Chapter 14: It’s not about What You Think, it’s about What I Think.

After this “plot segment,” Hanabi noticed that the scene on the Dimensional Popularity Stage switched to other people’s feeds.

Kurenai Yuhi went to visit her adoptive father, Hiashi Hyūga, because Hinata Hyūga was assigned to her class, and Hinata was the heir of the Hyūga family.

Kurenai also mentioned Hanabi, but the scene cut away right after she started speaking.

Hanabi didn’t mind; she could just ask Hiashi about the situation when she went back. The only ones suffering were the audience.

Next, the scene showed Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji discussing together.

In the “original work,” these scenes were supposed to be used for “flashbacks.”

Because of Hanabi, the second half of the third episode of Naruto was unrecognizable. Since Sakura Haruno wasn’t there, a whole chunk of love-struck drama plot was missing.

However, the Dimensional Stage knew what it was doing, directly using slice-of-life scenes to “fill the quota.”

“Hanabi.”

Hanabi was in the classroom “watching the anime” and reading audience comments when Hinata came over.

“Elder Sister.” Hanabi stood up.

“Um, shall we eat together?” Hinata asked somewhat timidly.

Due to Hanabi’s existence, the “plot” of Hinata and Naruto’s childhood was also gone. But perhaps due to childhood events, Hinata always seemed quite nervous when facing her, somewhat like she was avoiding her.

But every time, Hinata would grit her teeth and persist, not running away due to nervousness.

“Of course~”

Hanabi also liked Hinata’s cute appearance of desperately enduring it the most.

And within this daily life, the third episode of the anime finished playing.

[Key plot not concluded, rewards will be delayed until plot conclusion]

The content of the third episode was also slice-of-life, so even the rewards weren’t distributed immediately.

Immediately after this, the bullet comments turned into things like “First,” “Arrived just in time,” and so on.

For Hanabi, only a morning had passed, but for the audience on the other side, they had waited anxiously for a week, finally getting the fourth episode.

After eating with Hinata and resting for a while, it was time to gather. Jonin of other squads arrived one after another, leading their teams away, but Team 7 alone was stood up.

“So slow.” Naruto, bored out of his mind, looked outside and found the teacher hadn’t come yet, so he put on a wicked grin and placed the blackboard eraser on the door.

“How could a Jonin fall for such a clumsy trap?” Sasuke was speechless at Naruto’s action.

[Definitely will fall for it.]

[That’s a must, the point is the contrast.]

[Old trope.]

[Laughing to death.]

[Not necessarily, I suspect maybe the Third Hokage suddenly comes and it falls on his head.]

[Haha, that would be even more fun.]

Netizens were still full of joy.

“He will definitely fall for it,” Hanabi suddenly spoke up.

“Really?” Sasuke looked at Hanabi.

“Mm… let’s put it this way. If a Jonin is late and also falls for a super simple prank trap, what would you think of this Jonin, Sasuke-kun?” Hanabi asked.

“Hmm…” Sasuke’s face turned serious. “Underestimate him? But why?”

“Then, if that Jonin says there will be an exercise or test, what would you think?”

“…I would think it’s very simple. Wait, could this be his objective?” Sasuke seemed to understand.

“As far as I know, not all graduates can become Genin. Don’t you see some ‘familiar faces’ after every exam?” Hanabi said.

Naruto fell into the confusion of “Who am I” again. But Sasuke reacted: “That’s right. If they fail to become Genin, these people wouldn’t announce it, and might even avoid us due to shame. Could it be that graduates can’t truly become Genin yet?”

“Well, who knows~”

[6666]

[Looks like Miss Hanabi is the brains of the group.]

[These two, one idiot, one King of Posers, neither looks very smart.]

[This is the straight man (tsukkomi) and the funny man (boke), classic combo.]

[Although my wife doesn’t dress like a ninja at all, this intelligence gathering ability is definitely something only a real ninja can do.]

[Late Teacher: I’m on the fifth layer. Hanabi: I’m in the atmosphere.]

– This is exactly the effect I wanted.

Hanabi didn’t care about conspiracy theories or psychological games.

