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

Chapter 221 Siblings Recognize Each Other, the Girl's Choice

"Oops! I was careless, so careless~"

After being lectured by a clansman disguised as the artisan leader, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but beat his chest and waile in frustration, a sound that could be heard clearly several blocks away.

Fortune favors the bold!

In this era of war and turmoil, lending is an extremely risky business. Borrowers may be robbed the moment they step out the door, or they may use their superior strength to default on their debts. Due to these and other uncertainties, the industry standards for this business are extremely stringent.

In general, when there is collateral, the interest rate is 200%. If there is no collateral and the loan is secured solely by the spirit of the contract, the interest rate will double.

"If only I had checked the market rates, I would have missed a great opportunity to scam those white-haired bastards!"

More disappointing than the small amount of money lost was missing a great opportunity to trick Tobirama Senju. But since it was already done and the words had been spoken, he might as well consider it his contribution to the construction of Konoha.

From now on, I can proudly pat the gates of Konoha and tell others, "I donated this!"

A few days later, when he saw the familiar blond craftsman leading a large group of people toward the Senju clan's territory, Uchiha Gin knew that the contract between the two parties had been finalized.

Am I now considered a creditor of Konoha?

"Big brother, are we really going?"

Just as Uchiha Gin was strolling around outside, a tall, black-haired figure dragged a reluctant white-haired boy towards Uchiha Gin's current residence.

"I still have a lot of official business to attend to. Why don't you go alone, big brother?"

With a look of utter displeasure on his face, Tobirama Senju frowned as he looked at his enthusiastic older brother and said...

"How can we do that? Brother Yin has helped us out of our immediate crisis. We must pay him a visit to express our gratitude, both publicly and personally."

Holding his younger brother in one hand and carrying a basket of mysterious yellow fruit in the other, Hashirama Senju smiled broadly and patiently explained to the very resistant Tobirama Senju...

"I was the one who negotiated this deal!"

Thinking back to the sour face of the artisan leader from the Land of Waves, and Tobirama Senju's humble attitude during negotiations, just recalling it fills me with rage.

"If it weren't for Brother Yin's matchmaking, how would we have had the opportunity to sign the construction contract at an almost free interest rate?"

Looking at his unruly younger brother, Hashirama Senju was a little angry. Tobirama was good in every way, except for his stubborn temper. He was not as well-behaved as Tobirama and cute Itama, who made him worry less.

"Sigh~ Just this once, okay?"

Thinking of his two younger siblings who died in the war, Hashirama Senju suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, and his tone softened as he spoke to Tobirama Senju. He only had this one younger brother now, and if he didn't spoil him, who would?

"Well, since you've put it that way, I'll reluctantly go."

Faced with his elder brother's submission, Tobirama Senju sighed inwardly. It's just thanking an Uchiha. For the sake of Curly Hair, he'll go.

"Haha, I knew it, Tobirama, you're the most obedient~"

Before long, following the route they had inquired about beforehand, the two arrived at an extremely grand wooden villa. Looking at the magnificent villa built entirely of wood, the Senju brothers each had their own thoughts.

"Tsk, this curly-haired guy is indeed as wealthy as the legends say. I wonder if he got his wealth legitimately."

Looking at the small building before him, which was many times more luxurious than his own home, the white-haired man thought to himself with a sour feeling.

"Um, this house... is it a product of Wood Release?"

Compared to his younger brother's inner monologue, Hashirama Senju was completely bewildered. As the number one and only user of Wood Release in the world, he could clearly sense the Wood Release aura emanating from the small villa before him.

However, Wood Release: House Building Technique has not yet appeared in his skill list.

"Knock knock knock~"

Filled with doubt, Hashirama Senju stepped forward first and knocked loudly on the ornately decorated door.

"Hey! You curly-haired baboon, did you forget to bring it again?"

Hearing the knock at the door, Senju Itama, who was lying on the sofa in a daze, flashed a hint of helplessness in her dark eyes. Thinking that Uchiha Gin, who had just left, had returned, she sprang to her feet, swaying her head as she walked over. Opening the door, she didn't even glance at anyone before grumbling in an extremely impatient tone. But as soon as she finished speaking, realizing the other person didn't respond, she looked closer in surprise and was instantly terrified.

"Thump!!!"

With lightning-fast reflexes, Senju Itama slammed the door shut the moment the other person was stunned. A woman leaned against the door, her delicate body trembling violently, whether from fear or excitement, her dark eyes wide with shock, her pale hands pressed against the door with bulging veins, and her black and white hair soaked with sweat.

Now only she and Uchiha Hikaru are left in the house, but for some reason, that old woman has been making a ruckus at night and not sleeping, and is listless and sleepy during the day, so it's like she's all alone.

"Brother, who's being so rude?"

Because his view was blocked by Hashirama Senju's tall figure, Tobirama Senju, who hadn't seen the person who opened the door, walked forward in confusion, patted his motionless older brother, and asked with an unhappy expression,

Hmph~ The Uchiha people have no manners at all, unlike us Senju clan, where every man is a gentleman, and the women... well, let's not even talk about them.

