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"Crack!"

"Crack!"

Shanks didn't mind, after all, he was his idol who had been worshipping him for decades, and once again took out his camera and snapped a bunch of pictures of the arrogant old man.

"Damn it! Cough cough!"

When Grandpa Ban saw that this bastard was taking pictures of him with a camera, he was so angry that he coughed up blood a few times.

"spot........"

Shanks had just finished filming when Hashirama Senju immediately ran over and looked at his best friend with deep affection.

"..."

Shanks felt a chill run down his spine looking at the two of them. He wouldn't believe it even if you beat him to death if you told him that the two of them had a pure bromance.

.......

"Haruko-sama! Where's my bright red suit? Where did it go?"

In the Thousand Hands territory, Shanks, wearing floral shorts, ransacked the wardrobe.

After the Fourth World War ended, because so many people had died, the six major army groups were not in the mood to hold a banquet. The next day, they all went back to their own homes. When the old man of the Six Paths left, he casually took Hashirama Senju and a few other people who had been resurrected through Edo Tensei with him.

To avoid embarrassment, Shanks didn't eavesdrop on the conversation between Hashirama Senju and Madara, these two best buddies. However, he guessed that Madara must have been kissed by Hashirama, otherwise Madara wouldn't have been able to die with a smile on his face...

This had nothing to do with Shanks. The reason he wanted to find that flashy red suit today was because, thanks to his silver tongue and his surprisingly good flirting skills, the Sand Village had agreed to let their eldest princess marry into Konoha. Today was their wedding day, and as an elder, he naturally wanted to dress smartly to receive the gifts...

The girl with the big fan had verbally agreed before, but since Gaara had just taken over, he didn't have many people on his side except for Maki and his siblings. So she stayed in Sunagakure to keep Gaara in check. But after Gaara's position was secured, those useless high-ranking officials in Sunagakure started complaining again, saying, "How can the eldest princess of Sunagakure marry into Konoha? Don't they have any talented young men in Sunagakure?"

Because the Fourth Shinobi World War had just ended and all the villages had suffered heavy losses, those who lost were also taking advantage of Konoha's inability to use its power to oppress others while it was recuperating, and they didn't start a war for a girl.

In the end, it was Shanks who led Sasori to Sunagakure and used his full Conqueror's Haki to persuade them. With Sasori's thousand followers flying around Sunagakure, they were finally able to "convince" those bastards.

“When you came back last time, I threw it away because it was tattered. There’s a new set I bought next to you, so wear it properly. Hurry up, Sunagakure has already sent someone over.”

Haruko-sama's impatient voice came from outside.

"...Who did you buy this suit from?"

Shanks indeed found a brand new suit nearby. Passing by, he looked at the style but couldn't bring himself to buy it; it was exactly the same color as Bai's floral loungewear...

"Kagawa went with me to buy it. She said this outfit looks good, and I think it's pretty nice too..."

"........."

Shanks looked up at the sky...

..........

"Isn't it a bit too early, father-in-law!"

The giant cannon at the entrance of the Nara clan looked at Shanks, dressed in brightly colored clothes, with a strange expression. The Sand Village only entered the Land of Fire today; according to the journey, they shouldn't arrive until at least two or three in the afternoon. Because of his son, he was dragged out of bed even though he had a rare day off.

"It's getting late, and someone might be arriving soon. Let's talk about how to split the profits."

Shanks sat down, poured himself a drink, and said...

"What profit sharing? What kind of profit sharing?"

The giant rocket looked like it didn't understand what I was saying.

"Don't play dumb. She's the eldest daughter of the former Kazekage and the older sister of the current Kazekage. Sunagakure is known for its wealth, so the dowry they're sending this time must be quite substantial. Look, your Nara clan has some medicinal herb business, and they must have made a fortune during this world war. As for Haruko-sama and me, we're both living on our retirement pensions, and the Uzumaki clan doesn't have much of a source of income. Besides, I'm planning to take Haruko-sama on a trip soon. Traveling the world is very expensive, with all the expenses for food, lodging, and shopping. I don't want much. I'll split the dowry from Sunagakure with you, but I don't want the one from the village."

