But Sparkle felt that this gentle-as-water Ryougi Shiki before her was acceptable.
Yet if she said this was another personality of "Shiki Ryougi," it did not seem quite right either.
Which personality was she, exactly?
Was she truly the Ryougi Shiki from Sparkle's memories?
It was complicated.
Sparkle immediately gave up thinking about it.
She was only here for a training class.
Six class periods were not much time. According to Ryougi Mana, the Stage had paid for this, and the money paid by the Stage was naturally Sparkle's own Popularity Points—that was her money!
Ryougi Mana had already closed the door, leaving the two alone.
"You've trained very well." Ryougi Shiki looked Sparkle over, seemingly quite interested. "You... are a swordswoman, right? Hmm, no, are you a ninja?"
"How could you tell?" Sparkle asked.
"You're rather like Princess. Every move you make is impeccably proper. Honestly, having me teach you would be somewhat wasteful. But your body looks frail, when in fact it is something like... weighted training gear, perhaps? The design of this furisode is very interesting."
Her lightly cheerful tone and analysis were somewhat similar to the Ryougi Shiki Sparkle knew.
But amid that cheerful analysis, Sparkle noticed that there was an integrated, natural quality to her bearing, as though she truly possessed the innate nobility of someone born high above others.
In that instant, Sparkle understood.
She looked elegant, but it was all acting.
Her every movement was perfectly appropriate, but that too was acting.
However, the other woman was different.
Aside from the initial greeting, her behavior could not be called that of a cautious, refined "lady," yet every gesture she made carried a very special feeling.
Even when Ryougi Shiki made boyish gestures, she could not conceal the temperament of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
"Oh my, it seems you understand now." Ryougi Shiki smiled.
"My apologies." Sparkle raised her head. "Actually, my true identity is an actor—no, an idol. It is simply that the content I perform is rather unusual."
"Oh?" Ryougi Shiki looked intrigued.
Sparkle smiled. "My performances are reality shows with no retakes."
"Ah. If that is the case... hmm, I am rarely in the mood for this. Since I have already accepted payment, it would not do to sit around doing nothing." Ryougi Shiki stood and opened the door.
"Whoa!" Ryougi Mana, who had been eavesdropping outside, tumbled in at once.
She had never left and had been right outside the door the whole time.
"Mother, where are you going?" Ryougi Mana smiled sheepishly, then asked curiously.
Ryougi Shiki turned to glance at Sparkle. "You do not mind, do you?"
"Of course not." How could Sparkle possibly mind such an adorable black-haired little girl?
Ryougi Shiki looked at her daughter. "The dojo. Would you like to come?"
After saying that, Ryougi Shiki brought Sparkle to the dojo. She initially picked up a bamboo sword, but after thinking it over, she put it down and chose a katana instead.
"Huh? Is Mother going to be Sister Sparkle's kendo teacher?!" Ryougi Mana was stunned.
"Just taking a look." Ryougi Shiki said, "Since I accepted payment, it would not be right to teach you nothing."
Though she said that, Sparkle felt something was off.
The "etiquette" Ryougi Shiki spoke of was actually contained within her every movement.
Including the sight of her raising the katana.
"Come, let me see your sword." Ryougi Shiki said.
"Excuse me."
Sparkle extended her hand, and an ice sword appeared in it.
"Whoa~"
Sparring with Ryougi Shiki felt quite good.
Sparkle's physical abilities were currently suppressed, preventing her from using her full power. But paired with Ryougi Shiki, who was likewise not using her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, it was just right.
Though this was supposed to be an etiquette class, the two ended up sparring in swordsmanship the entire time.
Ryougi Mana grew sleepy as she watched and eventually fell asleep while yawning.
"Hmm..." After fighting for a while, Ryougi Shiki suddenly stopped. "Perhaps you could try taking another sword."
"Niten Ichi-ryu?" Sparkle naturally thought of Musashi Miyamoto, who used two swords.
"Not the same. Niten Ichi-ryu uses a long sword and a short sword. You could perhaps try using two katanas."
Sparkle recalled that Jingliu had previously said she seemed suited to trying dual swords. Now Ryougi Shiki was saying the same thing.
"Thank you very much."
"It is nothing. I did not do anything... Hmm, right. Since we have met by chance, I will give you a small gift."
And at that moment, Sparkle suddenly received a prompt from the Stage.
"The Root Passing By" has decided to reward you.
Your performance outfit—Sparkle Kimono—has been upgraded.
New trait: Automatic Repair, Automatic Cleaning.
New mode: Battle Mode.
Though she was Ryougi Shiki, she was not exactly Ryougi Shiki, but when all was said and done, she was still Ryougi Shiki. It sounded like a tongue twister, but that was indeed how it was.
