Clash in the Snow Country: Legacy Version
Chapter 6–Auditions and Pandemonium
(Author's Note) First thing I want to address was the seal issue from last chapter. I goofed. I admit it. When I read that line from Chuuten, handseals were automatically the first thing that came to mind. I didn't even think about sealing jutsu and whatnot. Oops. Well, I'm only human.
On a second note, there was a question of how Sakura had enough earth to perform the Daichi Kobura. To that, I answer that it came from the Naruto clones. As Naruto said, the Kage Bunshin would spar, perform the Doryuuheki, and whatever else she needed during her training. In addition, I tried to show that there were large amounts of earth being flung around with the line: "He could still see Sakura training. Every now and then he saw a large amount of earth streaking across, or a new Earth wall emerging." As such, there was plenty of leftover earth for her to use. If that wasn't clear, then I apologize.
Naruto
"SAY WHAT!?" Naruto yelled, more out of surprise than anything else.
"I want you…" Makino exclaimed happily, pointing dramatically at him as if he were a professional recruiter for the military, "for this movie!"
"Really?!" Sakura asked happily.
"HELL NO!" Sasuke shouted.
"Why not?" Kakashi said, shrugging. Before either boy could start protesting, the Kakashis said "Why don't we all get back on the boat? At least you two didn't destroy it. And power down while you're at it."
Both Naruto and Sasuke let their powers fade as one Kakashi poofed out of existence. As they all got back on deck, Naruto forcefully pointed a finger in Kakashi's and even Sakura's directions. "Why the hell did you two interfere!?"
Kakashi sighed in annoyance, while Sakura quickly said 'Gomen'. Before either one could add a justification, Sasuke spoke up. "It doesn't matter," he said firmly.
As one, both Naruto and Kakashi looked at the Uchiha, confused. "It doesn't?" they both said. What brought this up? Naruto wondered. He would have thought that Sasuke would be equally upset, especially since he'd gotten his ass saved, making him look like a weakling and that he couldn't hold his own.
"No. It doesn't." He watched as Sasuke then faced the other two team members, more Sakura than Kakashi. He made several awkward gestures, like he was choking. Finally, he managed to get out, "T-thank… you… Kakashi… Sakura…" Sasuke looked like he wanted to puke. Kakashi gave a small smile in response, while Sakura…
"Are we really in the movie!?" Sakura demanded at Makino.
Sasuke looked like he had just been struck hard across the face (He was even rubbing his left cheek), while Naruto felt his own jaw drop slightly. What!? Sasuke thanking them!? Sakura completely ignoring Sasuke!? That never happened! That went against the very fabrics of reality! Had Armageddon come already!? Was the sky on fire!? Well… obviously the sky wasn't on fire, but still! Sasuke just went and thanked them and his girlfriend was ignoring him? What the hell was going on!?
Now that Naruto thought about it… hadn't Sakura used a creepy, angry tone earlier when he asked why she hadn't asked Sasuke to spar with her? Just what was going on with these two? "Um… Sakura-chan," Naruto said cautiously, "The teme just thanked you… you heard that, right?"
"What of it?" Sakura asked coldly.
OK… now Naruto was completely lost. Just what was going on here!? Sasuke looked like someone had turned to him to stone and completely shattered him, while Naruto's felt himself becoming completely confused.
She then immediately turned her attention back to the director, looking quite happy. "So we're in!? We get to act alongside Yukie-san and Michy-sama!?"
Naruto and Sasuke's faces fell at that.
"That's right!" Makino answered happily
"NO WAY!!!" both boys shouted.
"Why not?" Makino responded happily, as if not hearing them right or not understanding their tone. He seemed completely out of it and that he was hearing no one but himself.
"I've got training to do!" they both yelled. "And there's no way I would want to be in this stupid movie!"
"Now, now," Makino said, completely ignoring their protests. He began patting the boys on the heads, like a loving grandfather. "Think of all the possibilities and opportunities it gives you. Fame. Fortune. Showing off to the girls."
"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?" Naruto and Sasuke demanded.
"Come now," Makino said in a very obvious voice. "Two strapping young lads like yourselves must have had your eyes on the girls for a while. All young boys do. I imagine that each of you have your eyes on a special girl already."
"Not true!" Naruto said automatically, while Sasuke looked away, his right hand grabbing his left hard.
Makino turned around, giving the boys his back. While out of their eyesight, he gave a small devil's grin as he spoke in a fake voice of sorrow. "Yes… I suppose you two are completely hopeless when it comes to girls, so much that you wouldn't be able to show off without making complete fools of yourselves, eh, Naruto-san?"
"What's that supposed to mean!? Hinata-chan and I get along perfectly!"
"HA! SO YOU DO HAVE A GIRL!"
Naruto lost his voice, his hands shaking like he wanted to strangle something. Or someone. Makino had just baited him… and he fell for it! "What about him!?" Naruto pointed at Sasuke, changing the subject.
"Leave me out of this!" Sasuke retorted.
"It's perfectly obvious who he's infatuated with."
That wasn't the answer either boy expected. "It is?" they both asked.
