Naruto - Leader of Kusagakure

Meanwhile, deep within the old Root base:

"Slander! Slander them completely!" Danzo roared, his voice echoing through the dimly lit chamber. "I instructed you to portray them as villains, not to paint everything in a negative light! Konoha must be depicted positively!"

"Make it so everyone can feel the joy of being part of Konoha." He paused, then asked, "And Lies? What lies? Let me ask you this: 'Are you happy?'"

The Root ninja, facing his superior's intense gaze, remained silent for a moment. With a conflicted expression, he finally nodded and responded, "I am very happy."

"Good!" Danzo's satisfaction was evident as he observed the 'happy' expression on his subordinate's face. He slowly placed his cane back beside him and bellowed, "Now get back to work! And don't forget—make sure Grass Village is portrayed as the ultimate evil!"

Just then, as the Root ninjas-turned-journalists received their new tasks and prepared to resume their work, a voice cut through the tension from the entrance. The voice, both surprised and subdued, spoke, "Danzo... still as busy as ever, I see."

Danzo, though absorbed in his tasks, immediately recognized the voice. He turned his head sharply toward the entrance, where a complex expression appeared on his face upon seeing Hiruzen standing there with a pipe in hand. "What brings you here, Hiruzen?"

Hiruzen smiled faintly, a touch of hesitation in his demeanor. "Oh, Danzo... just thought I'd check in. It looks like you're quite busy. Should I come back later?"

Danzo's brow furrowed slightly as he responded, "Just checking in? If you have something to say, then say it. What do you want?"

Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions as he surveyed the busy Root ninjas. His heart was heavy with conflicting feelings.

The Root had once been a ruthless and shadowy organization, dealing with threats to Konoha's stability with a cold, unyielding hand. Yet now, this formidable entity had morphed into a newspaper office. What had become of the ninja world? And what of the man who embodied its darkness?

With a sigh, Hiruzen turned to Danzo, his smile tinged with irony. "So, this is the Root Newspaper you've started? It seems to be quite the operation."

"Get to the point!" Danzo snapped, his face betraying no hint of pleasure at Hiruzen's praise. His frown deepened as he demanded, "Is there discontent in the village regarding my methods?"

Hiruzen sighed, his smile fading as he met Danzo's stern gaze. "Danzo, there is indeed some unrest. It's not the newspaper itself that's causing concern, but your relentless attacks on Grass Village in the daily reports. Many are worried that your reports might incite unnecessary conflict. Konoha is still in a period of recovery, and our relations with Grass Village have become more significant. They now control three ninja villages, making them a formidable force. It's not the right time to provoke them."

Hiruzen exhaled deeply, the weight of his words evident. "The village hopes you can ease up on the negative coverage for a while. The recent events surrounding Sand Village have already shifted the balance, and Konoha needs to tread carefully."

"Take it easy? Hmph!" Danzo scowled at Hiruzen, clearly displeased. "Are we just supposed to let Grass Village attack us without retaliation? This is my newspaper, and I'll publish whatever I deem necessary!"

"You have to understand the village's perspective," Hiruzen said with a sigh, trying to maintain his composure.

Danzo sneered dismissively. "What perspective? Is this about that fool Homura? He's just trying to protect his business interests with Grass Village. His incompetence will only drag Konoha further down!"

Hiruzen shook his head, his expression one of weary resignation. "Homura has his reasons. Even though relations with the Daimyō have improved, this situation has caught their attention. Many in the Land of Fire are now engaged in business with Grass Village. Your actions could jeopardize our standing with the Daimyō. Stability is crucial for Konoha right now."

"Listen to you? You've clearly aligned yourself with Homura, and you don't understand my perspective at all!" Danzo snapped, his frustration evident.

"Your methods are simply too extreme, Danzo." Hiruzen's frustration was evident. He couldn't keep his disappointment hidden any longer.

"Extreme? How dare you call me extreme?" Danzo's irritation flared, his voice rising.

"Stop being unreasonable!" Hiruzen's tone was sharp as he tried to bring some order to the argument.

"Unreasonable? You think I'm the unreasonable one here?!" Danzo's fury reached a boiling point.

"Fine, let's put the argument aside. I wanted to discuss the funding..." Hiruzen attempted to shift the focus but was cut off by Danzo's interruption.

"Still thinking about money, are we?" Danzo sneered. "Hiruzen, I've already given every coin to Orochimaru for his research. You won't get a single piece from me!"

Seeing Danzo's face flush with anger, Hiruzen felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He raised his pipe, took a deep drag, and exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves.

His old friend had always been extreme—whether in their youth, during their missions, or in the management of Root. Hiruzen had chosen Danzo to handle Konoha's darkest tasks, believing he was the only one capable of intimidating the other ninja clans. But recently, Danzo's extremism seemed to have gone astray.

Hiruzen took a calming breath and spoke in a measured tone. "The Anbu has reported that Cloud and Stone Villages have also launched their own newspapers, though they're not solely focused on criticizing Grass Village."

"The village is concerned about potential repercussions." He paused, his gaze steady. "Furthermore, you didn't allocate the revenue from your newspaper to the village. While no one speaks out openly, there are murmurs of discontent behind closed doors."

