Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

Chapter 220 A Somewhat Familiar Blonde Youth

"Hashirama, what's troubling you?"

Uchiha Gin casually pulled out a chair, sat down with a swagger, crossed his legs, glanced at the bright red numbers on the desk, and a knowing look appeared in his narrowed, dead-fish eyes.

From the undisguised trouble on Hashirama Senju's face, he could probably guess what difficulties this prisoner, who had just become the village chief, had encountered.

"Oh, this."

If the visitor were Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju might have spoken freely, weeping and wailing, to swindle an angel investment that would never be repaid. But since the visitor was Gin Uchiha, he felt somewhat embarrassed to speak.

After all, Uchiha Gin was Momoka's good friend. If it weren't for his son's very smooth hair and bright eyes, he would have been a little suspicious of what the other party's motives were for giving him red envelopes during holidays.

"Big brother, let me say it."

The village comes first. You, Hashirama Senju, might be hesitant to offend people, but I, Tobirama Senju, don't care about such social niceties.

He then turned to look at the composed Uchiha Gin, handed him the financial report, his crimson eyes lingering for a moment on Gin's bushy curly hair before he continued, his tone unusually gentle.

"According to the pre-planned layout, the basic infrastructure of the village has been largely completed. However, several important sites have encountered problems and construction cannot begin smoothly."

"Um, let me see. Seriously? You don't even have the money to repair the Hokage Building?"

From Tobirama Senju's words, Gin Uchiha had already vaguely sensed that something was amiss. He reached out and took the financial report document, and upon closer inspection, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Why did you add so many residential areas?

Uchiha Gin pointed to the massive number of residential areas added later in the financial report, and asked with a frown,

"Hmm~ They're all older brothers."

Upon hearing Uchiha Gin's incisive and soul-searching question, Senju Tobirama covered his face, looking utterly ashamed, completely betraying the culprit, Senju Hashirama.

"Haha, what can we do when so many ninja clans have submitted applications? We can't let them come here and have nowhere to stay, can we?"

As the instigator of the financial deficit, Hashirama Senju gave an awkward smile, scratched his large head, and argued vehemently for his actions.

"If they want to join, let them come and build it themselves. What's the rush?"

"Unexpectedly, the future pillars of Konoha have already begun to gather," Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow and continued.

"It's Konoha that provides them with peaceful protection. We're already being generous by not asking them for money, let alone providing them with food and lodging?"

"That's right, brother, what you're doing is really lowering your status."

Could Tobirama Senju share the same opinion as the Uchiha? His crimson eyes fixed on his elder brother, the harshness in his gaze was palpable.

"Sigh~ What's done is done now, the residential area is already built, it's too late to say anything!"

Even as the head of Konoha, Hashirama Senju showed no authority whatsoever in front of these two. He cowered with his head down, muttering in a completely submissive tone,

"So, you're asking your older cousin to borrow money?"

Tossing the financial report aside, Uchiha Gin looked at the Senju brothers before him, sighed helplessly, and asked,

"Hehe, you have a good eye for people~"

Upon hearing this, Hashirama Senju smiled and stepped forward with great enthusiasm, placing his large hand on Gin Uchiha's shoulder and vigorously massaging it. His once bright and piercing eyes narrowed into slits, revealing a cunning glint.

Tsk! It's so heartbreaking. Look at what power has brought to men.

"This... Brother Hashirama, although I wish to help, alas, even the landlord's family has no surplus grain."

Faced with the overly solicitous Hashirama Senju, Gin Uchiha looked embarrassed, and then began to talk about the current situation of the Uchiha clan.

"You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household. The Uchiha clan isn't as wealthy as your Senju clan. Every penny we spend is carefully spent. Apart from the cost of materials, the construction of our clan's land was built brick by brick with the help of our clan members."

"Clan members? But I've heard that your Uchiha clan hired top architects from other countries to design and build your clan's territory?"

Upon hearing Uchiha Gin's complaints, Tobirama Senju frowned and ruthlessly exposed the curly-haired man's true lie.

The Land of Waves is renowned for its expertise in construction and infrastructure. For this project, Uchiha Gin specifically contacted Uchiha Tajima, requesting that he dispatch a large number of construction teams from the Land of Waves to help build the Uchiha clan's territory. Among them were not only craftsmen from the Land of Waves but also many Uchiha clan members who wanted to return home.

"Hi~ You mean those masters from the Land of Waves? Actually, here's the situation."

I didn't expect Tobirama Senju to be keeping such a close eye on the Uchiha clan. I just brought some experts from my uncle's place, and this guy discovered them. Luckily, we weren't exposed. Uchiha Gin's eyes darted around, and he immediately came up with a plan.