Kakashi stepped forward. "Hate to break up the audition, but perhaps we should continue this after they've been looked at and gotten out of those wet clothes, wouldn't you say?" Several stomachs growled, including Naruto's and Sasuke's. "And perhaps a bit of lunch while we're at it."
"I agree," Sandayuu said, clasping his hands together. He then walked to both boys and began shuttling them away. Naruto saw Makino approach Sakura and say something about 'having lunch with an aspiring young actress.' He didn't see Sakura's response, but he guessed she took him up on his offer. After all, she was excited about this.
He then heard Sasuke mutter something about 'hate', 'kill', and 'not infatuated' as Sandayuu led them to the makeshift infirmary.
Kakashi
Back a ways, Makino was looking eagerly at Kakashi. "And I suppose you have no problem with this?" Sakura had left to go to the mess hall already.
"None at all," the copy nin assured him. "It could be something that helps all three of them grow and a rare opportunity to discover other things in life. If nothing else, I'll order it as part of their mission."
Makino laughed. "That won't be necessary. An actor of their own free will is much better. I'll have Sandayuu talk to them. It is his area of expertise, after all." Kaijo, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable. "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean… their earlier fight…"
"Was dramatic, tense, action-packed, and damn exciting?" Makino supplied.
"I was going to say dangerous, unnecessary, and problematic," Kaijo answered. He gestured around. "Look at what they did to the ship, for instance."
"A small price to pay for cinema and its Oscars!" Makino yelled enthusiastically. He then pointed in a random direction. "You two! You clean up this mess!"
"WHAT!?"
"I don't think you have to worry too much," Kakashi added lazily. "It's not like they were serious or anything."
That statement got mixed reactions. Makino looked like someone who had just received a pure bar of gold, while Kaijo paled. "What? You mean doing all those fire dragon thingies, water dragon thingies, having lightning and spinning orbs in their hands, both having those uneasy auras around them that want to make me throw up… ISN'T SERIOUS!?"
"That's right," Kakashi said, with a hint of pride. "Isn't it wonderful to know that all three ("ALL THREE?!" Kaijo spluttered) have so much potential that they'll get even stronger in the near future?"
Kaijo looked like he wanted to cry, while Makino looked like Kakashi just handed him every Academy Award there was. He then began ranting intently that there was no way that they weren't going to be in this movie, that it would be the best ever, and so on.
What's their deal? Kakashi asked himself.
Makino
Makino walked into the mess hall and allowed himself to observe the surroundings for a few moments. It didn't take long for him to find the pink-haired kunoichi. She was off by herself, looking over several pieces of paper. As Makino walked forward, he saw that most of it was a copy of the movie script (When did she get that? he wondered) held in her left hand, and some other scrolls off to her right side. Makino smiled at himself. The girl was eating, researching, and studying all at once. She was nothing but dedicated.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," Makino offered. The girl didn't so much as flinch. She merely shook her head, her eyes never leaving the script, and gestured at the empty seat across from her. Makino sat down. "I've been trying to familiarize myself with the script," she started.
He cut her off with a laugh. "Don't you worry about that, young lady. That's the old script. We'll be able to accommodate you and your peers quite easily through the cinema's most traditional and successful method."
"Procedure?" Sakura guessed.
"Improvisation."
Sakura just looked at him as if he was crazy. That didn't bother Makino at all. He got those looks from Kaijo all the time. It didn't bother him then and it wasn't going to bother him now. If there was one thing he learned while in the movie business, it was that you don't carve a path in stone. You make one in mud. Be flexible, be willing to take chances, take opportunities when they came, be willing to get dirty, let the natural flow of things come as it would and don't fight it. Improvising was Makino's greatest strength, and his favorite card to play.
He placed his food down and took a few careful bites. The pink-haired girl watched him, and then asked, "Just one plain bowl of soba?"
"An economic lunch," Makino replied with pride. He then looked at Sakura and got right down to business. "Why don't you tell me about yourself, and that of your team? I would love to hear all about you."
He was fishing for information. The girl and her sensei were perfectly willing to participate, but the two boys weren't. He needed something to… change their minds, just in case Sandayuu wasn't able to do the job himself. Those two had to have a weakness, infatuation, or even a need that he could exploit if need be. It was said that even the legendary Sannin had weaknesses. And this team was no trio of Sannin.
Sakura considered briefly, then she shrugged. "Where to start?"
"How about at the beginning?" Makino encouraged.
So the girl talked, starting with how all three of them were assigned to one team and put under Hatake Kakashi's command. She then talked about the bell test and how they failed it (though, Makino had to dig to discover she was the one tied to the post).
She then started telling him of their mission to the Wave Country, their encounter with Zabuza for the first time, how they started their next step of training, and then clashed with Zabuza again, as well as his partner Haku, on the nearly completed bridge itself. Naruto wasn't there at the time, so Sasuke ended up fighting Haku. Kakashi took on Zabuza, while Sakura guarded Tazuna himself.
