Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World

The debate was classic, endless, and inconclusive. No one could convince anyone else.

After all, this matter involved Konoha's other elder-level leader, Shimura Danzō, and the total annihilation of the Foundation. Even though the attacker had been confirmed as an internal Root issue, Konoha could not simply chalk this up as a personal grudge.

As the foremost shinobi village, Konoha had to maintain its prestige. If someone could cause chaos on its doorstep with no consequences, then its authority would be worthless—no number of S-rank missions could recover that lost prestige.

The hidden losses were unquantifiable. Konoha might even lose the label of "Number One Shinobi Village."

And without that status, the already tense shinobi world would erupt into full-scale war at any moment.

This was unacceptable. Konoha's leadership could clearly see, from mounting metrics, that the village was pulling ahead of the other great nations. As long as things continued this way, the power gap would only grow. The later the next Shinobi World War started, the better.

Thus, they couldn't afford a war now—not while Konoha was still focused on internal development.

Sure, they had locked down the scene and suppressed information. But there's no such thing as a secret that won't eventually leak. Give the other villages time, and they would uncover the truth.

The lockdown just bought time.

What to do next? That was the issue. The leadership was stuck in deadlock.

After days of debate, a decision was reached: issue an S-rank bounty on the mysterious attacker.

Except—no one knew what this attacker looked like or what abilities they had. The report simply stated that some unknown person caused a disturbance on Konoha's outskirts during the press conference, left no casualties, and didn't enter the village proper.

Basically, they framed it as some grudge-bearing joker pulling a prank.

Of course, this was all a calculated move—Konoha's way of de-escalating. They also hoped to show goodwill to the mysterious Wood Style user, subtly expressing understanding for their motives against Danzō and Root.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō's biggest enabler, couldn't bring himself to defend him now. Why?

Because after Root was obliterated by Jukai Kōtan (Deep Forest Emergence), many survivors and heaps of documents were uncovered.

After ANBU interrogated and investigated, what they found left them shocked—dark secrets that chilled them to the core. No one had imagined that Konoha still sanctioned an organization like this—and with official backing no less.

The exposure hit Hiruzen's credibility hard. He had supported Danzō and allowed Root to exist. Now, confronted with undeniable evidence of Danzō's crimes, he aged ten years overnight.

Worse, one document detailed how Danzō orchestrated a smear campaign against Sakumo Hatake while Hiruzen was away at the Five Kage Summit. It led to Sakumo's suicide.

At the time, Hiruzen had returned to find Sakumo already dead. Not knowing the truth, he'd simply mourned him—and even blamed Sakumo for being too weak-willed.

In hindsight, it had felt like the lazy writing of a background tragedy. Fanfic authors had spent years patching that plot hole.

Hiruzen had truly been disappointed. He thought Sakumo's integrity and rigidity made him unfit for Hokage—but perfect as a Hokage advisor. He was grooming him for that role.

Then Sakumo took his own life, supposedly over a failed mission and public criticism. But Konoha was the victor of the Second Shinobi War—surely they could absorb one mission's loss?

Sakumo the White Fang was a hero. Could a single failure really shatter his legacy?

At the time, Hiruzen blamed Sakumo for being too soft.

Later, he realized: it wasn't the failure. It was the ideological clash—Sakumo's conviction versus the traditional shinobi mindset of "tools over will." Unable to reconcile the two, Sakumo chose to die as a samurai upholding his beliefs.

It was a very Warring States, very samurai, very Japanese concept. To someone from a modern nation, it was incomprehensible.

But Hiruzen, raised in that same culture, understood it. He couldn't change it. So instead, he nurtured Sakumo's son, Kakashi, and made him Minato's student.

Part of it was Kakashi's own talent. But most of it was Hiruzen's guilt.

And now, all of that—the pain, the guilt—it was all because of Danzō.

The very man he trusted most.

Learning the truth, Hiruzen felt utterly betrayed. Danzō had gone from "old comrade" to "dangerous extremist."

