Chapter 21: This will surely be useful Next Time.

Unlike the previous rewards, this time the rewards seemed more inclined to enhance Hanabi’s value as an actor herself.

“Japanese Etiquette? I think my demeanor is already quite good. But learning is endless. And judging from the description, the teaching doesn’t take place in this world?”

Hanabi felt her usual performance was excellent, but this actor training being in another world was interesting.

“But if I buy these rewards, my test to become a ‘Supporting Character’ will have to be postponed.”

She was still an “Extra” right now. If she became a Supporting Character, the Dimensional Popularity Stage would also unlock new actor resources.

“The item refresh is manual, which means as long as I keep this interface open, the items will remain.”

Since it wasn’t a forced refresh, there was no need to rush.

Right now, for her, the most important thing was the Popularity Points themselves.

“Then…”

[Local Market Expansion Strategy Purchased]

[Communicating with Production Team]

[Conducting Business Negotiations]

[Raising Promotion Funds]

[A certain Mr. Aha who wishes to remain anonymous has obtained exclusive sponsorship rights]

[Fundraising completed ahead of schedule, promotion effect excellent]

[Audience bullet comments expanded, comment section expanded]

Hanabi felt like something extraordinary had flashed by in the series of prompts.

“Is it done?”

Hanabi tilted her head.

It seemed there was no way to observe it yet.

“As for now, let’s practice the Summoning Jutsu first.”

The story of Naruto itself is very classic (Wangdao), but in the world outside the screen, it was already more than twenty years late.

This kind of hot-blooded shonen manga that should have led the trend now seemed slightly outdated.

Following the original plot and tropes would be detrimental to her popularity accumulation.

[OP/ED Filming Plan Initiating Soon]

[OP1/ED1 Filming Proposal Confirmed]

[Inviting Singers]

[Sacrificing Planners to Heaven]

[OP-ROCKS, ED-Wind, Songs added to library]

[Entering Filming Phase in the Coming Week]

“Filming has already started.”

Hanabi opened the interface of the Dimensional Popularity Stage, and sure enough, the opening and ending songs were already there.

The OP and ED songs themselves hadn’t changed.

However, the filming content itself would likely change significantly.

Unless the stage “fabricated” a story itself, the story in the original Naruto world’s OP actually hadn’t happened.

Because in this story, it was about Team 7 subjugating bandits, and Sakura Haruno had long hair, indicating it was before the Chunin Exams. But subjugating bandits, a mission requiring combat, is C-rank, and Team 7’s only C-rank mission was actually the Land of Waves mission.

In other words, the OP was an “original” fictional story, or perhaps this mission was counted as a D-rank mission.

Now conducting “filming” in the real world, Hanabi had no interest in recreating such a plot.

The original OP could be considered an “original filler episode.” As always, “anime original” can be referenced, but not much. Believing it completely means you lose.

As for the original ED, it focused on Naruto’s protagonist scenes, with Sasuke and Sakura only appearing at the end. Yes, the famous ED with flying butterflies.

Since the song hadn’t changed, the ED should be similar. Naruto’s lonely scenes were easy to edit; even Hanabi could shoot some random footage now and cut an ED out of it.

“If only I were the director, I’d stir up some trouble.”

Hanabi was somewhat dissatisfied.

Although she was still an extra, the degree of freedom she could exercise now was too low.

Otherwise, she would have at least given Sasuke a cybernetic implant, arranged for a Johnny Silverhand Uchiha, and then burned Konoha to ashes…

– Now that OP would be sensational.

“Stage, is there any way for me to be a director or something?” Hanabi asked.

[Currently Unavailable]

“Oh~”

“Currently unavailable” means: perhaps there really is a chance?

“Hmm. No. Director, director, director…”

Although she couldn’t be a director on the stage, she could be a director in Konoha.

The theme song was decided, so the style was basically set. If she could choose, Hanabi would definitely pick Blue Bird.

“Speaking of which, there are movies here too; maybe they’ll come in handy later.”

Directing and acting doesn’t necessarily have to be on the stage; the Naruto world itself works too. OP deception or whatever, thinking about it is quite fun. It can certainly be used next time.

The next day, which was also the first day Team 7 officially became ninjas.

When Hanabi woke up, a camera icon appeared on the stage prompt, indicating that the OP material recording phase had now begun.

“Good morning, Elder Sister~”

Just coming out, Hanabi saw Hinata packing her ninja tools and sneaked up behind her for a surprise attack.

