Time flowed quietly through Konoha.
Every sunrise brought new whispers, new rumors, and new versions of the same story…
and every sunset carried more damage to Uchiha Souji's reputation.
Once, the villagers couldn't stop calling him the Hero of Konoha.
But now?
It wasn't a slow fall.
It wasn't a gentle decline.
It was like falling off a rooftop—sudden, sharp, and impossible to stop.
Within just a few days, Uchiha Souji had become the most hated child in the entire village.
People pointed fingers.
They whispered insults.
They treated him as if he were a plague.
Even members of the Uchiha clan were being dragged down with him.
Their reputation sank, if only slightly, but enough for old wounds to reopen.
And while all of Konoha argued above ground…
---
Deep Underground: A Gathering of Shadows
Beneath Konoha's streets, in the cold stone chambers of Root, a group of masked operatives knelt silently.
At the very front sat Shimura Danzo, his posture stiff, his expression carved from stone. But his eyes… his eyes held a cruel light of satisfaction.
"Mizuki," Danzo said slowly, stroking his chin, "how is Uchiha Souji reacting lately?"
Mizuki swallowed.
Whenever Danzo called his name, his blood ran cold.
Being near Uchiha Souji made him nervous.
But being near Shimura Danzo made him feel as if his soul were being peeled apart layer by layer.
With Souji, it was like dealing with a manipulative human.
With Danzo…
It was like dealing with the devil himself.
Still, Mizuki forced himself to reply quickly:
"Uchiha Souji seems… very happy, Lord Danzo. He smiles every day."
He hesitated, then added:
"It's almost like—the more the villagers insult him, the happier he becomes. If you hadn't explained his plan to me earlier, I would have thought he'd lost his mind."
Danzo's lips curled into a stiff, horrifying smile.
Everything was going exactly as he wanted.
"Good… good…" he murmured.
"Everything is under this old man's control."
Uchiha Souji might be clever, but he was still young—too young, too naive.
He had tasted the "heaven" of good reputation.
Now Danzo would show him the "hell" of betrayal.
For Danzo believed:
Real despair is not falling into a pit.
Real despair is being kicked down when you finally climb to the top.
This was the same cruel lesson he had once learned.
His smile suddenly vanished, and he slammed his fist against the table.
The loud crack echoed through the underground chamber.
Mizuki trembled violently.
Danzo's face twisted with rage, remembering the one moment in his life when he was closest to becoming Hokage.
The moment Senju Tobirama, dying, asked:
"Which of you will be the bait?"
Danzo had almost spoken.
He had almost volunteered.
Almost reached greatness.
Almost.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke first.
Danzo's blood boiled. His teeth clenched. His body shook with old fury.
Then, realizing he had frightened Mizuki nearly to death, he coughed awkwardly and regained his composure.
"Ahem. Well then… let us move to the next stage of the plan."
He took a scroll from his cloak and handed it to Mizuki.
"This will be tomorrow's newspaper. Deliver it properly."
---
The Scroll of Disaster
Mizuki opened the scroll.
His entire face went pale.
The accusations inside were not just slanderous—they were inhuman, impossible, insane.
If the earlier newspapers treated Souji like a questionable person…
This one treated Souji like a monster wearing human skin.
"No one will believe this…" Mizuki whispered.
"This isn't even logically possible…!"
Danzo's expression grew more pleased as Mizuki became more horrified.
He lifted his chin proudly.
"After tomorrow's issue, public hatred toward Uchiha Souji will reach its highest peak."
He tapped the table gently, spreading cold pressure through the room.
"Uchiha Souji will panic.
He will demand the newspaper change its content.
Or the Uchiha intelligence division will try to intervene."
Danzo smiled cruelly.
"But it will be too late."
"Root operatives will act early tomorrow… and push public anger in a completely different direction."
Mizuki blinked, confused.
He finally asked:
"But… Lord Danzo, isn't Souji also guiding public opinion? How is your guidance different from his?"
Danzo's expression darkened.
He clicked his tongue.
"No wonder you are still only a Chunin."
"Solving the same problem using different methods leads to completely different outcomes."
He pointed a finger toward Mizuki like a teacher scolding a foolish child.
"Uchiha Souji only wants to damage his own reputation while raising the Uchiha clan's reputation."
"But I…"
His eyes gleamed with vicious intent.
"I want to raise Uchiha Souji's reputation… while destroying the Uchiha clan."
Mizuki's breath froze.
"This," Danzo continued, "is the art of division—alienation."
"As long as Souji has even a small conflict with the Uchiha clan, he will turn toward the Hokage faction."
"And once he leans toward Hokage, he betrays the Uchiha clan."
"Then removing him will be easy—just like removing any obstacle."
He paused, smirking.
"Just like removing… someone else from the past."
Danzo waved his hand.
"After that, we will use the 'information' Souji leaked about the Uchiha clan…
and we'll turn it against them."
"Konoha's safety will be restored.
The Uchiha clan will be weakened.
Order will return."
He lifted his head proudly.
"This is Root's will:
We live in the darkness so Konoha can shine in the light.
We sacrifice so the village survives."
Finally, he turned to Mizuki again.
"You have done well. After I eliminate the evil known as Uchiha Souji, you may return and take the position of team leader."
Danzo patted Mizuki's shoulder.
Mizuki felt a chill down his spine.
He bowed deeply, trembling with excitement and fear as he left with the scroll.
Little did he know… Danzo never intended to make him a leader.
Root only trusted those raised in darkness from childhood.
Mizuki was simply a tool.
---
Later: At Uchiha Souji's Home
Mizuki delivered the next issue's draft to Souji.
Souji opened the document.
And froze.
He scratched the back of his head.
"Isn't this… a bit too extreme?"
If the earlier newspapers merely questioned whether he was even a decent human…
This new one wondered if he was even a human at all.
Still—the plan had been working.
His reputation was already falling fast.
The villagers hated him.
Even Uchiha members were whispering behind his back.
Souji nodded slowly, though reluctantly.
Sometimes, a man needed to suffer now… to live well later.
"Fine. Let's proceed."..
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