"Hyūga Zuo, won't you sit a bit longer and read some manga? It looks like there's a new update."
Akaba warmly urged him to stay.
"No need. I have matters to attend to within the clan. Just let me take a few volumes back with me."
Hyūga Zuo's expression remained gentle; not a trace of annoyance showed on his face.
"Alright then, Yunlang, pick ten of the latest updates for Hyūga Zuo."
Ten?
Hyūga Zuo's eyelid twitched slightly. Although they weren't expensive, how was this any different from being forced to buy them?
The real issue—he couldn't even refuse.
A prestigious clan leader of Konoha worrying over a mere one thousand ryō—if this got out, the Uchiha would probably laugh themselves to death.
"Hyūga Zuo, these are your ten books."
Although Akaba didn't show much respect toward Hyūga Zuo, Sakuma Yunlang could not act the same way. Status and hierarchy mattered greatly between ninja and ordinary people.
Hyūga Zuo gave a slight nod, took the bundle of ten books, shot Akaba a glance, and then turned and left.
"I forgot to ask if he wanted One Piece too. What a shame."
After he left, Akaba muttered to himself.
Sakuma Yunlang felt somewhat helpless.
He hadn't wanted to buy anything at all, yet ended up stuffed with ten books. And now they still hoped he'd purchase even more.
Insatiable greed—this was exactly what that described.
Yet at the same time, he found it strange—the head of the Hyūga clan actually seemed this easygoing. Truly unbelievable.
"It's getting quite late today. After you finish organizing the shipment Mr. Yamano sent over, feel free to close early and go home for rest."
After saying this, Akaba prepared to go home and enjoy a good sleep.
This day had been so exhausting for him—his naptime was completely robbed, and even his afternoon break had gotten compressed to only a dozen minutes or so.
Way too much to handle!
After having dinner at home and taking a shower, he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep instantly, sleeping straight through until daylight.
He slept soundly, while others spent the entire night unable to sleep.
At the Research Institute, not only Tsunade but even Orochimaru had personally joined in evaluating the Mystical Palm Technique.
This medical ninjutsu was far too important—it demanded their utmost attention. The technique's difficulty level was unprecedented among all the medical jutsus they had encountered so far.
Certainly, the difficulty here didn't refer to the healing itself, but rather to the requirements placed upon chakra control.
Just one bit too much, or one bit too little—the effect would be completely different.
"That bastard Akaba tosses us a jutsu to worry about—who exactly stopped you from dragging him here?"
Orochimaru sounded tired.
Even though both involved conducting experiments, assisting in recording completely unfamiliar data for someone else was entirely different from researching an intriguing personal project.
"He's busy recently setting up the Preparatory Division, and besides that, he has to draw manga, collect reference materials, study, and research jutsus. He must be swamped too—probably not sleeping much, same as us."
Tsunade sighed as she spoke, almost sympathizing with Akaba's exhaustion.
Orochimaru could find nothing to say in response after hearing this.
Busy beyond capacity?
Hardly sleeping?
And I'm supposed to believe that?
Only Tsunade would have such unwavering faith in Akaba.
He sighed lightly and started sorting through the data he had collected earlier.
From this pile of data, he needed to determine the chakra output level that yielded the best healing effect. However, war had already begun, and there was no time for him to rest at all.
Perhaps finding an assistant wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.
Contrary to Lady Tsunade's speculation,
Akaba had a wonderful sleep and woke up in high spirits in the morning.
Passing by the manga shop, seeing many customers streaming out one after another, his mood got even better.
This is what life's all about!
Waking up this morning, his panel's points increased dramatically by five or six hundred again.
Although it was only slightly more than what Hiruzen Sarutobi alone possessed, after all, the Third was the Hokage—their levels were not comparable.
Subtracting the points spent yesterday on exchanging for [Mystical Palm Technique], he currently had nearly two thousand points left.
Out of these two thousand, Sage Fukasaku and the toads deserved significant credit.
He spent seven more points to bring his Spirit Points up to a round number, leaving only two hundred points remaining.
120 Spirit Points.
At first glance, the difference didn't seem noticeable, but when using his sensor ability, the improvement became evident.
The range expanded significantly, with perception becoming sharper and finer.
This clearly demonstrated the increase in his Spirit Points.
Although quite a few points had been spent, Akaba felt satisfied—visible progress was always better than moving forward without direction.
Arriving at the manga shop, he created a shadow clone as usual and assigned it the task of helping draw updates for the manga.
As for the upcoming plot, the Konoha Destruction Plan was officially set to begin. The next volume would still be manageable—one-volume release should suffice. But when Orochimaru started making moves later on, things would change.
After Orochimaru acted, he would unleash the forbidden technique known as [Impure World Reincarnation].
If they released one volume at a time, it probably wouldn't pass through the review process under the Third's supervision.
Therefore,
Akaba's plan was to publish and release everything from the beginning to the end of the Konoha Destruction Plan all at once—
A total of thirty chapters!
It would keep the story flowing smoothly and shift readers' focus away from that one technique. The downside was that it would tire him greatly.
To meet the deadline, Akaba had no choice but to personally get involved.
