Jiraiya and Orochimaru stood nearby, watching their classmate Tsunade running the betting table, when they were soon treated to a delightful scene.
Every gambler at the table, who'd clearly been there for some time, stared at little Tsunade like she was a fat sheep ripe for shearing, their eyes tracking her every move.
Whenever Tsunade held her chips in her hand, the whole crowd held their breath, hearts practically caught in their throats.
As Tsunade hesitated over which side to bet on, their gazes followed her hand back and forth in perfect unison, as if they were floating on clouds, unable to come down to earth.
Arima watched the scene with amusement, thinking to himself, 'You don't see something this entertaining every day.'
Without realizing it, little Tsunade had become like a zookeeper, and the gamblers were a flock of baby birds, mouths open, begging to be fed.
Naturally, Jiraiya had also picked up on this betting pattern. His heart was beginning to stir.
He was just a child, not yet five years old, and came from a poor household.
He and his mother often went hungry and lacked proper clothes.
Now, a golden opportunity had dropped from the sky, money laid bare on the table, waiting for anyone to pick it up. How could he possibly resist such temptation?
Orochimaru, on the other hand, didn't care the slightest bit about gambling.
Both his parents were Jonin, and his family's financial situation was quite comfortable. To him, money held far less allure than books.
But what truly puzzled Orochimaru was this, statistically, betting should be a fifty-fifty game.
Yet today, something felt off, as if some invisible hand were manipulating the outcome of the dice.
While Orochimaru pondered the anomaly, he felt a poke on his arm. Snapping back to reality, he turned to see the idiot Jiraiya grinning at him.
"What are you thinking about, you dumb snake?" Jiraiya asked, his curiosity piqued.
"You're not tempted at all by such a great chance to make easy money?"
Orochimaru glanced at him, replying coolly, "First, I don't like gambling. Books say relying on luck is a fool's game."
Not giving Jiraiya a chance to argue, he went on, "Second, I don't need money. Wealth is just a worldly possession to me."
Jiraiya's excitement deflated immediately, and he replied gloomily, "Dumb Orochimaru, but I really am poor. You know how poor I am? When I talk to my wallet, I can hear an echo."
As he spoke, Jiraiya pulled out his scrawny, beaten-up wallet and turned it inside out, revealing just a few coins.
Then, just to make his point, he even yelled into it a few times like he actually expected an echo.
Orochimaru rolled his eyes and didn't argue.
Their upbringings were completely different, he couldn't possibly understand what Jiraiya was going through, nor did he know how to comfort him.
Jiraiya stuffed the few coins back into the wallet carefully.
It had been sewn for him by his mother using scraps from her weaving, though it had never held much money, it meant the world to him because she'd stayed up late making it.
Using a voice far too heavy for his age, Jiraiya muttered like he was talking to himself, "Money might be worldly, but it's always in someone else's pocket."
Orochimaru could hear the conflict in his words and couldn't help but reflect.
If the stakes at this table were something I truly desired, like a scroll of the Second Hokage's secret jutsu, would I really be able to resist?
He already knew the answer, he'd probably be even more impulsive than Jiraiya.
So Orochimaru didn't try to stop him anymore. Instead, he said softly, "If you're gonna bet, better do it quick. Tsunade's pile of chips doesn't look like it'll last much longer.
And I think sensei may have already spotted us... It's your call."
Then, he pulled out his wallet and handed all his money to Jiraiya.
It was a high-quality, stylish wallet his parents had bought for him at a proper shop.
Jiraiya looked at the small stack of bills in Orochimaru's hand, eyes gleaming with excitement.
His voice trembled slightly, "You're really lending it to me?"
Without another word, Orochimaru shoved the money into Jiraiya's hands and gestured for him to go exchange it for chips.
Jiraiya didn't hesitate. He rushed to the exchange counter and traded in the whole stack.
If it weren't for the fact that the coins couldn't be exchanged, he probably would've gone all in and emptied his pockets completely.
The cashier was a bit surprised to see so many kids showing up tonight, but business was business. A paying customer is a good customer, he wasn't about to turn them away.
Soon, Jiraiya had a few large-denomination chips in hand.
He clutched them tightly, terrified of losing them or having them stolen. After all, this money was worth as much as a year of his mother's hard-earned weaving.
When he returned to Orochimaru's side, his gaze was filled with sincerity, silently begging, 'Come place the bets with me.'
Orochimaru noticed the sleep crust in Jiraiya's eyes and winced, but in the end, he couldn't resist that pleading look. Grumbling inwardly, he followed Jiraiya toward the crowd.
