Naruto: Imitation Ninja

"Would you like to experience the thrill of winning?"

For Tsunade, who had never won a single game, this question was far more important than any material need.

The reason she had been so obsessed with gambling all this time was simple: she just wanted to win once. However, the results were often disappointing, which was one of the reasons she kept frequenting various gambling houses.

"Oh? You think you can let me experience the joy of winning?"

Tsunade had never had much faith in her luck. As one of the legendary Sannin, how could she not notice that the dealer was intentionally letting her win? Yet, despite the house practically giving her free passes, her luck was so bad it was almost tragic. She would often have a hand that could be considered a winning combination, but still manage to play it terribly.

"How do you know unless you try? Your luck might not be great, but mine? It's unbelievably good, maybe even out of this world~"

"A person with extraordinary luck, paired with someone who has never won—doesn't that sound like a perfect match, as if it's just balancing the odds?" Xing Liu smiled as he spoke to Tsunade.

"Since you're so confident, if I were to refuse, it might seem a little rude." With that, Tsunade pulled out the last silver coin from her pocket, the final bet of the day.

"This is my last round. Whether I can feel the thrill of winning or not, it's all up to your performance."

"Don't worry, you won't be disappointed," Xing Liu replied confidently, picking up the warm silver coin from the table and placing it in front of the dealer.

"I'll show you every possible way to win."

With the dealer calling out the standard gambling chants, Xing Liu's casino journey officially began.

"Roll! 233! Eight points!"

As the dealer opened the dice container, many of the gamblers who had bet lower numbers immediately fell from grace, scrambling to pull out more silver coins for the next round.

Did Xing Liu win in the first round? Please. Let's not forget he had the Sharingan, which was a cheat, and his luck was absurdly good. Not to mention, his protagonist's halo was practically a cheat code.

...

"342! Nine points!" With the dealer revealing the final dice roll, Xing Liu once again pushed a pile of chips (silver coins) toward Tsunade.

"So, how does it feel to win?" Xing Liu gestured toward the large stack of silver coins in front of her.

"Well... how should I put it?" Tsunade hesitated.

"Although there's a lot of money on the table, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with me."

"How is this any different from watching others win?"

"Isn't watching someone else win something I could do myself?"

Xing Liu scratched his head—if Tsunade was only watching him win, it would indeed feel just like what she said: she was not involved. After all, her losses meant others were winning, but her effort never led to victory.

"Sorry, I promise you'll be in control from here on out," Xing Liu said as he glanced around the gambling hall. "Seems like nothing here is purely based on personal skill..."

Just as he was about to give up, he spotted an inconspicuous game in the corner of the hall. Perhaps it was because of the odd assortment of items on the table, but this game required four players to begin, and it had a long starting process, making it unlikely to be found in a typical gambling house.

"Finally, I've found something that's not entirely luck-based and can still be played reasonably well."

Yes, Xing Liu decided to introduce Tsunade to a thrilling game of Japanese Mahjong.

Unlike the other games that relied purely on luck, Mahjong had an additional element—collaboration.

"You said earlier that it had nothing to do with you winning, right? Well, this game will surely give you a chance to participate, even if your luck is terrible. Someone can always help you with your hand."

"Look, Tsunade, I've got an idea that will not only involve you more but also give you a chance to earn money. Do you want to trust me one more time?"

Tsunade had already trusted him once, so what was the harm in doing it again?

With that, Tsunade placed all her remaining silver coins into a pouch and stood up, addressing Xing Liu: "I hope you're not lying this time."

"As for this money, think of it as a loan from me. I'll repay you one day through my own efforts."

"Heh, you don't need to worry about paying me back. Even if you don't, as long as you promise to help me save someone, that'll be enough," Xing Liu chuckled.

He had already stolen Kakashi's title as the Copy Ninja, and if Kakashi found out he'd been slacking off while trying to rescue him, he might switch sides to the Akatsuki without a second thought.

"I'm just kidding. No way would I gamble with someone's life... I'd rather face the wrath of the Nine-Tails mode and Rasengan warnings than take that risk."

"You're not telling me this is your plan, are you?"

After guiding Tsunade to a corner, Xing Liu revealed a dusty Mahjong set on the table.

"Yes. This game still involves some luck, but it's primarily about skill and strategy. The best part is, you won't be just watching me win—once you sit down, you'll definitely have a chance to win too."

Xing Liu's explanation was starting to win Tsunade over, but there was one problem—there were not enough players.

If this game was popular, the table wouldn't be collecting dust.

Just as Tsunade pondered the issue, Xing Liu suddenly returned with a few remarkable-looking people.

"Hey, girl! Just standing by the table, isn't that boring? Don't you want to join in for a thrilling game?"

---

Enjoying the story? Want to read ahead?

Get access to all 60+/116 Chapters and faster updates (12+ chapters everyday) by getting the whole collection for just $9.99! Note: You need a "Naruto: The Copy Ninja" $5 membership.You can choose to support me on :

P@treon : https://[email protected]/KZ478

Your support helps keep this story alive, and I deeply appreciate every contribution

Thank you for reading and supporting my work.