(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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Uzushiogakure...
Guest Mansion...
The door slid open with zero warning.
A streak of red energy burst inside—Kushina Uzumaki
"…WHERE IS THAT FAT—BURSTY—WOMAN?!"
Silence. Absolute.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Sitting calmly in the room—Tea in hand—Mito Uzumaki …blinked.
Caught off guard by the sudden appearance...
Once. Slowly.
Her gaze lowered—To the tiny storm that had just insulted her granddaughter with the confidence of a war general.
"…My, my."
A soft sip of tea.
"What colorful descriptions."
Kushina huffed in annoyance. Arms crossed.
Then—Proceeded to demonstrate.
She puffed out her chest exaggeratedly—
"…Like THIS!"
Then scowled—
"…and always making that annoying face!"
Mito raised an eyebrow. Just slightly.
'Yes.'
Definitely family.
She placed her cup aside—And gently crouched down to Kushina's level.
"…And why,"
She asked calmly,
"are you looking for Tsunade?"
Kushina didn't hesitate.
Not even for a heartbeat.
"I'm here to make sure she stays away from Leo!"
Declared. With full authority.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Silence followed.
Mito stared at her.
Then—Very slowly—A smile began to form.
"…I see."
Kushina nodded firmly. Completely serious.
-Nod!
"She can't just come here and—"
She waved her hand vaguely—
"…and do whatever she wants!"
Mito's eyes gleamed with amusement.
"And Leo?"
Kushina puffed her cheeks.
"He's…!"
A pause.
"…He's Leo!"
As if that explained everything.
Mito almost laughed. Almost.
Instead—She leaned a little closer.
Voice soft. Curious.
"…And what is Leo to you, Kushina?"
That—Made Kushina freeze.
"...."
"…Huh?"
For the first time since entering—She hesitated.
"…He's just—"
Her mind scrambled. Searching.
Rejecting options.
"…He's just… Leo!"
Mito covered her lips lightly. A soft chuckle escaping.
-Chuckle!
"…Of course he is."
Kushina frowned looking at the women before her give a knowing look as if she knew everything that happens in this world.
"…Why are you laughing?"
Mito straightened slightly. Still smiling.
-Cough!
"Nothing at all."
A pause.
Then—She added, ever so gently—
"Tsunade is not here right now."
Kushina blinked hearing her answer.
"…Where did she go?"
Mito's smile turned just a little more knowing.
"…Out."
A beat.
"With a certain someone, perhaps."
Kushina's eyes widened.
"…WHAT?!"
And just like that—The storm reignited.
She spun around—Already heading back out.
"…I'M GOING TO FIND HER!"
The door slammed open—Then shut again.
Gone.
Silence returned.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Mito stood there for a moment.
Then—A soft laugh escaped her.
"…How lively."
From the hallway—Nawaki peeked in.
"…What just happened?"
Mito picked up her tea again.
Calm. Amused.
"…The future," she said lightly.
"…just ran past us."
Tsunade didn't slow down.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't think too much about why she was here.
She stood before the mansion—
Leo's Mansion...
A place that felt… different.
"I'll drag him out if I have to," she muttered.
But the moment she stepped closer—She paused.
Something was… off.
"...."
Figures moved around the courtyard.
Cooking. Preparing. Working.
But—There was no presence.
No chakra. No life signature. Nothing.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. Instincts sharpening instantly.
-Frown!
"…What the hell?"
They moved like people.
Worked like people. But they weren't.
And the most unsettling part—They had no shadows.
Not even under the lantern light.
Tsunade took a step forward.
Careful. Measured.
The moment she did—Every single one of them—Stopped.
Turned. And looked at her.
Dozens of eyes—Radiant. Sky blue.
Glowing softly in the night.
For a brief second—The world held its breath.
Then—They went back to work.
As if she didn't matter.
Tsunade clicked her tongue.
-Tch!
"…Creepy."
She walked closer. Straight to one of them.
"…Where's Leo?"
The shadow paused.
Then—Its form rippled slightly. And it spoke.
"He is inside."
Its voice—Hollow. Layered. Not quite human.
"…Doing what?"
A brief pause.
"…Playing a game."
That word—Hooked her instantly.
Game.
Her mind jumped—Cards. Dice. Chips.
Victory.
Her eyes lit up in excitement.
"...."
"…Perfect."
Without another word—She marched inside.
Through the halls—Following the sound.
Laughter. Excited voices.
Leo. Aemma. Sasami.
Tsunade slowed slightly.
"...."
For some reason—Something in her chest tightened.
"…Why do they sound so happy?"
Annoyance flickered.
Uninvited. Unexplained.
She reached a door. Voices clearer now.
"…No, that's cheating!"
"That's not cheating!"
"It totally is!"
Laughter.
Tsunade's eye twitched.
"…Tch."
She raised her hand—And knocked. Once.
Then again. Harder.
Knock. Knock.
"…Oi."
Another knock. More force.
"Open up."
A pause.
"…I know you're in there."
Her tone sharpened slightly.
Because for some reason—She was irritated.
And she didn't like not knowing why.
From inside—Leo's voice drifted out, casual as ever.
"…It's open."
Tsunade didn't wait.
She pushed the door—And stepped in.
Then—Stopped.
"…What?"
The room was dimly lit.
But at the center—Something glowed.
A strange box. Flat. Bright. Alive with movement.
On its surface—Characters moved.
Fought. Jumped. Reacted.
Like a movie she once watched. But not quite.