The betting table was completely packed, shoulder to shoulder with people, it was a total madhouse.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru, scrawny as they were, couldn't possibly push through all the adults. They were completely walled off.
Jiraiya was crushed.
It felt like being a dying man in the desert who spots an oasis, only to find out it's a mirage he'll never reach.
"Why do I never catch a break?" he moaned. "Why am I always this unlucky?"
Orochimaru, watching Jiraiya's exaggerated expression spiral out of control, couldn't resist throwing in a jab.
"Because good luck isn't nearly this unlucky."
He actually cracked himself up with that one.
Jiraiya's expression was so tragic it was funny. Tonight, his luck was worse than Tsunade's, he was like the god of misfortune, showing up with his whole cursed family in tow.
Hearing Orochimaru's quip only made Jiraiya more miserable. I never should've exchanged those chips. Now I've really lost everything.
But just when things looked bleak, a ray of light appeared.
A familiar voice called out, "Orochimaru? Jiraiya? When did you two get here?"
Jiraiya turned reflexively and saw his teacher.
He instantly stiffened, guilt flooding him like he'd just been caught stealing cookies.
He quickly hid his chip-filled hand behind his back. He really didn't want to be scolded, he respected this teacher deeply.
Orochimaru also noticed their teacher and, caught off guard, could only look to Jiraiya for help.
But Jiraiya himself was too flustered to respond naturally. Their eyes darted back and forth, silently pleading with each other for a way out.
To an outsider like Arima, however, it looked like they were staring at each other with weird, lovey-dovey expressions.
Something about it felt... off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Choosing not to press them, Arima interrupted their strange silent exchange and said, "Jiraiya, I saw you've got chips too. Planning to make a quick profit?"
Jiraiya realized there was no hiding it, so he sheepishly brought his hand forward, revealing the palm stuffed with betting chips.
Arima couldn't help but laugh. Jiraiya was like a walking ball of comic relief, always finding a way to amuse him.
He thought, 'Well, since they're already here, maybe I can use this to send a little money to Jiraiya's family. Once I teach his mother how to make grilled meat, their life might ease up a bit too.'
But then he frowned, thinking, 'Still, I need to educate these two properly. I can't let them hang around gambling dens like this. Tsunade's case is... special.'
In that flash of thought, Arima made up his mind.
"You're both here already," he said. "Just stay with me for now. I'll send a clone to take you home later."
With that, he forced a path through the packed crowd, pulling the stunned boys with him.
Neither Jiraiya nor Orochimaru understood what was going on.
They'd expected a thorough scolding, not to be escorted to the actual betting table. They were baffled.
Meanwhile, Tsunade had noticed her brother's clone bringing over two familiar faces, it was none other than the same Jiraiya and Orochimaru she'd split up with earlier at the dango shop.
"Arima-nii, what are they doing here?" she asked curiously.
Arima scratched his head and shrugged. "No idea what's going on either."
He was a little embarrassed. As a teacher, he should lead by example.
Yet here he was, gambling with his student Tsunade, only to get caught red-handed by his other students. Not a great look.
So the three of them quietly agreed to pretend none of this ever happened.
Tsunade was in the middle of losing big, despite being the dealer, her luck was terrible, but she was having the time of her life and didn't care at all.
She continued calmly hosting the game, shaking the dice, placing her bets, lifting the cup, then acting shocked at her bad luck again.
As the next round began, she thought to herself, 'I've gotta pull it together this time. I can't let Jiraiya and Orochimaru think I'm useless.
I'm Konoha's Gambling Prodigy, I can't embarrass Grandpa, Konoha's God of Gambling.'
She casually shook the dice cup, remembering the warmth of her grandfather holding her, and suddenly felt a spark of clarity.
With a smooth motion, she slapped the cup down onto the table.
This time, Tsunade pushed all her remaining chips onto "High." She was going all in.
I'm Konoha's Gambling Prodigy. There's no way I'm going small now. It's gotta be big.
Across the table, Jiraiya saw the opening he'd been waiting for. In his mind, his luck had finally turned.
The god of misfortune and his whole family already paid a visit, time for them to leave.
As soon as Tsunade placed her bet, Jiraiya immediately threw all his chips onto the opposite side, "Low."
Tsunade puffed up her cheeks and pouted. "Jiraiya, are you saying you don't believe in my skills as a Gambling Prodigy?"
Jiraiya just chuckled awkwardly, unable to admit he was here to win her money.
But inside, he was feeling smug. That confident face of yours... reminds me a little of my own.
Tsunade, sensing a challenge, narrowed her eyes and began lifting the dice cup slowly and deliberately.
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