Makino found himself surprised that Uchiha Sasuke had apparently been killed by the other boy. The rumors left that part out. He then learned that Sakura herself had charged the masquerading Hunter-nin, even though her chances of winning were nonexistent. Sakura then told him that she lost consciousness, and that the next thing she knew, Haku was dead, and Zabuza was barely alive, just managing to kill Gato himself. How? She didn't know. She also mentioned that she found Sasuke still alive, but that was all, as she immediately shifted gears to when Gato's men retreated when the villagers showed up, along with a simple trick of ordinary bunshins.
And Makino listened intently.
Naruto
Approximately 30 minutes later…
"Stupid movie, stupid Sasuke, stupid Director, stupid movie, stupid mission, stupid Sasuke…" Naruto ranted as he dug into his fifth bowl of miso ramen.
They had gone to the makeshift infirmary on the ship and got looked at. Sandayuu helped clean up their wounds, took some blood samples from the two, applied some healing cream to Naruto's burn marks and tended to Sasuke's sensitive gut. Fortunately, there were no broken bones, or any other such serious injury, so they only stayed for about 15 minutes. After being 'discharged' by Sandayuu, the two walked to their rooms (completely ignoring each other), changed, and went to the mess hall and started eating.
"Mind if I join you?"
Naruto looked up at the voice. It was Sandayuu. "If you want," Naruto said evenly, and turned back to his ramen.
Sandayuu sat down and put his curry in front of him. He took a few careful bites, never taking his eyes off Naruto, but he didn't say a word. Naruto suppressed a sigh. He had a good idea why their employer was here. Might as well start, so Naruto could tell him to shove it up his ass. "Are you here to persuade me to join this movie?"
Sandayuu gave a small smile. "Well… I'd be lying if I said otherwise." He leaned back in his chair and shifted into a comfortable position. "Is it really that bad of an idea to act a bit in the movie?"
"You're damn right it is," Naruto said, looking Sandayuu straight in the eye with his own. Sandayuu didn't respond. He merely waited. Naruto grumbled under his breath and added, "I don't like the bitchy actress. Plus, I have more training to do."
"There will always be time for training," Sandayuu assured him. Naruto was about to add to his protests, when Sandayuu held up a hand. "Just think about what possibilities the movie could bring you. There's the money aspect; you'll be paid extra for this. There's also the fame that'll go around. Everyone will know your face and you can show everyone just what you're made of. We already got that magnificent smokescreen you did earlier on camera and Makino-sama intends to add it in as special effects."
Naruto froze at a moment. Oh… crap. That was right! His jutsu was on camera! On a movie that was going to be played for the entire Fire Country, if not more! "Forget it!" Naruto shouted, a bit too loudly, and slammed his hands on the table. That little stunt drew the eyes of everyone in the room towards them, but Naruto didn't care. "No way I'm showing off my jutsu!"
"Excuse me?" Sandayuu asked. "What's wrong with that? You have wondrous and powerful…um…what was the term?...jutsu."
"Of course I do!" Naruto said, his voice full of pride. "But that doesn't mean I want the world to know about them!"
"Why not?"
"BECAUSE THEY'RE MY JUTSU!"
Sandayuu held up his hands. "OK. OK. Calm down. You don't like people knowing your secrets. Since you're a shinobi, that does make sense. But have you thought about the advantages that the movie could give you?"
"I can't think of any," Naruto insisted stubbornly.
"Well, you already mimicked one of Yukie-sama's jutsu. Perhaps you'll get more ideas."
Now Naruto gave Sandayuu his full attention. "Keep going," Naruto said cautiously.
"As I said, you already mimicked one of Yukie-sama's moves. While you may have a problem sharing your techniques, the movie business is - how shall we say? - less possessive. With your talents, you could very well recreate many of the movie moves. Your copy of the Kaze Ken Soufuu Atsu was quite authentic." Naruto saw Sandayuu pause and wait. Slowly, Naruto gave his nodded approval and the older man continued. "We can work it out where you don't have to show off your own creations. Someone of your skill must know some generic ones. Just stick to those and you should be fine."
Naruto thought about it. Which ones were generic ones? Naruto mentally counted: Kage Bunshin, Kaze Tate (which he learned from Ebisu), Doryuuheki, Suiryuudan, probably Kunai Soufuu Atsu. Five. Plus the Academy level ones. Plus… learning more potential jutsu could be fun. The first one was quite handy and him being in this movie would give him a first-hand account of any others. "I'll… think about it…" Naruto said slowly.
"A talentless idiot shouldn't even think, much less act."
Both Sandayuu and Naruto recognized the voice easily. It was Yukie herself. Without even turning around, Naruto spoke. "No one wants to hear your opinion. So just quietly walk along."
"And I don't want to have to spend anymore time around you worthless brats," Yukie responded.
"Yukie-sama!" Sandayuu shouted, but Naruto held up a hand. He swiveled around and looked at the fabled actress. "And no one likes a bitchy actress who badmouths everyone she meets, hurts little kids' feelings over a stupid autograph and disses the people hired for your protection. Would it kill you to act a little civil every once in a while?"
"Why don't you stay out of matters that don't concern you?!" Yukie demanded harshly.
"What's with that logic!? I'm your damned bodyguard, whether we like it or not! So, this does concern me! What's your problem!?"
"I have a worthless rodent that continues to bother and pester me! I never asked you to butt into my affairs!"
