Hinata pulled out her wallet and casually slapped thirty crisp 1,000-ryo bills onto the counter. Her tone was direct and to the point:
"Give us a complete makeover. That money's yours."
"Oh~ it would be my absolute pleasure!"
The stylist, Mizuko Nijimura, lit up at the sight of the cash. She couldn't help but wonder where these kids got so much money, but hey—if business knocks, you don't slam the door.
"Trust my skills~ I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
——
Sigh... life's been exhausting lately...
Sakura gently rubbed her sore arms and let out a tired breath. Even after a soak in the hot springs, the weariness clung to her like a fog—it barely helped.
The culprit? That healing jutsu scroll she got from Hinata.
The principle behind healing ninjutsu wasn't hard to understand. It involved precisely channeling one's chakra into the cells and tissues of the injured to stimulate vitality and speed recovery.
So the biggest hurdle was, simply, chakra control.
Following the scroll's instructions, Sakura had spent an entire week practicing on fish. She'd made some progress, but it had eaten up a massive chunk of her time and energy.
Still, if it could help Sasuke—even a little—then it was all worth it.
As she gave herself a mental pep talk, Sakura suddenly bumped into someone, staggering back a few steps. She bowed instinctively.
"Sorry! I was spacing out—"
"Watch where you're going next time."
That cool, familiar voice made her freeze in surprise. Her head snapped up.
"Sasuke-kun? It's you—eh?"
Sure enough, it was Sasuke. But… something was different.
Gone was his usual black short-sleeve top and white shorts. In their place was a sleek black jacket over a thermal inner shirt, paired with black slacks. On his wrist and neck gleamed a matching metal bracelet and necklace. The entire look radiated a refined edginess that was totally new.
"What's wrong?"
He turned his head slightly, clearly uncomfortable. The outfit and accessories had come courtesy of the stylist shop—and they definitely worked. Every girl they passed had given him a second glance, which made the usually aloof Sasuke feel wildly out of place.
"N-no, I mean… you look really cool! B-but, what made you decide to wear such a, um, bold outfit?"
Sakura tried to keep her composure, but inwardly she was screaming: Oh my god, he looks amazing! So stylish! Just as expected of Sasuke!
"Ah, Sakura~ there you are. We were just about to head to the BBQ place."
Hinata emerged from the styling studio, looking quite satisfied with the results. Her outfit had changed, too—she now wore a light trench coat over a black mesh top, matched with cropped black riding pants and tall boots. The clean silhouette gave her a composed, striking presence that lifted her spirits.
"This is so weird, Hinata…"
Trailing behind her was Naruto, also sporting a fresh look. Though not as dramatic as the others, he'd ditched his eye-searing orange tracksuit and ridiculous goggles. Now, he wore a sea-blue jacket over a white shirt, paired with light-blue shorts. His blonde bangs fell naturally over his forehead, giving him a cleaner, more approachable vibe.
See? With parents like the Fourth Hokage and Kushina Uzumaki, there's no way this kid should look bad. He just used to dress like a walking traffic cone.
"Shut up. You finally look presentable. If you dare put that orange thing back on, I'll make you run naked through the streets."
Cracking her knuckles, Hinata gave Naruto a death glare before turning to Sakura with a smug glint in her eye.
"Well then~ Sakura, come have dinner with us. I'd also like to check your progress on that healing jutsu."
---
"Excellent… Shikamaru truly is someone worth relying on. This release strategy is incredibly thorough."
Inside a private room at the BBQ restaurant, Hinata studied the scroll in her hands. It detailed the marketing and distribution strategy Shikamaru had prepared for Fox's Tale across various Fire Country regions—meticulously organized with five backup plans. Honestly, not even professional accountants could do much better.
"Thanks to you… I've got dark circles under my eyes for the first time."
Shikamaru lethargically poked at the meat on his plate with his chopsticks, eyeing Hinata and the two boys across from him. Despite his usual indifference, even he had to admit—it was hard not to notice the changes.
"Hinata, Sasuke, Naruto—your new looks really suit you~"
Chomping down a mouthful of meat, Chōji mumbled his approval through bulging cheeks. The dinner wasn't just a casual meal—it was clearly a prelude to Hinata's next big move. Team Shikamaru, Chōji, and Ino were all here, and after bumping into Sakura on the way, the entire crew was now assembled.
"It's a kind of transformation," Hinata said, putting down the scroll with a faint smile. "Like we've stopped playing make-believe and started doing something meaningful."
"But more importantly… we're almost out of money."
"That kind of training burns through cash, huh? My dad even said our family store's income nearly doubled this month thanks to you three."
Shikamaru muttered while resting his chin on his hand. As a Nara, he understood just how much Hinata's group had spent on supplies and medicine. It was a fortune.
"Yeah, and it's way too rough on your bodies…"
Ino glanced at Sasuke's bandaged arm with concern. Clearly, his wounds hadn't fully healed.
"Which is why I brought you two here," Hinata said, casting a look at Sakura and Ino. "You've been practicing healing ninjutsu, right?"
Making a show of sincerity, she continued, "If possible, I'd like to ask for your help. We can't afford to keep checking into the hospital."
The last time, Sakura and Ino had only been allowed near Sasuke by using henge no jutsu to pose as background characters. But now that Hinata was extending a formal invitation, they visibly relaxed. After all, Sasuke would definitely flip if he found out who those extras were.
"Ah~ we're still beginners, but… if Sasuke-kun needs us, we'll do our best~"
Blushing furiously, both girls nodded in unison. Getting to support Sasuke as official teammates? It was like a dream.
"Then it's settled. Since you'll be joining us, there's no need to keep secrets anymore. We've been filming a story-driven project. If you two are willing to help, we'll pay you properly for your work."
Hinata didn't even finish before Naruto let out a horrified screech.
"W-Wait a sec—Hinata, are you saying Sakura and Ino are joining the cast?!"