Chapter 189
Asama Sandayū looked at the three youths before him, his mind churning with thoughts.
[These three brats probably wouldn't lie about something that would be exposed with a little inquiry. So, the three of them should indeed possess Jounin-level strength.]
[Moreover, they are the Hokage's direct disciples. If handled properly... I can precisely use the sense of justice of brats this age. As long as I let them know Koyuki's true story, and play the pity card a bit, I should be able to persuade them to help Koyuki reclaim the Daimyo position.]
Asama Sandayū suddenly felt that their Land of Snow's restoration plan, which originally seemed hopeless, now had feasibility.
Sasuke and Neji, at this moment, also noticed the change in the other's eyes. However, the two inconspicuously displayed the proud expressions befitting young geniuses, which further solidified Asama Sandayū's thoughts. As for Naruto, this kid didn't need to feign it.
"Good, good, good! I never expected our luck to be so good this time, to be able to hire such talented ninjas like yourselves," Asama Sandayū said to the three, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
"Uncle, what about our other client for this mission? Aren't you going to let us meet her before we depart?" Sasuke asked.
"That's a long story," Asama Sandayū said, feigning regret. "Little friends, why don't you come with me to the film set for a visit?"
"Film set? Is that where they shoot movies?" Naruto immediately perked up upon hearing something new.
"Gentlemen, please follow me," Asama Sandayū chuckled, beckoning the three to accompany him to the film set.
After arriving at the film set, Naruto's excitement was palpable; he looked here and there around the set. Sasuke and Neji, to maintain their cover, also pretended to be very interested in the process of filmmaking.
However, before long, some rather unfortunate news came from the film crew.
Today's filming was about to begin, yet Fujikaze Yukie, the lead actress, was nowhere to be seen. When her manager, Asama Sandayū, went to her resting place to look for her, he couldn't find her either.
The entire upper management of the film crew panicked. Due to the lead actress's disappearance, filming couldn't proceed. They could only first mobilize everyone in the crew to find the lead actress before anything else.
The warm-hearted Naruto, upon hearing this, immediately offered to help. Sasuke and Neji, to leave a good impression on Asama Sandayū that they were easy to talk to, didn't stop him and joined Naruto in the search for Fujikaze Yukie.
The entire film crew searched for a whole day without finding any trace of her. It wasn't until evening that Kazahana Koyuki leisurely returned to the hotel.
Asama Sandayū, having received the news, hurriedly brought Naruto and the others back to the hotel. The moment he saw Kazahana Koyuki, he immediately began to scold her:
"Koyuki, where have you been? Do you know the entire film crew has been looking for you all day?"
"I wasn't in a good mood, so I went for a few drinks," Kazahana Koyuki said coldly.
"Drinking? Do you know how much of a commotion it would cause in Konoha if you were recognized? Our film crew worked so hard to get permission to film here!" Asama Sandayū said patiently.
"Then let's not film," Kazahana Koyuki's face showed a look of extreme impatience. "You accepted this movie without my consent in the first place."
"Koyuki, I know you've been very tired recently. But this is a series, after all. The previous few 'Princess Gale' films were very well-received in the ninja world, and the investors strongly requested us to shoot a sequel. We couldn't easily refuse. However, I can promise you, after we finish filming this movie, we'll take a break for a while, how about that?" Asama Sandayū sighed, then patiently coaxed his little pampered miss.
"This sequel, does it absolutely have to be filmed in the Land of Snow?" Kazahana Koyuki's beautiful brows furrowed deeply.
"Sasuke, is this person really Princess Gale?" Naruto, witnessing the argument between the two, suddenly whispered to Sasuke beside him. "Her awful personality is nothing like in the movies."
"That's just her movie character. As for what she's like off-screen, who knows."
Although the two spoke in very low voices, in the extremely quiet surroundings, Kazahana Koyuki also heard the gist of it.
Hearing someone badmouthing her, a trace of displeasure flashed across Kazahana Koyuki's face. She questioned Asama Sandayū, "And who are these three brats?"
"They are ninjas I hired in Konoha," Asama Sandayū explained. "They will be responsible for our safety on the way to the Land of Snow."
"Just these three brats?" Kazahana Koyuki sneered.
"Hey! Lady, are you looking down on us?" Naruto was instantly displeased upon hearing himself being underestimated.
