At this moment.
Sakura Country, Osaka.
Osaka is the third most populous city in Sakura Country. Although its area ranks second to last nationwide, it has a large population and its economy is among the best domestically. However, this is from the perspective of the people of Sakura Country. To foreigners, Osaka is a historic city.
Many people come to Osaka not for its economy, but for Osaka Castle. Osaka boasts many ancient historical castles, among which Osaka Castle is the most globally renowned.
Especially during holidays.
Osaka Castle sees the most foot traffic, with people coming and going as far as the eye can see.
"Class, this is our Osaka's Osaka Castle, formerly..."
The speaker was a Sakura Country elementary school teacher, leading a large group of elementary school students behind her, introducing them to Osaka Castle.
As soon as she spoke.
The elementary school students looked at Osaka Castle before them, their eyes sparkling. They gazed up at the colossal Osaka Castle, the girls fantasizing about princess dreams of living inside, while the boys were caught in their chuunibyou phase.
Just then.
"Hao Ye, look quickly, there's a person standing on the roof."
A female elementary school student tugged at her classmate beside her, pointing directly at the sharp tip of the layered roof of Osaka Castle. Due to the castle's tiered roofing, the direction she pointed allowed a view of a figure standing there.
"Huh? Really? Wow, it really is..."
Her classmate heard this and looked.
The next second.
Upon clearly seeing the person on the roof, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed excitedly:
"Wow! It's someone from the Akatsuki!"
It was a person wearing the black cloak with red clouds of the villainous Akatsuki organization from the anime "Naruto." They stood on the eaves, gazing into the distance.
Perhaps hearing his classmate's shout, or perhaps noticing the students looking at him, the figure turned its head and looked down at the students.
Upon seeing this.
The classmate was stunned, then even more excited:
"Yoko, it's Pain! Wow! So cool!"
He recognized the person. It wasn't just someone wearing Akatsuki attire, but an actual member of the Akatsuki, Pain, who possessed the Rinnegan and controlled the Six Paths of Pain.
His voice was loud.
His unreserved excitement drew the attention not only of his classmates but also of the teacher giving the lecture and the surrounding passersby.
"Hao Ye, what are you shouting about? The teacher is lecturing, no disturbing."
The teacher walked over and gently reprimanded him.
"No, Teacher, I'm not disturbing. I saw Pain, he's standing on that roof."
"Huh? Pain? Who is that? You must have seen it wrong. How can there be someone on the roof?"
"Teacher, Pain is from the Akatsuki in Naruto. I even drew his picture and showed it to you before."
"..."
The teacher was speechless. Firstly, the drawing you made was too abstract; if you hadn't said it, no one would have known it was Pain. More importantly, Pain is an anime character, and this is reality.
Thinking to herself.
The teacher did not say it directly. Adhering to the principle of not destroying a child's fantasy, she replied:
"Hao Ye, climbing through windows and onto roofs is very dangerous. It's not allowed at home or at Osaka Castle. It's impossible for anyone to climb onto the roof of Osaka Castle. The staff wouldn't allow it, so Pain can't be there. You must have seen it wrong, perhaps mistaking a statue on the roof for a person. Look, isn't that a statue..."
As she spoke.
The teacher followed Hao Ye's direction to show him it was a statue. However, as her gaze fell upon the spot, she suddenly cried out:
"Ah—there's someone! Pain, Pain is up there!!"
She saw it.
There was indeed a figure standing on the roof, and the person was cosplaying Pain from Naruto exactly, both in attire, the black rods inserted in their face, and even their features.
Seeing this.
The teacher was terrified, fearing that the students would imitate such extreme cosplay or that something would happen. She quickly waved to a nearby security guard and shouted:
"Students, don't look! Security officer, please come quickly, there's... Huh?! Oh my god!"
Her voice abruptly stopped.
She was stunned.
Just as she was calling for the security guard, she saw that the Pain standing on the roof had noticed them and slowly withdrew its gaze. Then, with a flicker of movement, when she looked again, the figure had vanished.
At the same time.
The security guard nearby, hearing her call, ran over and asked:
"Madam, how can I help you?"
"I saw someone on the roof, standing right on the edge of the eaves. I swear, he was just there. If you don't believe me, ask my students. But just as I was about to call you, he, he, he suddenly disappeared."
"Suddenly disappeared? Did he jump off? I'll go take a look."
The security guard was startled and thought someone had jumped. He hurried to check, but as he was about to step forward, the teacher grabbed him.
"No, he didn't jump. He just suddenly disappeared. I can confirm it. It was like a ninja from Naruto, disappearing instantly, like the Anbu, with a sudden crouch and appearance."
"..."
Even though the security guard didn't speak, the teacher could clearly feel him looking at her as if she were crazy.
In response.
The security guard couldn't help but say:
"Madam, perhaps you saw it wrong? It might have just been a statue. Maybe the sunlight reflected off it and dazzled your eyes?"
"Uh..."
The teacher was a bit speechless. She had said the same thing just now.
"No, I really saw him. It was a person, I even saw his face clearly, I'm sure it was a person."
"Oh? You saw his face clearly? Describe his specific features."
The security guard was surprised. Had he misunderstood? Was there really someone standing on the roof?
As he was thinking.
The teacher's voice came:
"He looked like Pain from Naruto, and he was wearing the same outfit as Pain, the Akatsuki uniform. Really, he looked exactly the same, the cosplay was very accurate."
"????"
The security guard looked at the teacher again. This time, he wasn't looking at her like she was crazy, but like she was an idiot.
However, before he could make a judgment.
Several elementary school students beside the teacher began to speak:
"Uncle Security Guard, the teacher isn't lying. There really was a Pain there. He left using the Body Flicker Technique just now."
"Yes, I saw it too, I can testify."
"I can testify too. When Hao Ye shouted, I had already seen him. Pain must have seen us discover him, so he used the Body Flicker Technique to leave. After all, he's from the Akatsuki, he can't be discovered."
Upon hearing this.
The security guard stood there in strange silence. At this moment, he had only one thought... Is this elementary school teacher colluding with the students to prank me?
As the thought arose.
Another voice came.
But this time it wasn't an elementary school student, but a young man who said:
"Security officer, they are not lying. I saw it too, and I even took a picture. Look."
He was on a trip, holding a camera and taking photos. When he heard the students and the teacher talking, he happened to look over and saw Pain, so he quickly took a picture.
...