"Has the latest issue of *Naruto* – Chapter 156: *Extermination? The Uchiha Resolve* – arrived already?"
The manga had just been put on shelves when Uchiha Ryo showed up.
Even Sakuma Yunlang could tell this guy had followed him here deliberately, but he didn't call him out. He ignored the awkwardness and casually pointed at the bookshelf, saying, "Both mangas have updates. There's also some works from others—you can pick whichever you like."
"Others?"
Uchiha Ryo hesitated for a moment, then shrugged it off.
He mainly came here to buy *Naruto*, though since *One Piece* also updated recently, he might as well grab another copy of that too!
He walked into the shop and started browsing the titles.
Although the Uchiha were quite wealthy, he himself had no income. If he happened to find a manga with posters included, that'd be great.
However,
After picking out a few books, Uchiha Ryo suddenly noticed one comic volume carelessly placed in a corner.
He walked over, picked it up, and glanced at its cover.
*Intimate Desert*?
"What kind of book is this? I don't remember seeing it before."
He kept up with nearly all the comics in the store, but he'd never even seen this one before. Looking around, he realized there was only a single copy inside the entire shop.
Could this be a rare first edition?
Uchiha Ryo took a deep breath—his luck might finally be changing.
Excited, he failed to notice the author's name written above.
"I'll take these."
He brought all the books to the counter, paying three thousand, one hundred taels.
"The Clan Leader told me to get twenty copies of *Naruto*, ten of *One Piece*, and one of *Intimate Desert*."
"This one is by a new artist."
Seeing *Intimate Desert*, Sakuma Yunlang couldn't help but offer a note.
"It's fine. I bought it already."
Uchiha Ryo paid and wrapped the books before leaving the store.
Sakuma Yunlang hesitated momentarily but ultimately said nothing.
If customers wanted to buy something, could he really insist it was an art publication unsuitable for sale?
People have different tastes—might as well let him have it.
Shaking his head slightly, Sakuma Yunlang replaced another copy of *Intimate Desert* onto its original spot.
With the manga now in hand, Uchiha Ryo hurried straight back toward the clan compound.
When he saw Motonami Uchiha, he respectfully placed the whole bundle on the table and said, "Clan Leader, I got twenty copies of *Naruto* as you requested, plus some others."
"Mm, very good. Let me see."
Motonami Uchiha unwrapped the package and casually picked up a volume.
After glancing at it, he coughed lightly and moved that particular book behind.
"Clan Leader, what's wrong with that one?"
Uchiha Ryo asked curiously.
He grabbed *Intimate Desert* thinking it might be rare—he hadn't even checked what was inside yet.
"Nothing significant."
Motonami Uchiha gave no explanation. Instead, after closely examining its title, he pulled a *Naruto* volume from the stack.
He flipped through it page by page—
The early chapters meant little to him. Motonami Uchiha was only interested in parts that involved the Uchiha.
Finally, reaching the latest chapter.
Page one of Episode 55.
"Exactly because I had no power, the Uchiha clan was wiped out, and everyone was killed."
Each line of dialogue immediately revealed the truth—explaining why no other Uchiha clan members had shown up until now.
Everyone was dead!
The image of "that person" Sasuke always mentioned instantly flashed through Motonami Uchiha's mind.
Who was that person?
An outsider? Or someone from within the Uchiha clan itself?
Perhaps both.
Motonami thought quietly to himself.
He knew better than anyone that the Uchiha had never been a peaceful family, and as clan leader, he understood this all too well.
"Clan Leader, is there any news above?" asked Uchiha Ryo, somewhat confused.
"Do you still remember what I told you before?"
"You mean the plot in the manga—that the Uchiha might already have been wiped out?"
He picked up a volume of the manga, flipped forward, and skimmed through it.
Killed. Wiped out.
It was just a few pages, but they hit him like a punch to the gut.
Uchiha Ryo stood stunned.
Even though he'd always known, seeing it spelled out like that still hit him hard. He could barely resist the urge to knock Akaba's lights out.
"Why don't you show this with the rest of the clan?"
"But… really? Are we actually allowed to do this?"
Shocked and puzzled, Uchiha Ryo hesitated.
If everyone saw this content, who knows how many people would want to beat Akaba senseless—some extremists might even go much further.
Even at his age, he could already imagine such a scene. Yet Clan Leader Motonami simply nodded again.
Though Uchiha Ryo didn't understand, a clan leader's order must be obeyed.
He took twenty copies of the manga, left the clan leader's house, and headed toward the Uchiha district to distribute them.
"He bought twenty copies?"
Akaba gave the faintest nod when he heard this.
Judging by the time, Uchiha Ryo should already be home by now.
Hmm, looks like an interesting show will start soon.
He gave Yunlang Sakuma a quick greeting, then exited the manga shop.
This kind of drama definitely shouldn't be missed.
Since directly showing up among the Uchiha and making a big fuss wasn't possible, watching a live broadcast was his only option.
Before long, he arrived at the Hokage Tower.
Seeing him, The Third couldn't help but feel surprised and asked with astonishment, "You came here voluntarily? Well then, what's going on?"
"Hehe, the new manga has just come out, and the Uchiha family bought twenty copies."
Akaba grinned and mimicked the Telescope Technique's hand sign.