“Eh? H-Hanabi, let go of me…”

Hinata blushed, her speech becoming stammered.

“Is Elder Sister going on a mission?” Hanabi asked.

“Mm. Kurenai-sensei has made a training plan for us, and missions too… something like that.” Hinata’s voice grew quieter as she spoke.

“Mm, then I should get ready too.”

Team 7’s current strength wasn’t enough. Hanabi wanted to coordinate with Naruto and Sasuke, but right now it relied entirely on acting, and Kakashi wasn’t very reliable either, so she could only rely on herself.

“Brother Neji came by just now,” Hinata added. “But he left after hearing you were still resting. Um… don’t push yourself too hard, Hanabi.”

“I’m fine; rather, I’m more worried about you, Elder Sister~” Hanabi pressed her cheek directly against Hinata’s.

“Ugh…!” Hinata’s Byakugan turned into swirling eyes, and her whole being ascended in a spiral.

“That’s it then, see you later, Elder Sister~”

Hanabi waved her hand, sparing Hinata who was about to faint.

“Lady Hanabi, preparations are complete.” Just as Hinata left, Natsu Hyūga walked over, holding a huge scroll of ninja tools. “Is it really necessary to prepare so many tools?”

“Mm, my two teammates need proper training, after all.”

The top priority was to improve Naruto and Sasuke’s strength; otherwise, coordination would be difficult.

“I say, I say, why did we come to the forest? Shouldn’t we go pick up a mission?”

“I’ve already accepted the mission,” Hanabi said. “Our mission today is to replace a forest ranger who threw out his back, patrolling to prevent fires or observe potential hazards caused by wild beasts.”

Kakashi should have been the one accepting the mission, but Hanabi told Kakashi in advance.

“But, but, aren’t there any super awesome missions?!” Naruto was still somewhat unwilling. “Kakashi-sensei, don’t you have anything to say?”

“Well… just listen to Hanabi.”

Kakashi held a copy of Make-Out Paradise, looking like he had lost all hope in life.

He had tried to resist, but every time he was about to speak, he would find that Hanabi opposite him had turned into Rin at some point.

It was infuriating.

But he was powerless.

So Kakashi chose to lie flat (give up).

“Here, then take this.”

Hanabi handed Naruto and Sasuke a package.

“So heavy!” The package wasn’t big, but it was very heavy.

“This is?”

Sasuke found that inside were weights labeled “Guts” (Konjou).

“Genin missions are mainly D-rank and C-rank. This isn’t just because of Genin’s strength, but because these D-rank missions give us more time to train and improve ourselves. So when executing missions, you both need to wear weights,” Hanabi explained. “Our goal today is to inspect all the mountains and forests around Konoha Village.”

Konoha Village had a barrier, so they weren’t worried about intruders. However, preventing mountain fires, wild beasts, and such still required manpower.

Sasuke looked at Hanabi: “Do you mean to say you usually wear weights too?”

Kakashi beside them spoke up: “Sasuke, notice Hanabi’s clothes.”

“Clothes?”

Sasuke looked at Hanabi.

Hanabi’s clothes were a Furisode kimono, a type of attire very inconvenient for combat, or even for traveling far.

Yet Hanabi wore such an outfit every day. Despite being a ninja, Hanabi’s movements were usually slow and deliberate.

– Thinking about it now, could it be because of the weight?

“Are these clothes weights too?” Sasuke was somewhat intrigued.

– Could it be that Hanabi has always been like this?

Hanabi had indeed worn weights before, but after the costume upgrade, the Performance Costume’s training mode was much more effective, so Hanabi never used other weights or resistance gear again.

“I understand.” Sasuke put on the weights.

Seeing Sasuke put them on, Naruto beside him also put them on.

“Alright, Team 7, begin mission execution.”

Seeing everyone ready, Kakashi clapped his hands: “Sasuke, Naruto, your route is this one. Hanabi and I will take this side.”

Kakashi indicated the routes.

“Yosh!” Naruto was the first to rush out.

“Idiot dead-last, if you run like that now, you’ll run out of stamina very quickly!” Sasuke hurriedly followed.

Wearing weights while traversing mountains and forests was no simple task.

“Yosh.” Seeing their retreating figures, Hanabi nodded.

“Oh my, oh my.” Kakashi scratched his head.

These two were full of confidence now, but once they entered the forest, they would probably realize what surprises awaited them…