The third match featured Akimichi Torifu and two other players—true newcomers to the game. Torifu's role was the muscle-bound dark-skinned man from the Hidden Cloud Village, the same character Might Guy had once played.
The two players paired with Torifu were under immense pressure—absolutely overwhelmed. Even though Torifu had been retired for years, his name still echoed throughout the village. His past achievements had been recorded in the Hidden Leaf's ninja academy textbooks.
How could anyone possibly win against such a veteran?
And even if they did manage to win… would that be a good thing? Wouldn't they be asking for trouble? No matter how you looked at it, this was a match with no real upside.
In the end, the two of them silently agreed to let go of their desire to win and just enjoy the game.
With that mindset, they actually performed quite well, quickly adapting to their roles.
As for Akimichi Torifu, his desire to win was even weaker. He didn't care about getting eliminated—he was only here for the fun, and as a fan of the game, he just wanted to be among the first to experience it.
So after entering the game, he didn't rush into combat. Instead, he joyfully explored the beach, familiarizing himself with his new body and testing how it felt to walk on seawater. This round's map was a small island.
To be honest, it was Torifu's first time seeing such an environment. It wasn't that he'd never seen the ocean before—but Konoha was an inland village, and Torifu was usually on defense duty, rarely leaving the village.
The few times he had seen the ocean were during missions in his younger days, and even then, the weather was poor, and the coastal environment unimpressive. Plus, since the Hidden Mist often launched surprise attacks from the sea, it was always misty and rainy.
So where would Torifu have experienced the charm of "beach," "ocean," and "sunlight" all at once?
In the shinobi world, where information spread slowly and communication was primitive, most people had no concept of what the ocean even looked like. Even those who had seen it struggled to describe it—after all, humans can't truly imagine something they've never seen.
But the island map Uchiha Kei had created followed an anime aesthetic: bright sun, pleasant climate, refreshing sea breeze, lush vegetation, and even some harmless animals roaming the area. The beach had clean sand and no creepy sea creatures.
Purely in terms of sensory experience, it felt incredibly relaxing. It was a vacation paradise.
Even the audience watching the release event was amazed. Many people with time and money started wondering if such a place existed in the real world—and if not, could this in-game island be turned into a vacation destination?
Some business-minded folks were already searching for similar islands in reality. Even if it wasn't a perfect match, they could artificially replicate the rest. After all, large-scale terrain alteration was tough in this world full of extraordinary individuals—but small-scale modifications were entirely feasible.
If they could recreate the game's island feel, they could open it as a tourist resort and make a fortune.
Others who had access to Kei's genjutsu network—an illusionary world indistinguishable from reality—were already preparing to test it out that very night. In such a world, crafting an island replica was no problem at all.
Jiraiya, in particular, seemed inspired. A lecherous grin crept across his face as he clearly began planning to add an island setting to his next adult game.
———
In the game world, Akimichi Torifu was completely enthralled by the beach and ocean. He squatted down to scoop up a handful of warm sand, grinning as he relished the texture. He glanced around thoughtfully, as if considering placing a lounge chair and a beach umbrella so he could nap the day away.
That retired old man's attitude toward life made him seem completely out of place in a competitive game.
Then came a roar—followed by a clash of power. Water Style and Wind Style collided in the distance, tearing through rows of palm trees.
It turned out the other two players had run into each other and launched into battle without hesitation.
The fierce energy made Torifu pause and glance at the swirling dust and crashing elements in the distance. After a moment's thought, he walked over to a palm tree near the sea and sat down again, enjoying the breeze as the leaves shaded him from the sun.
It was truly "facing the sea, with spring blossoms blooming."
His peaceful demeanor seemed to say, "The world is so beautiful… why are you all so angry? Learn to enjoy life."
But the character he played was a tough-looking, dark-skinned warrior—practically the poster boy for the Hidden Cloud Raikage aesthetic. Torifu's laid-back grandpa act was pure contrast.
The live broadcast split the screen between the two fights, and the contrast was so jarring it created a sense of time-space distortion. The dramatic clash held less appeal than Torifu's serene, sea-facing repose.
Many viewers suddenly wanted to enter the game themselves.
The business crowd watched all of this with gleaming eyes. The vacation island plan looked incredibly promising. If they could replicate the in-game environment, they'd definitely rake in the profits.
Whether they succeeded or not would depend on their individual abilities.
And so, a silent business war had begun.
