For the Hidden Leaf Village, the transformation brought by the network was just beginning, but for those experiencing it firsthand, the joy of gaming through the genjutsu network had already skyrocketed.
Back in the day, players could only match up with others in the same arcade via local area network. After the initial excitement wore off, they started noticing something odd—it was always the same old opponents. Familiar usernames kept popping up, over and over again.
With time, the novelty faded. Expectations dipped. Even if the game was still fun, that inevitable fatigue crept in.
And then there was the issue of space. Arcades could only hold so many people. If you wanted a turn, you had to get there at the crack of dawn just to line up and secure a spot. It wasn't a great experience, but no one had any other choice, so players just held in their frustration.
In fact, arguments over machine access were fairly common. Fortunately, each arcade had shinobi stationed to keep the peace, and the staff were well-trained to soothe hotheaded players. That's the only reason things didn't spiral out of control.
But now, everything had changed.
With the network's reach spreading across the entire Hidden Leaf, players suddenly had a wealth of new options.
They could now link up and play with people outside of arcades. And if the arcade was full? No problem. They could just head home and jump online. Sure, it lacked the lively atmosphere of an arcade, but the freedom was unbeatable—you could start or stop anytime, without worrying about leaving teammates hanging.
Of course, just like in the real world, where you needed home broadband to get online, the shinobi world wasn't exempt from similar requirements.
Except instead of routers and fiber cables, they used special sealed scrolls—custom-made networking scrolls that served as external accessories. These brought the network to multiplayer games designed to be played with others.
This clever approach also spared them from retrofitting old games with new online features.
In fact, Uchiha Kei had anticipated the need for mental network expansion long ago and built in connection ports in advance.
Now, it was simply a matter of dusting off those preparations and putting them to use.
For genjutsu game fans in the Hidden Leaf, this was an absolute windfall. When the networking scrolls for the genjutsu system launched, they sold out within half an hour. Shops were begging the suppliers to ramp up production.
And that was just within the village. Outside the Hidden Leaf, the Nine-Tails-brand signal towers had a 300-kilometer radius, covering multiple bustling cities within the Land of Fire.
As a military hub, the Hidden Leaf controlled the surrounding 100 kilometers. Beyond that, the Land of Fire took over jurisdiction.
Having major cities near the Hidden Leaf was no accident. Proximity meant security and convenience when commissioning missions.
With the Nine-Tails towers broadcasting across a 300-kilometer radius, the network reached plenty of cities.
As the most prosperous nation in the shinobi world, the Land of Fire had no shortage of urban centers.
Even if their idea of a "big city" was a bit outdated—places with a few hundred thousand people at most—they still had numbers on their side. Altogether, the urban population in the tower's range exceeded eight million. That's enough to cosplay eight million Tengu gods.
Add in the rural towns, and you're looking at over fourteen million people.
In any pre-industrial society, that was a staggering number. In terms of population density, only the densest regions of the Far East could compare.
Historically speaking, fourteen million people would form the backbone of an empire. In the 17th century or earlier, such a population—outside those same Far Eastern outliers—could've easily supported a continent-spanning dynasty.
Even in the shinobi world, that number was massive. If the Hidden Leaf could fully control this territory, they'd instantly become a mid-sized nation in their own right.
Of course, that wasn't their aim. At least, that's what they told everyone—the official story was that this was just the foundation zone for the genjutsu network.
Whether people believed that was another matter entirely.
On this particular day, outside the Hidden Leaf Village—
Uchiha Hachidai was returning with Minato's team after completing a B-rank mission.
Despite being over thirty and a key member of the Konoha Military Police Force, Hachidai had the classic "squinty eyes" look. And surprisingly, despite being an elite Uchiha, he hadn't shaken off the "squinty eyes are suspicious" trope.
Still, for Hachidai, this was an exciting experience. Filling in for the overworked Namikaze Minato and leading his team on a mission was a fresh start for someone who'd once believed he was doomed to spend his entire life in the Military Police.
In the past, even as a high-ranking Uchiha, taking a team of academy graduates out alone was unthinkable. The village leadership would never allow it.
But times had changed. In just a few months, the Konoha Military Police—once exclusively Uchiha—was now full of new faces, many of them from other clans.
At first, the Uchiha weren't thrilled about it. But soon, they started wishing even more outsiders would join.
Why?
Because job opportunities for the Uchiha had exploded. Whether it was screwing bolts in the genjutsu game workshop—a job full of honor and purpose—or working in any department of the Konoha Gaming Guild, Uchiha were needed everywhere.
