At the same time that Madara Uchiha breathed a sigh of relief, a surge of emotion followed.
It was the moving emotion of being trusted and supported by someone important to him, a kind of emotional value that no one else could give him. After decades of loneliness, he had once again found someone who understood him.
This emotion made Madara feel as if Muzi was glowing all over whenever he looked at her, and he was utterly entranced.
So dazzling, so beautiful, truly an angel...
So thought Madara Uchiha.
Then, Muzi happily and enthusiastically pulled Madara along, heading toward the venue of the press conference. Her energy and curiosity radiated as she looked around nonstop along the way. Her big, shining eyes reflected a sense of joy and contentment that enveloped her whole being.
This reaction once again reminded Madara of Hashirama Senju. Back during the early days of Konoha's founding, Hashirama would wander around the developing village with this exact look on his face.
Madara couldn't help but sigh inwardly—Muzi was truly worthy of being the reincarnation of that guy Hashirama. Their personalities really were alike.
"No, Muzi is better than that guy Hashirama! Because Muzi would never feel murderous intent toward me or stab me in the back!"
Madara suddenly said in his heart, adding another layer of high-dimensional filter to Muzi's halo. His core belief: to trust in Muzi's goodness!
Because of this mindset, Madara didn't even notice how unusually curious Muzi was about everything in the Leaf Village—a curiosity far beyond what any normal Leaf native should have.
Although today's grand event did indeed feature many new attractions, Muzi was curious about everything, which simply wasn't normal.
And yet, sharp-minded Madara completely failed to realize it. If the current Shinobi World were a game, Madara would probably be under a "Charmed" debuff.
Some things, even a century-old fossil can't resist. In fact, certain people and matters are even more lethal to such fossils.
In short, with such emotions, Madara Uchiha and Muzi were about to enter the press conference venue.
At this very moment, viewed from above, one could see the grand venue—expanded several times to now accommodate 50,000 attendees—surrounded by massive crowds moving toward the entrance. Upon arrival, they queued under the guidance of the staff.
Of course, that treatment was for regular guests. Since the venue had VIP seating, there were exclusive entrances for VIPs. Many individuals were led through these private channels without needing to queue with the general crowd.
People like Naruto Uzumaki, the three transmigrators, Minato's trio and "Naruko," "Muzi," and "Radama," as well as some others, all entered via the VIP route. Once inside, they headed directly to private booths.
Simultaneously, game halls managed by the Konoha Gaming Guild in various locations across the Shinobi World, and open spaces under Konoha Gaming Hall's administration, were also packed with people ready to watch the livestream of the press conference. This was the first livestream in Shinobi history, signaling the dawn of a true media age.
The person in charge of ensuring the livestream went smoothly was none other than Kikyo Uzumaki, who had completely taken over Konoha's media operations.
Undoubtedly, many questioned or nitpicked the decision to let a young girl handle such an important task, even if she was one of Uchiha Kei's people and supported by Konoha's upper echelons.
After all, everyone was a rookie in this field. Why should a girl with no apparent accomplishments be in charge?
Even if ninjas were judged by strength, Kikyo hadn't demonstrated hers yet. In such cases, the classic Japanese tradition kicked in—seniority and hierarchy!
Yet now, Kikyo had silenced all objections.
With her unmatched professionalism, every suggestion and idea she gave was efficient, precise, and innovative. Just hearing them made one feel they could work.
Through constant study and rigorous training in the Mental Network's learning space, Kikyo Uzumaki had developed overwhelming expertise in media management. Since taking over Konoha's newspaper, she'd already achieved notable results, allowing the influence of the Konoha Weekly to spread deep into all parts of the Shinobi World.
Moreover, she successfully managed the magazine *Public Knowledge*, a project Uchiha Kei once impulsively launched. Many in the Shinobi World now saw this publication as soul food. They viewed Konoha as an ideal homeland and utopia, full of yearning and aspiration. This cultivated many self-motivated followers.
While the ideological impact of media hadn't yet yielded massive benefits, its accomplishments were clear. It had achieved what combat, strength, and money alone could not.
Thus, although assigning Kikyo the livestream duty still faced some resistance, the objections were mild. As long as she handled the livestream well, her merits and authority would grow further, silencing all doubters.
What? Uchiha Kei was deliberately padding the resume of a girl he liked?
Uh, is it possible that Uchiha Kei didn't even bother hiding it?
Don't assume fairness and justice are guaranteed. In the Shinobi World, such ideals don't even exist.
Uchiha Kei didn't mind idealists bringing beauty and justice to the world, but he himself was a selfish man who never hesitated to use his privileges for those he cared about—as long as he did so with restraint and didn't abuse them.
Besides, Kikyo had been trained. She understood the media better than anyone in the Shinobi World. Who else but a professional should handle these things?
Leaving it to amateurs would be the real idiocy and injustice!
