"Come on, let's have some fun—after all, we've got all the time in the world."
"Come on, let's fall in love—after all, there's plenty of desire."
"Come on, let's wander—after all, the road ahead is wide open."
"Come on, let's show off—after all, there's plenty of glory."
"Ah... it itches..."
The Wind-Lightning Alliance camp was ablaze with bonfires, turning night into day. On a makeshift stage, three graceful figures danced to a sultry, languid melody. Over thirty thousand ninja stared, totally mesmerized. No one dared utter a sound, afraid to break the spell of beauty and song.
Kakuzu had moved fast—just four days to bring seven thousand coastal defense troops to the front, arriving almost simultaneously with the Cloud reinforcements, who'd had a much shorter march.
But it wasn't just soldiers who arrived. Jinghang, the Kazekage, had arranged for the Golden Sand Entertainment Group's top troupe to come all the way from Yuexi Peninsula. If they were rotating troops out, what was one extra day? The men had been fighting for over a year. Let them enjoy a real show—music, dancing, a taste of life.
And this wasn't just any show. The headliners were the legendary "Ninja Girls"—an idol group every shinobi in this army had grown up listening to. These days, Akiho and Laura had retired, married, faded from the spotlight; only Eimi still performed, solo. But those three on stage—those dazzling silhouettes—were icons, their songs eternal anthems burned into a generation's soul.
Plenty of ninja in the crowd quietly dabbed their eyes with tissues, overcome not just by nostalgia, but by the raw intensity of the moment.
Golden Sand Entertainment had churned out plenty of idol groups over the years, but none ever matched the mythic pull of the Ninja Girls. Jinghang knew this. He'd moved heaven and earth to get them to the front lines—not just to reward the troops, but to set the stage for what came next.
The performance was winding down. The Ninja Girls, of course, were the finale. They'd already belted out classics like "Blue Bird" and "Let the World Be Filled with Love." Now, this new song—"Itch"—a tune Jinghang had shamelessly borrowed from another world, swept over the crowd. The lyrics were teasing, the melody addictive, leaving every ninja in a strange, restless trance.
"You wrote this one?" the Third Raikage asked, turning to Jinghang.
Jinghang grinned. "Yeah, what's wrong, A?"
"It's decadent," A grumbled. "Gave me goosebumps. Aren't you worried it'll kill morale?"
Jinghang just laughed. "So it got to you too, huh? That's the point."
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't you feel it? Like a feather tickling your ear, just out of reach…"
A frowned. "Yeah."
"Doesn't it make you want to scratch all over? Like you can't sit still?"
"…Yeah."
"Don't you just want to go home and give your wife a—"
"Stop, stop. What's your point?"
Jinghang's eyes sparkled mischievously. "My point is, when the men hear that Takigakure's reinforcements have arrived and realize they can't go home yet, what do you think they'll do?"
A's eyes widened. "Ha! They'll take it out on the Waterfall ninja, won't they? You're devious!"
Jinghang just smiled, perfectly satisfied.
The song ended. Thunderous applause and wild cheers shook the camp. The Ninja Girls blew kisses, slipping offstage and leaving a thousand daydreams behind.
"Next up, please welcome our special act: the crosstalk performance 'Eastern Campaign Dream,' starring the Third Kazekage, Jinghang, and the Third Raikage, A!"
The announcer's words sent a shockwave through the crowd.
The two Kage—on stage? Performing?
This was insane!
Wait… what's crosstalk?
Nobody knew, but everyone was watching.
…
"Alright, big brother, it's our turn," Jinghang said, clapping A on the shoulder backstage. "You got your lines down?"
A scoffed. "It's just a few lines. I'm not going to forget."
"Don't be sloppy. Three parts funny, seven parts straight man. The punchline's the whole point."
A grinned. "Just watch—I'll bring the house down."
They strode onto the stage and bowed. The entire army leapt to its feet to salute, never having seen anything like this in their lives.
Jinghang waved them down, smiling. "Everyone, relax! Today's a good day. We've all fought hard for over a year. Tonight, let's just enjoy ourselves—no rules, no ranks. Sit down!"
A echoed, "Yeah, everyone sit down."
A wave of laughter passed through the crowd as everyone settled back.
"Tonight, the two of us are going to perform a crosstalk for you."
"Right," A chimed in.
"What's crosstalk?"
"What is it?" A repeated.
"It's a language art," Jinghang explained. "It's all about talking, imitating, joking, and singing—four essential skills."
"Four skills," A repeated dutifully.
And so the two began their routine—call and response, banter and punchlines. At first, the soldiers listened in confusion. Was this really just… talking? But the rhythm, the chemistry, the timing—it drew them in. Laughter started here and there, then snowballed. By the time they hit the big jokes, the entire camp was roaring, doubled over, tears streaming down faces.
Their "Eastern Campaign Dream" was a ninja parody of a classic comic routine—packed with gags, slapstick, and in-jokes only a shinobi could love.
"What are you doing, strutting around with a spittoon on your head?"
"Dreaming! Get lost!"
With the final punchline, the camp exploded in applause. This strange new art form had conquered the hearts of thirty thousand hardened ninja.
Jinghang and A bowed again, then Jinghang stepped forward for a closing speech.
"Brothers! We've been at war for more than a year. Every one of you has fought, bled, and sacrificed to protect your homeland. As Kazekage, I thank you. Lord A and I know what you've been through. That's why we're rotating the ranks—so most of you can finally go home. If you didn't get picked this time, don't worry. The next rotation is coming soon.
"And for those heading home—enjoy it! Be good to your parents, hug your kids, and spend some quality time with your wives and lovers—"
The crowd erupted in laughter, the tension of war melting away for one precious night.
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