"Did Mito really die?"
"According to the plot, yes."
"Zabuza's just being stubborn again."
Everyone had read the manga and knew that although Zabuza seemed ruthless, he was only putting on a tough front.
His feelings for Haku ran extremely deep.
This emotion felt even more powerful and shocking when acted out.
"This is amazing. I never imagined ninja could do something like this."
The elderly Daimyo was frail and needed to rest every few seconds.
Still, judging from his expression, he was clearly very satisfied with the Manga Con performance.
While he sat down for a break, Kakashi had already disabled Zabuza by destroying both arms—rendering him incapable of forming hand seals. Even with more chakra, it was useless now.
At that moment, Gato, Wave Country's wealthiest tycoon, arrived.
One Gato, and a group of extras.
They blocked Zabuza's escape route, closing in step by step. Without his arms, Zabuza's combat ability dropped drastically, making him no longer feared by them.
"Now that I think about it, that kid and I still have unfinished business—Hmph, but he's already dead!"
Gato stomped hard on Haku's head.
Instantly—
"That bastard! What's he trying to do to Lady Mito?!"
"We won't forgive him! Who played Gato?"
"We must find out who did this!"
Everyone in the stands shouted angrily, glaring at Gato furiously.
Akaba had seen similar situations many times before.
In his past life, many great actors had vividly portrayed vicious villains—only to have fans turn on them in real life.
This time was no different.
Shishio was playing Gato. His hearing was sharp enough to catch snippets of nearby audience members talking, sending chills down his spine.
However,
he had no choice but to force himself forward and keep performing his lines.
Next came Zabuza's "tool theory," and the plot unfolded smoothly as it did in the manga.
It was everyone's first time acting, yet all performed impressively well.
Until finally, Zabuza began shedding tears.
Clutching a kunai between his teeth, he charged into the crowd.
Blades pierced through his body one after another, but he showed no reaction, continuing to charge ahead fiercely.
Gato and his men were stunned.
The spectators in the stands were equally shocked too.
Seeing things in manga form versus witnessing them live were two entirely different experiences. Previously filled with anger and resentment toward Zabuza,
everything vanished now.
Killing, endlessly killing!
At last, snowflakes started drifting down.
Everyone seemed to see Haku standing before Zabuza—pure as snow, too beautiful for words.
"Please let me remain by your side forever."
A sweet voice rang out.
Zabuza staggered forward step by step toward her figure.
"If it's farewell we must say… Haku, I'm truly sorry!"
He collapsed onto Haku's body.
At that moment, music arose.
"[Hanasakuyori]"
"The Blue Bird"!
The performance below hadn't ended yet, but the song had already begun.
Over Zabuza's and Haku's bodies, the two faint silhouettes exchanged a smile before transforming into two flying birds soaring upward into the sky.
Every scene felt as beautiful as the music itself.
No one spoke—not even Princess Erika stood motionless, her cheeks streaked with tears.
At the same time, Mito Uzumaki soared through the air like a divine spirit, her voice weaving a mesmerizing melody.
Hovering above a rope stretched between a distant mountain cliff and a tree beneath her feet, she drifted gracefully.
What a breathtaking sight!
The Third knew it was all part of Akaba's genjutsu, yet he couldn't help but be moved by the breathtaking, emotional scene.
Several minutes later, her voice faded as she slowly rose higher into the sky, the melody coming to a gentle close.
For a long while afterward, the forest remained silent.
Except for the rustling of birds and buzzing insects, only soft sobs could be heard.
"Father... Zabuza and Haku… it was so touching!"
Erika wept uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.
Raised entirely within the Daimyo's mansion, she had little experience beyond its walls and couldn't resist the emotional weight of the story.
"It is indeed a touching tale."
The Daimyo gave a faint sigh—nothing more.
As the ruler, he had seen far too many harsh realities. This scene, while poignant, was simply made more tragically beautiful through Akaba's careful orchestration.