In short, today's livestream of the press conference was under Kikyo Uzumaki's backstage management. With her clear and orderly commands, all units were in position, waiting excitedly and tensely for the official start.
Time ticked by. More and more people entered the venue, gradually filling every seat. Everyone advanced, found their seats using their admission passes, and waited patiently for the press conference to begin.
Around 9:30 a.m., the background music suddenly changed to an energetic tune. Then came an announcement over the venue speakers, reminding attendees to take their seats.
At the same time, the livestream began. Two hosts—one male and one female—appeared onscreen, greeting viewers across the Shinobi World.
As the stream started, viewers glued their eyes to the screen, shouting things like, "It's starting!" "Finally!" "Here it comes!"
This first livestream in Shinobi history took the form of a new Genjutsu Game release conference, marking a historic moment.
"Konoha Television, this is Konoha Television. Welcome, friends in the livestream room."
"I'm host Kobayashi Kaiko."
"And I'm host Yamashita Shinji."
With that opening line, Konoha TV established itself as the Shinobi World's version of a national broadcaster.
While livestreaming a new game release would seem abstract on Earth, such problems didn't exist here. Genjutsu Games were never viewed as distractions or vices.
In fact, in today's Shinobi World, any power that hadn't introduced or played Genjutsu Games was seen as backward and ignorant, destined to be left behind and destroyed by the tide of history.
For example, the Land of Rain still banned the games. Even though organizations like the Akatsuki were smuggling them in, their leader Hanzo was a stubborn and decaying relic.
As a result, the entire Shinobi World laughed at the Land of Rain and its senile "demigod," saying he was leading the country into ruin.
Many powers were already eyeing the Land of Rain, convinced that without embracing Genjutsu Games, it would only weaken. Once Hanzo died or deteriorated further, wolves would descend upon the country to tear it apart.
After all, Hanzo had killed the daimyo and made himself ruler of the Land of Rain. This had long incurred the wrath of other nations' nobility. They waited eagerly to see the Land of Rain collapse, to show the world what happens to those who challenge the authority of nobles and daimyo.
In short, Genjutsu Games now held immense sway in the Shinobi World. News of a major new release would inevitably shake the world.
Didn't you see how the Raikage of the Hidden Cloud and the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand came in person to Konoha for this?
Now, the Raikage, Kazekage, and Hokage were all seated in the center VIP area—open, unshielded seats like a podium. The Hokage, of course, was still Hiruzen Sarutobi, the nearly-retired Third Hokage dragged out one last time for work.
Hiruzen didn't want to be here. He preferred to watch the show in a private VIP booth or go home and enjoy Jiraiya's new game. But faced with two other Kage, only the Third Hokage could represent the Leaf.
What choice did he have? Tsunade hadn't taken office yet!
This left Hiruzen quite depressed. Forced to engage in hollow pleasantries with two other old men, he much preferred Jiraiya's art.
Alas, he had no choice but to put on a professional smile and chat with the Raikage and Kazekage, projecting harmony and camaraderie.
Hmm, the Raikage and Kazekage were also fake-smiling. Dressed in their official robes, they too were putting on a show.
Since the event would be livestreamed and reported, no one wanted to slip up.
Honestly, both the Raikage and Kazekage were fuming. Their main goal was to see what this new game was all about and discuss importing it. But now, with livestreams and newspaper coverage, they were stuck.
Even so, there was nothing to be done. The event had begun, and they could only endure.
In truth, their behavior was spot on. At that moment, the livestream was in full swing. The cameras, strategically placed in the venue, were broadcasting everything.
The two hosts were now giving clear, professional commentary, ensuring viewers quickly understood what was happening.
The camera inevitably turned to the three Kage. The hosts professionally introduced them, their speech polished and fluid, just like a news broadcast on Earth.
Seeing the three Kage with friendly expressions, the hosts began praising the Will of Fire, peace, and harmony. They emphasized how this moment, with the three Kage watching the livestream together, embodied the very essence of peace and its allure. They asserted that Konoha would continue to promote this beautiful spirit for the betterment of the Shinobi World.
This speech was, of course, laced with agenda—positioning Konoha as the moral pinnacle, the peace-loving exemplar of the Shinobi World, the force most deserving of trust.
It was all about building a golden image.
Though the immediate impact wasn't obvious, when other powers clashed with Konoha in the future, this image would help keep Konoha on the moral high ground. People would instinctively see Konoha as good and its enemies as villains.
This might not seem important in the strength-centric Shinobi World, where might makes right. But for Konoha's long-term plans and development, it was crucial.
It would attract more visionary individuals to Konoha, contributing to its growth.
And when Konoha sought to expand externally, there would be countless people ready to assist, even becoming guides.
In short, Konoha's cultural invasion and narrative dominance were already spreading and taking deep root across the Shinobi World.
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