Shizune, ever the diligent assistant, spent the entire day tending to Natsuhane, never once complaining of fatigue.
Of course, with a man and a woman sharing a room, and considering Shizune's obedient and gentle nature, it was inevitable that things would heat up...
Compared to Tsunade, the styles of the master and apprentice were polar opposites. One embodied a wild, primal beauty, while the other exuded a saccharine sweetness, compliant to a fault.
Unnoticed, a week had slipped by...
During this time, Natsuhane spent his nights being cared for by Tsunade, enjoying her vigorous and passionate company, while his days were filled with the gentle and nurturing presence of Shizune. The contrasting experiences of intense fervor at night and soothing tenderness during the day made his routine both dynamic and fulfilling.
Having decided not to pursue "quantity" in Konoha anymore, Natsuhane canceled the "interview" phase. The number of wives remained stable at around three thousand.
To lay a stronger foundation for the Uchiha and Senju revitalization plan, Tsunade and Natsuhane decided to expand Konoha Village.
Not only would the Uchiha and Senju territories be enlarged, but the lands of other ninja clans would also be expanded if needed.
Today, Tsunade gathered the heads of the various ninja clans to announce this plan. Present at the meeting were Uchiha Natsuhane, Hyuga Hiashi of the Hyuga Clan, Nara Shikaku of the Nara Clan, Yamanaka Inoichi of the Yamanaka Clan, Akimichi Choza of the Akimichi Clan, Inuzuka Tsume of the Inuzuka Clan, Aburame Shibi of the Aburame Clan, and representatives from various other smaller clans involved in commerce or manufacturing.
Seated at the head of the table, Tsunade addressed the gathering:
"After a brief discussion with the advisors, I have decided to expand Konoha Village from today..."
The moment these words left her lips, the clan heads began to exchange glances and voices rose in discussion. Some were in favor, while others opposed.
"Please, everyone, calm down and listen to me first..." Tsunade tapped the table to regain their attention, then continued:
"I plan to double the overall size of Konoha Village to accommodate a future increase in population. To begin with, the Senju and Uchiha clans will fund this expansion plan."
"You all will have the same opportunity. If you wish to expand your clan territories, you need only pay the corresponding amount. The extent of your land expansion will depend on the amount of money you invest."
As she spoke, Tsunade revealed a new map of Konoha Village and displayed it to everyone.
"As long as the funding is sufficient to ensure the plan's success, I can guarantee that each clan's territory will double..."
"I have already indicated the required investment amounts on the map. Take a look and then share your opinions."
The clan heads scrutinized the new map in their hands. When they saw the designated land plots and the associated costs, they were astounded:
"This much land for such a small amount of money? Hokage-sama, did you forget to add a few zeros?"
"No, I did not make a mistake..." Tsunade shook her head and explained:
"I have already consulted with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. While he is somewhat frugal with the annual military budget, he is quite generous with land, which he has in abundance..."
"These new plots are free of charge, courtesy of the Daimyo. The expansion of Konoha Village effectively enhances the military strength of the Land of Fire, so the Daimyo readily agreed and even allocated two additional plots of land to us."
Nara Shikaku raised a concern: "Free land is great, but the construction costs are still substantial..."
Tsunade smiled and called out to someone outside the door: "Come in, it's your turn now."
"Yes..." A respectful voice responded, and a masked ANBU member entered the room.
"Remove your mask. From today onwards, you will work in the open."
The ANBU member slowly took off his mask, revealing a young face.
"Let me introduce you to everyone. This is the master builder I have personally appointed. You can call him Yamato..."
"The funds are not for construction costs but as payment to Yamato. He will single-handedly handle all the construction within the new territories."
Recognizing Yamato's face, the veteran clan heads were enlightened.
Wasn't this the young man who could use Wood Release?
Indeed, with his abilities, building houses would be no cost at all. A villa could be created with just a bit of chakra or a bowl of ramen.
With free land, low budgets, and the Hokage's support, it was a golden opportunity to expand their territories. The clan heads unanimously agreed to the proposal.
Yamanaka Inoichi said, "Yamato, I'll triple your pay. During the work period, I'll treat you to any meal you want. If you need potted plants, feel free to take them from my shop. Can you start with the Yamanaka Clan's new territory?"
Inuzuka Tsume added, "Young man, I'll quadruple your pay. Our Inuzuka Clan's architectural style is unique. I'll give you a sketch later. Could you follow my design?"
Nara Shikaku said, "Youngster, you know our Nara Clan prefers simplicity. As long as the houses are livable, they don't need to be big. Smaller houses are easier to maintain. I hope you build smaller, shorter houses in our new territory, ideally single-story..."
Akimichi Choza asked, "Yamato, can you make furniture too? I plan to have half of the new Akimichi Clan's territory be barbecue restaurants. Since you're building the houses, can you also make matching wooden tables and chairs? I'll pay extra."
Hyuga Hiashi commented, "We don't need many houses in the Hyuga Clan's territory. Each household needs its own training yard, so your workload will be halved. Can I pay you half the standard rate?"
Aburame Shibi began, "I..."
Before Shibi could finish, Tsunade stood up, smiling, and concluded, "Alright, it's settled then. If you have any specific needs or requests, discuss them privately with Yamato."
Aburame Shibi protested, "But Hokage-sama, I haven't..."
Ignoring Shibi, Tsunade was pleased with the meeting's outcome. "Thank you all. The meeting is adjourned!"
As the others left, the lights dimmed, leaving Aburame Shibi alone in the empty conference room.
Shibi sighed, "Is my presence really that insignificant?"
He stood up, ready to leave.
"Huh?"
"Why is the door locked?"
"Hey, open the door! There's still someone inside!"
...
PS (Translator): I'll add an extra chapter for every 25 power stones or new Patreon member. Additionally, I've written up to Chapter 150 on patreon.com/Betek if you're interested.