Acting First, Reporting Later * Kabuki

"Say it again?" His face was filled with disbelief.

Enma and Izuna sat on a bench in a roadside teahouse. The sun was shining brightly, and colorful cloths hung in front of them, creating a pleasant scene.

Hearing Enma's question, Izuna replied earnestly, "I'd like to ask you for help setting up a defensive Barrier for the Summer Festival."

The red-haired youth was bewildered. "Aren't you overestimating me? You expect me to complete the protective formation all by myself?"

"Hmm... you could get some help?"

"Then I'll have to go find my people?" Enma slammed his teacup on the table, raising his voice by half an octave. "Shouldn't I consult with our lord before seeking out my people?"

You can still hire people in your personal capacity.

Looking at Izuna's beautiful yet innocent face, Enma couldn't help but rub his forehead. "You really want to take advantage of a loophole..."

"But if you're helping in the name of the Land of Whirlpools, the Land of Hot Water might object, and your Land of Whirlpools might not be willing to get involved," Izuna said earnestly. "But this concerns the safety of the people of all nations, and I really hope you can help me with this."

Enma fell silent.

He lowered his eyes, staring at his reflection in the teacup, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rim.

Izuna is right. Intervening in the name of the Land of Whirlpools would involve too many complications. The Summer Festival is just around the corner, and if we were to go through the proper procedures, there would be no time to do so.

But in a personal capacity... Yan Enma had some fellow disciples in the Uzumaki Clan, and he believed that if he asked, his friends would definitely help.

However, if someone is still assassinated after the Formation is set up, he will have to take responsibility. Even if no one is assassinated, those nobles will definitely use this as an excuse to make things difficult for him.

Unless the Land of Hot Water admits that they wanted him to do this, or that the Land of Hot Water doesn't want to be associated with the Land of Whirlpools, then he will ultimately be the one responsible.

The question is, do I dare to take that responsibility?

Enma raised his head and exhaled.

But lives are at stake, so even if I'm afraid, I have to go.

"Okay, I'll think of something."

"Then I'll leave it to you." Izuna immediately smiled. "Once you've taken care of things here, you'll need to go and tell the people in the Land of Hot Water!"

Enma suddenly looked up, her eyes wide. "You hired me without even notifying them?!"

"You've already agreed to help, haven't you?" Izuna held up a finger and wagged it with a smile. "Oh right, just in case you back out, let's draft a contract."

As he spoke, he pulled a roll of paper from his sleeve, the paper was clean and the ink was still wet, clearly prepared in advance.

Enma's lips twitched. "I'm telling you, you..."

Izuna pushed the contract forward, handed him a pen, and said with a smile, "Please."

Enma reluctantly took the pen and quickly signed his name at the signature line.

"Take it." He slapped the contract back into Izuna's arms.

Izuna glanced down at the signature, then contentedly tucked it into his sleeve.

"So, what have you been up to lately?"

"What else can I do?" Enma said, "Set up Barrier, of course. I still haven't finished serving all the guests you brought me the other day. Besides,..."

Enma looked at him, "You rascal, you knew all along that I had a way to complete this task, didn't you? After all, we invited all the best people in the clan here for this order."

"Really?" Izuna looked surprised. "Those orders are that difficult to handle?"

"You..." Enma hesitated for a long time before finally letting out a breath, "It seems you really don't know."

What are you saying? I don't understand.

"Never mind," Enma said, looking at him. "Did you go to the Inari Shrine after I saw you that day?"

"I went. I also visited other Shrines by myself." Izuna picked up his cup of tea, blew on the foam, and spoke casually.

Enma raised an eyebrow. "How do you feel?"

Izuna thought for a moment, "Hmm... apart from the large number of people... they all seem about the same? I can't feel any difference."

"Haha, that's how Shrines are," Enma laughed. "Whether it's bustling with people, thriving with incense offerings, or deserted, it all boils down to a place where people can find peace of mind."

"But—aren't there all sorts of deities residing in the Shrine? Don't those deities each have their own responsibilities? Why not display more related items?"

Enma was taken aback, as if he hadn't expected him to say that.

