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Actor Training (Japanese Etiquette): Special, 6 class hours, taught by an experienced Japanese etiquette instructor. You will temporarily leave this world during the lessons, and time in this world will be paused.
Price: 10,000 Popularity Points
Local Market Expansion Strategy: Expand the anime series to simultaneous global release. Promotion will require a certain amount of time.
Price: 10,000 Popularity Points
External Market Research: Seek out audience groups in more Dimensional Worlds. Searching for new markets will require an extensive amount of time.
Price: 30,000 Popularity Points
The Live Broadcast Version could be considered an early release. The Anime Series Version released a month later would be the official version, though the Danmaku would be retained and shared.
Many names in Naruto were actually homophonic puns. Some names were even spoilers in their own right, but the translations were unfortunately not very good. For example, Neji's and Boruto's names actually had an inheritance between them, but the translations did not convey it because Neji's name had also been mistranslated. In Chapter 33, Sparkle would complain about this.
But this story would still follow the official translations and established conventions. This was just to let everyone know how strange translations could sometimes be.
Also, Hinata Hyuga's name could genuinely be translated as "Hyuga Hyuga." Laughs.
Please bookmark~ Monthly votes~ Recommendations~ Meow meow meow~.
What Could Definitely Be Put to Use Next Time
Unlike the previous rewards, this round of rewards seemed more geared toward increasing Sparkle's value as an actor.
"Japanese Etiquette? I think my manners are already pretty good. But there's no end to learning. And judging by the description, the lessons won't take place in this world?"
Sparkle felt that she usually conducted herself quite well, but this Actor Training would take place in another world. That was interesting.
"But if I buy these rewards, the test to become a 'supporting character' will have to be postponed."
She was still an extra. Once she became a supporting character, the Dimensional Popularity Stage would unlock new actor resources.
"The products refresh manually, which means that as long as I keep this interface open, these items can remain here indefinitely."
Since there was no forced refresh, there was no need to rush.
What mattered most to her right now was Popularity Points themselves.
"Then..."
Local Market Expansion Strategy purchased Communicating with the production team Conducting business negotiations Raising promotional funds A certain Mr. Aha, who wished to remain anonymous, has obtained exclusive sponsorship rights Fundraising completed ahead of schedule. This promotion will be exceptionally effective Viewer Danmaku expanded. Comment section expanded
She had the vague feeling that something incredible had flashed past amid that string of notifications.
"It's done already?"
Sparkle tilted her head.
It seemed she had no way of observing the results just yet.
"As for now, I should practice the Summoning Jutsu first."
Naruto's story itself was a classic hot-blooded shonen tale, but in the world beyond the screen, it had arrived more than twenty years late.
This kind of passionate youth manga that should have led the trends now seemed slightly outdated.
Following the original plot and formula would not be conducive to accumulating her popularity.
OP/ED Filming Plan about to begin The filming plans for OP1/ED1 have been finalized Inviting singers Sacrificing planners to the heavens OP-ROCKS and ED-Wind have been added to the Song Library Filming will begin within the next week
"They've already started filming."
Sparkle opened the Dimensional Popularity Stage interface. Sure enough, the opening and ending themes were already listed there.
The OP and ED themselves had not changed much.
But the filmed content would probably change drastically.
Unless the Stage fabricated a story itself, the events shown in the original Naruto OP had never actually happened in this world.
After all, this story was about Team 7 subjugating bandits. Sakura Haruno had long hair in it, which meant it took place before the Chunin Exam. But a combat mission like subjugating bandits was a C-rank mission, and Team 7's only C-rank mission had been the Land of Waves mission.
In other words, the OP was an "original" alternate-universe story. Or perhaps that mission had been counted as a D-rank mission.
Now that filming was taking place in the real world, Sparkle had no interest in recreating that plot.
The original OP could also be considered an "Anime Original." As always, Anime Original material could be used for reference, but not too much. Anyone who believed it all would lose.
The original ED, meanwhile, was Naruto's starring moment. Sasuke and Sakura Haruno did not appear until the very end. Yes, it was that famous ED with the butterflies.
Since the song had not changed, the ED should be roughly the same. Naruto's lonely scenes would be easy to edit. Even Sparkle could casually film something now and cut it into an ED.
"If only I were the director. I could at least do something fun."
Sparkle was somewhat dissatisfied.
Although she was still an extra, the freedom she could exercise was still too limited.
Otherwise, she would at least give Sasuke a Gynoid body, make him Uchiha Silver Hand, and burn Konoha to ashes...
—Now that would make for an awesome OP.
"Stage, is there any way for me to become a director or something?" Sparkle asked.
Currently unavailable
"Oh~"
Currently unavailable meant there might really be a chance.
