Chapter 470: Different from the Very Beginning
Having successfully joined the Princess Gale production crew, Masahiko naturally had to take Tsukika to meet the lead actress playing Princess Gale, Yukie Fujikaze.
As the heroine of the first-ever Naruto movie, Masahiko still retained a decent impression of Yukie Fujikaze—who was actually Koyuki Kazahana. After all, back in his past life when that movie was released, the internet wasn't particularly developed, and Masahiko had gone through immense trouble just to find a downloadable resource... naturally, the impression ran a bit deeper.
In his memories, her personality was incredibly terrible at the beginning, completely different from her onscreen persona. She constantly ran away from her past and fled from the Land of Snow. It was only after she underwent Naruto's intense 'education' that she gradually turned over a new leaf... Consequentially, Masahiko hadn't placed much expectation on their first meeting.
However, completely contrary to his expectations, he and Tsukika met a Koyuki Kazahana who possessed a sweet, radiant smile. Although her attitude toward Masahiko, this 'Great Ancestor', was thoroughly average, she absolutely adored little Tsukika.
Looking at her current demeanor, she doesn't seem to be coveting the Great Ancestor's youthful good looks either... Exactly where did things go off track?
Having scored an autograph from her favorite superstar sister and even received a warm hug, Tsukika was so exceptionally happy that her tiny snaggletooth was fully on display. Her footsteps were practically floating as they walked back home that evening.
Masahiko was left with a face full of complete bewilderment, seriously wondering if he had developed early-onset Alzheimer's and his memory baseline was deteriorating...
The next day, at Kushina's house.
"Great-grandfather, Naruto mentioned that his squad accepted a mission to escort the Princess Gale production crew to the Land of Snow for a shoot. They're departing today, is that...?"
"That's right," Masahiko chuckled. "I'm looking after two of your children in a single trip, so you and Minato can thoroughly enjoy a month or two of your two-person world!"
Kushina shook her head with a laugh: "We're people pushing forty... Minato is preparing to officially take Tenten on as a disciple."
"Oh?" Masahiko paused, packing the massive assortment of bags Kushina had prepped for Tsukika straight into his Eight Trigrams space. "That's excellent. Tenten houses the Two-Tails' chakra within her vessel, meaning she could be subjected to another ambush at any given moment. If she masters the Flying Raijin, she'll possess an excellent means of self-preservation."
"The Flying Raijin is anything but easy to grasp," Minato chimed in with a gentle smile from the side.
"Have faith in Tenten. Tsukika! Tsukika, have you finished putting your clothes on? It's time to move!"
Tsukika paced out from her bedroom step by step, massive tears swirling at the edges of her eyes: "I'm ready. Mama, Papa, the Great Ancestor and I are leaving now!"
This was the very first time she would be traveling away from her parents for such a prolonged duration, leaving the little girl exceptionally reluctant to say goodbye.
Once the tearful, lingering farewells concluded, Masahiko led Tsukika out the front door. A child's sorrow comes quickly but recedes just as fast; midway down the street, Tsukika's mood had already turned entirely bright and cheerful.
"Eh? That idiot brother is going too? For real?"
Masahiko smiled, leading Tsukika straight inside the theater block: "Look up at the ceiling, who do you see?"
Up against the ceiling panels, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke had focused chakra to the soles of their feet, currently 'watching a movie upside down'.
Tsukika paused, her large eyes rolling around as she instantly hollered at the top of her lungs: "Idiot brother! Brother Sasuke! Sister Sakura! Why on earth are you standing upside down against the ceiling?"
"Where did this brat come from? Are you trying to sneak a free movie without buying a ticket?!" The quiet theater froze for a fraction of a second before plunging into immediate chaos. Masahiko burst into laughter, leading Tsukika briskly up to the second floor, deeply concealing his fame and contributions...
Having officially become members of the production crew, the two were no longer barricaded, finding Koyuki Kazahana without a single impediment along the way.
The person manifesting in front of them was still that sweet, smiling Koyuki Kazahana. Furthermore, as if she had run into some highly 'joyous occasion', she would occasionally break into a... thoroughly starstruck grin?
This is entirely anomalous. I distinctly recall that once she found out the shoot was located in the Land of Snow, she would flee the production crew, only to run squarely into Team 7's trio... Could it be that I genuinely have Alzheimer's?
Packed to the brim with confusion, Masahiko opted for a subtle, indirect inquiry: "Sandayu, we are headed to the Land of Snow for the shoot, correct?"
While asking this, Masahiko carefully tracked the active expressions playing across Koyuki Kazahana's face... Her expression remained perfectly natural.
"That's correct, the Land of Snow. That is an exceptionally distant northern realm where the climate is brutally cold. The two of you... seem to have failed to bring any winter apparel?" Sandayu replied.
