Anya looked at Tenzo, who stood before her with an innocent and bewildered expression, and asked, "You're the ninja who uses Wood Release?"
"Yeah, that's right," Tenzo replied, still unsure why he had been brought here. He'd even been allowed to take off the mask he normally wore whenever he was around Duy.
Anya nonchalantly handed him a piece of paper.
After reading it, Tenzo asked in confusion, "Props and Scenery Team? What is this?"
"There's a stage play being held in Konoha, and your Wood Release will be needed. Come with me."
As Tenzo followed Anya, he noticed the group gradually growing larger. Aside from those who had been sent on missions, nearly all the other prominent young ninjas in Konoha had gathered, and even the three-man team from Sunagakure Village had been summoned.
When so many people met, they naturally started greeting each other, some even chatting excitedly. Among them, Hakuto was especially popular. With her natural personality, she quickly blended in with the group and began conversing cheerfully.
Upon arriving at the Uchiha compound, the director was energetically directing background actors into their positions. Xiao Xue, as the lead actress, was passionately rehearsing her lines. Clearly, she valued this performance greatly.
Anya did not disturb Xiao Xue but instead walked toward the director and said, "Director, I'm leaving these people in your hands. Just handle them according to my previous arrangements."
The director glanced at the large group and cautiously asked, "Do you really think this will work?"
Anya replied confidently, "Of course it will. Don't worry about it."
"Alright then, let's do it."
Clapping his hands together, the director announced loudly, "From now on, you're all officially part of the production. For the next few days, follow my instructions without question."
Except for Hakuto, who seemed to have already known what to expect, everyone else looked utterly puzzled.
Anya didn't bother to explain further and simply left. These prodigies had no professional acting training, so it would be nearly impossible for them to deliver performances that matched the desired emotional impact. Thus, Anya had only told the director one thing—this production would rely entirely on raw emotion and genuine reactions.
The preliminary preparations were complete. Several days later, the much-discussed play finally premiered at the Chunin arena. Before the show had even begun, villagers holding tickets were already flooding into the venue, scrambling to find seats, their anticipation evident.
Inside the column-walled plaza, the crowd surged as excited chatter filled the air. Tsunade had already taken her seat atop the raised platform. She felt delighted—and deeply curious—about this gift Anya had prepared for her. Standing behind her was Yugao, masked and dutifully guarding her position.
Suddenly, the bright sky was covered by a pitch-black curtain, plunging the entire venue into total darkness so profound that not even one's hand could be seen before their face. In an instant, the previously lively atmosphere fell death silent.
In the darkness, Shizune—who had been assigned by Anya as the narrator—was already in place. Her voice, magically amplified several times over, rang clearly throughout the venue:
"The performance begins. Act One: The Founding of Konoha."
Thunder rumbled...
A massive flame erupted at the center of the stage. Lit by the roaring fire reaching toward the sky, countless battle cries filled the air as two heavily armored factions clashed violently below. The dark flames turned into crimson evening clouds. As the battle intensified, both sides remained locked in fierce confrontation—neither retreating nor giving up their assault. Soon, the battlefield was littered with corpses, and everywhere bore signs of blood and fire.
"Is this really a Stage Play? It feels so real," said a spectator in the audience, surprised by the grand scale of the performance right from the start. He clenched his fists, not daring to relax for a second.
"It's like actually being in one of those Warring States battles."
An older viewer sighed emotionally, "Back then was a terrifying time—chaos everywhere. I'm glad we live in Konoha now."
After the intense battle below, the leaders of both armies stepped forward simultaneously.
One of them spoke first, "Enough already, Madara. Stop this fighting. What about our dream before all this? Isn't building a world of peace together worth it?"
The other leader snorted coldly, "Peace? That's ridiculous, Hashirama. We've both lost loved ones at the hands of the other. With all this hatred between us, how can peace even exist?"
Hashirama said, "Then what will convince you of my sincerity?"
"Only if you kill yourself before me."
Madara plunged his sword into the ground directly in front of Hashirama.
The audience in the stands exchanged confused looks—wasn't this supposed to be about the Fifth Hokage? This scene didn't match their expectations at all!
"What is this?"
"I get it now—the narrator explained earlier. This scene reenacts the founding of Konoha. These two men are the original founders of the village! They're recreating history here. I never would've imagined the Stage Play started this far back."
"Yeah, Hashirama is the First Hokage. He surely won't actually commit suicide."
Down below, Hashirama drew his ninja blade and slowly approached Madara, saying, "Fine, if my death can bring peace, then I accept."
As Hashirama moved to take his own life, everyone in the audience held their breath.
*Clang...*
Madara knocked the blade out of Hashirama's hand and onto the ground.
"All right, I believe you. In that case, let's build a village together and protect peace side by side."
"Haha, Madara, I knew you'd come around eventually."
After their conversation, the thick dark clouds above began to part, allowing sunlight to stream through. From the bloodstained battlefield, towering trees began rising upward, sprouting fresh green leaves—a symbol of a new era beginning.
In a shadowy corner off-stage, Tenzo stood with his hands forming a hand seal, veins bulging on his pale face, clearly drained of energy. Beside him, the director kept shouting encouragement: "Not enough! Still not enough! The tree needs to be even bigger, with more leaves! Only then can we truly capture the rebirth and rise of a new Ninja Village!"
Tenzo had bitterness he couldn't voice, forced to keep draining his own chakra to maintain the scene. Just as he was about to collapse, a sudden surge of power rushed into his body, refilling his nearly exhausted chakra supply. Without pausing to consider where this energy came from, Tenzo rushed to continue forming hand seals, bringing more vivid detail and depth to the scene.
There stood Hashirama and Madara atop a giant tree, their hair blowing in the wind, looking down upon a village constructed entirely from plants and trees.
Hashirama laughed loudly, "Haha, Madara, we've finally built our village. Why don't you give it a name?"
Without hesitation, Madara replied, "Since you possess the Wood Release nature, let's call this village Konoha Ninja Village."
"You possess the Fire Release nature and lead the ninja. So, the leader of this village will be called the Hokage."
As they spoke, the two tightly clasped each other's hands.
Just as everyone was immersed in the friendship between them, darkness fell again. Flames suddenly erupted on the giant tree where the two stood, and the once peaceful pair faced each other in opposition once more.
"Madara, why? Isn't this the village we built together? I have no wish to kill you."
"Hashirama, don't act like you could ever kill me so easily. Fight then—The Uchiha Clan staying in Konoha won't lead to anything good. I'll change this world my way."
"Tch… Fine then. Come at me."
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