𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐆𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍

The Bet

Last Time:

Tsunade sighed and placed her cards down, "You're right, which is why you should count me out. Playing at Hokage? That's a fool's game."

Now:

Naruto jumped onto the table and ran towards Tsunade, but Hanara pulled him back with her chakra threads.

"Let me at her, Hanara!" Naruto growled.

"That's enough Naruto," Jiraiya scolded, "People are watching!"

Naruto growled and went limp against Hanara's grip.

"Don't think about it, Naruto. I'm not going to let you go." Hanara sighed.

"She needs to learn a lesson! Who does she think she is, insulting the Fourth Hokage and Old Man like that?" Naruto exclaimed angrily.

"I know." Hanara nodded, "Believe me, I think she needs to learn her place, too, but attacking her in the middle of a restaurant isn't going to do anything!"

"I'm not going to just sit here and let her make fun of them! No way! I don't care if she is an old lady!" Naruto yelled, his hand unconsciously forming a fist, "I'll knock that cynical sneer off her face!"

"Is that a challenge?" Tsunade asked.

"Lady Tsunade," Shizune said, warning her.

"You bet it is!" Naruto declared.

"Hmph. You've got guts if nothing else. Let's take this outside, kids." Tsunade smirked, standing up.

"No, no, no," Shizune said worriedly, putting her face in her hands.

"Let him go, Hanara. When Tsunade gets like this, it's best to indulge her," Jiraiya told her.

Hanara released Naruto and sighed, 'Hotheads, the both of them. Ohhhh Tenten is gonna be so disappointed.'

They all walked outside. Naruto and Tsunade stood on opposite ends of the street while Jiraiya, Hanara, and Shizune stood to the side.

"One of the Legendary Sannin taking on a snot-nosed Genin. I ought to be ashamed of myself," Tsunade said, riling Naruto up.

"Who're you callin' snotty," Naruto demanded.

Hanara shook her head, 'Naruto isn't going to be able to beat her. The best close-range fighters on the field are combat medics and Shadow Clone Jutsu or not, Naruto still can only do close-range. Combat medics can nearly replicate the Gentle Fist, except instead of targeting chakra points, they can target nerves.'

"One finger," Tsunade said, raising her right hand's pointer, "That's all I'm going to need to beat you."

'So she's not going to do that. Naruto has a chance.'

"Please don't," Shizune begged.

'Do what? ...ohhhhh Tsunade was known for her chakra-enhanced strength. She could destroy boulders with a flick of her finger. She's probably gonna do that but to Naruto. I take that back, Naruto doesn't have a chance. At least he won't die. He'll just take an ego beating.'

"You're such a showoff," Jiraiya sighed.

Tsunade ignored him, "Well, what are you waiting for? Come at me."

"Don't ever underestimate me!" Naruto growled.

He ran towards her and threw three shurikens, all of which Tsunade dodged. Undeterred, Naruto took out a kunai, but he made the mistake of holding it in grabbing range. Tsunade used her pointer finger and put it through the kunai's hole, spinning it and using its momentum to pull off Naruto's headband. She then used the same finger to flick Naruto's forehead, sending him flying back.