A Game of Mahjong

New Book - Naruto: Trait Hoarder

The system there is similar to the system in Konoha's Tag System Style Ninja.

Also, what series' ff should I work on next?

MHA or Re Zero or Danmachi or Marvel or something else?

*****

Ryosuke said, "If it's just becoming a mentor Jōnin, I can do that."

Hearing this, Tsunade wrote Ryosuke's name in the column of the mentor Jōnin behind team ten.

Speaking of name, Tsunade had asked Ryosuke whether to change his surname to Senju before.

But Ryosuke thought it was unnecessary.

Tsunade didn't really care that much. She just thought that Ryosuke might want to change his surname to Senju, so she asked.

Since Ryosuke didn't want to, there was no need to change it.

After confirming that Ryosuke would mainly be the mentor joinin of team ten in the future, Tsunade used an excuse to ask him to accompany her for a walk around the village.

Then, she dragged him away from the Hokage's office.

Nara Shikaku and Shizune looked at each other, then at the pile of documents on the desk, and both smiled wryly.

With such a Hokage, they can only accept their fate.

Ryosuke walked around the village with Tsunade.

During the walk, Tsunade wanted to visit the gambling house a few times.

But!

She was now the Hokage, and it was her first day on the job, so she held back.

Ryosuke saw Tsunade's dilemma and took her to find Anko and Yugao, who happened to have nothing to do today.

The four of them gathered and played mahjong in the old Senju clan grounds.

There was no mahjong in this world, but Ryosuke used Wood release to create it.

He wondered if Senju Hashirama would be happy if he knew that Ryosuke was using Wood release to create mahjong.

Maybe he'd want to learn it himself?

Ryosuke first explained the rules to Tsunade and the others.

He also said the loser will have to paste a note on their face to make things exciting.

Then, the four of them started playing.

At first, since they weren't familiar with the rules, the three kept making mistakes.

Either they played the wrong cards, misunderstood the hands, or miscalculated their moves.

However, after a few rounds, their skills improved.

Gradually, Tsunade and the others found their rhythm and got better.

But!

Tsunade still kept losing.

So, more and more notes were stuck to her face.

Tsunade was so frustrated that she nearly crushed the cards.

Fortunately, these cards were created by Ryosuke with Wood release, and they were infused with Yang Release's vitality, making them incredibly tough.

If they had been made by Yamato's Wood release, they would have been crushed long ago.

Tsunade revealed a set of tiles, and it turned out that Ryosuke had been waiting for just that set to complete his hand.

Not only that, he also drew the winning tile right after.

Tsunade lost again!

More notes covered her face and now, she was almost unrecognizable.

"Maybe Tsunade-sama should stick them somewhere else?"

Seeing that there was no space left on Tsunade's face, Yugao thoughtfully suggested.

Tsunade said, "Yugao, you're the best!"

Tsunade patted Yugao's shoulder with a smile, then shot a vicious glare at Ryosuke.

Ryosuke helplessly said, "Sister Tsunade, it's not my fault. I didn't mean to target you. You just played the wrong move."

Ryosuke looked innocent, as if he had no choice in the matter.

"Hmph! Don't target me next time!" Tsunade huffed.

She then tore off most of the notes from her face and started sticking them elsewhere.

Ryosuke watched and couldn't take his eyes off her.

Anko annoyingly said, "Your eyes are about to pop out!"

Then, she kicked him under the table.

What was he staring at?!

Hmph!

Anko scrunched her nose angrily and she looked kind of cute.

Ryosuke smirked and awkwardly shifted his gaze.

He made up an excuse, "I was just checking if Sister Tsunade had space left for more notes. Maybe on her arm?"

Tsunade said, "Whatever! And I won't lose next time!"

Tsunade didn't care about Ryosuke's gaze. To her, he was just a junior, and practically her brother.

What's wrong with being stared at by family?

"Sister Tsunade, confidence is great, but—"

Ryosuke was speaking, but seeing Tsunade's fierce glare, he shut his mouth.

He better say less, or he might get punched.

"Keep going!" Yugao smiled.

Among the four, Ryosuke lost the least, and he only had two notes on his face.

Yugao had five.

Anko and Tsunade had lost the most.

Anko's face was nearly covered with notes, and Tsunade had to start sticking notes elsewhere.

These two were seriously unlucky.

The mahjong game lasted from morning to evening.

They even had lunch delivered midway.

Ryosuke said, "Alright, let's stop here for today. If you want to play again, we'll arrange it next time."

Ryosuke revealed his final winning hand and got another win.

Anko said, "Not playing anymore!"

Anko's notes fluttered as she moved. Her arms, legs, her whole body was covered in notes.

Tsunade didn't fare much better, and maybe even worse than Anko.

Only Ryosuke and Yugao had relatively few notes.

Ryosuke had six.

Yugao had about a dozen.

But!

Anko and Tsunade had over a hundred notes each, and it was almost like they were buried under paper.

"Hmph! I was just unlucky today! Next time, I'll win for sure!"

Tsunade declared stubbornly as she peeled off the notes.

Since she and Anko had run out of space, they had taken off their outer layers and rolled up their sleeves just to make room for more notes.

"Sister Tsunade, let me help."

