Chapter 28: Assets

Kakuzu chose a plot of land far from the Hokage Tower, an empty expanse overgrown with weeds. It lay a full mile from Konoha's main street, but to Kakuzu, that was hardly a concern. The way he saw it, roads didn't exist naturally—they were created by the people who walked them. Eventually, Konoha's population would grow, and his chosen spot would become a bustling center.

Currently, Tobirama Senju stood before him, holding a thick stack of documents. Every page detailed the layers of Konoha's approval process. Kakuzu's plan to build here had already been signed off by every relevant department. The speed of this approval—just two weeks—wasn't due to bribery or favoritism.

Rather, Konoha's open policies encouraged investment and development. As long as someone's background was clean, whether they were a civilian, a ninja, or from a clan, they were welcomed. This progressive attitude had made Kakuzu's generous deposit of ten million ryō impossible to ignore. The approval staff had wasted no time allocating him the land.

But owning land wasn't enough. He also needed a qualified construction team, which promised to be another costly endeavor. And so, Kakuzu had turned to none other than the Hokage himself.

With Hashirama Senju's approval, the bureaucratic process sped up further, the paperwork quickly stamped and sealed.

"This isn't right." Tobirama put down the documents, a glint of suspicion in his eyes. "Brother, haven't you noticed the plans? He's trying to build one hundred houses on this land!"

"Ma~ ma~ (Relax, relax), my foolish younger brother," Hashirama said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You caused this mess, so as your older brother, I have to clean it up. What would you do without me?"

Kakuzu raised his left hand, revealing the Flying Thunder God mark. His tone was light but edged with sarcasm.

"Come and go as you please, huh, Tobirama-sama? It's almost like I'm a prisoner here."

"I—"

Tobirama bristled but bit back his retort. Instead, he crossed his arms and turned his head away, clearly annoyed but unable to respond.

Kakuzu chuckled at the sight before turning to Hashirama. "Thank you for your help, Hokage-dono."

"Haha, it's no trouble at all!" Hashirama scratched his head and laughed. "The Senju clan owes you a favor, so it's only fair to repay it. If you hadn't come to me, who knows how long it would've taken to settle this debt?"

Kakuzu smiled faintly but inwardly had other thoughts. He'd considered leveraging this favor for something more valuable—like Hashirama's cells. But as carefree as Hashirama seemed, he wasn't a fool. Such a request would only plant seeds of suspicion, which could become a problem later. Practical gains were the smarter choice.

"Let me see that blueprint again," Hashirama said, rolling up his sleeves. "Got it. Watch this."

Wood Release: Multi-Household Technique!

Hashirama's feet shifted into a wide stance, and with a clap of his hands, the ground began to rumble. Towering trees erupted from the earth, their trunks twisting and stretching with precision. In seconds, a forest of construction emerged, each tree morphing to form the foundations of houses.

As the dust settled, Kakuzu stared in awe.

Before him stood a variety of homes—traditional Japanese courtyards, two- to three-story apartments, and architectural styles that blended seamlessly into Konoha's existing aesthetic.

"Ta-da! How's that?" Hashirama dusted off his hands, beaming with pride.

Kakuzu's gaze lingered on the structures before him, then on Hashirama's forehead, where a single bead of sweat trickled down.

One drop of sweat for such an incredible feat. If Hashirama ever went all out, creating an entire forest would be child's play. The sheer scale of his chakra reserves was overwhelming.

"Thank you, Hokage-dono," Kakuzu said sincerely. "I'll visit to express my gratitude properly soon."

"Haha, no need to be so formal! I'm the Hokage—it's my duty to help. And if you ever need anything, just come find me!" Hashirama patted his chest with a grin, exuding his characteristic warmth and generosity.

As Hashirama left, Kakuzu turned to find Tobirama still watching him intently.

Those piercing eyes made Kakuzu inwardly sigh. Dealing with Tobirama was always a challenge.

This was a man with exceptional perception and an almost unnerving sensitivity. His suspicion of Kakuzu had never diminished. Being under his scrutiny was nothing short of troublesome. However, little did Kakuzu know, Tobirama's gaze toward him had also changed.

'This isn't a simple individual. If we hadn't crossed paths so deeply back then, but instead let him slip out of the Land of Fire... perhaps there wouldn't be so much cause for concern now. But… no use dwelling on it,' Tobirama thought before vanishing in a flash, using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Watching Tobirama disappear, Kakuzu shrugged indifferently.

Whatever, he mused. His house was built, his mood was good—what more could he want?

With a swift leap, Kakuzu landed on the roof. From his vantage point, he surveyed the rows of neatly constructed buildings—100 in total. This was his first major investment since arriving in Konohagakure.

Among these 100 houses, half were compact single-bedroom apartments. As for why so many single apartments were necessary, the reason was straightforward.

"Single apartments are the norm," Kakuzu muttered to himself.

He recalled the countless characters he'd observed in his previous life. Most of them seemed to fit this pattern. Then there were many shinobi—individuals who might very well spend their entire lives alone. Their work was perilous, and they didn't want to bring unnecessary trouble to their families or loved ones. Staying single was their way of shielding others from their dangerous reality.

Take Kakashi, for instance. Or Guy. It seemed that was their way of life too. But what about after their deaths? What would become of their sizable shinobi estates? Who would inherit them?

The other half of the houses were slightly larger, built to accommodate families—three to four people, perhaps. Whether for Konohagakure's transient population or permanent residents, Kakuzu's real estate would have something for everyone.

All that was left now was to spend a little money setting up utilities—water, electricity, plumbing—and the houses would be ready for tenants.

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