"Minato, how does it feel?"
"Not bad at all. At the very least, this warm and peaceful environment is really nice. If I ever get the chance to retire, this would be a great place to settle down."
"Then let's hope your wish comes true."
"Haha, I'll take your word for it."
Uchiha Kei and Minato Namikaze were conversing across the game—exchanging words between reality and the game world.
To the audience at the press conference, it looked like Uchiha Kei was speaking to a projection of Minato Namikaze. The real Minato sat on the stage like he was asleep, motionless.
The scene was bizarre and fascinating to behold.
Sharp-eyed viewers, however, noticed even more. They were stunned—the way Minato responded suggested the genjutsu-based game world was nearly indistinguishable from reality. At least in terms of sensation, it felt utterly real, far surpassing traditional genjutsu effects.
This wasn't just any genjutsu-based game. What would it actually feel like to enter such a world?
Curiosity flared—even those initially cautious about genjutsu games couldn't help but want to try it.
Uchiha Kei had succeeded in demonstrating his point through this interaction with Minato Namikaze.
Next, he stepped forward as host and introduced the key feature of the genjutsu game to the live audience—"reality." A level of realism so perfect, it was almost indistinguishable from the real world.
But despite this realism, any injuries sustained within the game had no impact on the real world.
Upon hearing this, ordinary people were simply amazed, wondering what such an experience must feel like. But quick-thinking shinobi had far more to consider.
Naturally, what came to mind for these experienced players—and especially those familiar with the Uchiha—was obvious: a genjutsu world of this realism would be the perfect catalyst for the Sharingan.
Those with access to deeper intelligence even speculated with alarm: had the Uchiha finally perfected a technique to stimulate the Sharingan through genjutsu? This immersive genjutsu game paired perfectly with the Uchiha.
And so, the realization struck them—of course it was the Uchiha clan that developed this. Who else could pull it off?
But why? Why would the Uchiha publicize such a thing? Why sell it as a commercial product? Wouldn't it benefit them more to keep it secret?
Confusion. Suspicion. Doubt. A storm of emotions followed.
Inside the Hokage's office, three members of the Hidden Leaf's senior council (excluding the Hokage) were being updated in real-time via ANBU reports and the Telescope Technique.
Koharu Utatane furrowed his brow deeply. "Hiruzen, what we feared has finally come to pass. The Uchiha clan has mastered a secret technique that stimulates the Sharingan. Their power is about to surge."
"Perhaps even the long-lost, cursed eyes once hailed as the Uchiha's ultimate power might return."
He was almost turning into a second coming of Danzo as his expression darkened. "Hiruzen, we can't sit idle any longer. If the Uchiha produce 'those eyes' again—if another Madara Uchiha rises—it would be a catastrophe."
Homura Mitokado nodded gravely, agreeing with his old partner.
The shadow cast by Madara Uchiha was long and terrifying, especially to those who had actually witnessed his power like the Leaf's senior council.
Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi simply shook his head. "Another Madara isn't so easily born. The Mangekyō Sharingan is formidable, but possessing it alone doesn't make one into Madara."
"In fact, rather than fear, I find myself a bit pleased."
The two advisors stared at him in shock. Sarutobi calmly puffed his pipe. "As you said, the Uchiha have revealed the fruits of their genjutsu research. Yes, it's alarming.
"But look at the flip side—this is a deeply important secret. Instead of hiding it, they've openly shared it, even offering the benefits to the entire Leaf Village. Isn't that a gesture of goodwill?"
The two advisors were taken aback.
Indeed, the Uchiha could've kept this a secret, used it to awaken Mangekyō Sharingan in their clan, and then launched a surprise attack. But they didn't.
Even if the Uchiha were arrogant, they were still shinobi. They were fully capable of covert tactics like that.
So... was this really an act of sincerity?
As his friends pondered, Sarutobi turned back to the Telescope Crystal Ball. Inside, the images of Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Kei reflected brightly.
This was his hope—a vision of a future where the village and the Uchiha would walk forward together.
———
At the venue, with a nod from Uchiha Kei, Minato Namikaze officially started the game.
The title screen "Fruit Ninja" appeared.
The farmland shifted.
