The heavy wooden doors to the Hokage's office swung open.
Team 7 filed into the room. Tsunade sat at her newly replaced mahogany desk. She rubbed her temples, looking like she wanted to punch a hole through the wall.
Standing in the center of the room was a woman who clearly didn't belong in a ninja village.
She wore a lavish, fur-lined coat and a silk dress that clung tightly to her body. Her dark hair was styled perfectly. She smelled heavily of expensive perfume and cheap sake.
It was Yukie Fujikaze. The most famous actress in the Elemental Nations.
Behind her stood a frantic, sweating man holding a clipboard. Her director and secret retainer, Sandayu Asama.
"I am not going!" Yukie shouted. She crossed her arms and swayed slightly on her high heels. She was completely drunk. "It's freezing! It's miserable! I refuse to shoot a movie in that frozen wasteland!"
"Princess Yukie, please!" Sandayu begged. He dropped to his knees. "The production schedule is set! The fans are waiting!"
"Let them wait!" Yukie snapped. She turned her nose up.
Naruto's jaw dropped. He pointed a shaking finger at her. "No way! It's Princess Gale! The movie star! She's right here!"
Sasuke scoffed. He crossed his arms and looked away. "Great. An escort mission for a spoiled brat."
Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk. The wood cracked instantly.
"Listen to me, you little diva," Tsunade growled. "Your studio paid Konoha a massive sum for an A-Rank escort. My shinobi are going to take you to the Land of Snow, even if they have to drag you there in a body bag!"
Yukie didn't flinch. She just scoffed. "Try it, old hag. See what happens to your village's reputation when I tell the press."
Tsunade's eye twitched violently. Kakashi sighed and reached for his orange book. The mission was falling apart before it even started.
Kenji didn't wait for Tsunade to blow a blood vessel.
Time to show the ice princess who runs the show, he thought.
Kenji stepped past Kakashi and Naruto. He walked right up to the famous actress.
Yukie looked down at him with an arrogant sneer. "What do you want, kid? Want an autograph? Get in line."
Kenji didn't smile. He didn't use pheromones. He didn't trigger a system skill. He just stared at her with cold, dead eyes.
"I don't care about your autographs," Kenji stated flatly. His voice cut right through her drunken rambling. "You're a coward."
Yukie blinked. Her sneer faltered. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Kenji stepped closer. "You're not complaining about the cold. You're terrified. You're running from something in that ice, and you're using cheap sake to hide it."
Yukie's eyes widened. Her face went completely pale. The drunkenness seemed to vanish for a split second, replaced by raw, unadulterated panic.
"You... you insolent brat!" she shrieked.
She raised her hand and swung a harsh slap at his face.
Kenji didn't even blink. He raised his hand and caught her wrist inches from his cheek. His grip was like solid iron.
"Let go of me!" she demanded, struggling uselessly against his grip.
"We're your escorts, Princess," Kenji said coldly. He dropped her wrist. "We're going to the Land of Snow. With or without your consent."
Yukie spun around on her heels. "Sandayu! We are leaving! Find another village!"
She bolted for the heavy oak doors, desperately trying to escape the room.
Kakashi sighed. He didn't even move from his spot. He simply lifted his forehead protector. His lone visible eye spun into the red tomoe of the Sharingan.
"Sleep," Kakashi muttered.
Yukie froze halfway to the door. Her eyes rolled back into her head. She collapsed forward, completely knocked out by the Genjutsu.
Sandayu panicked. He rushed forward and caught her before she hit the floor. "Princess Yukie!"
Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Finally. Peace and quiet." She pointed a finger at Kakashi. "Pack her up. Get her on the ship before she wakes up and starts screaming again. Do not fail this mission, Kakashi."
"Understood, Hokage-sama," Kakashi lazily saluted, covering his eye back up.
Kenji looked down at the unconscious actress snoring softly in her director's arms.
[System Notification: Chain Quest Triggered - The Ice Princess ]
[Objective: Successfully escort Yukie Fujikaze to the Land of Snow. Do not let her escape the production.]
[Bonus Objective: Break through her psychological barriers.]
[Reward: +5,000 SP, Yukie Fujikaze Relationship Unlocked.]
A runaway princess and a cruise ship, Kenji thought, a dark smirk forming on his face. This is going to be a fun trip.
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