Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World

Hiruzen barely responded to Rasa's apology. Instead, he quietly gazed out the window, puffing out smoke rings one after another. Though his cigarette-free hand kept idly rubbing his fingers together, revealing a silent message.

Rasa, not used to such dealings, paused in confusion. Then a realization struck him. He quickly apologized again, saying he didn't have much cash on him and asked Hiruzen Mizuki to wait a moment while he fetched something from his room.

Soon, Rasa returned with a promissory note worth a million ryō and handed it over.

Only then did Hiruzen Mizuki smile again, calmly pocketing the note.

With that formality out of the way, he returned to friendly conversation, assuring Lord Rasa that he would put in a good word with the Third Hokage and increase Sunagakure's chances of acquiring the uncut version of *Ultimate Storm*. After all, he was a clansman of the Hokage—his words carried weight.

Upon hearing this, Rasa's simmering annoyance began to ease. Though this man was repulsive, he was undeniably useful. And being a relative of the Hokage…

Wait, a clansman of the Third Hokage? And someone who could sway his decisions?

Rasa's thoughts turned sharp. He smiled and began chatting enthusiastically with Hiruzen Mizuki, clearly planning to form a long-term alliance with him.

Rasa even invited Mizuki to take him around the village, citing unfamiliarity with the rebuilt Konoha and the fact that Mizuki was officially assigned to greet him. Mizuki hesitated briefly but then agreed cheerfully, saying he'd show Rasa a good time—it was part of his job, after all.

And so, the two strolled through Konoha, exchanging pleasantries. By evening, Mizuki brought Rasa to a newly opened izakaya in Konoha's New Town district. Owned by an anonymous proprietor, it offered unique services not yet seen elsewhere.

No, not those kinds of services. We're talking about foot baths, massages, saunas—immersive experiences still unavailable in many places. This was Konoha, not Kabukichō. The village's reconstruction had only just begun, and certain businesses were still restricted.

Still, even these services left Rasa lightheaded. After a full-body massage and now lying back in a lounge chair enjoying a foot bath, this hardened shinobi of the Wind felt as if he'd ascended to heaven—briefly forgetting Sunagakure even existed.

He found himself marveling at how the people of the Land of Fire and Konoha truly knew how to enjoy life. These indulgences were unthinkable in the Land of Wind. Inside this sleek, luxurious establishment, Rasa observed that the patrons were a mix of shinobi, merchants, and other affluent individuals—all well-acquainted with the menu.

Even Hiruzen Mizuki seemed right at home, chatting casually with the staff and the lovely massage attendants. It was clear he was a regular.

Rasa watched it all, seething with envy.

Compared to this idyllic paradise, Sunagakure was a dusty hell. Entertainment meant either playing in sand or reading a book. Otherwise, it was just traditional games—or procreation. At night, obviously.

Why night? Because with the Land of Wind's blistering climate, no sane person would attempt procreation in the daytime. You'd die of heatstroke. Your skin would literally peel under the sun.

Foot baths and massages? Forget it. Water was too precious—every drop reserved for survival. Luxuries didn't even factor into the equation.

So yes, Rasa felt a deep mix of envy, resentment, and awe at Konoha's prosperity.

But that soon twisted into disdain.

"They've put all their effort into pleasure… Just like Lord Third said—Konoha has lost its edge. On the surface, it's flourishing and wealthy. But in truth, it's nothing but a hollow tower, one that will crumble as time goes on."

"The whole village is drowning in decadence. Even the Sarutobi clan—once proud warriors—are openly demanding bribes. And if the bribe's too small? They frown."

"With a Konoha like this, how could it possibly defend against the malice of the ninja world?"

"As Lord Third predicted, we only need to wait. The benefits we're surrendering now will return to us tenfold in the future. All we need is patience!"

Buoyed by that thought, Rasa's mood lifted. His eyes gleamed with anticipation—as if already witnessing Konoha's collapse and Sunagakure's glorious rise from the ashes.

With this in mind, Rasa cast off his inner burdens and fully indulged in the Konoha experience. After all, he'd spent a hefty sum bribing Hiruzen Mizuki—he might as well get his money's worth.

Besides, it was just this once. He had no guilt. He didn't believe this would corrupt him.

In the end, Rasa spent three days indulging under Mizuki's guidance. When he finally returned to the Sunagakure delegation's residence, he was practically floating, and his body carried a fragrant aroma—not like a shinobi at all, more like a traveling merchant who frequented red-light districts.

The Sunagakure delegation had no complaints. And if they did, Rasa immediately shared his observations and conclusions—how Konoha was heading down a path of self-destruction. Once his followers heard this, they were invigorated, eager to bide their time until they could launch the next Shinobi World War and feast on Konoha's downfall.

And it wasn't just Sunagakure. Other villages' delegations were having similar experiences.

Each one was paired with professional hosts from the Sarutobi, Mitokado, or Koharu clans—families with deep ties to the original elders of Konoha's council. These hosts openly demanded bribes and led the foreign delegates through Konoha's extravagant sights.

All were left with the same impression: Konoha was devouring itself.

Thus, all parties agreed—delay the next Shinobi World War as long as possible. The longer Konoha indulged, the weaker it would become.

And the concessions made now for a game like *Ultimate Storm*? Trivial. Everything Konoha gained would be ripped away—multiplied—once the war began.

So they waited. Hopeful. Patient.

But unknown to them all…

"Honorable sirs, this is the one million ryō Lord Rasa used to bribe me. Please inspect it."

In a secret chamber, Hiruzen Mizuki wore a smug grin as he turned over the entire sum.

He wasn't alone. Every Konoha handler who had taken bribes from foreign delegates did the same. Their greedy exteriors were dropped, replaced by unwavering discipline.

Because everything—including the blatant bribery—had been orchestrated from the top. Konoha's leadership wasn't behind it though. No, this grand deception was the brainchild of Uchiha Kei.

The operation had a name: the Strategic Deception Division.

Its goal: mislead every enemy unaware of Konoha's true strength. Open bribery, indulgent tours, exaggerated weaknesses—every piece was part of the act.

And the reason? Buy time.

Yes. Konoha also wanted to delay the Shinobi World War.

Only those in the highest circles truly understood how much Konoha's power had grown—how far it had evolved beyond tradition. And with time, it would only grow stronger.

Degenerate? Corrupt? Weakened?

That's what they *wanted* the other villages to think. The truth remained hidden.

In fact, if not for the data and firsthand accounts, even the elders might've believed Konoha had lost its way.

Some things can't be understood without witnessing them. And what Konoha had become—it shattered expectations.

The plan worked.

Every village fell for the ruse. Each one cooperated, unknowingly buying Konoha more time.

Two and a half years. That's all they needed. By then, little Konoha would become an irresistible feast—and every other village would be too late.

Konoha's elders were stunned by the plan's success. Grateful that Uchiha Kei was one of their own.

Especially Hiruzen Sarutobi. He silently rejoiced for trusting Kei in the past, giving him the platform to realize his vision.

Otherwise, who could've imagined such an outlandish, masterful deception? Competing with other villages… like this?

And so, with everything in motion, the cooldown on Uchiha Kei's "Dead Summoning" skill ended.

He was ready to call forth the next heroic soul.