040 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

Tsunade laughed triumphantly, tossing the dice cup skillfully in her hand.

"Haha, three fives! A leopard roll! You're done for this round. Open yours already!" Her smug expression screamed professional gambler, as if she'd been born at the casino tables.

"You really like gambling that much, huh?" Arashi asked, shaking his own dice cup lazily. He wasn't particularly interested in gambling, but the enthusiasm from his opponent was hard to ignore.

"Of course! It's in my blood. Ever since I could remember, my grandfather would take me to the card tables," Tsunade said confidently.

"Oh? Truly impressive. So, how skilled was Lord Hashirama at gambling?" Arashi teased with a smirk.

"Uh…" Tsunade's confidence wavered as an awkward look flickered across her face.

"Well, naturally, he was… Hey, enough with your dice shaking already! You're going to break them—just open it!"

Arashi chuckled silently. It seemed the legendary "God of Shinobi" wasn't so great at gambling either, just another soul with poor luck and a strong addiction.

"Alright, let's see… Three sixes! Pay up!" Arashi revealed his dice with a triumphant grin, winking at Tsunade. Her reputation as the infamous "Big Gambler" was certainly well-deserved.

"No way! How is that possible? You must've rigged this with iron sand or something!" Tsunade's eyes went wide with disbelief as she reluctantly handed over her coins.

"Cheating? Against my own girlfriend? Do you take me for that kind of guy?" Arashi laughed, but suddenly, an idea struck him like a bolt of lightning. Without thinking, he grabbed Tsunade's hand, his expression turning serious.

"Hey, in Konoha, is gambling really that popular?"

"Of course! My grandfather started the trend. Even the village elders are all avid gamblers. Most Konoha shinobi gamble when they're off duty," Tsunade explained nonchalantly.

"What do they play? And where do they play?" Arashi's eyes lit up with interest.

"They play everything! Slot machines, pinball, cards, dice, baccarat… There's even an entire street in Konoha dedicated to gambling dens. Why? You interested in visiting?" Tsunade asked, puzzled.

Arashi's mind raced as he pieced together a plan. Across all worlds, one thing was constant—gambling was a gold mine. Take Macau, for example. A tiny place with just 32.9 square kilometers of land and a population of 680,000. Yet its gambling industry raked in over 22 billion U.S. dollars annually. Adding in real estate, tourism, dining, and entertainment, it was a trillion-dollar empire. If Americans could create Las Vegas in a desert, why couldn't Sunagakure build its own casino city in the Wind Country?

(T/N: Macau is a former Portuguese colony, a world-renowned gambling destination.)

He knew the three essentials for running a successful casino: massive cash flow, robust security, and extensive connections. As he mentally ticked off each requirement, he realized he had everything he needed.

Financial Resources

Sunagakure was no longer the poverty-stricken village it had been two years ago. Thanks to the Hourglass Group, the village had profited massively by selling wartime supplies—ninja tools, canned food, tactical boots, and vests—all sold as fast as they could produce them. Monthly profits exceeded 80 million ryo. The agricultural developments in Lake Tsuki were bearing fruit too, producing enough food to not only sustain the village but also begin exports. With the Sunagakure-Tsuki Highway nearing completion, food shortages would soon be history, and Sunagakure might even become a food-exporting nation. The village coffers currently held 500 million ryo, with projections to hit 1 billion by year-end. Money was no issue.

Security

As one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Sunagakure boasted formidable military power. Though the Second Shinobi War had cost them manpower, Hokuto's recruitment efforts in Lake Tsuki had bolstered their ranks significantly. The influx of clans with kekkei genkai and secret techniques, as well as rogue and missing-nin seeking refuge, had strengthened the village beyond its pre-war peak. Assembling a 10,000-strong force for security would be effortless.

Connections

As the Kazekage, Arashi had excellent ties with Konoha's leadership and had never clashed with Kumogakure or Iwagakure, making diplomatic relations feasible. Once the war was over, inviting leaders for friendly visits to the casino would establish a strong network. As for Kirigakure… best to hold off for now.

...

The more Arashi thought, the clearer his vision became, and a smile crept across his face.

"Hey, wake up! What are you grinning about?" Tsunade waved her hand in front of him, confused.

"Haha! My dear, I'm going to build you a casino city!" Arashi grabbed her shoulders excitedly.

"A… casino city?" Tsunade looked utterly bewildered.

"Yes! Imagine a city dedicated to gambling and entertainment! Filled with luxurious casinos, hotels, and every form of amusement you can think of. You could sip the finest wine, savor the most delicious cuisine, and gamble in grand casinos with every game imaginable…"

As Arashi painted the picture, Tsunade's eyes sparkled with excitement. By the time he finished, she was clutching his arm with stars in her eyes.

"Really? Is there really a place like that?"

"Not yet. But there will be! I'm laying the first brick right now!" Arashi packed up the dice and coins, ready to leave.

"The first brick? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Silly, it's the report I'll submit to the hearing committee. This isn't something I can do alone, but with everyone's help, it's entirely possible," Arashi said, tapping Tsunade's forehead with a grin.

"I want to help too!" Tsunade raised her hand eagerly.

What started as a simple proposal sparked massive excitement in Sunagakure's hearing committee. Instead of opposition, everyone clamored to ensure this new venture wasn't monopolized by the government like the Hourglass Group. Families demanded to invest as shareholders, leading to heated debates over equity distribution. Word spread quickly, and even Hokuto and Karuke from Lake Tsuki rushed to join. Representatives from the Rain Country, including Rasa and Yura, also expressed interest.

The uproar became so intense that Arashi decided to convene the First Sunagakure Representative Assembly to settle everything in one go. This unexpected move alarmed neighboring powers, who feared Sunagakure was preparing for war. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi sent a letter pleading for peace:

"Dear Arashi,
Cherish the hard-won peace of the Wind, Fire, Rain, and River regions. Do not ignite the flames of war unnecessarily, lest countless lives suffer needlessly…"

Arashi couldn't help but laugh. "All I want is to build a casino city. Is that really such a big deal?"