"I'll sue you for slander, you're slandering me!"
Gin, who had just been thinking he'd share a moment of sympathy with the two Raikage, instantly went dark-faced when he heard the First Raikage's words. He almost jabbed a finger at the man's nose.
How could he, Uchiha Gin, who had always lived a clean life, ever go to those filthy houses of music and pleasure!
"…So it really wasn't you?"
Seeing Gin's indignant fury, the First Raikage stroked his little mustache and turned to the Second Raikage behind him, whispering,
"Oi, Ai-kun, didn't you ask around about that guest last night? What did you hear?"
"Apparently it wasn't Gin-san. The mama said the customer was some bald, tattooed man with a scary face."
"My apologies, it was our mistake. Please forgive us."
Realizing they had wrongly accused Gin, the First Raikage gave a sincere apology.
"You didn't know my character, so it's normal to misunderstand."
Seeing their good attitude, Gin waved it off as if he wasn't petty—but in his heart, he'd already jotted down a little mark against them.
"But Gin-brother, what are you up to so early in the morning?"
The First Raikage, holding his back, looked curiously at Gin, who was now dressed sharply. Yesterday he had been slouchy and casual.
"Oh, just heading to a meeting. You know, I'm sort of a small-time public servant."
Not wanting more rumors, Gin straightened his back with a grimace as pain shot through his waist, and answered with a serious face.
"A meeting? At the Hokage Building?"
"Of course."
The Raikage brothers exchanged a glance, and then the elder leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Gin-brother… do you have any inside information?"
Yesterday he'd seen how the security captain treated Gin with respect—clearly, this man wasn't just any random Uchiha. Surely he could dig up some details about the Gokage Summit.
"Inside info? About what exactly?"
"Tch… the Summit. Surely you've heard?"
Gin's brow twitched, eyes darting slyly as he pretended to hesitate. One hand made a subtle little gesture.
"Ohhh!"
The First Raikage immediately understood. He slipped a fat wad of Fire Country bills into Gin's hand.
"Gin-brother, just a little tea money."
"Ahem… These are Konoha's top secrets… it's really inconvenient for me to talk—"
Seeing Gin's hesitation, the Raikage pulled out another wad and stuffed it in Gin's other hand. Now the price was right. Gin leaned closer and said the words "bijū."
"…Information on the bijū!"
The First Raikage's eyes lit up. So Hashirama's letter had been true—Konoha really was planning to distribute the bijū.
"And the details?"
The Raikage probed eagerly.
"Tch, Ai-brother, you're making things difficult. The money you've given is just enough for this much info, not the whole thing…"
The First Raikage scowled, then turned to the Second.
"Ai-kun, hand over the expense funds. I gave them to you before we left."
"Eh? But, Lord Raikage, didn't you… spend it all last night?"
The Second Raikage looked dumbfounded. The First had blown the entire fund on drinks and bathhouse girls.
"Don't talk nonsense! Got receipts? How do I file the report back home? Hand it over!"
The elder's glare was sharp enough to kill. The younger sighed, then reluctantly handed over his private stash, his eyes brimming with tears.
That was his footbath money…
"Don't worry, when we return, I'll file it as intel costs. You'll get double back."
The First Raikage promised, patting his chest.
Turning back, he stuffed the pouch into Gin's hands with a smile.
"Gin-brother, sorry to keep you waiting. Now, about those bijū…"
"Alright. I can't say much, but there's one exclusive piece of intel… something only Hokage and I know."
Gin weighed the cash, then softened his tone with a friendly smile.
"What intel?"
The Raikage's heart skipped—this money was well-spent if he could get something only Hashirama knew.
"Ai-brother, Konoha's experts discovered there's a hierarchy among bijū. And the strongest one… has eight tails. Just one of them equals three of the others combined."
Whispering this into his ear, Gin smirked at the Raikage's delighted face.
Ah, what a trustworthy information broker he was~
"Gin-brother, thank you. I will repay you greatly in time!"
The First Raikage bowed his head with emotion. Tears nearly fell.
"No need. Just don't put a bounty on me later."
The three of them entered the Hokage Building together. Guards checked the Raikage's ID and waved them through.
