Chapter 41: He Loves Kaguya Even More Than Black Zetsu
"Why don't you go back? Didn't you already answer it for me just now?"
"Those people under Sandayu are no match for Doto at all. Even if they manage to overthrow him with the help of others, I'm still just a woman who only knows how to act."
Because Shiromo had earlier spoken out exactly what was in her heart, and because he had also provided a new movie script, Kazahana Koyuki's attitude toward Shiromo was completely different from how she treated Kakashi.
"Then develop film."
"Huh?"
"Since that's the only thing you know, then turn the Land of Snow into Holly…uh, a nation of cinema."
"That won't work. The environment of the Land of Snow is far too harsh. There's no spring at all, just ice and snow everywhere. It's fine for filming some special kinds of movies, but the nation of movies you're talking about is impossible."
Kazahana Koyuki shook her head, rejecting Shiromo's idea.
"That thing of yours…"
"Hm?"
Following where Shiromo was pointing, Koyuki lowered her head. Her cheeks instantly flushed red, and she hurriedly covered her chest.
"I mean your necklace."
"…This was left to me by my father."
Kazahana Koyuki looked a little awkward. She loosened her grip on her collar, took off the necklace, and examined it in the palm of her hand.
"This is the key to activating a geothermal device. Once it's activated, it can bring spring to the Land of Snow."
"…How do you know that?"
Kazahana Koyuki froze.
She didn't suspect that Shiromo was lying to her. What she couldn't understand was how something neither she nor her uncle knew about was known to Shiromo.
"Intelligence."
"I see."
With just those two words, Kazahana Koyuki suddenly understood.
This was the current T0-tier figure of the ninja world, Shiromo of Intelligence.
"Using geothermal energy just to melt ice and snow for farming would be far too extravagant. But it's very practical for creating climate conditions for different seasons according to filming needs."
"As for daily necessities, the Land of Snow can choose to join a national-level development organization I initiated, which is still in its early stages called the 'Economic Mutual Alliance.'"
"The nearby Land of Earth can provide you with a stable supply of materials."
"Look, this is the agreement I signed with the Tsuchikage."
"So… so amazing."
Kazahana Koyuki stared at the scroll Shiromo showed her, completely stunned.
And if she wasn't mistaken, besides the Fourth Tsuchikage, the Fifth Mizukage's name was on it as well…
She had originally heard of Shiromo and thought he was just a talented ninja, someone like Jiraiya who wrote the Icha Icha series.
She never expected that besides writing and ninja skills, Shiromo also understood things like this.
"Then, Doto, he…"
After being overwhelmed by Shiromo's grand vision, Kazahana Koyuki suddenly felt that her uncle didn't seem so terrifying anymore.
"Relax. That guy's strength is terrible. He developed a chakra armor and thought he could sweep across the Five Great Nations. If Iwagakure just guarded their gates, he wouldn't even make it out of his own front door."
That was as much as Shiromo could say.
For a woman who wasn't a ninja, there was no way for Shiromo to clearly explain the concrete gap in strength using words alone.
As for the terrifying scene of "Snow Drifting Across the Mortal World" outside earlier, Shiromo also felt it wasn't appropriate to use that as proof of his own strength, so he very modestly said it was Gaara's doing.
"I… I believe you. Fine, I'll go back!"
Kazahana Koyuki picked up the script beside her and looked toward the film crew members who were still chatting nearby.
"Everyone, isn't it time we set off?"
This script was written by Shiromo.
"That's it? You convinced her just like that?"
Kakashi tilted his head, feeling as though his worldview had just been refreshed.
---
Harbor of the Land of Fire.
Kazahana Koyuki was preparing to board the ship while reading Shiromo's script.
Along the way, she carefully read through the script, savoring the emotions of the characters within it.
"Can you let me take a look? Just one look…"
On the ship, Naruto begged, wanting to see the script.
"Naruto, if you read it now, it won't feel fresh when you watch the movie later. And besides, this is someone else's commercial secret."
Kakashi was sitting on the ship's railing, holding a copy of 'Icha Icha Paradise'. Hearing Naruto's shouting, he responded casually.
"It actually doesn't matter. As long as you sign a confidentiality agreement, you can read it freely."
"Besides, since we'll be filming along the way, you'll inevitably learn some of the plot anyway."
"And also, since you're ninjas, there's a good chance you won't even have time to watch the movie when it's released. By the time you're free, it'll probably have already been spoiled for you by others…"
Before Shiromo could finish speaking, Naruto appeared in front of him with a blank scroll and a brush, his face full of anticipation.
"Since you're saying that, then I'll sign one too."
Kakashi suddenly put away 'Icha Icha Paradise', appeared beside Naruto, and snatched the brush.
In truth, Kakashi had long wanted to read a script written by Shiromo.
Sakura and Sasuke also came over to sign the confidentiality agreement. Then each of them happily took a copy of the script to read.
The movie was called 'The Lotus Lantern'.
It was a heavily modified version of 'The Lotus Lantern' after Shiromo's reinterpretation.
He had originally thought about customizing it for Kazahana Koyuki and changing it to 'The Snow Lotus Lantern', but after reconsidering, snow lotuses were just too rare, he dropped the idea.
It was a story about a child who, after enduring countless hardships, successfully rescues their mother.
Long, long ago, Princess Kaguya descended to the mortal world, bringing power and hope to humanity. But she knew that her origin, the cold and ruthless clan of heavenly gods, would never let her go.
Because of this, Kaguya yearned for power: power to protect herself, and to protect everything her eyes could see.
But her son could not understand her. He believed that his mother had abandoned emotion for the sake of power.
What he didn't understand was that when she picked up the sword, she could no longer embrace everyone; and when she put down the sword, she could no longer protect anyone.
Unable to understand Kaguya, her son mercilessly sealed her within the moon.
Kaguya's younger child, Chenxiang, who had only just been born, watched in despair as her mother was taken farther and farther away, completely helpless.
Compared to her older sibling who had sealed their mother, her own power was far too weak.
But Chenxiang did not give up.
She was weak, yet she inherited the longevity (immortality) of the heavenly god clan.
She was unyielding, her will unwavering. She swore that even if it took a thousand years, ten thousand years, even if she had to cross seas of blades and mountains of fire, if it meant dying nine times over, she would rescue her mother. (dying nine times over here means suffering repeatingly)
While everyone was reading the script, Kazahana Koyuki was in the compartment above, recording the movie's songs. Her voice drifted out through the speakers.
Lyrics that matched the story and a moving melody made it impossible not to be immersed.
For example…
The stars in the sky are so beautiful, but without you, nothing feels alife… I don't want to see you only within the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
And…
I cross mountains and valleys for you, yet have no heart to admire the scenery.
Or…
Spring, summer, autumn, winter… on the thirty-six-thousand-five-hundredth day of missing you.
Reading the story while listening to the songs.
Sasuke thought of his parents, and his whole demeanor softened.
Naruto pouted. He wanted to remember his parents, but he didn't even know who they were.
Yet he could understand the protagonist, Chenxiang. If his mother were sealed away, he would definitely give everything he had to save her.
While the people on the ship were reading, in the forest outside the harbor, Black Zetsu was also holding the script and reading it.
As Black Zetsu read through the script, it felt that Shiromo wanted Mother to be resurrected even more than it did.
It was a bit outrageous.
(End of this chapter)