The bookstore owner's voice trembled with fear. The Warring States period had ended only a few years ago, and the fearsome reputation of the Uchiha Clan was still enough to stop a child from crying at night. They were the slaughtering clan that stood alongside the Senju Clan, establishing the name of the "Warring States Duo" through blood and fire.
Moreover, being able to awaken the Sharingan at such a young age meant that his status within the Uchiha Clan was certainly not low.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his back. The expression on the owner's face shifted from shock to a nearly subservient flattery. His waist instinctively bowed, and his heart was filled with the relief of a survivor.
Fortunately, I didn't let my head get hot and suggest a lower price just now, otherwise, I would have been in trouble today...
"S-so it is a Lord of the Uchiha Clan... Forgive my disrespect!"
He bowed, carefully placing the manuscript on the counter as if afraid to damage it. "This manuscript... it's exquisite! Truly magnificent! I have never read such a... such a novel, unique, and captivating story!"
"If this is printed, it will definitely be a hit throughout Konoha. No, in my humble opinion, it's highly possible it will become a sensation across the entire Ninja World!"
After speaking, the bookstore owner wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and asked cautiously, "I wonder if the Uchiha Lord would prefer a fixed manuscript fee or a royalty percentage from the publication?"
Makoto Senju had absolute confidence in this "plagiarized" book from his past life. He spoke bluntly, "I'll take the royalties."
The bookstore owner nodded immediately, not daring to hesitate. He offered the highest royalty percentage currently available at the bookstore, fearing he might upset this "little ancestor" if he were too slow.
Makoto Senju nodded slightly in agreement, not dwelling on it. What he needed now was to open up the market quickly.
The owner breathed a sigh of relief, wiped his sweat, and asked tentatively, "I wonder... what pen name would the Lord like to use? I will record it right away and ensure it's printed on the cover in a large font!"
Upon hearing this, the crimson faded from Makoto Senju's eyes as the Sharingan retracted, returning his pupils to their deep black state. He leaned against the counter, thought for a few seconds, and spoke slowly.
"Call it—'Carrying a Blade on a Rainy Night, Without an Umbrella.'"
The bookstore owner bowed and scraped repeatedly. "A fine name! A fine name! It has both artistic conception and momentum; it sounds truly extraordinary!"
He immediately pulled a heavy money bag from under the counter and presented it to Makoto Senju with both hands in a respectful manner.
"This is the advance payment for the manuscript. Please count it, Lord!"
"I will personally oversee the craftsmen tonight to arrange the layout and printing. I guarantee that by tomorrow—no, by tonight—this book will appear in the most prominent positions in all the bookstores of Konoha, sweeping across the entire village!"
Makoto Senju took the money bag and weighed it in his hand. The heavy weight and the crisp clinking of the silver inside made him nod with satisfaction. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the bookstore.
His first pot of gold was secured.
Next, it was time to go to the Konoha apothecary and the Nara Clan to buy some medicinal materials. Combined with his training, he needed to absorb the Otsutsuki bloodline as quickly as possible.
In this world of ninjas, strength is always the hard truth. No matter how strong your backing is, if you aren't strong yourself, it's ultimately empty.
Even with the title of "Konoha's Crown Prince," it couldn't compare to absolute power. Moreover, Makoto Senju knew well that in the near future, the naturally evil Otsutsuki clan would descend upon the Ninja World to plant their trees. He had no desire to become fertilizer.
Tonight was destined not to be peaceful.
In the evening, at the Uchiha Clan compound, Kagami Uchiha had just returned home. He rushed excitedly to his father and spoke with a voice full of emotion.
"Father, I'm back! Today... today I found the person I want to learn from and follow for the rest of my life!"
Shihuo Uchiha listened, his gaze falling on his son's cheeks, which were flushed with excitement. He asked, "Oh? Kagami, did something happen at school today? Tell me about it."
"It's the only disciple of the First Lord. He's the same age as me, but he can already talk all night with the First Lord about major affairs of the Land of Fire and Konoha..."
Kagami Uchiha became more excited as he spoke, gesturing animatedly. "He's so amazing. I must follow him and protect Konoha together in the future!"
As he spoke, the boy's eyes were filled with infinite longing for the future.
Shihuo Uchiha looked at his son, a look of speechlessness appearing on his face as he muttered silently to himself.
What kind of personality that guy Hashirama Senju has—who among the older generation in Konoha doesn't know? Every day he's either slacking off or thinking about Lord Madara in his heart. Where would he find the time to talk about major village and national affairs with a child?
He's clearly been fooled! Who does this kid take after with his dazed personality? His mother isn't dazed either...
But... on second thought, Shihuo Uchiha's helplessness turned into a complex calculation.
The current situation of the Uchiha Clan in Konoha wasn't exactly great. Lord Madara had been "beaten to death" by Hashirama Senju, which made the family's position in the village somewhat delicate and awkward.
If Kagami Uchiha could truly build a good relationship and establish a bond with the only disciple of Hashirama Senju, it would only be beneficial—both for Kagami's personal future and for easing the relationship between the clan and the village.
This might be an unexpected entry point to break the deadlock.
Thinking this way, Shihuo Uchiha didn't correct his son. Instead, he presided with a nod and said earnestly.
"In that case, Kagami, make sure to build a good relationship with him and learn from him. Do you understand?"
Seeing his father's support, Kagami Uchiha immediately nodded heavily, his face full of determination. "I definitely will, Father!"
But in the next second, the determined expression on his face collapsed. His eyebrows drooped as he spoke with a troubled look. "But, I don't know how to get on good terms with him..."
"?"
Shihuo Uchiha was stunned. He paused and began to think seriously, attempting to come up with a strategy for his son. A moment later, both father and son sat at the table with troubled faces, trying to figure out how to befriend the only disciple of Hashirama Senju.
The two of them went back and forth, coming up with a bunch of ridiculous and bad ideas—a pair of naturally dazed father and son.
It wasn't just the Uchiha Clan compound; many families in Konoha were playing out similar scenes tonight.
After the sixth-grade children of the Ninja Academy returned home and mentioned the arrival of a disciple of the First Lord, their parents, without exception, urged them to build a good relationship with Makoto Senju and hold onto this thickest of "golden thighs."
This troubled the group of boys and girls, each wearing a bitter face, wondering how to befriend Makoto Senju.
Meanwhile, the bookstore Makoto Senju had visited earlier was brightly lit tonight. The owner was a man of his word, urging the craftsmen to arrange the layout throughout the night. Brand-new books were being rushed out, placed on the shelves of all the bookstores in Konoha overnight.
This was partly because the quality of the book was indeed excellent, and partly because the owner wanted to please this big figure of the Uchiha Clan.
The owner even had a sudden inspiration, remembering that the Uchiha Lord was a student at the Ninja Academy. The next morning, he pushed a cart of books to the entrance of the Ninja Academy, selling them cheap or even giving them away to anyone he met, promoting them with all his might...
At first, the students weren't very interested. But as soon as they heard the protagonist's name was A-Zang, they immediately thought of the famous Academy figure, Danzo Shimura... Curiosity was instantly piqued.
Many people pulled out money to buy a copy, wanting to see exactly what was in the book.
Danzo Shimura: "?"