Shanks gestured with his fingers and raised an eyebrow at the large rocket launcher.

"hiss......."

Big Cannon gasped. A fifty-fifty split? That's not enough! He'd heard that Rasa had left a huge sum of money for his eldest daughter as a wedding gift. And she's the current Kazekage's older sister. Sunagakure had really bleed money this time. They'd hauled dozens of cartloads of gold dust alone. And this is considered not enough? They've traveled the world hundreds of times since then!

“Father-in-law, the family business is the family business, and not all the profits are mine. You saw how much our Nara clan suffered in this great war. That money wasn't even enough to cover the compensation for each family... and what about the Yamanaka clan…”

The big-shot cannon explained with a tearful face that it wasn't that he was unwilling to give it, but that his family was just unlucky. In this great battle, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had a perfect start, but unfortunately, they ran into Nagato, who was resurrected by Edo Tensei, and Nagato used two powerful attacks, resulting in heavy casualties for all three families. If Itachi hadn't arrived in time to hold off Nagato, the three families might have been wiped out.

Of these three clans, the Yamanaka clan is the poorest. They don't have any big business in Konoha and usually just do their daily routines. This war has really impoverished the village, and they can't even pay the village's compensation. Yamanaka Inoichi can't even afford to pay by selling his blood, so they have to rely on the Nara clan to cover the costs.

842. Onoki even personally went mining.

The Akimichi clan is doing somewhat better. They've long monopolized the Konoha barbecue and soldier rations business, especially during this major war when the supply of soldier rations is insufficient. So they're managing to stay afloat for now, but only for themselves. The Yamanaka clan is struggling to cope. Their large-scale attack was only possible because of the massive supply sent from Sunagakure; otherwise, with the Nara clan helping the Yamanaka, both clans would be living on scraps...

"-_-|| How come I'm so broke after just one fight?"

Shanks was speechless after hearing the explanation from the giant rocket launcher.

"Compared to other villages, Konoha is considered good. Iwagakure is in a worse situation. I heard that Onoki is still recovering from serious injuries and has to go mining with a pickaxe himself."

The big-shot cannon leaned close to Shanks' ear and whispered, "This is a little secret gossip, and it wouldn't be right for him, as the Grand Marshal, not to tell you."

"No way? That's ridiculous!"

Shanks was also dumbfounded. Onoki was actually carrying a pickaxe that was longer than other people's and going to mine himself?

"Their bad luck began before the Fourth Raikage even arrived; the Second Tsuchikage had already wiped them out. Then your idol, Madara, came out and dealt them another blow. How could they possibly withstand that? Iwagakure's economy wasn't doing well to begin with, and with so many people dying this time, even if Onoki went bankrupt, he couldn't afford that much compensation. He had to borrow money from the Merchant Village, but he'd have to help them mine to pay off their debts..."

Big Cannon shrugged. Compared to Iwagakure, he realized Konoha was actually quite lucky this time. At least their two Hokage hadn't defected. Otherwise, with one using Wood Release and the other Water Release, they'd probably be in even worse shape than Iwagakure...

"What about Kumogakure and Kirigakure?"

Shanks loves hearing other people's tragic stories. You don't really know how miserable others are until you compare them to others. Onoki personally opened a mountain; the Fourth Raikage's nephew should be about the same.

"The situation in Kumogakure is alright. The Third Raikage is a berserker... his destructive power isn't as great as the Second Tsuchikage's or the Third Kazekage's. Onoki has been quite dutiful since he arrived, so the losses in Kumogakure aren't too great. They don't need to borrow money like they did in Iwagakure. Kirigakure is in a worse situation, but because the surrounding sea is rich in resources, they can hold on. By the way, father-in-law, didn't you collect quite a bit of the Third Kazekage's gold dust before?"