When Kakashi first appeared, he was just decadent and lazy. Although there was an anime-original episode saying Kakashi was actually watching Team 7 the whole time, in reality, Hanabi had already scanned around with her Byakugan—this guy wasn’t there at all.

Who knows why Kakashi was late? Maybe he just took a nap at noon and got dizzy, ending up late?

Hanabi’s goal was to make the audience feel this sense of “I don’t understand but it sounds awesome.”

I don’t need you to think so; I need me to think so (and make you agree).

It doesn’t matter what Kakashi thinks; making the audience believe Kakashi is thinking exactly what she said is the most important thing.

Hanabi is guiding not Kakashi, but the audience.

I, the famous director, Hanabi Hyūga.

“No way.” Naruto was dumbfounded. He wondered if he should take the eraser down now, but taking it down felt wrong, and not taking it down also felt wrong.

And right at this moment, the classroom door was suddenly slid open. The blackboard eraser fell onto a head of white hair, then dropped to the ground.

The scene fell into dead silence.

“—He, he really fell for it?!” Naruto let out a miserable cry.

“…” Sasuke didn’t speak but looked heavy-faced.

Kakashi speechlessly picked up the eraser from the ground.

I was the one hit by the eraser; why does this Naruto act like he was the one hit?

Please, I’m the victim here.

“Well, anyway, my first impression of you guys… Hmm… is somewhat inexplicable.”

The three were taken to the rooftop by Kakashi.

“Let’s start with self-introductions.” Kakashi sat on the railing, looking at the three opposite him. “Hey hey, don’t have such heavy expressions, okay?”

Kakashi was really baffled.

These three, especially Naruto and Sasuke, why did they look like they were about to fight a boss?

“Um, um, shouldn’t Sensei introduce yourself first?” Naruto spoke first. “Like weaknesses, how to defeat you, and so on.”

“Weaknesses, huh. Ah, so that’s it.”

Kakashi looked at Hanabi beside him.

Naruto and Sasuke were alone and lacked common ninja knowledge. But Hanabi was different; she definitely knew the whole process. Failing the subsequent exercise meant returning to the academy to repeat.

In the Third Hokage’s crystal ball earlier, Hanabi had already revealed matters about the three-man squad.

– So, because I fell for the eraser earlier, they think it was intentional and became vigilant instead?

Kakashi really wanted to say he just didn’t care about kids’ pranks.

Why did it turn into this?

Hanabi just smiled.

First make Naruto and Sasuke misunderstand, then tell them the truth after everything ends.

Create suspense through misdirection first, then deliver a plot twist at the end. For the story, this kind of development is more interesting.

An extra who doesn’t want to be a director isn’t a good idol.

“Don’t be so tense.” Kakashi sighed. “Simply put, names, likes, dislikes, dreams for the future, and so on.”

After speaking, Kakashi continued listlessly: “My name is Kakashi Hatake. What I like and dislike… I don’t want to tell you. As for dreams for the future… hobbies… I have many.”

“That says nothing at all!” Naruto originally wanted to extract intel. According to Hanabi, there would definitely be a formidable test later. But this guy clearly refused to reveal anything.

“Then, next is me.”

Following Naruto’s complaint, Hanabi introduced herself first.

“My name is Hanabi Hyūga. What I like is fireworks (hanabi). What I dislike are boring things. My dream is to bloom brilliantly like fireworks. Hobbies… oh my, too many to count.”

“Bloom brilliantly like fireworks…”

Kakashi knew a bit about this point. Hanabi’s gorgeous attire was indeed as brilliant as fireworks.

“Is it because she can’t see that she yearns for brilliant ‘fireworks’?” Kakashi speculated in his heart.

“My turn, my turn!” Naruto also began his self-introduction. “I’m Naruto Uzumaki. What I like best… what I like even more is the Ichiraku Ramen that Hanabi and Iruka-sensei treat me to. My hobby is eating ramen contests with others. What I hate most is the three minutes waiting for the ramen. And my dream for the future is to surpass the Hokage!”

[Hanabi: Are you polite?!]

[Hanabi treating guests has never succeeded once lol.]

[Scene that doesn’t exist in the main feature: Hanabi treating guests.]

The goofy audience’s attention was always in strange places.

This treating-guests meme is never going away, is it?!

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