Multi-Anime, I Stand at the Forefront of Popularity Supremacy Chapter 42

[This feels wrong.]

[Holy crap, is the rope made of metal?]

The giant object was stopped, and everyone could see what it was. It was a massive sword, its blade alone as tall as an adult.

"Hm?"

Hanabi hadn't followed his orders. Instead, she had directly intervened to block the enemy's attack. But why?

"No..."

At this moment, Hanabi had removed her outer clothing and put on a mask.

"Teacher Kakashi, form the卍 formation and protect Mr. Tazuna. I'll deal with this enemy."

As she spoke, a tall, thin figure rushed in front of Hanabi, intending to push her back and reclaim the great sword.

But Hanabi clasped her hands together, and the surrounding ropes instantly closed in, about to restrain the approaching figure.

"Tch!" The tall, thin figure kicked forward. His attack was naturally blocked by Hanabi's ropes, but he used the momentum of the attack to retreat, creating distance.

Kakashi recognized the opponent at a glance. "My, my, isn't this a rogue ninja from Kirigakure, Mr. Momochi Zabuza."

"Teacher Kakashi, guard Mr. Tazuna and stop wasting time."

Hanabi commanded again.

[I can't, I'm dying of laughter.]

[Kakashi: Wait, are you the teacher or am I the teacher?]

[Reversal! It's a complete reversal!]

[Wait, Hanabi's attitude is really serious. Is something wrong?]

[Doesn't this feel a bit off?]

Kakashi was completely bewildered.

"I'm going to help!"

Naruto immediately tried to rush forward, but Kakashi stopped him. "This guy is in no way comparable to the previous one."

Kakashi looked at Momochi Zabuza.

No, he was looking at Hanabi.

However, Kakashi felt that Hanabi's attention wasn't on Momochi Zabuza.

—Could it be?

Were there other enemies?

Although Hanabi didn't have the Byakugan, Kakashi knew that Hanabi seemed to possess some kind of powerful sensory ability, able to detect changes in surrounding Chakra. The reason Hanabi was acting this way was likely because, in the eyes of the enemy, Momochi Zabuza was less of a threat than the hidden presence.

"Kakashi of the Sharingan. My apologies, hand over that old man quickly." After speaking, Zabuza looked at Hanabi. "You're quite good. You actually managed to block my Kubikiribōchō."

"Sharingan...?" Sasuke heard something extraordinary. His gaze shifted to Kakashi.

Kakashi had always covered one eye. Could this eye be... the Sharingan?

But why would the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan be in the hands of an outsider?

However, Kakashi couldn't divert his attention to Sasuke at the moment.

"Hanabi, are you sure you want to go alone?"

"Ah. Although it will be a bit difficult, dealing with Mr. Momochi Zabuza, if I go all out, I can still put up a fight."

"What an arrogant brat," Zabuza snorted coldly. "You don't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

"I truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth, just as I equally don't know why Mr. Zabuza is working for Gato."

"—You bastard! Stop spouting nonsense here."

Zabuza was furious.

In the beginning, he had fled to the Land of Waves simply because his coup had failed, and he was looking for a place to settle. If it weren't for the pursuit from Kirigakure, he would have long since found someone like Gato distasteful and killed him.

However, Hanabi's words made Zabuza fall into thought.

—Could it be that Gato is truly the shadowy hand of Kirigakure?

"This isn't nonsense, Mr. Zabuza," Hanabi said. "Gato monopolizes maritime transport. And the country that most needs maritime transport and exchange with other nations is the Land of Water."

Hanabi raised her head, the pupils of her fox mask fixated on Zabuza.

"Do you think the Land of Water, as one of the Five Great Nations, would allow a greedy merchant like Gato to control its waterways? Or, as the saying goes, do you want to say... that the Daimyo of the Land of Water and the Mizukage of Kirigakure are both fools who don't understand such simple logic?"

Actually, given the thought processes of people in this world, the latter possibility couldn't be entirely dismissed.

But Hanabi's reasoning was sound and logical, and Zabuza felt like the logic... was undeniably correct.

"Of course, overt control might sometimes be a bit of an eyesore. But as a ninja, manipulating others from the shadows isn't difficult, is it? You don't even need to manipulate them; just offering a perfectly timed hint might suffice. This way, perhaps Gato himself wouldn't even be aware of being the shadowy hand, and it would also avoid inquiries from other ninja villages."

Zabuza found himself unable to find any flaws in Hanabi's reasoning.

It was just too damn logical.

