Uchiha Souji sprang up from his seat with a burst of energy.
He wanted to storm out of the restaurant and run straight to the Uchiha Guard headquarters. If he could drag a few guards here, maybe… just maybe… he could control the situation.
But a moment later, he sank back into his chair in defeat.
It was useless.
Even if the Uchiha Guard had the authority to arrest people, they could never arrest an entire restaurant full of villagers.
His plan was ruined.
Completely, utterly ruined.
Souji lowered his head.
Mizuki… Mizuki, I am so sorry! You worked so hard to insult me every day, and now all your efforts are wasted.
He thought about the long days of fear, pressure, and creating scandalous headlines—only for some random stranger to "defend" him and ruin everything.
Souji almost cried.
---
The Middle-Aged Ninja's Speech Continues
"Did none of you notice," the middle-aged man shouted, "that Uchiha Souji has not come out to defend himself this entire time?"
His voice echoed through the restaurant.
"What we did to him these past days… aren't you ashamed?!"
"We attacked a child who carried the Will of Fire in his heart! A boy who would risk his life to save his comrades!"
The man's words filled the room. His tone shook with emotion.
People began lowering their heads like schoolchildren being scolded.
Souji stared at them from his seat.
Their eyes were red… like they had awakened Sharingan from guilt.
This was BAD.
Very bad.
Because this meant Souji might still have a chance—
a chance to FIX this disaster.
If he could destroy this man's influence, maybe his plan could still be saved.
Souji's eyes flashed.
He stood up suddenly, climbed onto another table like a determined soldier, and pointed directly at the middle-aged man.
---
Souji Fights Back Publicly
"How do you know," Souji shouted, "that Uchiha Souji didn't come out because he was ashamed?!"
"Maybe he didn't dare to admit anything! Maybe he's guilty!"
The entire restaurant gasped.
Souji continued, voice rising confidently.
He was a master at this in his previous life.
He had been a keyboard warrior!
He knew how to argue.
Meanwhile, the middle-aged man turned sharply to him.
---
The Reveal: Shimura Danzo in Disguise
This "middle-aged man"…
was none other than Shimura Danzo, disguised with non-chakra methods.
No Transformation Jutsu.
No chakra manipulation.
Danzo knew normal transformation techniques were too easily sensed.
This mission was too important.
He had personally come to guide public opinion.
He expected no real resistance.
So when Souji suddenly challenged him, Danzo felt shock—but also excitement.
This made his speech more dramatic and more believable.
"Hmph!" Danzo said loudly.
"Uchiha Souji fought Orochimaru at seven years old! His strength came from talent AND discipline!"
"When would he have time for such childish behavior as spying on widows?!"
Souji twitched.
What do you mean?! I AM childish! Let me be childish! Stop defending me!!
But he fought back anyway.
---
Souji Attempts to Destroy His Own Reputation
"That may be the very reason!" Souji argued.
"Harsh training, pressure, cruelty—such things can twist a mind! He might have become… perverted!"
Danzo snorted.
"Impossible! He's only seven! No amount of pressure in three or four years could break a mind that quickly!"
Danzo pointed dramatically at Souji.
"You! You must be a spy sent by that newspaper to slander Konoha's hero!"
The crowd gasped.
Souji froze.
Because…
It was true.
He WAS the newspaper.
He WAS the spy.
He WAS the slander.
Danzo had accidentally guessed correctly.
Souji wanted to throw himself off the table and cry.
---
Souji's Defeat
His mind spun.
His tongue stopped.
Slowly… painfully… he climbed down from the table like a defeated child.
Everyone stared at him with pity, as if watching a sad orphan walk away.
Danzo lifted his chin in victory.
"See? He can't respond. That means everything I said was true!"
He turned to the crowd.
"Believe me or not—as long as Uchiha Souji lives in Konoha, we all owe him an apology!"
Danzo walked out proudly.
But the moment he stepped into the street, one of his Root operatives rushed over and whispered something urgent in his ear.
Danzo's cheerful expression twisted instantly into dark fury.
---
Souji's Horrifying Discovery
Outside, Souji walked slowly down the road.
He wasn't ready to return home yet.
He wanted fresh air.
He wanted time to think.
But then—
He stopped walking.
His eyes widened.
Because everywhere he went—
EVERYWHERE—
he saw people standing up for him.
On every street.
Every shop.
Every food stall.
People wearing forehead protectors.
People with ninja gear.
People with serious expressions.
Standing on crates.
Standing on tables.
Standing in groups.
All delivering speeches
about how Uchiha Souji was innocent,
how the newspapers were fake,
how the village should be ashamed.
Over and over and over.
It wasn't just one man.
It was dozens.
Dozens of "justice warriors."
Dozens of people "saving" his reputation.
Souji's eye twitched violently.
Someone was orchestrating this.
Someone was sabotaging him.
Someone was ACTIVELY destroying everything he had worked for.
His breathing grew sharp.
His hands clenched.
Who… who was harming him?!
He scanned the list of suspects in his mind.
Orochimaru?
Impossible. He had just defected.
Mizuki?
No, that idiot followed instructions too perfectly.
Hiruzen?
Soft approach, trying to win Souji over. Unlikely.
Danzo?
Souji scoffed. He hadn't even met Danzo face-to-face yet.
If Danzo was behind this, Souji swore he would eat his own Third Generation Onitsu blade.
So there was only one person left.
Only one man with enough authority…
Only one person with both ability and motive…
---
Uchiha Fugaku.
Souji gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
"That old man… that old b*****d… It MUST be him!"
Souji spun around and marched straight toward the Uchiha district.
---
Confronting Fugaku
He flung open the door to Fugaku's home.
And what did he see?
Uchiha Fugaku laughing, applauding, absolutely overjoyed—like a man celebrating a wedding, a birth, and a lottery win all at once.
Souji nearly punched him on the spot.
If Souji weren't a child—and if Fugaku weren't stronger—Souji would have slapped him so hard he'd fly across the compound.
But instead, Souji clenched his fists and endured the burning fury.
.--------------------------
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