Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World

"You're really amazing, Torifu-dono. Even after all these years of retirement, your brilliance hasn't faded at all. Your experience and skill far surpass mine."

After getting flustered again by Akimichi Torifu's counter, Namikaze Minato backed off to gain some distance.

Torifu laughed heartily. "You flatter me, Minato. I've just lived a few decades longer than you. If we were the same age, I'd be nowhere near your level."

Minato shook his head. "No, you're being too modest. There are many veteran shinobi in the world, but most can't effectively use their experience—especially in a match where we're roleplaying someone else."

"But you've integrated your experience seamlessly with your character. Very few senior shinobi can manage that."

Torifu smiled without arguing. Instead, he asked, "Then Minato, after all this probing, shouldn't you show me your true strength? The 'Yellow Flash' wouldn't be so average, would he?"

Minato offered a modest but radiant smile. "Actually, the title 'Yellow Flash' was given to me by Kei-kun. It only became my label because everyone accepted it."

"But you're right, Torifu-senpai. Since I've accepted this title, I must honor everything it represents."

"Which means, from this moment on—I'm going all out."

As he finished speaking, Minato's aura sharpened drastically, like a holy blade unsheathed.

Seeing this, Torifu's face turned serious. "Come, Minato!"

With a Whoosh—Minato vanished. In the blink of an eye, he was behind Torifu, kunai in hand, aiming straight for his kidney.

Torifu reacted immediately, swinging around to counterattack.

But Minato vanished again—his high-speed movement skill triggered once more, this time appearing at Torifu's flank.

Torifu turned to strike again, only to see a kunai flying at him—Minato was nowhere in sight.

His attack missed, and the kunai grazed him.

In-game, it was just a minor HP drop, but it proved Minato had landed a hit—and Torifu had made a mistake.

Immediately afterward, Minato attacked again, using high-speed movement to land another sneak strike.

Torifu scrambled to defend each time, but Minato kept reading him, outmaneuvering him at every turn.

Finally, Minato went for a killing move.

Torifu had no time to turn—but as a seasoned ninja, he made the right call: he activated his character's ultimate move. Thunder roared around him as he entered a fortified zone. If the enemy struck, the defense would trigger a counterattack.

If Minato's attack landed, he'd be hurt instead.

It was classic shinobi intel warfare. Torifu had never used this technique before, and Minato, playing the game for the first time, would likely fall into the trap.

By all logic, things should've gone Torifu's way.

But Minato was someone who turned the impossible into possible.

What looked like a deadly blow turned out to be a feint. At the last moment, he flickered away again—Whoosh—

Torifu's eyes widened. "Nani!?"

Minato reappeared—right in front of him.

Because he'd just released his ultimate move, Torifu was in a short 'stiff' state.

It lasted less than a second—but at this level, that was enough.

Minato launched his true finishing move—a special technique unique to his character. Golden chakra flared from his body, and his kunai slashed across Torifu's form.

Since Torifu hadn't blocked or dodged, the game judged the attack successful. A combo initiated.

Minato's character, "Everyone," kicked Torifu into the air. Then he flung seven kunai in a circle around the airborne target.

He transformed into a golden flash, catching a kunai midair with no foothold, and slashed across Torifu with a 'Flash Blade' attack.

He repeated the same blazing-fast strike six more times—one for each kunai.

The final hit—grabbing the topmost kunai—he plunged down for a vertical finisher, landing coolly as Torifu crashed to the ground with a boom.

It was the shinobi world's version of "Omnislash." The full move had landed, shaving off a third of Torifu's health. His green bar turned yellow in an instant.

This was Minato's first time unleashing the ultimate—and the first time viewers saw it.

While it lacked the raw AOE power of other characters' attacks, it absolutely nailed the 'cool factor.' Women in the audience screamed in delight.

Even many men couldn't help but curse in awe—it was just too damn cool. Everyone had been 'hit' by Minato's move.

People agreed: maybe "Everyone" wasn't the strongest character, but he was hands-down the coolest. A born protagonist.

When they got their turn to play, everyone would pick "Everyone." He was the ultimate style weapon.

Even if shinobi didn't know the term "showing off," they instinctively understood—if you're going to fight in front of others, you better make it look good.

The hosts had already explained that the game "Ultimate Storm" would debut live streaming features. With permission, a player's matches could be broadcast in Konoha's game halls for public viewing.

Just like this press event—it was all about shining in front of others.

Maybe not as flashy as this event, but if you performed well in-game, most people would *love* for others to witness their triumphs—especially when defeating opponents and being showered with praise. That kind of thrill and vanity was addictive.

Just imagining it made people eager to jump in.

Like now—Minato's ultimate move had stolen the show. The response? Explosive. Even jōnin dreamed of that kind of moment.

Because yes—showing off and standing out in public was a deep psychological need for many.

Look at games like "LoL" or "Honor of Kings." When players scored a pentakill, they wanted it broadcast worldwide.

Savvy internet café owners even installed announcers. If a customer got a triple kill or more in "LoL," the whole café would hear about it. Some places even gave small gifts for a pentakill—all to satisfy that primal need to shine.

Same principle here. People around show-offs wanted in too. Like Minato's girlfriend Uzumaki Kushina—she was losing her mind with joy, cheering with the crowd.

She felt bad for Torifu, but emotions are hard to suppress. And Kushina was always a fiery one.

So, for now—let the cheering continue.

Of course, not everyone was impressed. Like grumpy old Uchiha Madara, who scoffed and muttered:

"Not bad. Worthy of standing behind me and Hashirama in the old days."

Classic Madara—backhanded praise at its finest. But this time, he'd seen it for himself. No hearsay. No secondhand accounts.

Despite Minato playing a different character, not at full power, Madara confirmed his previous judgment had been correct.

Meanwhile, in-game, Minato had no clue what the world thought—or how a certain elder from the shinobi world had just evaluated him.

He was staring at Torifu, who was groaning on the ground.

Torifu, grimacing from the pain, didn't panic. He simply asked:

"Minato, did you know my character's abilities?"

Minato shook his head. "No, Torifu-senpai. This is my first time playing, so I don't know your character's skills."

Torifu raised an eyebrow. "Then why didn't you strike directly earlier? That sneak attack was your best shot, right?"

Minato replied, "I just didn't think you'd be that easy to catch off guard. Also… I felt a hint of danger at that moment. So I moved again."

Classic danger intuition. So very shinobi. Especially elite ones.

Torifu immediately understood. The audience nodded as well—this made perfect sense.

Of course the famed Yellow Flash had sharp instincts. That kind of sixth sense was what let ninja survive long enough to gain fame.

Only a select few, including Uchiha Kei, knew the truth: this wasn't just Minato's natural intuition. After bonding with the Nine Tails, his sensory skills had been greatly enhanced.