"Hmph, a bunch of old fools!" Danzo glared at Hiruzen but remained composed, his voice steady. "Hiruzen, you should understand what I'm trying to achieve." He turned his back, leaning on his cane, and sighed deeply.

The shadow of Danzo seemed to grow lonelier in the dim light, exuding an air of misunderstood solitude. Hiruzen's lips twitched, about to respond, but Danzo cut him off.

"Listen to me." Danzo gestured dismissively and tilted his head toward the dark ceiling of the cave. His cloudy eyes reflected a deep frustration. "I've watched the changes in the village over the years. You must have noticed, too. Grass products are everywhere—movies, clothes, toys, and even our ninja vests are made by them. It's..."

He struck his chest with a thud. "...painful to witness. Do you know what Konoha represents? It was founded by the God of Shinobi, the first ninja village, the most prosperous one. Why should we rely on products from another village? It's simply humiliating. We need to change this. We can't continue like Homura, depending on Grass Village for everything. We must start producing our own."

"Danzo, you..." Hiruzen's voice wavered, visibly disturbed by Danzo's words.

After a moment of silence, he sighed deeply, his brow furrowed. "It's not unusual for us to purchase materials from Grass Village. Konoha regularly buys explosive tags and ninja tools from other villages. The transactions with Grass Village may be more frequent, but it's not unprecedented."

He paused, collecting his thoughts before speaking again. "You might have a point about wanting to be self-reliant. However, you once argued that ninjas should focus on their core duties. Konoha is a ninja village, and these kinds of matters... well, they shouldn't necessarily fall on our shoulders, at least not right now."

He looked at Danzo with a mix of concern and disappointment. "Homura may have a valid perspective. Have you considered that perhaps you've been straying from your core responsibilities lately?"

However, Danzo glared at Hiruzen with renewed fury. "So, you really think Homura is right?" he demanded, his voice edged with frustration. "After everything I've said, you still side with him?"

Hiruzen blinked, momentarily taken aback. Hadn't he just acknowledged that Danzo had a point? How did that translate to siding with Homura? He furrowed his brow in helplessness. "I didn't mean it that way. You're just being too extreme."

"Extreme?" Danzo's fury ignited further. "There you go again, calling me extreme!"

"I didn't mean it as an insult. Listen, I was just—" Hiruzen began, trying to calm the situation, but Danzo cut him off.

"I don't want to hear it! If you trust Homura so much, why don't you just go and listen to him?" Danzo snapped, his irritation evident.

"Enough! You're being unreasonable! We're all working for Konoha" Hiruzen's voice rose in frustration. "And don't forget, I am the Hokage, Danzo!"

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" Danzo's familiar threat hung in the air as they stared at each other in a tense silence.

However, just as Hiruzen braced for another argument or for Danzo to storm off, Danzo pointed ahead with a blank expression.

Hiruzen was jolted back to reality, realizing they were at the Root base and not in the Hokage's office. He sighed deeply and turned to leave.

But after a few steps, he glanced back and said, "Just be careful. Konoha can't afford a war right now. Other villages have also started their own newspapers, and Grass Village hasn't been slandering Konoha recently. Just don't push it too far and avoid causing any incidents." With that, he left without looking back, shaking his head as he walked out.

Danzo watched Hiruzen's retreating figure, his expression a mixture of frustration and disdain. "A bunch of old fools," he muttered to himself.

Turning back to the busy Root journalists, his eyes narrowed with renewed focus. "Other newspapers, huh?" he murmured, pondering the implications.

…

As the Third Hokage had pointed out, the establishment of the Root Newspaper had caught everyone's attention. After all, It was the second newspaper created by ninjas, and its founder, Shimura Danzo, was a significant figure. Once a prominent assistant to the Hokage of Konoha, Danzo's sudden venture into the newspaper industry raised eyebrows. Was his aim truly just to criticize Grass Village?

The complexity of Danzo's background only added to the intrigue surrounding the Root Newspaper. Many wondered about his motives and why he had chosen this path, especially given his previously fallen status.

In response to Konoha's move, other major ninja villages, sensing the shift, hesitated before launching their own newspapers. The establishment of these publications marked a new chapter in the ninja world, as each village sought to assert its influence and control the narrative in the evolving landscape of information.

…

In Stone Village, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, scrutinized the 'Root Newspaper' with a mix of curiosity and disdain. The newspaper's layout was a clear strategy—one side harshly criticized Grass Village, while the other glorified Konoha. Onoki recognized this tactic; it was similar to how Grass Village had previously targeted all five great ninja villages in their propaganda.

With a dismissive shake of his head, he muttered to himself, "Shimura Danzo's grudge against Grass Village is evident." He turned to Kitsuchi and handed him the newspaper. "This will be your responsibility from now on."

Onoki's voice carried a tone of resolve as he continued, "Let Konoha and Grass Village continue their squabbles. Stone Village will remain neutral. It's in our best interest to let them handle their own conflicts."

As Kitsuchi nodded and departed, Onoki floated slightly above the ground, his gaze drifting out the window to the panoramic view of Stone Village. A faint, knowing smile tugged at his lips. "Let them argue and fight amongst themselves," he murmured to himself. "And it will be even better if they weaken each other."