This ninja in Naruto is unscientific

Chapter 40 The So-Called Public Opinion War

As night deepened, the hustle and bustle of the barbecue restaurant was left behind.

In Nishikawa Tetsu's apartment, the blueprints and parts scattered all over the floor were temporarily pushed to a corner, making room for a small square table.

Under the dim light of the table lamp, the atmosphere was much more somber than at the previous barbecue gathering.

"The current situation is very clear."

Nishikawa Tetsu slammed a copy of Hanzo's announcement onto the table, his fingertip emphasizing the word "Shura".

"Hanzo has labeled you with 'power' and 'fear.' The villagers fear you, the higher-ups are wary of you, and your own clan wants to use you. This pressure from all three sides has created a dead end."

Fugaku Uchiha sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, his face gloomy, and did not refute.

"So, we need a counterattack." Nishikawa Tetsu took out a stack of blank manuscript paper and ink from the drawer. "I call it—'Project Starmaking'."

"Making a star?" Minato Namikaze blinked in confusion. "Is it to make Fugaku-senpai as famous as the songstresses of the Daimyo's mansion?"

"Similar, but different approaches."

Nishikawa Tetsu unscrewed the pen, his gaze as calm as if he were dissecting a frog: "We need to reshape the image of Uchiha Fugaku. Transform the 'monster with the power to destroy the world' into a 'tragic hero who is willing to sacrifice himself to protect his comrades.'"

He held up one finger: "The first step is to acknowledge power, but emphasize the cost."

"We want everyone to know that you opened those eyes not to kill, but to save me and Minato. And the price will be extremely high."

At this point, Nishikawa Tetsu looked at Fugaku, his tone becoming playful: "It's what's commonly known as—playing the victim."

"no."

Fugaku Uchiha resolutely refused, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, a display of the pride ingrained in the Uchiha clan.

"The Uchiha can die in battle, can be feared, but they must never be pitied. You want me to show my wounds to civilians to gain their sympathy? That's worse than killing me."

"Fugaku-senpai, how much does face cost per pound?"

Nishikawa Tetsu retorted without hesitation, "In political struggles, only the weak talk about dignity; the victors only care about the outcome."

"And this isn't just for you."

Nishikawa Tetsu leaned forward, his eyes behind his glasses fixed on Fugaku, and unleashed his trump card:

"You don't want the Uchiha clan to be marginalized because of suspicion from higher-ups, ultimately leading to a coup and leaving Mikoto a young widow, or having to deliver food to you from prison, do you?"

"..."

Fugaku Uchiha's expression froze.

The barbecue I had just eaten still seemed to be churning in my stomach, and Mikoto's gentle smile flashed through my mind.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

After a long while, Fugaku deflated like a punctured balloon, his once straight spine bending slightly.

He scratched his hair in frustration, turned his head away, and his voice came in a muffled tone:

"...Write whatever you want, but don't make it too cheesy, I can't stand it."

"make a deal."

Nishikawa Tetsuya's lips curled into a triumphant smile, and he immediately lowered his head to begin writing furiously.

"We need to produce the first batch of 'battlefield reports' tonight."

For the next two hours, the only sound in the room was the scratching of a pen across paper.

Nishikawa Tetsu fully utilized the rigor he had developed as a researcher writing papers in his previous life, as well as his emotional appeal honed from reading countless cheap novels.

Bloodstained Rainy Night: The Swan Song of the Young Uchiha Clan Chief!

For the sake of protection! The life-and-death bond between Konoha's speedster and the Uchiha clan!

Shocking! The price of opening the Eye of God is blindness? An exclusive look at the blood and tears of Class 5!

One sensational headline after another leaps off the page.

The content goes to great lengths to embellish the story: Fugaku is portrayed as a great ninja who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, willing to sacrifice his life for his teammates, and even standing in front of the enemy with blood streaming from his eye.

The article emphasizes terms such as "decreased vision," "physical exhaustion," and "possibly unable to return to the battlefield for life."

