"You seem a little excited."
Takumi smiled and comforted her. "Do you want to be a big star too?"
"No, I've seen your previous movie with this young lady."
Temari's face was flushed, entirely from the excitement of the news. "I never thought I'd get a chance to be part of a film shoot."
"In that case, let's not delay and start right away."
Takumi said with a smile. "You just need to act naturally. Show whatever you're usually like."
"Just pretend the director and the camera aren't there."
He shared his experience as someone who had been through it.
The director also chimed in at the right time, nodding repeatedly. "That's right. As an actor, you absolutely must not be aware of the camera's existence. That's the only way to capture your most natural side."
"Don't be nervous at all. Just act like you normally do."
The director obviously wanted to ease Temari's nervousness, but his words completely had the opposite effect, making her even more nervous.
For the following shoot, Temari either stumbled over her words or had a very stiff, unnatural expression.
It wasn't until Kurenai arrived with Hinata and the others that Temari finally got her scene right.
After explaining the current situation to the bewildered Kurenai and her team, Takumi went over to Temari and pulled her aside to a corner.
He reached out and took her hands, speaking softly. "You are the daughter of the Fourth Kazekage, the sister of the future Kazekage, Gaara. How can you get nervous over such a small matter?"
"Loosen up. Don't forget our real business. Solving the mystery of the force attacking the Land of Wind is the priority. Don't take the movie filming too seriously."
His words seemed to carry a magical quality, or perhaps the warmth from his palms made her feel very at ease.
Her original unease quickly eased.
However, hearing Takumi say "our real business", her thoughts involuntarily wandered a bit.
Fortunately, she was a top-tier Kunoichi and quickly refocused on the actual business.
"I understand."
Temari slowly nodded.
Filming continued.
This time, it went very smoothly.
The director repeatedly gave Takumi a thumbs up.
And Kurenai and Hinata, who had been informed in advance, also completed their scenes very smoothly.
Kurenai, being a Jonin, didn't care much about such things.
Hinata became even shyer in front of the camera, but it suited her perfectly. Her personality wasn't one for talking much anyway.
Kiba was as boisterous as ever, unchanged by the camera's presence.
Shino's presence remained as low as always; even the director himself didn't know when he had filmed Shino entering the shot.
After preparations were complete, Takumi immediately set off with the group.
The group left the village in a mighty procession.
Under Takumi's lead, they headed in an unknown direction.
"Wait, this isn't the route to the Land of Wind, is it?"
Temari frowned. This route clearly wasn't the way to the Land of Wind.
"Just trust me and follow along."
Takumi smiled mysteriously. "The enemy's main force will appear in this direction."
"How do you know?"
Temari was greatly surprised. She hadn't even told Takumi the detailed intelligence yet, but he seemed to know a lot of things.
"I just have some conjectures. The truth needs further investigation."
Takumi didn't plan to explain in detail, as it wouldn't make sense. "Anyway, let's rendezvous with Naruto and the others first. They might have gotten caught up in this incident."
"Naruto?"
Temari was puzzled, 'Why would this involve a mere Genin from Konoha?'
"Just trust me."
Takumi showed a confident smile.
Temari thought for a moment, then said, "I need to send a message to the main force to rendezvous with us at the destination."
"What is the destination?"
She looked at Takumi.
"The destination is..."
Takumi recalled the possible location where Naruto and the others might have been attacked.
At that moment, what exactly was Naruto doing?
He was on a mission.
He quietly hid behind a rock, holding his breath.
Beside him were an equally cautious Sakura, and Shikamaru with his usual bored expression.
Under the gaze of the three, a ferret was slowly stepping into the trap set by Shikamaru.
Suddenly,
The ferret triggered one of the traps. In a panic, it ran towards a capture trap on a small slope.
In its desperate flight, it was immediately caught by a box, unable to escape.
"Haha, got it!!"
Naruto immediately jumped up and rushed over.
Sakura and Shikamaru followed.
"This mission was way too easy."
Naruto said with a grin, reaching to open the box and grab the ferret.
"That's only because of the traps Shikamaru set."
Sakura said exasperatedly. "If you had to catch it, you'd probably still be at it come nightfall."
"Sakura, you underestimate me."
Naruto turned back in dissatisfaction, but he forgot he had already opened the box.
Instantly, the ferret darted out at lightning speed.
Fortunately,
The ferret didn't run far; it landed on Sakura's shoulder.
Sakura quickly shielded the ferret, then glared angrily at Naruto. "Naruto! You almost let it escape!"
"Sorry, sorry."
Naruto said, his face showing no apology at all, but rather a hidden smile.
"Black fur on all four legs. Looks like it's the right target."
Shikamaru confirmed the ferret's characteristics, and confirmed it was the mission target, a relieved smile also appearing on his face.
"Hehehe..."
Naruto finally couldn't hold back and doubled over laughing.
"What's wrong with you?"
Sakura frowned. Her intuition told her Naruto was about to cause trouble again.
She immediately used her hand to calm the ferret on her shoulder.
"Hahaha, this guy's so stupid! He actually fell for a trap like this!" Naruto pointed at the ferret and loudly mocked it.
His words obviously angered the ferret.
It immediately bristled the fur on its front, making a threatening sound towards Naruto.
"Wait!"
Sakura was startled by the ferret's action. "What did you do, Naruto!"
"Huh?"
Naruto looked at Sakura uncomprehendingly.
Just then, the ferret launched itself directly at Naruto's face, clawing wildly.
"Ah!"
Naruto cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Sakura and Shikamaru also panicked.
But their concern was obviously not for the suffering from one's own actions Naruto, but whether the mission target would escape.
Fortunately, Naruto also knew he couldn't let the target get away.
He struggled to grab the ferret, but his body uncontrollably rolled back a few times.
Before he could steady himself, his foot stepped on another trap.
The rope hidden under the soil immediately tightened, hoisting Naruto upside down.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—"
In his panic, Naruto's hands involuntarily let go.
But the ferret didn't leave Naruto; it clung to him.
No, it clung to his face.
Because the ferret was biting Naruto's face tightly, refusing to let go.
Obviously still angry about what Naruto had said earlier.
After some sorting out, the ferret was placed in a pet carrier.
The three headed to the client's village to complete the mission.
"You have to watch it carefully, absolutely cannot let the target escape again."
Sakura warned, still shaken.
If the ferret hadn't wanted to run, their previous efforts would have been in vain.
"I know, I know."
Naruto looked unconcerned, even a bit dissatisfied. "Why does Sasuke get to stay in the village and train, while I have to do such simple missions?"
"At this rate, won't the gap between me and Sasuke keep getting wider?"
He obviously thought he was stronger than Sasuke.
After all, without Sasuke's defection, he had never truly fought him seriously.
And Sasuke had long set his sights on Takumi, paying little attention to Naruto.
This made Naruto very dissatisfied.