By lunchtime, we'd already made it to the McDonald's and had a chance to look around. The design was just like the one in Konoha, but this place was twice as big, thanks to a wider lot and an extra floor. The kids' area had to be moved up to the third floor - there was no way to set it up outside.
Tanzaku just wasn't as safe as Konoha. The kitchen equipment, the cooks, the staff - almost everything was ready. All that was left was to find suppliers for ingredients and other products the restaurant would need.
There was even a separate office for the manager, though at the moment it only had a desk and a chair.
"What do you think of Saiko?" I asked, once Ayumi and I were alone in the office.
"She's reliable and responsible," Ayumi summed up her impression from working with Saiko.
And the fact that she had family in Tanzaku was a bonus. With two kids, it was unlikely Saiko would risk pulling any shady stunts just for her own gain.
Either way, I needed a local to manage my businesses in Tanzaku. Ayumi's job was to check in from time to time - make sure expenses weren't inflated, there were no leaks, and things were running smoothly.
"All right, invite her in." Saiko, who'd been waiting in the lobby, came to the office right away.
"Saiko-san, I'm happy with your work, so as per our agreement, you'll receive 630,000 ryo no later than tomorrow. After lunch, let's go to the bank together." Saiko gave a bright smile and nodded.
"If you ever need my help again, I'll be happy to assist."
"As it happens, I need a skilled person to manage this restaurant and my future projects in Tanzaku. Saiko-san, would you like to work with me?" The question caught her off guard, and judging by her face, she was seriously considering it.
Unlike Ayumi, who had a choice between working for me or going back to selling fish, Saiko had more options. She'd been a bank manager, and who knows, maybe in five or ten years she could've moved up to a higher position.
"Um… may I ask what my salary would be if I accept?" she asked, still thinking it over.
"Sixty thousand ryo… for each place you manage. Plus, you'll get bonuses for the amount of work you do." I added the last part with a slight smile. For some reason, my employees always seemed happier about bonuses - an extra ten or fifteen percent - than their base salary.
How much was Saiko making at the bank? That was easy to find out. Before the whole Danzo mess, I'd sent a shinobi to Tanzaku to check on the McDonald's construction, and while he was at it, I asked him to gather some general info on Saiko.
By "general info," I meant her salary, address, property, and family. But the shinobi took it to another level - now I knew her blood type, how many times she'd visited the local clinic, who she talked to most, her kids' birthdays, and a lot more. *You really have to spell out the task for some shinobi,* I thought.
"I'll need… a little time to decide, but don't think I'm trying to drive up my price - your offer is more than fair," she assured me.
Sure, forty thousand versus sixty thousand ryo might not look like much, but that's a fifty percent raise, and those extra twenty thousand ryo are more than enough for the average Tanzaku resident to live on and support their kids. In Konoha, people could get by on eight to thirteen thousand a month, but taxes were lower there.
The restaurant was close to the center, so it was easy to find. While I was checking things out, a few people even came in to ask if we were open.
"No, but we'll open tomorrow. And just between us, from noon to six, everyone can get their order for free." I told every random visitor, and they left with a sly look - probably to tell their friends and figure out how to get as much free food as possible.
"Aren't you going to lose money that way?" asked the chunin team leader I'd hired.
"A little, but by tomorrow, all of Tanzaku will know about my restaurant," I replied confidently.
We'd already tested this method in Konoha, and it worked like a charm.
We found a random café nearby for lunch, then headed to the bank. Except for Ayumi and Saiko, I left my other escorts waiting outside.
At the bank, I paid Saiko and asked, "Remember when I asked you to look for a good plot of land in the center or within five hundred meters? My books and two restaurants aren't enough to cover all the payments I'll need to make in three months. I have to speed up my business plans, and that's why I hired those earth-style shinobi - to build another source of income as fast as possible."
"Yes, I found a great spot, but the asking price is above market - the owner wants four million ryo," Saiko said, a little worried.
Yeah, that's steep, but not unexpected. Land in Tanzaku is the most expensive after the capital.
We left the bank to check out the property. It was just two streets from the main market square, where you could find anything - food stalls, gambling dens, bars, one-night hostels, and brothels. Well, not official brothels - in some places, like bars, you could get "special services" if you spent enough or became a regular. You couldn't just hire a girl outright. The Land of Fire had its own morality laws and other nonsense, but clever entrepreneurs always found ways around them. In the end, these "brothels" made more money than if they'd just opened a regular whorehouse.
The land was exactly what I wanted - a corner lot, right at the intersection of two streets, and just a few shops down was a movie theater. Perfect. Definitely worth buying, and that old building on the lot - a former construction supply store - needed to be torn down.
Saiko knew where the owner lived, but I couldn't be bothered to go negotiate.
"Ayumi, get the restaurant ready for tomorrow's opening. Saiko-san, tell the owner I'm ready to buy. If you need me, I'll be at the movie theater." I pointed out where I'd be for the next hour and a half.
With the women off to work, the guys and I went to have some fun.
