"Hashirama-kun, is something troubling you?"
Gin casually pulled out a chair and plopped down without ceremony, crossing one leg over the other. He glanced at the bright red numbers on the paperwork stacked on the desk, and his half-lidded, dead-fish eyes narrowed knowingly.
From the clear look of distress on Senju Hashirama's face, he had already guessed that the newly appointed village head had run into some trouble.
"Ah, well…"
If the visitor had been Madara, Hashirama would have likely poured his heart out, crying dramatically and begging for an angel investment he never intended to repay. But since the one here was Gin… it made him a bit embarrassed.
After all, Gin was a close friend of his wife, Momoka. If not for his son's smooth hair and sharp eyes, he might've started doubting Gin's generous red envelopes every holiday.
"Big bro, let me handle this."
For the good of the village, Hashirama could afford to be polite—but Tobirama didn't care for pleasantries. Turning toward Gin, who looked as chill as ever, he handed over the planning and financial reports.
His scarlet eyes briefly lingered on Gin's fluffy curls before he spoke in an unusually soft tone:
"According to our plans, the foundational infrastructure for the village is mostly complete. However, several key facilities have hit roadblocks and can't start construction."
"Eh, let me see… No way, you ran out of funds to build the Hokage Building?!"
Gin could already sense something off in Tobirama's words. He took the report, scanned it carefully, and blurted out in shock.
"You added this many residential zones? Why?"
He pointed to the huge increase in housing projects listed in the report, frowning deeply.
"Ugh, that's all big bro's doing…"
Tobirama didn't hesitate to sell out his brother when Gin hit the core issue. Covering his face in shame, he looked away.
"Haha… Well, so many shinobi clans submitted applications—we couldn't just tell them we didn't have space, right?"
As the culprit behind the financial crisis, Hashirama scratched his head and tried to justify himself.
"If they want to join, let them build their own homes! Why are you stressing over it?"
Gin raised an eyebrow. Clearly, future pillars of Konoha were already gathering here.
"We're offering them peace under Konoha's protection. Not charging them is generous enough—why cover room and board too?"
"Exactly, big bro. That's beneath you."
Even Tobirama found himself agreeing with Gin. His red eyes stared disapprovingly at his older brother.
"Ugh, well… the buildings are already up, what's done is done…"
Even as the de facto head of Konoha, Hashirama shrank under their combined gazes. Lowering his head, he muttered in defeat.
"So… you're here to borrow money from your cousin?"
Tossing the report aside, Gin sighed and asked directly.
"Haha, you're sharp as ever~"
Hashirama chuckled awkwardly and walked up to him enthusiastically, clapping a big hand on Gin's shoulder and kneading it as if to soften him up. His bright eyes narrowed slyly, gleaming with mischief.
Tch… This is heartbreaking. Look what power has done to this man.
"Look, Hashirama-kun, I want to help, but the truth is… the Uchiha coffers aren't exactly overflowing either."
Putting on a strained expression, Gin described the supposed financial state of the Uchiha clan.
"We're not like you wealthy Senju. Every coin we spend goes to essentials. Our entire settlement was built brick by brick with free labor from our clansmen."
"Clansmen? Funny, I heard you hired master builders from another nation to design your compound."
Tobirama interjected coldly, exposing Gin's lie without hesitation.
Indeed, Gin had recently asked Tajima to bring in a crew of master builders from the Land of Waves, renowned for their infrastructure. Mixed in among them were Uchiha who simply wanted to come back and visit home.
"Oh, those guys? The 'masters' from the Land of Waves? Let me explain…"
Gin's eyes rolled as he quickly came up with a story.
"We signed a contract with them. The Uchiha clan paid a small deposit upfront, and once construction is complete, we'll pay the rest gradually—interest included—over the coming years."
"There's a deal like that?"
Hashirama's eyes lit up. Prepay just a little and finish paying later?
"And the interest rate?"
Unlike his brother, Tobirama zeroed in on the practical details.
"Uh… pretty high. Thirty-five percent?"
Gin tensed. Tobirama looked serious—he hoped a high rate would scare him off.
But he had underestimated the Senju's desperation.
"Quick! Give me their contact info!"
Before he finished speaking, Tobirama blinked over and grabbed his shoulders eagerly.
"Wait, thirty-five percent! You heard that, right?!"
Gin was stunned. That rate would make most people back off. But this guy?
"I heard you loud and clear. You Uchiha are too sneaky—hogging deals like this for yourselves!"
"Huh???"
In the end, Tobirama badgered Gin into giving up the Land of Waves' contact info. Once he did, Tobirama promptly kicked him out.
"Tch. Weirdos. Excited over high-interest loans?"
Leaving the temporary Senju office, Gin returned to the Uchiha compound construction site. Spotting the bustling workers, he stopped a blond-haired builder at random.
"Oi, where's your foreman?"
"Huh? Who are you?"
The blond youth, carrying tools, was clearly annoyed at being interrupted. He shook Gin's hand off with a scowl.
"I'm your employer, man. Cut me some slack."
Gin didn't get angry. Instead, he stared curiously at the golden hair peeking from beneath the helmet.
"Oh! Sorry, boss! I didn't realize!"
The builder immediately flipped to full sunshine mode, bowing respectfully with a beaming smile.
"No worries. So, you from the Land of Waves?"
"Yep. Born and raised."
The youth's clear blue eyes sparkled with sincerity.
"How do you like the Land of Fire?"
Gin asked, eyes locked on his strangely familiar face.
"Pretty great. The climate's much nicer than home. If I get the chance, I'd love to settle here."
"Welcome, welcome~"
After a bit of idle chat, Gin followed his directions and located the foreman of the crew.
"Lord Gin!"
Before he could even speak, the foreman bowed deeply and made a hand seal. A puff of smoke later, the unfamiliar face vanished—replaced by a black-haired, black-eyed Uchiha clansman.
"Eh? You came back to visit too?"
Gin was surprised. He'd known some returning Uchiha were mixed in with the crew—but the leader too?
"No, Gin-sama. I was sent by the Daimyō of our clan to act as liaison."
The man shook his head and explained.
"I've been ordered to report only to you. No one else."
"Hah, Uncle's still cautious, huh. Well, since it's just us…"
Gin was planning to quietly inform the builders about the made-up loan scheme—but since they were family, all the better.
He explained everything in detail and instructed the man to offer the same "35% interest" deal if the Senju came asking.
"Wait, thirty-five percent?"
The man looked at him oddly.
"Are you sure you meant thirty-five… not three hundred fifty?"
(End of Chapter)
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