Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World

Obito wanted to die.

More than ever before, he truly wanted to die—or at least escape reality entirely and hide in the genjutsu game world forever.

After all, reality was too cruel, and the genjutsu world was far more beautiful. At least there, he wouldn't have to relive the humiliation of social death.

Unfortunately, Obito couldn't escape. Everyone had come with good intentions to visit him. No matter how much he wanted to die, he could only force a smile uglier than crying to respond to their concern.

When this "public execution" ended, Obito's lifeless eyes turned to the blue sky outside the window. With a calm voice and a broken smile, he said:

"Reality is a garbage game. The genjutsu world is the only future worth living in. From now on, the genjutsu world is my true home."

This was Obito's revelation—born of utter escapism, a reaction to the ultimate social humiliation.

There was no doubt that Obito's thinking had taken a dark turn. After all, he used to be a loud, carefree kid who didn't take anything too seriously.

This time, the blow was simply too much.

By all logic, with her personality, Rin Nohara should have stayed at the hospital to look after Obito while he was unconscious. But her eyes had wavered when looking at him, as if she didn't know how to face him. And so, when the others left, she followed.

Over the past few days, Rin, who had initially been confused, finally understood why Obito once said he wanted to create a world with her in it. It left her speechless—and also made her realize what he really felt.

It was awkward. Flustering. Because even though their team setup mirrored that of Team 7 in the original timeline—one girl, two boys—Rin wasn't Haruno Sakura. She wasn't the kind of girl who screamed "Naruto" one moment and said "Die, Sasuke" the next.

That may be a bit harsh toward Sakura—she did grow as a person—but in her youth, she certainly came off that way.

Rin was different. She would never treat Obito like that.

But that made things harder. Rin had always seen Obito as a younger brother. She had never considered him that way. His friendliness and enthusiasm were just part of their camaraderie—nothing more.

And then came Uzumaki Kushina's offhanded comment:

"Obito's such a brat. Even if he likes Rin, blaming Minato because he thought something happened to her? That's just wrong. It was a misunderstanding, and even if it wasn't—Minato's not a god! He can't be everywhere!"

Kushina's rant wasn't just a criticism of Obito's behavior—it also plainly revealed his feelings for Rin. The girl's eyes widened in disbelief. She didn't know how to face Obito now.

It was too much. Rin wasn't the mature version of herself from the original timeline. She didn't know how to deal with this. So, instinctively, she ran.

And so, the one who stayed behind to care for Obito… was the ever-arrogant Kakashi.

Seeing Kakashi's dead-fish eyes and listening to his sarcastic comments made Obito feel even more like reality was a trash game. Only the game world could soothe his broken heart. All he could think was, "I'm tired. Let it all burn."

Then Kakashi pulled out a game scroll for *Ultimate Storm* and said, "Wanna play?"

Obito blinked… then nodded without hesitation. "Let's play."

No local server? No problem. Solo mode or teaming up to fight NPCs was fine too. There were still features they hadn't explored due to one being unconscious and the other too depressed to care. Now was the time.

And just like that, the two boys dove into a hot-blooded PvP match.

Outside the hospital room, the others finally turned away. Kushina nudged Rin.

"See? He's fine. Rin, I told you—Obito's mood swings come and go. Don't stress yourself. As for the rest, live your life. Just because someone likes you doesn't mean you have to respond, right?"

Rin hesitated, then murmured, "But… Obito isn't just someone…"

Kushina scoffed. "And that's exactly why you shouldn't respond. That brat already blamed Minato just because he *thought* something happened to you. If you really returned his feelings, he'd shoot straight to the moon. Then what if something *actually* happens? That kid might go full-on dark mode and destroy the world!"

"So your job is to neither accept nor reject—just ignore it."

"Uh…" Rin could only blink.

Watching this, Minato couldn't help but wince. Was Kushina seriously coaching innocent little Rin to become a manipulative heartbreaker? He hurried to interrupt her before she instilled more questionable advice.

Meanwhile, hiding nearby, Uchiha Kei drew a sharp breath. *Did Kushina just awaken the Sea King instinctively—and try to pass it on? That's terrifying.*

Thankfully, Minato stepped in and broke her "casting." The ideology of the Sea King would not spread through the shinobi world today.

Kei turned to the watching Uzumaki Kikyo with a solemn tone.

"Kikyo, forget what Kushina said. Don't think about it. Her words are dangerously corrupting. Keep thinking about them and you'll turn into… something unspeakable."

Kikyo broke into a cold sweat. "R-Really? That bad? I'll forget it! But… is Kushina-neesan okay?"

