243. Expensive

Konoha.

With the ninja clans settling in, the village's development began to stabilize, and everything appeared well-organized. The shops that the clans had pre-prepared were gradually opening, filling the streets with endless hustle and bustle.

At present, the hottest topic of discussion on the lively streets was who would ultimately take the position of Hokage.

In a newly renovated barbecue restaurant, a group of people sat around a grill. One of them, a round and chubby man, eagerly flipped the sizzling meat on the grill, his small eyes brimming with anticipation.

The others around him casually sipped tea and chatted.

“Shinji, is this the amazing barbecue place you’ve been raving about? Doesn’t seem all that special,” said Shimura Kenichi as he glanced around the restaurant, finding its decor rather ordinary.

“You’ll know when you taste it! The barbecue here is the best in the world!” said Akimichi Shinji, his eyes glued to the grill, as he wiped away the drool at the corner of his mouth.

“The owner of this place is an Uchiha, isn’t he?” asked a spiky-haired man sitting across from him, his gaze landing on the Uchiha fan emblem hanging on the wall.

“Ah!”

Before Shinji could answer, a woman sitting in the corner suddenly let out a shriek.

“Minako, keep it down. This is a public place,” Shinji said with a sigh, looking up from the grill. “You’re interrupting my focus on the meat!”

“My bad, my bad,” Minako mumbled as she adjusted her messy hair.

“I don’t get why Uncle agreed to take on that debt,” Shimura Kenichi grumbled. “When we ransomed him from the Uchiha dungeon, the Shimura clan had to pour in a ton of money, even taking out a loan to cover the rest. I thought we could dispute the debt after getting him back, but all the elders who were rescued insist on repaying it with interest.”

“Yeah, Minako’s family spent the most—probably won’t finish paying it off in her lifetime,” Shinji added sympathetically.

“Still, it was worth it,” said Sarutobi Sasuke, who had been quietly gazing out the window. “My teacher, Takinosuke, was tortured beyond belief when he was captured. He even claimed his brain was damaged. But thanks to the meticulous care of one of the guards, he miraculously recovered his sanity.”

Hearing this, a faint light of gratitude flickered in Sasuke’s eyes.

Minako, sitting up straighter, added with a weak smile, “Our clan elder, Soichiro, is over seventy but still going strong. And those clothes I drew in the lottery? They’re selling like crazy in the capital—nobles are lining up to buy them!”

As she spoke, Minako reached for a piece of perfectly grilled meat and popped it into her mouth. Her previously dull eyes lit up with surprise as she savored the rich flavor. “Mmm! This is amazing!”

“See? I told you!” Shinji said proudly, though he didn’t protest Minako snatching a piece of meat.

“Wait… those ridiculous outfits are valuable?” Kenichi suddenly exclaimed, his tea spilling in shock. “I burned mine as soon as I got them!”

“You fool!” Minako teased. “Especially the swimsuits—nobles are paying millions for them.”

Kenichi’s face turned pale as he realized his mistake. “You mean those scraps of fabric are worth millions?!”

“Exactly. Just one limited-edition bikini sold for five million ryo,” Minako replied, holding up five fingers.

Kenichi slammed the table, overwhelmed with regret.

After a moment, his expression shifted to one of calculation. “The lottery tickets were 168,000 ryo each, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Nothing, just curious.” Kenichi smirked, already plotting his next move. If swimsuits were guaranteed in a ten-draw, he could easily flip them for massive profits in the capital.

Everyone exchanged knowing smiles, their thoughts clearly racing in the same direction.

Meanwhile, on Konoha's bustling streets...

Two striking figures strolled through the vibrant commercial district.

On the left was a tall, curvy girl with short hair dyed black and white, her cheerful smile drawing attention. The purple mark on her forehead gleamed under the sunlight.

Walking beside her was a serene-looking girl with flowing purple hair. Her noble aura made her seem untouchable, and a similar mark adorned her forehead, though smaller and lighter in color.

“Why are you out so early, Sister Haruka?” asked Senju Itama, tilting her head curiously. “You’re usually late for our shopping trips.”

“My mother said she’s not cooking lunch today, so I should eat out with you,” replied Uchiha Haruka, frowning slightly.

“That’s weird—Gin said the same thing!” Itama responded, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“Gin-san said that too?” Haruka stopped in her tracks, her unease growing.

“Yeah. He came back late from his ‘night run,’ all sweaty and smelling like the ocean,” Itama said, wrinkling her nose.

“Night run?” Haruka's eyes narrowed.

“Yep. He goes out every other night lately,” Itama shrugged. “Anyway, let’s not think about him. I heard the new shops in the commercial district are amazing!”

Before Haruka could respond, Itama grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the bustling shopping area.


"Big Sister Haruka, look quickly! There's an adorable doll here!"

With stars sparkling in her eyes, Senju Itama waved enthusiastically to Uchiha Haruka behind her, pointing excitedly at a fluffy little fox in front of her.

