a wheeze. The oil, honey, and flour combo made her stick to the ground like a glue trap.

"Your owner's not gonna do a damn thing about this," Naruto said, casually cracking his knuckles with a smug grin. "You messed with the wrong shinobi."

Tora blinked at him. Her meow came out nervous, unsure. For the first time ever, Naruto saw actual fear in that cat's eyes.

He squatted down to her level.

"I'll clean you up," he said slowly, raising an eyebrow. "And not kick your fluffy butt across the village… if we make a deal."

Tora tilted her head. Meow?

Naruto pulled a small, slightly crumpled photo out of his pocket—Team 7. He pointed directly at the brooding, duck-butt-haired figure front and center.

"This guy. Sasuke. Uchiha."

Tora narrowed her eyes at the image, curious.

"If you ever see him," Naruto said seriously, "you pee on him. Then stretch on him like a smug little queen. Bonus points if you shed all over his stupid cloak."

Tora blinked again, clearly unsure.

But Naruto leaned in with a knowing grin. "If you do that, I'll teach you how to use chakra to run faster. So fast that no one could ever catch you."

He paused. "Except me."

Tora's eyes widened.

Meow. Meow. She grinned, wide and mischievous, and extended a flour-covered paw toward him like a noble sealing a deal.

Naruto clasped it like a gentleman.

"Contract sealed," he said solemnly. "Operation 'Sasuke Scent Marking' begins the moment we're back in Fire Country."

Tora purred.

Naruto made his way back through the winding alleys, now carrying a much cleaner—but still mildly grumpy—Tora in his arms. The flour had been wiped off, the honey and oil scrubbed away, and though her fur looked slightly puffier than usual, she glared at everyone like she was still royalty.

He rounded a corner and spotted the girl from before, standing at the edge of a plaza and absolutely unloading on a group of armored samurai.

"Hey! I'm waiting for a ninja to bring me something important!" she yelled, stomping her foot.

The samurai guards looked visibly stressed, sweat beading down their brows. As the daughter of their feudal lord, she wasn't exactly someone they could argue with—but her return was overdue, and they were under strict orders to escort her back immediately.

Naruto approached casually, holding Tora in one arm like a small, furry football.

The moment the guards noticed him, their demeanor changed. Eyes narrowed, hands dropped to their hilts, and they stepped in front of the girl protectively.

"Stop right there," said the lead guard, his voice firm. "State your business. What do you want with the lady?"

Naruto didn't even flinch. Instead, he held up Tora like a sacred offering. The cat glared at the guards with open disdain, tail twitching like she was considering starting Round Two.

The guards looked at Tora.

Then at Naruto.

Then back at Tora.

"…Move," the lead guard barked, immediately parting to let him through.

"Tora-chan!" the girl squealed, taking the cat from Naruto's arms. "You came back!"

She hugged her pet tightly—but not with the same bone-crushing strength Naruto remembered from the Fire Daimyo's wife. Tora visibly sighed in relief.

"What's your name, ninja-kun?" the girl asked sweetly, turning to Naruto with a surprising amount of gratitude in her eyes.

"Uh… Naruto," he said.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun!" she beamed—and before he could blink, she shoved an enormous roll of ryō bills into his hand. It was so thick it practically needed a carrying case.

Then—because apparently the universe was feeling theatrical—she leaned up and kissed his cheek with a soft, warm peck.

Naruto's brain froze.

"I'll never forget this," she added with a small smile, cradling Tora like a baby as she walked away, the guards scrambling to follow behind her in stunned silence.

The samurai glanced back at Naruto, dumbfounded. Everyone knew their young lady couldn't stand kids her age. Said they were loud, immature, annoying, and couldn't take a joke.

But this one?

She called him Naruto-kun.

They watched as Naruto blinked, slowly rubbing the spot on his cheek where she kissed him, cheeks a faint shade of red. The giant roll of cash still sat awkwardly in his hand like he wasn't sure if it was real.

"…What the hell was that about?" Naruto muttered, baffled. "That's only the second time someone my age ever did that…"

His voice trailed off.

A sudden flash of long, platinum blonde hair flashed behind his eyes—just for a second—and his chest tightened unexpectedly.

