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*****
"What price are you talking about?"
"You wrote about the Uchiha clan without my permission. The fact that I didn't slit your throat already shows my mercy."
Ximen Zhen curled his lips into a smirk and said, "You should be saying that to the Third Hokage. He approved my book, gave me a position and salary, and instructed me to make sure the book gets written."
As he spoke, Ximen Zhen pulled out a set of documents and handed them to Sasuke.
Sasuke held a kunai in one hand and skillfully opened the documents with the other.
That simple action alone revealed just how immature Sasuke still was.
He ignored Ximen Zhen's motion of reaching into his clothes and didn't even bother to inspect the contents before looking at the paper—despite it being just a single sheet.
If Ximen Zhen had ill intent, Sasuke would have already died twice by now.
After reading the contents, Sasuke's face turned grim.
Ximen Zhen's smile widened. "You can hold a kunai to my throat, but I doubt you'd dare do the same to the Third Hokage."
Sasuke glared at him, annoyed. Obviously not—what a ridiculous thing to say.
"Exactly," Ximen Zhen continued. "As the author, I have a degree of creative freedom. Not even the Hokage can force me to write what I don't want to write, no matter how high the quality."
"I can speak to the Hokage on your behalf, say I want to focus on a different subject for now. At the very least, I can stop writing about your family."
"And in return, what will you offer me?"
This time, Sasuke was tempted.
If Ximen Zhen was really willing to speak to the Third Hokage for him, that would indeed be worth paying a price.
But what did he even have now?
On paper, the Uchiha clan still owned estates and land, but those had been left unattended for years and were practically abandoned.
All the valuables had long been confiscated by the Konoha Military Police under the guise of investigation. Back then, Sasuke was too young to care or do anything about it.
As for money, he lived off Konoha's orphan subsidies. Although he had some savings, Ximen Zhen didn't look like someone who lacked money...
At that thought, Sasuke recalled something Ximen Zhen had just said: "Weren't you here to discuss a deal with me?"
"Yes," Ximen Zhen replied. "I plan to expand my compound and need a piece of land under the Uchiha name."
"That land's yours. Consider us even."
Sasuke didn't even ask where Ximen Zhen came from or how much land he wanted. In his eyes, that land was worthless anyway.
But Ximen Zhen saw potential. His smile grew more sincere. "Not enough."
Sasuke glared at him, but Ximen Zhen raised his hand. "Don't get mad, Uchiha Sasuke."
"You may not realize it, but each of my books earns me at least ten million ryo. The land I'm asking for is worth, at most, five hundred thousand."
"Because of your interference, I've lost the profits from four potential books. How much land do you think it'll take to make up for that?"
Ximen Zhen looked toward the grand Uchiha estate.
Though the land was remote, under his ownership, it might see new life.
Others feared what had happened there, but Ximen Zhen didn't care.
After all, in just a few years, Konoha would be rebuilt from the ground up. When that time came, he'd be sitting on prime real estate and raking in profits.
And who knows? A decade from now, this might be the very heart of the ninja world, where every inch of land would be worth a fortune. He'd be the genius investor who bought a mansion for the price of a shack.
Sasuke finally understood what Ximen Zhen was getting at. His grip on the kunai tightened, knuckles turning white, and his eyes reddened with fury.
To him, Ximen Zhen was extorting him—taking advantage of an orphan.
He felt like a fool for trusting someone who casually fabricated stories about other people's families.
"So, blood is the only language you'll understand. The Uchiha name cannot be insulted."
"Uchiha Sasuke, I didn't insult your clan. I simply stated the truth."
Ximen Zhen's smile faded. In previous simulations, each of his books had earned over ten million ryo.
And that was with the simulation ending early due to him having a child. If he had lived to eighty, those profits would have multiplied several times over.
"Enough talk!"
Instead of backing down, Sasuke lunged forward, tossing a kunai as he declared, "Let's talk like true ninja. I'll prove the pride of the Uchiha!"
"Sasuke-kun, don't!"
"Idiot Sasuke, Ximen Zhen's just a civilian!"
Sakura and Ino tried to stop him, but the sight of Sasuke's bloodshot eyes scared them into silence.
They couldn't fully understand his rage. All they saw now was a boy they once thought cool and capable… acting like a madman.
The one who truly understood Sasuke was Ximen Zhen—but Sasuke clearly had no intention of talking anymore.
"You really want to fight?"
"Bring it on."
"Fine. But if you hurt me, I'll report you to the Konoha Military Police for assaulting a civilian."
"You—!"
Sasuke's face turned pale with anger, but he said nothing more. His body blurred into motion as he dashed toward Ximen Zhen.
Sakura and Ino huddled together, unsure what to do. From their perspective, Ximen Zhen had no chance to defend himself.
But reality was different. Sasuke's so-called blinding speed—impressive among ninja academy students—looked like a light jog to Ximen Zhen.
With his intermediate-level chakra sensing ability, Ximen Zhen didn't even need his eyes. He could track Sasuke by presence alone.
Sasuke hadn't even trained in tree-walking or water-walking yet—a critical weakness of his status as an orphan.
In contrast, Ximen Zhen had superior talent and training across the board.
A soft "whoosh" broke the air as the kunai came flying—not fast, but enough to distract.
Ximen Zhen casually deflected it, while Sasuke reappeared behind him.
That kunai was just a feint. The real attack came next—four shuriken aimed at Ximen Zhen's shoulders and legs, thrown with precision inherited from Itachi.
Then came a fierce elbow aimed at Ximen Zhen's side, meant to leave him writhing in pain.
What followed, however, shocked Sasuke to his core.
Ximen Zhen turned and casually drew a cross with his kunai, using Konoha-style swordsmanship he learned from Yugao Uzuki to deflect all four shuriken.
Then, with a quick flick of his fingers, he used Tenten's throwing technique to send a kunai flying straight at Sasuke's forehead.
Sasuke's pupils contracted as he barely dodged.
But before he could catch his breath, a large hand grabbed his collar with overwhelming force and flung him hard.
As he flew through the air, Sasuke briefly blanked out, unsure why this was happening.
But humiliation and fury quickly flooded his mind. Instinctively, he began forming hand seals.
Snake – Ram – Monkey – Boar – Horse – Tiger!
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!
(End of Chapter)