Sandayuu looked a bit fearful. "I'll… just… leave you two… alone…" He rushed out of there quickly, while Naruto kept his eye on the actress, who continued ranting. "You stalk me, you insult me, you steal my move…"
That last one instantly struck a nerve in Naruto and he didn't know why. "What the hell are you talking about!?"
"The Kaze Ken Soufuu Atsu!" Yukie shouted. "That is my move."
This was starting to sound familiar for some reason, but Naruto couldn't yet grasp what it was. "What's the problem? It's not like you can even do it! It's just something from the movie…"
"The movie I star in!" Yukie corrected. "The movie that I worked my ass off for! It's all my effort and hard work, and you go and steal something that I slaved away for and act like it's nothing. Even someone like me takes pride in what they work for and accomplish! It's MY MOVE!"
Naruto acted like he had been struck across the face. Now he knew where that tone of voice came from. It was exactly like how he acted when he learned that Kakashi had taught Sasuke the Oboro behind his back. But… he didn't really act like that… did he? He wasn't loud, hateful… uncooperative… wait…
Yukie wasn't done yet. "I don't need a self-centered brat working alongside me. You know nothing of what my life is like, or why my pride in these films is all I have left. And I'm not about to let some smart-mouthed little ass take that away. So do us both a favor and pretend that you don't exist!" She then stormed away, leaving Naruto alone.
Naruto just sat there, alone, letting his mind wander and think. What should he do? Sandayuu had said that the movie business wouldn't care, yet clearly Yukie did care. And she reacted exactly… like he did. Still, there were differences. Kakashi had broken his promise, Sakura stole without even considering him, and Sasuke was just a plain ass. Those were deliberate. Still, Yukie accused him of doing the same thing. Naruto groaned and laid his head on the table, trying to think. This mission was becoming more and more troublesome by the minute! He was just supposed to guard this stubborn actress, not war with his conscience every few minutes!
The more he thought, the more he knew that he had to do at least one thing. Yukie's last statement kept running through his head: Nothing of what her life had been like, her pride in the films, pretend he didn't exist. Just what could have been so awful in her life? Several events from his own life popped into his head, and he came to a decision: If nothing else, he was going to change that impression Yukie had on him. And the best way to do that was…
He slowly lifted his head and looked in the direction Yukie had gone, then where the movie set was. "I'm going to hate myself in the morning…" he complained as he pushed his bowl away and walked out.
Sasuke
Sasuke finished his lunch in record time and made a beeline out of the mess hall, no real destination in mind, though he ended up at the front of the ship anyway. He needed time to think! He didn't know what to do anymore! And he was frustrated to no end!
Fighting with Naruto had helped him forget his problems temporarily, but now they seemed even worse now!
After the fight, he had been mad that Kakashi had interfered and rescued him. Then he noticed who else had helped him out. That had both surprised and completely baffled him. Why did Sakura go and sa-… well, not save per se, but definitely assisted him… earlier, especially when she apparently didn't care about him anymore?
He didn't know why she did so, but he assumed it was because she was now willing to talk about that incident and tell him what the hell she wanted. To show that he was willing to talk about it, he swallowed his pride and thanked her for assisting him, even though a part of him wished she hadn't. He had thought he and her could finally resolve this little issue.
Wrong.
This time, she blew him off completely! She totally ignored him and even responded in a cold voice that didn't belong to her. He didn't know what was worse. That…
…or the fact that he couldn't get that certain image of her out of his mind.
He wanted to yell at the irritation all this junk was giving him! Damn Naruto! Damn that Oiroke no Jutsu: Sakura Sutairu! Damn Michy! Damn Naruto again! Damn his own confusion! Damn…whatever else he was forgetting! DAMN IT ALL TO HELL! What the hell did Sakura WANT!? Was that too much to ask!?
"Should I leave you alone so you can continue to cuss?" asked a voice.
Sasuke froze. Had all that actually come out of his mouth? Trying to calm himself, he slowly turned around and looked at the speaker.
It was Sandayuu.
How long had he been there?! More importantly, how much of that had been out loud?
Hoping to avoid the subject, Sasuke spoke. "What do you want?"
"Mind if I have a word?" Sandayuu asked.
"Out with it," Sasuke demanded.
"Well, I was here to persuade you to join the movie, but it looks like you need some other sort of help first."
"I don't need help," Sasuke insisted.
"Don't you?" Sandayuu asked in a firm voice. The same type of voice that he had used when he had spoken to Yukie at the bar: One of authority and in no mood for games. Sandayuu was the type of person who normally gave plenty of room to those around him, but even he had times when he dug his heels in and made a stand. He then walked over and sat at the front of the ship. He gestured at a spot next to him. Sasuke stood his ground. "Now," Sandayuu ordered.
Sasuke snorted and sat. He didn't speak immediately, but Sandayuu kept looking at him. Fifteen minutes passed and still nothing was said. "How much did you hear?" Sasuke finally asked, refusing to look at the man. He could feel his face becoming red.
"Enough," Sandayuu said. "You seem to be having all sorts of problems. Those with your two teammates, those with yourself, even some for Michy-san and I think I know why for him."