Because—They weren't just watching.
They were controlling it.
Leo sat relaxed.
Aemma beside him.
Sasami leaning slightly forward.
Each holding a strange object in their hands—Buttons.
Controls. Triggers.
And every time they pressed something—The characters inside the box obeyed.
Tsunade's brows furrowed.
"…Is this… a genjutsu?"
"No."
Leo didn't even look back.
"…A summoning?"
"No."
"…Then what the hell is that?!"
Aemma giggled softly.
-Giggle!
"It's a game."
That word again.
Tsunade stepped closer.
Eyes locked on the screen.
"…Game?"
On the display—A character launched another across the arena.
Bright effects exploded.
Health bars dropped.
Sasami grinned looking at the screen.
-Grin!
"I'm winning."
"You're button mashing," Leo replied calmly.
"I am not!"
"You are."
Tsunade blinked hearing his instructions...
"…That's cheating."
All three paused.
Then—Slowly turned to look at her.
"…How is it cheating?" Aemma asked her curiously.
Tsunade pointed at the screen.
"…You're controlling them from outside!"
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"…That's the point."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Tsunade processed that.
"…So you're telling me—"
She pointed again.
"…those things inside that box—"
"…are fighting because of what you press?"
Leo nodded hearing her seeing she was finally understanding.
"Yes."
A pause.
"…And whoever controls better—wins?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
Tsunade's eyes slowly lit up.
"…Move."
She walked forward. Sat down.
Without invitation.
Hand already reaching—
"…Give me that."
Sasami hesitated hearing her excited voice.
"…Do you even know how to—"
"I'll figure it out."
Leo handed her a controller.
Tsunade looked at it.
Turned it. Pressed something.
On screen—Her character jumped randomly.
"…Huh."
She looked at the screen like a kid first time finding a candy.
Another press—Attack. Miss.
"…Tch."
Her focus sharpened instantly.
"…Alright."
A slow smirk formed.
-Smirk!
"If this is a game—"
Her grip tightened.
"…then I'm winning."
Leo leaned back slightly.
Watching. Amused. Seeing her react like Tai Lung who declares he had found a worthy opponent finally.
Because Tsunade—Legendary gambler.
Terrible luck.
Had just stepped into a world—Where luck meant nothing.
Only skill.
And for the first time—She was about to face a game—That wouldn't betray her.
Whether that was a blessing—Or a whole new kind of frustration—Was yet to be seen.
Rounds stacked one over another—Win. Lose.
Retry. Repeat.
The strange box revealed its name soon enough—Mortal Kombat
A brutal little universe trapped behind glass.
Fists. Kicks. Combos. Finishers.
At first—Tsunade was chaos.
Button mashing. Random jumps.
Wild attacks that hit more air than enemies.
"…Why isn't this working?!"
"Because you're fighting the controller,"
Leo said calmly.
"Tch."
But she adapted. Fast. Patterns emerged.
Timing improved. Movements sharpened.
Block. Counter. Strike.
Aemma blinked looking at her learning speed.
"…She's learning fast."
Sasami leaned forward.
"…That's not normal."
Tsunade smirked slightly.
-Smirk!
"…I told you."
Round after round—She got better.
Cleaner hits. Smarter moves.
Less wasted motion.
Until—Victory felt close.
Every time. Health bars low.
Opponent cornered.
Final hit within reach—And then—A mistake.
A mistimed attack. A missed block. A single opening.
Defeat.
"…WHAT?!"
Tsunade stared at the screen. Disbelief.
"Again."
Another round.
This time—Even better.
She controlled the pace. Forced mistakes.
Dominated exchanges.
"…Got you."
Final moment—She rushed in.
Too early. Counter.
Combo. Finish. Defeat.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Leo didn't react much.
Just watching. Observing.
Because the pattern was clear.
Not bad luck.
Something else. Tsunade leaned forward.
Eyes narrowed.
"…Why does this keep happening?"
No one answered.
Because she already knew. Deep down.
This wasn't gambling.
There was no luck here.
No fate to blame. No odds to curse.
Only—Decision.
Timing. Control.
And every time she lost—It was at the exact moment she thought—
'I've already won.'
Leo spoke quietly.
"You stop thinking."
Tsunade froze hearing him.
"…What?"
"You decide the outcome before it happens."
A pause.
"And that's when you lose."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
The words sank in.
Because it felt familiar. Too familiar.
Casino. Cards. Dice.
That exact moment—When she felt victory—Was always when everything fell apart.
Tsunade looked at the controller.
Then at the screen.
"…So what?"
Leo's gaze met hers.
"Win after you win."
She frowned confused at his words.
"…That doesn't make sense."
Leo leaned back.
"It will."
A pause.
"…When you stop chasing the result."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Tsunade looked back at the screen.
Another round started.
This time—She didn't rush.
Didn't assume. Didn't celebrate early.
She played. Properly. Carefully.
All the way—To the very end.
Final hit. Victory.
The screen flashed.
[K.O!]
Tsunade blinked still in disbelief.
"…Huh."
No explosion. No disbelief.
Just—A quiet win.
She exhaled slowly.
-Sigh!
"…Again."
Leo smirked faintly.
-Smirk!
Because now—She had finally started playing the right game.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Guys My New Fic name is:
-->Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable.
Check it out... I hope you will like it
Whats your thought's guys.
(A/N): I hope you guys are enjoying the story.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give areview
And power stone!!!
It will Motivate Me.