The "child affinity" perk's first target turned out to be faux-loli Tsunade—a bizarre phenomenon Yorin had no clue about.
He just walked up to her like normal and said, "Chiko, you're acting up again~" Then he pinched the collar of her shirt and lifted her up.
"Eh… ah, Yorin-nii~"
What can you say—it is Tsunade. After years of dodging debt, pretending to be a loli is as natural to her as eating or drinking.
Hearing Yorin, she instantly got the hint, switched into "Yorin's imouto" mode, and started cooing in a cutesy voice—twisting and pouting to perfection. The debt-collectors were completely fooled.
"A brother-con loli and a sis-con pretty boy. Nothing to see here. Let's check over there!"
And just like that, the pack of collectors ran off.
Shizune: "…dammit, I can't take this."
Watching it, Shizune nearly lost her lunch.
For God's sake, granny, why the loli act? On top of mega-opai and big-sister vibes you've gotta slap on "legal loli" too? There are limits!
…
Meanwhile, Yorin kept carrying Tsunade along, speaking in a put-upon tone:
"Tsunade-nee, didn't I pay off all your debts?"
Granted, he "encouraged" the street bros to voluntarily drop the claims—but it counts.
"Why did you rack up new ones?"
"Ahahaha, well, I was bored these past few days, nothing much to do after we got back to Konoha, so I popped by the casino and, uh, tried a few rounds—hahahahaha…"
Still in loli mode, Tsunade laughed guiltily and scratched her hair, hoping to bluff it away.
And got a flick to the head from Yorin:
"—Laugh my foot, you money pit." He scolded, "How is there 'nothing to do'?! I told you to report to the Hokage's office—did you?
"I told you to sound out the Third and the other clans on Senju revival—did you?
"I told you to get in touch with the hidden Senju—did you?
"You think rebuilding a clan is a game? Huh?!"
"Just thinking about it gives me a headache," Tsunade shot back, raising her voice. "I'm not cut out for that kind of messy nonsense!"
She struggled in his grip, dangling in midair like a little girl sulking at her dad.
"Even if you're not, you have to! Or what—do you expect me to do it?"
"That's not… impossible."
"Impossible my foot! I'm not a Senju—how am I supposed to do it?"
"Well…"
At that she fell silent.
She'd thought of a way to "make" Yorin a Senju—but it was too embarrassing to say.
She knew that tabloid New Konoha Times had hyped her and Yorin—calling him her "kept." That was just sales fluff.
Not that she wouldn't want to—but the finances don't allow it. She's drowning in debt; Yorin, flush with capital, could "afford" a couple more wives.
Also… she was a little older than him, which felt… awkward.
…
It's only Konoha Year 50—Tsunade isn't at her canon debut age yet.
Otherwise even that thought wouldn't cross her mind.
"Konoha Macron"? Super long-haul? How could she imagine the heresy rattling around in Yorin's head?
…
Yorin: "Forget it. For now, stick with me. I'll keep an eye on you—and keep you away from casinos."
"Oh." She put on a disappointed face, but deep down felt a tiny spark of delight.
Yorin: "Also, I'll handle the 'win clan support' campaign. Stay close and watch how I get things done."
Tsunade: "Oh."
And with that, Yorin hauled her back to the Uchiha compound to see Fugaku—front row seat for his performance.
"Yo, Fugaku—long time no see. All well? Hahaha."
Of course she and Fugaku knew each other, but relations had never been good. Uchiha clan head and Senju princess—friendly would be suspicious.
This time, for Yorin's sake, Tsunade greeted Fugaku politely.
Fugaku's expression at the two of them was… complicated. Mainly at Yorin.
As if to say: "I thought 'Konoha Macron' was a joke—turns out you're serious?!"
Past the shock, there was a hint of respect.
Say it, do it. Uchiha Yorin—is a character.
…
Unlike Fugaku, another of Yorin's brothers—Uchiha Shisui—was there too.
Seeing Yorin, Shisui was purely happy.
And Yorin was glad to see him—months of "long-haul" had left Shisui tanned, lean, and solid. Dye his hair blonde and you could pass him off as Kumo.
Shisui ran long-haul outside; Yorin ran long-haul at home. The future was bright.
…
Yorin: "So, Clan Head—per our agreement, I brought back Tsunade-sama. In return, you'll support the Senju revival, right?"
Fugaku: "Well… you know how sensitive Uchiha–Hokage relations are. If we take the lead on Senju revival, it might strain things with the Fourth."
Just as expected—Fugaku the conservative needed pulling forward.
Yorin: "Oh? Then what about my Police reform plan? What good are Uchiha youths cooped up in a few city blocks?
"Do as I said: move one-third of our slots to Anbu; open Police recruitment to other clans and commoner shinobi!"
Fugaku: "...Perhaps we should talk about Senju revival instead."
Tsunade: "Huh?!"
…
And that's how the first great clan was happily "secured."
Fugaku's vibe was basically "watch the wind—if other clans support it, we'll support it; if not, we won't stick our necks out."
Yorin didn't care. He took Tsunade straight to the Hyūga—and asked to see Hiashi. No "probing" this time—he slapped the table and boomed:
"Clan Head Hiashi! The Uchiha—and the Fourth—support Senju revival! Do you support it?"
Hyūga Hiashi: "…"
Hyūga Hiashi: "What nonsense is this?"
Yorin: "As a ninja clan—and descendants of the Sage—surely Clan Head Hyūga won't oppose us…"
Hiashi swallowed.
Tsunade: "Huh?!!"
…
Next, Yorin went to the Hokage's office:
"Minato! Good news—I just secured three great clans' support!"
Minato beamed. "As expected of you, Yorin—brilliant!"
Tsunade: "HUH?!!"
~~~
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