"Koyuki, these three are all the Hokage's direct disciples, geniuses capable of defeating Elite Jounin at a young age. You mustn't be impolite," Asama Sandayū interjected at this point.
"Defeat Elite Jounin? Them?" Kazahana Koyuki was stunned upon hearing this, an expression of disbelief appearing on her face.
"Hehe, of course. Every ninja's mission record can be checked at the Mission Hall. The first mission we completed after graduation was an A-rank mission, which means we had to face at least Jounin-level ninjas during the mission. Therefore, I believe protecting you to film a movie in the Land of Snow should be more than enough. After all, according to our Konoha's intelligence, the strongest ninja in the Land of Snow is only equivalent to an ordinary Jounin from our Konoha," Neji said calmly at this point.
"Is that so?" Kazahana Koyuki frowned. "Then I really have underestimated you. But I'm sorry, I don't plan on going to the Land of Snow with you."
"Is that the case?" Neji nodded. "Then, according to Konoha's rules, if the client cancels the mission midway, the deposit is non-refundable."
"Naruto, Sasuke, let's go," Neji turned and walked away, simultaneously signaling Naruto and Sasuke to follow.
"Please wait, you three!" Asama Sandayū was greatly alarmed upon seeing this. He was counting on Sasuke and the other two, as well as the power behind them, to help him and Kazahana Koyuki complete the grand undertaking of restoring their country. If he missed this opportunity due to Kazahana Koyuki's temporary willfulness, he wouldn't even have a place to cry.
"Um, little brothers, please wait!" Asama Sandayū, panting, chased after them and called out to the three.
"Mr. Asama, is there anything else?" Neji frowned slightly. "Since the client has already refused the mission, then our employment relationship should end here."
"Little brothers, please wait a moment. We do not intend to cancel this mission," Asama Sandayū said.
"But Miss Fujikaze Yukie seems unwilling to undertake this mission. Can you, her manager, make decisions on her behalf?" Neji countered.
"Koyuki is just being a bit willful. I will go persuade her in a moment. This movie is very important for her acting career. So, I implore you all to wait a couple of days, is that alright?" Asama Sandayū pleaded.
"Mr. Asama, you seem to have misunderstood something," Sasuke spoke up calmly at this point. "We don't absolutely have to take this mission of yours. The reason we accepted this mission was simple: because experiencing the filmmaking process up close might be interesting. But now, you are questioning our strength."
"My sincere apologies, little brothers," Asama Sandayū also became nervous upon hearing this and quickly apologized. "Koyuki has been spoiled by me normally, so she inevitably has some personality issues. I will discipline her when I get back. We are absolutely sincere in hiring you for this mission."
"Alright then," Sasuke nodded. "Then when do we depart?"
"Little brothers, please give me a little more time. At the latest, three days from now, we will set off," Asama Sandayū said.
"Okay, then we'll wait for you for three more days," Neji nodded.
...
After the three left the hotel, Naruto, who had been holding back and not speaking the whole time, couldn't help but ask, "Why did we offer to quit the mission just now? Wasn't this mission assigned to us by Teacher to complete? If we directly refuse it, aren't we afraid of getting scolded?"
After hanging out with Sasuke and Neji for a long time, Naruto had also developed a habit: when Sasuke and Neji had a plan, he just needed to listen to the arrangements on the side. If there were any questions, he would ask them later when they had time.
"Who said we were quitting the mission?" Sasuke chuckled upon hearing this.
"Huh?" Naruto was somewhat puzzled. The way those two turned and left just now didn't look like they were pretending.
"What we did just now was merely to increase our initiative during the mission process," Neji patiently explained to Naruto.
"But weren't you afraid that uncle would actually cancel the mission just now?" Naruto scratched his head.
"Hehe, he won't," Sasuke chuckled. "This is an A-rank mission. An A-rank mission means that during the mission, it will involve at least Jounin-level ninjas. And them, a filmmaking crew, how could they possibly deserve Jounin-level intervention? Therefore, there must be some hidden circumstances."
"Hidden circumstances? What hidden circumstances?" The more Naruto listened, the more confused he became.
However, just then, the Nine-Tails within the seal space suddenly spoke, "Kid, that fellow just now bears some malice towards you. He's plotting against you three."
