Open to all Konoha Shinobi... July 2nd.

[thebestuchiha]

[Any and everyone who happens to be a Konoha Shinobi will wake up on this morning, after a month of running here and there and overall dealing with a mess of politicians, foreign shinobi, and spectators, to one very irate message that Obito has managed some sealwork on so that it cannot be ignored.

Namely, the scrolls of all shinobi who happen to be Konoha stock is going to be glowing alternately bright yellow, then angry red in a repeating pattern that lights up any dark areas it's in. Of course, once the seal for the message is opened inside the scrolls it will stop, but until then it's going to be rather obnoxious. It's silent, of course, just in case anyone happens to be in a position where sudden noise would endanger them. Obviously those people would have the scroll in a case that makes it not visible in the first place so he feels no guilt in this... approach.

No one who is not Konoha will be able to open this missive.]

Shinobi of Konoha,

I regret to inform you that though the exams went off beautifully, and I do praise you all for not killing, maiming, or otherwise inciting a war upon those who were obnoxious in this last month, some unfortunate things came to my attention.

My Shinobi are keeping secrets from me, and I am deeply troubled that I need to inform you all that this is not acceptable. There have been several instances of incomplete reports that have been missing vital information, at least one of which was a lack of mention in regards to meeting a foreign village leader on what was meant to be routine patrols. Another situation was in dealings to do a trade convoy to the north, when there was no mention anywhere in this particular report that shinobi has been sighted in transit with these people, in a mix that previously was thought to be among hostile nations. Other incidents of this nature have come to my attention as well, and it can no longer be permitted.

The next instances of withholding information will be met with far less of a gentle reception, and any further transgressions will be handled with prejudice. All shinobi who are withholding information that in any way might be pertinent to village security have the next week to write out reports and submit them to me with total forgiveness for having withheld it previously. After that, unless a shinobi was out of the village on assignment for the entire span of the timeframe, there will be penalties, then punishments, for the delay, depending on timeframe.

I apologize for having to be harsh on you all, but please understand that this is for the safety of both shinobi and civilian villagers, and I cannot do my job if you do not let me.

Uchiha Obito,
Godaime Hokage

Comments

[thebestuchiha]

More people in intelligence most likely. They can't keep up.

[not_thedragon]

I see. How do people end up in intelligence anyway?

[thebestuchiha]

Most people just sort of trip into it. It depends though, some people go out of their way to gather information and get there that way.

[not_thedragon]

How do people usually find information? It's not like you can just grab people and ask them questions without a reason.

[thebestuchiha]

Some people build a meticulous network of informants, others go out and see with their own eyes or become exceptionally good at picking apart what others try to hide. It's about how long you can maintain focus on listening.

[not_thedragon]

Focus on listening? What about situations like this -- are we going to have to have people picking apart what our own shinobi are saying and doing?

[thebestuchiha]

People always do that Sasuke, it's why there are always rumors in a shinobi village. It's about figuring out what's true and what's a smoke screen.

[not_thedragon]

So then ... deliberately planting rumours could be part of handling a shinobi village's information network as well.

[thebestuchiha]

The Yamanaka tend to be exceptionally skilled at just that.

[not_thedragon]

That explains a lot about my life in the Academy. But how would anyone who'd planted a rumour be certain they'd be acted on, unless they were just testing the waters somehow?

[thebestuchiha]

No, the Academy was Itachi. Planting a rumor isn't a singular matter, from what I understand. It's never been a game I played personally.

[not_thedragon]

Wait, what? Why would Itachi plant rumours about me?

It seems like an unnecessarily messy way to achieve a goal.

[thebestuchiha]

Because it was funny. Which answers your concern. It's not about clean answers.

[not_thedragon]

It wasn't funny at all! If he was the one who started that long hair thing, I was finding hair in my locker for months!

[Second note arrives after a few minutes, less hastily written.]

If people have time to mess with information for amusement, they have way too much free time.

[thebestuchiha]

Actually, the persistent spread of false information keeps the village more secure when it's not put to paper.

[not_thedragon]

Don't think I didn't notice that you didn't confirm whether Itachi was responsible for that rumour or not, sensei.

Why would it be more secure for there to be inaccurate information within the village?

[thebestuchiha]

Because spies will always exist and if they have to work to sort out the truth from the lies it fortifies the village against seemingly unimportant weaknesses getting into enemy hands.

[not_thedragon]

Hey, I'm serious! Naruto thought I was getting haunted.

How do you decide what lies will help distract the enemy and what will confuse our own?

[thebestuchiha]

I don't decide. People have to decide for themselves what to believe, and the smart ones listen, are entertained, and believe nothing they don't figure out on their own. Harmful rumors are put down fairly ruthlessly, typically.

[not_thedragon]

Fine, I'll just ask Itachi about it directly and say you sold him out.

How exactly do you put down a rumour? They don't exactly just go away if you say they're not true.

[thebestuchiha]

You put down a rumor by putting out a more interesting rumor to the people that rumor interests, typically.

[not_thedragon]

People's attention spans are really that short?

[thebestuchiha]

Very often, yes. You've never noticed?

[not_thedragon]

Well, some rumours stick. Like the ones about me in Academy.

But I guess I never thought of trying to put out a counter-rumour.

[thebestuchiha]

It can't be lame, but if you'd started a rumor with, say, your love of blonds, people would have started dying their hair.