Beside the Go board.
Naruto Uzumaki and the Sage of Six Paths had been focused on the game itself and the fierce battles raging in the distance.
But a voice utterly at odds with the grim, overwhelming, epic atmosphere of battle suddenly broke their concentration, like a stone thrown into a still lake.
"Hell yeaaah!!! Awe-some!"
The strange cry, brimming with exhilaration and wild delight, even cracking a little, came from a completely unexpected corner.
"Getting to film this many powerful fighters in action...
Even if I dropped dead right now, I'd have gotten my money's worth!"
The voice was rough and excited, charged with reckless fervor, like an explorer who had discovered a priceless treasure, or a gambler who had won after betting everything he owned.
Naruto and the Sage of Six Paths both turned toward the voice.
Not too far from them, right at the edge of an area protected by some sort of rule, stood a gray-haired old man in a wrinkled, dust-covered vest. With a camera perched on his shoulder, he waved his arms and bounced around in a frenzy of excitement, spittle flying.
His eyes were as wide as saucers, fixed on the camera's viewfinder, nearly popping from their sockets. His face held a mixture of incredulous awe, the ecstasy of finding a priceless treasure, and a satisfaction that bordered on martyrdom.
He was completely immersed in his own world of "filming." He seemed entirely oblivious to-or simply unconcerned by-the world-shattering surges of energy around him and the Sage of Six Paths and Naruto standing so close by.
His entire attention was riveted on those earth-shaking battlefields in the distance, especially the sight of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha trading blows like gods and demons, tearing heaven and earth apart!
"This angle! This lighting! These