Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World

Namikaze Minato's thoughts were a bit paranoid—or rather, a sign he was becoming more like the Second Hokage.

It wasn't that the 'Little Sun' had changed. It was simply that Obito's descent into darkness that day had left such a strong impression. Minato had seen firsthand the extremity of the Uchiha nature.

He couldn't bear to imagine what would've happened had Obito's corruption not been interrupted. What kind of person would his beloved student have become?

It was precisely because he had seen it—that he feared it.

But Uchiha Kei's response put Minato's heart at ease.

As long as the core remains unchanged, then some degree of transformation from unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan is acceptable. After all, nothing in the world is truly immutable—everything changes, and people are no exception. The extent may vary, but the rule holds true.

So long as one's essence remains, any change is tolerable. Clearly, Minato's time studying at the Grand Library had elevated his objectivity and broadened his perspective.

It showed: Minato's growth was impressive. His genius wasn't limited to being a shinobi. When he applied his intellect elsewhere, he shone just as brightly.

And of course, Uchiha Kei expected far more from him. What he truly hoped to see was Minato achieve something awe-inspiring after all his accumulated learning.

That was Kei's expectation.

While Kei and company discussed Obito, elsewhere in the Hidden Leaf Village, at the Shimura clan residence, Hiruzen Sarutobi had arrived.

Compared to other clans, the Shimura were modest—perhaps even desolate. As clan head, Danzō had always been harsh—toward others and toward his own people.

Root, in its early days, had been built with help from the clan. Many joined it, only to be decimated during the Second Great Ninja War. Back then, Danzō had not yet turned radical; he was still a faithful guardian of Konoha.

The casualties were catastrophic. Fewer than one in ten Shimura members survived. They had died upholding Root's founding belief: "to protect Konoha from the shadows."

Perhaps it was those tragedies—and Danzō's crippling injury—that pushed him to extremism. After the war, he changed completely. A classic case of the hero becoming the monster.

Looking around at the quiet household, the frail women and children who remained, Hiruzen sighed deeply.

The Shimura clan was finished.

Whatever recovery they'd achieved after the war had been undone by the recent Wood Style incident, where nearly all remaining men were killed.

To make matters worse, Danzō's crimes had come to light. He was stripped of his title, and the clan was now synonymous with disgrace.

Their fall from honor to shame was stark and irreversible.

And Hiruzen couldn't help but feel sorrow. No matter what had happened, he couldn't forget the friendship he once shared with Danzō.

With another sigh, he entered. The remaining clan members greeted him with fear and guilt.

No pride. No warmth. Just shame.

It wasn't like the old days, when Shimura members stood tall. Their sacrifices had once brought them honor, and they had welcomed Hiruzen warmly.

Now, that honor was gone. All that remained was disgrace.

Eventually, Hiruzen was brought to Danzō's room. The smell hit him even before the door opened—a mix of medicine and something worse.

Inside, the air was thick and foul. Hiruzen frowned.

There lay Danzō, bandaged head to toe, hooked to IVs, unmoving—a broken man in a makeshift hospital room.

Technically, Danzō should've been at the Konoha Hospital. Despite his crimes, he was under house arrest, not execution. He was still entitled to medical care.

But he had refused treatment, demanding to return home. Everything was moved to the Shimura estate.

Hiruzen understood why.

Danzō knew the full extent of his sins. Root was disbanded. He had been permanently crippled. Life imprisonment was assured. He had fallen into darkness—and chosen to await death at home.

Truthfully, Danzō wanted to die. But no one would let him. And in his condition, he couldn't even take his own life.

So, his 'resistance' was to refuse treatment. A silent protest.

But he had overestimated his importance. As long as no one wanted him dead, he'd live. Powerless, confined, and defeated.

That was what Hiruzen saw.

A lifeless Danzō, staring blankly at the ceiling. His right eye unbandaged, revealing a blinded Sharingan—the eye once belonging to Uchiha Kagami, rendered useless by Izanagi.

That eye had been evidence of Danzō's crime against Kagami and the Uchiha clan.

Initially, Hiruzen had hoped to return it. But after consulting with Uchiha Kei and the clan, they chose to let Danzō keep it.

After all, it was blind.

If Danzō was telling the truth—that Kagami had entrusted it to him—then letting him keep it honored that wish. If not, then it served as a mark of his sin.

Either way, it was a message: the Uchiha would not forgive.

Hiruzen didn't argue. The Uchiha had already spared Danzō's life—that was more mercy than he deserved.

That was the official story.

In reality, Uchiha Setsuna had said:

"Hmph. Kagami was a traitor to the clan. While we were being suppressed by the Second Hokage, he chose to serve him."

"To him, the village mattered more than the Uchiha. Even in death, he clung to Tobirama's ideals."

"Now, his eye rests with that old bastard Danzō. That's the consequence of his loyalty. Let the eye rot with him."

That was the truth: Kagami wasn't respected within the clan. Much like Shisui or Itachi in the original story, he was viewed with disdain.

Of course, the public version was far more polished—crafted by Kei.

The Uchiha elders didn't care. They backed Kei unconditionally.

Whatever he decided must have meaning. If they didn't understand it, that was their failing.

——

Hiruzen sat beside the bed, letting out a long sigh.

At last, Danzō stirred. Though paralyzed, his head shifted slightly, his eyes slowly turning toward Hiruzen.

Recognition came slow, like a fog lifting.

Finally, he whispered, voice raspy:

"Hiruzen… you came…"

"Yes, old friend," Hiruzen replied softly. "I came to visit. And to tell you the outcome of the Wood Style incident."

Danzō took a few seconds to process it, then blurted:

"Hiruzen… that man… he's a threat… to Konoha… we must eliminate him… find him… kill him…"

Hiruzen's face darkened.

"Even now, Danzō? After everything, you still don't understand what you did wrong? That man is the result of your own twisted experiments. He came to Root seeking vengeance—not to destroy Konoha."

"He's finished. He took his revenge and left. Yet you want to hunt him down? That would only bring disaster to the village."

There was sorrow in his voice. But also finality.

Danzō didn't respond at first. Then, his eyes burned with fury.

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"

Hiruzen's face hardened.

"No, Danzō—I am the Hokage."

Silence fell.

The clan members had long since cleared out, leaving the room to the two aging warriors.

No more arguments. No more ideals.

Hiruzen simply reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll.

A genjutsu game scroll.

Specifically, "Ultimate Ninja Storm."

He knew words wouldn't work.

Danzō was too far gone.

So Hiruzen would drag his old friend into the game—and beat some sense into him.

Because sometimes, the weapon of criticism must give way to the criticism of weapons.

If words couldn't convince him, then fists would.