49. Chapter 49: Parade

The afterglow of the setting sun shone over Sunagakure. Under the beautiful crimson sky, Sunagakure's specialty snack street officially entered the busiest part of its day.

After a busy day at work, people brought their wives and children out for something good to eat.

A reward for their hardworking, weary selves.

"Come and try some fresh fried scorpions! Delicious without being greasy—if it's not good, you don't pay!"

"Don't miss it as you pass by! Newly brewed snake gall wine—nourishes yin, strengthens the kidneys, and prolongs life!"

"Come take a look! Cactus dishes you've never tried before, freshly launched by our shop—beautifying and skin-enhancing!"

"Stir-fried Desert Lizard! Desert cuisine you've never seen before, a truly delicious delicacy!"

"Now that you're in Sunagakure, can you really say you've been here without trying the desert specialties? Our little shop just opened—come on in and have a taste!"

Walking along the newly designated food street with Pakura, Yunqing looked around at the hawking vendors with satisfaction.

Not bad. They had truly inherited the essence of my Big Eater Empire.

It had only been a few days, yet so many new shops had opened.

Judging by how booming things were, it probably wouldn't be long before they could begin artificial breeding.

Another Industrial Chain had been created, and more jobs had been provided for the population.

"Lord Kazekage, where exactly are you taking me? I finally got off work—I want to go home and train."

Pakura slumped as she followed behind him, speaking in a resentful tone.

Yunqing ignored both Pakura's words and her aggrieved gaze. He headed straight for a nearby barbecue stall, bought a large handful of grilled meat, and ate as he walked.

"Here, want some? Grilled Desert Lizard meat. It's nice and chewy, spicy too."

Perhaps because Pakura looked too pitiful, Yunqing hesitated before handing her one skewer.

Pakura looked at the single skewer in her hand, then at the whole handful in Yunqing's. Her gaze became even more resentful.

Was Mother not pretty or sexy enough, or was Yunqing just too straightforward?

It was really just a little. Shouldn't you have given me the whole handful?

"Little Pakura, training nonstop is useless. You need to balance work and rest properly. That's the only way to reach the peak."

Yunqing kept eating as he imparted misguided training principles to Pakura.

Thinking of other Transmigrators, they were either fighting or on their way to fight. Their breakthroughs came either during battle or before one.

In short, everything was for the sake of fighting. If they didn't live through hell every day, they would be betraying their identity as Transmigrators.

"Thinking about it that way, I really am a disgrace to Transmigrators."

Yunqing mocked himself inwardly.

He had such an overpowered cheat and had already reached the pinnacle of this world, yet every day he thought about how to "traffic people" and make money instead of conquering the world.

Watching Yunqing beside her space out while his expression kept changing, Pakura revealed a strange smile. Then, every so often, she plucked another skewer of grilled meat from his hand.

Still, this grilled meat was quite fragrant.

It had the same cooked smell as when she used Scorch Release to steam people to death.

The foolish Pakura had not noticed the sign hanging over the barbecue stall, which read: Ye Clan Bloodline Secret-Recipe Grilled Meat Shop.

"Hey, Pakura! You training maniac, how do you have time to stroll around tonight?"

A beautiful young woman suddenly appeared in front of Pakura and greeted her excitedly.

"Oh, Ye Nan. Shouldn't you be keeping your boyfriend company? What are you doing here?"

Seeing Ye Nan, Pakura helplessly pointed at Yunqing before greeting her.

"Greetings, Lord Kazekage."

When Ye Nan saw Yunqing beside Pakura, she hurriedly bowed.

The leader of a village was the boss of every ninja within it. As an active-duty ninja, she had to show respect.

"Good, it's Little Nan. How are things going with En? When are you planning to get married?"

Recognizing Ye Nan, Yunqing greeted her with a smile.

"En? Things are fine. As for marriage, he hasn't even bought a house yet. How could we get married?"

Ye Nan smiled helplessly.

En Uzumaki's situation was simply too difficult, and she knew it. If the debt had belonged to En Uzumaki himself, she would have helped him pay it off—En was so handsome, and she was a little rich woman. Supporting him a bit would not have been a problem.

The key was that the debt did not belong to En Uzumaki himself. If he wanted to buy a house and move out, he could only wait until the debt was repaid.

"Eh, don't you already own a place? You could live there for now."

Pakura said doubtfully. She remembered that Ye Nan had bought a house before.

"It's En. He said he absolutely had to buy a house himself, otherwise he'd be living off a woman. He kept saying his teeth and stomach were too good, so he wasn't suited to living off a woman."

Ye Nan was helpless about having ended up with such a macho boyfriend and could only endure it in silence.

Yunqing shook his head and chuckled twice. What could he say? There was nothing he could say.

En Uzumaki did not earn little. Between the rewards for his Medical Ninjutsu research, his salary and dividends from Whirlpool Hospital, and the occasional substitute teaching at the Ninja Academy, he made quite a lot every month. An ordinary family could have bought a three-bedroom, one-living room apartment long ago with that kind of income.

The key was that those two dumbasses, Aizawa Uzumaki and En Uzumaki, insisted on taking responsibility for the Uzumaki Clan's loans themselves.

With Whirlpool Hospital's profits, the Uzumaki Clan could have paid off those loans long ago.

Many other Uzumaki Clan members had already bought homes of their own in Sunagakure, where their families lived together happily.

As for the original Barrel House, it had now become their "ancestral land" in Sunagakure, used for gatherings.

"But isn't he still living off you now? All his money goes toward paying debts. Aren't you the one paying for his three meals a day, clothes, and snacks too?"

Pakura froze for a moment before blurting it out.

Ye Nan worked at Sunagakure's "customs office." She was a legitimate civil servant with excellent pay and benefits.

The Ye Clan also had its own businesses, and the monthly dividends were quite substantial.

Whenever Ye Nan had free time, she would also go help out at the clan businesses.

It could be said that she alone earned more than most families.

"Heh, men. Their mouths are nothing but lies. He just doesn't want to get married yet."

Ye Nan sneered, making it clear that Mother saw right through him.

En Uzumaki simply wanted to play around for another couple of years.

Seeing the two of them getting more and more ridiculous, Yunqing decisively turned away so he would not get caught in the crossfire.

The moment Yunqing turned around, he saw En Uzumaki standing awkwardly some distance away.

Yunqing walked straight over to En Uzumaki.

"What's this? You still haven't paid off the loans? I really don't know what you and Aizawa were thinking."

Yunqing patted En Uzumaki on the shoulder and asked in confusion.

"Sigh, the Daimyo and the clan chief entrusted the clan members to us back then. We can't let them bear this kind of pressure anymore."

En Uzumaki shook his head and spoke bitterly.

The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools had dealt too great a blow to him and Aizawa Uzumaki—so great that they had poured all the love born from their guilt into the Uzumaki Clan members of Sunagakure.

"Keep it up. Ye Nan is a good girl, so treat her well.

"With the two of your salaries, living a wealthy life would be easy."

Yunqing shrugged. He had no desire to meddle in someone else's affairs.

Hope everyone enjoys reading.