Chapter 172: The Typical Konoha Mentality — Their Quality and Attitude Are Just Too Low-Class!
This time, Uchiha Makoto and Senju Tobirama got along surprisingly well — almost like long-lost brothers from different mothers.
During their conversation, they both opened up, speaking honestly about their burdens and frustrations.
Both were the leaders of their respective villages — Makoto as the Light Shadow of Akatsuki Village, and Tobirama as Konoha's Shadow Hokage (a title that was, technically, still "Hokage" in function).
When they started discussing the future of the ninja villages and the current state of the ninja world, they found they actually had a lot in common.
For once, Tobirama confided in Makoto about his struggles — especially about the damn Uchiha Clan, who were giving him constant headaches.Of course, that was entirely Makoto's doing, though Tobirama tactfully skipped over that part for now.
But even putting the Uchiha aside, Tobirama still had another major obstacle — his own brother, Senju Hashirama, the official Hokage of Konoha.
"Big Brother, when will you ever understand my good intentions?""Everything I do is for Konoha!"
Makoto quietly listened. He, too, had plenty of opinions about Hashirama — but the man's fists were far too big for complaints.
So, he kept playing along.
Makoto's vision was grand — to modernize ninjutsu, to make ninja techniques part of daily life, to make shinobi truly united and independent, freeing them from being mere tools of war.
But he knew it wouldn't be easy.
Social foundations, productivity, culture, centuries of hatred — all these things stood in the way.Each one, by itself, was already a mountain.
Even someone as brilliant as Tobirama thought Makoto's ideas were too extreme, bordering on heresy.As for Hashirama — he wouldn't understand at all.
"Makoto, you're too radical," Tobirama said solemnly."I can somewhat understand what you want… but in practice, your path will only lead to ruin.""The nations of the ninja world will never tolerate such behavior. And that's just the external pressure — you'll face opposition inside the villages as well.""You're challenging the entire system of the shinobi world: private interests, order, vengeance, public outrage. You'll make enemies everywhere."
His expression was complicated.
This was the second time he had heard Makoto speak like this.He barely restrained himself from blurting out the words "You're evil by nature!" — choosing instead to advise him earnestly not to go down that road.
The Warring States Era had been absolute chaos.
His brother had already endured enormous pressure to build a stable village system — a peace where former enemies could live side by side.That alone was an achievement worthy of praise.
Having rules, Tobirama believed, was better than having none — even if those rules weren't perfect.Most ninjas were content with the current peace.
Whatever Makoto said, no matter how grand or idealistic, he didn't represent them.
"But I'm right," Makoto said firmly, confident as ever."You can trust the strength of shinobi — but not their wisdom."
Tobirama sighed.
"You Uchihas are all the same.""That's why I can't stand you. You always end up causing trouble."
He was exasperated — and deep down, weary.Once again, he realized it was useless to argue.
He knew the Uchiha too well — stubborn, extreme, and overconfident in their own righteousness.
He had seen too many of them fall into darkness and drag others down with them.So even though Makoto's reforms and innovations brought undeniable benefits — some of which even tempted Tobirama himself — he couldn't shake his instinctive distrust.
After all, it was Uchiha Makoto, the "born-evil Uchiha brat," behind it all.
"Then we'll see," Makoto said calmly.He was patient — he would let time prove him right.
Since founding Akatsuki Village, he had already laid the groundwork.In just a few years, Akatsuki had accumulated vast potential energy, ready to explode once ninja industrialization took off.
Another three to five years, and there would be a new generation of young ninjas who would sing his praises and embrace his ideals.
The discussion came to a halt there.Even Tobirama decided to drop it.
He changed the topic to something more practical — public opinion in the Land of Fire.
Makoto had once brilliantly used media warfare during the Akatsuki–Kumogakure war, and the results were devastating.Kumogakure was crushed — countless ninjas died, the First Raikage was killed, and they were forced to sign humiliating treaties.
The village was on the brink of collapse, with many ninjas ready to desert.
Normally, the Land of Lightning would have supported its ninja village — but Makoto's propaganda had worked too well.Even within the Land of Lightning, people began to criticize Kumogakure, saying they brought it on themselves and didn't deserve sympathy.
If not for the daimyo stepping in, the village might not have survived.But even then, his "aid" came with harsh conditions.
The new Second Raikage had to work nonstop just to pay off debts — taking missions himself to make ends meet.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Makoto had also weaponized public opinion before — cornering Tobirama politically and ruining his once spotless reputation.
So, after suffering those blows, Tobirama had learned to pay close attention to the media and public sentiment within the Land of Fire — which explained why he reacted so quickly this time.
He had recently noticed a worrying trend:The Land of Fire's press was showing heavy bias in favor of Akatsuki Village.