Seven years.

Seven years since she had done the same.

He shook his head quickly, brushing the memory away like dust clinging to old glass. No point digging that back up. A promise made in the past was better left there.

Naruto sighed, pocketed the money, and turned back toward town.

"Man… I really need new clothes after this."

Naruto wandered down the cobbled path, hands stuffed in his cargo shorts, the heavy roll of ryō tucked securely into his pocket. The town was still bustling, filled with the usual mix of shady gamblers, flashy merchants, and the occasional lost tourist. His mind was still half on the whole Tora incident and half on the memory that flashed earlier—platinum hair, soft promise, and a voice he hadn't heard in seven years.

He shook it off. He needed clothes.

Preferably awesome ones. With maybe a little orange. Just a little.

As he neared a small clothing shop tucked between a bookstore and a noodle stall, voices caught his attention. Not angry ones. Desperate ones.

He paused outside the storefront, peering over to see a familiar figure.

It was her.

The same woman he'd run into days ago—the one with tired eyes and a kind smile, the one who looked like she'd been kicked down by life more than once but still stood tall for her kid. Her clothes were even more threadbare now, patched and worn, the fabric clinging to her frame in places where the seams had long given up.

Beside her stood her little boy, no older than six or seven, clinging to her side with the innocence only children could have. His shirt was practically a crop top, his pants cuffed and fraying, sandals barely held together with string.

"Please," the woman pleaded, clasping her hands. "I just need the clothing so I can start my new job. I swear, I'll pay twice—three times the cost once I get my first paycheck."

The shop clerk looked thoroughly unimpressed, arms crossed, expression bored. "I'm sorry, ma'am. No discounts. No tabs. Store policy."

The woman's shoulders slumped, but she didn't yell. Didn't argue. Just bit her lip and nodded.

Her heart sank. A few days ago, she'd thought her luck had finally turned—when a strange, spiky-haired blond boy with sunlit eyes had handed her food and enough money to last a few nights at the inn. She was certain he'd been a blessing from Kami-sama.

Then came the opportunity—a small restaurant in need of a cook. The pay would be enough to cover their rent, food, even save a little. But there was a catch: kitchen regulations. She needed proper footwear and clean clothes. She had just enough to cover that.

But her son? His clothes were done. Beyond repair. Too small, too thin. She had to choose.

And as a mother, there wasn't a choice.

"I-it's okay, Mommy," her son said softly, looking up at her with a smile that nearly broke her heart. "I don't need new clothes. Just buy what you need. We'll be okay."

She nearly broke down then and there.

Naruto had been silent the whole time, just standing there. Watching.

He reached into his pocket and stared at the roll of money the noble girl had given him. It was thick, crisp, still warm from his hand.

And yet, somehow, it didn't feel like it belonged to him.

He looked back at the mother and son. At the boy's forced smile. At the hope trembling in her voice. At the exhaustion behind her eyes.

Naruto smiled softly.

Some people needed luck more than he did.

As the shopkeeper turned her back to restock a shelf, Naruto casually walked by, hands in his pockets, head tilted as if he were just another passerby minding his own business.

Then he paused.

Bent down.

And picked something up off the dusty ground like it had just fallen there.

"Sorry," he said casually, glancing at the woman and her son with a small, polite smile. "I think you dropped this."

He held out a thick roll of ryō bills—the same one he'd been given just earlier, still untouched.

The woman froze, recognition blooming in her eyes. That same spiky blond hair, the warm expression, the calm voice. It was him. The boy from a few days ago. The one who had appeared out of nowhere with food, kindness, and enough money to give her a lifeline.

Her lips parted to speak—but he was already placing the money into her hand gently, fingers brushing against her calloused ones.

Then, without another word, Naruto turned and walked away, slipping into the crowd as naturally as a breeze through leaves.

Gone.

Just like before.

Silence lingered for a few seconds as the woman stared at the heavy weight in her hand. She uncurled the roll slightly and saw the numbers. Her heart skipped a beat.

More than two hundred thousand ryō.

