Chapter 374

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"Great, great! Fantastic work, Hinata-san! You were fully immersed this time—much better than the previous takes!"

Director Wada praised Hinata without restraint, causing her face to flush red. She shyly accepted the compliments, occasionally murmuring, "It's nothing… It's all thanks to your guidance, Director-san."

After finishing his words of encouragement, Director Wada returned to the camera to review the footage.

Once he was gone, Hinata turned to Yoichi with a slightly serious expression. "Yoichi-san, earlier… the scene only required a kiss, so why… why did you use your tongue? That's too much!"

"Ah? But Hinata-san, didn't you already approve it before? And we've done it a few times already, and you said it was fine. Why the sudden change?" Yoichi replied with a feigned look of confusion, his expression perfectly mimicking disbelief.

Though Hinata had switched with Hanabi for the earlier takes, Yoichi was confident Hinata wouldn't confront Hanabi about such a private matter.

"E-Eh? Was it me earlier?"

Hinata's face reddened as she quickly recalled Hanabi stepping in to film the kissing scene. Perhaps Yoichi's comments referred to Hanabi instead.

Thinking about how much Hanabi enjoyed acting, Hinata found herself believing Yoichi's words. If it were true, then perhaps she couldn't blame him.

"I apologize, Yoichi-san. I forgot… but could you please avoid doing that in future scenes? Using the tongue is… too inappropriate," Hinata said awkwardly. She felt deeply uncomfortable acting so intimately with another man—especially as Naruto's wife.

"I have no problem with that," Yoichi replied casually. "But you might want to speak with the director. If we keep reshooting, it'll only delay things, and the director might decide to replace me entirely. That would be troublesome for everyone."

Hinata froze at his words, anxiety rising in her chest. She didn't want to inconvenience the entire production because of her discomfort. If Yoichi withdrew from the project, it would undoubtedly be her fault.

"I… I'll think about it," Hinata replied softly, her pale fingers clutching each other nervously.

Shortly after, Director Wada approached them. "Hinata-san, Yoichi-san, the last take was great, but could we shoot a couple more? I think Hinata-san might find a breakthrough in her performance that could elevate the entire drama!"

"E-Eh? But…"

"Please, Hinata-san. We're nearing the end of the production," Wada said earnestly.

Hinata's face reddened again as she hesitantly agreed. In her mind, she clung to Hanabi's earlier suggestion—she could always claim that Hanabi used the Transformation Jutsu for the scene.

Once the cameras were set up again, Yoichi found himself savoring Hinata's lips once more. There was a faint citrusy sweetness, likely from candy she had eaten before the shoot. Her lips were soft, delicate, and shyly retreating as if playing a game of hide-and-seek.

Just as Hinata felt herself running out of breath, the director finally shouted, "Cut!" She instinctively pushed Yoichi away, her face crimson as she gasped for air.

"Y-Yoichi-san, it's over!" Hinata exclaimed, wiping the corner of her lips, too flustered to meet his gaze.

"My apologies, Hinata-san. I got too immersed in the scene. For a moment, it felt so real—didn't you feel the same?" Yoichi said, feigning embarrassment.

"Maybe… just a little," Hinata admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She had focused so intensely on completing the scene that she hadn't realized how real it felt until now.

"Perfect! You two were fantastic!" Wada exclaimed as he approached. "This drama is going to be a hit!"

After wrapping up the filming, Wada offered to treat the cast to a celebratory meal. Hinata politely declined. "Thank you, Director-san, but I have to head home to take care of my family."

Wada nodded. "That's understandable. We'll handle the screenings and payments later—our staff will reach out to you."

Hinata bowed slightly. "Thank you for everything, Director-san."

As she left, Yoichi also bid farewell. His confidence in the drama's success was unwavering—it was bound to make Hinata a household name in the ninja world. With her newfound fame, he anticipated she would be drawn back to acting, eventually crossing lines she hadn't even considered yet.

At Konoha Hospital

"Sakura? What are you doing here?" Temari asked, surprised to see her friend as she exited the hospital with a medical report in hand.

"I could ask you the same thing," Sakura replied with a smile. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Not at all," Temari said, hesitating before finally admitting, "I'm pregnant. I just came to confirm it."

"Pregnant? Really?" Sakura exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she glanced at the report. "That's wonderful news! Shikamaru must be thrilled."

Temari blushed slightly. "He is… but there's a lot on his mind with everything going on."

"Well, make sure to take care of yourself, especially in the first trimester. Avoid… you know, that kind of thing," Sakura advised with a knowing look.

Temari's blush deepened as she leaned in closer. "Sakura, does it really affect the baby?" she whispered.

"Of course. It's not good for the baby during the first three months. Shikamaru should know this—he asked plenty of questions about pregnancy the last time," Sakura replied with certainty.

Temari recalled the intense sessions she'd endured and couldn't help but feel both worried and… something else. However, she quickly reassured herself that her "partner" was skilled enough to ensure her well-being.

"Thank you, Sakura. I'll be careful," Temari said with a nod.

"It's no problem," Sakura said warmly. "You know, you and Hinata are so lucky. You're expecting, and Hinata's becoming a star. I wish I had your luck."

Sakura's voice carried a hint of envy. The whole village was abuzz with news of Hinata's upcoming drama, thanks to Wada's frequent promotions on television. As for Sakura, her own family felt incomplete.

Despite her longing for more children to rebuild the Uchiha clan, Sasuke's fleeting visits and absence left her feeling isolated. She had even hidden Sasuke's recent return from Sarada, knowing it would only cause more heartache.

(End of Chapter)

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