Main World.
Spring, Konoha Year 24.
Imperial Palace, study.
Spring sunlight spilled through the window lattice, casting dappled light and shadows across the floor. Toyotomi Yinglang sat behind his desk, toying with a dark purple Soul Yin Stone, a faint smile on his lips. Sakura Haruno sat opposite him with her heavily pregnant belly, holding a cup of hot tea, her brows slightly furrowed.
"New intelligence." Sakura Haruno set down her teacup, took a scroll from inside her clothes, and handed it to Toyotomi Yinglang. "Uchiha Fushan wants to wait until the people of Konoha recognize the Toyotomi Clan's true colors."
Toyotomi Yinglang took the scroll, unrolled it, glanced over it, and smiled. There was no warmth in that smile, only a condescending, almost pitying mockery.
"It's useless. The eyes of the masses... might be blind."
Sakura Haruno's brows drew tighter.
"What?"
"If they weren't blind, the rumor that the Uchiha Clan is inherently evil would have fallen apart long ago."
Toyotomi Yinglang set down the scroll and leaned back in his chair.
"Tobirama Senju said the Uchiha were inherently evil, and the people of Konoha believed him. They believed it for decades. They believed it until even the Uchiha themselves began to wonder whether they really were inherently evil. If the masses really saw clearly, could that rumor have lasted this long?"
Sakura Haruno fell silent.
"They don't understand the importance of holding ground in public opinion."
Toyotomi Yinglang's voice was calm.
"Uchiha Fushan thinks time is a cure, that if he waits long enough, the people of Konoha will naturally see clearly. He doesn't know that if you don't occupy the ground of public opinion, your enemies will. If you don't speak, your enemies will speak for you. If you don't publicize yourself, your enemies will do it