Seeing that Shanks was listening so intently, Big Cannon cleverly changed the subject: "Damn it, we're fighting to the death, and you're the only one making money. Now you have the nerve to ask for a share of the profits."

"Not much. You know the Uzumaki clan doesn't have much income. I gave it all to them when I came back."

Shanks said without changing his expression, "You little rascal, you're still too green to try and trick me."

.........

"Lady Haruko, congratulations!"

Shanks is engaged in a silent battle with the giant rocket, while on the other side, Hiashi Hyuga and his younger brother Hizashi Hyuga are the first to arrive.

As the most powerful clan in Konoha, the Hyuga clan is the most proactive in giving gifts. It is probably because of this that the third most powerful clan in Konoha was able to stand strong in Konoha for so many years when the two giants had fallen, and even regained its position as the most powerful clan in Konoha after the two giants fell. They must have given away countless gifts over the generations of clan leaders.

According to Tobirama Senju, during his reign, the Hyuga clan sent him many gifts. He originally intended to obtain the Hyuga clan's Byakugan to study, but he always softened his heart when he saw the gifts from the Hyuga clan in the warehouse.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't receive a salary after becoming Hokage, so why could he still live so comfortably and secretly hoard billions of yen? This was naturally inseparable from the Hyuga clan.

Although Minato is a rather upright person, the Hyuga brothers are his friends, and they occasionally give him small gifts, so he can't refuse them.

Therefore, some members of the Hyuga clan's main family have developed personalities that resemble those of the Uchiha clan. However, their higher-ups are quite tactful, always at the forefront of gift-giving, and incredibly generous, always on the same side as the Hokage. It's no wonder they were able to remain at the peak of Konoha for decades. In this world war, the Hyuga clan suffered considerable losses, but instead of asking the village for benefits, they contributed money and effort to the village. This truly showcased the Hyuga clan's generosity.

Of course, Hiashi Hyuga was quite cunning this time. He didn't give the money in the name of the Hyuga clan, but in the name of his eldest daughter, Hinata Hyuga. This was a way of helping his eldest daughter gain prestige. As for his purpose, it goes without saying. You can tell from the fact that Kushina has been taking Naruto, who has a bruised and swollen face, to the Hyuga clan recently.

She's definitely going to be the Crown Princess.

"It's not me who should be congratulated; the person inside is the one who should be congratulated."

Haruko winked at Big Rocket and Shanks; did they really think she couldn't tell that the two were figuring out how to divide the loot?

......

"Haha, the Hyuga clan leader is still so polite. We're all so familiar with each other, there's no need for gifts since you're here! Shika-jutsu, send half of it to my house later..."

When the Hyuga brothers arrived, Shanks felt a strong aura of wealth wash over him. He was too lazy to argue with the big guns, and the most important thing was to receive gifts. He quickly walked up to the two Hyuga brothers, speaking politely, but his body language was very honest. He snatched the gift list from Hizashi's hand, weighed it down, and then said to Nara's underlings.

"......"

The group was speechless at Shanks's outrageous actions. How could he be so shameless? Those were meant for Shikamaru.

"By the way, what's the progress between Hinata and Naruto?"

Shanks asked with a gossipy look, "Now everyone in Konoha knows that the Hokage's wife likes Hinata Hyuga, and her son likes the girl with the wide forehead, who in turn falls in love with her teammate Sasuke Uchiha. In short, the story is very melodramatic, but it still makes people want to gossip."

"...When does the teacher plan to travel the world with Haruko-sama?"

Hiashi Hyuga did not respond to this gossip news, and forcibly changed the subject.

"I'll leave after Shikamaru's wedding, but as you know, travel is incredibly expensive. Haruko and I don't have enough retirement savings. We're thinking about ways to make money..."

As Shanks spoke, he rubbed his index finger and thumb together.