Also, Gimestolanti's Love was a skintight leather outfit. Its effect was that its wearer would not die from injuries, but would die if she took it off. That black belt was Kurokawa Karen, a black belt that moved as though it were an extension of one's limbs, at the cost of periodically wanting to tighten, strangle, and torment someone. Then Ueno Kuzukasa from C3 Cube used those two in a combo: the outfit ensured she would not die, thus negating the belt's price.
This Is No Time to Blame Me for Causing Trouble
Sparkle Kimono—Battle Mode: During battle, Attention increases by 5%, and all attributes increase by 10%.
"Battle Mode..."
Sparkle already had a ninja outfit for fighting.
But what actor would ever complain about having too many performance outfits?
Although it had been "upgraded," its quality had not changed. It was still four-star and had not become five-star.
After entering Battle Mode, Sparkle's body felt incredibly light, and her clothes changed as well. The original kimono became more form-fitting, the shoulders became bare, and the long skirt turned into a short one.
Much of the unnecessary fabric had been cut away, while many red ropes had been added to bind the outfit in place.
.
Kimonos were actually extremely inconvenient for movement, but she was completely unaffected now.
More importantly, Sparkle discovered that she had become stronger—literally faster and stronger.
But what did "The Root Passing By" mean?
"Thank you very much, teacher." Sparkle expressed her gratitude to Ryougi Shiki.
"Well, I did not help much. But you still have several class periods left. When you come for class, you can keep Mina company and play with her. She seems to like you quite a lot."
"Yes."
In this etiquette class, Sparkle had not actually learned any etiquette.
Or rather, after realizing that her bearing was acting while the other woman's had merged into her everyday life, Sparkle understood what she lacked.
—She had not truly integrated her acting into herself.
"Phew, I'm back."
After pushing open the door and stepping out of Ryougi Shiki's home, Sparkle returned to the Naruto World. Her own house stood before her.
"Next comes the Promotion Test."
Sparkle had set aside one hundred thousand Popularity Points, waiting for her promotion.
—Would this mission take place in this world, or would she be sent to another world again?
Would she need to complete some mission, or achieve some goal?
She had no clue at all.
But as an idol, she naturally had to face every difficulty.
"Come on~"
Promotion application submitted.
Party B is planning a proposal.
Proposal A: Stage of Destiny of a ninja, PASS.
Proposal B: Ishura—Dimensional World Battle Royale, PASS.
Proposal C: Everyday Stories Caused by Long-Term Vegetarianism, PASS.
Proposal D: Ghost-Seeing Girl, PASS.
Proposal A has been reviewed again.
Final proposal confirmed.
Test Code Name: Ninja Trial.
Test Location: Local.
Test Background: The Child of Destiny of the Ninja World is about to encounter the first critical turning point of his fate. At this crucial point of destiny, display your brilliance! A qualified actor can influence the direction of the story and make the camera revolve around herself.
Test Objective: During the upcoming "Land of Waves" destiny event, cause destiny to deviate by more than 10%. On this basis, obtain the Attention of at least 10,000 fans.
During the Promotion Test, you will receive some treatment afforded to supporting roles. When changing destiny, the Dimensional Popularity Stage will provide assistance to the greatest possible extent.
"So after choosing so many proposals, it still ended up choosing Proposal A?"
Sparkle considered the contents of the Promotion Test.
Going from an extra to a supporting role, even a minor supporting role, meant gaining a certain degree of influence. Influencing the plot through her own power was an accomplishment in itself.
But the Dimensional Popularity Stage did not issue missions in order to change the world. It was to make idols shine more brightly. Changing the world was merely because idols ought to possess that kind of influence.
"And fans—what is that supposed to mean?"
After becoming a supporting role, you will no longer be an unnoticed extra. Audiences will begin to pay Attention to you and become your fans. This will benefit the acquisition of Popularity Points and the sale of merchandise. At the same time, an idol's number of fans is also a reflection of her popularity and strength.
"Oh my, this is quite interesting."
Sparkle's impact on the entire Naruto World had not actually been very large.
This did not mean Sparkle did not want to cause trouble. It was simply because, as a minor supporting role, it was difficult for her to shake the tide of history.
Therefore, Sparkle's previous arrangements had been to make small, indirect moves from below.
But since the Stage had given her such great authority this time... she could not blame Sparkle for causing trouble.
"The next major plot is the Land of Waves."
"My strength... Hmm, dealing with White will not be a problem, but dealing with Zabuza will be a little troublesome."
If she activated her Byakugan and went all out, it was not as though she had no chance of fighting him.
But that was not enough.
"But if I resonate with Master Jingliu..."
When Sparkle used the Summoning Jutsu to summon Ice Crystal Jingliu, she had felt it before.
If she resonated after using the Summoning Jutsu, Sparkle could merge Jingliu's power with her own.
In other words, become "two into one," as Jingliu had once said.
Before you continue