She whipped around, eyes scanning the busy street—but he was already gone. Just like the first time. No fanfare, no name, no expectation of thanks.

She bit her lip, eyes glistening.

Maybe… maybe her luck hadn't run out after all.

"Wait, what just happened?" the shop clerk asked, confused, but the woman didn't answer.

She took her son's small hand in hers and walked away from the shop, chin held high. She wasn't going to spend a single coin in a place where her son wasn't welcomed. Not when there were kinder places out there. Not when she'd been reminded of what kindness really looked like.

As they walked, her son looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes.

"Mommy… are angels real?" he asked softly. "Because… I think that boy was one."

She stopped for a moment, looking down into his big black eyes, so full of wonder.

Then she smiled—gentle, tearful, and proud.

"Yeah," she whispered, squeezing his hand, "and it looks like he helped us again."

And together, they walked on—toward a new start.

Naruto let out a long sigh as he turned the corner, hands tucked into his pockets. He didn't like seeing people struggle—especially not with things he understood too well. That woman and her son… it reminded him too much of himself. Of the times he'd wandered through stores, staring at things he couldn't afford, pretending he didn't care.

He rubbed the back of his head, ruffling his hair.

Focus, he told himself. Gotta buy clothes. That's what the pervy sage sent the money for, anyway.

Putting his smile back on like armor, Naruto strolled forward with a bit more bounce in his step. After a few more turns through town, he finally spotted a shop tucked between a blacksmith and a scroll vendor.

The sign read: "Fourth Leaf Cloak – Tailored Shinobi Wear."

Naruto squinted up at it, then peeked through the window. The inside was lined with mannequins wearing all kinds of ninja gear—flak jackets, weighted cloaks, durable boots, even specialized gloves for chakra control. Nothing flashy. Everything looked made for people who meant business.

He stepped inside, the wooden door creaking softly behind him.

The scent of fabric, dust, and faint sandalwood filled the air. It was quiet—almost too quiet. And behind the counter sat an elderly woman with silvery-gray hair coiled into a bun. Her eyes were closed, but Naruto could feel her gaze settle right on him.

It was unsettling.

"Uh… hello," Naruto greeted awkwardly, scratching his cheek.

The old woman's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.

"Come with me," she said, rising to her feet slowly, her movements graceful despite her age.

Naruto blinked. "Huh?"

"I know what you want," she said cryptically, already turning away. "Come with me. The fitting rooms are in the back."

Naruto stood there for a second, confused.

Okay, weird… But also kind of cool?

With a resigned sigh, he followed her deeper into the shop. Something about her felt different—not dangerous, but definitely mysterious. He wondered if she was one of those old retired kunoichi who now stitched armor instead of throwing kunai.

If she makes me wear a bright pink gi, I'm out.

Minutes later, Naruto stood just outside the shop window, admiring his reflection in the glass. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow, making the colors of his new outfit pop just right.

He grinned.

"Oh yeah… I definitely look awesome."

His new headband gleamed—polished metal with the familiar Leaf symbol shining bright, tied with sleek black cloth that trailed behind him like a ribbon in the wind. His jacket was a dark gray, almost black, open at the front with a high collar and a light inner lining. The red Uzumaki swirl stitched into the upper sleeve made his chest swell with pride.

Beneath that, an orange shirt peeked through—classic Naruto, bright as ever. The orange might've been toned down, but it was still him.

His pants were a dark brown, baggy and comfortable, stopping just below the knee and wrapped tightly with white bandages around his right thigh and both shins—practical and distinctly shinobi. Open-toed sandals wrapped up his calves, finishing the look with balance between tradition and utility.

He turned slightly, checking himself out from the side. The outfit wasn't flashy, but it made him look like a real ninja—cool, capable, and maybe just a little badass.

"Wow, you weren't kidding, baachan," Naruto said, flashing a grin at the old woman as she stepped out behind him.

She nodded, satisfied. "I've been dressing people longer than you've been alive, kid. It's a gift." Her sharp old eyes crinkled with amusement. "You've got a good face for orange anyway—not many can pull it off."

Naruto chuckled and handed her the pouch of ryō Jiraiya had given him. "Thanks. For real."

