Newspapers were far more useful than imagined. They could present information before others, and whether civilians or ninjas, everyone could learn something from them. With such a wide distribution range, even the upper-class elites could not completely destroy the newspapers if they wanted to ban them!
Likewise, the appearance of newspapers was like a key that opened the world of the upper class, letting commoners at the bottom understand that there were many things they could not come into contact with, but that did not mean those things did not exist.
A tiny newspaper stirred up a towering storm in Konoha. The reports about the war in particular contained insights that were even sharper than the Third Hokage's. But when his gaze shifted to the side, he discovered an even more explosive piece of news.
"Does the person making this newspaper have a grudge against Danzo? Why are they putting everything in there?"
The so-called human experiments were mostly exaggerated, and whenever theft occurred in Konoha—someone's pot went missing, someone's chicken disappeared—it was all pinned on Danzo.
This was an obvious smear campaign. However, the information below about Root selecting ninjas made the Third Hokage's expression turn much more solemn. He instructed the ANBU ninja standing guard outside:
"Have Danzo and the two Hokage advisors come over."
A short while later, once all three were seated in the office, the Third Hokage took out the newspaper and asked in a somewhat questioning tone:
"Which of the things written here did you do?"
Danzo had been at Root's experimental base and had not yet received today's newspaper. But on his way here, he had sensed the thick hostility around him. Many villagers had wanted to come up and beat him.
So the matter had appeared in the newspaper. Danzo took the