Aoba simply appeared in front of the white horse that Kazahana Koyuki was riding.
The chains behind him swung out and immediately tied up Kazahana Koyuki securely on the horse's back.
———
"Filming a movie?", Yuhi Kurenai looked at the group that had appeared before them.
Listening to these people holding strange devices while talking about filming a movie, she already guessed that this was the crew they were looking for.
'It's just that…'
"That's right! You all have such great presence, and you're even real ninja, how about joining our crew and giving it a try? Maybe you'll become big stars!", An old man wearing a hat said to Kurenai.
If real ninja joined the shooting of the sequel, maybe the scenes could become even more spectacular.
Kurenai waved a hand, "Forget it, I don't really have any interest in acting. We're just here to complete a commission."
"I see. That's a shame," The old director sighed.
Kurenai ignored him and instead looked toward another somewhat scruffy-looking old man wearing small round glasses.
"You're the one who made the request?"
Asama Sandayu nodded, "I am Miss Yukie's manager, Asama Sandayu."
"And Miss Yukie…?"
"One of our companions has already gone to bring her back. He should… already be returning," Kurenai shifted her tone as she saw a figure appear.
"You rough brute, put me down right now!", Kazahana Koyuki, tied up by Aoba's chains and hanging in the air, struggled desperately.
Aoba sounded helpless, "If you don't run, I'll put you down."
"It's the Princess Gale!"
"It really is her! The actual Princess Gale!"
"It's Fujikaze Yukie, the actress who plays Princess Gale!"
There were already many people watching, and after seeing the tied-up girl in costume, they quickly recognized her.
After all, the movie Princess Gale had long become a huge hit all over the Land of Fire.
"Please give me an autograph, I'm a fan!"
Kazahana Koyuki saw the crowd gathering around and quickly realized she couldn't escape.
"I won't run. Let me down."
Aoba retracted the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Kazahana Koyuki really didn't try to run away, but instead responded to the fans coldly with a frosty face.
Of course, that had nothing to do with him.
Aoba walked back to Kurenai and the others.
"This Princess Gale… is a little different from what I imagined…"
Yakumo looked at the angry and snappish Kazahana Koyuki and seemed a bit disappointed. She had planned to ask for an autograph, but now it looked like she might get yelled at.
"Sorry about that. Miss Yukie has been under a lot of pressure lately. Please forgive her if she behaves badly," Asama Sandayu apologized quickly.
Kurenai then introduced him to Aoba, "This is our client, Asama Sandayu."
Aoba nodded to him, "No problem. Our task is just to protect her, that's all. When do we leave for the Land of Snow?"
Asama Sandayu did not dare to be careless. This was the Hokage's disciple, rumored to be even stronger than the Hokage, just listed as a genin because of regulations.
"Since everyone is here, we can prepare today and depart tomorrow."
The filming here had finished. The next stop was the Land of Snow.
"I'm not going! I told you I absolutely won't go to the Land of Snow. If you want to go, go without me. Even if you kill me, I won't go!", Hearing their discussion, Kazahana Koyuki said firmly.
Everyone knew her true identity, so although they understood, they still felt she was being a bit noisy.
Seeing that she was about to go on and on, Yakumo casually cast a genjutsu to make her quiet.
"You don't mind, do you?", After finishing the genjutsu, Yakumo even smiled at Asama Sandayu.
"Not at all," Asama Sandayu certainly wouldn't object. His goal was to bring the princess home.
———
[Out at Sea]
The large ship was not very stable, rocking back and forth.
In the distance, sea and sky touched, forming a silver-edged fine line.
Aoba and the others had nothing to do, so they stood on the deck, leaning over the rail and looking down.
The seawater was as blue and clear as the sky; the sea breeze on the face was a little sticky and slightly bitter.
"It feels like the sea here is a little different from the one near Uzushio," Hinata looked deep into the water with her Byakugan activated.
"They say the Land of Snow is always snowing and has no spring. Maybe it's because of the climate," Aoba gave his guess.
"If it's winter all the time… then it must be super cold, right?", Yakumo couldn't really picture that kind of place.
"Yeah," Aoba nodded, "But we're ninja, and we came prepared with warm clothes, so it shouldn't be that bad."
"Eh?",.Kurenai suddenly let out a small cry, drawing their attention.
She looked at Yakumo, "Yakumo, don't you get seasick?"
"Uh…", Yakumo's face stiffened. She instantly changed expression and collapsed into Aoba's arms like a frail and sickly girl, "Aoba, I feel so awful."
"..."
There was a brief silence. Kurenai also realized the truth.
'This isn't seasickness, this is Aoba-sickness."
Aoba then noticed Hinata's mood on the other side had also shifted slightly. He reached out and held her hand.
———
Not far away.
Kazahana Koyuki, who had already woken up, had temporarily given up resisting.
Now that the ship was already at sea and they didn't know how far they'd gone, even if she wanted to escape, she couldn't do it alone.
She sat blankly on a small stool, letting the makeup artist fiddle with her face and hair, looking spiritless and totally resigned.
Her blue eyes slowly shifted, and when she suddenly noticed Aoba with the two girls not far away, her eyes widened slightly.
'That guy is not only rough, he's a playboy too!'
"Was she just looking at us?", Hinata whispered.
"Maybe."
———
Filming soon began, actors and props in their places.
Kazahana Koyuki's role as Princess Gale was, in the story, a princess trying to reclaim her country, brave and determined.
The "princess" part fit her very well. The personality, however, was the complete opposite of her real timid and cowardly self.
Aoba and the others watched her acting.
Honestly, watching the filming process up close was a totally different experience from watching it in a theatre.
After finishing her costume and makeup, she knelt in the prepared set and built up her emotion. On the "cut!" cue… her expression instantly changed and she entered the role in one second.
"So amazing!", Yakumo exclaimed, "Her acting is really good."
Aoba lowered his head to look at the Yakumo in his arms and couldn't help saying, "Yours isn't bad either."
"Hehe!", Yakumo shrank back a little, "Aoba, I still don't feel well. Stay with me tonight, okay?"
———
Of course, that was impossible.
Hinata, who had her Byakugan secretly activated, also squeezed over.
However, besides Hinata and Yakumo… there was another uninvited guest in Aoba's room.
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