A gift for the Hidden Leaf?
Yes—this is a gift for the entire Hidden Leaf Village!
Watching the projection screen showing Namikaze Minato immersed in intense battle, every shinobi present—or even not present—nodded in agreement. They finally understood why the Uchiha clan was going all out with this grand release event for the genjutsu-based game.
Because in this genjutsu game, Namikaze Minato was fighting in his true form, and that meant others could enter just the same.
Moreover, after activating the game challenge, every battle players experienced was a trial—a chance to hone real combat experience and refine their skills without the risk of death. They could give their all without fear.
It was...
A divine tool for training!
This was something no ambitious shinobi could refuse!
And it wasn't just hype. Even someone with Sarutobi Hiruzen's keen eyes could tell: the in-game Namikaze Minato was improving. Not just in raw power, but in technique—how he applied his strength, combined his moves, and mastered his combat rhythm. His battlefield intuition was leveling up rapidly.
Yes, Minato's talent made him grow fast—but this also reflected a truth of peacetime: without war, shinobi strength grew slower than in times of conflict.
This game, *Fruit Ninja*, was now playing the role of a pseudo-battlefield, allowing shinobi to face the brutal intensity of war in a virtual space.
The shinobi watching were thrilled, excited. Every aspiring ninja stared at the Minato within the genjutsu game, dying to swap places and feel that adrenaline-charged battle firsthand.
From the spectator stand, Nara Shikaku's usual laziness had vanished. Now, his gaze was sharp and serious:
"A gift for the Hidden Leaf? No doubt about it. This is a gift no shinobi can refuse."
"If used correctly, the strength of our Hidden Leaf shinobi will skyrocket. This gift from the Uchiha—regardless of their private motives—is something we must accept."
His calm explanation laid bare the intent behind this event and the game—at least as he interpreted it. He was also offering this analysis to his two close comrades.
The other two members of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio nodded thoughtfully, understanding now why the Uchiha had acted and amazed at the scope of their vision. It completely overturned their old impressions of the clan.
Even the Uchiha themselves were shaken. None of them had expected Uchiha Kei's second genjutsu game to be like this.
One by one, the Uchiha grew more excited. Their clan, always hungry for power, now saw a tool that could genuinely boost their strength.
Of course, they weren't as elated as outsiders.
For one, they believed this was a clan secret. Sharing it with the village—even selling it—felt wrong.
And two, news of the genjutsu game had already spread through some parts of the Uchiha clan. While not everyone had tried it, a basic understanding was already forming.
So mixed emotions were expected.
Still, with support from the Uchiha leadership—hawks, doves, and centrists alike—the clan members had no choice but to comply.
In fact, the clan leadership was ecstatic. They now realized what Kei meant when he said the new game was a gift to the Uchiha as well.
The reputation boost this generated for the clan could rival—or even surpass—what they'd gain by winning an all-out war.
This was huge.
Really huge.
In the reserved seats backstage, the Uchiha elders could barely contain their grins.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, the Leaf's "F4" watched through the Telescope Jutsu, each with a different reaction.
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled with satisfaction, while the other two remained silent, their expressions complex.
Finally, Mitokado Homura sighed. "I never thought the Uchiha would do something like this. Honestly... it's hard to process. Hiruzen, why do you think the Uchiha suddenly had such a shift in mindset?"
"It's because of that Uchiha Kei! And do you really think this is some act of goodwill? No, this is a scheme—they're buying loyalty from all of Konoha's shinobi!"
The cold voice came not from Hiruzen, but from the doorway—Shimura Danzo had entered.
Though he and Hiruzen had clashed days ago, neither man held grudges. In name, they both acted for Konoha's sake—just with different methods.
Danzo declared, "We must stop the Uchiha immediately. We cannot allow them to realize their wicked ambitions!"
Hiruzen frowned, looking deeply at Danzo.
"Danzo, I once believed your attitude toward the Uchiha came from our sensei's teachings... but now, I see you're blinded by prejudice."
"True, I believe the Uchiha have personal motives. But that's normal, isn't it? Every clan in the village has its own interests."
"Even our own clans do. What matters is whether those interests harm the village."
"And right now, the genjutsu game the Uchiha are offering is both self-serving and a sincere gift. It brings great benefit to the entire village."
"If that's the case, then instead of stopping it—we should support it."
Danzo's expression darkened, his aura more sinister.
But the shadow of the Leaf said nothing more. He turned and silently left the Hokage's office.
Unconcerned, the three elders resumed watching through the Telescope Jutsu.
What they didn't know was that once Danzo returned to the Root base, he immediately summoned his shinobi and issued secret orders.
Root began to act in the shadows—hidden from the rest of the Leaf. Clearly, Danzo believed his old comrade Hiruzen had grown soft. As the self-proclaimed darkness of the shinobi world, he would act in his own way to sabotage the Uchiha.
"Hiruzen... you're too naive. You've grown old. Have you forgotten our sensei's warning? The Uchiha are born evil. They must be strictly controlled."
"And now, you let them run free. You've betrayed our master's will. So from here on... I'll carry it out myself."
In the dim Root base, the shadow of the Leaf whispered to himself. In his lone remaining eye, cold ambition burned.
After all, among the Second Hokage's disciples, upholding his will meant claiming the right to become Hokage.
——————
The press conference's official announcement segment concluded.
But the live demo session was just beginning.
Staff quickly moved out to dismantle the stage. The venue was rearranged in just twenty minutes. A huge central area was now transformed.
Several demo stations appeared—where people could try the two games currently available.
At the center, however, was one special, unopened game station. It remained sealed for now. This would launch in the afternoon. And it wasn't one of the existing games, but a brand-new trial version.
Its name—
The Path of Survival.
Also known as—
Life and Death Quartet.
Its unique features sparked curiosity and anticipation.
According to staff, this was a four-player genjutsu game—a completely new format.
And unlike *Fruit Ninja*, which was designed for shinobi, this one was playable by civilians too!