Sasuke considered. Then he asked. "Myself?"
"I think that one source of your problems is that you think that you're weak."
Sasuke flinched. What? Where did he get that idea!? He looked at Sandayuu, waiting for an explanation.
"I've been around for a while and I have a very good idea why you're acting the way you are," Sandayuu explained. "You're upset with yourself for various reasons: your own confusion, your frustration, all of which leads to one common thread: weakness. All of it seems centered around your two teammates. Sakura-san, because you can't understand what she wants, and why you're becoming so weak around her and your recent loss to Naruto-san, which makes you think you're weaker than him."
"I didn't lose," Sasuke insisted.
"Let's not fool ourselves," Sandayuu countered. "Your own jutsu backfired on you. Almost literally. With that, and that large Water Dragon attack, if your sensei and teammate hadn't come to your aid, Naruto-san would have had you at his mercy. You lost."
Sasuke's only response was to slam his fist into the deck.
"Listen. There are ways to help you. Let's take Naruto-san's case first. You lost to him this time around. But there'll be a next time. And during that time, you act. I'd recommend going to an ideal teacher. Someone who can push you to your limits and force you to surpass them. Being the last Uchiha, I believe that you have ample people who would like to help you get stronger."
"More than you know," Sasuke muttered without thinking, resting his right hand on the spot where the Curse Seal was. "But that man is not an option."
Sasuke could see some confusion in the man's eyes. "Pardon? There is someone to take you and give you the training you need? Why not go?"
Anger started building up inside Sasuke. He didn't need this type of talk. What he needed was some freaking help! Not be reminded of all this traitor talk. "I said – "
"I heard what you said," Sandayuu interrupted. "You said you had someone who was perfectly willing to teach you and help you grow stronger. What's the problem?"
"That the person in question is Orochimaru himself!" Sasuke shouted.
Sandayuu's face fell at that. He immediately shifted his position and got on his hands and knees. "I deeply apologize. I… I didn't know. I… I assumed…"
"You assumed wrong," Sasuke said coldly. Go to Orochimaru? He shook his head. Great, now that thought was going to bug him, on top of Naruto's stupid prank and Sakura's behavior. His life sucked. "Get up."
Sandayuu nodded from his position and sat upright. "Um… might I suggest we talk about your other problem?"
Sasuke scowled, but did not say otherwise.
"Your female teammate seems rather cold and harsh to you," Sandayuu stated openly. Sasuke scowled deeper. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
There was no hesitation in Sasuke's answer. He knew he probably should get this off his chest, get someone else's opinion on the matter. Maybe even get some helpful advice on what to do. But now he was no longer interested. The fool already screwed up with his advice on how to get stronger. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if they discussed his problems with Sakura.
His answer was, "No."
Sandayuu considered, and then nodded. "Very well. Then I shall speak to her myself and tell you what I observe, and you can take it anyway you like. Sakura-san wants nothing to do with you, or at least, so you think. Yet she helped you out earlier when your fight turned sour. She's not as cold-hearted around you as you think. She's waiting for something. What that is, even I'm not sure.
"Now, you also seem to blame Michy-san as a source for your problems. Probably because Sakura-san is focusing more on him than you… and you're used to her attention on you, isn't that right, Sasuke-san?" Not waiting for a response, Sandayuu continued. "My suggestion on that would be simply to ignore how Sakura-san acts around Michy-san. Once your mission with us is over, you'll likely never see him again. So don't concern yourself with trivial matters like that. However, if you do decide to take part in the movie, you'll find yourself close to Sakura-san for awhile. She won't be able to completely ignore you then. And that may very well give you the opening you need." He stood up and started walking away. "And then of course, there's the biggest source of your troubles with her.
"I think… you miss her."
Sasuke nearly fell off the side of the ship at that. When he regained his bearings, he saw that Sandayuu was long gone. He pondered the older man's words. He missed Sakura? That wasn't true… was it? He brought his hands up to his head and started fighting off a migraine. He then allowed himself to fall back on the deck and look at the sky.
He found himself thinking about all sorts of things now. Orochimaru's offer. His defective katon. Naruto's stupid prank (he still couldn't get that image out of his head!). Sandayuu's talk. Did he really miss Sakura? Was that why he found himself so frustrated? Was the reason really that simple? Most importantly, Sandayuu said that Sakura was waiting for something. What? What was she waiting for? An apology? Sasuke didn't know, but with his luck, that probably wasn't it. What else could it be?
He thought about it and came up with no other possibility. Oh, why should he care at all? He stopped. But that was it, wasn't it? He did care. Why he cared now, he had no freaking clue. But he did.
Be in the movie. That's what Sandayuu had suggested. Use it as an excuse to get close to her, have her talk to him. And maybe… just maybe… get her to tell him what she wanted.
He thought about it some more, and looked back. He made his decision. One of them anyway. Swearing under his breath, he got up and walked off, muttering "I hate my life."
Naruto
Naruto walked out onto the set, where virtually everyone else was. Several people were getting the cameras ready, others were helping the actors getting dressed, Sandayuu was quizzing Yukie on her scenes, and Makino and Kaijo were deep in discussion.
