Facing the two sisters, Sakiya and Nanako, Kazehana Koyuki felt like she was on the verge of losing her mind.
Just as she was about to reach her breaking point, Shikamaru and the others caught up, quickly surrounding her.
Shikamaru stepped forward and extended a hand. After a brief hesitation, Koyuki took it, letting him help her up.
"You were sent by that old man, weren't you?" she asked, frowning.
Shikamaru nodded apologetically.
"Yeah, sorry about that, Ms. Fujikazee. These two are Konoha's ninjas… but their personalities can be a bit eccentric. Hope you don't mind."
Koyuki crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.
At that moment, the crew members who had been chasing her finally caught up.
"Miss, please return with us. Don't make things difficult."
Koyuki sighed.
"I already told you—I don't want to go to the Land of Snow. Why are you forcing me?"
Before anyone could respond, Sakiya suddenly jumped in front of Koyuki, flashing a peace sign.
"Are you worried about danger? No need! As long as I'm here, nothing will harm you!"
Nanako quickly ran up beside her sister, holding up both hands in a dramatic pose.
"And with me, the messenger of light and darkness, you have double the protection!"
Koyuki stared at the two of them—one a grinning girl, the other a tiny child acting way too serious.
She rubbed her forehead in frustration.
"I feel like I'm in more danger with you two around."
…
But even if Koyuki didn't cooperate, she had no choice now.
With no way to escape, she could only follow Shikamaru and the others back to the crew.
------
Back at the Crew Lounge
Naruto and the others eyed Kazehana Koyuki curiously.
Naruto was the first to ask.
"Why did you run? Are you scared of danger?"
Koyuki turned her head away, clearly not intending to answer.
Shikamaru studied her for a moment before speaking calmly.
"Ms. Fujikazee, your movies are well-known. I've had the chance to watch one myself. From what I saw, you don't seem like the type to be afraid of danger.
After all, some of the locations in your films aren't exactly safe. So why refuse to go to the Land of Snow?"
Koyuki's eyes flickered, and she turned to look at him.
"You know who I am?"
Shikamaru scratched his head.
"Well, since you're the one we're supposed to protect, I did a little research."
Sakura suddenly gasped as realization struck her.
"Oh! You're the actress from that movie!"
However, most of the group looked confused.
Movies were still relatively new, and while they were becoming more popular, not everyone was familiar with them.
Naruto frowned.
"What's a movie?"
Sakura sighed.
"This is gonna be hard to explain..."
Just then, the crew's director approached with a friendly smile.
"Sounds like none of you have watched one before. Perfect timing! I happen to have a few tickets. Since we're not leaving until the afternoon, why not watch a film and get a better understanding of our work?"
He handed out the tickets.
Naruto took one, scratching his head.
"Uh… thanks?"
"No problem," the director chuckled.
The others accepted their tickets, turning them over curiously.
"Thanks!"
Shikamaru took his ticket, then gave Koyuki a thoughtful glance but didn't press her further.
Everyone had their own secrets, and if she wasn't willing to talk, it wasn't his place to force her.
The director waved off their gratitude, then noticed two figures engrossed in studying the crew's equipment.
Sakiya and Nanako were peering at the various instruments with fascination.
Nanako's eyes gleamed as she pointed at a camera.
"Is this human magic equipment? It looks amazing."
Sakiya placed a hand on her sister's head, nodding wisely.
"Indeed! This is a legendary super-electronic mechanical device! A tool born from the wisdom of countless humans. It's quite a powerful thing."
Nanako's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Wow!"
Seeing their curiosity, the director smiled and walked over.
"This is a video camera—one of the most important tools we use for filmmaking. Haven't you seen one before?"
Nanako shook her head, still captivated. She pointed at the camera and asked seriously.
"Is there a demon sealed inside?"
The director's smile froze.
"What…?"
Nanako nodded, her face completely serious.
"A tool created from human wisdom this powerful should have a demon sealed inside, right?"
The director's eye twitched.
"Why… would there be a demon inside?"
Nanako tapped her chin, deep in thought.
"Hmm… wouldn't it be a waste not to seal a demon inside such an incredible device?"
She turned to Sakiya for confirmation.
Sakiya nodded firmly, arms crossed.
"Nanako, you're mistaken! A tool this powerful wouldn't just seal a demon—it should be used to seal many demons!"
Nanako gasped, eyes wide with admiration.
"Really?! That's amazing!"
She looked at the camera with even more awe, practically vibrating with excitement.
Meanwhile, the director forced an awkward laugh.
(What kind of conversation is this…?)
Determined to correct the misunderstanding, he cleared his throat and explained patiently.
"This doesn't seal demons or anything supernatural. It's just a simple tool for recording images and turning them into movies."
Nanako tilted her head.
"So… it captures things and keeps them inside? If I am filmed, does that mean I will be turned into an image and sealed inside forever?!"
The director blinked.
(This is going to be a long conversation…)
-----
Nanako's eyes widened in awe, then she clenched her tiny fist with excitement.
"As expected! This is the pinnacle of human invention! It's incredibly powerful. If no demons are sealed in it yet, then surely they will be in the future!"
She turned to the director with a serious expression.
"Uncle! Your mission isn't complete yet! Right now, the Demon God hasn't been sealed, but that doesn't mean this is just an ordinary tool. This is a masterpiece of human ingenuity!"
The director stared at the little girl in front of him, utterly bewildered.
(The more I explain, the worse it gets… What do I do…?)
Luckily, at that moment, Naruto and the others were ready to head to the movie and called out to Sakiya.
"Sakiya! Let's go watch the movie!"
Hearing that, the director immediately seized the opportunity.
