[Naruto: Part One — Episode Four Filming Completed!]
[Editing…]
[Production Successful!]
[Total Screen Time: 11 minutes 12 seconds]
[Screen Presence: 52.9%]
[As an antagonist, exceeding 50% screen presence greatly increases your remuneration.]
[Notice: Naruto: Part One will air tonight at 8 PM. At that time, the playback function will be unlocked for you, along with real-time comment display.]
[Please adjust your acting and role direction based on viewer comments.]
So… the final highlight of this episode must have been his conversation with Danzo.
Shin thought to himself.
He quickly composed his thoughts and smiled. "It's precisely because I have a bit of insight that I was able to attract your attention."
"You are a clever man." Danzo nodded lightly, though his expression remained indifferent. "Aside from the demon fox and Sasuke, you must also guide Yakumo Kurama well and make her serve the village as much as possible."
"Of course. Everything for the village!" Shin stood and bowed.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Danzo's previously cold face. "Good. Everything for the village!"
He glanced around before continuing, "I do not mistreat my own people. But as for traitors—even if they are from the village, I will show no mercy."
"I've studied your deeds. Your philosophy aligns more with mine," Shin replied respectfully.
Danzo's eyelid twitched slightly. "Oh?"
He was somewhat surprised, though his gaze remained one of scrutiny and observation.
"Everyone reveres the Will of Fire and strives to stand in the light, but they fail to realize that no one can escape their shadow. Even a great tree needs roots…"
"Without the sacrifices made in the darkness, how could there be heroes in the sunlight?"
Shin answered "sincerely," but he kept it at that, refraining from excessive emotional persuasion. As a seasoned former ANBU, Danzo had seen countless such tactics. Ordinary attempts at emotional manipulation would appear no different from a clown's performance in his eyes. To succeed, one had to proceed step by step.
Danzo fell silent for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle. "You, a mere chunin—what do you know of light and darkness?"
He stood and began walking out.
"Remember this: what you gain depends on the value you demonstrate."
"Ji, take him back."
A figure appeared.
In the next moment, feathers drifted before Shin's eyes, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
…
Being unconscious under genjutsu was quite different from normal sleep. Shin retained some awareness, but it was hazy and difficult to break free from. He could feel himself being carried.
After a long while, he was set down. He attempted to control his chakra, and soon—
He opened his eyes.
"Already home? That was fast."
Shin braced himself against the ground to stand, but as he reached out, his hand touched something cold.
He looked.
"Whoa!"
A katana—also called a sword.
Although Shin practiced the Dance of the Crescent Moon, he didn't have a suitable weapon.
The reason was simple—
Too expensive.
But one given by Danzo was different.
Something produced by the Root organization would never be of poor quality.
He drew the blade. It was extremely sharp, with a blood groove along its edge, and the name "Aota" engraved upon it.
"A blade from the Aota clan…"
"Good stuff!"
When he had been studying swordsmanship on his own, he had looked into the prices of blades in Konoha. Among the standard weapons available on the market, the best were those engraved with "Aota."
Even with his current salary as a taijutsu instructor at the ninja academy, it would take him four to five years of savings to afford one.
Shin sheathed the blade and noticed something pressed beneath it.
He picked it up.
Three explosive tags and a smoke bomb.
"Wow, the organization really is generous!"
Shin's eyes lit up. Although explosive tags were frequently used in Naruto, they were actually very expensive. He usually only kept one for emergencies and nothing more.
Danzo, on the other hand, handed out three at once.
Shin stored everything in his ninja pouch and glanced at the time.
If he ate now, it would be eight soon enough.
…
Blue Star.
Masashi Kishimoto sat in front of his computer, resting his chin in his hand as he waited for the page to refresh.
The moment it struck eight, he immediately pressed F5. His spirits lifted, but at the same time, unease and anxiety crept into his heart.
He had a vague intuition—
Tonight's update might hit him with something big!
Soon—
"It's finally updated!"
At first, only a few scattered comments appeared.
After skipping a few seconds of the opening, a flood of comments quickly filled the screen.
"Damn, that old fox Shin beats Naruto senseless and still gets benefits from the Third Hokage—he's living the life!"
"Not just that, there's also Danzo."
"A three-faced traitor!"
The man in front of the computer smiled knowingly.
A three-faced traitor…
But according to his own setting, spies like this weren't uncommon in the ninja world. Yakushi Kabuto was one of the best examples.
Wait?
A thought struck him, and he fell into contemplation.
Would this Yanagi Shin eventually form ties with Orochimaru, just like Kabuto?
As he continued watching, his face gradually scrunched up.
Another completely unknown character and faction?!
Damn it!
How is this manga supposed to continue?
Wait!
"Extending the story—right, with him, I can keep it going!"
…
"Naruto, Sasuke, Yakumo… this old fox is gathering so many problem kids. Is he planning to control them and take over the ninja world?"
"Damn, so the test wasn't even over? This is like a pledge of loyalty!"
"That move was slick. He's definitely setting things up on purpose!"
The comment section buzzed with discussion.
After Anko Mitarashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Yakumo Kurama appeared one after another, many viewers had started referring to him as "that old fox Shin."
In just a short episode, Shin felt like he had gone through a wave of online harassment.
He didn't mind.
After all, they were in a different world—they couldn't touch him.
After finishing the episode, the reward screen refreshed:
[Popularity Rating: S]
[Comprehensive Evaluation…]
[S-Rank Golden Supporting Character]
[Reward Earned: Low-Level Skill Copy Card, Low-Level Skill Upgrade Card.]
The moment he received the two rewards, Shin immediately understood how to use them.
The Low-Level Ninjutsu Copy Card could directly copy another person's ninjutsu along with their proficiency, but it was limited to techniques of C-rank difficulty or below and not above the "perfect" level.
Although its range of use was limited, with the right target, its effect could be extremely powerful.
"Techniques below C-rank are basically foundational jutsu for chunin, or slightly more advanced taijutsu…"
Shin ran through the possibilities in his mind.
Genjutsu was ruled out.
Taijutsu could be trained and developed on his own, so its priority was lower.
"As for ninjutsu…"
"The Hidden Mist Technique and Water Clone Technique should be the best options."
Shin quickly locked onto his targets.
The Hidden Mist Technique could create favorable combat conditions, though its drawback was high chakra consumption, which he might not be able to sustain.
The Water Clone Technique could help him grasp water nature transformation, making it much easier to learn other water-style techniques in the future.
Additionally, the technique itself was highly practical. Combined with the Dance of the Crescent Moon, it might produce unexpected effects and even lead to breakthroughs in his understanding of the Clone Technique and Shadow Clone Technique.
Moreover, the Water Clone Technique was a C-rank ninjutsu. Konoha had fought Kirigakure for many years and had long since analyzed and countered it. The ninja academy possessed books detailing its principles and hand seals.
As an academy instructor, he had the authority to read and borrow them, making it easy to justify his knowledge.
After careful consideration, Shin settled on his choice.
As for the "Low-Level Skill Upgrade Card"…
He could save it to see if it could enhance a "perfect"-level ninjutsu, or keep it as a trump card for when he truly needed it.