"So, you came after all. Or are you just here to stare and cause trouble?"
Naruto looked over his shoulder. "I'm here, Sakura-chan. Isn't that enough?"
She gave a small smile. "I suppose so." Her eyes then narrowed slightly. Naruto looked at her confused. What she glaring about now? Then he realized that she was looking over his shoulder. Oh. Glancing back, he saw Sasuke walk up. "So…you're here too, Kizuato?"
"Shut up, Sekigan," Sasuke answered as he joined the other two. "I have my reasons, what's yours?"
"You don't really expect me to answer that, do you?" Naruto shot back. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yukie glaring at him, but he ignored her. He would deal with her later. He had other things to do now.
"So, you all decided to do it." Kakashi said, walking over to them with Kaijo, who was carrying several sheets of paper. Kaijo then cleared his throat and looked directly at the three. "You all sure you want to do this? I don't want to hear that you're going to back out halfway through the movie. We're already revising the scripts as it is, and once is enough." He spoke in a tone of complete seriousness, even more so than he usually did. He then held out the papers towards the three. "Don't take them unless you're going to commit."
There was no hesitation from Sakura. She immediately took the paper, started giggling madly and kept ranting about 'how cool Michy-sama was!'.
Naruto saw Sasuke's eyes darken at Sakura's little statements. Sasuke then snatched the other paper out of Kaijo's hand and started looking it over.
"Let's just get this over with," Naruto said, grabbing his own paper. He saw Kakashi give a nod of approval at their actions. "Are you in it too, Hatake?"
"Uh huh," the Jounin said lazily. "More as supporting cast, though. It's you three that Makino has his eyes on."
"Take a few minutes to look over the script," Kaijo said. "It's nothing elaborate, as the scene we'll be filming is an introductory one centered on the four of you. The focus of this scene is going to be introducing your characters for the movie. We figured the best way to do that was to have a normal conversation between yourselves, and then later, Gale and her group will stumble upon you four."
"How are you writing us into the movie anyway?" Sakura asked.
"You'll start out as wandering nin. Lost. Outcast. All due to reasons that you don't want to talk about for a while. Yukie-chan, Ken-kun, and Michy-kun will head your way, due to the fight they witnessed between Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun a while ago, which is also in the movie, by the way. From there, they'll meet you and both groups will discover that they have a common goal: journeying to the Snow Country. And you'll all decide to journey together for mutual protection. That's what you need to concern yourselves with for the time being. Any questions?"
They all shook their heads. "Be calm," Kaijo advised. "Don't look at the camera or crew. Just be yourselves and improvise as you need to." After receiving a collective nod from the Konoha nin, Kaijo walked off and Naruto looked at the script. The opening line was Sasuke's. Figures, Naruto thought irritably. Just a simple one: What's on you guys' minds?
Naruto looked over the rest of the script with the other responses, and saw the people getting the cameras, lights, and sound equipment all into place out of the corner of his eye. Makino then addressed all of them. "OK. Take a few minutes and get familiar with your lines. The first time around will simply be a test run, just to get you into the feel of things and what to expect later. Don't worry about the cameras or anyone watching you. Just be yourselves and act natural." He then walked over and began talking with the other actors for a few minutes, then finally looked back. "Are you four ready?"
"Hai," came the universal response.
Makino then sat in his director's chair and pointed at them, giving the signal to start. At first nothing happened, the group just stood there, waiting. Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi looked at Sasuke and waited, while Sasuke just stared back. "What are you waiting for?!" Naruto snapped at him. "Start already!"
"Shut up," Sasuke said, now refocusing on his script. He then cleared his throat and said, "What's on my mind?"
It's been known that some people don't act well under pressure. Some people can be great, fine, and unemotional in the most casual of situations, perhaps even in life-threatening situations, yet as soon as they get in front of a camera, with everyone's focus and high levels of performance and expectations, even the most steel-nerved people can crumble on the set. Now take that and add Sasuke's own mental traumas up to this point, and this is the result.
There was a silence and a wide selection of responses. Makino looked amused at the mistake, while Kaijo seemed to expect it. Michy, curiously, looked eager for some reason, like a cat that was about to pounce on its prey. The other actors didn't seem to really care. Only Sandayuu seemed impassive. "Who cares!?" Naruto demanded. "That's not your line, dumbass!"
"Sure it is… oh… wait, no it's not… um… How's your find doing?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean!?" Naruto shouted. "It's just one stupid line! What's your freaking problem!? It's not that hard!"
"No one wants to hear your opinion, baka," Sasuke snapped back, refocusing on his paper. He looked at it for a few seconds, then put it away and stated, "What's on your behind?"
"It's 'What's on your blind', not behind… oh shit… now you've got me doing it! Great going, Uchiha genius!" Naruto said the last word with complete sarcasm.
"Will you two stop?" Sakura interjected, looking in Sasuke's direction. "Just say the first thing that comes naturally to your mind."
"Why did you have to be naked?" Sasuke blurted out immediately.
