They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 8: If you don't occupy the battleground of public opinion, the enemy will.

Indeed, the daimyo's envoy was able to say those words only because Hozuki Shingetsu paid for it.

The fact that this courtier acted as an envoy to Kirigakure to participate in this Jonin meeting can be said to be the result of Hozuki Shingetsu's meticulous planning.

Of course, the price is one-third of Asuma.

Even if you start by contacting this courtier, inquiring about some inside information about the daimyo, and cultivating his goodwill towards the Hozuki clan, the expenses would amount to the equivalent of one Asuma's.

However, all of this is worthwhile compared to what Hozuki Shingetsu can gain.

He went through all this trouble, going out to kill and earn merit, and using the position of Ninja Academy principal as a cover. His ultimate goals were twofold: the position of foreign affairs officer and the seemingly insignificant right to propaganda.

Since arriving in this world and setting his goal, Hozuki Shingetsu has been contemplating how to achieve it. Immortality and beauty can wait, but unification requires paving the way ahead.

Even someone as powerful as Hashirama Senju was able to make peace with Madara Uchiha at the last moment and bring peace to the world only because of the bond he formed with him in his childhood.

Limited by his age and the strength of Kirigakure, Hozuki Shingetsu could only resort to underhanded methods to wear down his opponents while secretly improving his own strength.

Currently, Hozuki Shingetsu has a comprehensive set of methods to deal with the Third Mizukage. In fact, if he waits another five or six years, Hozuki Shingetsu is confident that he can forcefully bring him down. The difficulty lies in the presence of Uchiha Madara and Zetsu behind him.

Based on the information Hozuki Shingetsu possesses, it's speculated that Uchiha Madara should have already made contact with Ren by this time. It's unclear whether it was genjutsu or some other incentive that lured Ren into cooperating. Therefore, maintaining this state of struggle without outright conflict with Ren is actually the best course of action until there's complete certainty.

After all, if Madara Uchiha were to be drawn out, even if he were only clinging to life thanks to the God Tree and in a semi-crippled state, no one in Kirigakure would be able to withstand him. Not to mention Madara Uchiha, even the God Tree creation "White Zetsu with Wood Release" would probably be difficult to deal with.

Therefore, Hozuki Shingetsu could only focus his attention outwards, using various means to weaken Konoha's strength in preparation for the future, while also seizing credit and expanding his influence in the process.

Although his identity allowed him to act with impunity in Kirigakure, his status could make people bow their heads, but it could not make them believe in him.

Looking at the current situation in the ninja world, it can indeed be described as "one superpower and many strong powers".

First, there is Konoha, located in the center of the continent, backed by the Land of Fire, the richest and most populous country on the continent. What is even more commendable is that the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the successive Hokage have maintained good personal relationships and have never been stingy in their support for Konoha.

Although the death of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju has caused the once mighty Konoha to show signs of decline, it still boasts the support of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans, the rising Sannin, and powerful figures like Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and Sakumo Hatake. Furthermore, the village is backed by the rich legacy left to Konoha by Tobirama Senju. Despite internal conflicts, Konoha remains one of the top ninja villages in the world.

To put it bluntly, Konoha could easily take on three opponents at once.

Looking at the other ninja villages, none of them had the ability to counterbalance Konoha.

Since the rebellion of Kinkaku and Ginkaku led to the deaths of their Raikage and Tobirama Senju, Kumogakure has been quietly licking its wounds. In recent years, it has only just begun to recover its strength. It has the ambition to become the strongest ninja in the world, but lacks the corresponding strength.

In Iwagakure, although the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, had only been in office for a little over a decade, the village was already facing a talent shortage. This was because Onoki had implemented a centralized system after taking office, severely suppressing individual heroism and promoting collectivism. While this led to a surge in the number of Iwagakure ninjas, it also left almost no room for newcomers to rise to prominence.

However, Sunagakure, under the leadership of the Second Kazekage Shamon, showed a brief trend of revival. Shamon not only learned from Konoha in terms of systems, but also created the Sand Secret Technique and Puppet Technique, two secret techniques used by Sunagakure, making him the patriarch of Sunagakure's revival.

As for Kirigakure, it goes without saying that it is plagued by internal conflicts between ninja clans, conflicts between ninja clans and daimyo, and conflicts between daimyo and ninja villages. In addition, it has now closed itself off from the world, so in terms of strength, it can be said to be the weakest of the five great ninja villages.

Therefore, under the current circumstances, if Hozuki Shingetsu really wants to disrupt the ninja world's power structure and buy himself time to develop, then it would be best to start with Konoha.

As the undisputed leader of the ninja world, whatever happens in Konoha will affect the minds of the other ninja villages. When the situation becomes chaotic, opportunities will naturally arise.

As for how to throw the enemy into chaos... that was Hozuki Shingetsu's final request.

If you don't occupy the so-called propaganda front, the enemy will.

In the current stage where mutual checks and balances prevent the use of force, propaganda is undoubtedly the best approach.

Especially when public opinion campaigns are combined with diplomacy.

Public opinion is invisible and intangible, but it can sow discord and kill silently.

Even without considering his past life, in the not-too-distant future, after the Second Shinobi World War, Hatake Sakumo will commit suicide because of rumors circulating in the village. While his faith may have crumbled as a factor, the destructive power of public opinion is undeniable.

As for the specific operations, Hozuki Shingetsu, who was used to seeing the operations of the "beacon of light" in newspapers and on the internet in his previous life, was extremely skilled at them.

For example, stigmatizing leaders, interfering in internal affairs, and distorting history.

Coincidentally, Konoha's various objective conditions perfectly matched the premise for these operations, such as Konoha's strength and the Uchiha problem.

At the same time, propaganda can be used not only to attack the enemy, but also to promote oneself.

The "timely rain" of Kirigakure was the result of Hozuki Shingetsu's initial foray into combat.

When the time comes, we can hire some writers to write novels, biographies, news articles, etc., that glorify the beauty of the Water Country. In an era where public opinion is not valued by various countries, wouldn't that lead to a chaotic and indiscriminate killing?

Extending this to the national level, it can not only evoke a subconscious aversion to Konoha, but also inspire longing for the Land of Water, Kirigakure, and the Hozuki clan.

Yes, he looks forward to the day when someone from the Land of Fire will shout, "The air in the Land of Water smells sweet."

(End of this chapter)