Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World

Honestly, Uchiha Kei had to admit—Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were the ultimate ride-or-die duo. Just hearing Kei say that Madara hadn't forgotten their shared dream had Hashirama reacting like someone had set off a bomb under his chair. It really made one realize just how intense the bonds of friendship in the Hidden Leaf could be.

Of course, his reaction made sense. Unlike the original timeline's Fourth Great Ninja War—where the reanimated Hokage were summoned in a rush and had no time to understand the full picture—Hashirama now had the luxury of calm. He wasn't just trying to stop 'Madara'; he wanted answers.

So, he asked Kei how Madara intended to bring peace to the ninja world.

Kei told him everything about the Eye of the Moon Plan.

And Hashirama… was stunned. Truly stunned.

His head hurt. He wanted to scream.

Madara hadn't given up on peace—but his methods? Were so outlandishly absurd it felt like something out of a bad joke.

"Put the whole world into a genjutsu so everyone can dream forever? Who even thinks like that?"

After sitting in silence for a while, Hashirama muttered, "I can't accept Madara's plan. Dragging the whole world into a dream—how is that right? If everyone's trapped in illusion, humanity will eventually perish. People can't live forever in a genjutsu. They'll age, they'll die, and if Infinite Tsukuyomi can't keep them alive, then this so-called peace will lead to extinction."

"What was Madara thinking? Did he really believe that would bring true peace? That erasing all life meant the end of conflict?"

Though he didn't fully grasp the plan, Hashirama understood one thing well—humans need to be awake to build families, to continue their legacy. That alone rendered the Eye of the Moon Plan invalid in his eyes.

Kei shrugged. "Maybe Infinite Tsukuyomi keeps people alive somehow. But like you said, Uncle Hashirama, that kind of thing isn't immortality. It's not that easy to cheat death."

"Frankly, I don't think Madara even considered that possibility. He's so used to looking up that he's forgotten what's beneath his feet."

Hashirama fell silent… and then nodded slowly.

He remembered when Madara could still stoop down to help a little girl who'd fallen. But as time passed, the warrior hardened, no longer bothering to look down.

That's when he knew Madara had changed.

Hashirama tried everything to reach him—but in the end, Madara returned with the Nine Tails under his control, determined to destroy the village. They had no choice but to fight to the death.

Back then, Hashirama hadn't understood Madara's intentions. It felt like he'd gone completely mad after a few years away, trying to blow up the Hidden Leaf with the full force of the Uchiha.

And because he didn't understand, and couldn't reason with him, Hashirama did the only thing he could—he killed his best friend for the sake of the village.

Now, knowing the truth… if Madara had simply asked for a piece of his flesh to awaken the Rinnegan, Hashirama would've given it to him without hesitation.

Because that was the origin of the Leaf's bonds.

But Madara hadn't said a word. His stance had been clear: *"I don't care what you say, I'm blowing up the village."*

How was Hashirama supposed to respond to that?

He didn't have the power to subdue Madara without killing him. If he had, he never would've resorted to ambush.

Now that all was said and done—and he was dead—he couldn't even try to stop Madara. That thought left him hollow.

Kei watched him slump like his spirit was physically deflating. If looking dejected were a jutsu, Hashirama had mastered it.

Still, Kei knew how to snap him out of it.

With a tone layered in sarcasm and a touch of regret, he said, "Madara-sama's peace was a joke. He never realized he was just a pawn in someone else's plan."

"The great Madara-sama, fighting for peace, was really just paving the way for destruction under a puppet master's control."

"It's tragic. If the proud Madara knew he'd been used like this… he'd probably lose his mind."

He glanced over at Hashirama—and nearly panicked.

The once gloomy God of Shinobi was radiating killing intent. The weight of his fury was monstrous—like a titan waking from slumber.

In a raspy voice, he growled, "Kei-kun… Are you telling me that someone used Madara? Twisted his ideals of peace? Used our dreams to lead him astray?"

"Our battle… our friendship… was desecrated by a shadow lurking behind it all?"

Kei could only nod.

*Holy crap*, he thought.

They were in Kei's mental realm—*his* domain—but even here, the rage coming off Hashirama was terrifying.

And yet, it wasn't for himself.

It was *pure* fury—for Madara.

The kind of selfless outrage only forged by real bonds. Once again, the value of the Leaf's friendships shone through.

Once Kei nodded, Hashirama's rage flared higher—until he reined it in, not wanting to make Kei uncomfortable.

Then, with deadly seriousness, he asked:

"Kei-kun. Is there a way I can show Madara the truth? I don't want him living a lie anymore."

Even in death, knowing he shouldn't meddle with the living, Hashirama's first thought was still to save Madara.

Because he knew—if that shadowy manipulator ever revealed themselves, and Madara realized all his efforts had only served evil…

It would break him.

Hashirama knew Madara too well. That outcome was unacceptable.

He had to do something.

Kei gave him a small smile.

"That's why I told you earlier, Uncle Hashirama—Madara-sama's trapped in a genjutsu game right now. But since we're inside a genjutsu too, you can reach him."

"Right now, he's completely devoted to the Eye of the Moon Plan. He won't believe anyone who tells him otherwise. He'd just think we're trying to shake his resolve."

"But you're different. If *you* speak to him, he'll listen."