Then came the next blow. Evidence revealed that Danzō's hatred for the Uchiha had exceeded even Tobirama's policies. Worse, Uchiha Kagami's death—once thought an accident—was likely Danzō's doing. Kagami's Sharingan? Sitting in Danzō's right eye socket.

And Danzō had told no one. A serious breach of duty. A classic example of hiding vital intel from superiors.

It was too much. Hiruzen's trust was gone. His disappointment ran bone-deep.

This was exactly like when he discovered Danzō had helped Itachi Uchiha massacre the clan in secret. In canon, Hiruzen stripped Danzō of his title, disbanded Root, and placed him under house arrest—essentially locking him away until death.

And yes, even in the manga, Danzō and Root disappeared post-Uchiha massacre. Even in flashbacks.

Only after Hiruzen's death at Orochimaru's hands did Danzō crawl back out and reform Root. Shippuden later confirmed he'd even helped Orochimaru with the Konoha Crush.

Implied subtext: Danzō helped Orochimaru assassinate Hiruzen because he couldn't bear being sidelined.

Just like Naruto couldn't kill Sasuke, Hiruzen couldn't bring himself to kill Danzō.

So, in this timeline, Hiruzen—shaken to the core—chose once again to imprison Danzō for life.

No one objected.

Not out of mercy. This wasn't a typical shōnen-style "spare the villain" moment.

It was because Danzō, now a shattered man, was living a fate worse than death.

When found, every bone in his body was shattered, his spine broken—permanently paralyzed.

Even Tsunade couldn't heal him. His life going forward? Lying in bed, maybe getting pushed around in a wheelchair.

No Root. No cells from Hashirama. No Orochimaru.

Shimura Danzō was finished.

For a man obsessed with power, control, and schemes—it was a fate crueler than death.

So yes, everyone supported Hiruzen's decision.

Including Uchiha Kei.

He publicly expressed his "heartfelt sorrow" for Elder Danzō's situation. Then, with an air of saint-like benevolence, offered to provide Danzō with free access to genjutsu games—for life.

So that even as a paralyzed old man, Danzō could enjoy a healthy body inside a fantasy.

Such generosity stunned the public. Kei's attitude was hailed as proof of the Uchiha inheriting the Will of Fire.

Hiruzen, deeply moved, thought: *I was right about him.* Even knowing what Danzō had done to the Uchiha, Kei chose forgiveness—and even extended kindness.

In that moment, Hiruzen truly believed Kei was the perfect successor for the Hokage.

Unfortunately, Kei lacked the power.

So he'd have to settle for Hokage advisor.

Patting Kei's shoulder, Hiruzen said heavily:

"Konoha's future is in your hands now. We old men… it's time for us to step down."

A classic passing-the-torch moment.

This exchange, witnessed by Konoha's upper brass—Koharu, Homura, and others—left everyone nodding. They loved this kind of scene. It meant continuity. Stability.

Only Minato and a few others had mixed feelings. They knew Kei *hated* Danzō. To see him act so "gracious"… it was unsettling.

Kei? Born for politics.

(And yes, he'd taught them what the word "politician" meant.)

When asked, Kei simply smiled and said:

"We've already won. Why not earn some bonus points with grace?"

The truth?

Heh. For Kei, a paralyzed Danzō was the ultimate emotional energy generator. He'd get infinite gold coins from this man's despair.

Of course he'd give him free games. Let the old man relive his glory days in a fantasy world—while Kei mined him for all he was worth.

Every new game? Danzō gets a free copy.

If Danzō ever stopped reacting?

Kei would show up himself. Pay a visit. Remind him how great the Uchiha were doing. Thank him for the memories.

It was a renewable resource of emotional trauma.

Kei called it: Sustainable Emotional Harvesting.

As for Uchiha Madara, the other great source of golden spirit energy? Kei had no worries.

The man had literally dug a hole under Konoha's biggest game hall and moved in. He was now a full-blown gaming addict.

Living the dream.