...Is that really how it is?

Did Kirigakure control me all along...?

I can't tell, I really can't tell!

Author's Notes:

That's right, using a snow rabbit as a substitute in the Land of Waves was one of the original uses of the Substitution Technique, meant to lull enemies into a false sense of security when you might be discovered...

Zabuza's actions can certainly be explained by this, but whether he himself thought that way, Hanabi doesn't care. JPG

If you're a dragon, so be it OvO. If you say you're a dragon, then you're a dragon!

Chapter 47: This is the good fortune of the audience for three lifetimes!

"Sharp-tongued brat!"

Zabuza wanted to charge forward immediately.

But his previous overconfidence had led to the Kubikiribōchō being "disarmed," which put Zabuza in an awkward position.

This brat had no killing intent, but Zabuza's years of combat experience told him that this guy was definitely not simple.

"Enough with the small talk. Regardless of Gato's identity, I still have to do my job as a ninja first."

—Kill Tazuna.

Any issues can be discussed after this is done.

"Form up!" Kakashi immediately formed a cross formation with Naruto and Sasuke.

However, Kakashi only then realized – with him here, this formation might not even be necessary?

Kakashi fell into self-doubt, wondering if Hanabi had led him astray.

At this moment, the surrounding mist began to rise, and Zabuza raised his hand.

"Ninjutsu, Hidden Mist Technique."

The mist enveloped the area.

"Ah, enough with the small talk."

Hanabi crouched down and placed the doll on the ground.

[Here it comes, here it comes!]

[Short skirt! Ice cream!]

[I'm ready!]

[Dinner, my dinner today]

[I want three extra bowls of rice]

The silly netizens seemed to think Hanabi was going to lift her skirt, turning a long skirt into a short one.

But unfortunately, Hanabi wasn't that overconfident yet.

She turned elegantly.

With just a turn, Hanabi's attire had changed into Shiranui's ninja outfit.

[???]

[Holy crap, no more white stockings]

[Holy crap, but it's even more striking]

[Such a normal female ninja outfit]

[The ropes, the ropes!]

[Damn, so it really was rope armor]

[Holy crap, this is the good fortune I've cultivated for three lifetimes, how can I be worthy of seeing such beautiful rope armor in a shonen anime~]

[6666]

[My bro says he's ready]

[So there's a third stage, hehe, hehehehe]

[Wife! Wife! Wife!]

[The anime series was just watched, but the people are going crazy now]

[Ah Wei is dead, Ah Wei is dead!]

The bullet comments exploded again.

Shiranui's ninja outfit had a built-in transformation function, but it changed the outer clothes, while the rope armor was worn underneath.

So, when Hanabi put on Shiranui's ninja outfit, her hands, feet, and back were revealed. The ropes covering Hanabi's hands, feet, back, and body were immediately seen by everyone.

"This is bad, the mist here is so thick, Hanabi's genjutsu might be in trouble!" Sasuke realized something else.

Would Hanabi's proud Genjutsu be affected under these poor visual conditions?

"Well..."

Kakashi fell into thought.

However, Hanabi, as if unaffected, actually began forming hand seals.

And from the audience's perspective, the screen switched.

It was a flashback.

In the flashback were Kurenai and Hyuga Hiashi.

Originally, after discussing Hinata Hyuga, the live broadcast screen was cut off. This was because Hanabi was only a minor supporting role, and there wasn't much camera time.

But things were different now.

In this promotion mission, Hanabi's restrictions were somewhat lessened.

More importantly, the "Temporary Lead" ability would grant Hanabi sufficient treatment in certain highlight scenes.

"Next, we'll be talking about Miss Hanabi Hyuga," Kurenai said. "Miss Hanabi is a genius in Genjutsu, and I believe I am very suitable to teach her..."

Before Kurenai could finish, Hiashi interrupted her.

"My daughter's Genjutsu talent is indeed outstanding. However, her greatest specialty is not Genjutsu."

Kurenai was surprised. "Can she also use Gentle Fist?"

Hiashi was silent for a moment, then said, "My daughter's greatest specialty is—Fire Style Ninjutsu."

Even before obtaining the Shiranui-ryu ninjutsu, Hanabi already possessed fire-attribute talent provided by Honkai: Star Rail's Hanabi, so her Fire Style proficiency was already quite good at that time.

"Ninjutsu, Heat Haze Dance!"

Scorching, burning flames erupted from Hanabi's body. The flames, centered on Hanabi, spun and broke through the sky.