"Do you have the Third Hokage's holo card yet? If you do, I'll trade you my Sannin—Jiraiya—for it!!""What?! You already pulled Lady Tsunade's Sannin card? Be honest—does her figure really look as insane in real life as it does on the card?""No way—are you serious?! You bought an entire street's worth of booster packs just to complete the Uchiha deck?! Is that combo really that broken?""This Uchiha Ran is way too handsome! And that skill—Mirror Flower, Water Moon—it's insane! Sisters, does anyone have detailed info on Uchiha Ran?!"
In less than three days, the card game swept through the entirety of Konoha like a storm.
Konoha Village had always been a peaceful place—too peaceful. Life moved forward day after day in a steady, predictable rhythm, and before long, people began to feel a dull sense of monotony. The villagers longed for something fresh, something exciting—anything to break up the routine of everyday life.
And right at that moment, a game called "Ninja Card Grand Battle" quietly appeared in the streets and alleys of Konoha.
The rules of the card game—designed by Uchiha Ran—were simple and easy to grasp. Players only needed to use the cards in their hands to battle one another, making it accessible even to complete beginners.
Each card featured unique artwork, depicting exquisitely illustrated ninja characters. Children were especially drawn to rare and powerful figures. Middle-aged men gravitated toward cards like Tsunade. The so-called "mom fans" adored Uchiha Ran and Hatake Kakashi. Meanwhile, hardcore meta-chasers obsessively pursued ultra-rare cards and, above all, the devastatingly strong Uchiha deck.
When combined, these ninja cards unlocked all sorts of special skill synergies.
By carefully assembling their decks, players could create wildly different strategies and tactics, clashing with others in thrilling, high-energy matches.
The game quickly became entertainment for all ages. Whether it was young children or elderly villagers, everyone found themselves swept up in the craze.
All across Konoha's streets, groups of enthusiastic players could be seen gathered together, animatedly discussing deck builds, sharing tactics, and exchanging hard-earned experience.
The game didn't just bring fun and excitement—it forged stronger connections between people, tightening the bonds of friendship throughout the village.
The card illustrations vividly captured each ninja's image.
Every card showcased heroic poses and dazzling techniques, allowing players to truly feel the power and charm of the ninja world. The artwork was mesmerizing, driving many players to spare no expense in collecting their favorite cards—both to flaunt their collections and to prove their strength.
The popularity of the card game breathed new life into Konoha.
Matches weren't just technical battles anymore—they became a brand-new way to socialize. Villagers met new friends through duels, exchanged strategies, and even began publishing unofficial guidebooks and攻略 manuals.
Just like that, Konoha entered an entirely new era of entertainment.
The card game filled the empty gaps of daily life, bringing back long-lost joy and passion. Whether in arcades along the main streets or inside villagers' homes, laughter and the clatter of intense card battles echoed everywhere.
It became the shared topic of conversation throughout the village.
The game sold explosively well in Konoha—and in the process, the Uchiha clan finally stepped into the public spotlight.
Villagers came to understand that the Uchiha Police Force was a group that upheld Konoha's rules and enforced its laws faithfully. At the same time, they also learned something else—
The Uchiha clan had a lot of proud, tsundere personalities.
"Ran—Ran-kun?! Your image is on one of the cards too!!"
An excited voice rang out.
Uchiha Ran, who was currently patrolling Konoha alongside Uchiha Inabi to inspect the sales situation of the Hero Card line, turned at the sound.
"Ah—so it's Brother Caotang," Ran said with a friendly smile. "How's business been today?"
The person greeting him was none other than Caotang, the owner of the yakitori shop. Ran politely returned the greeting. "Boss Caotang, how have things been lately?"
"Thanks to this card game, business has really picked up," Caotang said, beaming. "A lot of customers come in with their cards, eat here, and play while they're at it."
Watching the shop owner practically glow with excitement, Ran knew their plan had succeeded. When even middle-aged shopkeepers like Caotang were fully aware of the card game, it meant one thing—
Konoha, top to bottom, had become a card-game paradise.
"Ran-kun, could you sign this for me?" Caotang asked eagerly. "My daughter absolutely loves the illustration of you on the card!"
"No problem," Ran replied easily. "Right here?" He pointed to the back of the card.
"Yes, exactly! Thank you so much, Ran-kun!"
"No need to be so formal," Ran said with a light chuckle. "You've always taken good care of me whenever I eat at your shop."
As Ran turned to leave, Caotang hurriedly called out again.
"Ran-kun… is it true what the card says? Can you really use that kind of genjutsu that controls people's senses? That one called Mirror Flower, Water Moon?"
Ran didn't seem to notice Caotang's head lowering ever so slightly—or the way his gaze subtly avoided direct eye contact.
He answered calmly, "Boss Caotang, this game was developed by the Uchiha clan. Most of the abilities on the cards are skills the original owners actually possess. Just like Uchiha Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan, or Lord Hashirama's Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence. So yes—I do have a genjutsu similar to Mirror Flower, Water Moon."
"So amazing!"
"We'll be heading out now, Boss Caotang."
"Take care, Ran! Come by often—I'll save the freshest yakitori just for you!"
Caotang's voice faded into the night wind as they walked away.
"Inabi frowned deeply. "Ran, that uncle Caotang actually dared to ask about your genjutsu? He's a civilian—he should know that ninja battles are battles of information. Every secret technique is a ninja's lifeline. And yet he just asked so openly?!"
Inabi was visibly upset. Civilians were taught from the time they entered school—or even just lived in the village—that they were never to inquire about a ninja's secrets. So why would a yakitori shop owner ask something like that so brazenly?
"Because," Ran replied calmly, "he was asking on behalf of Danzo Shimura from Root."
"…Root? Danzo?" Inabi's expression darkened instantly. "That old dog?!"
"Oh?" Ran glanced at him with mild surprise. "Inabi-san, you know Elder Danzo?"
Given how secretive Root was—and how deeply Danzo hid himself—it was unusual for someone like Inabi, a regular Uchiha ninja, to know of him at all. On the surface, after all, Danzo Shimura was merely one of Konoha's advisors.
"I once went on a mission with one of his clansmen—Shimura Kaze," Inabi said grimly. "One night, Kaze and another teammate tried to lure me into a Kirigakure trap. They said it was a direct order from Lord Danzo. I saw their lip movements with my Sharingan."
After a pause, he continued, his voice steady again.
"So I played along… staged an 'accident,' and took them out. After I returned, I started digging into who Danzo Shimura really was."
The night air grew heavier as the unspoken tension lingered between them.