"...Money is not a problem, just have fun with Haruko-sama."

Hiashi Hyuga said quite boldly, "Everyone witnessed Konoha's strength in this Fourth Shinobi World War, especially Shanks, Naruto, the second male lead, and the strongest fighter, Shanks. Among these people, Shanks is actually the easiest to get along with. The others seem somewhat indifferent, but Shanks is ambitious. So when he heard Shanks was short of money, Hiashi didn't care if it was true or not; he agreed first. After all, the Hyuga clan was so rich they only had money left. As long as they kept Shanks in check, the Hyuga clan could remain at its peak for at least several more decades. Everyone knows the Uzumaki clan is incredibly resilient and can survive for a long time..."

843. The finale! The water can't go any lower!

In the afternoon, the gold-delivering convoy from Sunagakure arrived as expected. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the glittering gold convoy and regretted his actions immensely. If only he had known about the intricacies of arranged marriages ten years or so ago, his eldest son, Midori, would have been so outstanding that sending him to Sunagakure to pick up a few girls would have been a piece of cake. Sunagakure didn't have many talented young men, and with his son's charm, two or three wouldn't have been too many. There would be no need for them to live such a frugal life now.

However, it's not too late to find out now. His youngest son, Asuma, is still unmarried. Although he has a lot of sons and daughters, none of them have the surname Sarutobi. Why not take this opportunity to let him go to Sunagakure to try... Thinking of the cart after cart of golden light arriving at his doorstep, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but wipe the liquid from the corner of his mouth.

After the Fourth World War, the Sarutobi clan also faced difficulties. Although the income from the Sarutobi Casino was enough to sustain them, the main source of income for the casino was Tsunade and Garp. During this period, Tsunade was treating patients in the hospital every day, and Garp was also confined at home to study anthropology. They did not invest in the casino at all, and the Sarutobi clan's funds had begun to dry up. If this continued, they would have to touch their life savings.

"Hiruzen, what are you thinking about so intently?"

Seeing that he was so fascinated by the glittering convoy that he was drooling, completely lacking the demeanor of a former Hokage, Mitokado Homura couldn't help but ask.

"...It's nothing. It's just that Shikamaru is Asuma's student, and he's already married. Asuma is still acting like this, which makes him a bit impatient."

Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't tell his friends what he was thinking; he'd lose face.

"...Don't you already have a dozen or so Asuma's women and children at home? Isn't that enough?"

Mitokado Homura looked puzzled. Right now, the Sarutobi clan was the most clueless and obnoxious. The pregnancy rate in the ninja world was low, but the Sarutobi Hiruzen clan didn't have this problem at all. Asuma went out to have some fun, and before he even returned, one after another, girls with big bellies came to claim their place. Everyone in the village knew that.

"........."

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted nothing more than to slap Homura Mitokado across the face; why did he have to bring up such a sore subject?

Although the Nara clan is only a mid-level clan, they are an old and established clan in the ninja world. Naturally, the wedding had to be conducted according to the rules. After a series of tedious ceremonies, it was already late at night.

Shanks, who was planning to go out and have fun with Haruko the next day, didn't eat or drink much during the night under Haruko's murderous gaze. After having a few drinks, he left with Haruko.

.........

The next morning, while the sky was still overcast and the sun had not yet risen, Haruko-sama, dragging a constantly yawning Shanks, had already arrived at the village entrance.

The main reason is that Haruko-sama has never left Konoha in her entire life. Shanks didn't dare let her go to the front lines during the previous world wars. After peace was restored, she spent her days either at home or in the hospital in Konoha, living a very monotonous life. She didn't have time to go out and have fun. Now that she's over sixty years old, it's the first time she's going out, so she's inevitably a little excited. Just like those rookie graduates who know they're going to leave the village, she didn't sleep all night and woke Shanks up before dawn.

"Hey Haruko-sama, isn't it too early? I haven't even gone to ask Hiashi for my living expenses yet..."