Chapter 27: Drunken Tsunade
"Ah! So good!"
Tsunade gulped down the last of the sake in her flask, then slammed it on the table with a thud.
Hoshikawa sat beside her, the mixture of sake and her scent making him feel a little lightheaded.
The next second, he suddenly felt a thick, cushioned weight pressing down on his head.
Tsunade wrapped an arm around him, declaring boldly, "Eat whatever you want! My treat today!"
Hoshikawa understood why she was so happy.
At first, he had indeed bet against Tsunade, but later, he hadn't.
After all, if he always bet against her, Tsunade would eventually catch on and feel cheated.
As for why, it was due to a newly triggered entry.
[E-rank Talent Entry: God of Gamblers.]
[Trigger Condition: Guide Tsunade to nine wins.]
[Effect: Gambling luck increased by 100% on top of the original.]
[Note: Cannot be synthesized.]
It had to be said, Tsunade's gambling luck was truly outrageous.
Even with Hoshikawa's gambling luck increased by 100%, it only barely neutralized hers.
"What are you spacing out for?" Tsunade picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks and fed it to him. "Try the roasted chicken."
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Hoshikawa took the chicken in one bite.
"When are you free next?" Tsunade asked with a smiling face.
After an afternoon of gambling, she clearly saw Hoshikawa as a genuine good luck charm.
"I still need to study medical ninjutsu," Hoshikawa said seriously.
"That's easy, I'll teach you," Tsunade chugged a few gulps of sake, exhaling contentedly.
This wasn't taking him as a disciple, just simply guiding him.
Hoshikawa understood this as well.
He wouldn't learn Tsunade's signature Strength of a Hundred Seal or Chakra Enhanced Strength.
Even so, ordinary medical ninjutsu was more than enough.
Moreover, it would also bring him closer to Tsunade. Perhaps one day, she might decide to take him on as her student.
Due to some special circumstances, she didn't have Shizune by her side right now and was all alone.
If he proved himself exceptionally talented, it was possible for him to become her student.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Hoshikawa readily agreed. "After every medical ninjutsu lesson, I'll go to the casino with you."
"Good, that's fair," Tsunade said with a smile, ruffling his hair.
"..." Hoshikawa immediately looked helpless.
Stop patting my head!
"Hahaha, you're so amusing," Tsunade laughed even harder at his reaction.
Her body swayed back and forth, her fair skin rippling, making Hoshikawa feel dazzled.
"Eat up!" Tsunade turned her attention back to the food and drink on the table.
Hoshikawa picked up his chopsticks and began to eat as well.
The mixed scents of sake and perfume grew increasingly potent.
"Tsunade-sama," Hoshikawa hesitated for a few seconds, then snatched the sake flask from her hand. "You've had enough to drink. We should head back."
Having lived two lives, he knew perfectly well how troublesome drunken people could be.
He was just a child!
How was he going to carry Tsunade back later?
"You... you... what did you say?" Tsunade shook her head, her beautiful face flushed crimson like a ripe peach, radiating heat.
"It's time to go home!" Hoshikawa subconsciously raised his voice.
"Go where?" Tsunade looked down at him, her eyes hazy.
"Home," Hoshikawa paused, then asked, "Where's your home?"
"Home?" Tsunade's heart jolted, and she instinctively rubbed her eyes.
This scene reminded her of Nawaki.
Her drunkenness sobered considerably.
"You don't need to worry about me, just go first," Tsunade reached out for the sake flask in his hand.
"No," Hoshikawa immediately pulled it away.
"Give it to me!" Tsunade's eyes flashed, her gaze sharp, exuding intense pressure.
"No," Hoshikawa understood her personality and wasn't afraid.
"You brat!" Tsunade glared at him, then suddenly laughed. "Alright, let's go, time for bed."
She stood up, paid the bill, and walked out of the izakaya with Hoshikawa.
It was just after dark, and there were quite a few pedestrians on the street. Upon seeing Tsunade, they all greeted her warmly, like a large fan meet-and-greet.
In the ninja world, popular ninja were indeed much like celebrities.
After walking for a while, Tsunade turned into a secluded alley, and it became much quieter.
Hoshikawa glanced left and right, curiosity stirring within him.
The original story never mentioned Tsunade's home in Konoha, so he didn't know where she lived.
"Why do you want to learn medical ninjutsu?" Tsunade asked casually.
"I'm your fan," Hoshikawa said truthfully.
"No, you're not," Tsunade shook her head. "Your reaction is completely unlike a fan."
"I'm just a bit reserved," Hoshikawa coughed lightly.
"Who are you trying to fool?" Tsunade turned, bent down, and stared at him.
Hoshikawa was momentarily stunned.
Her face was flushed with a soft blush, her skin no less fair than a young girl's, her slender waist curved, her top stretched to its limit, exuding the alluring and mature aura of an older woman.
"I..." Hoshikawa thought for a moment, then changed his approach. "I want to become Hokage."
He wanted to improve too much!
The overly standard answer made Tsunade slightly pause.
She vigorously ruffled Hoshikawa's hair and said, "Boring."
Boring, and yet you still pat my head?
Hoshikawa was angry but dared not speak.
If I tell the truth, you don't believe it; if I lie, you don't believe it either. This is too hard for me.
Tsunade withdrew her hand and continued to sway forward.
After passing through a bamboo grove, a row of houses came into view.
"We're here," Tsunade said, her voice laced with tipsiness, asking casually, "Want to stay the night?"
"No thanks, I need to go back," Hoshikawa refused.
He hadn't informed Shinku Yūhi and Kurenai Yūhi in advance; if he didn't go back, they would definitely worry.
"See you tomorrow," Tsunade waved her hand, speaking indifferently.
She only asked out of consideration for Nonō Yakushi and the good luck she brought today.
In reality, Hoshikawa wasn't yet important enough to truly capture her attention.
"Goodbye, Tsunade-sama," Hoshikawa felt that today's progress had exceeded his expectations.
If his system were a favorability-based strategy system, he would probably already be in the first stage.
Hoshikawa returned home.
As expected, as soon as he opened the door, he saw Kurenai Yūhi.
"I went to Konoha Hospital today and met Tsunade-sama," Hoshikawa said with a smile.
"Tsunade-sama?" Kurenai Yūhi immediately switched to an excited expression. "What happened?"
She was Tsunade's true fan.
More accurately, Tsunade held absolute fame among female ninja.
In the original story, Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka, among others, all aimed to be like Tsunade.
Shinku Yūhi couldn't help but feel a subtle emotion.
How did this child always meet such important figures?
First Minato Namikaze, now Tsunade. Who would he meet tomorrow? Hiruzen Sarutobi?
But this was a good thing.
Hoshikawa had entered the sight of Konoha's higher-ups.
As long as he was exceptional enough, there would be countless opportunities.
....
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