CH - 19 Movie Premiere

A/N: Sorry about slightly less quality Today. I am slightly busy due to Weekends

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With curiosity, Tsunade led Shizune inside the closed space. It appeared to be a newly constructed area, still rough around the edges, and many people looked around in confusion.

The space consisted of dozens of chairs facing a huge white cloth. At first glance, it didn't seem particularly remarkable. And what exactly is a movie?

Moreover, the title of the movie caught Tsunade's attention: "The Gambling Shadow." It seemed to be related to the Five Great Shadows, which piqued her curiosity even more.

As Shizune and Tsunade settled into their seats, Shizune leaned in and whispered, "Lady Tsunade, this is the popcorn they gave us!" She glanced around and noticed Kusagakure ninjas nearby. "I just noticed... there are Kusagakure ninjas here. Do you know what they're doing?"

"Well, whatever they're up to, it doesn't concern me. I've already left Konoha," Tsunade casually remarked, unabashedly helping herself to one of the supposedly free popcorn. She grabbed a handful and threw it into her mouth, her eyes brightening. "Huh, it tastes pretty good! They added sugar and milk?"

Curiously, Tsunade glanced at the paper cup in her hand and spotted a familiar figure on it. It was a red-haired boy, the same one she encountered when the Grass Shadows took her away last time. He held a cup of milk in his left hand and gave a thumbs-up with his right hand. The cup read, "Selected Milk from the Grass Shadow Village, each premium cow carefully nurtured, enjoying professional physical-ninja massages!"

Tsunade's face displayed a puzzled expression. What on earth was this Grass Shadow Village up to? Physical-ninja massages and premium milk from a small place like that? The Grass Shadow Village seemed to have no shame, true to its name.

However, Tsunade didn't voice her thoughts and continued to enjoy the popcorn.

At that moment, Shizune whispered again, "They are not hiding; they are openly standing outside." Seeing Tsunade's lack of concern, she felt relieved. It seemed that Lady Tsunade wouldn't be gambling today, saving them from losing more money.

After a brief contemplation, Shizune said, "They should be the person in charge of this strange place."

"Why should we care about them if they're not being sneaky? This isn't Konoha! Oh, wait, we don't care about them anyway!" Tsunade responded dismissively.

"But... we are still Konoha ninjas! Regardless, we should pay attention to ninjas from other villages" Shizune tried to reason.

"No! We are not anymore! What's the point of being a ninja?" Tsunade impatiently waved her hand and shifted her attention to the large white cloth above. "Why did they let us in here? Just to look at this cloth? What's so interesting about it? If they don't start soon, I'll smash this place and make them refund our money!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a sound interrupted her thoughts. "Ka~"

The lights suddenly went out, plunging the cinema into darkness. The audience, previously filled with curiosity and chatter, fell silent and turned their attention to the cloth hanging above.

Even Tsunade couldn't help but exclaim, "Huh?" as she looked up in anticipation.

Before long, lines of text appeared on the cloth, captivating the audience's attention.

[Exclusive Premiere from Land of Grass Entertainment.]

[Certified by Grasswood]

[Selected Blockbusters]

With each line of strange words, the crowd grew even quieter, their curiosity intensifying for this unseen "movie."

Meanwhile, in a relatively secluded corner inside the cinema, two figures wrapped in heavy clothing were also fixated on the cloth, their gaze unwavering.

A glimpse of red hair could be seen in the darkness.

"Keji, Elder Yonjin asked us to buy food, but we came here to watch this... movie. Is it really worth it?" one of the red-haired individuals whispered, glancing around cautiously.

"I will personally explain it to the Elder later. I know you're curious... about how the Third Elder and the others are faring, right?" the red-haired person named Keji replied with a serious expression. "And as ninjas, if an emergency arises, we can temporarily adjust our mission plans."