"This is too much..."

As Minato Namikaze looked at the manuscript, he couldn't help but get goosebumps when he read the passage about "Fugaku groping for his teammate's hand in the dark." "Fugaku-senpai could clearly still stand up and kill back then..."

"Art originates from life but transcends it." Nishikawa Toru blew on the ink to dry it. "This is called the Spring and Autumn Annals style of writing."

Fugaku Uchiha glanced at it with a dark expression, his eyes twitching, but he chose to remain silent.

I endured it for Mikoto's sake.

……

The following morning, at Konoha Hospital.

The hospital is busiest in the early morning, with not only the wounded coming and going, but also the families of various ninja clans and civilians.

Pharmacist Nonou had just finished her rounds and was walking down the corridor with the patient's medical record when she was pulled into a corner storage room by a hand.

"Nishikawa-kun?"

Nonou adjusted her glasses, looking at the mysterious boy in front of her. "This is next to the girls' changing room. You'll be seen as a pervert here."

"Time is of the essence, Nono."

Without wasting any words, Nishikawa Tetsu handed her an "internal injury report" that he had hastily prepared the night before.

"I need a favor," Nishikawa Tetsu said in a low voice. "You're a medical ninja, so you often come into contact with the wounded and their families from various clans. I need you to subtly reveal the contents of this report."

Nono looked down.

The report stated: "Uchiha Fugaku has severe damage to the optic nerves in both eyes, depletion of chakra meridians, and is suspected of having a risk of permanent blindness."

"This is... fake, right?" Although Nono didn't participate in the final battle, she knew that Fugaku could walk on his own when he returned.

"Half true, half false."

Nishikawa Tetsu leaned against the doorframe, peering through the crack in the door into the corridor. "He really fought desperately on the battlefield, and he was indeed injured in the eye. We just exaggerated the consequences a little bit."

Nono is a smart girl. She grew up in an orphanage and has a natural sensitivity to human relationships. She quickly figured out the key point.

"Are you trying to use 'vulnerability' to offset 'fear'?"

Nonou closed the report, a glint of light flashing behind her glasses. "If everyone knew that 'Shura' was actually a patient who was about to go blind, they wouldn't be so afraid. Instead, they would feel sorry for him."

"It's so much easier talking to smart people." Nishikawa Tetsu pulled an envelope from his pocket. "This is your reward. I know you're raising money for the orphanage's repairs."

During their previous conversation, Nishikawa Tetsu knew that the future director of the orphanage was already saving money for renovations. As an orphan himself, he felt that he could help his "comrade" if he could.

Moreover, the money was all paid by the Uchiha clan, so he felt no guilt whatsoever about taking other people's money and being generous with his own.

Nono didn't refuse and accepted it readily.

"Deal made, this kind of gossip spreads fastest at the nurses' station and in the wards."

……

A few days later.

An undercurrent called "the truth" began to surge through the streets and alleys of Konoha.

At first, it was just a few middle-aged women chatting while buying groceries, then it got to the drunks in the izakaya, and finally even the students from the ninja academy were discussing it.

"Hey, have you guys heard? That Uchiha Fugaku isn't as scary as the rumors say."

"My second uncle works as a caregiver at the hospital. He said he saw Tsunade sighing, saying that if Captain Fugaku had to use his eyes again, he would be completely blind!"

"Really? Didn't Hanzo say he was an Asura?"

"What Shura?! He opened his eye to save his teammates! I heard it was to cover for that civilian Minato Namikaze, and he literally exhausted his life force to do so."

"So... he's a man of honor and loyalty."

"That's right! They even went blind for their comrades. The Uchiha clan isn't that cold-blooded..."

The wind direction has changed.

Inside the Hokage Building, Danzo listened to the reports from the Root ninjas, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his cane.

"Playing the victim? That's a foolish tactic."

Danzo snorted coldly, his single eye filled with gloom. "But it's certainly effective against those ignorant masses... When did the Uchiha learn such methods?"