He was only missing the white hair and beard; he was still just as short.
Mifune smiled and began reminiscing as well. "When I was his age, I was still practicing with a sword. I'd only been in the big city for a few years, and I worked incredibly hard."
Mifune truly was an inspiring figure. Torikaze had seen him as a child, and aside from a house, he could be said to have had nothing at all.
Even his sword had been battered and worn. If Torikaze had not left him a sword and some money before departing, his life might have been even harder.
"When I was young, I don't think I looked all that different from how I do now."
The moment Torikaze spoke, everyone else became unhappy. He was clearly already fifty, yet he still looked twenty. Where was that supposed to leave Ōnoki's pride, as a fellow Third Kage?
"You're not normal, so ordinary logic can't be applied to you."
The Kazekage, who had remained silent until now, spoke up. "Lord Torikaze's life has been truly tumultuous. He left for fifty years, yet returned still looking twenty."
Torikaze shook his head helplessly. "That's a bit of an exaggeration."
Onstage, the performers continued throwing themselves into all sorts of difficult moves.
For a time, sparks flew everywhere across the stage. Everyone worried that an accidental fire might break out, or that the sparks might hit the audience.
But their concerns proved unnecessary. Everyone's nerves had been on edge throughout the performance, yet nothing happened in the end.
That sense of relief, mixed with the exhilaration of watching the show, greatly improved everyone's impression of the act.
"It was a very good performance, but there weren't many variations. They kept repeating the same few moves. It would