"Yes! The movie! You should go watch it! The movie was filmed using this device, the camera!"
Sakiya and Nanako immediately perked up, intrigued.
"A movie? That sounds interesting."
"Yeah, yeah! Let's check it out!"
The director nodded eagerly.
"Yes! If you want to understand how cameras work, all your answers are in the movie!"
Hearing this, Sakiya and Nanako were convinced.
"In that case, let's go, Nanako!"
Nanako nodded, eyes shining.
"Watching a movie! That's a new word for me."
With that, the two girls excitedly followed Naruto and the group to the theater.
As they left, the director wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaling in relief.
Koyuki chuckled, shaking her head.
"That was something else… Those two are really something."
The director let out a laugh.
"Haha, yeah, they're a little odd. But they're just kids—it's normal.
Besides, they're pretty cute."
----
As the Konoha group finished watching the movie, they returned to the filming crew's location.
The director greeted them with a smile.
"So, how was it? Did you enjoy the movie?"
"It was amazing! I didn't know Koyuki was a celebrity."
"So this is what movies are like..."
Sakiya and Nanako still looked fascinated.
"As expected, everything captured by the camera is sealed inside," Nanako stated matter-of-factly, completely convinced of her theory.
Shikamaru sighed, too tired to argue.
The director's smile stiffened, deciding to ignore that part of the conversation.
With the movie over, it was now afternoon. After a short break, the film crew officially set off on their journey—traveling by boat.
To reach the harbor, they first had to pass through an uninhabited region.
---
Sakiya and Nanako ran ahead, leading the way.
For Nanako, this was her first time traveling so far from home, and everything around her filled her with excitement.
As they passed through a small wooded area, Nanako suddenly stopped, her eyes widening in shock.
She pointed at a large beetle clinging to the trunk of a tree.
"Sister! I found a creature consumed by evil! It must have been corrupted by dark energy and transformed into this monstrous form!"
Seeing Nanako's serious stance, Sakiya approached. She glanced at the beetle, fell silent for a second… and then—
"Foul beast! Under my power, turn to ashes! Fireball—explode!"
A glowing sigil flickered in front of her as she instantly conjured a fireball—
BOOM!
A massive explosion engulfed the tree, sending flames and debris flying.
A mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
Nanako felt the heat wash over her, the fiery glow reflecting in her wide eyes. She stood there, stunned.
The others, startled by the blast, rushed over.
"What happened?!"
"Sakiya, did you spot an enemy?!" Naruto asked, looking around.
Sakiya shook her head.
"Just a little monster. I already took care of it. No need to worry."
"...A little monster?"
Everyone looked confused.
Shikamaru wasn't entirely sure what Sakiya had done, but since the immediate danger seemed over, he didn't press the issue.
After all, if there was something she couldn't handle, then none of them could.
His father had once called Sakiya the strongest of their generation—the one who had even defeated Uchiha Madara.
Meanwhile, Nanako was still frozen in shock. Her sister had obliterated the "corrupted beast" in the blink of an eye.
"This is Sister's power...? I still have such a long way to go!"
Her face grew serious with determination.
Sakiya ruffled her hair with a smirk.
"Well, Nanako, you're still young. If you ever surpass me, then I wouldn't deserve to be the strongest."
She placed a hand over one eye.
"The Eye of Death is unbeatable."
Nanako shook her head fiercely.
"No! The power of light and darkness that ends all things is the strongest!"
Watching the two sisters argue about their ridiculous titles, the group couldn't help but smile.
Shikamaru glanced at Nanako's earnest expression and chuckled softly.
"This trip is going to be... interesting."
---
The journey continued smoothly, and before long, they arrived at a dedicated dock.
A large research vessel was moored there, waiting for them.
Nanako's eyes lit up the moment she saw the ship, and she let out an excited "Wow!"
This was her first time seeing how humans conquered the sea.
"A ferry!"
Nanako and Sakiya immediately ran onto the deck, filled with excitement.
As soon as they set foot on the ship, they looked at each other in amazement.
"Sister! We made it!"
"Yes! We're finally here!"
The two sisters held hands and jumped in excitement.
"Standing on this vessel, I can feel it—the contract between humans and the sea!"
Nanako's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"The contract of the sea? So this is the mark of mankind's triumph over the ocean?"
Ino and the others arrived shortly after, choosing to ignore the sisters' dramatic declarations.
By now, everyone was used to their over-the-top conversations and let them do as they pleased.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group went about their tasks.
---
Koyuki stood at the edge of the ship, staring silently at the vast ocean.
Shikamaru approached her casually.
"You look like you have something on your mind," he said.
Koyuki didn't respond right away. She simply continued gazing at the sea, lost in thought.
After being captured, she had been placed under strict watch. Even now, the three men assigned to monitor her were never far away.
She knew exactly why they had brought her here… but she wasn't ready to face it yet.
"I'm just—"
"Power on!"
"Everyone, get ready! We're powering on!"
A crew member's voice rang out, cutting her off.
Koyuki hesitated for a moment before turning away and heading toward the film crew.
Shikamaru watched her go and sighed.
"Yeah… I have a feeling this mission won't be simple."
His gaze swept across the deck, taking in the different members of their group.
Naruto and Sasuke stood near the railing, chatting as they looked out at the sea.
Choji was happily snacking while observing the film crew with interest.
Sakura and Ino, amused by Sakiya and Nanako's antics, seemed to be debating whether to join in or just keep teasing them.
Tsuchiya and Sakuragi stood at a distance, watching the filming process—but something about them seemed off. They weren't just observing… they looked like they were planning something.
Shikamaru let out a small chuckle and walked over to Choji.
"This is supposed to be a simple escort mission. Let's hope it stays that way."