Mizuki stood still for a long moment, staring at the Root ninja's disappearing figure.
Then he slowly looked down at the wretched middle-aged man lying unconscious on the ground.
With a sigh, Mizuki reached into his pocket, quietly put the money he had taken out earlier back into his wallet, and patted it twice as if comforting it.
Next time, he decided firmly, the connection code must be something more serious and impossible to misunderstand.
And as for paying that scalper?
Absolutely not.
Stopping scalpers was everyone's responsibility!
If he paid now, wouldn't that encourage bad behavior?
No—today, Mizuki would teach the scalper a painful and unforgettable lesson.
He snorted arrogantly.
He, Mizuki, was now officially at war with scalpers!
---
The Scalper Awakens
A few minutes passed.
Only the wretched man was left in the alley.
Eventually, he groaned softly, rubbed his temples, and slowly woke up.
He sat up, dizzy and confused. His first reaction was to touch himself—his pockets, his chest, his clothes.
Surprisingly, all the books he carried were still there.
Next, he checked his wallet.
The exact amount he had before was still inside.
The man's jaw dropped.
"What the—?! Even the emperor's uncle isn't robbed nowadays!"
He jumped to his feet, furious.
"Do you Konoha ninjas even have shame anymore?! Making so much money and still not robbing a scalper? What happened to the world?!"
Then he began cursing loudly, pacing the alley like an enraged stray cat.
---
Meanwhile: Mizuki Heads to Uchiha Souji's Home
At this moment, Mizuki had already arrived at the Uchiha district.
He stood before Uchiha Souji's residence and knocked lightly on the gate.
Inside, Uchiha Souji paused mid-step, scratching the back of his head.
Ninjas really work fast now, he thought.
He had barely given the order yesterday—yet today Mizuki had already brought the first draft?
So diligent…
So efficient…
So terrifying.
After all, in the ninja world, if you didn't work hard, you died.
By that logic, Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama were the biggest overachievers in history.
Another perfect reason, Souji thought, to eventually escape Konoha.
In his past life, he hated people who worked themselves to death.
But now, as someone in charge, having subordinates who worked themselves to death for him felt… incredibly satisfying.
He hadn't expected to enjoy the feeling this much.
---
Inside the Reception Room
Mizuki respectfully handed the freshly printed newspaper to Uchiha Souji.
The moment Souji had it in his hands, he opened it with eager anticipation.
The headline was written in huge dramatic letters:
[SHOCK! Uchiha Genius Ninja Does the Unthinkable!]
Souji froze.
Slowly, he turned his head to stare at Mizuki, studying the man's expression.
Mizuki stood calmly, face blank, posture polite.
Seeing nothing suspicious, Souji continued reading.
This headline was way too familiar.
It reminded him of internet clickbait from his previous life.
Good grief… even in the ninja world, the UC shock style exists? How nostalgic and awful at the same time.
He read more.
---
A Newspaper Written to Destroy Him
Within minutes, he finished reading—and his entire face twitched violently.
According to the article:
Uchiha Souji peeks at a widow bathing every night
He steals lollipops from academy children
He is responsible for a pig screaming all night
He has committed countless immoral and mysterious crimes
It wasn't just slander.
It was an artistic masterpiece of character destruction.
Every sentence was vague, filled with phrases like "some say," "rumor has it," "witnesses claim," or "sources suspect."
There was not a single swear word, yet the tone made Souji feel like the filthiest human being alive.
It was so subtle, so poisonous, so perfectly worded that even Souji—someone who had seen the worst of online trolling—felt defeated.
"This… is this too exaggerated?" Souji muttered weakly.
He wanted to bring himself down from the pedestal, but not like this.
Not to the point where people questioned whether he was human.
Before he could complain further, Mizuki raised his hand dramatically, ready to defend every word.
---
Mizuki's "Wise Explanation"
"Master Souji, you are mistaken!" Mizuki proclaimed confidently.
"As the saying goes—if you cannot break, you cannot stand!"
Souji blinked. That was definitely not a saying.
Mizuki continued:
"You are extremely famous in Konoha. People expect big news! If we don't give them shocking headlines, why would anyone read the paper?"
He raised a finger like a professor lecturing a student.
"People love gossip. Everyone talks behind others' backs."
Souji reluctantly nodded. That was unfortunately true.
"So we use exaggeration, novelty, and nonsense to attract attention. Even if they don't believe it, they will still wonder whether you've done something questionable."
"When that happens, your image naturally drops. It's the perfect way to defeat your own reputation!"
Souji stared at him.
It sounded ridiculous.
But also… strangely accurate.
As a time-traveler, he remembered clickbait culture well.
Eye-catching titles always caused huge traffic.
Once people talked enough, rumors became truth, regardless of evidence.
Before the truth mattered, people were already pointing fingers.
If enough villagers said:
"I heard he did this."
"I think I saw him doing that."
"My cousin said he's like that."
Then the result was inevitable.
Souji would fall from the pedestal.
Souji finally slapped his palms together.
Mizuki… you genius of nonsense!
---
Souji's Approval
Souji stood up with excitement overflowing from him.
"Good, very good, EXCELLENT!" he shouted.
"You've done an amazing job, Mizuki. I will reward you!"
He reached inside his robe and pulled out a scroll.
"This," Souji said proudly, "is your reward. Now go publish the article immediately. Print one hundred to two hundred thousand copies!"
"At cost price—distribute them everywhere!"
Mizuki accepted the scroll carefully.
When he opened it, he froze.
The scroll contained an A-rank ninjutsu coupon—a reward issued directly by the village, something civilian ninjas almost never received.
He held his breath.
This was an extraordinary gift.
And yet… he had just been helping destroy the reputation of the man giving it to him.
For a brief moment, Mizuki's conscience screamed.
But then he remembered the wealth and power of the Shimura clan.
If the universe obeyed the law of balance—then if someone gained more, someone else lost more.
So if his conscience grew small, someone else's conscience probably grew big.
He nodded firmly.
No guilt.
He straightened up and bowed.
"Yes, Master Souji! By tomorrow morning, this newspaper will appear all across Konoha!"
"I'll make sure it spreads through the entire village—and even beyond!"
Souji grinned.
A plan to destroy himself had never felt this satisfying.
--------------------------
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