Naruto looked around and vaguely heard the audience whispering next to them:
"I heard that two new actors recently came to Oborozukiya, and their acting skills are really good..."
"Yes, especially the white-haired man who plays the 'female' role. Although he is a bit bigger, his every frown and smile are so charming!"
"Hi~ He looks like he is already in his forties, right? He still has such charm!"
"The other actor who plays the samurai is also great, with a special temperament, but he seems to be in poor health.
But the delicate warrior temperament actually makes people more lovable! Hahahaha!"
"Oh, it's a pity. In this industry, Kabuki, since the crisis decades ago, there have been no truly outstanding female actors, so we can only rely on male actors to play the role.
And I heard that the private life style of these actors... tsk tsk, the reputation has always been bad."
"Isn't that better? Hehehe!
But these two newcomers seem to be quite honest, and I haven't heard of anything messy..."
Listening to these discussions, a ridiculous but seemingly explainable idea struck Naruto like lightning.
He suddenly recalled Tsunade's gambling addiction and huge debts that could never be filled, and Jiraiya's wallet that was always drained by Tsunade despite his generous royalties...
Is it possible that Jiraiya and Dan Katō were forced to work at Land of Demons because they could not repay the gambling debts owed by Tsunade?
And you still perform in Kabuki store, which has a subtle reputation and is famous for men dressing up as women, to make money and pay off debts?
As soon as this idea appeared, it took root and grew crazily in Naruto's mind. Combined with Jiraiya's unconventional character, Dan Katō's deep love for Tsunade, and this living "evidence" in front of him...
Naruto covered his face with his hands, shrugged his shoulders slightly, and didn't know whether to be angry or laugh, or simply pretend not to recognize these two people and leave.
On the stage, Jiraiya with a big white face seemed to notice the figure of Golden in Corner. A turning movement he was performing suddenly froze, and then he continued as if nothing had happened, but there seemed to be a hint of guilt in his singing?
Dan Katō, who played the samurai, seemed to have noticed something. He glanced in the direction of Naruto, then quickly moved away and continued to focus on the performance, but the base of his ears seemed a little red.
Naruto took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it. He decided to watch this "wonderful" performance first.
When it's over, let's "ask" these two Senior which song they are singing.
By the way, how much does Tsunade owe?
The performance finally came to an end with applause and cheers.
The actors on the stage exited gracefully, leaving the audience with lingering thoughts.
Naruto did not stand up immediately, but waited until most of the audience began to leave, then quietly stood up and walked towards the backstage.
His Sensing was like a radar, firmly locked on the two familiar Chakra. One was sneaking away and the other seemed hesitant and embarrassed.
The corridor backstage was slightly dark, and the air was mixed with the smell of powder, sweat and wooden props.
Naruto As soon as he walked to the door of the green room, he heard a low-pitched conversation coming from inside:
"Quick, Duan, let's hurry through the back door while no one is paying attention..."
This is the voice of Jiraiya, with a hint of urgency.
"...Jiraiya, isn't this bad? Naruto is Hokage after all, and he came to us specially..."
This is the voice of Dan Katō, which sounds gentle but hesitant.
"Oh, it's so embarrassing for him to see us like this! Let's hide away first! Anyway, we've almost collected enough money..."
At the moment Jiraiya reached for the door and prepared to implement the "escape plan".
Squeak.
The door to the lounge was pushed open from the outside.
Sixth Hokage of Konoha was leaning against the door frame with his hands folded across his chest, with a half-smile but not a smile on his face, as if he could see through everything. Blue Eyes's eyes happened to meet the two people who were about to run away.
Jiraiya's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, while Dan Katō subconsciously took a small step back, a trace of the embarrassment of being caught flashed across his face.
Both of them have changed out of their gorgeous costumes and heavy makeup.
Jiraiya has returned to his usual bold appearance, but his hair is still a little wet; Dan Katō is wearing a simple plain color Kimono. Although his face is still a little pale, his eyes are clear. Obviously, his body still needs time to adapt and recover.
"Ahem!"
Jiraiya is indeed the old Jianghu. His face is unusually thick. After a brief moment of stiffness, he immediately coughed twice, straightened his back, and put on an exaggerated smile trying to get through.
"Oh! Isn't this our wise and wise Lord Sixth Hokage!
