Chapter 217: Adapting The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi
Hiashi Hyuga himself provided the answer: "She is using your sister to hone her martial arts, integrating several styles, trying to find her own combat style to compensate for her weaknesses. She is a ninja with terrifying talent."
Thinking of the genjutsu from before, Hanabi excitedly added, "Sister Ino's genjutsu is also really powerful! She just blew a few whistles, and I fell under it. But some kids in my class say she's greedy for money, that she's fallen into a money pit. Is that really true?"
A hint of mockery entered Hiashi's tone. "You are still young; those complex things will become clear when you grow up. There are even people in the village who say I am naturally timid and cowardly. Is that really true?"
He pointed down at Ino. "Do not look at how people appear in front of others, but how they are when no one is watching. Hanabi, I will tell you just one thing: a ninja who is skilled in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Sealing Jutsu, who also possesses intellect and works hard – you will find few of those in the entire ninja world."
After working up a sweat sparring, Ino took a bath at Hinata's house and then prepared to leave.
"I'm going."
She stopped at the doorway, looking directly at Hinata.
"Is there something on my face I didn't wash off?" Hinata asked, touching her cheek.
Ino mused, "No, I just thought of something."
Hinata's life trajectory had been slightly altered by Ino, but her lack of confidence still lingered. Ino often instilled in her beliefs about female independence and self-reliance. Stop thinking about doing housework and raising kids all day! Look at you in Boruto, living like a widow, how miserable is that? You need to pick yourself up!
When they first met, or rather, when Ino had just transmigrated, every time she asked Hinata about her hobbies, Hinata would nervously stammer that she didn't have any. Later, she accidentally let it slip that she liked pressing flowers.
Ino thought, "???"
My family sells flowers, and I use Flower Style, and the thing you like most is pressing flowers? Are you trying to cause trouble, or do you have some other motive?
Ino absolutely couldn't let her keep that hobby. It had to change.
Thinking of this, Ino decided she needed to give Hinata some motivation for change. This girl was too passive; without someone forcefully pushing her, it would be difficult for her to change.
She told Hinata to come to the flower shop tomorrow morning. She wanted to help Hinata find some new interests.
Jiraiya's The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi had received widespread praise from all sectors; everyone agreed it was an excellent book, and it had absolutely nothing to do with whether or not he was the Hokage.
Shueisha took the lead, uniting with the Yamanaka Flower Shop, the ninja tool shop Mantenbō, and the Leaf Village's Public Relations Department. These four entities jointly funded the project to adapt The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, this major IP, for the screen.
Ino was quite curious about filmmaking in the world of Naruto; she had never participated in such work in her previous life. Constantly studying dead bodies and souls was exhausting. She felt she needed to be more cheerful. As an investor, she actively got involved the moment the project launched.
When Hinata arrived at the flower shop, Ino was in the middle of rewriting the script.
Ino had Hinata help her design some feminine dialogue. She wasn't good at writing those kinds of lines, and Jiraiya's original version barely had any dialogue for the female lead; it was all the male protagonist speaking at length.
The protagonist of The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi was a ninja named Naruto. The prototype for the book was Nagato from the Akatsuki side, and viewed more deeply, it was Jiraiya's self-narration. The protagonist's personality was easy to grasp, but the two supporting characters – the handsome male ninja and the beautiful female ninja – were somewhat elusive. Jiraiya had written them very vaguely.
Ino pulled Hinata into the scriptwriting team and began making drastic changes. By the time the script was finished and returned to Jiraiya, the original author was dumbfounded. Is this the novel I wrote?!
"Isn't there a bit too much focus on the female ninja's scenes?" Jiraiya didn't yet have the concept of a 'big heroine' story. Just looking at the script, The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi seemed to have turned into a story about a female protagonist and two male supporting characters.
Ino stated confidently, "Anyway, I revised it based on Teacher Tsunade's appearance. If the Hokage finds it unsatisfactory..."
"Satisfactory! Satisfactory! Extremely satisfactory!" Jiraiya immediately put on a smiling face, repeatedly declaring that the 'big heroine' was the core idea of his book all along! This revision was perfectly fine.
Hinata dazedly followed Ino to the film studio.
This was a typical director-centered production. Even with titles like producer and scriptwriter, Ino didn't have as much authority on set as the director. However, her request to add a disciple character for the female lead was approved by the director.
"Me? Let me be a movie actress!" Hinata was startled, her voice involuntarily rising two octaves.
Ino gave a thumbs-up. Yes, that's the spirit we need.
Hinata was dumbfounded. She was careful even speaking to strangers; could she really be an actress? She repeatedly waved her hands, indicating she couldn't do the job.
Ino put her arm around her shoulders. "Look at the script here, this description of the female lead being full of heroic spirit, and this part here, where it says the female lead shouts loudly and knocks down the enemy. Doesn't it sound a lot like my teacher, Lady Tsunade?"
Hinata had barely met Tsunade a few times and had very limited understanding, so she just instinctively nodded now, thinking, Yes, yes, whatever you say is right.
Ino continued flipping through the script for her. "Now look here. The female lead has a disciple who is somewhat timid and shy. She only becomes stronger with the female lead's encouragement. Then the female lead takes her on as a disciple. Doesn't that sound a bit like me?"
I don't think so! Hinata thought, looking directly at Ino. Her friend, it seemed, had never been timid from beginning to end. Shy? Non-existent! Standing there late at night, her chilling aura could scare even ghosts into trembling. I'm the timid one, that's for sure.
A thought struck her, and she felt as though she understood Ino's intention. Wasn't this script talking about her?
Ino said meaningfully, "Right? Overcoming timidity, overcoming yourself. The character in the play can do it; I think you can too!"
Hinata hesitated. At her age, she did have some yearning for movie stardom, playing another life in a movie?
Ino encouraged her. "The actress playing the female lead will be here soon. You can try reading a scene with her. Just perform normally, there's no pressure. Will you just give it a try? Give yourself a chance?"
Hinata didn't know the saying "try and you'll die." Her eyes were unfocused, seemingly thinking, or perhaps just spacing out.
Just as Ino was urging her, an assistant suddenly came running towards her frantically.
"Ninja-sama, Ninja... Ninja-sama, something's happened! Something big has happened!"
The assistant was panting. "Mr. Santa Fū was... was... was attacked by a ninja from your village! Please go and see quickly!"
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