Konoha, early morning
The morning sun rose over the outline of Hokage Rock, casting warm orange light across every street in Leaf Village.
Wisps of cooking smoke curled upward, and the scent of breakfast stalls drifted through the air.
As usual, the villagers opened their doors and prepared to begin another day of making a living.
Just then, clear children's voices rang out through the streets and alleys:
"Newspapers! Newspapers! Freshly printed Land of Fire Daily! With one paper in hand, know all the affairs of the world—ninjas need not leave home to know what is happening everywhere!"
Dozens of children wove through the crowd, bags slung over their shoulders and stacks of freshly ink-scented newspapers in their hands.
They wore neat, coarse cloth clothes, their faces brimming with excited smiles.
At first, most villagers merely watched curiously, with no intention of taking out their money.
Ten ryo per copy was, after all, the cost of a breakfast.
"What newspaper? Never heard of it."
"Land of Fire Daily? What kind of thing is that?"
"This isn't some scam, is it..."
Within the crowd, a middle-aged man who looked like an uncle glanced around and decided the time was right.
He stepped forward and pulled out ten ryo from his clothes. "Give me one!"
The newspaper boy grinned and handed him a copy.
The uncle took it and casually flipped it open for show. Once he noticed someone edging closer from the corner of his eye—
His eyes widened the next second.
"Whoa! Th-this is Lord Hokage!" He pointed at the huge portrait on the front page, his voice shooting up several octaves.
"This painting makes him look so mighty! Look at that iron staff, that presence—he truly deserves to be the Third!"
Several people beside him leaned closer.
The uncle