The old woman accepted the pouch, weighing it in one hand like she was checking to see if it passed the fair price test—and it clearly did.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Naruto-chan," she said warmly. "And just so you know, if you ever need new clothes—shinobi or casual—I can get it to you anywhere in the Land of Fire. Just pay the delivery fee. We've got shinobi mail runners in town."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Wait, seriously? That's amazing!"

She handed him a neatly folded slip of paper—an order form, sealed with her store's emblem.

Naruto carefully slipped it into his pocket. "Thanks, Granny."

He left the shop with a sealed scroll strapped to his back—filled with extra sets of shinobi wear, casual clothes, and even a few warmer outfits "just in case." He felt lighter somehow, but not just from the new clothes.

Something about having clothes made for him, not handed down or picked off clearance racks, made a difference.

It felt like a fresh start.

Naruto walked casually through the bustling business district of Four Leaf Clover Town, his sandals tapping lightly against the cobblestone. The air was warm, filled with the aroma of grilled food, roasted nuts, and too many colognes mixed together. People moved about their day—merchants calling out their wares, gamblers chatting loudly, tourists haggling over trinkets.

And yet… something felt off.

He noticed it almost immediately.

People were staring at him.

Well, more specifically—girls were staring at him.

He passed a small café and caught a group of girls around his age sitting at a table near the window. Two of them waved at him with playful smiles, one even throwing in a wink.

Naruto blinked. Then gave a sheepish, awkward little wave back, scratching the side of his face.

The girls giggled.

Naruto walked faster.

What the hell is happening? Why are they giggling? What did I do?

He sighed quietly to himself, trying to ignore the attention. It wasn't bad exactly… but it was weird. New. He never used to get this kind of reaction from girls. Or anyone, really. And now they were smiling at him? Winking?

Did my jacket grow a harem jutsu tag or something?

Still, he had a mission: find Tsunade.

He kept walking, eyes scanning until he spotted the loudest, flashiest building on the block. Bright gold trim, a spinning coin sign, and a slogan painted across the top in obnoxiously bold letters: "The Lucky Ryō — Winners Win Big, or Losers Lose Everything!"

Yup. That's the one.

Outside the casino, a group of men stood in a half-circle, laughing obnoxiously, clearly mid-gossip.

Naruto moved to walk past them, but couldn't help overhearing:

"Did you hear? The Legendary Sucker is at it again," one of the men snorted, slapping his knee.

Another exhaled smoke through his nose and chuckled. "I swear, Kami gave her crap luck just for laughs."

Then the third guy leaned in, wiggling his eyebrows with a smug smirk. "You ever think her title's not just about gambling, huh? Maybe she's legendary in other ways too."

Naruto stopped.

A small rock sat near his foot.

He picked it up, casually tossed it over his shoulder—and nailed the third man right in the mouth.

Thunk.

"GHRRGK—!"

The guy immediately started choking, hands grabbing at his throat as his friends panicked and slapped his back, trying to help.

Naruto didn't even turn around. Just kept walking, muttering under his breath, "Asshole."

He didn't care how famous Tsunade was, or what people said behind her back. She trained him. Helped him. Treated him like more than just some demon brat.

And anyone who disrespected her?

Could eat rocks.

Literally.

Naruto stepped through the casino's double doors, blinking as his senses were assaulted by the loud chimes, flashing lights, and the thick scent of cigarette smoke mixed with perfume and alcohol. The place was a sensory overload—rows of slot machines blinking wildly, card tables buzzing with energy, and a bartender already shouting over someone trying to pay in chips and compliments.

And then—

"Damn it!"

Naruto turned toward the familiar voice and spotted Tsunade planted firmly in front of a slot machine, yanking the lever with the force of a frustrated shinobi. The machine spun, blinked… then stopped with a pathetic bleep.

Nothing.

Tsunade groaned and yanked the lever again, pure stubbornness fueling her at this point.

Just behind her, Shizune stood with arms crossed and an expression that screamed "I told you so," while Tonton sat beside her, ears drooped as if this was just another Tuesday.

"Hey, I'm back," Naruto called out casually as he walked over.

All three of them turned to look at him—and then froze.