"The first and second acts have ended. Now comes the final act—please everyone, prepare yourselves!"
Akaba's voice rang out again.
The final performance: Virtual Reality Experience.
Of course,
In the end, it was nothing more than an illusion—without any enhancement of the five senses.
"Prepare? For what exactly?"
"It sounds familiar, but didn't they mention VR before?"
"Huh?"
Many were still feeling their sadness when suddenly they were told the next act was about to start.
They hadn't even finished digesting everything yet.
Still, what would come next?
Full of mixed feelings, the crowd felt both resentful and curious.
The performance had truly been extraordinary. Even the first two acts were enough to justify the journey—but now came the grand finale.
The next moment—
"Virtual Reality Experience, begin!"
Before Akaba stood a magnificent and intricate painting. As soon as the genjutsu was released, everyone was drawn into the vast hallucinatory world.
Pulling every person from the stands into this genjutsu—even though most were ordinary civilians who offered no resistance—required enormous psychological endurance. If not for Akaba's mental capacity reaching over eighty percent, he wouldn't have been able to sustain it.
The moment the projection opened, everyone noticed their surroundings shifting.
The viewing stands and mountains vanished completely.
"Father, where are we?"
"Konoha Village."
The Daimyo calmly replied.
He glanced at Erika—she was dressed in a full set of ninja attire, complete with gear.
Looking down at himself—
Hmm, the Hokage robe and cloak.
"Father, how did you become the Hokage?"
Erika looked shocked and confused.
"This must be the illusion—a role-playing game."
The Daimyo explained calmly. "Our roles here are those of ninjas."
Erika looked around. Nearby stood numerous ninjas, all wearing expressions of confusion just like them.
These were others drawn into the projection.
"Welcome to the Virtual Reality Experience."
"The first wave of enemies will arrive at the battlefield in three minutes. Please purchase your equipment and prepare for battle immediately."
First wave of enemies?
Equipment?
What was going on?
Everyone stood frozen, bewildered and uncertain of what awaited them next.
"Newbies, don't just stand there! Hurry up and buy some ninjutsu techniques and gear—otherwise, what will you use to fight back when enemy ninjas arrive?"
A cold voice suddenly called out.
Everyone turned their heads.
"This guy... he kind of looks like that annoying little brat who's always drawing lewd comics!" Erika thought in surprise.
Unlike that young punk, this man looked much older—he stood atop a giant toad, holding a copy of Make Out Paradise.
"Are we supposed to purchase ninjutsu techniques and equipment from you?" the Daimyo asked after a moment of contemplation.
"Yes. Everyone's mission is to protect Konoha and the Hokage—the village leader and guardian. Whether it's the Hokage Tower or the Hokage himself, if either gets destroyed, it's over before you know it."
The large "Jiraiya" said coldly.
The Daimyo stepped closer.
Jiraiya opened his copy of Make Out Paradise, revealing various ninjutsu techniques recorded inside.
Is all this actually up for exchange?
After browsing through them, he finally chose a technique called [Earth Flow Wall].
He instantly understood it completely—including how to perform the technique.
"Try it out," Jiraiya said indifferently.
The Daimyo nodded and shouted, "[Earth Flow Wall]!"
Immediately, his hands formed hand seals automatically.
A massive earthen wall surrounded him completely—it was the defensive technique [Earth Flow Wall]!
"He really did master [Earth Flow Wall]!" Erika exclaimed joyfully.
Being able to master a technique just by exchanging for it—how incredibly convenient!
The rest of the group quickly grew excited as well. For regular civilians like them, being able to experience the sensation of wielding ninjutsu was an extraordinary joy.
"What a brilliant concept."
The Daimyo released the technique, staring at his hands as he murmured to himself.
Previously, he had never understood what ninjutsu truly was, but now, having experienced it firsthand, he finally grasped just how powerful this ability could be.
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