"For example, Inari God of agriculture and commerce, should have some decorations like rice ears, right? Benzaiten is in charge of music and wealth, Bishamonten is a war god." Izuna counted on his fingers, "But look at those Shrines, apart from the Main Hall and Torii, they're almost all the same layout. Ema, Omamori, fortune sticks, it's all the same over and over again. The gods' duties and stories are all different, so why are the ways of worship so uniform?"

Enma looked at him helplessly, as if looking at a child with wildly imaginative ideas. "Because it's too much trouble. Besides, people go to Shrines to pray for good fortune, right? Nobody goes there specifically to visit, does they?"

"But..." Izuna's gaze fell out the window, "I just feel like things shouldn't end like this."

"Well, that's how it is." Enma shrugged, bringing the topic back on track. "By the way, didn't you say you were going to go to the Land of Hot Water to explain this?"

Izuna pouted. "No rush."

"No rush?"

"Anyway, they can only accept protection." Izuna's eyes crinkled into a smile. "If I go later, they'll accept it more quickly. You go and investigate first, and after you've confirmed the location, I'll talk to those people."

"If time is tight, there's no time to think things through, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"That's really domineering."

"It's just some social skill." Izuna stood up and straightened his clothes. "Make people wait anxiously; the longer they wait, the more likely they are to agree to any conditions you propose."

"Social skills? I think they're more like techniques for being a scoundrel."

"Don't put it so harshly," Izuna chuckled. "Besides, I'm not wrong. The Land of Hot Water is in a complete mess right now. I'm bringing them a solution; what else can they do but accept it with gratitude?"

Enma raised an eyebrow, put on a stern face, and imitated the adults asking him, "What exactly is your purpose?"

Izuna replied, "We have no other purpose. Our people could also become targets, so we need to protect our own. We'll protect you as well. You're welcome."

Enma and Izuna stared at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"As expected of you, Uchiha Izuna."

"Thank you for the compliment!"

Suddenly, two red-haired people walked over and saw them. "Ah, it's Enma."

"Yuansheng?"

"Hideki?!" Izuna's eyes widened.

The red-haired youth over there also seemed surprised, "Lord Izuna?"

Yuansheng frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"They're discussing business."

Enma noticed that Yuansheng disliked Izuna, so before Yuansheng could say anything offensive, he interrupted their conversation, "By the way, Yuansheng, Hideki, what are you doing here?"

"We're on our way to find Genichi now," Hideki replied. "Enma, would you like to come see a Kabuki performance?"

Izuna peeked out, "Kabuki?"

"Everyone has already gone to Yuasa-za."

Yuansheng sighed and said, "It's a very famous play recently; it's said to have been performed even in the capital of the Land of Fire."

Can I come with you?

Yuansheng looked at Izuna, Izuna eyes were sparkling. "I've never seen Kabuki before. It sounds really interesting. I wonder if I'll have time to buy tickets later."

Yuansheng seemed somewhat surprised that someone like Izuna had never seen Kabuki, and didn't answer for a moment. But Hideki spoke first, "Then let's go together. Our tickets allow us to bring one more person."

"That's great!"

Looking at Yuansheng Enma, who was close to Izuna, and Hideki, who had not objected, Motoki couldn't help but sigh.

They came to a forest behind a Shrine.

Kabuki tents are completely different from Kazuma tents; they are not solitary large sheds, but structures made of pieces of dyed coarse cloth pieced together.

Purple, green, and dark blue fabrics are layered among the shadows of the trees, taut with ropes and bamboo poles, and from a distance they look like a giant beast lying in the forest, its back covered with colorful scales.

Izuna remembered; a few days ago, while flying in the sky, he had seen some people building houses here like stacking building blocks. So this was the Kabuki Theater?

It looks small from the sky, but when you stand in front of it, it is surprisingly huge.

"That's amazing..."

Yuansheng seemed to care about him somewhat. Seeing his expression, he said, "It's called 'Wakashū Kabuki,' a play where only men can perform."

Izuna turned to look at him, "Only men? Are the female roles also played by men?"