"Mm, nine tails. It’s indeed a bit cute."

Walking up to the fiery red fox doll on the shelf, Uchiha Haruka nodded in agreement.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this fox doll?"

"One moment, please."

The owner of the stall, a red-haired teenager, looked slightly shy.

After pulling open the curtain behind him, he called inward,
"Grandpa, how much is the nine-tailed doll?"

"Ah, it’s Gin, is it?"

From behind the curtain came a powerful voice, and soon an elderly man, slightly hunched over, emerged. His gray-white hair was streaked with vibrant red.

"Eh, it’s not him?"

The old man who appeared was Uzumaki , nearing seventy and long retired. He had passed the business to his grandson. Squinting his aging eyes, he looked at the two girls at the stall and asked in surprise,

"Ah, Uncle Juuxuan, long time no see!"

Senju Banjian, who had been examining the nine-tailed doll, greeted the old man with surprise upon recognizing him.

"Ah, you’re that little tagalong behind Gin from back then. I remember the last time I saw you, you looked exactly like this. Ninjas sure age slower than us regular folks!"

Though Uzumaki Juuxuan was old, his sharp mind remained intact. Seeing a familiar face, he smiled kindly.

"Heh, you still look quite robust for someone who has 'retired.'"

Realizing it was an acquaintance, Senju Banjian chuckled and turned her attention to the shy boy.
"And who might this young fellow be?"

"This is my grandson, Masahiko. He’s going to be handling our business here in the Land of Fire. Remember to give him a warm welcome next time!"

Patting his grandson’s head, Uzumaki Shu introduced him.

"Hello, I’m Uzumaki Masahiko. Please take care of our family’s business in the future."

Prompted by his grandfather, the boy quickly stepped forward to bow politely.

"My old bones can’t keep up anymore. The business in the Land of Fire will be his responsibility."

"Your grandson, huh? He does look a lot like you. What about your son?"

Shifting her gaze between the elder and the boy, Senju Itama seemed to understand before clapping her hands and asking curiously.

"That rascal is too impatient, so I’ve left him in the hometown shop. Masahiko, on the other hand, has been sharp since he was little, so I brought him here to learn. One day, he’ll inherit everything."

Speaking of his son, Uzumaki Shu grew visibly annoyed. The unruly boy still dreamt of being a ninja despite his age, leaving the family business unattended. Raising his grandson seemed the better choice.

"Ah, I see. So, about the doll?"

Not wanting to pry further into family matters, Senju Itama gestured toward the cute nine-tailed doll, her curiosity now satisfied.

"9,000 ryō."

"I’ll take two!"

"Got it!"

As the two women walked away with their new dolls, Uzumaki Masahiko couldn’t help but frown, glancing at his grandfather counting the cash. With a conflicted expression, he finally mustered the courage to ask,
"Grandpa, I just checked the inventory sheet. That doll should only cost 900 ryō, right?"

"Ahem. Masahiko, today Grandpa will teach you the most important lesson in business."

Startled by the question, Uzumaki Shu paused but decided to impart his wisdom. Straightening up with a sage-like demeanor, he met his grandson’s expectant gaze and solemnly declared,
"Overcharge acquaintances. The closer they are, the more you charge."

"..."


---

"Yay! Finally completed the set. That curly-haired ape will be thrilled!"

Holding the nine-tailed doll aloft, Senju Itama cheered with delight.

"Gin-san actually likes these?"

Uchiha Haruka, stroking the doll given to her by Senju Itama, asked incredulously. She couldn’t fathom how this odd collectible aligned with Gin’s tastes.

"Exactly! He’s always sighing at the display case, lamenting about not having the full set of tailed beasts."

With a thoughtful expression, Senju Itama shared the eccentric habit of Uchiha Gin.

"So he’s a collector of tailed beasts?"

Squeezing the doll’s chubby face, Haruka's expression grew contemplative. If Gin truly liked them, she wondered...

"I heard Big Brother and the clan leader are competing to capture real tailed beasts. I wonder what they truly look like in their natural forms."

Haruka's knowledge of tailed beasts extended only to the plush versions. The real deal remained a mystery to her.

"Big Brother’s already caught two. They’re being held in a forest, but Second Brother has it under strict lockdown."

Senju Itama pouted, recalling how her request to visit had been denied by her ever-cautious Second Brother.

"Hmph. The clan leader would let us see one up close if he caught it. He loves to show off!"

Haruka laughed, imagining the proud Uchiha clan leader parading his catch through the village.

"Big Brother would let me ride one! Not like Second Brother, who’s so uptight."

Grumbling, Itama puffed out her cheeks in defiance. The two friends, feeling hungry after their outing, decided to grab lunch at a newly opened restaurant nearby.

"Let’s eat first!"

Browsing the menu, the girls marveled at the endless array of dishes. Smiling, Itama turned to the plump waiter and said,
"I’ll take one of everything!"


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