"It's my first time taking out a loan," Kiyohara said.
He looked at Tsunade.
She was wearing a sleeveless top under a green jacket that obscured her stunning figure, and a pair of light-blue capri pants that wrapped around her legs with a certain… fullness.
"First time?"Tsunade's brows pinched together.
Oh no.
That reminded her—she'd taken out loans way more times than that.
Kiyohara saw the subtle shift in her expression and immediately realized:Her credit score was absolutely destroyed.
"Ahem… You know who I'am. If you lend me some money, I'll win it back and repay you—promise."
Tsunade gave him a dead-serious look.
"You're going gambling again, Lady Tsunade?"
Kiyohara asked.
Everyone knew she was a legendary gambler.She even had a nickname: The Walking Cash Cow.
Stop, Tsunade.Everyone else walks away with winnings. You're the only one who bleeds chips.
Kiyohara figured even if he loaned her the money, it was as good as gone.
Still, a thought crossed his mind—He pulled out 50,000 ryō and handed it to her.
"Lady Tsunade, I'm actually quite interested in medical ninjutsu. Do you think you could teach me a little?"
Right now, Konoha's medical system wasn't nearly as developed as it would be in the future.
Back during Naruto and Sakura's early missions, Naruto had to cut open his own hand with a kunai just to neutralize poison.Why?Because early Sakura didn't even know basic techniques like "Poison Removal" or "Wound Sealing."
Not until Boruto did Konoha start formally training every genin in foundational medical ninjutsu—And only those with talent were selected to go further.
"Hmm…"
Tsunade frowned.
"Lady Tsunade, everyone's waiting!"Shizune came running up, carrying Tonton in her arms.
She wanted Tsunade to quit gambling so badly—But Tsunade had assigned her to monitor the situation instead.
Orders were orders.Shizune didn't dare defy them.
"You're in luck, brat,"Tsunade said at last, nodding.
"I'll give you two jutsu. You give me 100,000 ryō."
She held out her hand.
They were basic techniques, but not something you could just buy at the market.
Only because she was desperate for cash—And because Kiyohara was a village ninja—Did she agree to "sell cheap."
"No problem, Lady Tsunade."Kiyohara smiled slightly.
To his surprise, she actually accepted the deal.
He quickly handed over the money and passed her a blank scroll and pen.
Originally, he'd prepared those to record jutsu from his future self—Now he could use them for the medical ones.
Generally, a C-rank mission paid between 30,000 to 100,000 ryō.
But according to the Databook, mission payments were split evenly among all participating members.
In other words, earning 100,000 ryō meant doing several C-rank missions.
"You carry this stuff with you?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, but assumed Kiyohara was one of those ninja obsessed with technique—So she didn't question it.
She quickly scribbled down the training methods for two basic techniques:Wound Sealing and Poison Removal.
"Money for goods, fair and square."
She returned the scroll and pen and sprinted off toward the gambling hall, thick wad of bills in hand.
"Shizune, let's go!"
Tsunade was already seeing visions of victory.
Shizune watched the entire scene unfold.
Sure, every medical-nin knew those techniques—But Shizune still sighed.
Lady Tsunade was truly hopeless when it came to gambling.
"Lady Tsunade, the odds are always against you..."
She tried once more to dissuade her.
She felt like Kiyohara lending money was actually hurting her!
"You don't get it, Shizune,"Tsunade said sagely,"Losing is just… temporarily storing the money in the house. Quitting is when it's really gone."
Then she said nothing more.
She marched into the casino, eyes sharp, ready to take back what was hers.
…
Kiyohara stood in place, watching them walk off.
He shook his head.
If the Legendary Sannin each represented a deadly sin,Orochimaru was envy,Jiraiya was lust,And Tsunade?
Tsunade was definitely gambling.
She even embroidered the kanji for "gamble" on the back of her coat.
"Not bad. Scored two techniques in the process,"Rogue Kiyohara commented.
Every ninja had a limit to how many jutsu they could truly master.
To reach jōnin level, you had to control at least two chakra nature transformations.
Most ninja only had a few techniques they could really use in combat.
As someone constantly on the move, acting as Orochimaru's black ops, Rogue Kiyohara had only picked up battle-oriented ninjutsu.
Medical jutsu?He knew nothing.
"Not sure I can learn them in just a few days…"
Kiyohara looked at the scroll.Tsunade's handwriting was… rough.But still readable.
"It's enough. I can guide your chakra."
Rogue Kiyohara assured him.
These two techniques didn't require Yang Release,So Kiyohara—who only had Wind and Lightning—could still learn them.
"Alright."
Kiyohara nodded and continued down the street.
Their conversations happened entirely in his mind—Just like how Naruto spoke with Kurama.
No one else could hear it.
"Hope I have enough left over for some good armor..."
He muttered inwardly.
Chakra was limited.Everything had to be used efficiently.
That's why ninja carried tools like kunai and shuriken.They were vital.
After all, a Fireball Jutsu might not kill you—But a kunai to the gut probably would.
So Kiyohara didn't go buying flashy weapons.
He went looking for armor.
Only chūnin and higher were allowed to wear the iconic green flak jackets—But Kiyohara could still buy a solid chainmail vest and wear it under his clothes.
It might just save his life.
Once all his supplies were purchased, Kiyohara even picked up a set of general ninja tools—Including a bag of lime powder, often used to blind or distract.
By the end of it, he was nearly broke again.
"How do I make the pills?"
He asked as he hauled his mountain of gear home.
When it came to making forbidden pills,Rogue Kiyohara was the only one who knew how.
Kiyohara wasn't worried about the actual mission.
If he followed the original timeline, he'd probably die anyway.
Rin would be captured.Kakashi would lose an eye.Obito would be crushed under a boulder.
Even if he did survive, he'd likely lose an arm or a leg.
Might as well trust himself.
"I'll possess you for this part. The process requires precise timing."
Rogue Kiyohara said.
"But each possession accelerates my dissolution, so I can't do it often."
With that, the spirit slipped into Kiyohara's body.
It felt strange.
Kiyohara watched his own arms and legs begin to move on their own.
And yet…If he wanted to,He could still take back control at any moment.