Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World

"Who are you? Why are you attacking Root?!"

"Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan (Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence)!"

Just moments earlier, Uchiha Madara, who had used the power of the Inari Ōkami to rejuvenate himself, leapt into the passage he blasted open leading to the Root base. There, he was immediately met with resistance from Root operatives demanding his identity.

Madara, now fused with Zetsu's Afei and cloaked in a swirling mask, had zero interest in speaking to these ants. With no warning, he unleashed Jukai Kōtan.

For the first time in decades—since the First Hokage's death—the overwhelming might of Wood Style once again shook the shinobi world.

Root's elite shinobi, handpicked and trained, fared no better than civilians against the sheer power of Madara's technique. Giant trees erupted under his control, burrowing underground, causing tremors throughout the entire Root facility.

And this? This was just a *basic* Wood Style move to Madara.

Jukai Kōtan, once a terrifying area-clearing technique that only a handful could resist, was merely a starter move in Madara's eyes. After all, when he fought Hashirama Senju, this was how the man would "greet" him.

After stealing and integrating a sample of Hashirama's flesh, Madara awakened Wood Style. To him, using it any less seriously would dishonor Hashirama—his most respected rival.

So, even though he could've used weaker techniques, Madara began with Jukai Kōtan.

And no, he wasn't worried about hitting Obito by accident.

Jukai Kōtan's strength wasn't just its power—it was its precision. Every tree was an extension of the user's senses. Madara could guide the roots like his own limbs. It was both a weapon and a search tool.

If anything, he was more concerned that the collapsing Root base might bury Obito.

But to Madara, if Obito couldn't handle even that, then he was worthless.

Harsh, but that was Madara's way.

With that mindset, he pinpointed both Shimura Danzō's and Obito's locations using Jukai Kōtan. Then, after trapping Danzō, he left Obito to fend for himself.

Thankfully, Obito didn't disappoint. He seized the chance and fled, successfully escaping from Danzō.

Still, that didn't mean he was out of danger. Root was collapsing, and whether he'd find Rin Nohara was another matter entirely.

Fortunately, White Zetsus were monitoring everything. If something went wrong, they'd intervene.

Sure enough, the area where Rin was held began crumbling due to the invading roots. Dust fell. A collapse was imminent.

At that moment, four White Zetsus emerged. Taking advantage of Rin's unconscious state, they wrapped around her, mimicking Afei's possession ability.

Then, activating their Mayfly Technique, they burrowed underground with Rin in tow.

When Obito finally made it back to the cell after an exhausting journey, he found it empty.

His pupils shrank. He assumed Root agents had moved her.

Furious, he growled, "Despicable!" and turned to flee. The whole facility was cracking. Wood Style roots were invading every direction.

Sure enough, the moment he left, the area collapsed with a deafening crash, dust billowing behind him.

At least Rin wasn't buried—Obito found some relief in that.

Now, he could only run blindly through the crumbling base, hoping to find her.

Rin, meanwhile, had already been carried to a safe zone on the surface. The White Zetsus, having completed their mission, immediately tunneled away to find Uchiha Kei and report.

After all, they were eager for their reward—a delicacy so strange it grew taste buds in their intestines and was fertilized naturally.

Just as they left, golden light shimmered.

Minato Namikaze appeared via Flying Thunder God Technique.

Scanning the area, he quickly found the unconscious Rin. His eyes lit up.

After checking her condition, he confirmed that she had only been knocked out by a jutsu and would remain asleep for a while.

Relieved, Minato quietly marveled at Kei's ability. He hadn't seen the White Zetsus, so he had no idea how Kei had extracted Rin so silently.

He lifted the sealing formula from her body, then gazed toward the smoke-choked ruins of Root's base.

Massive trees had fallen. A terrifying chakra poured from within, sending a chill down his spine.

"So this… is the power of the shinobi who rivaled the First Hokage? Unbelievable… Even if the Nine Tails lent me chakra and I entered my golden mode again, I couldn't match Madara Uchiha…"

Minato now understood why his brilliant friend never suggested charging in to confront Madara directly.

Even just sensing Madara's chakra made it clear—this wasn't someone you could beat outright. Maybe he wouldn't lose outright, but victory? And saving Konoha? No guarantees.

Before, even with Nine Tails chakra, Minato had never thought a single person could destroy Konoha.

Now? He knew better.

Even *he* could level the village if he released all his power at once in golden mode.

After taking a deep breath, Minato used Flying Thunder God again, returning home.

There, he entrusted Rin to Kushina Uzumaki for care, then teleported once more.

This time, he arrived at the Hokage building.

The Third Hokage and two of Konoha's senior advisors had already gathered. Their eyes were fixed on the Root facility.

After all, Madara hadn't concealed the force of his chakra or the booming destruction that came with Jukai Kōtan.

Even elite jōnin and sensitive shinobi could sense what was happening.