Now, the Uchiha wished every clansman could use the Shadow Clone Jutsu to split themselves into a dozen workers. One person doing the work of ten? Ideal.
As a result, they struck deals with other departments. Everyone opened their doors to the Uchiha.
Especially after the Root Division was dismantled, even the education sector—long dominated by the Senju—welcomed Uchiha applicants.
Now, the only headache the Uchiha had was choosing which department to shine in.
Sure, joining the game workshop was best—it was the heart of their grand mission. But not everyone could go there. Other areas needed Uchiha too.
And so, for the first time in the village's history, Uchiha began actively avoiding the Military Police. No one wanted to be assigned there anymore.
Those who were stuck there resented it. They prayed for outsiders to take over their posts so they could transfer elsewhere and truly unleash their potential.
Today's Uchiha had tasted fulfillment. Emotional rewards, personal growth, self-worth—it was all within reach. They had moved into the higher tiers of Maslow's hierarchy.
Uchiha Hachidai was a perfect example. When he got reassigned to lead Minato's team on a B-rank mission, he was thrilled. He swore he'd complete the task and protect the three kids with his life.
He meant every word.
That wasn't just duty—it was a sacred trust. A mission bestowed upon him by the higher-ups, and he would fulfill it with pride.
He even made up his mind: if they encountered danger they couldn't overcome, he would sacrifice himself to keep those three safe.
Because Uchiha Fugaku had already briefed him. Minato and his team were no ordinary genin.
Fugaku had explained that Lady Tsunade was already locked in as the Fourth Hokage. She'd step in once Lord Third retired next year.
But knowing Tsunade-sama's temperament, she wouldn't serve long. Within a few years, she'd likely pass the title to the Fifth Hokage.
And odds were, that Fifth Hokage would be Namikaze Minato.
At first, Hachidai and the others were shocked. One particularly radical Uchiha was even furious, insisting that a Uchiha should finally become Hokage.
Fugaku calmly shut that down. "Minato's strength is more than enough to suppress even an Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan. Plus, he's Kei-kun's close friend. Kei-dono fully supports Minato. If you oppose Minato, you oppose Kei-dono."
"And do I really need to explain what opposing Kei-dono means?"
In that moment, all radical thoughts vanished. The hotheads looked as if they wanted to slap themselves—maybe even rewind time to stop their past selves from saying anything foolish.
Oppose Kei-dono? What a joke.
The entire Uchiha clan would gladly lay their hearts at Kei-dono's feet—how dare anyone defy him?
It was the height of shame. The ultimate disgrace.
Disgusted with themselves, some considered ritual suicide to atone for their dishonor.
Of course, no one actually went through with it. Fugaku talked them down and told them to live and redeem themselves through loyal service.
That was what Hachidai had seen and heard. He understood how important Minato's team was.
They were the future disciples of the Fifth Hokage. They could very well follow in the footsteps of Lord Third's students and become the next Legendary Sannin.
And among them was Uchiha Obito—a genius Uchiha boy full of the Will of Fire. Many believed he might be the one to finally fulfill the Uchiha dream of becoming Hokage.
So how could Hachidai not protect them with everything he had?
Luckily, the mission went smoothly. After ten days away, they returned safely. All three kids performed brilliantly. Even Rin Nohara, often considered the weakest, shone with her medical and logistical skills.
Hachidai merely acted as support for their success.
Back in the village, he dismissed the trio to go home while he went to the Hokage Building to report.
But of course, the kids didn't go straight home.
As soon as they were dismissed, Obito practically lit up like a glowstick. "Kakashi! Rin! Let's go to the arcade! It's been over ten days—we haven't played *Ultimate Storm* in forever! I can't wait another second!!!"
His eyes practically glowed green from excitement. He looked like a total game addict, ready to teleport straight into the arcade.
Kakashi nodded coolly, like he was just indulging a bored friend. But that glint in his dead-fish eyes said otherwise—his soul was on fire.
The calmest of the three was Rin. She smiled and nodded politely. She didn't really enjoy games like *Ultimate Storm*, but every now and then, she'd join in to bond with her teammates.
Their recent B-rank success? Their natural synergy came, in part, from all those hours spent gaming together.
Meanwhile, deep within the mental network, a certain rope-haired boy disguised as "Naruko" logged into the genjutsu network and entered matchmaking mode. His game journey was about to begin.
That very same day...
Hashirama Senju, now fully confident in his disguise and believing he could trick Madara Uchiha, finally decided to enter the *Ultimate Storm* gaming world—to find his best buddy "Madara."