Asuma gave a guilty cough, and Shikamaru frowned before rolling his eyes.
"Alright then—I'll leave it to you. I've got to prep the venue. Later."
No question—the sea of people outside was piling pressure on the whole cast, especially those who'd be performing on stage.
"Ahh~!! Why do I have to go out there and sing in this outfit?!"
Naruto's face flushed all the way to his ears. Sure, he'd played Ahri the fox spirit within their little troupe before—but this was in front of tens of thousands of people. He could feel his dignity crumbling.
"You're not alone. Sasuke's Lin, Shikamaru's Lady Higan, Ino's Princess Qin, and Sakura's maid—all going on stage. Besides~ it's not you going out there—it's Ahri–the fox."
Sitting cross-legged backstage, Hinata barely looked up from the map in her hands. She was already scouting the next plot of land for a figurine factory.
The crowd outside confirmed it: it was time to propose that partnership with Pain.
"Damn it~ This wasn't the dream. I was supposed to be Hokage..."
Naruto sobbed into his sleeve. Ino, dabbing makeup on his transformed face, rolled her eyes.
"Perfect—keep that tragic expression! And keep your transformation stable! If it wears off on stage, you're dead!"
Sasuke and Shikamaru had long since given up resisting. It was just another mission... sort of.
"Young Lady, guests have arrived."
Cross-dressed Sai peeked in. Hinata smirked and stood up. "Excellent. Have them wait—I'll change into something more... suitable~"
---
"Whoa, are you serious?! Looks like ten thousand people down there!"
Hidan shaded his eyes, visibly stunned. "All this for a book?"
"Of course~! Our art is destined to shine!"
Deidara puffed his chest, arms akimbo. Hidan snorted, "A crowd's one thing, but we'll see if your clay dolls and wooden puppets actually sell."
"What did you say?! Our art is flawless!"
Just before a brawl broke out, Hinata's calm voice cut through. "Now, now. Please stay composed."
All four Akatsuki members had ditched their trademark cloaks for casual outfits. Deidara and Sasori were plain. Kakuzu wore a ronin-style kimono. Hidan? Full streetwear mode.
"That body... I delivered it myself," Kakuzu noted, narrowing his eyes.
"Yes—though the eyes are different," Hidan added.
"So you're Kakuzu and Hidan? Thanks to you, I acquired this excellent body. Much appreciated."
Hinata greeted them warmly, but Sasori was all business. "Enough talk. What's the plan?"
"I've spoken with the author. Today, we'll exhibit your figurines for sale. No rush. Follow me—we've got surprises."
Sasori and Deidara grabbed their crates. Kakuzu and Hidan followed with shrugs. Wandering artists, even rogue ninja, had to hustle.
Security was light outside Konoha, so the four entered easily and took front-row seats arranged by Sai.
"Hand them over, please. Soon, we'll see their worth."
Hinata returned backstage, switched to her original body, and carried the crates into the prep room.
All actors had makeup layered over transformation jutsu—seamless.
"Hinata, you're back. What's that?"
Ino turned from the mirror. Hinata shrugged, opened the crates—and the room's attention zeroed in.
Sasori's figures?
Impeccable—movable joints, flawless proportions, stunning detail.
Deidara's?
Bold and dramatic—each frozen in a single, perfect moment. One Lin sat mid-flute, his hair and tassels seemingly swaying in mountain breeze.
"Oh my God~!! It's Sasuke-kun's character!!"
Sakura's eyes sparkled as she clutched a wooden Lin figure.
"Mine's drunk Sasuke~! This pose... this look...!!"
Ino was practically drooling over hers. Enough said.
"Even Shikamaru got one? Who made these?"
Naruto lifted a Lady Higan figure, and Hinata shot him a cold glare.
"Careful. These are for sale. Break one, and you'll explode."
"I'll buy! How much for all the Lin ones?!"
"Back off, Ino-pig! They're mine!!"
Sakura and Ino dove into a full-blown catfight—again.
Hinata simply stood up.
"Now then! Let the release event begin!"
---
"To shatter rusted windows... with a voice like the end of love's memory~"
The BGM "The Blue Bird" filled the venue as Naruko—Naruto in disguise—sang with clear, gentle tones. Dressed as the white-haired fox spirit, she captivated the silent crowd.
With a graceful, sorrowful turn, she exited. Then came a deep, magnetic voice— Lin—Sasuke's role. Entering from the opposite side, his reverse steps made it seem like he was falling.
"Though I know... we are fated to fall from the skies~"
A mortal, doomed by fate.
The moment Sasuke appeared, the crowd erupted. Mostly women. Some men. All swooning.
(TL:WTF!?)
"Seriously?! I don't want to—come on!"
Shikamaru groaned as Ino shoved him forward.
"No more words~" she winked.
Shikamaru—now Lady Higan—stumbled onto the stage, spun, nearly fell, but recovered. His stagger only heightened the character's fragile charm.
"I know I must find a way~ to break free~"
Reluctantly, he sang. Together, the trio told a tale of sorrow, fate, and rebellion—each lyric vividly brought to life.
---
(The reviewer I was using well it's not good it keeps making mistakes in Names especially character, which is frustrating. I am gonna not use it again. Sorry for wasting you time. Have good day... Or night depending on the place you are.)
(PS: Internets blown So I won't be able to post that much for a week, but don't worry after it's stable I will do a mass release.)
(PS2: please don't mind the naming mistakes I am very bad with names🥺, So if they are wrong and you know the correct ones chapter comment them.😶)