"Big Sister-in-law, what do you need the budget for?"
Senju Tobirama drew a long breath, steadied himself, and finally asked.
In a way, when it came to tormenting him, his sister-in-law and big brother really were a perfect duo. What a curse.
"Of course to bulk-purchase New Ninja and give it to the village's kunoichi—to help them cast off backward notions, pick up their shinobi paths again, become ninja once more, and continue shining for Konoha."
Uzumaki Mito's phrasing was impeccable.
"Pick up their shinobi paths."
"Become ninja once more."
"Continue shining for Konoha."
Even Tobirama couldn't find an easy angle to rebut. Which was the problem—no problem was the biggest problem. His instincts screamed that something was off. That born-evil brat Uchiha Makoto definitely had an agenda, and Mito's current state looked just like his brother's at the time.
If he let her run wild, trouble would follow fast.
"Big Sister-in-law, I need to think this over. The village coffers aren't flush, and there are plenty of places that need funding. Pouring precious operating funds into this feels wasteful."
He declined as gently as he could. He couldn't just let his sister-in-law run amok. No. Absolutely not.
"This isn't bad for Konoha. Kunoichi aren't inferior to male shinobi. Why must they abandon their shinobi paths after marriage and be shackled to the household? That's unfair."
"If they return to duty, Konoha's competitiveness rises. Or are you one of those men who look down on kunoichi?"
Hearing the refusal in his tone, Mito argued her case. The tactics came to her naturally; she slapped a "bias against women" cap right on Tobirama's head.
"That's not what I meant."
"This is no small matter. I really can't agree on the spot."
He kept stalling. This could be big or small. If it were just her initiative, fine. But the moment it touched that born-evil Uchiha kid, he had to tread carefully.
"Tobirama, I may not have great achievements since marrying into the Senju, but I've suffered plenty. I've borne children for your family and handled even your daily meals."
"You know how Hashirama is. I've figured it out. From now on I want to live for myself. This is the first thing I'll do after starting anew. Are you really fine watching me idle at home and sink into gloom every day?"
She switched tactics and played the aggrieved. Since marrying in, she'd toiled, borne children for Hashirama, and now suffered neglect because of another man. Was that humane?
"Big Sister-in-law… don't be like this."
"Ah…"
Tobirama's face knotted. He could see her contributions clearly. If he didn't yield now, somehow all of this would become his fault.
Damn it. What does this have to do with me? Shouldn't these words be aimed at my brother?
"One sentence."
"Tobirama, do you agree or not?"
She gave him no room to tug back and forth.
"…"
Moments later, Mito left the Hokage's office smiling.
Only Tobirama remained with a face full of gloom.
"Brother, my life's been ruined by you!"
"All I do is clean up your messes!"
"You damned brother!"
"And Uchiha Madara—I'll kill you!"
Two months later.
Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara finally returned to Konoha. They'd actually finished their work a month earlier, but the two of them had wandered mountains and rivers, happy as larks, and delayed the trip home.
From afar, Konoha looked more prosperous than two months ago.
Otherwise, not much had changed.
There was one difference.
Uzumaki Mito had found a new purpose. She often went door to door with rice and flour, offering warmth and persuading kunoichi who had quit to return to the shinobi ranks. With her reputation, she quickly gained supporters and even founded the "Kunoichi Mutual Aid Society" in the village.
The society was actively recruiting, with grand ambitions to bring in all of Konoha's kunoichi.
Tobirama was still in the office daily, processing documents, and doing research after hours.
He just picked up a chorus of people behind his back calling him a plagiarist.
Thanks to a dedicated budget line, New Ninja's sales in Konoha kept climbing. The higher-ups subscribed daily and noticed some of Tobirama's new directives mirrored Akatsuki Village's—and were worse, a downgraded imitation. Copying badly was still copying.
Tobirama stayed stubborn.
He didn't copy, so he didn't copy.
"Madara, I'm heading home. I've been away so long Mito will nag me again…"
"Got it."
Hashirama waved and strode toward his house.
Akatsuki Village.
In the council chamber.
All top brass were present.
Uchiha Makoto's face was dark. He hadn't expected Cloud shinobi to have the gall at this point to strike at Akatsuki and Konoha shinobi. Did they not know how to spell "death"?
"Damn it, Cloud-nin!"
"You dare kill my men!"
According to the report from ANBU, the two sides had clashed hard.
Both Konoha and Akatsuki had casualties: one chūnin from Konoha, two chūnin from Akatsuki.
Even though Makoto and Tobirama disliked each other and loved slipping eye medicine to the other, cooperation between Konoha and Akatsuki had continued—especially on missions.
On a major A-rank mission, Konoha sent a squad and Akatsuki sent a squad. Together they went to the Land of Rice Fields. They ran into shinobi from Kumogakure, a fierce battle erupted, and both sides suffered losses.
"Lord Kōkage, perhaps there's a misunderstanding. In the past, clans on missions would sometimes brawl, even with injuries and deaths. It happens."
"No need to make a federal case of it and summon us all."
"Exactly. These things are inevitable. As long as compensation is settled afterward, it's fine."
The heads of small clans murmured. They liked to play both sides. In the Warring States, this kind of thing was commonplace to them—as long as the compensation afterward arrived on time.
Makoto's brows knit. He hated hearing this mealy talk.
"Patriarch Kaguya, what do you think?"
"Lord Kōkage, I say we mobilize and crush the Cloud right now."
Kaguya Masao spoke like the head of a great clan.
Their people had died. How could a simple payout settle that?
What? Cloud had dead too?
What's that to me?
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