The third matter was handling the Grass Village incident.
A tiny ninja village had the balls to send shinobi into the Land of Wind disguised as sand bandits, targeting Sunagakure right after the village had clawed its way back to glory. They were begging to die.
"Grass Village just handed us the perfect leverage on a silver platter. Letting them walk would be a complete waste."
The fourth matter was the dream modification for Obito Uchiha.
"I've got an idea."
Rasa quickly locked in the next headline for the Ninja World Big Events Weekly.
He went with the story of Mist suicide ninja attacking Leaf. He didn't outright say Danzo controlled them or ordered the killings, but anyone with half a brain could read between the lines. No direct accusation—just enough implication and rhythm to keep people talking.
As for the next serialized story after The Basilisk Scroll wrapped up, Rasa chose One Piece.
Even though long-running series always hit the same walls eventually, it was still an absolute masterpiece. The hook was strong and it stayed strong for years.
The first story had been ninja-themed because this world actually had ninja. Readers would connect instantly. For the second one there was no need to stay locked into ninja stuff. The paper's name was already established. The pen name "Kagetsu" carried real weight now. That was the advantage of being a known author.
The other reason was simple: it could subtly jab at the Mist Village and stir up more trouble for them.
When the latest issue of the Ninja World Big Events Weekly hit the stands, the entire ninja world—hell, the entire world—turned its eyes to the paper. The buzz was louder than any previous issue.
The previous one had already teased that this chapter would be the finale of The Basilisk Scroll.
"Finally. I wonder how it ends…"
...
"They're all dead! Everyone's dead!"
A woman's eyes filled with tears.
"Why? Why does it have to end like this for people who loved each other?"
"Is being a ninja really this cruel?"
An old man sighed.
"That's just how fate works. Nothing's ever perfect. Life is full of holes. Regret is what makes it real. Only a handful of people ever get to be winners."
"Besides, Gen-no-suke and Oboro had it better than most. At least they died together. At least they loved each other."
Some readers cursed the author for being too cruel. Others said the ending was perfect and heartbreaking. A few just sat in silence, too depressed to speak.
"Tenshō was evil!"
"Completely rotten. Just like Danzo."
A Mist ninja muttered.
"Oboro's love was real, but selfish as hell. How could she poison Gen-no-suke just to get what she wanted? Good thing Oboro acted in time."
"If you ask me, the worst ones were the daimyo. Forcing ninja to kill each other just to pick an heir? Why not just let his own two kids fight it out? Would've been faster and way fewer bodies."
"Ninja… what a helpless life."
"Everything's about missions and orders. We're just puppets on strings."
"Is this really how a ninja is supposed to live?"
Plenty of shinobi found themselves asking the same questions. Even if they hadn't faced the exact same fate as Gen-no-suke and Oboro, they realized they probably would have made the same choices in that situation. They didn't want to, but they wouldn't have had a choice.
Kakashi thought about his father.
"Dad chose his comrades over the mission."
"Obito chose Rin over the mission."
"Why do the rules say they were wrong… yet I can't help agreeing with them?"
"Am I the one who's wrong?"
"Or is the whole system broken?"
"What the hell are ninja even supposed to live for?"
"Is a ninja's life even worth living?"
Once people finished the emotional finale, they finally turned to the news section.
Headline: Mist ninja travel to Leaf and become suicide bombers.
Before, only parts of the Land of Fire and Land of Water really knew the details. Now, thanks to the paper, the Land of Wind, Land of Earth, Land of Lightning, and plenty of smaller countries were all reading it.
The discussions exploded.
Uchiha Yashiro snorted.
"I knew Danzo was trash back when I was still in Leaf. Just as evil as Tobirama Senju!"
Takechi Ta thought Danzo had done a great job. After all, the ones getting hurt were Mist. As Mist's mortal enemy, the worse things got for them, the happier Takechi Ta felt.
"Those Mist bastards all deserve to die!"
"Genshi died well!"
"The Third Mizukage died well too!"
"But just killing them is too easy. Way too cheap."
"The paper got it right."
Takechi Ta picked up the paper. Below the headline was a short interview with an old shinobi.
The question: What is the most painful thing a person can experience?
Casualties? Poverty? Loneliness?
None of those. The most painful thing is wanting something you can never have. Watching the things you care about get destroyed right in front of you while you're completely powerless to stop it.
Takechi Ta's voice turned vicious.
"If those two old bastards were still alive and fell into my hands, I'd make sure they died screaming."
Obito Uchiha opened his eyes.
For a long moment his gaze was blank. Then clarity returned—slowly, like he was trying to crawl back into the dream.
Because in that dream he had seen the person he thought about every single day.
Rin Nohara.
"Rin…"
Obito was still lost in it, replaying every second.
"Seeing you again… even if it was just a dream… it felt so good."
Right then a White Zetsu brought him the latest Ninja World Big Events Weekly.
Obito read the Basilisk Scroll finale first.
"I'm luckier than Gen-no-suke. At least I still have the chance to create a world where Rin and I can live happily together."
Then he turned to the news.
He already knew the headline about the Mist suicide bombers. But when he reached the old shinobi's quote, the dream scene flashed through his mind again.
In the next instant, Obito's face twisted with cold fury.
"Rin… don't worry. I swear I'll make them pay for what they did to you."
"Everyone who hurt you—I'll make them suffer even more."
"That quote is dead right."
"The pain I felt back then was worse than death. Way worse."
"I'm going to give Danzo the exact same pain."
"I'm going to destroy everything he cares about!"
"I, Obito Uchiha, swear it!"