A gift for Konoha?
Yes, this was a gift for all of Konoha!
Watching Minato Namikaze revel in the battle on the projected screen, both the ninjas present and those watching elsewhere nodded in wholehearted agreement. They also understood why the Uchiha Clan had held such a massive launch event to promote the genjutsu game.
That was because Minato Namikaze had entered the genjutsu game in his own actual state, which meant everyone else playing the game could do the same.
Likewise, once they began a challenge, every battle the players fought would hone their own combat experience and techniques. It was also a test where they could go all out without needing to fear death.
This was...
A divine tool for training!
It was something no ninja with even the slightest ambition could refuse!
And this was no exaggeration. It was the plain truth—people with exceptional eyesight, like Hiruzen Sarutobi, could clearly see that Minato Namikaze's strength was improving as he fully immersed himself in battle within the game.
It was not merely his cultivation improving, but his combat techniques, his use of his own power, the composition of his moves, and everything related to "skill." His practical combat experience was climbing rapidly as well.
Of course, Minato Namikaze's talent was what allowed him to improve so quickly. Yet it also reflected the reality that, in an age of peace without major wars, ninjas improved far more slowly than they had during wartime.
The genjutsu game "Fruit Ninja" had, to a certain extent, replaced the role of a battlefield, allowing the ninjas who entered it to face terrifying situations that they would otherwise encounter only during a Ninja World War.
The ninjas were stirred up. They were fired up. Every ninja with even a shred of ambition stared fixedly at Minato Namikaze in the genjutsu game, wishing they could switch places with him on the spot and experience such a blood-pumping battle themselves!
In the audience, Shikaku Nara had completely lost his previous lazy air. In its place was a serious expression. "A gift for Konoha? Indeed, it is unquestionably a gift—a gift that no ninja could ever refuse."
"If used properly, the strength of Konoha's ninjas will undoubtedly surge. What the Uchiha Clan has offered is something everyone in Konoha cannot refuse. Even if we know the Uchiha have their own selfish motives, we still have to accept this open scheme of theirs."
As he spoke calmly, he explained the core purpose of this launch event and that game—or at least, the purpose as he interpreted it. He was also explaining it to his two close friends.
The other two members of Ino-Shika-Cho nodded deeply after hearing this, showing that they understood. They were also amazed by the breadth of vision and methods the Uchiha Clan had displayed, which completely overturned their stereotypical impression of the Uchiha.
In truth, at this very moment, the Uchiha Clan was equally stunned, because even they had not known that the second genjutsu game Uchiha Qi had created would be like this.
Every Uchiha became excited at that moment. They already possessed an innate desire for power, so after witnessing something capable of increasing their strength, they naturally grew eager at once.
Of course, their surprise was not as intense as that of the outsiders.
For one thing, the Uchiha believed this was an Uchiha secret technique, yet it was now being shared with the village. Even though it was being sold, they still found it rather unpleasant.
For another, the Uchiha had long since spread word of the genjutsu games within the clan. Even if only some Uchiha knew the truth and had tried them, they had already formed a basic impression of the genjutsu games.
So it was only natural for the Uchiha to have mixed feelings now.
However, with the entire Uchiha leadership—whether hawks, doves, or neutrals—fully supporting Uchiha Qi, the Uchiha could only behave themselves.
In fact, the Uchiha leadership was currently overjoyed, because they had realized what Uchiha Qi meant when he said the new game was a gift for the entire Uchiha Clan.
The prestige this would earn for the Uchiha might even exceed what they could gain by fighting their hardest in a Ninja World War.
It was in the bag!
This time, it was truly in the bag!
The Uchiha leaders, watching from special seats backstage, felt like the corners of their mouths were about to reach the sky.
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage Building, the Konoha F4 had differing reactions as they watched through the Telescope Technique.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled approvingly, while the other two members of the Konoha F4 remained silent, their expressions complicated.
At last, Mitokado Homura sighed. "I never expected the Uchiha Clan to do something like this. Honestly, it feels strange. Hiruzen, why do you think the entire Uchiha Clan suddenly came to their senses and developed such a broad outlook?"
"That is because of Uchiha Qi! And do you truly believe this is the Uchiha Clan's goodwill? No, this is actually their scheme—they are buying off all of Konoha's ninjas!"
A cold voice rang out. However, it did not belong to the Third Hokage, but came from the doorway—Shimura Danzō had entered.
Though he and Hiruzen Sarutobi had parted on bad terms several days ago, neither of them actually cared much about it. After all, they were nominally both acting for Konoha's sake; only their methods differed.
Shimura Danzō said, "We must stop the Uchiha Clan immediately. We absolutely cannot allow them to fulfill their evil ambitions!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. Then he looked deeply at Shimura Danzō and said in a grave voice, "Danzō, I once believed your attitude toward the Uchiha inherited our teacher's will. But now, it seems your prejudice against the Uchiha has grown far too deep."
"Indeed, I also believe the Uchiha Clan must have their own selfish motives for doing this. But that is normal, isn't it? Which ninja clan in Konoha does not have its own selfish motives?"
"Isn't our own clan the same? The key is whether those selfish motives harm Konoha."
"And now, the genjutsu game the Uchiha Clan has brought out is both born of selfish motives and a show of sincerity toward all of Konoha. It brings nothing but benefits to Konoha."
"Since that is the case, what we need to do is not stop them, but support them!"
Shimura Danzō's expression became extremely unpleasant, and even colder.
However, the Darkness of the Ninja World did not say anything more this time. He responded with silence before ultimately leaving the Hokage's office directly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two paid no mind to this and continued watching the scene through the Telescope Technique.
What the three did not know was that after Danzō left, he immediately returned to Root and summoned Root ninjas to issue orders.
Root then began acting on its own while everyone else in Konoha remained completely unaware. Clearly, Shimura Danzō believed his old friend had become far too stubborn in his handling of the Uchiha, and as the Darkness of the Ninja World, he would strike at the Uchiha in his own way.
"Hiruzen, you are too naive, and too old! You have already forgotten that our teacher said the Uchiha are a clan born evil and must be properly controlled."
"And this time, you have actually chosen to let the Uchiha run wild. You have betrayed our teacher's last will! Therefore, it is time for me to carry on our teacher's will."
Within the dim Root base, the Darkness of the Ninja World muttered to himself. In his one remaining eye, alongside its coldness, burned a flame known as ambition.
After all, among the disciples of the Second Hokage, inheriting their teacher's will meant being tied to the position of Hokage.
The official announcement portion of the launch event had ended.
But the experience session that followed had only just begun.
The staff, already prepared, immediately got to work dismantling the raised stage and rearranging the venue. In only twenty minutes, the vast central area had been completely transformed.
Game demo stations were revealed one after another, where people could play the two games currently available.
However, a large game station had also been left open in the center. Once it was set up, it was not opened immediately. Instead, it was announced that it would open in the afternoon and would feature not either of the existing games, but a demo of an entirely new game.
Its name was...
Left 4 Dead.
Also known as...
Left 4 Dead.
Its features also made everyone extremely curious and eager.
According to the official staff, this was an entirely new genjutsu game that four people could play together, representing a brand-new technology!
Moreover, unlike "Fruit Ninja," which had been designed specifically for ninjas, the new game could also be played by ordinary people!
Please vote with recommendation tickets, keep reading, and add it to your collection. Thank you, everyone!
Before you continue