"I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine. How could anything be wrong with me?"
Homura Mitokado waved his hand.
"Hiruzen, you don't need to worry about me. I already understand. Their aesthetic sense is lacking. You can surely see this story's excellence too, right? After all, both you and I are part of this story."
"They don't understand it now, but they will in the future."
"I won't mind."
"For the next issue, I will give them a story they can understand."
After saying that, Homura turned and left.
Hiruzen: "…"
Was that what he meant?
The protagonist was based on Homura Mitokado?
The story's prototype included him as well?
Which character was he?
This story was good?
He could appreciate it?
No. He could not appreciate it at all and did not think this story was interesting.
"This Homura…"
Hiruzen shook his head.
"Since he said he will change it, then I'll see how it turns out after he changes it."
Hiruzen did not intend to strip Homura of his position as president just because the first issue of the newspaper had failed. Instead, he planned to give Homura a few more chances.
It was just that this first issue of Konoha Weekly would inevitably become a joke.
Compared to Shinobi World Major Events Weekly, it was far inferior.
Hiruzen had not immediately seen the prototype of the story, but Danzo had.
At the same time, he had heard the outside readers' evaluations of it.
Danzo sneered, taking pleasure in Homura's misfortune.
"Homura Mitokado, that fool!"
"He actually adapted his own experiences into a story and thought others would like it. What a joke!"
"If you lack ability, then don't force yourself to do things."
"This is not something you can handle."
Throughout the entire shinobi world, most of those who saw Konoha Weekly gave mostly negative evaluations.
Especially people who were not from Konoha and had obtained both Shinobi World Major Events Weekly and Konoha Weekly. They basically criticized Konoha Weekly as worthless, showing clear disdain.
Yagura only glanced at it before throwing it aside.
"Garbage!"
The Fourth Raikage, meanwhile, was thinking about another matter.
"If only we had acted a little earlier."
"Whether against Konoha or Kirigakure, we could have gained quite a few benefits from those two ninja villages."
"Unlike now, where all the benefits have gone to Sunagakure."
"If we act now, it won't be so convenient."
Konoha's strength was not weak.
Kirigakure's position was special, easy to defend and hard to attack.
With Kumogakure alone pressuring them, forcing them to surrender was basically impossible.
"Kirigakure obtained the Byakugan."
"Sunagakure obtained compensation."
"Only Kumogakure gained nothing."
"How irritating."
"The Byakugan. Kumogakure must have it too."
"Oh, and the Sharingan as well."
The Fourth Raikage's eyes flickered.
"Since Danzo of Konoha is collecting Sharingan for research, that must mean he is confident he can research something valuable from them. Kumogakure can try making contact with the Uchiha clan."
Iwagakure.
Ōnoki slowly put down Konoha Weekly.
"Father, the story in this is far too poor. It has no appeal at all. Konoha Weekly is a complete failure."
Kitsuchi revealed a look of disgust.
Ōnoki looked at Kitsuchi with disdain.
"Kitsuchi, do you think that is important?"
Kitsuchi froze.
Ōnoki sighed and said, "The story on it is indeed terrible. But clearly, Konoha has now also seen the influence newspapers can have in the shinobi world. That is why they created this Konoha Weekly."
"In this regard, Sunagakure has already taken the lead."
"But we cannot allow all this influence to be held by Sunagakure alone."
"Iwagakure also needs to seize a share of influence in this field."
"A newspaper. Iwagakure must establish one as well."
Kitsuchi fell silent for a moment.
"Father, I understand. How about leaving this newspaper to me? I will devote all my effort to it!"
Ōnoki looked at Kitsuchi.
To be fair, Ōnoki was somewhat disappointed in Kitsuchi.
But no matter how disappointed he was, Kitsuchi was still his son.
"Very well. But this matter is important. You must not proceed blindly. If you encounter anything you do not understand, ask in time."
"Yes, Father!"
Homura Mitokado once again began suffering headaches over the story section of the newspaper.
"I need to find a story that is decent, but also simple enough for those people to understand and appreciate."
"How exactly did Sunagakure manage it?"
"That kind of talent exists in Sunagakure, yet Konoha does not have one."
Suddenly, an idea appeared in Homura's mind.
"Should I buy stories from that person in Sunagakure?"
Homura's eyes brightened. He felt this was not impossible.
Shinobi World Major Events Weekly was released once a week.
Judging from the space taken up by the newspaper, not many incidents were actually needed. That meant the author named Kagetsu would have a large amount of free time. During that time, he could completely write other stories.
The shinobi world was now at peace.
Konoha and Sunagakure had already signed a peace agreement.
Under these circumstances, there was nothing wrong with trading with someone from Sunagakure.
A fair transaction.
What they would obtain was merely a story written by someone from Sunagakure. There should be no hidden danger.
"Then let's do it!"
When Homura's people sent this request to Sunagakure, Rasa could not help revealing a strange expression.
"He wants to buy stories from that author in Sunagakure?"
"This Homura Mitokado really dares to dream."
Rasa had no such intention at all.
Even though there were many good stories in Rasa's mind, the little money Homura was offering was something Rasa did not care about at all.
Too little.
It was not worthy of those stories.
It would be more valuable for Sunagakure to use them itself.
"Refuse! Let him dream!"
Rasa rejected Homura's request.
"I wonder when that suicide note will be discovered."
"If Uchiha Obito sees that suicide note, then he and Danzo will have quite the fight."
Rasa hoped the two of them would injure each other badly.
No matter which one it was, in Rasa's view, neither was anything good.
Night fell.
After everyone else had gone to sleep, Rasa came to the third-floor study.
An experience card was taken out by Rasa.
"The Hōzuki clan and the Kaguya clan are both unsuitable."
"I can try the Hoshigaki clan."
"The Hoshigaki clan is only a small clan. There aren't many members. It can't even really be considered a ninja clan. It's just a few relatives gathered together."
"There probably won't be anything special."
"Also, among the conditions I presented to Kirigakure, Hoshigaki Kisame is one of them."
"If I create a member of the Hoshigaki clan, I may have a chance to further estrange Hoshigaki Kisame from Kirigakure, thereby increasing the possibility of him defecting to Sunagakure."