Masahiko flicked his wrist, and a massive bundle of winter clothing materialized directly into his palm: "We brought them, isn't this exactly it? Have you forgotten? I am the special effects artist!"
Sandayu: "..."
Although Masahiko had displayed a wave of 'special effects' right in front of him yesterday, he still desperately wanted to ask: 'Exactly which training academy manufactures special effects artists like you?' He desperately wanted to enroll too...
This was Koyuki's first time witnessing Masahiko unleash a 'special effect', and she subconsciously covered her mouth with her right hand, her face packed with absolute shock.
Tsukika let out a sneaky laugh: "Sister Yukie, the Great Ancestor is incredibly formidable. He can smoothly manufacture that kind of hurricane the Demon King uses. Though Sister, you are still a fraction more impressive; the Great Ancestor can't manage to ignite a seven-colored chakra shroud at all!"
Masahiko didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This child...
Knock, knock, knock... Right at this moment, a heavy tapping echoed against the door. Sandayu paused, pacing over to open it.
"Cool~! Great Ancestor and Tsukika have arrived? The movie on the first floor has concluded its screening, we must assemble and prepare to depart, Sandayu!" The eccentric director popped his head in.
Masahiko pursed his lips. The movie screening had fully concluded, confirming that Koyuki truly had zero intention of fleeing...
"Brother Director, exactly what role did you arrange for me?" Tsukika was far more invested in this aspect.
"How about Tsukika plays a princess too? A little princess from an exiled nation who joins Princess Gale's squad to jointly launch a wave of vengeance against the Demon King! Cool~!"
Masahiko massaged his temples, a completely helpless look playing across his face.
Tsukika, however, was incredibly delighted: "Cool!"
Excellent, she had been infected.
As the production cast assembled, Tsukika caught sight of one character after another who had populated the silver screen, cheering in rapid succession... If Masahiko hadn't held her back, she would have probably beaten the actor playing the Demon King to a pulp right then and there...
The production crew also took the opportunity to get acquainted with the newly joined child actress, 'Tsukika', and the special effects artist, 'Great Ancestor'.
They extended a highly enthusiastic welcome to Tsukika. As for Masahiko... they didn't particularly care, and Masahiko had zero intention of mingling with them either; it would lower his status.
"This trip is already thoroughly worth it," Masahiko murmured softly as he watched the uncontained, joyful smile pinned across Tsukika's face.
A brief moment later, the ninja squad commissioned to execute the long-distance escort mission to the Land of Snow finally arrived—it was precisely Team 7, Kakashi alongside his trio of students.
"Wow! It really is Princess Gale!" Unsurprisingly, the very first exclamation ripped out from Naruto's mouth.
"Hey, you idiot Naruto..." Sasuke lightly tugged at Naruto's sleeve, pointing directly toward Masahiko's position.
"Gr—Great Ancestor?! Tsukika?!"
"It's me, idiot brother!"
Kakashi ran a hand through his silver hair, nodding to offer a polite greeting to Masahiko, before pacing over to discuss the exact logistical itinerary of the escort mission with the director.
The three students trotted over to stand in front of Masahiko and Tsukika with faces full of absolute shock. Naruto didn't even care about Princess Gale anymore...
"Actors? You're actually acting alongside Princess Gale?" Naruto was packed to the brim with profound envy. "Great Ancestor, exactly what is a special effects artist?"
"It's the kind of job that adds DUANG, DUANG special effects to the scene," Masahiko chuckled.
The three students stared at each other in complete bewilderment.
Kakashi walked back over: "Senior, with you accompanying us on this journey, my heart is infinitely more at ease."
Masahiko burst into laughter; Kakashi appeared to be speaking slightly against his true thoughts. Just as he was preparing to offer a retort, Koyuki Kazahana's slightly thrilled voice rippled out from behind him: "Brother Kakashi, long time no see!"
Kakashi's eye curved into a warm crescent moon: "Indeed, Koyuki. Long time no see."
"Eh? Kakashi-sensei and Princess Gale actually know each other?" Naruto's envy spiked yet again.
Masahiko stood frozen on the spot for a long while, a look of profound realization steadily washing over his countenance. He finally understood exactly where the anomaly lay.
Back when Koyuki Kazahana had originally fled the Land of Snow, the one who escorted her away was still Kakashi, but the two variants of Kakashi were entirely different.
In the original story timeline, the one executing that mission was the cold, emotionally detached Konoha Anbu Kakashi. But in this reality, with Obito and Rin both alive and well, Kakashi had matured into a warm, approachable, and pleasant Konoha big brother.
The chronicle of the Land of Snow was completely different from the very beginning!
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