"We signed a contract with the Land of Waves. The Uchiha clan paid a small portion of the payment as an initial down payment. Once the clan's territory is completed, we will repay the remaining balance to the Land of Waves annually, with interest, on a pro-rata basis."

"Is there really such a good thing?"

Upon hearing about this overly ambitious contract, Hashirama Senju's eyes lit up. In this day and age, there's still such a thing as getting on the train first and buying the ticket later?

"Principal and interest? How much is the interest rate?"

Compared to his simple-minded older brother, Tobirama Senju, the younger brother, was focused on the issue of interest. If the Land of Waves was really that easy to talk to, then the Senju clan could also sign a contract with them, which would temporarily guarantee the construction of the village.

"That's quite high, thirty-five points?"

Uchiha Gin's heart tightened. Why did this white-haired guy have such a scrutinizing expression? Worried that the other party would investigate, he mentioned what he considered a high interest rate—only one percentage point lower than the standard loan shark rate—hoping to discourage the kid.

However, he underestimated the lending standards of the ninja world.

"Quick! Give me the contact information for the Land of Waves."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Tobirama Senju, with an impatient expression, instantly appeared in front of Gin Uchiha, grabbed his shoulder, and urged him on.

"Huh? Thirty-five points, didn't you hear me?"

This shake of the wrist left Uchiha Gin completely bewildered. Thirty-five percent interest—anyone would shake their head at that. Why was this kid in such a hurry?

"I heard you really well. Your Uchiha clan really kept this a secret. You managed to enjoy this good thing all by yourself."

"ha???"

Finally, under Tobirama Senju's relentless pestering, Gin Uchiha had no choice but to leave behind the Land of Waves' contact information. In the end, having lost his usefulness, he was kicked out by Tobirama Senju.

"Tsk, that's weird, is he happily taking out small loans?"

After leaving Hashirama Senju's temporary office, Gin Uchiha went straight back to the clan's compound, which was under construction. Looking at the bustling construction site, he casually stopped an unfamiliar craftsman.

"Hey, fellow prisoner, where's your leader?"

"Huh? Who are you?"

The craftsman, who had been stopped by Uchiha Gin, was still carrying his tools. He didn't give the curly-haired stranger a friendly look, so he shoved the man's hand and said impatiently,

"I'm your employer, bro, give me some face~"

Uchiha Gin wasn't angry at the other person's rude behavior. Instead, he looked curiously at the strand of blond hair peeking out from under the helmet and explained calmly,

"Oh, it's the boss! I'm so sorry, so sorry, I was being presumptuous~"

Upon hearing that the young craftsman was his employer, he immediately changed his expression, his smile as bright as the sun, and bowed respectfully to Uchiha Gin.

"It's alright, I was the one who disturbed your work first. Is Brother Lao from the Land of Waves?"

"That's right, I'm a native of the Land of Waves."

Upon hearing Uchiha Gin's question, the young man did not hide anything; his azure eyes were filled with sincerity.

"What do you think of the Land of Fire?"

Staring intently at the familiar face of the young man before him, Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow and asked,

"It's pretty good. The climate is much better than in the Land of Waves. If I had the chance, I would love to settle down here."

"Welcome, welcome!"

After chatting with the blond craftsman for a few minutes, Uchiha Gin followed his directions and found the leader of the craftsmen of the Land of Waves.

"Lord Gin!"

Upon meeting the leader of the artisans from the Land of Waves, before Uchiha Gin could even speak, the man bowed respectfully to him. As Gin looked on in confusion, the artisan formed hand seals, and with a puff of smoke dissipating, the unfamiliar artisan transformed into a black-haired, black-eyed Uchiha clansman.

"Oh, you're back to visit relatives too?"

Knowing that many clansmen had returned to visit their families among the artisans, he was surprised to learn that the leader was also from the Uchiha clan. Curious, he asked...

"Reporting to Your Excellency, I am a liaison sent by the patriarch of the clan, specifically responsible for making contacts."

Upon hearing Uchiha Gin's question, the clansman immediately shook his head and revealed his identity as a contact to Uchiha Gin.

"The lord has instructed that I will only contact you and will not acknowledge anyone else."

"My uncle is quite cautious. Since we're family, let me tell you something."

I was originally thinking of getting in touch with the artisans of the Land of Waves about the fabricated loan for building the clan's land, but now that we're all on the same side, things will be much easier.

So, Uchiha Gin explained the loan for repairing the clan land to the clan member exactly as it was, and finally instructed him that if the Senju clan came to them, they should sign a contract with the interest rate in mind before proceeding with the repairs.

"Huh? Thirty-five points?"

After hearing Uchiha Gin's arrangements, the clansman looked at him strangely, his tone filled with deep doubt, and asked again to confirm.

"Lord Yin, are you sure it's thirty-five points, not three hundred and fifty?"

(End of this chapter)