As the strange vibes both inside and outside the game intensified, the third match neared its end. One of the two fighters emerged victorious, healed slightly using a rare in-game recovery item, and made his way toward Torifu.
These healing items were scarce and only restored a small amount of health. They appeared randomly, and getting one depended entirely on luck and skill.
This lucky survivor, driven by determination, set off toward Torifu's location.
Though Torifu was facing the ocean, he immediately sensed the approach—neither the sound nor the chakra had been concealed.
The retired Konoha elder sighed helplessly. Realizing his relaxation time was over, he stood up and turned to face his opponent. "So, you've come."
The challenger halted and locked eyes with him. "Yes. I've come."
Torifu: "You shouldn't have."
Challenger: "But I did."
Torifu: "Ah… then there's no helping it. Shall we begin?"
The challenger nodded. "Let's begin! Torifu-senpai, I'll be in your care!"
His tone held the fiery bravado of a delinquent shouting "yoroshiku!"—and he struck first.
Having survived the earlier battle, his mentality had changed. He no longer feared defeating a respected elder. After experiencing a fight to the death, where survival mattered more than honor, he had only one goal: win.
Even if the opponent was a beloved senpai—even if it was the Hokage himself—it didn't matter. He would crush them if that's what it took to achieve victory.
"Let's go, Torifu-senpai! Only one of us walks away from this alive!"
His roar was full of passion—both the character's and his own.
Torifu let out a long, thoughtful sigh. "Such resolve… Very well. I feel your determination. Then allow me to respond in kind—with everything I have!"
Lightning cracked.
The dark-skinned warrior activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode—the signature Hidden Cloud technique. Though Torifu hadn't practiced his role much, he had clearly read the instructions carefully.
Torifu's sudden transformation fired up the hot-blooded challenger, who grinned wickedly and unleashed Wind Style: a flurry of debris swept toward Torifu.
Torifu dodged without hesitation. Boosted by Lightning Release, his speed allowed him to evade and counterattack.
Of course, this version of the technique couldn't compare to the Raikage's. It was just a standard Cloud ninjutsu—moderate in power and duration, balanced for gameplay.
Torifu didn't plan to rely on it for the entire fight. He used it to close the distance and launch a simple but effective series of blows.
No ultimate moves—just basic attacks and techniques. His fists and feet, crackling with lightning, landed cleanly, suppressing his opponent.
It wasn't flashy like the earlier duel. Those players had thrown out every skill and ultimate they had in a fireworks display. But Torifu's performance was textbook: efficient, grounded, and deadly.
Despite it being his first time using the character, Torifu moved with uncanny precision—like a seasoned shinobi in a new body.
Watching from the real world, Kakashi and Obito gulped. The pressure from this veteran was immense. They exchanged glances, knowing full well that even with their prior gameplay experience, they would've lost to him.
Among the remaining players, only Namikaze Minato was still fired up. His bright smile remained undimmed, eyes gleaming with excitement.
He didn't say a word, but his posture made it clear—his fighting spirit had been fully ignited.
In the end, Torifu won. An overwhelming victory through skill and experience. His opponent was left stunned, face frozen in disbelief.
Even after exiting the game, the challenger sat in a daze, still trying to process the loss.
When he finally recovered, he looked at Torifu with awe and admiration. He'd been utterly humbled.
Torifu himself simply returned to his cheerful, relaxed grandpa mode—as if he hadn't just pulverized someone into oblivion.
The crowd erupted in cheers, gasps, and praise. The older generation, familiar with Torifu, just chuckled. None of them were surprised.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other old friends smiled with pride. Retirement hadn't dulled Torifu one bit. Despite aging, his will and instincts as a ninja remained sharp. With a young body, he was still the strongest of the Akimichi—and one of the Second Hokage's disciples.
Among the crowd, the oldest man of them all—Uchiha Madara—said nothing. His face calm, he quietly sipped his cola.
But in those cloudy old eyes burned a raging fire.
The lion's wild spirit stirred. He wanted to dance again.
Though he thought these matches childish, they had nonetheless rekindled his fighting spirit.
Even Madara could only enter the game as a standard avatar or with restrictions in free mode, capped at jōnin level.
But that only meant he could finally enjoy battle—like in the days when he clashed with Hashirama Senju. True, even fights!
At this moment, old Madara could barely wait to jump into the game and experience the thrill of battle once more.