"Eh? Gin-brother, you're going upstairs too?"
The Raikage expected Gin to stop at a lower-floor meeting room. But he kept climbing with them.
"Just passing by."
Gin smiled vaguely.
"But there's no more floors up there…" muttered the Second, uneasy.
"Maybe he's helping set up chairs."
The First nodded, comforting himself.
At the top, they saw a tall man in a red Hokage cloak, long black hair flowing, his handsome face shining with a bright smile.
"Welcome, welcome!"
"Lord Hokage?"
The First Raikage stiffened, instantly recognizing Hashirama. His aura pressed down on them like a mountain. Sweat prickled his brow, but he held firm.
"I am the First Raikage, Ai."
Hashirama smiled warmly, and then walked right past the Raikage.
Straight to Gin.
"Gin-nii, thank goodness you're here!"
The Hokage, the founder of a village and a nation, seized Gin's hand with a respectful, almost fawning expression.
"Haha, I even dug out my old robe for this. Had to look presentable, right?"
Gin laughed along, playing the part.
"…Gin-brother, you…"
The First Raikage stared, shocked. Who the hell was this man, that even Hashirama treated him like this?
"Eh, Ai-brother, you know me—I hate these political games. But I still look out for our friendship, don't I?" Gin gave him a wink.
"…Of course, of course. We're brothers."
The Raikage's black face cracked into a grin, nodding hurriedly.
"Gin-brother, tonight you must let me treat you to a proper footbath!"
"How could I trouble you like that~"
Hashirama watched this exchange, his expression complex. He hadn't expected Gin-nii to even befriend the Raikage. The man's charisma was truly terrifying.
Hashirama finally broke in.
"Enough chatting. Let's start the meeting."
Inside the meeting hall, the atmosphere was already tense. Gin glanced around—there was White Lotus, the Mizukage, glaring daggers with a scowling old man from the Stone.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Hashirama led the Raikage in. Immediately, all eyes locked on them.
"Such arrogance, Raikage, keeping us waiting this long," sneered Ishikawa of Iwagakure.
"Indeed. Hardly befitting a leader," added the Wind's Reido, steepling his hands like some commander.
White Lotus remained silent, not wanting to antagonize his trading partner just yet.
"Hmph!"
The Raikage snorted, his voice booming like thunder. No way was he backing down.
"Alright, enough! Everyone's here, let's begin."
Hashirama quickly smoothed things over.
"Lord Hokage, are you really attending alone?" Reido asked, noting his lack of attendants.
"No, I've brought Gin-nii… Gin, where are you?"
Reido squinted. Who? That curly-haired Uchiha?
"Gin… Gin-sama!"
Suddenly, the Sand's right-hand man, Shamon, shot up, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Yo~ Shamon, long time no see."
Gin greeted him with a grin.
"You… here?!"
Shamon was stunned, delighted but also shocked to meet Gin again in such a place.
"Didn't I tell you? My home's in the Fire Country. Isn't this normal?"
"…But this is—"
"Shamon, you're being rude."
Reido shot him a glare. Shamon immediately shut up, though his joy couldn't be hidden.
Gin moved on, nodding casually to each of the Kage, even throwing a "Hey, wig-boy" at the Mizukage's side.
The meeting began.
"I hope we can sign a peace treaty. In return, I will distribute the bijū equally among you."
"So… this is a transaction?"
Reido's voice was cold.
"…Exactly. But the bijū won't be given freely. Each village must… purchase them."
The room fell into icy silence.
Hashirama sweated nervously. Gin patted his arm.
"Relax. Leave it to me."
"Gin-nii, maybe we can offer a discount—"
"Shhh. Just watch."
Then the haggling began.
The Wind demanded land instead of bijū. The others threatened to unite against him. Tension boiled.
And Gin, at the perfect moment, drawled lazily,
"…Don't tell me someone here actually thinks their bijū is the strongest in the world?"
Reido bristled.
"You dare mock Shukaku? It can obliterate a village in an instant! And the monks who sealed it said—Shukaku himself often boasts he's the strongest bijū of them all!"
(End of Chapter)
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