Kei replied, "Don't worry. With Minato around, she won't go full Lovecraft. Besides, she meant well. She just wanted to protect Rin. Let's leave it at that."

Kikyo nodded. Whatever Kei-nii said was gospel.

Even Uchiha Naori, eavesdropping nearby, silently agreed: Whatever Kei-sama says is truth.

Soon after, everyone left to attend to their duties.

But Kei and Minato would meet again in the genjutsu world. This time, with the Nine Tails also present.

Kei asked, "Kurama, have you confirmed it?"

Kurama snorted. "Those evil eyes… I'll never forget that disgusting aura. There's no doubt. Uchiha Obito has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Minato's eyes widened. "So it's true… Kei, you were right. Obito really is a genius of the Uchiha."

Kei had intentionally arranged for someone to provoke Obito. The goal was to trigger a reaction. Though the 'darkening' process had been interrupted, Obito had indeed awakened his Mangekyō. He just hadn't realized it yet—his body was still too young to handle the power.

Only Kurama had sensed the truth.

Kei explained calmly:

"The Uchiha's bloodline talent and their talent as shinobi are not the same. The clan just happens to be good at combining both, which makes it hard to tell the difference."

"Obito's a typical case—average ninja talent, but overwhelming bloodline potential. And with intense emotions, the Uchiha's blood truly awakens."

"Obito didn't become a genius ninja—he just unlocked his bloodline."

"But he's still too young. He doesn't realize it yet, nor can he draw on Mangekyō power."

Just like future Kakashi in the original timeline, Kei noted inwardly.

Kurama grumbled. He hated the Mangekyō Sharingan—the last wielder had imprisoned him. It was the source of his deepest trauma.

Minato, meanwhile, was stunned and pleased. His student had accomplished something incredible. As always, he wasn't jealous—he was proud.

Still…

"Kei, you once said awakening the Mangekyō through trauma changes a person… What about Obito?"

Kei nodded. "It definitely affected him. If Rin had truly died, he would've fallen into darkness. Saying he wanted to 'create a world with her in it' wasn't just talk."

"To the Uchiha, the Mangekyō is power—but also a path to madness."

Minato's face darkened. Kurama looked sideways at Kei and smirked.

"Harsh words, Kei. That's how you describe your clan's ultimate power?"

Kei shrugged. "Just telling it like it is. After all… no one understands the Uchiha… better than me."

As he said this, he formed an OK sign and played an imaginary accordion.

Kurama stared at the gesture, puzzled. Was this some esoteric doctrine to 'Make the Uchiha Great Again'?

Minato ignored it. He was thinking.

"So… what now?"

Kei smiled. "Rin's fine. Obito's just wallowing in shame. He won't go dark again. Even if tragedy does strike, he'll grieve and move forward. Like in that dream Kakashi had in canon—Obito becoming Hokage. That was Kishimoto's 'what could've been.'"

Kei didn't say it out loud, but it was enough.

Minato relaxed. He had watched Obito teeter on the edge of darkness and hadn't been sure. Now, reassured by Kei—who *really* understood the Uchiha—he felt at ease.

Whether Rin's future was safe or not, Minato would protect his students as best he could.

Kei said, "Obito's fine. He's having fun with Kakashi now. Give him time. He'll bounce back."

"As for his Mangekyō… don't tell him yet. Let him think it's a regular Sharingan. The Mangekyō burns out over time unless it evolves into the Eternal Mangekyō. Use it too much, and he'll go blind."

Minato nodded but frowned. "Then… won't Obito eventually lose his sight? How do you evolve it?"

Kei explained without hesitation:

"The Eternal Mangekyō doesn't cause blindness. It has superior power. To evolve, you need to transplant the Mangekyō from a close blood relative who also awakened it."

"When two Mangekyō with shared blood merge, the Eternal Mangekyō is born."

Minato paled. "A relative's eyes? Then… Uchiha Madara—"

Kei nodded. "Exactly. Madara gained his by transplanting his younger brother Izuna's Mangekyō."

Minato's face darkened. "Madara… did that to his own brother?"

Unbelievable. From what he knew, the Uchiha valued family above all.

Kei clarified: Izuna gave them willingly before death. Madara wouldn't have taken them otherwise.

Minato sighed in relief.

Not for Madara, but for the Uchiha—and for his best friend. Kei likely had the potential to awaken the Mangekyō too. What if Kei changed after that?

That would be disastrous for both Konoha and the Uchiha clan.

Thankfully, Kei was… still Kei.