"Sigh! I got careless, really careless~"
After being briefed by the clan member disguised as the leader of the craftsmen, Gin couldn't help but beat his chest in regret, groaning so loudly the entire street could hear him.
As the saying goes—wealth comes with risk!
In this war-torn era, lending money was an incredibly risky business. Borrowers could be killed as soon as they left the gate, or simply rely on their strength to default, among many other variables. As a result, the loan industry followed strict and unforgiving rules.
Even with collateral, the interest rate could be as high as 200%. Without collateral, relying purely on the honor of a contract? The rate would double.
"If I had known the market rates, I wouldn't have missed such a golden opportunity to rip off the white-haired guy!"
More than the small amount of money he lost, what upset Gin most was missing a golden opportunity to exploit Tobirama. But what's done is done. He already made his promise, so let this be his contribution to the construction of Konoha.
Someday he'd proudly slap the gates of the village and say: "I funded this!"
A few days later, when Gin saw that familiar blonde craftsman leading a group of workers toward the Senju compound, he knew the deal was done.
Did that make him a creditor of Konoha now?
"Aniki, do we really have to go?"
While Gin was out and about, a tall, black-haired figure was dragging an extremely reluctant white-haired man toward Gin's house.
"I still have a lot of official business to deal with. Why don't you go alone, Aniki?"
Tobirama, clearly annoyed, frowned and tried to reason with his overly enthusiastic brother.
"That won't do. Gin-aniki helped us when we were in a bind. Whether for public or private reasons, we must pay him a visit and thank him properly."
Hashirama, holding his little brother in one hand and a basket of mysterious yellow fruits in the other, smiled brightly as he patiently explained to the protesting Tobirama.
"I was the one who negotiated the deal, you know!"
Tobirama, recalling the sour expression of the craftsman leader from the Land of Waves, grew even more upset thinking about how low he had to stoop to secure the deal.
"If it weren't for Gin-aniki acting as the middleman, do you think we'd get a contract with such low interest?"
Hashirama scolded his brother. This Tobirama was great in every way, except for that stubborn attitude—unlike the obedient Wakan and adorable Itama, who never gave him this kind of headache.
"…Fine. Just this once, okay?"
Remembering the siblings they had lost in the war, Hashirama's tone softened. He only had this one little brother left. If he didn't spoil him, who would?
"Since you put it that way, I'll reluctantly go."
Tobirama sighed internally. "It's just to thank an Uchiha, right? For that curly-haired guy's sake, I'll go."
"Haha, I knew it, Tobirama, you're always the most obedient~"
Soon after, following the directions they'd been given, the two arrived at an extravagant Western-style wooden mansion. The lavish wooden structure stirred thoughts in both their hearts.
"Tch… That curly-head really is as rich as they say. No idea if it's legitimate or not," Tobirama grumbled internally as he eyed the luxurious mansion, far grander than anything in the Senju compound.
"Wait… is this house made with Mokuton?" Hashirama muttered in confusion.
As the only Mokuton user alive, he could clearly sense the Mokuton aura radiating from the structure—but he definitely didn't have a Wood Style: House-Building Technique in his repertoire.
Knock knock knock—
Still confused, Hashirama stepped forward and knocked firmly on the ornate door.
"Hey! You curly-haired baboon, did you forget your… ah?"
From inside, a voice shouted impatiently. Senju Itama, lounging on the couch, thought Gin had returned. She got up, opened the door, and started scolding—without even looking first.
But when no one responded, she blinked, looked up—and her soul nearly flew out of her body.
BAM!!
Reacting instantly, Itama slammed the door shut and leaned against it, body trembling. Her black and white hair was soaked in sweat, hands gripping the door with veins popping.
She was alone with Uchiha Hikari. That old woman had become strangely restless at night and comatose during the day—leaving her essentially alone.
"Aniki, who's that rude person?"
Tobirama, standing behind Hashirama, hadn't seen who opened the door and frowned. "Uchiha sure are rude… not like our Senju clan. All our men are gentlemanly. Our women… eh, let's not talk about that."
"Tobirama, pinch me."
"Eh? Since when were you into that…?"
Tobirama was confused, but still obediently pinched his brother's waist. When Hashirama winced in pain, he asked:
"You really felt that?"
"Yeah… Guess I'm not hallucinating," Hashirama muttered. "I must be exhausted. I just saw the ghost of someone long dead."
"What?! No way! It must be Uchiha Gin playing tricks again!"
Tobirama, a staunch believer in science, was indignant. "There's no such thing as ghosts!"
Death God: "You're mine, brat!"
"No, really! I saw a woman who looked just like Mom!"
"…You sure?"
"Yes! Early twenties, looked exactly like her, weird symbol on her forehead, short hair—half black, half white—"
At that, Hashirama stopped, eyes wide. So did Tobirama.
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
Both men screamed in perfect harmony, echoing up into the sky.
"Shut up already! You're so loud!!"
A moment later, Itama threw open the door again, glaring at the two men before her. Even though they were high-ranking figures in Konoha, her black eyes were fearless.
"Yes, ma'am!" ×2
"…Come in. And change your shoes."
A moment earlier, hiding behind the door, Itama's thoughts had been a mess.
Even after the Senju had defeated the Uchiha, she hadn't dared show her face to her former clan. Fear was part of it… but more than that, it was something deeper. Something like… longing.
She had been too scared to go back. Too scared of how things would be if she couldn't live like before with Gin.
But now that the clans were building a village together, her identity would eventually come out. So instead of waiting, she decided to take the first step.
"…Are you…?"
Hashirama, unsure and tentative, followed behind her. She looked so much like their mother… it made him hesitate.
"You… should've died," Tobirama said coldly, eyes narrowed.
Kōji had once insisted that their little sister was surrounded by savage Uchiha adults and had no chance of survival.
"I didn't die."
Itama sat down on the couch, picking up a chibi plushie of the Three-Tailed Beast, Isobu. Her eyes were filled with memories.
"Gin saved me that day. He stood against them all. Carried me through hell itself. Never let go."
As she spoke, a soft smile crept onto her lips—one Tobirama immediately noticed. And it set off alarm bells in his head.
Something terrible was happening.
"After that, we lived together. But don't get the wrong idea! He never did anything inappropriate. In fact… because of this weird name Father gave me, he thought I was a boy for years! Heehee~"
(End of Chapter)
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