Chapter 469: The Special Effects Artist
Inside the Konoha Theater, the most popular film of the season, Princess Gale's Great Adventure (also known as The Adventures of Princess Gale), was currently playing to a packed house.
Tsukika's little face was flushed with red excitement. Every time the movie hit a climax, she would tightly clench her tiny fists, silently cheering for Princess Gale. Masahiko, on the other hand, was completely dozing off.
The movie industry in the Naruto world wasn't exactly a new phenomenon; it already had a history spanning over thirty years. But even for a film like this, which boasted the absolute best word-of-mouth reputation, it was a thoroughly mediocre affair in Masahiko's eyes. The plot was childish, the combat choreography was average, and only the thematic spirit promoted in the movie was passable... actually, scratch that, it was garbage!
But since little Tsukika loved it so much, Masahiko couldn't bear to spoil her fun. No matter how incredibly tedious he found it in his heart, he maintained a gentle smile on his face. Speaking of smiling, Minato's smile is definitely the most natural one...
With great effort, he managed to endure until the credits rolled and the theater emptied out, but Tsukika still hadn't stepped out from the magical immersion of the plot.
"Great Ancestor, Great Ancestor, that Demon King was so incredibly powerful! He could actually generate such a massive hurricane!"
Masahiko lightly ruffled Tsukika's tiny head: "The Great Ancestor can do that too, and mine would be significantly larger than his!"
"Then what about Princess Gale?" Tsukika tilted her head to ask another question: "She can ignite a seven-colored chakra shroud, blasting the Demon King away in a single fraction of a second!"
Masahiko: "..."
A five-cent special effect, truly beyond my pay grade.
"Eh? Even the Great Ancestor can't manage that?" Tsukika's large eyes rolled around mischieviously.
"You little rascal!" Masahiko chuckled and scolded her playfully.
"Hehehe." Tsukika obviously knew that it was all simulated fiction, but her face was still packed with absolute longing: "Making a movie seems like it would be incredibly interesting!"
Masahiko paused. Beside them, Kushina leaned down to address Tsukika: "They're going to play it again at the exact same time tomorrow, running for two consecutive days. How about Big Sister takes you to watch it one more time, Tsukika?"
Tsukika immediately parsed out that Kushina was signaling her disapproval of her participating in a movie. Pouting her tiny lips, she whispered a soft, obedient "Okay."
Masahiko burst into laughter, turning to pick Tsukika up and hoist her squarely onto his shoulders: "Don't look at how spectacular it appears on the silver screen; filming a movie is actually an incredibly dry and boring process."
"How does the Great Ancestor know?"
"The Great Ancestor knows everything."
Tsukika pressed her tiny hands against the crown of Masahiko's head, kicking her two little legs back and forth behind his back, indicating 'this princess is highly dissatisfied'.
Left with no choice, Masahiko tilted his head to cast a glance toward Kushina and Minato: "If she wants to film a movie, the Great Ancestor will take her! Once you've actually filmed one, you'll find out exactly how tedious it is."
"Great-grandfather!" Kushina was startled. "If she goes to film a movie, she'll have to toil around on the outside for at least a month or two. Tsukika is still so young..."
"It's no issue," Masahiko waved his hand. "With me looking after her, what on earth are you afraid of? Consider this a grand training journey for little Tsukika."
Kushina shook her head helplessly: "Great-grandfather, you truly spoil her rotten... Minato! You're not going to step in?"
Minato scratched his hair, offering a bitter smile: "How about... the two of us accompany them?"
"Forget about it," Masahiko hurriedly cut him off. "Take a good look at your own faces. If you film a movie, would the two of you ever experience a single shred of peace in your lives again? Tsukika is fine; Tsukika is still young. Let me take her out to have a bit of fun."
Minato and Kushina exchanged a look, failing to offer any further counter-arguments: "Elder Masahiko, I will brief you on Tsukika's current training progression in a bit. She is right at the phase of building her core fundamentals, so she absolutely cannot slack off."
"I won't! Papa." Tsukika's face erupted into a radiant flower of smiles. "We're going out to film a movie!"
"Sit securely, my little ancestor!" Masahiko patted Tsukika's leg. "Let's head back to have a bite of lunch first, and then the Great Ancestor will take you to apply for an acting job."
In the afternoon.