A smug voice from a girl NPC echoed from the house behind the field, reaching both Minato and the entire audience.
"What now? Another weakling here to die? Whatever. At least it'll be fun."
"Alright, stranger. Get used to the flow—your goal is to cross the farm and reach the house."
"You may now pick your weapons. Choose wisely. Then we begin."
A weapon rack appeared before Minato. It held standard ninja tools—and some unusual ones.
His signature Flying Thunder God Trident kunai was among them, automatically generated.
He could choose two.
Without hesitation, he picked the Flying Thunder God kunai, then selected a tachi (long sword).
Once his choices were made, the rack disappeared, and a forward arrow appeared.
Having played "Return Home" before, Minato wasn't surprised. He slung the tachi at his waist, tested the kunai in hand, and noticed his in-game body felt just like his real one.
Clearly, in this game, players played as themselves.
Then, just as he was about to move, a cherry tree suddenly sprouted from the field.
A living cherry tree.
It sounded odd, but it had a cartoonish, anthropomorphic face. It wasn't scary—just funny.
Still, that cartoon tree wore an angry expression and shouted, "INTRUDERS MUST DIE!"
It flailed its branches and hurled cherry bombs at Minato.
And they were fast—as fast as bullets—ripping through the air and even piercing Minato's body.
Gasps filled the audience—until they saw Minato vanish.
He reappeared three meters away.
The untrained had no idea what had just happened, but more experienced viewers recognized it as the Body Flicker Technique.
But the Body Flicker usually covered over ten meters—dozens for elite jōnin like Minato. Moving only three meters seemed odd.
Only those familiar with Minato knew: this was his mastery—refining the Body Flicker into a precision-level dodge.
It was his unparalleled spatial awareness and control that allowed him to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique and surpass even the Second Hokage.
Facing another volley, Minato didn't retreat. He threw the trident kunai.
The moment it landed near the tree, Minato vanished and reappeared next to it.
His tachi flashed—one slash, and the tree was cut down.
The speed was incredible. He looked like a golden streak of light. By the time the crowd reacted, Minato had already performed a stylish sheath motion.
Even the experienced shinobi were awestruck.
Flying Thunder God + assassination speed—that was Minato Namikaze's clean and lethal fighting style.
And suddenly, everyone understood why Uchiha Kei had called him the Yellow Flash.
Cheers erupted. Shouts. Gasps. His fame, already solid in Konoha, skyrocketed again. From this moment on, "Yellow Flash" and "Minato Namikaze" would be one and the same.
Then, just as he basked in this glory, the game scene shifted.
Minato was suddenly teleported back to the starting point.
Before anyone could react, the voice of the arrogant little NPC girl rang out again:
"Not bad, challenger. You actually chopped down my cherry tree."
"Very well. Based on your performance, I now consider this a challenge to me. So I'll show you the ultimate power of fruit."
"HELL MODE: ACTIVATED."
As she spoke, the field expanded, sprouting all kinds of fruit-bearing plants—cartoonified just like the cherry tree.
Cherries, watermelons, kiwis, pears, peaches, dragon fruits—you name it. All angry-faced.
And they attacked Minato en masse.
A true bullet hell—endless, screen-filling fruit projectiles.
Minato had no intention of fighting head-on. He immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade.
But things got ridiculous.
These fruit weren't just fast—they had elemental properties: fire, ice, wind, even explosions.
For instance, watermelons were like catapult shells. When they landed, they exploded—blasting a thirty-meter radius.
Dozens of them rained down at once.
Minato died.
He was overwhelmed by a map-wide barrage of over a thousand fruit attacks.
In theory, he was fast enough to escape. But the game confined him to the farm.
So even the fastest shinobi in the world couldn't outrun a literal fruit-based bombardment.
He fought hard. Lasted a minute. Then perished. Thus ending his first livestream with a very literal first death.
At the moment of his demise, that smug, unseen NPC voice returned:
"Weakling, weakling. If you suck, train more. I'll be waiting for your next try, weakling\~"
Crack!
Fists clenched across the venue.
Even though no one had seen what the NPC looked like, and her voice was admittedly cute, everyone in the room felt an overwhelming urge to pummel her.