The Fire Capital's prosperity was far beyond what Konan had imagined.
She stood on a broad main road, her gaze sweeping over the dense rows of shops on either side, the endless flow of people, and the unfamiliar novelties she'd never seen before. Waves of emotion rippled through her chest.
If only… one day, the Land of Rain—Amegakure—could also look like this.
Konan pulled her thoughts back and continued down the street.
The log had mentioned that Fujikaze Yukie was an actress. Konan didn't really understand what an "actress" was, but from the name it sounded like a profession related to performing—probably similar to a geisha. If she could find where she performed, she could find her.
After asking around, Konan followed a passerby's directions to a certain place.
A movie theater. So this was what the place where actors performed was called.
It was an imposing three-story building. Several giant posters were plastered across the creamy white outer wall, each vividly colored with different promotional art.
Konan stopped at the entrance, her eyes caught firmly by one of the posters.
At the center was a girl in a lavish kimono, long black hair cascading down like a waterfall. A trace of melancholy sat between her slightly furrowed brows, yet her eyes were unusually resolute.
In bold red characters, the poster read: "The Legend of Princess Fuuyun — Starring: Fujikaze Yukie."
"This should be her."
Konan stepped into the theater.
The spacious lobby was paved with gleaming marble tiles. Decorative paintings hung on the walls, and several groups of leather sofas sat in the lounge area, where quite a few patrons were already waiting.
"Now what?"
Konan thought carefully. Geisha mainly entertained through dance, singing, and music, and if you wanted to "book" a famous one, you usually had to pay extra. An actress… was probably similar, right?
She scanned the area and spotted a counter directly opposite the entrance with three words hanging above it: "Ticket Office."
The moment Konan approached, the receptionist enthusiastically greeted her. "Hello! How can I help you?"
"I want to see Fujikaze Yukie. How do I buy a ticket?"
At that name, the receptionist's eyes immediately sparkled.
"Oh! Are you a fan of Yukie-san too?!" She raised her voice in excitement. "You came at the perfect time! Yukie-san's new film is showing today—'The Legend of Princess Fuuyun.' They say it's the beginning of a whole series!"
Fan? What did that mean?
From the girl's expression, it seemed to refer to someone who admired Fujikaze Yukie—a useful identity to borrow.
So Konan nodded lightly. "Yes. One ticket."
The receptionist operated the machine on the counter, then handed over a ticket slip. "Five hundred ryo."
Konan paused slightly.
So cheap…?
"Your seat is in the center section on the second floor—best view in the house. The film starts in ten minutes. You can go in now. Enjoy the show!"
Ticket in hand, Konan turned and walked into the screening hall. The space opened up dramatically: rows of seats rose in stepped tiers, leading upward, and at the very front hung an enormous white screen that glimmered faintly under dim lighting.
Quite a few people were already seated, chatting in low voices. A sweet aroma drifted through the air—some snack called popcorn.
Konan found her seat and sat down, then looked around.
Seeing how full it was, she finally understood why the ticket price could be so low. But looking at the limited "stage" area in front, she couldn't help feeling puzzled—how could an actor perform in such a cramped space?
As she wondered, the lights in the hall dimmed one by one, and images began to appear on the screen.
Konan's eyes widened in surprise. "So… that's what 'film' means?"
Had the world outside shinobi already become like this?
Ame's image flickered across her mind. It was hard to believe these two places existed in the same world. And in an even more distant future, Amegakure would become worse still.
"Haa…"
Konan steadied her breathing and continued watching.
The story was simple: a princess, shaped by war, grows from a naive, bright girl into a warrior who fights for her country.
Just as people said, Fujikaze Yukie's performance really was outstanding. No wonder she'd become a red-hot star in the Land of Fire in just a year. And the princess she played was famous for feeling real.
"Princess…"
Konan caught the audience murmuring.
They probably never imagined that Fujikaze Yukie truly was a princess of a nation. What they praised as flawless acting was, in truth, simply her past life.
The lights came back on. Thunderous applause rolled through the hall. Then the audience began filing out, one after another.
Only Konan remained seated, unmoving, until the last viewer left and a cleaner pushed a cart of tools inside.
"Miss, the screening is over. Why are you still here?" the worker asked, confused.
Konan looked up at him. "Does Fujikaze Yukie not come to this theater?"
"Of course not." He laughed. "Why would an actress come to a movie theater?"
"Then how do I meet her?"
"Well…" The worker scratched his head awkwardly. "To be honest, actors are busy, especially a big star like Yukie-san. It's hard to see her…"
His words cut off mid-sentence. His eyes went unfocused, and his body went stiff like a puppet.
Konan used genjutsu to put him under, then asked, "How can I meet Fujikaze Yukie?"
"Actors usually have managers arranging schedules and work. The theater usually only contacts the manager. Our boss might have their contact info."
"Where is your boss?"
"Third-floor office area," the worker said dully, lifting a finger to point upstairs.
A few minutes later, Konan stood outside the target door.
Inside, a middle-aged man was bent over his desk writing. When he heard the door open, he looked up, surprise on his face.
"Who are you? This is a private office. No unauthorized entry. Customers should go downstairs to the screening halls."
Konan formed seals. She wasn't skilled at genjutsu, but against an ordinary person it was more than enough.
"I need Fujikaze Yukie's contact information—or her manager's."
The man's eyes went blank. He pulled open a drawer, took out a small notebook, flipped it open, and pointed to a page.
"This is Fujikaze Yukie's manager—Asama Sandayū. Contact information and address," he muttered.
Konan stepped forward and copied down every key detail. As she turned to leave, she paused in the doorway and looked back.
"You won't remember I was here. After I leave, you'll continue your work, as if nothing happened."
The moment the door closed, the man shuddered. He looked around in confusion.
"Strange…" he murmured, lowering his gaze back to the documents on his desk. "Why did I suddenly space out?"
~~~
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