Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Seeing a Familiar Face
As Princess Return wrapped up, our merchandise dropped, and viewer numbers soared. It was finally time to shift gears and dive into filming The Concealed Weapons. The excitement was palpable; this was the project I had been yearning to explore, a story that hit close to home and reflected my own struggles.
Everything was going smoothly until one of my staff members made a spectacularly poor choice: they hired protective services from Konoha. And to make matters worse, they had brought in Kakashi Hatake and his team—Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Sai—of all people—to be my bodyguards. Just great.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the irony of it all. Kakashi? Really? Over the years, I had worked hard to conceal my identity, and the last thing I needed was my past creeping back into my life.
“Relax, Hana. No one can recognize you. Besides, I bet Konoha has long forgotten about you…” I thought to myself, forcing a smile as I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I looked vastly different from the boy I once was. My hair was now long and styled, a deep shade of red that cascaded down my back, and my clothing choices had evolved into something that screamed femme fatale. I wore form-fitting clothes that accentuated my figure, a far cry from the baggy eyesore that was the orange jumpsuit of my childhood. My scent had changed too; gone was the hint of the dirty earth smell that I used to wear, replaced by the floral notes of my signature perfume. I also carried a sword concealed inside a scroll on my hip. If needed, I could use chakra chains. I never neglected my training in case I was attacked.
Picking up the camera, I positioned it carefully. The world of Naruto had no idea what the basic camera positions were; that’s why my movies were famous. The way I panned and moved was special. I did most of the camera work and filming on my own. As I adjusted the angle, I felt a familiar presence behind me. Stepping back, I moved around and looked at the actors. “Go to your positions,” I instructed my voice steady despite the rising anxiety in my chest.
I didn’t need to look to know it was Kakashi and his team. As I turned, I caught a glimpse of Sakura, who was practically fangirling over me. She had always been a fan of the arts, but I wondered how she would react if she knew I was the annoying deadbeat Naruto she once knew. But I would never tell them; Naruto was dead. I was Hana Kagame now.
“WOW THIS IS SO COOL!” Sakura squealed, her eyes wide with admiration.
I hissed, “BE QUIET BACK THERE!” Sakura immediately shut her mouth, looking slightly taken aback.
“Okay, everyone!” I shouted, bringing my attention back to the cast and crew. “No, no, no! Redo the scene! I need more intensity from the actors. The emotion is key here!”
Sasuke leaned against a nearby wall, arms crossed, his usual stoic expression masking any curiosity he might have felt, but his eyes were watching every move I made. Sai was scribbling something in his sketchbook, seemingly indifferent, while Kakashi stood off to the side, observing with that same lazy head tilt. Since his mouth was concealed with a mask, I couldn’t tell whether he was smiling or scowling at me.
“Alright, take two!” I called, taking my position behind the camera. “And action!”
The scene unfolded again, the young actors channeling their characters’ struggles and triumphs. I watched closely, ready to step in if necessary. The lead actor poured his heart into the performance, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he faced his friend and explained his struggles. The way he portrayed his character’s turmoil struck a chord within me, reminding me of my own journey.
As the scene progressed, I felt my pulse quicken. The stakes were high, and I wanted this film to resonate with those who watched it. I knew the importance of representing our struggles on screen; it was the reason I had dedicated myself to this path.
“Cut!” I shouted once more, adrenaline coursing through me. “That was so much better! But we need to push it just a little further. I want to feel that raw pain!”
Kakashi stepped forward, an amused glint in his eye. “You certainly know how to get results, don’t you?” he said, his tone light but with an edge of genuine admiration.
“I SAID SHUT IT! What would a shinobi know? Luckily, it’s just for today...” I replied, trying to maintain my composure. After all, they were booked for one day. I twisted the camera’s telescope, zooming in on the actors.
After several more takes, the crew began to tire, but I wasn’t satisfied yet. I had to make sure this scene was perfect. “Alright, let’s do it one last time,” I called, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. “This is our chance to make something truly special.”
The child actors, both in tears, stared at each other. One exclaimed, “Mao, this can’t be true... I swear someone in that village must care for you!” The other kid, with a monotone voice and a deadly gaze, cursed, “YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I GO THROUGH! The hunts, the pain, the glares, the hatred... I NEVER FELT LOVED ONCE! I don’t have anyone who cares for me.”
“Cut!” I yelled, satisfied. “Nice! Next scene, then we’re done for today.”
As the day came to a close, I felt a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. We had captured some truly magical moments on film, but the presence of Kakashi and his team loomed over me, a constant reminder of my former life.
I packed up my gear, feeling the weight of my dual existence pressing down on me. Would I ever be able to fully escape the past? I shook my head, determined to push those thoughts aside. As I left the set, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a complicated web of connections. Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura were all part of a world I had fought hard to leave behind.
But this was my life now. I had to embrace it, no matter how many familiar faces I encountered along the way.
As I made my way to my room, I felt someone watching me. I stopped and jumped back, dodging a thrown kunai that whizzed past me. My attackers revealed themselves: a group of rogue ninjas with no affiliation I recognized.
Taking out my sword, I sighed. I had gotten used to being attacked; jealousy over my success often brought random hits my way. Stretching my shoulder, I recalled the countless times I had fought to defend my craft. Quickly, I channeled wind chakra, sending a gust that knocked one of the ninjas back when suddenly Kakashi appeared out of nowhere, putting the bastard down with a single swift move.
Sasuke teleported, taking out the other assailants with his usual precision. The fight was over before it began, leaving me breathless.
Kakashi turned to me, his expression unreadable beneath his mask. “You handled yourself well—too well. Are you a samurai?” he asked, with a look of surprise evident in his tone, as if he was shocked to see me fight.
“None of your business, shinobi...” I muttered, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through me. “I’m used to these attacks anyway. Don’t come back tomorrow.”
The next day in a new location, I was glad that Kakashi and his team didn’t follow.