If you were to ask what's most unique about the Yuehe Peninsula, the answer wouldn't be gambling, food, or the "princesses" of the Kabukicho district—it would be theater.
Yes, you read that correctly. While the Shinobi Continent had long been familiar with stage performances, they remained quite primitive in form. Typically, street performers would travel with large covered wagons featuring retractable sides that served as makeshift stages. These artists would apply makeup, don traditional costumes, and present comedic skits to earn tips from their audience.
Despite their simple plots and format, these street performances gained immense popularity across the Shinobi Continent, where entertainment options were scarce.
Over time, these performances evolved into various specialized forms:
Spring plays for entertainment districts
Heroic dramas for samurai and shinobi
Noh theater for nobility
Puppet shows for children
Legend has it that Monzaemon, the first puppet master, began his career as a street performer entertaining children with wooden puppets.
The revolutionary form of theater developed by the Third Kazekage Jinghang elevated the art form to unprecedented heights. With its grand scale, elaborate sets, special effects, and musical accompaniment, it was incomparable to traditional street performances. The debut production "The God of Gamblers" caused a sensation in the Yuehe Peninsula, with the thousand-seat theater selling out nearly every performance!
Kōzaburō Hirai, the theater's behind-the-scenes mastermind, couldn't contain his excitement. He praised Jinghang as a genius for conceiving such an innovative idea, suggesting that even if he ever stepped down as Kazekage, he could make a fortune in theater alone.
The script of "The God of Gamblers" was indeed adapted from Director Wong Jing's famous gambling film. Originally, they had planned to produce it as a motion picture, believing it would deliver superior sensory impact. While they had already mastered slide show technology, film production seemed like a natural next step. However, Jinghang had underestimated the technical challenges—the research team's cameras proved bulky and ineffective, producing unstable, silent footage.
With the Five Nations Summit approaching rapidly, Jinghang opted for theater instead, postponing the film project for future consideration.
However, this wasn't just any ordinary theater production. To enhance the visual impact, particularly for scenes requiring close-ups in "The God of Gamblers", they employed innovative solutions. Rather than simply having actors play cards on stage, they recruited a shinobi from the Snow Clan. Dressed entirely in black, this ninja would create a massive screen using the Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals technique for close-up shots, providing an immersive experience for the audience.
Following Jinghang's script, the Golden Sand Entertainment Group assembled their cast and crew, rehearsing for over a month. Both Jinghang and Hirai attended the dress rehearsal and were thoroughly impressed with the results, finding it nearly comparable to a film. Even Lady Tsunade, who watched the rehearsal, was so enthused that she immediately headed to the Crystal Palace Casino afterward, where she proceeded to lose spectacularly.
Jinghang's elaborate production wasn't merely for box office success. It was integral to his and Hirai's scheme to influence the state.
According to Hirai's team of analysts, the Wind Daimyo showed little interest in gambling. Attempting to manipulate him in that direction would likely fail and risk exposure. Creating an undetectable plan seemed nearly impossible.
Jinghang inquired, "What does our Daimyo enjoy most?"
The head analyst replied, "He's passionate about theater. He even maintains his own private Noh theater troupe, watching performances daily. Sometimes he even performs himself."
An amateur actor, then? Perfect. Jinghang's theater plan would certainly outshine the monotonous Noh drama. Hirai's team calculated an 84% success rate, with virtually no risk of exposure.
Thus, on the evening after the opening ceremony, Jinghang extended theater invitations to the Daimyo of all Five Great Nations.
The Wind Daimyo, excited by the prospect of a performance, rushed to the theater at dusk with his entourage.
The play opened with darkness, then spotlights illuminated two hanging scrolls:
The first read: "At the gambling table, all are equal—be they lords or servants, fathers or sons."
The second proclaimed: "At the card table, ninja arts and illusions are forbidden."
The banner above declared: "Fortune rules all."
These were the actual words displayed at the Crystal Palace Casino's entrance, embodying universal gambling principles.
As stirring music filled the air, the stage lights gradually revealed a private room in the Wind Hall of the Crystal Palace Casino, and the story began.
While the plot was modified to fit the shinobi world, it largely followed the original story. The protagonist "Ko Chun" became a former Sunagakure jonin, while "Chan Kam-Sing" was reimagined as an underground organization leader, with other characters adapted accordingly.
Just as the original "God of Gamblers" represented the pinnacle of Hong Kong gambling films, this theatrical adaptation maintained that excellence. Takeshi Chiike from the Sunagakure Intelligence Division played the lead role, while the female leads were portrayed by kunoichi equivalents of Ming-Po (Maggie Cheung) and Wing-Mei (Joey Wong). Supporting roles were carefully cast from the Golden Sand Entertainment Group's talent pool.
After numerous rehearsals, the performance had achieved perfection.
The Wind Daimyo, a theater enthusiast, watched in amazement, barely blinking. He'd never experienced such an immersive performance style, finding himself completely absorbed in the story, imagining himself as the gambling prodigy navigating both the underworld and the gambling tables. His excitement was palpable.
From the Gambling God's dramatic entrance to his unexpected amnesia and rescue by a Sunagakure genin, through his wife's murder by Ko Yi, to his ultimate triumph—every twist and turn captivated the audience.
Finally, at the story's climax, after winning the final game, the Gambling God smugly addressed "Kam-Sing":
"Those glasses you're wearing? They're from the Land of Artisans, three years old."
He then removed his contact lens with a flourish.
"These liquid crystal contact lenses? Latest product from the Wind Country's Hourglass Group. Worth 300,000 ryo."
He flicked the lens at "Kam-Sing's" face.
The audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
All the Daimyo and spectators rose to their feet, applauding.
As the powerful opening music resumed, the curtain slowly descended, but the applause continued.
"That was... incredible! Let's see it again!" the Wind Daimyo exclaimed enthusiastically.
His attendant Mut gently tugged his sleeve. "My lord, productions of this scale can only be performed once per day."
The Wind Daimyo finally came to his senses. "Ah, what a shame. But truly remarkable theater!"
The Fire Daimyo spoke up. "Indeed, an excellent show. It's made me rather eager for some action myself. What do you say, gentlemen? Shall we try our luck at the Crystal Palace? I still have some chips from the Kazekage."
The other Daimyo nodded in agreement.
The Wind Daimyo, now thoroughly intrigued—the few gambling moves shown in the play had ignited his desire to dominate the tables in reality—suggested, "The final scene was set in the Wind Hall of the Crystal Palace. Shall we go there ourselves?"
After all, it was his territory—even though the Yuehe Peninsula had been sold to Jinghang, it was still nominally Wind Country land.
"Excellent idea!" "What are we waiting for?" "Let's go!"
And so, the Five Nations' Daimyo and their entourages headed en masse to the Crystal Palace.
Watching their departing figures from the shadows, Jinghang and Hirai exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
"Well, they took the bait. What's our next move?" Jinghang asked cheerfully.
Hirai smirked, "We'll give him a taste of victory, of course. The hook needs to set deep."
"Haha, great minds think alike. How much should we let him win?"
"Not too much—fifty or sixty million should do it. Enough to make him treat the Crystal Palace like his second home."
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