Chapter 87: Look Up at the Sky, the Moon is Smiling
Filming a movie isn't all that difficult—the real challenge lies in making it profitable.
First of all, it was out of the question to openly screen it at the Konoha Theater. Although Konoha was currently pursuing a more conciliatory policy, that didn't mean the Anbu could be taken lightly—especially since this was a matter involving Sasuke, Naruto's close friend.
"Hey, hey, kids over there. Wanna watch a movie?"
In a dark alley, Shunhi—having gone out of his way to dress up—called out to a group of three on the street: two arguing as usual, one watching.
"Huh? Are you talking to us?" Boruto paused and pointed to himself.
"Who are you? You look super suspicious," Sarada took a step forward, her gaze fixed on the bizarrely dressed man with a jar-shaped head. She assumed a guarded stance, her right hand subtly moving toward her ninja pouch.
Ever since the Otsutsuki attack, Sarada had maintained a high level of vigilance.
"Remember this well—I'm just a jar merchant passing through."
"I've got something you kids might be interested in. A movie starring Uchiha Sasuke. Want to check it out?"
Sarada visibly froze. In her memory, her father didn't seem like the type who'd act in a movie. Boruto, however, didn't think that far ahead and exclaimed excitedly, "For real? Uncle Sasuke made a movie?"
"You idiot, Boruto! There's no way my dad would do something like that. This guy's obviously trying to scam you!" Sarada smacked Boruto on the head.
"Suit yourselves. I'll go sell it to someone else who's interested." Shunhi made a show of turning and walking deeper into the alley.
"Don't worry, Sarada. If this guy really tries to scam me, he'll find out what happens when you lie to a ninja. Besides, this is Konoha."
Boruto spoke seriously.
That's right—this was Konoha. No one dared deceive Boruto, the son of the Hokage.
Boruto quickly caught up to the man, handed over the money, and took the movie in one smooth transaction.
Shunhi quickly pocketed the thousand ryō and said, "Once sold, no refunds. Also, each viewing costs another hundred ryō."
Boruto, holding a strange-looking device, instantly looked annoyed. "Why didn't you say that earlier?!"
He'd just spent his entire month's allowance to buy the thing. As for mission earnings? Don't even bring that up—it just made him angrier. The pay for Genin-level missions was already low, and on top of that, Konoha taxed a portion. Their team leader Konohamaru took a cut, and whatever was left got split among the three of them. There was barely anything left.
"Boruto, I have a hundred ryō."
Mitsuki handed over a hundred ryō. Though Orochimaru never gave him living expenses, Mitsuki had no desires outside of Boruto, so he rarely needed to spend money.
"Thanks, Mitsuki."
Boruto quickly inserted the coin into the plate held by a small black figurine on the device. The figurine slowly flipped the plate, causing the coin to fall into its mouth.
With a [Ding!], the movie was projected onto the wall.
"That really is Dad!"
"Uncle Sasuke is so cool!"
"Mm."
As they watched the film projected onto the wall, Boruto and Sarada exclaimed in surprise. When they finally came back to their senses, Shunhi had already vanished.
In just one day, the movie starring Uchiha Sasuke had taken Konoha by storm. Sasuke was on the verge of becoming the next top movie star. His handsome looks and impressive performance on screen had earned him a legion of female fans.
All over Konoha, in streets and alleyways, people were talking about Uchiha Sasuke, Umbrella Corporation, the zombie outbreak, Team Taka, and Jill.
"Naruto, I think you need to see this."
With a serious look on his face, Shikamaru pushed open the door to the Hokage's office. Upon seeing Naruto, who had been resting, he immediately started pretending to work.
"What is it, Shikamaru?" Naruto looked up, his expression solemn.
"This thing." Shikamaru pulled out a hundred ryō coin as he spoke and started projecting the movie on the wall.
"That's Sasuke! That guy said he was going on a mission to investigate something, but he went off to shoot a movie behind my back? I wonder if acting's fun," Naruto said with interest, treating Sasuke's film like a break from work.
However, as the movie continued and the Umbrella Corporation and zombies appeared, Naruto's expression grew increasingly grave. He turned to Shikamaru and asked, "Where did you get this?"
"From my son. But according to him, it was bought from a mysterious merchant who showed up in Konoha. And the first person to buy it—was your son, Boruto," Shikamaru explained.
Naruto nodded. "Got it. Shikamaru, I'll leave things here to you. I need to go home for a bit."
He threw on the Hokage cloak from his chair, opened the window, and leapt out.
It was a high drop, but nothing that could kill him. No ninja would die from a fall like that.
"Naruto? Why are you home already?"
Hinata, who had been mopping the floor, looked surprised to see him back so early.
"Something came up. Where's Boruto?" Naruto replied simply, immediately asking where their son was.
"He's in his room. Naruto, don't tell me Boruto got into trouble again?" Hinata asked with concern. Though both Naruto and Boruto were the people she loved most, if Boruto really had caused big trouble for Naruto, she didn't mind teaming up with her husband to teach him a lesson—mixed martial arts, family style.
"It's not really trouble. I just need to ask him something."
Naruto handed Hinata his Hokage cloak and headed upstairs to Boruto's room.
"Boruto."
Naruto pushed open the door and walked in.
Lying on his bed, Boruto tilted his head when he saw it was his dad, then turned his attention back to his game.
"You're home early. Hang on, I'm almost done with this level."
Naruto dragged a chair from Boruto's room and sat down. Facing his son, who was still gaming, he asked, "You know that movie Sasuke's been in recently?"
"You too, Dad? You liked it, didn't you? Uncle Sasuke is so cool! Next time, I'm definitely getting his autograph. And Jill—she's amazing! You like her too, don't you, Dad?"
"Mm… yeah, I guess so."
Seeing Boruto so excited to talk to him, Naruto reflexively agreed. It was the first time Boruto had shared something with him with that kind of expression.
"Jill, huh? Mind telling your mom about her?"
At that moment, Hinata—with her Byakugan activated—pushed open Boruto's door and smiled sweetly at Naruto.
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