"That's right." Hideki continued, leading them around the side of the tent towards the entrance with the curtain hanging over it. "I heard there's someone inside named Mitarai— "

Before he could finish speaking, the curtain was lifted from the inside, and a man in a brown yukata peeked out. Seeing Hideki, he smiled and said, "Oh, you've arrived? Genichi has already gone in; he's been waiting for you."

His gaze swept over the group, lingering for a moment on Izuna. "Looks like our show is quite popular."

Enma introduced Izuna, "This is my cousin, Uzumaki Kyōnosuke. Cousin, this..."

Kyōnosuke raised his hand to gesture to him, then nodded to Izuna, "Uchiha Izuna, it 'Daimyo to meet you."

Izuna nodded slightly. "Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, Kyōnosuke."

The man stepped aside to make way, and as the curtain was lifted, light and lively activity poured out.

The theater's interior was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside. Several rows of benches surrounded a square stage, behind which was a huge wooden board painted with distant mountains and a sea of clouds. The colors were not particularly refined, but they possessed a rugged vitality.

Several paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, their light filtering through and bathing the entire space in a warm, orange glow.

There were quite a few spectators, including merchants, women in kimonos, and a few Samurai with swords sitting in a corner, discussing something in hushed tones.

Izuna sat down with Hideki at the back, Enma sat next to him, and Yuansheng sat on the far side.

On the left side of the stage, a man dressed in a black kimono knelt on a cushion, his hands on his knees, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Izuna had been looking around ever since he entered.

But his expression didn't show the awkwardness or unease of someone new to the place; it was pure curiosity.

All of this was not unfamiliar to him, yet it was also full of novelty, as if he had seen a wider world, but was still willing to stop and look at such a simple stage.

Kyōnosuke sat down diagonally behind him, taking in Izuna's reaction, and smiled slightly, "It seems you're quite curious about this place."

Izuna withdrew his gaze, his eyes crinkling into a smile, "Because it's the first time I've seen this kind of stage."

"This form?" Kyōnosuke tilted his head.

Izuna raised his hand and gestured to the wooden board painted with distant mountains and clouds and the colorful cloth around it. "I heard from Hideki that they used to perform in the Capital of the Land of Fire, setting up a stage like this in one place. Do they tour around like a circus?"

"That's right." Kyōnosuke nodded. "Their original place of origin was the Land of Hot Water. Every year when the summer solstice festival arrives, they return to the Land of Hot Water to perform, just like this. It's a long-standing custom."

"At this time of year, everyone comes here to watch plays and show their support. Sometimes even important figures like yourself come here to see a show."

Izuna shook his head. "What important person? I'm just a curious spectator. Please don't take me seriously."

Kyōnosuke was amused by his appearance. "Yes, Lord Izuna."

"So what are they acting in?" Izuna asked, resting his elbows on his knees and leaning slightly forward.

Yuansheng, who had been sitting on the far right and hadn't said much until now, chimed in. "They're all well-known little stories, legends of spirits and monsters."

"For example?"

"For example, this performance is about the story of Momotaro."

Izuna's eyes lit up immediately, "Momotaro! My favorite story!"

He spoke these words with utter candor, without any attempt to conceal anything, carrying an almost naive openness.

Yuansheng looked at his handsome face and bright eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"I never expected someone like you to like Momotaro."

What do you mean by "someone like me"?

"Nothing..."

"So you're treating me like Ordinary People?! Seriously!"

Enma pulled Izuna back from craning her neck towards Yuansheng, "Shh, it's about to begin."

The candlelight inside the paper lantern was covered, and the warm orange light gradually faded, plunging the entire tent into a soft, dim gloom.

A beam of white light shone from the side onto the wooden backdrop on the stage, instantly making the outlines of the distant mountains and sea of clouds appear three-dimensional, as if a section of a distant mountain were truly suspended in mid-air.

The sound of Shamisen being plucked came from behind the curtain, one note, two notes, like tuning a string, clear and bright, echoing in the tent and silencing everyone's whispers.

A man in a white yukata sat to one side, struck a drum once, and the scene fell silent.

Then he began to tell the story of Momotaro.