"Cough, cough... Damn it, why hasn't anyone succeeded in awakening it yet? Fugaku, how about those people you're keeping an eye on?"
"I'm sorry, Father. None of them have awakened the Sharingan."
"Even them... They're already the most talented individuals in our Uchiha clan. The only ones left are Uchiha Naori and a few others serving as Kei-kun's bodyguards. Aside from Naori, the rest aren't exactly elite—just regular Three-Tomoe Sharingan users."
"Damn it... Does this mean the genjutsu game can't awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"What are you saying? Don't you understand the nature of the genjutsu game? It's already something that could genuinely awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan within the Uchiha! If it still doesn't work, that only proves those who tried lack the qualifications to awaken it!"
"That's a fair point. I too acknowledge that it's a matter of talent. Thinking back, before Lord Madara left the Hidden Leaf, he once told me that I had the potential for the Mangekyō—but that as long as I lived in Konoha, I'd never have the chance to awaken it."
The clan elders discussed at length before Uchiha Setsuna gave his verdict: it wasn't that the genjutsu game Kei created was flawed—it was that the clan members themselves were too lacking. Even after experiencing the loss of love, they still couldn't awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Then, the clan head Uchiha Masanobu declared with firm resolve, "If that's the case, then I shall try it myself! I can feel that my eyes are on the verge of awakening. All that's missing is a trigger."
"I believe the content of *Escape* will be what finally pushes me over the edge. And with it, we can finally prove that this genjutsu game can indeed awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Hearing this, the clan elders' expressions shifted. Fugaku tensed and spoke up, "Father, you..."
Masanobu cut him off with a raised hand, coughing weakly, then said solemnly, "Fugaku, no need to say more. My body is at its limit. Maybe I have one or two years left in this state, but I refuse to spend them bedridden..."
He coughed again, having been holding it back throughout his speech.
Then, under the worried gazes of the clan, Masanobu looked up. His sickly pale face showed unwavering resolve: "This kind of life, I do not need. I am the head of the Uchiha clan. I must shoulder the responsibility of the clan head."
"Remember this, Fugaku. As clan head, you must be prepared to stake your life on the needs and desires of the clan!"
"This time, I will burn everything I have—for the sake of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. Even if the cost is my life!"
These words, filled with resolve, shocked Fugaku to his core. With grief welling inside him, he lowered his head and replied, "Yes."
Thus, it was decided that the Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Masanobu, would play *Escape* in an attempt to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
This was a painful decision for the Uchiha present—but for Black Zetsu, who was secretly eavesdropping underground, it was a moment of wild excitement.
Mangekyō Sharingan!
The current Uchiha clan head is going to awaken it? And die from the effort?
Heaven itself must be aiding me!
Once he awakens it, I can ambush him in his sleep and steal the Mangekyō.
With his physical condition, he won't be able to resist at all!
Lord Madara's mission will finally be complete!
Though this genjutsu game has caused quite a stir, it could still prove useful.
Yes—once Uchiha Masanobu awakens the Mangekyō, I'll take it, then eliminate Uchiha Kei, the game's creator, and erase this threat to the Eye of the Moon Plan.
That's right—Black Zetsu still intended to kill Uchiha Kei. Though not skilled in direct combat, he believed Kei posed no challenge. Based on all the intel he'd gathered, Uchiha Kei had always been a mediocre shinobi—an Uchiha who remained a Chūnin for years after awakening his Sharingan.
Even if he had recently become a Jōnin, that was only because Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized his contributions and wanted to nurture his talents.
At least, that was what the White Zetsu network had gathered.
To Black Zetsu, Kei was a joke. He'd assassinated many ninjas across a thousand years using his unique abilities—even Uchiha Izuna, Madara's younger brother with a Mangekyō Sharingan, had fallen to his ambush. Kei was small fry.
So there was no rush. Uchiha Kei was a loose end Black Zetsu could tie up anytime. After all, it's not like Kei would suddenly gain enough power to threaten him.
What a joke. That could never happen.
A mere Uchiha Kei? Black Zetsu would crush him with ease!
Everything was going according to plan.
Hehehe...
Black Zetsu smiled with satisfaction in the darkness.
——
"Hm?"
In the sealed space, the Nine-Tails paused his playthrough of the arcade classic *Journey to the West* and frowned.
He had sensed a strange malicious intent directed at Uchiha Kei.
Of course, it wasn't unusual for someone to harbor ill will toward Kei. The tall tree always catches the wind. It was no different in the shinobi world.
Even now, with the genjutsu game craze ongoing and Kei's fame spreading (albeit secretly), there were plenty who knew of him.
Among them, envy and hatred were inevitable. People like Shimura Danzō, for example, were always brimming with malice.
But those people were powerless to truly threaten Kei, so the Nine-Tails didn't care.
This time, however, the malice originated beneath the Uchiha compound. And it wasn't human—it felt... bizarre.
That piqued the Nine-Tails' interest—and even sparked a killing intent.
Nowadays, the Nine-Tails was convinced that Uchiha Kei was the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Sage of Six Paths. Kei had given him freedom, comfort, delicious snacks, and a relaxed, enjoyable life.
To the Nine-Tails, Kei felt like a brother from another mother.
Now some weird freak wanted to harm his brother?
Not on his watch.
He immediately opened his WeChat app and messaged Kei.
Yes, after WeChat's test rollout, Kei had installed it for Senju Nawaki and others with access to the spiritual network. Anyone in Kei's network coverage could communicate freely.
Those without the app only needed to log into the spiritual network to get it. Naturally, the Nine-Tails—an idle fox frequently visiting the network—was among the first users.
Though a tsundere, the Nine-Tails only had one WeChat friend: Uchiha Kei. Even Kushina, his jinchūriki, was listed as a stranger. But since users were few, strangers could still message each other.
At that moment, Uchiha Kei—building a virtual house in the spirit world with Kikyo in what was effectively a dating sim—received the Nine-Tails' message and raised an eyebrow.
Thinking for a moment, Kei told the Nine-Tails to keep monitoring the strange presence. Then he excused himself from Kikyo, logged out, and summoned Uchiha Naori and the Uchiha Guard to return to the clan grounds.
Given the Nine-Tails' report, Kei could already guess who was behind it.
At this point in time, the only entity capable of hiding undetected beneath the Uchiha compound was either Black Zetsu or White Zetsu.
And White Zetsu was too abstract—lacking malice, lacking self-awareness. Unless under strict orders during the war, they emitted no intent and couldn't be sensed by tailed beasts.
Only Black Zetsu, with a will of his own and strong malicious intent, could be detected.
So Kei assumed it was Black Zetsu.
But what puzzled him was: Why would Black Zetsu hate him?
Could it be that Kei's genjutsu game and very existence threatened the Eye of the Moon Plan?
Considering that Madara was probably already hopelessly addicted to the genjutsu game, Kei couldn't help but feel amused.
If Madara had turned into an online gaming addict, that *would* disrupt Black Zetsu's plans. His hatred would make perfect sense.
Or maybe... Black Zetsu wanted to capture him and force him to make games solely for Madara's enjoyment. That would also spark strong malice.
Either way, Kei was curious.
So he returned to the Uchiha compound.
What greeted him there wasn't Black Zetsu—but an overwhelming welcome from the entire Uchiha clan, full of shock and excitement.