Tsunade blinked.

Shizune blinked.

Tonton tilted her head.

And then all three did a double take.

"…Damn, I lost," Shizune muttered, looking genuinely disappointed as she reached into her sleeve and pulled out a few bills.

With an exaggerated sigh, she placed them into Tsunade's smugly outstretched hand.

"You guys… made a bet?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow as he walked closer, crossing his arms.

Without missing a beat, Tonton snorted and pulled a single coin out from under her bow, dropping it into Tsunade's hand as well.

"Yep!" Tsunade grinned, stuffing the bills and coin into the slot machine and pulling the lever again. "Told them you'd still wear orange—but not as much as before."

Naruto glanced down at his mostly dark-colored outfit, with only a flash of his signature orange shirt showing underneath. Definitely not traffic cone levels, but still a little nod to his style.

Shizune cleared her throat and looked away, cheeks slightly red. "In my defense… you used to wear full orange."

Tonton gave a tiny, guilty oink and turned her back, pretending to be extremely interested in the pattern on the floor tiles.

Naruto deadpanned at both of them. "Seriously?"

Tsunade laughed, patting the slot machine affectionately. "What can I say? I know my brat."

Naruto took a seat next to Tsunade, plopping down with a faint grunt as the clinks and whirs of slot machines echoed around them. Tsunade yanked the lever again.

And lost.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Naruto side-eyed the machine as it let out yet another sad little whomp-whomp sound. "You ever actually win at these?"

"No," Tsunade said flatly, already pulling the lever again.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, watching the coins disappear. "So… why do you even like gambling? I never really got the appeal."

Tsunade didn't look at him, eyes fixed on the spinning symbols. "Brat, I've been a shinobi since I was six. I fought in two shinobi wars. You don't walk away from that without blood on your hands—and without something eating at your soul."

The machine dinged.

Another loss.

She sighed, pulled the lever again. "Shinobi take on hobbies. Some healthy. Some not. It's about not thinking for a while. I gave up drinking after something… happened twelve years ago. Missed something I shouldn't have. Regretted it ever since."

Her voice dipped, just enough for Naruto to pick up on the weight behind her words.

"All I've got left is this," she muttered. "Would you rather I snapped and went full psychopath? Start killing people for fun?"

Naruto blinked. "…No, not really."

"Exactly."

He tilted his head slightly, eyes thoughtful. He hadn't known that. She always seemed… strong. Unshakable. But maybe even the strongest needed something to cling to.

He turned to Shizune. "What about you, Shizune-neechan? What's your hobby?"

Shizune perked up from her position behind them. "Hmm? Oh—I make different kinds of poisons. And I read. A lot."

Naruto paused. "Wait. That first one sounded way too casual."

Shizune just smiled.

Before he could comment further, Tsunade flipped him her final coin. "Wanna learn how to play?"

Naruto caught it, blinking. "Sure," he said with a shrug. "One coin can't hurt."

Shizune groaned, already pinching the bridge of her nose. "Tsunade-sama…"

"What?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "He's a shinobi. Old enough to kill, old enough to drink, old enough to have sex, definitely old enough to gamble."

Naruto nearly choked on air. "Wha—Can we not say all that out loud?!"

Tonton oinked in what sounded suspiciously like agreement.

Tsunade smirked. "What? Just facts."

Shizune muttered something about terrible influence under her breath.

Tsunade leaned back against her stool, arms crossed as she watched Naruto examine the slot machine like it was some kind of puzzle.

"Alright, brat. It's simple. You put the coin in, pull the lever, and the pictures spin. You need to match three of the same kind to win. The better the picture combo, the bigger the payout."

Naruto tilted his head. "So… it's like those scratch cards in the market but louder?"

"Sure," Tsunade snorted. "Except this one doesn't leave you with ink-stained fingers and existential dread."

Shizune sighed again from behind them. "Please don't get him addicted, Tsunade-sama."

Naruto slid the coin into the slot with a satisfying clink, reached up, and yanked the lever with a small grunt. The machine buzzed to life, reels spinning wildly.

