Shen Heng glanced around and could clearly see that the other Pain's were played by boys.
Considering the size of the performing arts troupe and the fact that these few people had no lines and were only responsible for action scenes, they were most likely ordinary soldiers who were invited to participate.
Thinking of this, Shen Heng couldn't help but recall the previous invitation to participate in the performance.
He didn't agree, but...
The figure wearing a red divine robe was fighting against several figures wearing black robes with red cloud patterns.
Although it wasn't easy, things went relatively smoothly overall.
The figures in black robes with red cloud patterns were quickly reduced to just two.
Then, the figure wearing a red divine robe stepped forward, intending to press his advantage and eliminate the remaining two figures.
The figure in the very center, dressed in a black robe with red clouds, slowly raised his hand.
Almighty Push--!
The cold, harsh words were played through the terminals placed in various locations.
Then, a white halo appeared beside the figure with its hands raised.
The next moment, a burst of white light exploded.
The figure clad in a red divine robe was sent flying backwards.
The figure in the black robe with red cloud patterns did not give chase; instead, he stood still and watched quietly.
Then, one of them spoke indifferently.
"What's so great about that... is that all you've got?"
Platform... well, let's just call it a platform for now.
Halfway up the mountain, one soldier after another held their breath.
Even though you know it's fake, if you don't consciously think about it and just follow the plot, you can still feel the tension.
Everyone stared intently at that spot.
Then, Naruto struggled to his feet.
"Kesou--"
With a roar, Naruto collapsed again.
This time, Pain didn't give him another chance. He swiftly stepped forward and stuck a black stick between his... hands!
"That should keep things a little quieter, right, Nine-Tails?" Pain crouched down, his hand braced against the black rod, looking indifferently at Naruto lying on the ground.
"Cough, cough..."
The female warrior playing Naruto coughed twice, sounding unwell, then gritted her teeth and said:
"Who are you guys? Why are you doing this?! What good does destroying Konoha do to you?!"
You ask me why?
Still indifferently watching the enemy at his feet, Pain spoke:
"Things in this world are always like this: they happen suddenly, seemingly without reason, but the real cause is always discovered during subsequent investigations!"
"Damn it, what is this guy even saying?!"
Naruto's inner thoughts were spoken aloud by the narrator over the loudspeaker.
However, Pain, who was in the middle, clearly couldn't hear it.
He looked at Naruto indifferently and continued:
"In this situation, let me think... I'd better mention it briefly..."
Before he could finish speaking, a figure suddenly rushed over from the side.
The fist landed.
"Bang!"
Gravel flew everywhere.
Pain was forced to retreat.
A female warrior with long, flowing purple hair remained where she stood.
"Who plays Hinata? She's beautiful!"
"I don't know..."
Whispers echoed throughout the mountainside.
Because she was disguised and quite far away, they couldn't see her clearly, but no one complained.
After all, the performing arts troupe gave a reason when the arrangement was made, although it was only one sentence.
"Don't you want to experience what it's like to be a Konoha resident when Naruto saved the Konoha?"
Shen Heng also looked down at Hinata.
It feels somewhat familiar, no, it should be said that it is very familiar.
When the performing arts troupe invited them to participate, he declined. However, Han Ling and Stone, after clarifying the plot and participation arrangements...
Below, Han Ling —no, Hinata— opened her arms and stood in front of Naruto.
"I won't... let you hurt Naruto!"
The delivery of the lines wasn't professional, but the determination in his voice was unmistakable to everyone.
" Hinata? What are you doing here? Run! You're no match for that guy!" The female warrior playing Naruto shouted from the ground.
"I came here of my own accord!" Hinata, standing still.
"What are you saying? How could you come to a place like this all by yourself?!" ' Naruto ' shouted anxiously.
"This is how I came to be, following my own will!" Hinata spoke again, reiterating her beliefs. "All I did was cry, give up from the very beginning, and almost went astray several times..."
The voice spoke, and spoke, until it gradually faded into melancholy.
" Naruto pulled me out of this state! I've always been chasing after you, wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, but because of my abilities, it seems like there's no way I can."
"I can only watch you fight silently, even sacrifice yourself, just like before..."
Perhaps due to being too engrossed in the performance, some of the more sensitive female warriors in the stands began to sob.
Many soldiers also watched quietly, as if they were putting themselves in Hinata's shoes and experiencing that relationship.
"So..."
Hinata paused, then spoke with sudden firmness.
"If I could, no matter what, I would like to stand by your side in your final moments!"
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Pain, on the other side, seemed not to have recovered from Hinata's words and stood there in a daze.
He didn't realize what was happening until he heard a urging voice in his ear.
He reached down and caught a falling black stick.
Hinata then engaged Pain in battle.
"Too weak."
Pain's words echoed in the room.
He repeatedly knocked Hinata away as she charged at him, but Hinata kept getting up again and again.
Her once clean clothes began to get dirty, and blood began to flow down her body.
The audience in the stands gradually couldn't bear to watch anymore.
" Hinata, this is fake! Fight back! Fight back!"
" Naruto, hurry up and attack! What are you standing there for?..."
Whispers rang out, softly.
Everyone knew it was all an act, so no one dared to shout out loud.
So all they could do was watch, watch Hinata fly out again and again.
Naruto was the same; he lay on the ground, staring blankly at the figure that flew out again and again.
Finally, after one more time.
This time, Hinata didn't stand up again.
This time, however, many viewers couldn't stand it anymore.
" Naruto, what are you doing? Get up there already! You're just lying there on the ground..."
"Quickly, go protect Hinata!"
One cry after another rang out.
But the female warrior playing Naruto seemed stunned.
She lay on the ground, painfully watching the figure lying there, no longer moving.
The figure slowly began to tremble.
White energy swirled around her.
The next moment.
A large amount of smoke exploded in the arena.
In the hazy smoke, a figure over ten meters tall appeared in the center of the battlefield.
Its entire body is a deep red color, with several tails swaying at the end.
Aside from its rather plump, fox-like physique.
This is completely...
" The Nine-Tails...?"
The female warrior playing Pain recited her lines, her gaze fixed on Nine-Tails), her voice carrying a hint of genuine surprise.
However, what responded to her was a real, oppressive growl.
"Roar--"
The Nine-Tails raised its head, its scarlet eyes first sweeping over Hinata was lying to the side, before fixing its gaze on Pain.
An extremely angry shout echoed through the mountain valley.
"You shouldn't have touched her--"