"In three days, the Uchiha clan is going to hold some kind of Genjutsu game conference at the training grounds outside the village? What's a Genjutsu game?"
"Uh, never heard of it. Is it some new form of Genjutsu?"
"I know Genjutsu. I know games. But combine the two, and I have no clue."
"Genjutsu and games? How are those two things even related?"
"The Uchiha clan again? What are those arrogant snobs up to now? And what's a conference anyway?"
"Says here it's a new form of announcement and publicity. It's meant to showcase and introduce something new to the public."
"As expected of one of Konoha's founding clans. Sure, they're arrogant to the extreme, but their talent really is superior. Just like when they allied with the Senju and established the first ninja village, ending the Warring States era—they're doing something groundbreaking again."
"Huh? Are you an Uchiha fanboy or something?"
"Yeah, well, the Uchiha have a lot of hot guys."
"Bakayaro, you're a dude! If you're going to simp, shouldn't it be for the Uchiha girls instead?"
"Tch, what's so great about stinky women? I like men. What? Why are you leaving?"
"Sorry, this is too much for me. Let's not meet again."
...
Inside the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, furrowed his brows while holding the new flyer, visibly confused.
He couldn't make heads or tails of what the Uchiha clan was trying to pull this time.
"Hiruzen, what do you think the Uchiha are up to?"
The voice came from an older but still fit man with black hair and beard, wearing round glasses. His name: Homura Mitokado—one of the Konoha F4.
With him was Koharu Utatane, also looking healthy for her age, black-haired and sharp-eyed.
Back in Year 46 of the Hidden Leaf calendar, these old advisors were still at their peak.
Hiruzen shook his head in response: "I can't say. According to the flyer, it's just a new form of commercial promotion for a new kind of product."
He paused, then added, "It seems to be a completely new type of business model."
Koharu frowned. "Should we stop the Uchiha?"
Hiruzen looked at her calmly. "On what grounds? The Uchiha are just advertising a new product. They're not even selling it directly in their own shops this time. They're holding a village-wide promotional event."
"They're covering all the costs. They're handling the security and logistics. The village doesn't need to lift a finger and still profits from the venue rental."
"They even sent formal invitations to every major clan, including my own Sarutobi clan."
"This shows they're confident in what they've created and that it poses no threat to the village."
"So why would we stop them? On what justification? We'd only stir unrest without proof of any danger."
Koharu and Homura remained silent. Hiruzen's logic was sound.
Still, they were annoyed that the Uchiha had launched something so radical without consulting the village leadership.
As a founding clan, the Uchiha had special privileges—unlike other clans, they didn't need to report everything to the higher-ups. It was infuriating to those in power.
But Hiruzen remained calm. From the beginning, he had chosen to delegate his authority to his trusted comrades. He was never one to rule alone.
That mindset made him less reactive to the Uchiha's independent moves.
"At the very least," Homura said gravely, "we should understand what this 'Genjutsu game' actually is. If they're planning something extreme, we need to be prepared."
Hiruzen gave him a look. "They invited all the clans. They're publicly promoting this. Do you really think they'd use this as a platform to rebel? That they've spawned another Madara Uchiha ready to set the village ablaze?"
Homura fell silent, looking a little embarrassed. He knew it sounded dumb.
Just then, the door to the Hokage's Office swung open.
It was a rude and presumptuous move—something only a handful of people in Konoha would dare.
"Hiruzen, you're still too naïve. I'm sure the Uchiha's upcoming event is no simple matter. And it likely has everything to do with that Uchiha Kei."
The air grew cold as the last of the Konoha F4 entered: Danzo Shimura, the dark shadow of the shinobi world and Konoha's spymaster.
Half of his body wrapped in bandages, one eye sealed, Danzo stepped into the room with his usual grim expression, leaning on a cane.
The ANBU stationed outside hastily shut the door, leaving only the four elders inside.
Under the bewildered stares of Koharu and Homura, Hiruzen put down the flyer, lit his pipe, and asked, "Danzo, what did you find? Did you make contact with Uchiha Kei?"
Danzo scoffed, "No. I sent people to bring him to Root. But the Uchiha dispatched several elite members to protect him. My agents were intercepted."
"They even bought up the buildings around where he lives. That shows how much they value him."
"Hiruzen, you know how oddly the Uchiha have been acting. Just days ago, they made a grand show of welcoming Uchiha Kei back into the clan."
"And now they're planning this Genjutsu game event. That's not something the typically prideful and inflexible Uchiha would do."
"Clearly, all these changes stem from Uchiha Kei. And I'm sure they're plotting something."
"Give me a signed order. With it, I can override their guards and bring Uchiha Kei to Root. Whatever they're hiding, I'll uncover it."
Hiruzen frowned. "Danzo, you're being too aggressive. The Uchiha haven't harmed the village. They're just launching a new product. Your actions will only provoke them."
"Besides, Uchiha Kei is a close friend of Minato. He's someone Minato deeply trusts, and he's very different from the rest of the clan."
"Even if he's just a Chūnin, as long as he's around, and once Minato rises up and becomes a potential Fifth or Sixth Hokage, there's hope for peace between the Uchiha and the village."
"What you're doing would destroy that hope and alienate Minato."
Though Minato hadn't yet reached his peak, Hiruzen saw his potential. His strength, character, and promise made him an ideal Hokage candidate. Hiruzen believed the next Hokage should come from the middle generation—he thought Minato should be the Fifth.
Danzo's face darkened. Secretly, he had long desired the Hokage seat. Hearing Hiruzen's words made him feel that the dream might forever be out of reach.
"Hiruzen, you're too soft. Have you forgotten what our teacher said about the Uchiha? You really think peace with them is possible?"
Hiruzen sighed. "Yes, our teacher warned us. But he also said we should work to dissolve the animosity gradually—and that he hoped we'd succeed."
"We may have failed him thus far, but we now have a chance—right in front of us. So why ruin it?"
"Danzo, your methods are too extreme."
Then, sensing Danzo's growing obsession, Hiruzen added, "And you are not to make any moves on the Uchiha without my permission. Surveillance only. That's an order."
Danzo's face turned icy. His tone and address shifted. "Sarutobi, by letting the Uchiha run wild, you'll regret it sooner or later!"
Hiruzen's expression hardened. "Danzo. That's a direct order from the Hokage."
Danzo snorted, turned, and slammed the door behind him—ending the conversation in classic Danzo fashion.
The office fell silent.
Koharu and Homura exchanged helpless looks. They were used to this.
Ever since Sakumo Hatake's unexpected suicide, the once-unshakable bond between Hiruzen and Danzo had begun to crack. Over the years, arguments like this had become all too frequent.
At first, Koharu and Homura had tried to mediate. Now, they didn't bother.
The village remained stable. Hiruzen hadn't reclaimed the power he'd distributed to his friends. So nothing else really mattered.