Konoha Dance King (Part 1)

After finishing their training, Rikusei and Naori walked slowly along the forest path toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

The morning light of spring rose slowly from the horizon, leaping over the treetops to illuminate the newly established Hidden Village of Konoha.

Golden sunlight spilled onto Naori's shoulders, and the purple hair draped behind her shimmered with specks of dawn light like silk.

This familiar scene left Rikusei feeling somewhat dizzy, and the sealed memories in his mind began to awaken.

Uchiha Naori.

With a Mangekyo resembling a three-leaf clover and two short swords worn at her waist, her hair reaching down to her hips.

Was she not the very founder of Izanami?

Rikusei's mood soured instantly, and he began to let his imagination run wild; could the world line really be converging on him?

Naori brushed back a lock of hair that had grown warm against her ear, turned her bright pupils, and looked at the pale-faced boy beside her with surprise, saying softly, "It must be that you strained your wrist on the hilt while disarming me. Let me see."

Without waiting for an answer, Naori pulled the boy's right hand up, lowered her head, and carefully checked his meridians with her fingers.

Supporting the back of the boy's hand with her left, she felt the warmth radiating from it, while her right index finger traced his meridians, finding everything normal, her eyes filled with confusion.

This posture seemed a bit too intimate.

With a blush staining her cheeks, Naori slowly moved her fingers away without a word, turned around, took a deep breath, and said in a steady voice, "It's nothing serious, let's go."

Rikusei, having regained his senses, followed the girl's footsteps. As they walked through the streets of the clan grounds, the crowds converging from their respective homes were all heading in the same direction.

Something was wrong.

At this time of day, there was no reason for so many people to gather.

Rikusei was just about to ask the girl beside him.

A hurried shout from ahead caught his attention, and a somewhat reckless boy pushed through the crowd, running against the flow.

Kagami Uchiha steadied himself, took a deep breath of fresh air, and said, panting with his chest heaving slightly, "Clan Academy is canceled today; there's going to be a Full Clan Assembly later."

"Is it gathering at the village entrance?"

Naori, confused, looked at him curiously.

Rikusei realized he had spoken out of turn and corrected himself, "Is it enough to just follow the flow of the crowd?"

Kagami Uchiha nodded, signaling them to keep up.

For a Full Clan Assembly, the usual meeting room for ninjas within the Uchiha Clan Grounds could not hold so many people.

The meeting venue was chosen on a vast open field, and the crudely built wooden platform was visible at a glance; this was definitely the place.

By the time Rikusei and the others arrived, all they could see were Uchiha robes emblazoned with the Flame Gunbai.

On the left side of the formation, Rai waved his right hand at them with a smile.

Baru, standing nearby, exchanged a glance with Rikusei before turning his head away in embarrassment to whisper something to Naka.

In the crowd, Rikusei spotted the silver-haired granny at the front of the formation, fanning herself and chatting happily with the Second Granduncle.

The number of clansmen on the streets behind them was dwindling.

Seeing that the numbers were sufficient, Uchiha Madara stepped onto the wooden platform with a steady gait, gazing silently at the clansmen below with an air of natural authority.

Rikusei could clearly see the genuine adoration overflowing in the eyes of Kagami, Rai, and the others beside him.

Madara moved.

He slowly took a slip of paper from behind him, held it in his hand, and his left eye, exposed beneath his long hair, looked solemn.

If he were asked to deliver an inspiring declaration before a battle, it would be second nature, but this was his first time participating in such an event, and he treated every word written on the paper with caution.

The crowd held their breath, listening quietly to the current Uchiha clan leader's declaration of war against the Senju Clan.

After Madara finished reading the draft written by Kaku and Setsuna, he stared expressionlessly at the cheering crowd.

He keenly noticed that someone in the crowd shared his expression.

Hmm.

As expected of his disciple, to maintain such a state of mind even when facing a great war—he was destined for greatness.

Naori also revealed an excited expression, her gaze shifting to take in the boy's calm and collected appearance; considering that the Square Dance sweeping the clan was his suggestion, it was no surprise—he must have anticipated today's scene.

Truly amazing, Rikusei, the girl sighed sincerely in her heart.

The endless cheers echoed in his ears, but Rikusei, who was struggling to maintain a calm facade, was already a nervous wreck inside. How did he hear someone shouting, "It is our duty to restore the glory of the Uchiha!"? That was a joke he had once told Madara—how had it spread?

With a wave of Madara's hand, the noisy crowd instantly fell silent.

Immediately after, the granny fanning herself stepped onto the stage, preparing to hand the note in her hand to the clan leader, but was interrupted by the enthusiastic shouting from below.

The crowd wearing headbands in front raised the fans in their hands and waved them in unison.

"Chiri! Chiri! Chiri!"

The voices, no longer young, were tinged with the breath of youth, and the rhythmic chanting was filled with such fanaticism that it made one feel as if they had been transported back to their prime, that Warring States period filled with blood and tears.

Behind the crowd, Rikusei clearly identified his Second Granduncle waving the flag and shouting—was there some mistake? How had his own granny become the most popular figure among the middle-aged and elderly?

The granny whose name was being called waved her fan shyly, covering her face, but she could not hide the smile in her eyes. After handing the list to Madara, she turned and left.

The lively wooden stage returned to silence, leaving only the sound of Madara reading the list of names. Rikusei was all too familiar with these names; it was as if everyone he knew had been rounded up in one go.

Those Uchiha Sakae called out felt an immense honor, looking at one another in the crowd with excitement.

Just as Madara was about to say something more, a ninja who had arrived via Body Flicker whispered a few words into his ear.

Madara curled the corners of his lips, his eyes filled with battle intent as he looked toward the village, waving his right hand and declaring loudly, "The Sarutobi Clan and the Shimura Clan have joined the fray as well! But they have no hope; victory will ultimately belong to the Uchiha Clan!"

"That's right!" The Great Elder Uchiha Kaku stepped onto the stage to respond loudly. With a wave of his hands, clansmen holding various musical instruments walked onto the stage from the side, playing as they went.

Once the band was in position, Kaku clapped his hands and said, "The clan meeting is dismissed. Those whose names were called by the Clan Head, stay behind."

The excited crowd gradually dispersed.

Rikusei sighed at Rai and the others, who were beside themselves with joy, and walked toward the formation.

"Elder Brother, you shouldn't have agreed to them." Tobirama sat on the table, pressing his hand against the surface with a serious expression.

"Well, isn't a dance-off quite good?" Hashirama didn't seem to mind, looking at the rules recorded on the paper with great enthusiasm. "When it comes to precision and dance moves, who have we, the Senju Clan, ever feared?"

"That is not what I am worried about." Tobirama jumped down from the table helplessly, pulled over a chair, and took the paper. "There are far too many loopholes. Ninjas are beings with infinite possibilities, after all."

"But the rules have already been released." Hashirama, finally realizing the situation, said hurriedly.

Tobirama waved his hand to indicate it wasn't a major issue. As the Deputy Lead Dancer, his main responsibility was to keep an eye on his Elder Brother, ensuring he didn't get too excited and activate Wood Release to summon the Great Buddha, turning the painstakingly rebuilt village into a mess.

"Then what about the Sarutobi and the Shimura?"

"There is no time left. The finals will undoubtedly be between the Uchiha and the Senju." Tobirama answered his Elder Brother's question with a blank expression.