As they spun, a man in a red blazer and shiny shoes swaggered over to them from the back hallway, adjusting his sunglasses indoors like he thought it made him cool.

"Well, well, well," he said with a smug grin, eyeing Naruto. "Teaching the next generation already, Tsunade? Didn't think you'd start raising a Mini-Sucker."

Naruto blinked. "Wait, Mini what?"

Shizune visibly winced.

Tsunade didn't even look at the man—just slowly raised her hand and gave him the middle finger over her shoulder, nice and slow.

The man barked a laugh. "Still got that attitude, huh? Good to know being flat broke hasn't broken your spirit."

"Good to know owning this dump hasn't given you a personality," Tsunade shot back flatly.

Naruto snorted. "You know this guy?"

"He owns the casino," Tsunade muttered. "And he's an ass."

The machine suddenly dinged.

Loudly.

Really loudly.

The reels froze in place—three golden frog faces lined up perfectly in the center, flashing in sequence.

Then chaos.

Lights went wild. Bells rang. Coins exploded out of the bottom tray like a jackpot volcano, clinking and clattering and spilling across the floor. Everyone nearby turned their heads, gawking.

Naruto blinked. "Uh…"

Shizune's jaw dropped.

Tonton fainted.

Tsunade stared at the screen in silence for a beat. Then slowly turned to Naruto with wide eyes.

"You hit the jackpot."

Naruto blinked again. "…I thought you said this game was all about bad luck?"

Tsunade stood there for a moment.

Then pointed at the owner.

"In your face!" she barked, grinning wide. "My apprentice just won your jackpot, jerk!"

The man's smug expression cracked into disbelief as he watched way too many coins spill out of a machine that hadn't paid out in months.

Tsunade patted Naruto's back with a proud grin. "Kid, you might be my good luck charm."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, sheepishly smiling as a pile of coins grew at his feet.

"…Cool. But, uh… where do I put all this?"

Tsunade clapped Naruto on the back hard enough to rattle his spine. "Alright, brat—this machine's cursed now."

Naruto blinked. "Wait… it's what?"

Tsunade didn't answer. She simply scooped him up like a sack of potatoes under one arm, the other already gripping one of the overflowing buckets of coins they'd just collected. Shizune followed behind with the second bucket, arms straining under the weight.

"Honestly, Tsunade-sama, it was luck. Just luck. It's not going to happen again," Shizune huffed, beads of sweat on her forehead as she shuffled after them. "Statistically speaking, that kind of payout is once in a—"

"Nonsense!" Tsunade barked, marching through the casino like a woman on a mission. "The universe just gave us a golden goose wearing orange. We milk the goose."

Tonton squealed in protest, trotting beside Shizune and looking equally overwhelmed by the madness.

Tsunade reached another machine—this one slightly older, slightly louder, and probably just as cursed as the last—and dropped Naruto into the seat like a sacred relic.

"Bet it all!" she declared triumphantly, pointing at the lever like it was a battlefield directive. "Everything."

Naruto blinked up at her, then looked at the bucket. "All of it?"

"All of it," Tsunade nodded sagely, arms crossed like a gambler monk achieving enlightenment.

Shizune nearly passed out. "WHAT—! NO!" she cried, grabbing at Tsunade's sleeve. "You can't just gamble with his luck! This isn't how probability works! That was just one win—!"

But Naruto, a little dazed, shrugged. "I mean… she's the professional."

And with that, he poured half the bucket into the machine with a metallic flood, the sound of coins dropping echoing like a drumroll of doom.

Shizune looked like she was having a full cardiac event. "NARUTO-KUN!"

"Relax," Tsunade said, completely unbothered, flicking her finger in the air. "He's got protagonist energy."

Naruto pulled the lever.

The machine lit up, reels spinning faster than the last. The room seemed to hush for a second as the pictures blurred, clicking through rows of symbols.

Then—DING!

Lights.

Music.

A jackpot siren exploded from the machine, louder than the last, accompanied by an avalanche of coins pouring out like a waterfall.

Naruto just stared at it, confused as ever. "…Is this good?"

Tonton let out a stunned oink, eyes wide.

Shizune, holding the first bucket, dropped it on her foot—and didn't even flinch as her jaw hit the metaphorical floor.

