Instead he was doing it this way.
"Three of a kind, tens."
"Hmph," said Ibiki, putting down four queens.
"That lets me out," said Tsume Inuzuka, snarling at her own cards as if they'd let her down.
"Yes, so it is," admitted Hiruzen Sarutobi, Third Hokage. Though in the setting of these poker games - he was just another person with enough wealth to participate.
"Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?" asked Anko, taking off her trenchcoat.
Tsume snorted as various male gazes jerked to certain motions. Not that anyone here was going to be too badly fooled by such tricks, not when the money was on the table at least. She did wonder why the former apprentice of the traitor was invited though, but she figured that the reason would become obvious soon enough.
"Sarutobi, have you reached a decision on Uzumaki yet?" asked Homura.
"It's a tricky decision," said Hiruzen, waiting as the cards were shuffled.
"What's a tricky decision?" asked Tsume, figuring that this was probably the reason for Anko's presence finally.
"Naruto Uzumaki," said Hiruzen, looking and sounding a bit distracted. "He is not only the jinchuriki, but he is coming along quite well as a student of the shinobi arts. Since there was an assassination attempt, he can't simply keep living alone as he currently does. Because of the various engagements and ties to clans, some made before his birth, deciding where he is to live is... complicated."
Tsume exchanged a glance with Kuromaru, who rolled his single remaining eye in imitation of the human gesture. Well, she knew her part. "So you can't choose one of the clans he already has a tie to, because then you're choosing favorites."
"Exactly," said the Hokage.
"Ah," said Ibiki, glancing towards Anko.
"Maybe you should put that on the table, loser of the next hand is stuck with a young brat to take care of," said Anko.
Kurenai, sitting behind her friend, shook her head. "Tempting fate there."
"Well, I suppose we're all responsible adults here," said Hiruzen.
All the cheats were readied by everyone at that table.
However, the fix was already in. Several participants were actively cooperating.
The outcome was as planned:
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(Posted Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:13)
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