Major newspapers praised Akatsuki endlessly, while mocking and nitpicking Konoha.
Smaller tabloids were even worse — practically worshipping Akatsuki as the "Light of the Ninja World," while slandering Konoha as outdated and incompetent.
One rising star in the media even wrote a viral article analyzing purchasing power — claiming that the average daily wage in Akatsuki Village could buy three to four times more than in Konoha.
He even went so far as to say:
"A cheap meal in Akatsuki Village tastes better than a Konoha family's New Year's dinner!"
In later interviews, the journalist dropped one biting quote after another:
"You hired ninjas from where? Konoha? Oh, that explains it.""Why are you mad? Typical Konoha logic.""That's the Konoha mindset — low standards, low quality, low attitude.""If you want results, hire Akatsuki ninjas. If you want a better life, move to Akatsuki!"
Even Tobirama was stunned.
He knew Akatsuki's economy was thriving — but this level of public humiliation for Konoha in its own country was outrageous.
Was Konoha really that bad?No, impossible!
Still, in this era — before the information age — the public generally trusted newspapers.So these reports carried real weight.
Because of that, on the joint mission commission platform between Konoha and Akatsuki, some Fire Country nobles had started requesting only Akatsuki ninjas for their missions.
Those "designated" tasks had special accounting rules — and if this trend continued, it would strike at the very heart of Konoha's economy.After all, Konoha's ninjas lived off mission fees.
Tobirama admitted Konoha's economy lagged behind Akatsuki's, but it wasn't as bad as these reports claimed!There was no way Akatsuki's fast food was better than a Konoha New Year's dinner!
He suspected foul play — that someone was deliberately smearing Konoha through coordinated propaganda.
"Makoto," Tobirama said gravely, "you swear you had nothing to do with this?""I swear on this lamp in front of me!" Makoto said quickly. "I didn't slander Konoha this time!"
He was genuinely startled by the news.
If handled poorly, this could spiral into a diplomatic disaster.Akatsuki and Konoha were still allies, after all.
Even when he did subtly mock Konoha, he did it cleverly — through little parables in New Ninja Weekly, promoting Akatsuki's image indirectly.He'd never do something this blatant and stupid.
Especially since Hashirama and Madara — the two pillars of Konoha — were still there!If things blew up, he might just get flattened by Hashirama's giant Buddha!
"You really didn't know?""I swear again on this lamp — I just heard about it from you!"
Makoto looked completely innocent.He wasn't omniscient — he couldn't split into a hundred shadow clones to manage everything at once.
Running Akatsuki took up all his time — paperwork, projects, oversight — he barely had hours to sleep.
He was, in many ways, trapped in an information bubble — only the most critical intelligence ever reached his desk after multiple layers of filtering.
Propaganda praising Akatsuki?That wouldn't even register as important enough to reach him.
If Tobirama hadn't told him, he might never have found out.
But then, right as he finished his oath, the lamp flickered — and went out.
Makoto's face turned green.Tobirama's turned black.
"Coincidence!" Makoto blurted."Pure coincidence!""Tobirama, you don't have to believe in my morals — but at least believe in my intelligence. Would I really do something this stupid?"
Tobirama paused, then nodded reluctantly.
"Hmm. Fair point."
Indeed, as much as he distrusted Makoto's character, he did trust his brains.Makoto wasn't dumb enough to do something that reckless.
"Then how do we fix this?" Tobirama asked."Konoha can't just sit there and be slandered."
Since their mood was still calm, he decided to make use of it.Makoto was a master of manipulating public opinion — surely he had an idea.
Makoto thought for a moment.
"First of all — Akatsuki Village is innocent.""If you want a quick fix, we can always send some shinobi, give the journalist seven shuriken to the back, and have it ruled a 'suicide.' Problem solved."
Tobirama shook his head.
"Can't. He already made a public statement — if he dies, everyone will assume it was Konoha's doing. He says he's ready to die for 'truth' and to promote the 'light of the ninja world.'"
Makoto raised an eyebrow.
"Huh. Brave little guy. I kind of admire him now. Maybe… he's right!""Akatsuki is worth it!"
He immediately felt Tobirama's killing intent.
"Ahem, cough — I mean, Konoha's not that bad either."
"Any other ideas?" Tobirama asked darkly."Buy the press," Makoto replied. "Flood it with counter-narratives. And keep an eye on the Fire Country's upper class — I suspect they're behind this."
He leaned back, eyes narrowing.
As the Light Shadow, he didn't mind Akatsuki being praised — but this was too much.It reeked of deliberate provocation, someone trying to drive a wedge between Akatsuki and Konoha.
And the only ones who'd want that in the Land of Fire were —
"those parasitic insects at the top."
(End of Chapter)