Masahiko brought Tsukika back to the Konoha Theater once more. The movie currently playing had swapped to a different title, and the audience volume was visibly nowhere near as dense as it had been during the morning. However, that had zero relevance to Masahiko. He led Tsukika straight toward the second floor, where the production crew of Princess Gale was temporarily lodged, but they were barricaded right at the base of the second-floor stairwell by two men clad in solid armor.
Yukie Fujikaze belonged to the category of a 'top-tier popular starlet'; traveling to Konoha, how could she possibly fail to bring a few personal bodyguards? Naturally, these bodyguards were merely elite specimens among ordinary commoners, completely insufficient to glance at in front of an actual ninja. Fortunately, there weren't many active 'star-chasers' among ninjas, and the vast majority of moviegoers were ordinary civilians.
"Apologies, you two children. Princess Gale is currently resting. If you desire an autograph, please look for another time," the two bodyguards spoke with an amiable tone.
Masahiko smiled, having been categorized as a 'child' yet again. He didn't want, nor did he care, to offer a rebuttal...
"We didn't come here to ask for an autograph..." Masahiko paused. "Though, if you could give a signature to our little Tsukika, that would be even better. Actually, we came to film a movie."
"That's right, film a movie!" Tsukika chimed in.
Perhaps because Tsukika's little demeanor was simply too adorable, the two bodyguards didn't issue an immediate rejection. Exchanging a look, one of them turned around to pace back inside to report.
A moment later.
"Wow, it's the actor who plays that character in that movie!" Tsukika repeated an identical format of exclamation twice, because the individuals pacing out were two active cast members.
"Are these the two children? The young girl is indeed exceptionally adorable... Come along, follow us!"
Masahiko curled his lip inwardly, pacing to keep up behind them. The little girl is adorable, but is the Great Ancestor not handsome? What a bunch of short-sighted fellows, no wonder you guys aren't widely famous...
The production director was a young man under thirty years old. The absolute instant he caught sight of Tsukika, he began pacing in circles around her, his mouth endlessly muttering: "Cool, cool~! Little girl, what is your name?"
Tsukika cast a cautious glance toward him. This director was a tad frightening...
"Her name is Tsukika, and she wants to act in a movie. Is there a suitable role available for her? I... I am her agent, I didn't come to act. Just call me Great Ancestor," Masahiko answered.
"Great Ancestor? Great Ancestor! This name sounds phenomenally cool~!"
Masahiko was thoroughly dumbfounded. This director couldn't possibly be an absolute idiot, right...
Tsukika steadily shed her nervousness, her large eyes rolling around: "Uncle Director, is there actually a suitable role for me?"
"Suitable for you... emmmm... Of course there is! Wait until I meticulously modify the script a bit!"
Masahiko's face turned completely black. The director and the screenwriter were actually the exact same person? Exactly how did this movie become wildly popular to begin with?
Reflecting on how this was Tsukika's very first time participating in a film, and likely her only time filming a movie, he had to leave her with a beautiful set of memories: "Actually, I am not merely an agent; I am also a special effects artist."
"A special effects artist?" The director given a subtle pause.
"Mmm." Masahiko extended both of his hands forward. Two localized, dark hurricanes slowly coalesced and spun perfectly over his palms: "No matter how massive the scale of the scene, I can smoothly manufacture it for you. Consequentially, feel free to design the visual scale to be as grand and magnificent as you desire!"
The director's dual eyes went completely round: "Cool~!"
Masahiko let out a soft sigh. This didn't resemble the psychological reaction of a normal human being at all...
"Great Ancestor, Tsukika, welcome you two children to join our production crew! The second installment of Princess Gale will officially commence filming very soon. We will be traveling to the far northern reaches, filming on location inside the legendary Land of Snow. The journey is exceptionally distant, so you must inform your family members..."
Masahiko nodded: "We've already made the arrangements."
Right at this moment, a middle-aged man close to fifty years old pushed the door open to step inside: "Director, there are Konoha ninjas who have officially accepted the mission we posted! We can formally depart tomorrow at noon!"
"Cool~! Thank you for the hard work, Sandayu!"
"...Who are these two children?"
"This is the Great Ancestor, and this is Tsukika. They just officially joined our production crew!"
"...Great Ancestor?"
"Present!" Masahiko responded with a beaming smile: "Hello, I am the Great Ancestor."
Sandayu: "..."
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