"Hmm. No, wait. Director, director, director..."
Although she could not be a director on the Stage, she could be a director in Konoha.
The theme songs had already been decided, so the style was basically set as well. If she could choose for herself, Sparkle would definitely pick Blue Bird.
"Come to think of it, there are movies here too. They might come in handy someday."
Directing and acting for herself did not necessarily have to happen on the Stage. The Naruto World could do it too. OP Deception and the like sounded pretty interesting when she thought about it. It could definitely be put to use next time.
The next day was Team 7's first official day as ninja.
When Sparkle woke up, a camera icon had appeared in the Stage notifications, informing her that the OP Material Recording Phase had begun.
"Good morning, big sister~"
The moment she stepped outside, Sparkle saw Hinata packing ninja tools and launched a sneak attack from behind.
"Eek? Spar-Sparkle, let go of me already..."
Hinata blushed, and even her words came out stammering.
"Are you heading out on a mission, big sister?" Sparkle asked.
"Mm. Teacher Kurenai made a training plan for us, along with missions... probably." Hinata's voice grew quieter and quieter.
"Mm, then I should get ready too."
Team 7 was not strong enough yet. If Sparkle wanted to coordinate with Naruto and Sasuke right now, she basically had to rely on acting. Kakashi was not particularly reliable either, so she could only depend on herself.
"Brother Neji came by earlier," Hinata added. "But when he heard you were still resting, he left. Um... Sparkle, don't push yourself too hard."
"I'm fine. If anything, I'm more worried about you, big sister~" Sparkle pressed her face right up against Hinata's.
"Mm...!" Hinata's Byakugan immediately turned into spirals, and her whole body practically spun into the sky.
"That's it, then. See you later, big sister~"
Sparkle waved and spared Hinata, who was on the verge of fainting.
"Lady Sparkle, everything is ready." As soon as Hinata left, Natsu Hyuga approached. She was carrying an enormous ninja tool scroll. "Is it really necessary to prepare so many ninja tools?"
"Yes. My two teammates need to train properly."
The most urgent matter was increasing Naruto's and Sasuke's strength. Otherwise, even coordinating with them in battle would be difficult.
"Hey, hey, why are we going into the forest? Shouldn't we be taking missions?"
"I've already accepted one," Sparkle said. "Our mission today is to replace a forest ranger who threw out his back and patrol the area, preventing fires or observing any potential harm caused by wild animals."
Kakashi should have been the one accepting missions, but Sparkle had told him in advance.
"But, but, isn't there some super amazing mission?!" Naruto was still unwilling to accept it. "Teacher Kakashi, don't you have anything to say?"
"Well... just listen to Sparkle."
Kakashi held a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, looking utterly dead inside.
He had tried to resist, but whenever he wanted to speak, he would always find that Sparkle on the other side had somehow turned into Rin.
It was infuriating.
But there was nothing he could do.
So Kakashi chose to give up and lie flat.
"Okay, and then there's this."
Sparkle handed Naruto and Sasuke a package.
"It's so heavy!" The package was not large, but it was extremely heavy.
"What is this?"
Sasuke discovered that it contained Weighted Training Gear marked with the word "Guts."
"Genin missions are mainly D-rank and C-rank. That isn't just because Genin are weak, but because D-rank missions give us more time to train and improve ourselves. So while carrying out missions, you both need to wear Weighted Training Gear," Sparkle explained. "Our goal today is to inspect all the forests around Konoha."
Konoha had barriers, so there was no need to worry about intruders. But someone still needed to prevent forest fires and deal with wild animals.
Sasuke looked at Sparkle. "Does that mean you wear Weighted Training Gear all the time too?"
Kakashi spoke from beside them. "Sasuke, pay attention to Sparkle's clothes."
"Her clothes?"
Sasuke looked at Sparkle.
Sparkle wore a furisode kimono, clothing that was extremely inconvenient for combat and even inconvenient for traveling long distances.
Yet Sparkle wore that outfit every day. Despite being a ninja, Sparkle's usual movements were actually slow and composed.
—Thinking about it now, was it because of the weight?
"Are those clothes Weighted Training Gear too?" Sasuke was curious.
—Could it be that Sparkle used to train like this too?
Sparkle had indeed worn Weighted Training Gear before, but after her outfit had been upgraded, the training mode of her Performance Outfit was much more useful. She had not used any other weights or resistance equipment since then.
"I understand." Sasuke put on the Weighted Training Gear.
Seeing Sasuke put his on, Naruto put his on as well.
"Alright, Team 7. Let's begin the mission."
Once everyone was ready, Kakashi clapped his hands. "Sasuke, Naruto, your route is this one. Sparkle and I will take this side."
Kakashi indicated the routes.
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