Tsunade? She threw both arms in the air and howled with laughter.

"YESSSS!" she shouted, fist-pumping like she'd just hit the final boss in one punch. She turned, locked eyes with the casino owner across the room—who was standing there, jaw slack, sunglasses now tilted—and flipped him off again. With both hands.

"Two machines down!" she shouted. "How's that for 'legendary sucker,' you smug bastard?!"

Naruto sat there blinking, surrounded by yet another mountain of coins.

"…Should I keep going?"

Shizune collapsed into the chair next to him with a groan. "Please don't."

"Have you ever played blackjack?" Tsunade asked, casually balancing four overflowing buckets of coins like they weighed nothing.

Naruto scratched his head. "I… think so? Shikamaru tried teaching me once when I couldn't figure out shogi. We played for snacks."

"You can't be serious," Shizune groaned, trudging behind them with three full buckets of her own. She looked like she was rethinking every life decision that led her to this moment.

Tonton trotted faithfully beside them, a smaller coin bucket strapped to her back with a proud little snort. She was part of the team now.

"Come on, Shizune," Tsunade said with a grin, leading the charge through the casino floor. "We don't know if it's just dumb luck or divine favor, but we're leaving tomorrow anyway. Might as well go out with a bang."

Shizune sighed, already bracing herself. "Fine. But only today. After this, he's banned from touching anything that makes a ding."

They reached an empty blackjack table near the corner, manned by a bored-looking dealer who perked up immediately at the sight of the mountain of coins approaching him.

Tsunade plopped herself into a chair like a queen on her throne, then grabbed Naruto by the shoulders and unceremoniously plopped him down onto her lap.

Naruto blinked, shrugged, and relaxed. "Comfy."

The dealer raised an eyebrow at the odd seating arrangement but didn't say a word. He slid two cards toward Naruto across the felt tabletop.

Naruto looked down. "I got… 18."

"Do you want another card or will you hold?" the dealer asked politely.

Naruto gave it a thought, tapped the table, and said, "Give me two."

"Two?!" Tsunade groaned behind him.

Shizune buried her face in her hands. "Why are you like this?"

The dealer blinked, but followed through, sliding two more cards across.

Naruto flipped them over.

Three.

And a Queen.

Total: Twenty-one.

Naruto tilted his head. "Hey, I think that's the good one, right?"

The dealer, trying not to look completely stunned, nodded and turned over his own cards.

Six.

King.

And an eight.

"Twenty-four. Bust," the dealer said, setting his cards aside. "You win."

Another pile of coins was pushed toward their already obnoxiously massive hoard.

Tsunade cackled like she'd just pulled off the heist of the century, one hand in the air. "That's my boy!"

Shizune stared at Naruto, expression blank. "This. This is how gambling problems start."

Naruto blinked at the new pile. "I thought it was just a snack game."

Tonton looked like she was about to faint again.

Later…

"Can we leave now?" Shizune asked, her voice hovering somewhere between exhausted and deeply concerned. Her arms were trembling from carrying yet another bag of winnings, and her left eye had developed a twitch.

Because somehow—somehow—Naruto was still winning.

Over. And over. And over again.

First, the slot machines. Banned.

Then blackjack. Banned again. Not because Naruto lost—oh no, far from it. He kept hitting twenty-one. Every single time. Even when the dealer blatantly tried to stack the deck. Tsunade and Shizune both saw it. It didn't matter. Naruto would smile, tap the table, and flip over cards like destiny owed him a favor.

They moved on to poker next.

That was when things got weird.

Naruto, completely unaware of the rules, thought they were playing go-fish. He didn't even look at his cards. Just shrugged and tossed chips into the pile, round after round.

He walked away having cleaned out three rich nobles, each of whom left the table muttering to themselves, questioning the meaning of life—and their bank accounts.

And now?

Now they had a crowd.

An actual crowd was following them.

Tsunade, looking far too pleased with herself, had several scrolls strapped to her body, sealed to the brim with their winnings. Her pupils may or may not have turned into tiny glowing ryō coins.

