Chapter 18: Many Wives, Many Blessings! School Festival (Part 2)!"You scared me to death!" Sakura patted her chest."The way Sasuke-kun saved that person just now was so cool..." a few girls nearby whispered.Shikamaru walked over to inspect the broken wooden board: "Props team, this needs reinforcement. And Sasuke, while improvising is a good thing, tell us in advance next time."Hinata nodded quickly: "I, I'll reinforce it right away!"Sai stood outside the crowd, silently noting something down in his small notebook.After the rehearsal ended that day, Naruto chased after Sasuke, who was leaving alone."Hey, Sasuke.""...What is it?""Thanks for today.""...No need.""As a token of my gratitude," Naruto pulled two items out of his Ninja tool pouch, "let me treat you to some dango. Three-color or red bean, which one do you want?"Sasuke stopped his footsteps, looking at the dango in Naruto's hand with a complicated expression."...You carry these around with you?""I bought them at the dango shop on the way here." Naruto grinned, "Hinata said that shop had a special sale today."Sasuke was silent for a few seconds before reaching out to take the red bean one.The two walked side by side on the street under the sunset, eating their dango in silence."Why do you..." Sasuke suddenly spoke, "always act like this?""Act like what?""Like this... towards everyone." Sasuke looked at the bamboo skewer in his hand, "Even though those people distanced themselves from you at first, were afraid of you, and even hated you."Naruto took a bite of the dango, chewing for a long time before saying: "Because what they were afraid of wasn't 'me', it was the 'Nine-Tailed container'. And fear is something that can't be Cannot be eliminated with logic alone.""Then why aren't you angry?""I am angry." Naruto smiled, "Of course I'm angry. But being angry doesn't change anything. Besides,"He looked towards Sasuke: "If I stayed angry and resentful, how would I be any different from those who hurt others out of fear?"Sasuke did not speak."Besides," Naruto stretched, "I have you guys as friends and companions now, and I have my mom and dad. I'm already much happier than many people.""Friends..." Sasuke repeated the word, his voice very soft."Of course." Naruto patted Sasuke's shoulder hard, "We've been rehearsing together for a week now, and we've even fallen onto the mats together—of course we're friends!"Sasuke stumbled slightly from the pat and glared at Naruto, but in the end, he didn't shake off his hand.The sunset stretched their shadows long, intertwining on the stone path....On the day of the school festival, the entire campus turned into an ocean of joy.The school was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and every class had its own stall.Naruto's class ran a "Ninja-yaki" stall and a "Shuriken Throwing Game" stall, managed by Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino.The play would be performed at two o'clock in the afternoon in the school auditorium.Backstage, it was chaotic."My headband! Who saw my headband!""Makeup! My makeup isn't finished yet!""Props team! Where is the last box of props!"...By this time, Naruto had already changed into Hashirama's costume.A deep blue haori with the Uzumaki Clan emblem on the back.The clothes, sewn by Hinata herself, fit perfectly."Naruto-kun, it suits you very well." Hinata said with a blushing face."Thanks, Hinata!" Naruto spun around, "Your craftsmanship is getting better and better! You'll definitely be a virtuous wife and a good mother in the future.""Virtuous wife... good mother... giving birth to Naruto's... children..." Hinata muttered quietly, then suddenly flushed so red she fainted on the spot."Hinata, are you okay?" Fortunately, UchihaMatsuri, who was standing next to her helping out, caught her in time....On the other side, Sasuke had also changed into Madara's attire—a black high-collared robe with the Uchiha fan emblem on the back. He adjusted his collar in the mirror, his expression somewhat uncomfortable."Sasuke-kun is super cool!" Several girls gathered around, "You're practically Uchiha Madara himself!"Sasuke: "...Hm."...Sai sat on a chair in the corner, holding the narrator's script, reciting it silently over and over.Naruto walked over and handed him a glass of water."Don't be nervous, Sai. Just pretend there's no one in the audience and recite it like you did during rehearsals."Sai took the water, his fingers trembling slightly: "...It's my first time in front of so many people...""Me too." Naruto sat next to him, "But think about it, once the lights hit, you won't be able to see anyone in the audience, just darkness. Just pretend you're telling a story to the darkness—how cool is that?"Sai was stunned for a moment, then smiled softly: "...Yeah. Thank you, Naruto."...At two o'clock sharp, the auditorium was packed.Not only had the students come, but many parents and villagers also came to watch.Minato and Kushina sat in the front row.Next to them were Hyuga Hiashi with Hanabi, Inoichi Yamanaka with his wife, the Haruno couple... parents who had the time seemed not to want to miss this grand event."It's my first time watching Naruto act." Minato said with a smile.Kushina held her husband's hand tightly: "That child will definitely do a great job."The lights dimmed, and the curtain rose.Sai stood in the shadows on the side of the stage, his voice echoing through the auditorium via a sound-amplification jutsu:"In an era of war, two boys met. Their encounter changed the fate of the Ninja world..."The story began.Naruto, playing Hashirama, met Sasuke, playing Madara, by the river.The two boys went from fighting to knowing each other, and from knowing each other to cherishing one another. They made a vow to build a Villagewhere children would no longer have to go to the battlefield...The performance was a great success.Naruto's sunny and magnanimous demeanor, and Sasuke's aloof and stoic nature, were both portrayed vividly.When the two formed the "Brotherhood Alliance" on stage, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.The climax was the duel at the Valley of the End.According to the stage effects designed by Shikamaru, the lights simulated the clash of Ninjutsu.When Naruto and Sasuke completed that brilliant taijutsu confrontation on the "cliff", the children in the audience held their breath.In the final scene, the dying Madara lay in Hashirama's arms.According to the script, there was a long line of dialogue here.But Sasuke, looking into Naruto's blue eyes reflecting the stage lights, suddenly forgot his lines.Backstage, Shikamaru covered his face: "It's over..."But Naruto didn't panic. He held Sasuke's hand and improvised a line not in the script:"Even if our paths are different, even if we draw swords against each other, you are still my only... friend."Sasuke's pupils contracted slightly. He looked at Naruto, and those lines he had memorized so well suddenly all came flooding back."...Hashirama, you really are a... naive idiot.""Yeah." Naruto smiled, though tears fell, "But this is what you taught me... the value of dreams and bonds."The curtain slowly closed.
