This ninja in Naruto is unscientific

Chapter 144: One-Sided Public Opinion

"Breaking News! Breaking News! Police raid in the dead of night, arresting twenty-three enemy spies!"

"A shocking conspiracy! The rumors slandering the hero are actually a psychological warfare tactic orchestrated by the enemy!"

Newsboys waved copies of the still-smelling Konoha Weekly, carrying pages still fresh with ink, as they weaved through the streets and alleys. Each headline struck like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of the villagers hard.

Outside the Ganligan Dessert Shop, several villagers who were having breakfast snatched a newspaper, their eyes immediately drawn to the bold, large print on the front page:

[Life comes first! Konoha's White Fang did not abandon his mission; instead, he protected Konoha's future!]

Author: Abyss Walker.

The article's introduction is extremely sharp:

"For the past few days, we've all been accusing Konoha's White Fang of deserting. However, the truth often lies hidden beneath the cold, hard rules. As a special investigator, I visited the archives and the data department to try and reconstruct the true circumstances behind that S-rank mission."

One of the literate Chunin couldn't help but read it aloud, and more and more villagers gathered around.

"...In that life-or-death moment, Lord Sakumo had only two choices: one was to send his subordinates as bait to their deaths, bringing back cold, hard intelligence; the other was to turn around and face an enemy many times his size alone, carving a bloody path for his comrades."

"At this crossroads, he did not hesitate. He gave up his honor simply because—he heard the heartbeat of his comrade who wanted to live."

Upon reading this, a stir arose among the crowd.

The article then presented a set of cold and shocking data:

"Some say this is a losing proposition, but that's not only cold-blooded, it's also ignorant! It takes an average of 10 to 15 years to train a mature Chunin, and the resources the village invests are astronomical. Intelligence can be re-investigated if it's lost, but if someone dies, Konoha will forever lose several future Jonin and the pillars of several families."

"What Sakumo Hatake brought back was not a burden, but the foundation Konoha had accumulated over decades, the village's assets!"

Even more shocking are the reports about that "accuser".

The newspaper did not vilify the ninja who cried in the hospital, but instead wrote in an almost compassionate medical tone:

"According to authoritative experts in the Department of Psychiatry at Konoha Hospital, the ninja suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder. His accusations are not based on so-called backbone, but rather on cognitive distortion and mental derangement caused by extreme fear. Subconsciously, he cannot accept the fact that he almost died, and can only escape his inner collapse by attacking his savior."

"He is a patient, not a witness. How despicable it is to use the incoherent ramblings of a mentally unstable person to judge a hero! And behind all this, it is the work of spies from an enemy country!"

The last paragraph struck everyone's hearts with a heavy blow:

"I ask you, parents, if your son were surrounded on the battlefield, would you want his captain to return with intelligence stained with his blood to claim a reward? Or would you want his captain, like Sakumo Hatake, to bring him home alive, even if it means bearing infamy?"

"Snapped!"

An older woman slammed her shopping basket to the ground, her eyes red with tears.

"I...I'm no human being! Yesterday I even joined others in cursing Lord Sakumo...If I were that child's mother, I'd have to kowtow to Lord Sakumo!"

"Yeah...we were all fooled by that crazy Chunin! We were even used as pawns by an enemy spy!"

Guilt spread like wildfire among the people.

When people discover that they have been used, or even become accomplices in harming heroes, their anger and self-blame transform into the strongest protective instinct.

"No! We must go and apologize to Lord Sakumo!"

……

In front of the police department building.

On the huge bulletin board was a joint statement stamped with the seals of the Police Department, the Anbu, and the Hokage Building.

[Report on the Investigation Results of the "Rumor Incident"]

[Upon investigation, it has been confirmed that the recent negative comments regarding Jonin Sakumo Hatake were maliciously spread by spies from an enemy country, with the aim of undermining our village's foundation and damaging our high-end combat capabilities.]

Twenty-three individuals involved in the case have been apprehended, and conclusive evidence has been obtained.

Although Jonin Sakumo Hatake did not bring back any intelligence during this mission, he protected the lives of his entire team in a desperate situation, demonstrating the Will of Fire of Konoha. With the Hokage's special approval, he will not be held responsible for the mission. The Police Department, in this operation against espionage, uncovered the truth and is awarded a collective merit.

Standing on the second-floor terrace, Fugaku Uchiha looked down at the excited villagers below, a smile appearing on his serious face.

He turned to look at Nishikawa Tetsu, who was drinking tea behind him.

"By using data to speak for themselves and then using medical definitions to turn the accuser into a patient, we not only silenced the public but also made the villagers feel guilty."

"This is simply to reveal the truth, senior."

Nishikawa Tetsu put down his teacup, his eyes calm.

"What about the two Chunin who were rescued?" Fugaku asked.

"One of them already felt guilty towards Sakumo-senpai, while the other... is already receiving 'psychological counseling' at the hospital." Nishikawa Tetsu smiled meaningfully. "A friend from the Yamanaka clan helped him sort out his memories. In addition, after seeing the newspaper report, he is now crying his eyes out, admitting that he was blinded by fear at the time, and is preparing to go to the Hatake family to apologize."

"You bastard..." Fugaku shook his head. Although his methods were somewhat cunning, the result was indeed good.

……

Hatake's residence.

The gate was tightly shut, as if isolated from the world. But outside, it was piled high with flowers, fruit, and apology letters sent by villagers.

Several children even left their favorite toys at the door, with words scrawled on them: "Uncle White Fang is a hero, we want a captain like him too!"

yard.

Sakumo Hatake remained seated under the veranda, holding the short sword in his hand.

"dad……"

Kakashi walked out of the room, clutching the Konoha Weekly tightly in his hand.

His hands were trembling slightly, and his eyes were red-rimmed, clearly indicating that he had just been crying.

"You see... everyone knows... everyone says you're right..."

Shuo Mao looked up at his son's face, which, though masked, could not hide his excitement.

He slowly reached out and took the newspaper.

Looking at the shocking title above—【Life First】.

Looking at those articles analyzing how he single-handedly fought his way out of a hundred enemies in a desperate situation.

Two lines of tears slid down the cheeks of this tough, resolute man, but he smiled.

It was a relieved, liberated smile.

"Kakashi, I'm sorry to have worried you."

Shuo Mao put down the newspaper and hugged his son tightly.

"Dad, let's go outside."

Kakashi raised his head, his eyes resolute, and a light rekindled in his dead fish eyes.

"Go tell everyone that Konoha's White Fang has returned."

"it is good."

Sakumo stood up and slung the short sword back over his shoulder.

At that moment, it seemed as if the White Fang of Konoha, who once struck fear into the hearts of the ninja world, had returned.

But his sharpness now carries an added layer of light called protection.

The door slowly opened.

The sunlight shone on the father and son.

A cheer erupted from the crowd outside the door.

On a rooftop not far away, Nishikawa Tetsu and Namikaze Minato stood side by side.

"Looks like I've passed this hurdle." Nishikawa Tetsu breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the heartwarming scene below.

If public opinion is allowed to continue to fester, in the near future, Konoha's White Fang will commit suicide, and the genius boy named Kakashi will close himself off and become a ninja who prioritizes missions above all else.

"Yes." Minato smiled as he saw Kakashi's long-lost smile. "Heroes should not be forgotten, much less smeared."