Tobirama, pinch me.

Just as Tobirama Senju was inwardly complaining, Hashirama Senju, seemingly frozen in place, suddenly spoke up.

"Huh? When did you develop this hobby?"

Hearing his elder brother's words, Tobirama Senju was momentarily confused, but he obediently pinched the soft flesh of Hashirama Senju's waist. Then, seeing the other's flushed face, he asked,

"Phew~ You actually pinched it?"

He carefully touched the wound on his waist, waiting a few breaths for it to heal. Hashirama Senju frowned, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt. He glanced at the tightly closed door, rubbed his furrowed brow, and turned to his younger brother, saying…

"I've probably been too tired lately, because I actually saw the spirits of the dead."

"Huh? How could that be? Uchiha Gin must be playing a trick on us!"

Tobirama Senju, who always believed in science, immediately declared that it was all just Gin Uchiha making a fuss when he heard such absurd remarks. He said that there could not possibly be any monsters or demons in the world.

Death: You little brat, I've got you covered!

"Really! I saw a woman who looked just like my mother, she..."

Seeing that his younger brother did not believe him, Hashirama Senju quickly explained, his surprise genuine. This made Tobirama Senju's heart sink. Could it be that ghosts really exist in the world?

Death: Alright, alright, I'll vomit it all out of my stomach!

"You must be mistaken. Mother has been gone for many years."

In the end, Tobirama Senju chose to believe in science, shaking his head and interrupting his brother's ramblings.

"I'm not mistaken, it's definitely Mom!"

"Then tell me, how old is that woman? What does she look like? What color is her hair?"

Faced with his elder brother's unwavering assertion, Tobirama Senju had no choice but to ask him to describe the appearance of the woman in the house in order to determine whether Hashirama Senju was hallucinating.

"She was probably in her early twenties. She looked exactly like her mother, like they were cut from the same mold. She had a strange mark on her head, short hair, half black and half white. Ugh!"

Upon hearing this, Hashirama Senju began to recall the woman he had just caught a glimpse of. He first mentioned her age, then her striking appearance, which left a deep impression on him. Finally, when he spoke of her hair, he paused, thought carefully, and then described her unusual hair color. This rare hair color triggered a certain switch in his mind, causing him to exclaim in surprise.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!"

As the listener, Tobirama Senju was mentally simulating the woman described by Hashirama Senju. Just as his older brother mentioned hair color, a portrait he knew all too well appeared in his mind, startling him so much that he burst into a three-octave tenor.

"Shut up! Can you guys just shut up?!"

Amidst the alternating screams of Hashirama and Tobirama, Itama, looking displeased, suddenly flung open the door. His dark eyes, blazing with fear, stared at the two men before him, men of extremely high status in Konoha, and he spoke sharply.

"Received!" *2

"Come in, and remember to change your shoes."

Just now, hiding behind the door, Senju Itama's mind was in turmoil. So many years have passed, and even though her elder brother led the Senju clan to defeat the Uchiha clan, she still dared not appear in front of the Senju clan. There was fear involved, but more than that, there was a sense of reluctance.

She was terrified that once she went back, she wouldn't be able to get along with Gin Uchiha like before.

She didn't want to gamble, and she dared not gamble.

However, now that the two ethnic groups are building a village together, my identity will be exposed sooner or later. Since that's the case, it's better to cut the Gordian knot and make things clear.

"Are you...?"

Looking at the imposing woman, and feeling somewhat uneasy because she resembled his mother so much, Hashirama Senju followed cautiously behind her. After a long while, he finally asked tentatively, his eyes burning with an intense thirst for knowledge that seemed to want to lift the roof off.

"Impossible, you should have died long ago."

Compared to the somewhat fearful Hashirama Senju, the more thoughtful Tobirama Senju frowned, staring intently at the tall woman before him. Looking at her familiar face and unusual hair color, he coldly questioned her.

The sacrificed Senju Koji had sworn that his young sister, surrounded by several adult Uchiha, had no chance of survival.

No, I'm not dead.

Seeing that the two had confirmed his identity, Senju Itama stopped hiding and sat on the sofa. He casually picked up the chibi version of the Three-Tailed Isobu beside him, and with a dreamy look in his eyes filled with reminiscence, he slowly recounted the events from many years ago to his two older brothers.

"Back then, it was Uchiha Gin who withstood the pressure and saved me from the clutches of a group of vicious Uchiha clan members when I was young."

As he recalled those days, a strange smile crept onto Senju Itama's usually cold lips as he thought of Uchiha Gin, who carried him on her back, refusing to let go no matter the hardships.

This smile was caught by the ever-perceptive Tobirama Senju, instantly setting off alarm bells in his mind. He vaguely sensed that something terrible might be about to happen to his only son, Little Cabbage.

"And so, we started living together, but don't get me wrong, he didn't do anything inappropriate to me. On the contrary, because of the strange name my father gave me, for a long time he thought I was a boy, hehe~"

(End of this chapter)