Ryosuke offered with a grin, while Yugao helped Anko remove her notes.

Luckily, the notes weren't too sticky and didn't hurt to peel off.

Standing beside Tsunade, Ryosuke removed the ones from her arms and legs.

Then, he reached for the ones on her body but Tsunade slapped his hand away.

Tsunade said, "Brat, trying to take advantage of me?!"

Tsunade gave him an annoyed look.

Does he think she can't see it?

This kid is not innocent at all!

Ryosuke explained with a smile, "No way, I just want to help you, Sister Tsunade!"

There was no sign of embarrassment on is face at all.

So shameless!

Tsunade rolled her eyes and then patted her stomach and said, "Let's go, I'm starving to death. I lost the most today, so I'll treat you to dinner!"

"Yeah~!"

Both Anko and Yugao clapped their hands happily.

A free meal, and it's the Hokage's treat.

This kind of good thing doesn't happen every day.

Tsunade shouted, "Let's go, let's go to Ichiraku Ramen!"

Anko, Yugao: "???"

What the hell?

Ichiraku Ramen?

It's not that they don't like ramen.

On the contrary, they often go to Ichiraku Ramen themselves.

But today, Tsunade was treating them.

And she chose Ichiraku Ramen?

They were expecting a big barbecue feast.

"Forget it, let me treat you."

Ryosuke said, "Today is Sister Tsunade's first day in office, so let's celebrate properly!"

He knew that Tsunade had no money. In fact, her assets were in the negative.

She owed tens of millions and maybe even hundreds of millions of ryo.

This little expense was nothing to Ryosuke.

But for Tsunade, who was already broke, even treating them to Ichiraku Ramen would mean borrowing money from Shizune.

Barbecue?

She couldn't afford it!

"Oh~! How embarrassing!"

Hearing that Ryosuke was going to treat them, Tsunade laughed and threw her arm around his neck.

"Ryosuke, you're really nice!"

Tsunade gave Ryosuke an approving look.

Ryosuke was dumbfounded for a moment, then the four of them left the Senju compound and headed toward Konoha's food street.

But!

As Ryosuke looked at the small Senju compound behind him, he couldn't help but marvel at the Konoha Council's (Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, Homura and Koharu) ability to divide up resources again.

Back in the day, the Senju clan had the largest compound in Konoha.

It was also the closest to the village center.

Truly the heart of Konoha!

And now?

The clan's land had been pushed to the outskirts of the village, and its size was barely one percent of what it used to be.

Just four or five small houses remained, plus a bit of forest on the village's edge.

That's it?

How could this possibly represent the Senju Clan?

But now that Tsunade was the Hokage, this would naturally change.

It was time for those who had taken the Senju's property for themselves to return what they had stolen.

Would they dare to refuse?

Heh~!

Their backers were gone.

Who would give them the courage to say no?

Late at night

Ryosuke was lying on his bed, holding Anko, who was already asleep, in his arms.

Suddenly!

His eyes snapped open, and he looked towards a certain direction.

'Are you here?' He thought to himself.

At this moment!

Outside the village

Two shadowy figures landed on a cliff. From there, they could see all of Konoha.

"Ah! By the way, senpai, why are we here at Konoha?"

Tobi asked curiously while picking at his ear.

Menma flatly answered, "To take someone away."

Tobi asked, "Ah? You mean the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?"

"But the leader hasn't ordered us to start collecting tailed beasts yet. Aren't we too early?"

Menma indifferently said, "It's not the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. It's Uchiha Sasuke."

Originally, he had planned to come alone, but Tobi insisted on tagging along, saying that they were teammates and should act together.

Menma emotionlessly said, "There may be a fight later. If you don't want to die, stay as far away as possible."

Tobi excitedly said, "Ah~! Are you going to break into Konoha alone? Oh my God~! Senpai, you're amazing!!"

Tobi looked at him like he was an idol. But Menma just felt disgusted.

Menma coldly said, "Enough nonsense. Keep up, and don't expose yourself until we find him."

Then he disappeared from the cliff in an instant.

"Senpai~! Wait for me!!"

Tobi hurried after him.

In an apartment

The lights were off, and Naruto was lying in bed, tossing and turning.

"Strange. Why do I feel so uneasy?"

Naruto sat up in confusion and decided to get a glass of water.

At this moment!

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone tapped on his window.

Naruto turned to look and was shocked to see that Sasuke standing outside.

"Sasuke?! What are you doing here?!"

Naruto exclaimed and opened the window for him.

"Naruto, I came to say goodbye."

Sasuke stepped inside and spoke.

Naruto asked with some confusion, "Huh? Where are you going?"

Naruto didn't understand what Sasuke was talking about.

Sasuke said "I'm leaving Konoha. And I might not come back for a long time."

Sasuke looked at Naruto, and felt a pang of reluctance.

He remembered their time in the Academy.

Back then, Naruto was the class clown, always doing silly pranks for attention.

But Sasuke had been watching him since those days.

Naruto wasn't like the other students.

Despite his loud and goofy nature, Sasuke saw that they were alike in many ways.

Both had no parents.

Both were outcasts in the village.

But one was the top student in class, while the other was dead last.

It seemed like they were from two completely different worlds.