Of course, while he needed to work so hard on Naruto, he didn't have to do the same with One Piece—keeping the regular pace of releasing five chapters per volume would be just fine.
Right now, Akaba could steadily endure the consumption of maintaining two clones daily; such minor tasks definitely posed no problem whatsoever.
Throughout the entire day, aside from essential meals, Akaba buried himself in work nonstop.
The results were indeed impressive too—he and his shadow clone had completed about seven or eight chapters worth of content within just one day. Yet thinking about still having three-quarters of the workload left, Akaba couldn't help but feel like crying.
This is way too hard!
He wasn't the only one struggling though—it was tough for Izumi Yamano as well.
No sooner had he finished printing ten chapters into a single volume than he received word from Sakuma Yunlang that the next step was to gather thirty chapters and release them all at once.
Such a print run wouldn't just increase the volume—it also significantly raised the complexity of printing and editing. Still, since their partner requested it this way, he could do nothing but grit his teeth and push forward.
But regarding the Hyūga clan—
With this volume's release, details concerning the Branch Family System between the Main and Side Families within the Hyūga Clan began circulating throughout Konoha.
Many were only now becoming aware of these internal rules within the Hyūga—the Branch Family and the "Caged Bird" seal—a cursed marking that could only be removed by death.
Though fearful of the Hyūga's powerful influence, people dared not openly discuss these matters publicly, yet couldn't stop whispering about them secretly.
Before Neji's debut, few members of the Hyūga Clan read manga. But ever since the character Neji Hyūga appeared, readership among the Branch Family skyrocketed.
Right up until now.
"Hey, did you check today's Naruto update?"
"How could I not?"
"Sakuma Akaba... that guy really is..."
How low the Branch truly stands—only those within it can fully understand.
In the manga's Neji arc, whether they're geniuses or ordinary Branch members, everyone instantly connects with his character.
After all, what's different between Neji's childhood and their own?
Although their parents didn't choose death like Hizashi, many still died in battle. Meanwhile, the Main Family was always well protected. The children of the Main House especially received heavy protection, rarely suffering casualties during wars.
That's the difference.
"Tch, even if our family produced a genius like Neji, he'd probably just end up forgotten in the end. How would they ever allow a Branch Family genius to surpass the Main House?"
Someone couldn't help but sneer.
"Hush!!"
His companion panicked.
If someone from the Main House heard such words, they wouldn't be killed, but activating the Caged Bird seal for some pain was definitely on the table.
"What do I have to fear? We can't choose our birth, but we can choose how we die."
He shouted loudly, "Without us in the Branch Family, what use are those noble Main Family elites? Would Konoha even need people like that?"
"Hito, you're going too far."
A cold voice came from nearby. The head of the Hyūga Branch stepped out slowly, his eyes filled with tiredness, confusion, and helplessness.
"Head of the Branch… Do you truly believe things should remain this way?"
Hyūga Hito asked, confused.
He was the older brother of Hyuga Kazuhiko—he had wanted to speak these words for quite some time.
But before, he lacked the courage. Recently however, after his younger brother was assigned as a gatekeeper and the secret techniques no longer concerned them, something changed. When he read the story progression—"dying freely"—he finally understood.
The Caged Bird might bind their bodies and souls, but it could never imprison their spirit.
"I wish it were that simple," sighed Hyūga Yuki.
Mutual destruction?
Easier said than done. Without the Branch Family, the Main House would become rootless, eventually vanishing into history.
Yet by doing so, the entire Hyūga clan would also cease to exist.
The Main House are enemies, yet they still carry blood ties. Though separated by that deep divide between Main and Branch Families, biologically, they remained relatives.
Severing that legacy—what benefit would that bring to the clan?
However,
Most lower-ranking members couldn't possibly see it that way.
All they could think about was the suffering they endured—their oppression and humiliation. Meanwhile, people from the Main Family were born privileged, like gods deciding their lives and deaths.
Why should it be this way?
Seeing even the clan leader held such an attitude, the previously loud clansmen fell silent.
Not out of despair—but as if silently preparing to erupt.
"We want answers. If we fail during critical missions, punishment from the clan may be justified. But how has the Main House treated us?"
Another clansman shouted loudly.
Even Yuki himself felt lost. He had pondered these very same questions before—but what could he do?
"Would we really abandon our clans and families and commit mass suicide?!"
That's too extreme.
He thought for a moment before finally making his decision. "I'll go to the Main House. If I don't return, everyone just settle down. Staying alive is more important than anything."
His voice was firm with unwavering resolve.
"Head, we're going with you!"
"Yeah, together! We must go together!"
Everyone stood stunned for a second, then burst into loud agreement.
Soon afterward, the rest of the Branch Family members entered one after another, gazing at their clan head before stepping in unison to stand among the crowd.
Seeing this, Hyūga Yuki was truly shocked.
"Yuki, this is a great opportunity. Let's go together."
Said the eldest elder from the Branch Family.
He was very old, barely able to walk at all, needing someone's arm to get out of his house. Yet he understood better than anyone else that unless a Hokage emerged—someone determined to change the Branch Family's fate—there wouldn't be a better chance than now.
For the future of their descendants, they were willing to bet their lives!
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