Although the elders had instructed them to keep their whereabouts a secret when they fled, ensuring the survival of the Uzumaki Clan and even abandoning their ancient name, Keji still had a burning desire to know how the other clan members were doing.

That's right.

When he saw the sign at the entrance, he immediately recognized the red-haired lead actor as a member of the Uzumaki Clan! It was one of the clan members who had escaped with Elder Yōjin.

And the bold title 'Uzumaki'... it undoubtedly aimed to capture their attention or convey something to these hidden clan members.

Keji couldn't help but wonder if the Third Elder and the others had encountered any trouble, and what their connection was with the Grass Shadows.

After all, his younger brother, Eiji, was among them!

In this moment, anxiety gnawed at his heart. He involuntarily tightened his grip on the popcorn in his hand, which he had sampled earlier and found to be surprisingly good, filling his stomach.

Considering they had only paid a penny for the movie ticket and received the complimentary popcorn, it wasn't a bad deal.

Therefore, Keji refrained from eating too much and planned to bring some back for the elders to try. Since the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, the clan had been living as refugees, struggling to find a stable source of income.

And with the Uzumaki Clan's large appetites, they could barely sustain themselves with a small daily ration. Food was crucial for them at the moment.

A bitter smile graced Keji's face as he thought about how the once mighty Uzumaki Clan had fallen to such a state.

After the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, they became hunted, forced to hide and escape to the east. Their group of refugees, after the sacrifice of the Fifth Elder, was now led by the Seventh Elder to a remote town in the Land of Fire for temporary shelter. However, they all knew they couldn't hide forever.

Their pursuers would stop at nothing to track them down.

Sighing with a sense of melancholy, Keji quickly quieted down as the screen changed, signaling the start of the movie.

A movie? What was it all about?

Curiosity burned in their hearts as the story began to unfold before their eyes.

With curiosity burning in their hearts, the story unfolded before their eyes.

Akihiko had meticulously crafted the plot to create a grand opening, optimizing it to intensify the conflicts between the main and supporting characters.

As Tsunade and Uzumaki Keji watched, they held their breath when they witnessed Konoha's betrayal of their dear friend, Uzumaki Jin, and the annihilation of his family. Both of them understood the pain and anger that surged within.

For Uzumaki Keji, who had experienced the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools and the subsequent years of living as a refugee, his emotions were even more complex. Although Konoha was not directly responsible for the tragedy, he couldn't deny the resentment he felt toward them.

Tears welled up in their eyes, and their hands clenched tightly once again, overwhelmed with a mix of sorrow and determination.

As the scenes unfolded, reaching their climactic moments, Uzumaki Jin successfully exacted his revenge, and the villains met their rightful punishment.

However, it was the final scene that left them utterly stunned. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they looked at each other, then turned back to the screen.

In the end, Uzumaki Jin found solace in the Land of Grass and embraced a life filled with happiness.

But it wasn't this revelation that shook them to the core. It was the scene that had just passed by.

They saw Elder Yoshinori and Eiji, one peacefully sitting in a courtyard, witnessing the gentle snowfall, while the other wore a genuine smile, teaching a group of children in a classroom. The joy radiating from their faces was undeniable.

"This..."

Uzumaki Keji and his friend seemed to realize something in that moment, their eyes brimming with excitement, a trace of brightness appeared in their eyes as they realized the implications.

They needed to inform the elders about what they had witnessed as soon as possible.

Perhaps the time had come when the Uzumaki Clan no longer needed to run and hide. A glimmer of hope began to spark within them, igniting the belief that a peaceful life was within reach once again.

Uzumaki Keji exchanged a knowing glance with his fellow clansmen, their hearts filled with a newfound hope. The movie had struck a chord with them, resonating with their own experiences and struggles. It hinted at the possibility of a brighter future, where the Uzumaki Clan could find peace and rebuild their lives.

Eager to share their discovery with the elders, they quietly left the cinema, walking swiftly and determined. As they made their way back to their temporary shelter.