What brought you to a small place like Land of Demons? Are you here to understand the public sentiment or to perform a confidential mission?
Why didn't you notify us in advance so that we could go and greet you! Haha, haha..."
While he was making hahaha, he motioned with his crazy eyes to Dan Katō to help smooth things over.
Naruto didn't answer his words, his eyes swept over the two of them, and finally landed on Jiraiya's face with "guilt" written all over it. Gate of Opening came straight to the point, with a calm tone but with unavoidable intensity:
"You... are short of money?"
This sentence was like a precise Kunai, instantly breaking through the defense that Jiraiya was trying to build.
He and Dan Katō were stunned for a moment at the same time, with unnatural expressions on their faces.
Naruto didn't beat around the bush and added, "I really want to know how much Tsunade owes?"
Didn't she go to Daimyo to make money?
Naruto has long been accustomed to Tsunade's physique of "you will lose every bet, and you will owe money if you lose", and the cycle of Jiraiya following behind to wipe the butt.
Only this time, it seems that Jiraiya has roped in Dan Katō, who has just been resurrected and is not yet in good health, and went to Land of Demons to make money in this way. The scale of this debt is probably not trivial.
Jiraiya Seeing that he couldn't hide it, he touched his nose, his expression became a little sad, and he counted on his fingers. "Well... well... the principal is not too much, about... 18,490,000 taels."
Eighteen million four hundred and ninety thousand taels!
This is no longer a small amount.
However, what Jiraiya said next made even the well-informed Naruto widen his eyes.
Jiraiya grimaced and continued, "But... plus the interest... after the interest is compounded, we now need to pay back probably... about 73.5 million taels."
"Take the young master?"
"Damn it! It's a loan shark!"
Naruto couldn't help but curse, and the veins on his forehead began to beat again.
How many times has this interest doubled?
It's simply worse than robbing money!
Konoha will definitely need a lot of money to build infrastructure, and all these loan sharks can become his disposable piggy bank!
Naruto made an instant decision in his heart.
Do you know that it is seriously illegal to charge such a high interest rate?
Must crack down hard!
The stolen money was then confiscated.
Of course, Tsunade's own gambling debts are also a problem, but the cancer of loan sharking cannot be ignored.
Suppressing the anger in his heart and his "concern" for the lenders, Naruto looked again at the two Senior who were willing to "go to sea" to pay off their debts. His tone softened a little, but still with doubts. "Then... you two have been working here for half a month, how much have you earned?"
He is very curious, how high can the Kabuki actor's income be? Is it enough to fill that terrible interest hole?
Hearing this, Jiraiya and Dan Katō looked at each other, with complicated expressions on their faces that showed a bit of embarrassment but also a hint of pride.
Dan Katō said with some embarrassment, "We don't do those 'things' behind the scenes."
He was referring to the improper services provided privately by some actors in the Kabuki industry, which is also one of the important reasons for the poor reputation of this industry.
"It just depends purely on performances and rewards from guests."
Jiraiya took over the conversation and straightened his chest, although his eyes were still a little wandering. "So, the income is very clean, but it is still considerable.
After half a month, after deducting the store's commission and basic expenses, the two of us made a reward of Underground Bounty Station, and probably made a net profit of more than seven million taels.
Of course, there is still a bounty on the big head, but bounties are not something you can do every day."
"More than seven million taels?"
Naruto was surprised again.
Half a month, more than seven million!
In other words, these two people earned seven S-level missions in half a month!
This efficiency is simply terrifying.
The two of them sing and dance on stage, and if they arrest a few more people, they can earn so much in half a month?
Now among Underground Bounty Station, the highest bounties are basically in Konoha, and it is impossible for them to pick up Jiraiya, the bounty for assassinating Daimyo's close ministers.
Did the two of them open this street or something?
However, the two of them said that the reward is the biggest reward, and there are quite a few people from all walks of life in Land of Demons!
"Awesome..."
Naruto couldn't help but sighed in a low voice, looked at the two people in front of him, shook his head, and thought to himself: How else could you two have become the elites of Konoha?
This learning ability, adaptability and professional level are top-notch in any field!
However, sighs are sighs, and business matters must not be forgotten. Naruto calmed down his expression and said seriously, "Konoha will take care of the loan shark."
Now, take me to meet Miko Shion and Senior. I need to get some important information from you about Iwaya Slope and Pure Land."