Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

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"Haha! Three fives! A triple! You've lost this round for sure. Go ahead, reveal your dice!" Tsunade laughed smugly, expertly tossing the dice cup in her hand up and down. Her expression was that of a seasoned gambler who had spent years in the trenches of casinos.

"You really love gambling, don't you?" Jinghang asked casually as he shook his own dice cup, clearly uninterested in the game itself.

"It's in my blood! Ever since I was a child, my grandfather would take me to the gambling table," Tsunade replied confidently.

"Oh? My respect, then. How was Lord Hashirama's gambling skill?" Jinghang asked with a smirk.

"Uh… well, naturally, he was…" Tsunade's expression faltered for a moment, a trace of embarrassment flashing across her eyes. Jinghang couldn't help but chuckle internally. It seemed that even the legendary "God of Shinobi," Hashirama Senju, was just another unlucky gambler who loved the thrill but lacked the skill.

"Alright, reveal!" Jinghang lifted his dice cup, revealing three sixes. "Pay up!" he said triumphantly, winking at Tsunade. The infamous "Big Loser" of the gambling world was living up to her reputation.

"No way! How is that even possible? Did you cheat with iron sand?" Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief as she reluctantly handed over her coins.

"Do you think I'd cheat against my own girlfriend?" Jinghang laughed, but suddenly, an idea struck him like lightning. He grabbed Tsunade's hand tightly.

"Is gambling popular in Konoha?" he asked, his tone suddenly serious.

"Very popular! My grandfather started the trend. My second grandfather, Lord Hiruzen, and the village elders are all avid gamblers. Almost every Konoha ninja I know likes to gamble during their downtime," Tsunade replied, slightly confused by his sudden interest.

"What do they play? And where do they play?" Jinghang's eyes lit up with excitement.

"What do they play? Everything! Slot machines, pachinko, cards, dice, pai gow, baccarat, mahjong—you name it. There's even a whole street in Konoha filled with small gambling dens. Why? Are you interested?" Tsunade asked, her curiosity piqued.

Jinghang began calculating in his mind, his thoughts racing as a bold idea took shape. In every parallel world, the gambling industry was undoubtedly one of the most lucrative. Take Macau, for example—a tiny region with a land area of only 32.9 square kilometers and a population of just 683,200. Yet, its gambling industry generated over 240 billion MOP annually, with real estate, tourism, dining, and entertainment industries flourishing alongside it. It was a trillion-dollar business. If Americans could build Las Vegas in the middle of the desert, why couldn't Sunagakure create its own casino city in the Land of Wind?

Jinghang had read The Biography of Stanley Ho before his transmigration. The three key elements to running a casino were clear: 1) massive cash flow, 2) robust security forces, and 3) extensive social connections. As he counted off these requirements on his fingers, he realized he had all three!

In terms of financial resources, Sunagakure was no longer the impoverished village it had been two years ago. The Sandglass Group had firmly established itself, amassing enormous profits by selling war supplies. Ninja swords, canned food, tactical boots, and vests were all selling like hotcakes, generating monthly profits of at least 80 million ryō. The agricultural development in the Yuehu District was also beginning to bear fruit, producing grains, pork, lamb, chicken, vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs that not only met the village's needs but also started to support Sunagakure as a whole. Once the Sun-Moon Highway was completed, Jinghang believed that Sunagakure's food shortage would become a thing of the past. It might even become a food exporter. Currently, Sunagakure's treasury held five billion ryō in liquid funds, a figure expected to reach ten billion by year's end. Money wasn't an issue!

As for security, Sunagakure was one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Although the Second Shinobi War had caused some losses, efforts led by Baki in the Yuehu District had significantly bolstered the village's strength. The number of bloodline limit and secret technique clans had increased, and many renowned rogue and missing-nin had joined Sunagakure, either openly or secretly. The village's current strength even surpassed its pre-war level, easily fielding an army of ten thousand shinobi. Security wasn't an issue either!

And as for social connections? That was the least of Jinghang's worries. As the Kazekage himself, he had strong ties with Konoha's leadership. Sunagakure hadn't fought wars with Kumogakure or Iwagakure, and establishing diplomatic relations after the war would be as simple as visiting them and inviting them to gamble. Connections would naturally form. As for Kirigakure? That could wait for now…

As his thoughts coalesced into a clear plan, Jinghang couldn't help but smile.

"Hey! Hey! Snap out of it! What are you thinking about, standing there grinning like an idiot?" Tsunade waved her hand in front of his face, puzzled.

"Haha, my dear, let me build a casino city for you!" Jinghang said, placing his hands on Tsunade's shoulders and shaking her slightly in excitement.

"A casino city?" Tsunade looked utterly baffled.

"Yes, a casino city! Imagine a city dedicated to gambling and entertainment. The streets would be lined with luxurious casinos, hotels, and entertainment venues. You could sip the finest wine, savor the most exquisite food, and enjoy every gambling game imaginable in grand, opulent casinos…" Jinghang's description painted a vivid picture, and Tsunade's eyes grew brighter with each word. By the end, she was clinging to him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Really? Such a place actually exists?" she asked, practically starry-eyed.

"It doesn't yet, but it will soon! I'm going to lay the first brick for this city right now!" Jinghang said, packing up the dice and coins before turning to leave.

"The first brick? What do you mean?" Tsunade asked, confused.

"Silly girl, the first brick is, of course, the proposal I need to write for the hearing committee. I can't do this alone, but with a team, it's entirely possible." Jinghang smiled and playfully tapped her forehead.

"I want to help too!" Tsunade exclaimed, raising her hand enthusiastically.

What Jinghang didn't anticipate was how much of a stir his proposal would cause in Sunagakure's hearing committee. Instead of opposition, the committee members unanimously agreed that this project couldn't follow the nationalized model of the Sandglass Group. Everyone wanted a share of the profits, preferably through family-based investments. The debate grew so heated that a few elders nearly came to blows over the distribution of shares. By afternoon, word had leaked, and families outside the committee also demanded to participate. "Why should you old geezers hog all the benefits? We want in too!"

What began as a simple hearing turned into an expanded meeting. How expanded? By the next afternoon, even Baki and Karuke brought representatives from the Yuehu District to participate. Eventually, even Rasa and Yura, stationed far away in the Land of Rain, expressed their desire to send representatives. Everyone could sense that Jinghang's initiative might become one of the most lucrative post-war ventures. To prevent further chaos, Jinghang decided to convene the First Sunagakure Representative Assembly to resolve all related issues in one go. This move alarmed neighboring forces, who assumed Jinghang was preparing for a new war. Even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wrote him a letter urging restraint:

"Dear Brother Jinghang,

I implore you to cherish the fragile peace in the Wind-Fire-Rain-River region and refrain from unnecessary conflict. Let us not bring unwarranted suffering to countless lives…"

The letter was heartfelt and full of wisdom, embodying the demeanor of an elder statesman. Jinghang couldn't help but laugh and cry as he read it. I'm just trying to build something. Is that really so terrifying?