The atmosphere changed immediately. Sakura's script dropped out of her hands, while Kakashi looked completely shocked, and Naruto lost his voice due to the cracking up he was currently doing. Makino looked like someone had just handed him pure gold, while Kaijo stumbled backwards, and all the actors were now giving the shinobi their complete and undivided attention. Sakura then turned her full attention on Sasuke. "What. Was. THAT!?"
"It's not what you think!" Sasuke protested immediately, waving his hands in the air.
Naruto broke out laughing. "This is great! Who knew Sasuke-teme was a pervert?! HA! HA! HA! This is the best news I've heard all week!"
"Look who's talking! You're the one who did it!" Sasuke accused the blond shinobi, while Sakura grabbed Sasuke by the collar, pulled him face-to-face with her and demanded he explain himself. Poor Sasuke looked as if he'd rather face his brother's Tsukuyomi again than confront a pissed-off Sakura over this particular… subject.
"Did what?" Kakashi asked, not having a clue what was going on.
"Oh," Naruto answered, in-between laughs, "I just caught Sasuke in a prank that revealed his true nature!"
"My true nature!?" Sasuke repeated in pure disbelief, now focusing on Naruto, despite Sakura being right in his face. "You're the one who did it! And you're the one who uses those damned things! It takes a perverted mind to created perverted ninjutsu!"
"ISN'T SOMEONE GOING TO TELL ME WHAT THIS STUPID PRANK WAS ABOUT!?" Sakura yelled while still glaring at Sasuke. "YOU HAVE FIVE SECONDS TO EXPLAIN BEFORE HEADS START ROLLING!!"
"There's a distinct line between creative and perverted!" Naruto roared back. He was many things, but being labeled as a pervert was not going to be one of them! He then got some bad mental imagery, most notably his face with a Jiraiya-style body. He flinched badly at that thought.
"Only to those in complete denial about themselves!" Sasuke shot back.
"ONE!" Sakura counted.
"OH?! JUST LIKE YOU RIGHT NOW!!?" Naruto accused.
"Who was the one who created that perverted thing!? Here are a few hints! He's a damn midget, he has stupid blond hair, and has a face like a rat's ass!"
"TWO!"
"Who's the one who couldn't speak, was gaping like a maniac, and looked like he just found a vault of treasure!"
"Um… guys…" Kakashi tried.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!!!" all three yelled, while Sakura counted. "THREE!!"
"I did not gape or look like that!" Sasuke retorted. "If anyone does that, it's you when you're around that Hyuuga girl! Remember that time you two went and kissed and how she passed out over it?!"
"WHY ARE YOU BRINGING HER INTO THIS!?!" Naruto demanded. "She's got nothing to do with this, and you did gape like mad! Your face screamed 'I want that!'"
"FOUR!!!"
"I did not!" Sasuke retorted, He then looked back at the kunoichi, who was still inches from his face and about to erupt. In a tone of sheer desperation, he pleaded, "Listen! I'm telling you, it's not what you…"
"Look behind you…" said a seductive, voice. Sakura and Sasuke froze. And whether it was due to curiosity, or simply wanting to deny what was about to happen, both genin turned around. There was a second Sakura standing there, wearing absolutely nothing at all. Sakura dropped Sasuke right there, unable to speak due to the shock, while Sasuke went red-faced again and looked straight on, not turning his head at all. After a few seconds, the henge dropped and Naruto pointed triumphantly at the Uchiha. "See!? That face right there! That's the exact same fa-" He was cut off by Sakura's fist slamming into his face hard. "BAKA!!! SHANNARO!!!"
She then immediately turned around and slammed her fist into Sasuke's face. "AND THAT'S FOR LOOKING!!! TWICE!!!"
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!!" Sasuke yelled back. "I'm innocent here! I was minding my own business and not bothering anyone!"
"Well… you did push Michy-san over the side of the boat…" Kakashi said simply. "Now can you three calm down?"
"YOU DID WHAT!?" both Naruto and Sakura shouted, getting into Sasuke's face again and completely ignoring the man.
"I was in a bad mood, and that's got nothing to do with this anyway!"
"You pushed Michy-sama overboard!?"
"So that's why he was soaking wet!"
"So what!? And that's all your fault too, baka!"
"HOW could you do such a thing to Michy-sama!?"
"My fault!? How the hell is that my fault!?
"It just is! Like everything else is on this damned mission!"
"I'll never forgive you for what you did to Michy-sama!"
"My fault? MY fault!? How is all of this my fault?! Are you blaming me for your pathetic failures now too?! Like that defective katon of yours!? Is that my fault too!?"
"Now, now…" Kakashi tried, bringing up his hands, as if that would help calm things down. "Original jutsus are hard to complete. Naruto, you should know that better than…"
"We don't need the opinion of a lazy, unoriginal copycat like yourself!" Naruto yelled at him.
"Oh…" Kakashi drew out the word carefully. "So that's how you wanna play, huh?"
"Why not!?" Sasuke demanded at Naruto. "It could very well be you! You're the one coming at me all the time, just like with that stupid jutsu of Sakura you did!"
"That's right!" Sakura yelled, turning around to face Naruto. "IF you ever pull that stupid stunt again, I'll rearrange your face!"
"It was just a little prank!" Naruto insisted.
"Who would want to look at you when you're like that anyway!?" Sasuke inquired at his female teammate.
