[naruto: prequel Episode 4 Filming Complete!]
[Editing in progress...]
[Film output successful!]
Total screen time: 11 minutes and 12 seconds
Screen time percentage: 52.9%]
[As a villain character, your screen time exceeding 50% has significantly increased your remuneration.]
[Notification: naruto: prequel will be broadcast tonight at 8 PM. The playback function and bullet chat feature will be enabled for you then.]
[We hope you adjust your acting and role based on the bullet chat.]
It seems... the grand finale of this episode must be my conversation with Danzo.
Masahiko muttered inwardly.
Immediately, he composed himself and smiled, "It is precisely because I possess a sliver of insight that I am able to garner your attention."
"You are a clever person."
Danzo nodded lightly, his expression still cold, "Besides the Demon Fox and Sasuke, you must also guide Kurama Yakumo well, ensuring she is utilized by the Village as much as possible."
"Of course, everything is for the Village!"
Masahiko rose and bowed.
A barely perceptible smile appeared on Danzo's previously cold face: "Good, everything is for the Village!"
He glanced around, then said, "This old man will not mistreat his own people, but as for traitors, I will not tolerate them, even if they are villagers."
"I have investigated your deeds, and you align better with my philosophy."
Masahiko replied respectfully.
Danzo raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
He was somewhat surprised, but mostly he was scrutinizing and observing.
"Everyone admires the Will of Fire and strives to be people under the light, yet they don't realize that people cannot avoid shadows, and a great tree needs roots..."
"Without sacrifice in the darkness, how can there be Heroes in the sunlight?"
Masahiko answered very "sincerely."
However, he limited himself to answering and did not try to incite further emotion.
As a veteran Anbu, Danzo had seen many similar tricks; ordinary emotional manipulation was no different from a Joker in his eyes.
To succeed, one must proceed step by step.
Danzo was silent for a moment, then chuckled, "You, a Chunin, know what sunlight and what darkness are?"
He stood up and walked out.
"Remember, your reward depends on the value you demonstrate."
"Ibara, take him back."
A figure appeared.
The next moment, feathers drifted down before Masahiko's eyes, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep... A Genjutsu-induced slumber was quite different from normal sleep.
Masahiko retained some consciousness, but it was chaotic and difficult to wake up.
He could feel himself being carried away.
After waiting for a long time, Masahiko was put down. He attempted to control his Chakra, and soon—
He opened his eyes and woke up.
"I'm home already? That was fast."
Masahiko leaned his hand on the side, preparing to get up, but touched something cold and metallic.
He got up and looked.
"Hoh!"
A Katana, which could also be called a "sword."
Although Masahiko practiced the Dance of the Crescent Moon, he did not have a suitable weapon at hand.
The reason was simple—
It was too expensive!
What Danzo gave him was different.
Anything produced by the Root Organization would certainly not be bad.
The blade, drawn from its sheath, was clearly very sharp, featuring a Blood Groove and engraved with the words "Aota."
"A blade from the Aota Clan..."
"A good item!"
When Masahiko taught himself Swordsmanship, he learned about the prices of swords and blades in Konoha.
The best standardized blades available on the market were those engraved with "Aota."
Even though he was now a Taijutsu instructor at the Ninja Academy, the price of one such blade would require him to save up for four or five years.
Masahiko sheathed the blade and found something pressed underneath it.
He picked it up and saw... three explosive tags and one Smoke Bomb.
"Hoh, the organization is generous!"
Masahiko's eyes shone.
Although explosive tags are often used in naruto, they are very expensive. He usually only kept one for safety, and nothing else.
Danzo was different; he gave out three at once!
Masahiko put the items into his Ninja Tool Pouch, then checked the time... After eating, it should be eight o'clock... on Blue Star.
Kishimoto sat in front of his computer, resting his head on his hand, waiting to refresh the page.
When eight o'clock arrived, he immediately hit F5, his spirit lifting, but at the same time, his heart was filled with anxiety and unease.
He had a vague intuition—
Tonight's update might hit him with something big!
Soon.
"It's finally updated!"
The opening only had scattered bullet chat.
After skipping a few seconds of the opening credits, a flood of bullet chat quickly scrolled past.
"Damn, Masahiko the Old Thief punched Naruto hard, and he still gets benefits from the Third Hokage—he's having the time of his life!"
"Not just that, there's Danzo too."
"A Servant of Three Masters!"
In front of the computer, the man smiled knowingly.
Servant of Three Masters... However, according to his setting, similar spies are not uncommon in the Ninja World.
Yakushi Kabuto is one of the best examples.
Wait?
His heart stirred, and he fell into deep thought—
Will this Yagyu Masahiko later connect with Orochimaru, just like Yakushi Kabuto?
As he read on, his features crumpled together.
Another completely unknown new character and New Faction?!
Damn!
Can this broken Manga still be drawn?
Wait!
"Draw it longer, that's right! With him, I can draw it longer!"
..."Naruto, Sasuke, Yakumo, is the Old Thief collecting so many Problem Students because he wants to control them and seize the Ninja World?"
"Damn, so he hasn't completed the Assessment yet? It's The Warlords!"
"This move is slick, the Old Thief definitely made that connection on purpose!"
Discussions were heated in the bullet chat.
After Anko Mitarashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Kurama Yakumo appeared one after another, many people changed their address for him to 'Masahiko the Old Thief.'
During the short episode, Masahiko felt like he had been subjected to Cyberbullying.
He was not sad.
After all, they were separated by a world; those people couldn't reach him.
After watching, the reward subtitles refreshed:
[Popularity Rating: S]
[Comprehensive Evaluation...]
[S-Rank Gold Supporting Character]
[Remuneration earned: low-grade skill copy card, Low-Grade Skill Upgrade Card.]
The moment he received the two rewards, Masahiko also knew how to use them.
The Low-Level Ninjutsu Replication Card can directly replicate the target's Ninjutsu and Ninjutsu Proficiency, but it can only be used on techniques of C-Rank difficulty or below Perfect Rank.
Although the scope of use is not large, if the target is chosen correctly, the effect is very powerful.
"Skills below C-Rank are generally basic Ninjutsu for Chunin, or some slightly more difficult Taijutsu..."
Masahiko reviewed the skills he knew in his mind.
Genjutsu excluded.
Taijutsu can be practiced and researched on my own, so the priority can be lowered.
"As for Ninjutsu..."
"Hidden Mist Technique and Water Clone Technique should be the optimal choices."
Masahiko quickly locked onto his general targets.
The Hidden Mist Technique can create advantageous combat conditions for himself, but its flaw is that it consumes a lot of Chakra, which he might not be able to afford.
Water Clone Technique can help him master the Water Nature Transformation, making him more efficient when learning other Water Release Ninjutsu in the future.
Furthermore, this Clone Jutsu is quite practical. When combined with the Dance of the Crescent Moon, it might have miraculous effects, and perhaps even allow him to achieve breakthroughs in the creation of Clone Jutsu and Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Moreover.
Water Clone is a C-Rank Ninjutsu. Konoha fought the Hidden Mist Village for many years, cracking the Water Clone technique, and the Ninja Academy has books analyzing, deciphering its principles, and Hand Signs.
As a Ninja Academy instructor, he is qualified to read and borrow them, making it easy to find an excuse.
Masahiko thought long and hard and confirmed his targets.
As for the 'Low-Grade Skill Upgrade Card'... he could save it to see if it could be used to upgrade 'Perfect' Rank Ninjutsu, or keep it as a trump card for future necessary upgrades.