After reading all the details, Uka worked out a rough figure on some scrap paper and handed it to Toka. "Auntie, the reward should be around three hundred thousand ryō, and the extra subsidy in the year a child is born should still be paid!"
"The penalty can be around four hundred thousand ryō. We can suspend their missions too. After all, if they don't even have time to have children, how are they supposed to do missions?"
He hadn't plucked those figures out of thin air. Most adult Senju Clan Members had Chunin strength.
That meant each person could receive four hundred and fifty thousand ryō a year, not counting the bonuses for clan and village missions!
Of course, during childbirth, they wouldn't be able to work, so they'd only receive the basic subsidy of one hundred and fifty thousand ryō.
So although the childbirth bonus was only three hundred thousand ryō, paying the subsidy as usual meant the clan would actually spend six hundred thousand ryō.
As for the penalty, after suspending their missions, they'd only lose four hundred thousand ryō a year. That would just cover all the clan's various subsidies.
Only the clan head would be penalized, and he'd still be left with fifty thousand. That was practically merciful.
Once he spent the fifty thousand ryō, the clan head could still eat at his family's expense, so he wouldn't starve.
But in this somewhat traditional Shinobi World,
having the clan head live off his wife was more painful than beating him up!
Sixty, forty, suspend missions. Looking at the points Uka had listed, Senju Toka had a general idea.
She nodded in satisfaction, thinking that her nephew truly lived up to his reputation.
He really was clever!
She gathered up the documents and took out paper and a pen, planning to copy everything out so she could discuss it with the others later.
Watching his aunt busy herself, Senju Uka started to get impatient.
He grumbled inwardly about how she always told him half of something and left the rest unsaid. Was the second matter really so hard to talk about?
Couldn't she explain it first, before getting busy?
After waiting a while and seeing that she still hadn't remembered, Senju Uka spoke up to interrupt her. "Auntie, you haven't told me about the second matter yet!"
"Hm?" Toka looked up from her copying and glanced at the boy.
Seeing him frown and stare at her in displeasure, she suddenly remembered that she'd been so focused on roping him into doing the work that she'd forgotten to mention the second matter.
So she waved a hand and said as if it were nothing, "It's nothing major. The clan has assigned you three wives. It happens to align with your first proposal, so as the nephew of the acting clan head, you can lead by example!"
"Oh, and about the restriction you set: everyone has to have at least two children. You have to lead by example on that too!"
"Otherwise, you'll have to pay a fine and suspend your missions. It'll be one million two hundred thousand a year. Your dividends should be enough, so you won't need to ask your wives for money to live. Don't worry about that!"
Three wives? Acting clan head?
Looking at the unconcerned expression on his aunt's face, Uka nearly blurted out, "What the hell?"
He'd gained three wives in a single night, and she thought that wasn't a big deal?
She'd even asked him for advice, only for his own proposal to be the first to cut him down?
He'd spent the whole morning working himself to the bone, only to end up as a complete sucker!
And the clan's way of doing things-three in one night. Would they bring him three more tomorrow?
Were they planning to make him a stud?
Would they end up not even letting him leave the village?
The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became. Senju Uka unconsciously licked his slightly dry lips.
He sat up straight and asked in a grave voice, "Auntie, what exactly does the clan mean by this?"
Senju Toka had just finished copying out the targets when she heard her nephew speak.
She lifted her head from the desk and looked at his cold expression. She immediately realized what the problem was and silently blamed herself for not explaining things clearly.
She always unconsciously treated him like a child.
But how could she treat someone who'd come up with those proposals like a child?
Putting aside her earlier nonchalance and teasing, Senju Toka straightened her collar and assumed the role of clan head.
Looking at the future Wood Release user across from her, she explained solemnly, "It's not a good thing for the Senju if only the Soratate Branch possesses Wood Release!"
"After discussion, the Senju will choose one woman from each branch to marry you. Your children with them will become the heads of their respective branches!"
"So the three branches will also provide resources to cultivate you with everything they have. The clan has no intention of restricting your freedom or treating you like a machine!"
She laid everything out clearly. With a clever kid, it was better not to beat around the bush.
Explaining the reasons directly and laying out the pros and cons was the best choice!
After listening to his aunt's explanation, Senju Uka quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed the clan hadn't decided to turn him into a breeding machine.
Three wives in exchange for the clan's full support. He wasn't exactly losing out.
That was good. If they really treated him like a breeding machine, he might have to get rough with them.
Anyway, once he became an Ōtsutsuki, he'd have an immortal body, and even injuries like that would heal.
If it came to it, he'd probably be able to bring himself to do it for the sake of his future.
But this arrangement wasn't bad either: one woman from each of the three branches, and no more.
They'd also give his children the right to lead.
And they'd cultivate him with everything they had.
It was only three times, right?
He'd wasted more than that in his previous life!
As soon as he relaxed, Senju Uka began making fun of himself. After all, he'd spent decades in his previous life without getting married.
Now, after only nine years since transmigrating, he had to marry three people at once. He was still a little nervous.
Seeing her nephew's expression relax, Senju Toka shifted topics and added, "Of course, if you want to marry more, the clan will support you with everything it has!"
"They originally planned to give you nine wives yesterday. I was the one who helped you turn down six. If you want, I can notify them now?"
"No need!" Senju Uka quickly shook his head.
He'd come to a world where he could live forever. Why would he marry so many women?
If possible, he didn't even want these three.
Wouldn't it be better to take his time once he became an Ōtsutsuki and had a lifespan of thousands of years?
He knew perfectly well which mattered more: having decades to have fun or thousands of years.
Besides, nine Senju women?
The same talent, the same physical strength.
Heh... The clan elders were probably hoping he'd meet an early end!
The enemy was always within!
Seeing her nephew smile again, Senju Toka thought of what had happened that morning and asked with a smile, "Aren't you curious who the three women are?"
Uka shrugged indifferently. He really hadn't thought about it.
But looking at his aunt's mischievous expression,
the choices... sounded interesting?
Toka didn't keep her nephew waiting long before giving him the answer.
She counted them off on her fingers. "The first is called Tsunade, the second is called Senju Maki, and the third is called Senju... Chiharu!"
At the first name, Senju Uka's eyes had already widened, and surprise showed on his face.
When he heard the third name, he instantly understood what had been strange that morning.
No wonder Sister Chiharu had acted that way.
He really had been remarkably slow on the uptake!
But these choices also helped him understand why the clan had given the position to his children.
The first went without saying. The second was the First Elder's granddaughter, and the third was because of him.
In the end, the power was still going around within the same family.
He'd thought the higher-ups had chosen outsiders!
Now he also understood why his aunt had become acting clan head.
She was just looking after the family's assets for her grandnephew!
But if he remembered correctly, all three of them were older than him?
Four... six... nine?
After thinking for a moment, Senju Uka voiced his concern. "Auntie, I'm only nine. They won't have to marry me right away, will they?"
Ahem... He was only nine, and he hadn't even grown hair yet.
If he married now, they'd make him just watch helplessly on his wedding night.
That would be a little too cruel of the clan!
At the thought, that scene appeared in Uka's mind!
His fists clenched involuntarily.