Unfortunately for him, Sakura spun back around and grabbed him all over again. "ARE YOU SAYING that I'm not good enough for you!?"
"What do you want from me!?" Sasuke asked. "First you're mad over the fact that it happened, and now you're mad at the fact that that I don't want to look. What the hell do you want!?"
"Being mad at you is enough right now!" Sakura answered. She then looked back at Naruto. "And I stand by what I said! If you EVER do that again…"
"You know, Sasuke's right… wait… I can't believe I just said that that… but what's with you!? You're not acting like yourself during this mission! What's going on with you!?"
"It's none of your business, idiot!"
"Well, I'm making it my business! Out with it!"
"Screw you! You don't need to know and I'm not telling!"
"Don't make me force it out of you!"
"Naruto-kun…"
All three stopped. They all recognized that voice. No. It couldn't be. Slowly, then all turned and looked at the speaker. It was Hinata.
Completely naked.
"Naruto-kun…" she repeated timidly, poking her fingers together as that familiar blush appeared. "Sakura-chan… Sasuke-kun… please stop fighting… you have o-other things to worry about…. a-and… y-you're a team… sh-shouldn't teams be getting… along?"
Naruto's mind experienced the ultimate brain freeze. What? When? How? What was she doing here? He thought his nose was running. Subconsciously, he wiped it and saw a bit of blood. Oh crap. "H-Hinata-chan… what… what are… what are you… what are you doing… what are you doing here? And why… why aren't… aren't you… you wearing… wearing… anything? You're… naked…"
"HA!" Sasuke hollered in glee. "And you accuse me of being a pervert! You should look at your face! Yours is much more…"
"SHE'S SEXIER THAN ME!!!" Sakura interrupted.
Both boys paused and looked at her in pure disbelief. It was at that moment that 'Hinata' vanished and Kakashi reappeared. "Now that you're quiet and I have your attention…"
"THAT WAS YOU!?!?" All three genin exclaimed, completely shocked.
"Yes," Kakashi admitted. He looked at Naruto. "Just because I'm late constantly and prefer to copy the techniques of my enemies doesn't mean I never got into my fair share of trouble or pranks. And before you three explode on me, take a few minutes and calm down. You've given the film crew more than enough to work with."
Film crew? Naruto repeated to himself. What film… crew… oh… SHIT!!! He, Sakura and Sasuke all turned and looked at the film crew, and cast. "You… you mean…"
"Excellent!" Makino shouted. "Perfect! All three of you! And you too, Kakashi! That was even better than the script! Perfect for your introduction scene!"
Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke all paled. "Wait…" Sakura said. "Just… just how… how much did you guys… get?"
"All of it," Kakashi answered for Makino. "I tried to tell you three earlier that they were filming… but you were too preoccupied and wouldn't listen."
"But… but that's not the scene…" Naruto attempted. "Shouldn't… shouldn't we redo it… and dump that footage?" Sakura and even Sasuke muttered 'Hai!'
"Are you kidding!?" Makino exclaimed in pure disbelief. "Forget the script! What you three did was just perfect! Better than any script or scene we could have written! You could feel the passion, drama, and fury in the air! We're keeping it!" He looked at his film crew. "Get to work! That'll be their introductory scene for the movie, with the fight scene being their opening scene. The whole world will soon see this and rejoice at the material of these three stars!"
The whole world!? was Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke's collective thought. The whole world was going to see them acting like complete idiots!? They would see Naruto's perverted ninjutsu and reaction to 'Hinata', they would see a naked version of Sakura and her temper unleashed, and a humiliated and defeated Sasuke? The more they thought about it, the more gloom and doom seemed to hang over them in increasing quantities.
"Um… I don't think we should be in the movie anymore…" Naruto said out loud. "A-and… maybe we should ban all that…"
"Gomen, Naruto-kun," Kaijo said, with an apologetic look on his face. "You're committed now, remember? I told you not to take the scripts otherwise and all four of you did. That's effectively giving your word. And true men don't break their word, do they?"
Naruto wanted to cry, and Sakura and Sasuke looked more appalled by the second. Kakashi just looked amused at the thought.
Yukie, Michy, Ken, and even the 'deceased' Hidero came up and offered a hand. The first two had an evil look on their faces at the state of the two boys. "Congratulations," Yukie said with heavy humor and an evil tone that would have made a villainess proud. "It's unanimous now. Welcome to the movies!"
(Author's Note). And so ends Team 7's first try at the movie business. I wonder how… additional scenes in this movie will turn out. Hopefully, my creativity manages to hold out.
Special thanks to Tellemicus once again. This chapter was a pain in the butt to produce and Tellemicus helped get the creative juices flowing. I rather liked the end results.
I have to confess that with the Christmas season now upon us, and me shifting my focusing back to my other story for the time being, I have no idea when the next chapter will be. Well, until next time, whenever that may be. Happy Holidays everyone!
Kizuato—Scar
Sekigan—One Eye
No jutsu list this time. I don't really count what Kakashi did as an original jutsu.
I do not own Naruto. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. Also, any jutsu that Tellemicus created that are used in this story belong to him.