Shizune was ninety percent sure her sensei had crossed into a spiritual plane of gambling enlightenment.

And when a bold older woman had sauntered over, batting her lashes at Naruto, trying to get him to "buy her a drink"—Tsunade punched her.

Not just a tap.

Decked her straight across the casino, sending her flying into a decorative pillar. After that, the ladies collectively agreed: if you valued your face, you left Naruto alone.

Now, as the chaos entourage circled their next target, Naruto sat casually in front of a roulette table.

The dealer looked nervous. The crowd murmured like they were about to witness a prophecy unfold.

Tsunade leaned in over Naruto's shoulder like a general plotting a battlefield. "Alright. Pick a number, any number."

Naruto blinked. "Uh… twenty-seven?"

"Why twenty-seven?" Shizune asked wearily, arms still hugging another heavy coin bag.

He shrugged. "I dunno. That's how many dumplings I bet I could eat in one sitting."

"…Reasonable," Tsunade nodded.

The ball spun. The wheel clattered.

The crowd held their breath.

The dealer stared at the spinning blur, sweat beading down his temple.

And then—clack-clack-clack…

The ball landed.

Twenty-seven.

The crowd exploded.

Tsunade screamed in triumph, raising both arms like she'd just declared war on fate and won.

Shizune dropped her coin bag and put her face in her hands. "This isn't luck anymore. This is supernatural."

Tonton passed out behind her.

Naruto blinked at the table, rubbing his neck. "…So, uh, does that mean I win again?"

The dealer just nodded slowly, completely shell-shocked.

"Cool," Naruto said with a grin. "Can I get some dumplings now?"

Tsunade was practically glowing with victory. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, her eyes glittering with the thrill of triumph, and her arms full of sealed scrolls stuffed with winnings. She was thriving.

Behind the roulette table, the casino owner sat slumped in the corner, head in his hands, muttering something about "profit margins" and "bankruptcy by teenager." A single tear rolled down his cheek as he stared into the abyss.

Tsunade, naturally, was loving every second of it.

"C'mon, brat," she said, nudging Naruto with her elbow. "Just one more game. Let's go make that guy cry harder. He's almost sobbing now—I want full-on wailing."

Naruto glanced back at the dealer still counting coins from his last win and rubbed the back of his head. "I dunno, Baachan… I think the guy's gonna need therapy after this."

Before Tsunade could argue further, Shizune swooped in like a tired, long-suffering guardian angel. She slid her arm under Naruto's and started dragging him away with the strength only a woman fueled by responsibility and moral panic could summon.

"Absolutely not," Shizune said, voice firm, eyes half-dead. "We are done. He's not your golden lucky charm, he's a child. We're taking him to get food and rest—like normal people do after earning a fortune!"

"But—!"

"No!"

Shizune marched toward the door, Naruto helplessly letting himself be hauled along, occasionally waving at people in the crowd still cheering and whispering excitedly about him.

"Did you see that kid?!"

"Three jackpots in a row!"

"Is he some kind of gambling god?!"

"Look at him! He's the Roulette Rasengan!"

"Lucky Fox!"

Tsunade, dragging her own mountain of winnings behind her, paused and turned toward the crowd. "Get it right!" she barked. "His name is Naruto—and he just bankrupted this entire casino!"

Another round of cheers erupted as they stepped out into the street, where the afternoon sun hit their faces like a sigh of relief.

Naruto, walking between the two women now, looked up and grinned. "Lucky Fox, huh? That's kinda cool."

Shizune groaned. "Don't let it go to your head."

Tsunade just chuckled. "Next time we hit a town, you're sitting next to me first thing."

Naruto sighed with a smile. "Can we please eat now?"

Author notes:

How do you like it? I'm still developing the relationship between Tsunade, Shizune, and Naruto. You can see that Naruto has started calling Shizune "big sister" as their relationship improves.

In the next chapter, there will be a time skip detailing some of the things Jiraiya accomplished while he was away.

What are your thoughts on Naruto clothing? I really hope you like it, as my boy still has a special connection to that vibrant orange.

Let me know what's your thoughts for this chapter.

Well Good bye and I hope you all have a wonderful day you sexy people.