"Walking, always walking… we've been on the road all day. Can we please rest for a bit? Pleeease, Senpai~?"
Tobi drifted like a ghost, sleeves flapping, and blocked their path.
Shinji glanced at the sky. "There's a small village ahead. We'll rest there."
"Fiiine…"
Tobi dragged his feet and fell to the back of the group. Unnoticed by anyone, he casually tossed something away into the bushes.
Meanwhile, Sasuke wore that familiar, dramatic expression of someone who believed he was now invincible, running his hand over his new blade from time to time.
He had originally thought Shinji's only reward for him would be awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He never expected that Shinji would also refine his weapon, pouring every drop of that precious cursed energy granted by Lord Jashin into it.
Although he didn't fully understand what "cursed energy" actually was, the fact that Shinji treated it with such reverence told him it was incredibly valuable.
But the moment he gripped the newly transformed Kusanagi Sword, he understood exactly how much Shinji had sacrificed for him.
Blessed and empowered by Lord Jashin's energy, this weapon completely outclassed the original version. Sasuke adored it so much he even held it close while sleeping.
Now, with the Kusanagi in hand and the Mangekyō Sharingan active, he truly felt like nothing could stop him.
His path ahead was clear. He knew exactly where to aim his efforts. The confusion and unease that had plagued him were gone.
Everything he had now came from Shinji. He would never forget it.
(Though… a small part of him wondered if an immortal body truly cared about losing thirty years of life…)
---
Half an hour later, they finally arrived at the small village.
It seemed the inhabitants here were fortunate — they had never been targeted by Cursed Spirits.
The atmosphere was relaxed, peaceful, and welcoming. They didn't treat outsiders with suspicion.
"Finally… I can rest properly," Tamamo Hotaru sighed. Constant travel was exhausting, even for her.
Yet, she knew that straying away from Shinji and the others meant losing her safety.
Until she found a place where she could hide her identity and live in peace, she had no choice but to stick around.
She had actually considered joining Shinji's cult, the Cult of Jashin.
But to her fury, they had rejected her outright with the reason: "We don't recruit weaklings."
Excuse me?!
Okay, she admitted she wasn't the strongest… but did they really have to put it that way?
Tamamo Hotaru believed she was definitely stronger than Sasuke.
…That was until Sasuke taught her otherwise.
Because "Sasu‑chan" wasn't the same kid anymore. He now possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, the Chidori, and a Cursed Tool — the Kusanagi Sword.
With that kind of setup, even a regular high‑level Jōnin might struggle to defeat him.
And once Sasuke fully mastered the techniques of his eyes and unlocked Susanoo, he would stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Kage‑level powerhouses.
Who wouldn't be terrified by that rate of growth?
Tamamo Hotaru was left completely defeated. She used to think she was only the second‑weakest member of the group… turns out, she was actually the biggest joke of all.
After being rejected so harshly, she never brought up joining again.
She still had some pride left, after all.
---
Then, someone approached her.
A middle‑aged man with a greasy smile spotted her, his eyes lighting up immediately. He hurried over and blocked her way.
"Greetings, beautiful lady! I am Okajima Kizō, a talent scout from Kameow Film & Entertainment."
"Huh? Oh… may I help you?"
Tamamo Hotaru took the business card he offered, only realizing afterward that she had forgotten to cover her face.
Ugh… this cursed beauty of mine…
"Here's the thing," the man said enthusiastically. "Our company is currently producing a major motion picture called Summer at Chrysanthemum Terrace. When I saw you, I knew instantly — you are perfect for the leading role! So I took the liberty to ask… would you be interested in becoming a star?"
"A star?"
"Yes! Actresses like Kazahana Yukitsukai, Shiratō, Hashimoto Kurena, Ishihara Sami, and Kaki Yui are all under our agency — and they are incredibly famous!"
"Ooh! I've seen movies starring Hashimoto Kurena and Kaki Yui. They were absolutely adorable!"
Seeing her reaction, the man's grin widened. Got her, he thought.
"Exactly! If you sign with us, not only will you get to take photos with them, you might even star in movies alongside them. You could become a bigger superstar than all of them combined! I truly believe you have the potential!"
Tamamo Hotaru's heart skipped a beat — but only for a second. She quickly calmed down.
As much as she dreamed of being a beloved celebrity, admired wherever she went… her identity made it impossible for her to appear in public so openly.
If she did, the Cloud Village would capture her instantly.
And she certainly couldn't expect a movie studio to rescue her.
The difference in power was laughable. Even a hundred entertainment companies wouldn't dare utter a peep in front of Kumogakure.
Compared to that, staying close to that annoying guy Shinji suddenly felt much safer.
"I'm sorry, but I have no interest in acting or becoming a star. My friends are waiting for me. Excuse me."
She looked ahead and saw Shinji and the others were already far away, clearly not waiting for her at all. Puffing her cheeks in annoyance, she hurried to catch up.
"Wait, please—!"
The man hadn't expected rejection. He tried to call her back, but couldn't stop her. He hadn't even managed to get her name.
But he wasn't giving up on a beauty like that.
Even if he couldn't get special treatment from her, just signing her alone would be a massive achievement.
It might earn him a promotion, a raise, maybe even the CEO position and a beautiful wife!
No, I have to find a way…
---
When she caught up, Tamamo Hotaru told everyone about the talent scout. She had hoped to gain a bit of respect and show off how desirable she was.
Instead, Shinji led the whole group in teasing her.
"Kameow Film & Entertainment? Sounds like a total shell company to me. And what role did they want you for?"
"Summer at Chrysanthemum Terrace!"
"So… were you supposed to play the chrysanthemum… or the summer? Oh wait, I know! You play the terrace!"
"GET LOST!!!"
Tamamo Hotaru shouted, face burning with embarrassment. Her good mood was instantly ruined.
"Though, if you really want to act, there's still a chance. We aren't far from the Land of Wu. Once we get there, I'll pay for a private photoshoot for you. I bet it would sell for a fortune~"
"Moon! Get him! Bite him!"
Red‑faced and furious, Tamamo Hotaru released the white fox from her arms.
But Moon only let out a soft, cute cry toward Shinji… before happily letting herself be picked up and cuddled by her 'master'.
It was a classic case of losing out completely. Tamamo Hotaru was so angry she felt like filing for divorce from her own pet.
____________________
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