"You're really enjoying yourself, huh?"
"Hahaha~ Well, it's not like I have any worries right now. And honestly, nothing beats the Grand Sail Hotel here in Sunagakure. Compared to the other branches, this one's way more luxurious. The rooms are more comfortable… Oh, and I heard contestants get free—"
"Yeah, dream on. The event hasn't even started yet."
Rasa rolled his eyes at the old fox across from him—Jiraiya—and pulled a file from his desk drawer, tossing it onto the table. His tone was less than friendly.
"Here. Let's see if you're still smiling after you read this."
"What is it?" Jiraiya blinked, then flipped the folder open with a hint of curiosity. "New product?"
"It's your 'lady friend's' tab over the past six months. And that's not even the full amount. The rest will probably come in once the tournament starts."
Rasa sipped his tea calmly, watching Jiraiya's face slowly turn green as he read through the document.
"Relax. You can pay it back. The interest we charged Tsunade isn't even that high. You should be able to manage… though I'll be honest—"
He let out a long, regretful sigh and shook his head.
"You're probably gonna have to live frugally for a while."
The look he gave Jiraiya… was the same one you'd give to some poor sap making 2,000 ryo a month while tipping 1,900 to livestream girls, or earning 3,000 and blowing all of it on some goddess-tier crush. Utter pity.
"And don't expect the royalties from your novels to cover this. When you add up all the Senju Clan's savings… it's still not enough to pay off her expenses. You're not in your 'living it up' phase anymore. You should be working hard to earn money and be a good simp. Maybe then your goddess won't toss her backup plan away."
"Man, you're really laying it on thick, huh, Fourth Kazekage?" Jiraiya frowned and dropped the document, rolling up his sleeves. "Who are you calling a simp?"
"Sorry," Rasa said without an ounce of remorse, sipping more tea. "Sunagakure shinobi are known for honesty and integrity. We don't lie. That's the legacy of the First Kazekage. The Will of Sand keeps us grounded—always reminding us to be hardworking, straightforward, and truthful people."
"Spare me."
Jiraiya scoffed, eyeing Rasa with disdain.
As if you don't know what the First Kazekage was really like…
Back when the First and Second Hokage were still alive, they'd already seen what kind of man he was: shameless, thick-skinned, greedy. The entire shinobi world knew it.
And this so-called "Will of Sand"? What a joke. Not even remotely related to sand. Probably made up on the spot.
He glanced down at the bill again and sighed.
"Tsunade really went overboard with spending, huh? I haven't seen her in years…"
"I wouldn't say overboard," Rasa replied. "She's been staying at one of our Grand Sail branches the whole time. Three meals a day covered by the hotel. Most of her expenses went there. She hasn't gambled as much."
"Because nobody gives her credit at the tables anymore. What about… did she get any discounts?"
"Naturally. 2% off—just for you."
"Wasn't it supposed to be 20% off?"
"You're a premium member. She isn't."
"…Can't I just lend her my card?"
"Each person gets one card. Lending it is against policy. Doing so could get your privileges revoked."
Rasa shook his head, his face solemn as he warned the now slightly-wilted Jiraiya.
"Remember—work hard. Earn money. That's the only way you'll be able to support the household. Otherwise, interest on top of interest, compounding debt... Before you know it, you'll have to write 100,000 words a day just to break even."
"..."
The compound interest part hit a nerve.
Jiraiya raised a brow but sighed in resignation a moment later.
"…Didn't you say people who saw the Star God would be blessed with happiness? So where's mine?"
Ever since seeing Tsunade again… his luck had only gotten worse.
"I said 'maybe.' You know how luck works—who can say for sure?" Rasa sipped his tea calmly, taking the signed debt form from Jiraiya with a smile. "Maybe the happiness you're asking for is too big, so once isn't enough. You probably need to see the Star God a few more times. If that doesn't work, try buying a few hundred good-luck charms and hanging them all over yourself. You'll eventually run into a stroke of fortune."
"…Are you trying to sell me more crap?" Jiraiya shot him a cold stare. "Trying to squeeze my last coin dry? Let me tell you—those charms? Most ninja don't buy into that stuff."
"I know. But there are still plenty who cling to hope." Rasa casually glanced at the good-luck charm tied to Jiraiya's waist—one made in Sunagakure—and took another sip. "Too bad. Tsunade bought a bunch of them too. Probably trying to change her luck. But…"
He didn't finish that sentence. Just shook his head in regret.
Jiraiya's face turned a little green again.
Of course he knew Tsunade. Deep down, she didn't really want to win. She feared what would happen if she did. Gambling was just a way to numb the emptiness in her heart, to kill time.
But still…
"How many did she buy?"
"She cleaned out the entire city's stock. Her hotel room couldn't even hold them all. But even after buying so many, she kept losing. So she tried to claim we were misleading customers and demanded a tenfold compensation."
"..."
So that's what she was planning?!
Jiraiya froze, then looked seriously at Rasa.
"Did you guys compensate her?"
"…Are you stupid?" Rasa gave him a sideways glare, as if looking at a total idiot. "How can you refund something like that?"
If they did, all the temples in the Land of Earth would be out of business.
"She didn't make a scene?"
"Oh, she did. But in the end, we compromised—bought everything back at half price. Oh, and we added it to your tab."
"Motherf—"
Jiraiya nearly exploded, but after a deep breath and remembering he still had business ties with Sunagakure—and needed their help to make money—he held it in, clutching his chest and forcing a smile.
"…You guys are real pros at this whole 'business' thing."
If he flipped the table now, it'd only benefit that bastard Danzō. And when that happened… who'd be left to support Tsunade?
"Don't worry," Rasa said lightly. "She was very pleased. After all, she got half the money in cash, not just on paper. Honestly, I gotta hand it to her. That's some economic intuition—free-cashed half her spendings with no investment."
He sighed again, shaking his head.
"Too bad she lost it all that same afternoon."
"Can you not say anything else? I've got somewhere to be…"
But before Jiraiya could stand—
"Of course, the reason I'm telling you all this isn't just to admire your goddess's financial prowess."
"…Then what?"
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"It's just to let you know… that bill? It'll be added to next quarter's statement. So next time—" Rasa clicked his tongue and gave a slow, meaningful nod as Jiraiya's face turned darker, "You'd better work hard. Your goddess is counting on your humble little salary to survive."
"..."
This guy… is such a pain in the ass.