Director: Then It's Not Strange

Black Zetsu appeared in this place because he was here to deliver something to Shirozumi.

The collected blood and the organized catalog were both handed over to Shirozumi.

Originally, Black Zetsu only intended to deliver the catalog, but after reading the scripts he received on the way, he changed his mind.

These items are safest when handed over to Shirozumi.

He has no power, nor enough wisdom.

He still needs to find Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

As a fellow clansman of his mother, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki likely possesses the power to truly kill him, so these things absolutely cannot remain with him.

After receiving these items, Shirozumi gave Black Zetsu a simple task: to have White Zetsu collect the blood of those in the Land of Snow and hand it over to Hidan.

On the deck.

Kakashi reluctantly put down the script, still wanting more.

He had already finished reading all of them.

Not only the one currently being filmed, The Lotus Lantern: Ōtsutsuki Chenxiang, but also several other scripts.

The director had signed contracts and purchased these scripts at a high price.

The genres of these films varied.

The one currently in production was suitable for all ages, focusing more on emotional outbursts.

The others, however, featured grand scenes with many combat sequences described in the plot.

For example, one script told the story of an alien girl, Princess Kaguya, adopted by an Earth couple. As she grew up, she discovered her extraordinary powers and began to fight evil and help ordinary people.

Until one day, people from her home planet arrived on Earth with a fleet, intending to destroy the planet and transform it into a nursery for the Ōtsutsuki Clan.

Princess Kaguya resolutely chose to stand with humanity, fighting her own people to the death. This battle raged until the sky darkened and the sun and moon lost their light.

To protect Earth, Princess Kaguya painfully killed all her clansmen who had come to Earth.

However, some people did not trust her, believing her power was too great and uncontrollable, and began to scheme against her.

They then used the corpses of Ōtsutsuki from the previous great war to create a "Doomsday" meant to kill Princess Kaguya.

Princess Kaguya, to protect everyone, fought Doomsday and perished together with it.

Until one day, crisis descended again, and enemies from beyond the heavens reappeared in the Ninja World.

Everyone united, but was still utterly defeated.

At this moment, they finally remembered Princess Kaguya and decided to resurrect her...

Kakashi felt these plots, with their obvious grand scenes, were quite good, but what he really wanted to see was content similar to Jiraiya's Make-Out Series.

Ideally, it would involve various emotional entanglements, love unrequited, love turning to hate, hate turning to love, and other melodramatic plotlines.

Therefore, after finishing the scripts, Kakashi indirectly inquired with Shirozumi if he had any thoughts on this type of content, and sneakily handed Shirozumi a copy of his treasured Make-Out Paradise.

"Writing this type of story is certainly no problem.

But you should understand, as the master who wrote those scripts earlier, if I were to suddenly publish something about romance, or even vulgar content, it would easily affect my image...

So, I'll publish it under your name, Kakashi. Is that alright?"

Shirozumi looked at Kakashi, awaiting his reply.

"Okay, no problem."

Kakashi pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

There was no real loss in agreeing to this condition. He just had to think of

As a well-known director in the Land of Fire, he naturally had a way to publish novels.

The director opened the manuscript and took a cursory look before raising his head to Shirozumi with a confused expression. "This... did Kakashi Hatake really write this?"

"Of course. Don't let Kakashi's usual aloof demeanor fool you; he's actually quite passionate underneath. Look, this is a book he just gave me. It's his favorite thing to read."

Shirozumi took out the Icha Icha Paradise that Kakashi had just gifted him from behind his back.

"Then it's no wonder. It's no wonder at all."

The director suddenly understood.

At the same time, the director's gaze met Kakashi's. Kakashi touched his head and gave an embarrassed smile. This further solidified the director's certainty, leaving no room for doubt.

Kakashi's eyes were glued to the manuscript. He really wanted to see what Shirozumi had written.

However...

"You all go into the ship's cabin. Put the equipment away properly and find a corner to wait. Enemies are coming soon."

"Huh? Okay, okay!"

Hearing Shirozumi's reminder, the director immediately began directing his crew to pack up.

The filming equipment was not cheap.

Soon, only the director remained on deck, holding a simple video camera and tied to the ship with a rope.

He was afraid that if the commotion got too big, he might be shaken overboard.

But fear aside, filming had to continue.

What if there was a spectacular scene?

"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, prepare to face the enemy!"

Kakashi also noticed the enemy figures appearing on the ice at this moment.

The four of them leaped off the ship.

"They've finally come."

Kazahana Koyuki looked at the Snow Nin appearing below, clutching the hexagonal crystal on her chest with a nervous expression.

"It's not 'finally.' These people's ninjutsu can only be used in this icy, snowy environment, so they had to wait for us to come here," Shirozumi walked over and stood beside Kazahana Koyuki, pointing out the Snow Nin's weakness.

Their Ice Release was comparable to Chojuro's Water Style, and it couldn't be used in unfavorable environments.

Otherwise, why would they have waited until now to make their move?

Even those Ghost Brothers from the Land of Waves knew to set up an ambush on the road.

Hmm...

Shirozumi wondered if Black Zetsu hadn't finished his task yet.

Shirozumi's self-preservation and support abilities were top-notch, but his offensive capabilities, especially large-scale destructive ones, were lacking.

When he had punched the Raikage earlier, he hadn't used gravity reversal. One reason was that there was no need to turn the Raikage into a one-armed man prematurely. Another was that this move was best used as a surprise attack; using it on the Raikage would be a waste, and he might even become an ally in the future.

As Shirozumi was thinking this, the Snow Nin below began using their "large-scale destructive" ninjutsu.

A giant ice whale leaped out from the ice layer, crashing towards the ship.

"Grab onto me."

Shirozumi said to Kazahana Koyuki beside him, then grabbed the ship's railing.

The entire ship suddenly floated towards the sky.