Chapter 88: Kissing the Earlobe

Kato Mikaze stood behind Tsunade, watching her at the gaming table as she argued animatedly with the dealer. Before Tsunade was a meager stack of small-denomination chips; in stark contrast, the other players and the dealer had towering piles of chips before them, filling the table.

From Mikaze’s vantage point, he could only see Tsunade’s profile—her cheeks were flushed, though it was hard to say whether from excitement or the stifling press of the crowd. “This is something Green Cucumber will have to address,” he mused. “The ventilation in the casino hall is poor; next time, they should install a larger cooling system. This place calls itself Konoha’s most luxurious casino. If nothing else, they could hire a couple of wind or water-style ninja to keep the place cool—just like those wealthy merchants from the Land of Hot Water, who employ fire-style ninja to heat their spas. It sounds so much more refined.”

Despite the crowd, Tsunade’s hair and attire remained immaculate, untouched by the jostling of the throng. Her green ceremonial robe was slightly different from her usual attire—tonight, it seemed tailored for a night at the casino, with a bold black character for “Gamble” inscribed upon a red circle in the center of her back.

“Again! Again! Hurry and deal! Bring me more chips—I’m not done yet. I just won a heap… The next round, I’ll win it all back, I just know it!”

Tsunade’s spirited voice reached Mikaze’s ears as the dealer was about to begin another round and a chip girl delivered fresh chips to the table. Tsunade readied herself to bet anew. Mikaze decided not to hesitate any longer—he squeezed through the crowd to her side, hoping to salvage what remained of his wallet.

“You’ve gone wild while I was away from Konoha, haven’t you?”

“Hm? My lovely Princess Tsunade!”

Mikaze leaned over Tsunade’s back, resting his chin on her shoulder, turning his head to whisper teasingly into her ear.

Lost in the heat of the game, Tsunade tensed instantly at the sudden touch—especially at the feel of warm breath against her sensitive ear. She was about to react, her body coiling with strength to throw him off, but relaxed as soon as she recognized his familiar voice.

Mikaze felt the surge of her monstrous strength subside beneath him. She had realized it was him.

It wasn’t Tsunade’s fault for not noticing him sooner; she had been utterly absorbed in the game, eager for a comeback after a big loss. Besides, the two burly female attendants at her side had done their job well, carving out a buffer in the crowd so Tsunade could play undisturbed.

The same robust attendant who had allowed Mikaze through now quietly closed the gap behind him, shielding Tsunade from the prying eyes of those ever-eager to observe the high roller’s every move.

Once Mikaze was sure Tsunade had recognized him and her strength had abated, he didn’t wait for her to speak. Wrapping an arm around her neck to draw her into his embrace, he reached forward and flicked her pale forehead with a crisp “snap!”

The flick was loud but not painful—he was nothing if not practiced and precise.

“Isn’t that right, my Princess Tsunade?”

He leaned in and teased again, his breath warm against her ear.

“Er… heh, ha-ha, Mikaze, you’re back?” Tsunade tittered nervously, trying to explain herself, “I just got here, really—I only played one round…”

“Oh? Only one round, huh?” Mikaze glanced at the surging crowd around them, then continued to tease her, blowing softly into her ear.

“With all this excitement around you, Princess, it hardly looks like you’ve only played once!”

“Heh, ha-ha, well… maybe three. Or five. No more, really…” Tsunade’s voice grew quieter with each word.

Mikaze waved off the attendant who was about to bring more chips, whispering into Tsunade’s ear once more. “Just for a little while, then? Should I stay and play with you? And let’s not be timid with our bets this time. Someone like you should always bet big…”

As he spoke, he glanced at the small enclave around Tsunade, secured by the two towering attendants. Safe enough. His words about betting big were accompanied by a not-so-innocent glance at her chest from this angle…

The constant whispering in her ear made Tsunade’s ears tingle, and she noticed Mikaze’s roving eyes. Despite her bravado, she was still a woman—her cheeks flushed deeper, and, embarrassed by his public affection, she began to squirm.

Mikaze, following her lead, pulled her up from her seat and steered her from the table, pushing through the crowd.

“Casino rules: step away from the table and you’re out of the game. Since you’re up, Princess, you’re coming with me for your punishment. You’ve clearly been having too much fun while I was gone!”

“Oh, come on! Who made up that rule? I’m not done yet, Mikaze! Let me play a little longer, please?”

Tsunade pleaded as Mikaze led her away, her tone growing more and more coquettish.

“Nope. You’re coming with me. This rule was set by a man named Kato Hawk.”

Mikaze was unmoved; he knew her too well. If he gave an inch, she’d take a mile.

“Oh, as if! Don’t think I don’t know—before you were Mikaze, you were Kato Hawk!”

“Mikaze… just one more round? Please?” Tsunade’s voice grew even sweeter as she tried to wheedle her way back to the gaming table. She even mimicked Mikaze, turning to softly exhale into his ear.

Bolder still, she finished her plea by flicking out her soft, pink tongue to gently lick his earlobe.

Mikaze stiffened, his steps faltering as he escorted her through the throng. “This vixen… she’s getting better at this—almost lost my composure… How did she learn so fast?”

“I brought you a gift this time,” Mikaze said, regaining his composure and deliberately using a cool, indifferent tone to distract her. “I’m sure you’ll like it.”

Realizing her pleading wasn’t working and the table was receding into the distance, Tsunade’s hopes of returning to the game faded. At the mention of a gift, her attention was at last diverted.

“A gift? What kind of gift? Fine, fine, but—I almost forgot my chips. There’s a little left on the table; let’s go back and get them first.”

“No one will take your chips. I’ll have the manager put them on my tab. Next time, Princess, you can play again.”

Mikaze tightened his grip as he continued to distract her. “The gift is something I picked out just for you on my travels through the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind. I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it. You’re going to love it. Come with me, and I’ll show you.”

Resigned at last, Tsunade let herself be led away from the crowd around the gaming table.

Once clear of the throng, Mikaze felt it was best to keep his distance; who knew if Tsunade might try to tease him again—or worse, smack him with her monstrous strength. He could handle that, but after his tiring journey back to the village, he’d prefer to avoid it.

They had just separated from their affectionate embrace, the flush still lingering on Tsunade’s cheeks, when a commotion on the edge of the crowd caught their attention—a man, half-shouting and half-leaping, called out:

“Hey, my friend up ahead! I’m the one who’s hard of hearing—help me out again! What’s the high roller betting on this round—big or small? Why’s it so quiet? It’s so noisy here, I can barely hear a thing!”

“It’s not every day you get a shot at fleecing the big sheep. Heard she’s got a new boyfriend—a pretty boy who doesn’t like her coming to the casino. We’d better make the most of it while we can!”

“If we pull this off, I’ll treat you to barbecue and a deluxe bathhouse—the best in Konoha, run by one of those rich merchants from the Land of Hot Water…”

The blushing “big sheep”: “…”

The “pretty boy” boyfriend: “…”

The cucumber-faced attendant: “…”

Next week, there’ll be no promotion—I'll be running naked, so I’ll have to rely on you, dear readers.

To all who enjoy the bewitching Tsunade—who even knows how to lick earlobes—please vote and add this story to your collections!