****
Koyuki Kazahana, better known as Yukie Fujikaze - or, to most, the actress who played Princess Fuun - was wandering the city center, trying to kill time after her schedule suddenly cleared up. [ image ]

Director Makino had postponed filming and rehearsals, giving the whole cast a day off. Makino-san rarely changed his plans, so it would've been a crime not to take advantage.
Her colleagues had invited Koyuki to a bar, but she preferred to drink alone, especially when old memories started to drag her down.
As she strolled through the center, she spotted someone who drew the attention of everyone around.
*That's the guy who ruined the scene yesterday,* she realized almost immediately - Akira.
Koyuki found it funny how so many girls kept turning to look at him as he passed. She got her share of stares too, mostly because people recognized her as the star of "Dynasty of Roam."
But today, with no makeup and dressed simply, hardly anyone recognized her as the famous princess. The glances she got were just curiosity at her unusual looks.
*He's going to the movie theater?* Koyuki realized, not sure why she decided to follow him and his group.
*Probably some rich kid,* she thought, watching him disappear through the theater doors.
Koyuki walked up to the entrance to check what was playing. There weren't many movies to choose from, but besides Makino-san, a few lesser-known directors had made a couple of films.
"2:00 PM - Dynasty of Roam: Dawn," Koyuki read on the sign and smiled. That film had been shot two years ago and was what brought Makino his first real success and money. She still remembered how the crew had to pinch every penny, and now they were making a sequel with three times the budget.
*I haven't seen it in a year - maybe it's time for a refresher?* She went up to the woman selling tickets and asked for a seat.
"Sorry, that young man who just came in bought out the entire fifth and sixth rows. There's nothing left there, but I can offer you a seat in the second row," the ticket seller said, not sounding all that sorry.
*He took two whole rows? That's enough for sixteen people!* Koyuki, unlike regular viewers, knew the best seats were in the back, though for some reason, most people liked sitting closer to the screen. She hated the front rows - an hour and a half with your neck craned was torture.
"Never mind, forget it," she said, waving her hand and about to leave, but the ticket seller suddenly called out -
"Wait, aren't you Yukie-san, the actress? Oh, sorry, I didn't recognize you right away. Please, wait a moment - I'll try to convince that young man to let you have a seat in the second-to-last row." And with that, the woman hurried into the theater.
*Well, at least fame is good for something,* Koyuki thought, a little pleased.
The woman soon returned, but from her face, Koyuki could tell things hadn't gone smoothly.
"Sorry, Yukie-san, I told him your name, but he didn't seem to know who you were. Still, he said you could have a seat if you bring him some street food to snack on during the movie."
"What? The nerve! What am I, his servant? He can't just give me a seat? And he wants to eat during the movie! Unbelievable!" Koyuki fumed, about to ask if food was even allowed in the theater, but when she saw the woman holding a wad of bills, she realized the question was pointless.
*Of course, what's forbidden for regular people is allowed for the rich. Fine! I'll get you your damn street food - and I'll make sure it's the spiciest thing I can find!*
****
"Excuse me, please," Koyuki said to the man sitting at the end of the last row.
*Seriously, what's with the mask? How's he supposed to watch a movie in that?* Koyuki snickered to herself at the "bodyguard."
"I'll take care of it. You can sit anywhere in the second-to-last row," the man said in a flat voice, taking the bags from her.
*So he's a coward too? Pfft.* Koyuki snorted and picked a seat in the center. It was pretty dark, but she could tell the young guy was sitting right behind her - the sound of rustling bags was loud and clear.
"Ugh, that's spicy! Who eats this stuff… that girl must have stomach problems," she heard a quiet complaint from the row behind.
"I don't eat that!" Koyuki almost blurted out, but held back. She knew all too well what spicy food did to your body, especially on the way out, and realized this jerk was "thanking" her for the food.
"Renaro, you try some too," he went on.
"No thanks, Akira-san, I don't do spicy," a younger voice replied.
*So his name's Akira. Good to know.*
"Well, if the salty stuff's a bust, let's have something sweet. I've got a thermos and some pastries in my storage scroll." For some reason, Koyuki found his voice incredibly annoying.
Thankfully, as soon as the movie started, the back row went completely quiet.
*At least they have some manners,* Koyuki thought, finally getting into the familiar story.
"I don't get it - why didn't she grab some gold before leaving the kingdom?" Akira's voice drifted over.
"She was in a hurry!" Koyuki wanted to shout back.
"Oh, sure, she runs off to her mother's village - like no one would think to look for her there."
"Agreed, that's pretty dumb," the young guy next to Akira chimed in.
"Oh, look at those tears, what acting - so moving," Akira said, but he was laughing.
*This is a sad scene! It's not supposed to be funny! And what's wrong with my acting? Sure, we used eye drops instead of real tears, but my expression was spot on!*
"Wow, they even have special effects."
Hearing genuine surprise, Koyuki finally allowed herself a small smile.
"Yeah, we worked hard to get that rainbow glow just right."
"Except, you know, metal surfaces don't reflect light like that."
*CHOKE ON YOUR TEA!* Koyuki gripped the armrests, wishing the guy behind her all the best.
🔥~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🔥
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