"Huh?" Hearing the Nine-Tails' words, Naruto first froze on the spot, then relayed what the Nine-Tails said to his two companions.
"Plotting against us?" Sasuke sneered upon hearing this. "Aren't we also plotting against him?"
"Pfft, insidious Uchiha..." Inside Naruto's seal space, the Nine-Tails shifted its body, changed its sleeping position, then grinned and said.
...
Three days later, it was unknown how Asama Sandayū persuaded Kazahana Koyuki, but Kazahana Koyuki finally agreed to the filming plan in the Land of Snow.
The entire film crew set off from Konoha, heading towards the Land of Snow with great fanfare. Naruto and the other two were specially arranged by Asama Sandayū into a luxurious horse carriage, following behind Kazahana Koyuki's exclusive carriage.
In the following days, Asama Sandayū came to inquire after the well-being of the three every day with solicitous attention. Kazahana Koyuki, however, almost never left her carriage while traveling.
Regarding this, Sasuke and the other two were also happy to have the leisure.
After entering the Land of Snow's territory, the temperature also gradually dropped. A charcoal brazier was lit inside the carriage. Although with the physical constitution of Naruto and the other two, they didn't need this to ward off the severe cold, Naruto, thinking he was idle anyway, directly started cooking hotpot inside the carriage.
On the table in the middle of the carriage, a pot of crystal-clear滚水 (gǔnshuǐ - boiling water) swayed slightly with the movement of the carriage. And around the pot were arranged platters of fish slices and beef.
Naruto rubbed his hands, picked up a slice of beef with his chopsticks, and placed it into the boiling water.
"Soak it slowly, savor it slowly," Naruto lowered his voice, his expression虔诚 (qiánchéng - devout/pious), constantly muttering.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke's mouth twitched. He didn't understand why Naruto had to make eating a meal seem like some kind of cult ritual.
"Don't make noise, don't make noise!" Naruto said with a serious expression. "I learned this from Teacher last time he came to my house for dinner."
After the beef was slightly cooked in the clear water, Naruto fished it out from the pot and placed it in a small dipping dish containing chopped scallions, ginger, and soy sauce.
After the beef was coated in the sauce, Naruto opened his mouth wide.
But just then, a series of explosions sounded. The carriage jolted violently. The beef Naruto hadn't yet had a chance to enjoy fell to the ground due to this unexpected event, and the boiling water also spilled all over the floor.
"Damn! What's going on!" Naruto was furious upon seeing this. After pulling open the carriage door, he froze on the spot.
On the boundless snowfield surrounding the convoy, ice walls suddenly rose one after another. The entire film crew's convoy was thrown into chaos beneath these ice walls.
"They're here," Sasuke and Neji also walked out of the carriage. Neji activated his Byakugan, looked around, and then said, "Thirty people."
A biting cold wind, carrying ice shards, swept through the canyon. The ice crystal forehead protectors of thirty Snow Ninja glinted coldly in the blizzard.
Kazahana Koyuki hid in her carriage, panting rapidly. The ice walls around her carriage had completely blocked her escape route. Thirty Snow Ninja charged towards him from all directions.
"Ice Release: Violent Dragon Break!" The Snow Ninja leader slammed both palms on the ground. A dragon's roar-like rumble came from the depths of the glacier. A hundred-meter ice dragon burst through the ice, carrying shattered rock as it dived down towards the princess.
Lightning suddenly tore through the snow curtain.
Ziden, wreathed in the sharp cry of a thousand birds (Chidori), cleaved the ice dragon's head. Uchiha Sasuke's black garments fluttered noisily in the electric arcs. Before the ice crystal fragments could even hit the ground, he had already transformed into a lightning shadow, darting through the enemy ranks. Wherever his blade passed, the Snow Ninjas' ice armor shattered like thin paper. Lightning Release chakra wove a spiderweb-like pattern of electric arcs on the glacial ground.
Twenty Naruto clones descended from the sky. "Ninja Art: Multiple Rasengan!" A downpour of golden spheres smashed into the enemy formation, blasting a thirty-meter-deep crater in the ice surface. The real body, stepping on a clone's shoulder, leaped into mid-air, a azure blue Rasengan rapidly expanding in his palm: "Odama Rasengan!"
(End of Chapter)
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