The meaning was clear—he wanted to start watching what was happening.
The Third remained silent for a moment, then said, "Close the door."
"Sure thing!"
Akaba immediately shut the door and happily sat down, waiting for Hiruzen to get the crystal ball rolling.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took out the crystal ball.
After forming several hand seals and infusing chakra into it, images finally appeared on the orb.
The perspective shown seemed to be from Motonami's point of view—his own home.
"Clan Leader, this depiction goes way too far!"
"This is an insult to the Uchiha! We can't endure this anymore!"
"If we keep tolerating this, those little pups will think we're pushovers! We need to teach them a lesson—to let both that boy and Danzo know that the Uchiha are not to be messed with!"
A crowd swarmed in, yelling like crazy—the atmosphere so intense you'd think the Uchiha were about to start a rebellion.
Motonami calmly surveyed the crowd with sharp, watchful eyes.
He didn't respond, letting them argue on as if nothing had happened.
Nearly ten minutes later, a heavy silence settled over the room.
"Motonami, you're the clan leader. Will you say something? Are we just pretending nothing happened or what?"
An elder asked.
"What do you think?"
Motonami Uchiha didn't answer directly.
"I believe things aren't this simple. This might be Danzo testing us. We must demonstrate our strength, or else they'll keep pushing further."
The elder said.
"Pushing further? I respectfully disagree with your opinion."
Eno Uchiha stepped forward.
"Oh?"
Many turned to look, their eyes somewhat hostile.
"You think compromise will make them push further, but have you considered the current situation of the Uchiha clan?"
Eno Uchiha spoke coldly. "Back when Madara was alive, we still couldn't defeat the Senju branch. Now, what do we have to fight them with? The entire clan's lives?"
"They dare!"
The elder glared furiously, his three-tomoe spinning.
However,
Eno Uchiha confronted him head-on, activating his eyes too.
Both had three-tomoe Sharingan, neither weaker than the other. They glared at each other stubbornly without yielding.
"Clan Leader, I believe both Elder and Eno's views are reasonable. Clan extinction isn't just another manga plot—it's a real blade hanging over our Uchiha heads, ready to fall at any moment. We have to do *something*."
Another Jonin stood up to speak.
"So, what are your thoughts?"
Motonami Uchiha swept his gaze around the room and asked calmly.
But no one answered.
They'd been throwing around ideas left and right just a moment ago, but now no one dared to speak up.
"Clan Leader, I believe we should actively integrate into Konoha, showing Konoha our Uchiha sincerity."
Eno Uchiha spoke first.
"Reckless! You're insulting our family bloodline!"
Numerous elders became furious with shaking beards, almost charging onto the scene to tear apart Eno Uchiha.
"Insulting? Is our bloodline truly so noble?"
Eno Uchiha sneered coldly.
"You—you—you!"
The elders were trembling with rage, all standing up, their eyes blood-red.
Eno Uchiha showed not the slightest fear.
From the moment he accepted this task, he had already prepared himself for sacrifice.
"For the sake of our clan!"
He secretly shouted in his heart.
Then taking a step forward, he declared fiercely, "You stubborn old relics—don't you get it? The world has changed!"
One elder shot to his feet immediately, condemning furiously, "Are you suggesting following Kagami's footsteps as a clan traitor?"
At that moment, a heavy silence settled over the hall.
Kagami Uchiha—once forbidden and unmentionable within the clan—was brought up again now.
Most felt complex emotions.
They couldn't bring themselves to agree with Kagami's actions, but could the Uchiha really gain advantage from opposing the Hokage line?
Probably not.
Why was this one manga page causing so much chaos inside the Uchiha?
Because its ending struck at the very sore spot of the Uchiha.
Everyone knew there would be no benefit to defying the Hokage line, yet they couldn't bring themselves to compromise, unable to let go of their inner pride.
As the Elders stood, the Uchiha bloodline was indeed noble—one of the founding clans of the village.
Yet if even the Senju, another founding clan, had long given up on striving for more, how could the Uchiha still hope to claim their share?
Of course,
another concern lingered in many minds—would Konoha truly accept them after they compromised?
That too remained uncertain.
At this moment, Motonami Uchiha, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke. "Elder, when exactly did my younger brother become the traitor you speak of?"
"Didn't he abandon the pride of the Uchiha, embrace Tobirama Senju's ideology, and shamefully die in a war aiding the Hokage's bloodline? He *is* a traitor."
The Elder sneered.
"I see. Then, who else here agrees with the Elder's view?"
No one spoke for a long moment.
But gradually, some began to rise—several Elders among them.
"Motonami, why don't we just leave Konoha and find our place in other nations?"
"Yeah, let's go!"
"With the might of the Uchiha, we can surely build our own village."
Many Uchiha ninja voiced their agreement, particularly those serving in the Military Police.
Motonami Uchiha looked around slowly, then closed his eyes and said, "So this is what you all believe?"
"Yes! The Uchiha must change—we can't go on like this!"
"Then act as you've declared."
Motonami Uchiha shut his eyes again and spoke indifferently. "If you're all set on leaving Konoha, return and begin your preparations."
"Yes sir!"
The shinobi who had stood up first rushed out, soon followed by others.
The Uchiha stood at a crossroads.
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