On Kage Rock, the facial sculpture of the First, Hashirama Senju, was beginning to take shape. His bold smile seemed able to pierce through the stone and fill the entire village with its warmth. To celebrate the completion of this symbol of Konoha's foundations, the village held a sizable festival. The sun had yet to set completely, but strings of lanterns and colorful streamers already lined both sides of the main street, illuminating the villagers' faces, bright with joy and hope. The air was filled with the savory aroma of grilled meat, the cloying sweetness of candy, and the rich scent of stir-fried noodle sauce. Vendors called out their wares with gusto, while children in new clothes darted through the crowd, laughing and playing with bright, bell-like voices.
It was a thriving scene, brimming with the vitality of a new beginning.
As one of the major forces behind the village's founding, the Uchiha Clan had naturally been invited. Its members had shed their usual battle attire and changed into formal, dark-colored kimono bearing the clan crest, joining the flowing crowds in small groups. They tried to share in the festivities, but the air they had cultivated over many years, along with the occasional glint in their dark eyes under the lantern light, always made them seem a little out of place.
Uchiha Cang followed several clan elders, his steps steady and his gaze calmly sweeping over everything around him. He seemed more like a cool-headed observer than someone immersed in the festivities. The clamor, the laughter, the aroma of food... These warm sensations flooded his mind, only to be swiftly analyzed and categorized by his cold rationality.
He spotted the center of attention in the crowd—Hashirama Senju. The First had taken off his imposing Hokage robes and wore only a