Tsunade had been influenced by Senju Hashirama since childhood, which was why she liked gambling.
But as she grew older, there was a long period when Tsunade wasn't so addicted to gambling; she trained seriously and became a very excellent medical-nin.
However, on the battlefield of the Second Great Ninja War, as people around her died one after another, the grief-stricken Tsunade wanted to forget that painful memory.
From then on, Tsunade completely immersed herself in gambling; even if she was always the fat sheep to be fleeced, she didn't care.
Moreover, she had summarized a rule from always losing at gambling.
Whenever she won, bad news would arrive.
If she kept losing, she could feel a little relieved.
To this day, she no longer fled as she once did; the emptiness in her heart was filled by something else, and her passion for gambling had also decreased a lot.
So, after the money she originally prepared ran out, Tsunade decisively stopped, took Aoba's hand, and started playing around like an ordinary couple.
The one million Aoba won in the casino might be gambled away again in a few rounds if Tsunade used it, but if spent on the street from the city gate to the other end, not even a tenth would be used.
The frustration Tsunade had accumulated at the casino dissipated almost entirely.
———
On the other side, Kurotsuchi had also left the inn.
She still held the travel guide the innkeeper had recommended.
It recorded a few tasty shops.
But when she saw people passing on the street, she felt a pang of loneliness.
Everyone else was in pairs, and she was alone.
Even though she had come with two others, there was never a place for her.
It seemed to have started from the moment they left Konoha.
Every time they camped to rest, she would be sent alone to look for ingredients, and yet she couldn't refuse. After all, Aoba's cooking was so delicious.
If they passed through towns, it was even worse; Aoba and Tsunade would always leave her behind.
She felt isolated.
Well, after all, she was from Iwagakure, she was the only outsider.
"Sigh~", Kurotsuchi sighed again, then followed the innkeeper's recommended shops.
Although it wasn't much of a tourist city, there were many stalls selling snacks along the street.
She sampled them all.
Most of them weren't that good; not as tasty as what Aoba made.
Some weren't even as good as Konoha's.
This made Kurotsuchi rather disappointed. She sat in a tea shop, finishing the snack she'd just bought, thinking whether to keep wandering or return to the inn and wait for Aoba and Tsunade.
While drinking tea, she suddenly saw something on the street and widened her eyes.
"Am I seeing things?", Kurotsuchi looked stunned, put down her teacup, and rubbed her eyes.
Looking again, she realized she hadn't been mistaken.
Standing in front of a snack shop not far away were Aoba and Tsunade, the two who had snuck off and left her behind.
She hadn't expected to run into them here.
Kurotsuchi's face puffed up; she stood to go and give them a piece of her mind, but she quickly sensed something wrong.
'Aoba's hand… why is it on Tsunade-sama's waist?'
'Tsunade-sama… why is she leaning in Aoba's embrace?'
The scenes before her eyes were beyond Kurotsuchi's understanding; she just stood there blankly, helpless.
'These two…'
'Could it be…'
A ridiculous and terrifying thought suddenly appeared in Kurotsuchi's mind; she didn't dare think it through.
But it really was Aoba and Tsunade. After all, they'd known each other so long; she couldn't have mistaken them.
"No, no…", She shook her head lightly, murmuring to herself.
"They're master and student."
Kurotsuchi sat for a long time, then suddenly stood up. She couldn't figure it out by guessing on her own, just as Aoba said.
Practical experience is the only standard to test truth.
After thinking it through, she found a quiet corner and used Transformation Jutsu to change her appearance.
From the morning until noon, Kurotsuchi secretly followed them, trailing behind and observing their movements.
This confirmed her inner suspicion.
Between Aoba and Tsunade, there was no act at all; they were like a real couple.
Anyone who saw them would think they were lovers madly in love.
'So that is their relationship.'
'No wonder they keep setting me aside or leaving me behind when they sneak out to play.'
''So that is it.'
'Aoba truly is a perverted lecher, he can't even leave his own teacher alone!'
Kurotsuchi was furious, though she didn't even know exactly what she was angry about.
"Brat, that person's been following us the whole way," Tsunade said softly as she stuffed a takoyaki ball into Aoba's mouth.
The two were top-tier ninjas; how could they not notice Kurotsuchi's tailing?
Kurotsuchi hadn't walked far before being discovered.
"That's Kurotsuchi, it's fine," Aoba remarked lightly.
"What?", Tsunade exclaimed, then quickly suppressed it. She hadn't expected Kurotsuchi to be the one following them.
After all, she didn't have Kagura's ridiculously bugged sensory ability, without close contact, she couldn't identify chakra.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?", She glared at Aoba and whispered angrily.
"You didn't ask, Sensei," Aoba said with an innocent look.
"You!", Tsunade was so angry she was close to losing it.
Her ample curves heaved up and down.
"She only discovered our relationship; why are you so nervous, Sensei?", Aoba said casually.
Tsunade understood immediately, reached out, and pinched his lower back hard, "Are you doing this on purpose?"
Aoba looked pained, "I just thought, if I have such an excellent girlfriend like you, Sensei, it'd be a shame if others didn't know."
Although the two had confirmed their relationship, Tsunade insisted on keeping it secret.
Unlike someone like Kurenai who sought thrills, Tsunade truly resisted exposing their relationship.
So far only Shizune knew about them.
Tsunade bit her lip; she wasn't unaware of Aoba's feelings.
But merely accepting Aoba had already drained her courage; that hurdle in her heart was hard to cross.
After all, she wasn't even from the same generation as a mother figure. She was… Even Uchiha Mikoto would have to call her senior.
And she was one of the Legendary Sannin and the current Hokage.
If news of this spread in the village, how would the villagers view the master-and-student pair?
"Sorry, Sensei. I'll go tell Kurotsuchi. She shouldn't tell anyone," Aoba said sincerely, seeing Tsunade's expression and realizing he'd been hasty.
Tsunade sighed and pinched his face, "Go quickly and explain to that girl. I'll head back first!"
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