The next day, it was time for rehearsal...
"Welcome, everyone, to the rally for the second Shinobi World Olympics. The Olympics are drawing ever closer. We called you all here to decide the order of performances for the opening ceremony and check how your rehearsals have been going lately," Kakuzu said cheerfully from the stage, looking at the crowd below.
A noisy round of applause rose from the audience.
"This is the revised lineup I put together over the past few days based on the acts you submitted. If there's anything you're unhappy with, tell me now. We can still change it," Kakuzu said, taking out a list and smiling at everyone below.
No one said a word, but every pair of eyes was fixed intently on Kakuzu up on the stage.
"Brother! Do you think I'll be the first to perform? Or maybe I'll be the last?! I'm so excited, Brother!" Asura whispered, clutching Indra's shoulders beside him and desperately trying to contain his excitement.
"If Kakuzu has even one last shred of humanity left, you'll definitely be the closing act," Indra said, giving his younger brother a bland glance.
Asura continued staring excitedly at Kakuzu onstage, his face flushed, silently repeating to himself, Please let me be near the beginning...
"First, for the opening ceremony's first act, the camera will cut to Asura. Asura, you'll give the first performance of the opening ceremony. Let me see here. Your song is your own original composition, 'Unspoken Rock,'" Kakuzu said, looking at the slip of paper in his hand and slowly reading out the first performer's name.
The moment Kakuzu finished speaking, the hall fell silent. Great swaths of people turned to look at Asura behind them.
Asura seemed to have crashed, too. He shakily rose to his feet and