Chapter 19: A Gamblers Plan
The morning light filtered through Konoha's quiet streets as Raven, still disguised as her five-year-old form, wandered the rooftops. Her violet Rinnegan faintly shimmered beneath her transformation jutsu as her thoughts spiraled. The village was slowly recovering from the Nine-Tails' attack, but all Raven could think about was her son—Naruto Uzumaki—and the tangled threads of destiny that bound him.
As she perched on the edge of a roof overlooking the Hokage Monument, Yuumi appeared beside her, gracefully leaping onto the ledge. The nine-tailed fox stretched lazily, her blue eyes glinting with mischief. "You've got that look again, little fox."
"What look?" Raven asked, resting her chin in her hands.
"The 'I'm about to punch destiny in the face' look," Yuumi said, smirking.
Raven snorted. "Maybe I am. Do you have any idea what's been done to my son? The Sage of Six Paths used his sons—Asura and Indra—as pawns in his twisted cycle of karma. And now, thanks to that so-called god, my Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha are stuck in an endless loop of reincarnation and conflict."
Yuumi tilted her head. "The old Sage really screwed things up, huh?"
"That's putting it lightly," Raven muttered. "Asura and Indra's spirits have been warring through their descendants for generations. Naruto and Sasuke are just the latest victims. And when the Sage shows up to hand out his 'power of friendship' speech to Naruto in the future, I'm going to punch him so hard he'll wish he reincarnated himself."
Yuumi burst out laughing, her tails flicking playfully. "Oh, I can't wait to see that. But seriously, what's your plan? Are you going to rewrite fate itself?"
Raven's lips curled into a sly smile. "One step at a time, Yuumi. First, I need to make sure Naruto has a home—away from that orphanage. I'm going to adopt him."
Yuumi raised an eyebrow. "You do realize that'll put a giant target on your back, right? Danzo and the Third will have questions."
"I know," Raven said, her voice firm. "That's why I'll use another transformation. I'll create a persona—an adult, wealthy, and completely untraceable identity. Let Danzo and the Anbu dig all they want. They won't find anything."
"Sounds ambitious," Yuumi said, grinning. "But how are you going to pay for this mysterious wealthy persona? Robbing banks?"
"Please," Raven said, rolling her eyes. "I'm going to do what all great shinobi do in my position."
"Create chaos?" Yuumi offered.
"Write a novel," Raven declared, her eyes gleaming.
Yuumi blinked. "A novel? Really?"
"Yes," Raven said, sitting up straighter. "A story about a strong, independent kunoichi who travels the world, gambles, wins every time, and secretly rules with an invisible harem of women who adore her."
Yuumi burst into laughter. "Let me guess—it's based on someone you know?"
Raven grinned. "Maybe. I'll call it... 'The Lady of Luck: Tales of a Winning Kunoichi.' The main character will be Toshiko Senzu. She's confident, cunning, and always one step ahead of everyone else."
"Oh, this is going to be a disaster," Yuumi said, cackling. "A best-selling disaster."
"Exactly," Raven said, smirking. "It'll rake in enough money to cover everything—Naruto's future, my plans for Uzushio, and maybe a few pizzas along the way."
Later that day, Raven sat in her underground training ground beneath the Crusty Kunai, a blank scroll in front of her and a brush in hand. She tapped the end of the brush against her chin, deep in thought.
"Alright," she muttered to herself. "Chapter one. Toshiko Senzu walks into a gambling den and—"
"Wins everything?" Yuumi interjected, lounging on the table. "You're not even trying to make her relatable."
"She's not supposed to be relatable," Raven said. "She's supposed to be legendary. The kind of woman everyone either fears, envies, or falls in love with."
Yuumi raised an eyebrow. "Sounds familiar."
Raven smirked. "You think so?"
Before she could finish her sentence, a loud commotion erupted from upstairs. Raven sighed, dispelling her transformation jutsu, and quietly crawled into her crib to avoid suspicion. From her vantage point, she listened as her parents—Aiko Kamizuki and Hajime Kamizuki—argued loudly.
"Aiko!" Hajime's deep, sage-like voice carried through the house. "Pizza may fill the body, but ramen nourishes the soul."
"Ramen is overrated!" Aiko snapped, slamming her rolling pin onto the counter. "Pizza is the food of champions! Of legends!"
"Ah, my dear wife," Hajime said cryptically, stroking his long beard. "True enlightenment comes not from defeating ramen, but from understanding its place in the grand carb hierarchy."
Raven rolled her eyes from her crib, hiding her grin behind her blanket. "They're at it again," she muttered under her breath.
Her parents were busy preparing for the next Battle of the Carbs, their ongoing rivalry with Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen. This time, the stakes were higher than ever—the competition had caught the attention of the village's most prominent food critics. At the Third Hokage's request, the event was being held to lift the morale of Konoha, which had taken a significant hit since the Nine-Tails attack. The Clash of Carbs was exactly what the village needed to bring people together and restore their spirits.
"You'll see, Hajime!" Aiko declared. "This year, my Sage of Six Slices pizza will crush Teuchi's boring bowls of broth!"
Hajime sipped his coffee thoughtfully. "The Sage of Six Slices... a noble endeavor. But can it withstand the simplicity of perfect noodles?"
Raven stifled a laugh. "Someday," she whispered to Yuumi, "I'll take over the Krusty Kunai and perfect the Sage of Six Slices. Then I'll finally defeat Ichiraku Ramen. With every slice being a different kind of pizza and topping the plan is full proof."
Yuumi snorted softly. "You've got big dreams for someone who can't even reach the counter."
The next day, the Battle of the Carbs drew a massive crowd to the center of Konoha. Villagers gathered eagerly, cheering for their favorites as Aiko Kamizuki faced off against Teuchi. Hajime stood to the side, his arms crossed as he offered sage-like advice to anyone who would listen.
Raven, still disguised as a baby in her mother's arms, quietly observed the chaos, her sharp eyes analyzing every move. Teuchi's ramen bowls were expertly crafted, his broth rich and aromatic. But Aiko's pizzas were masterpieces, each slice bursting with flavor and topped with intricate designs.
As the judges deliberated, Raven's mind wandered to her own future. "Someday," she thought, "I'll stand where Mom is now, and I'll win. I'll become the Sage of Six Slices."
The competition ended in a draw—again. Aiko sighed dramatically as she packed up her ingredients. "Next time, Teuchi," she muttered. "Next time."
Hajime placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice cryptic but supportive. "The journey of the carbs is long, but every step brings us closer to enlightenment." he said while twirling his sage like beard.
Raven rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "What a family," she muttered.
Later that night, back in her crib, Raven dispelled a Shadow Clone she had left to gather intel around the village. As the clone's memories flooded her mind, she smirked. "This place may be a mess," she whispered to Yuumi. "But it's my mess."
"And you're going to fix it with carbs and chaos?" Yuumi asked, curling up beside her.
"Exactly," Raven said, grinning. "Now let's get to work that book won't write itself that's what shaow clones are for."
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