Chapter 388

"That's not true. Yoichi is just easy to talk to. Even without me, you could have convinced him, Sakura," Ino said hurriedly, trying to change the subject. "By the way, Sakura, since I haven't received any mission orders, does that mean I'm staying in the village?"

"Yes, guarding the village is also very important. There's a chance Kara might attempt to infiltrate Konoha for information. Besides, another Ino-Shika-Cho team has been assigned, and Shikamaru won't be going either," Sakura explained.

Hearing this, Ino nodded. She was aware of the village's decisions and had no objections.

"Are you going?" Ino asked.

"I was supposed to, but with these medicines, the village will likely make a more calculated decision," Sakura said with a sigh. She wanted to accompany the team, especially to help Sasuke recover if he was injured. However, she knew it wasn't the time for her personal wishes; the village's strategy took precedence.

Suddenly, Sakura changed the topic. "Wait a moment, Ino. Why do I feel like your relationship with Yoichi-kun is unusually close? Is it just my imagination?"

"Of course, it's your imagination, Sakura!" Ino replied firmly, clapping her hands to end the conversation. "Anyway, I just realized I need to prepare dinner. I'm running low on groceries. Since we've already secured the medicine, I'll head off now."

Without waiting for a response, Ino quickly turned and walked down another road, disappearing from sight within moments.

Watching her leave, Sakura sighed. "That fool... It's only 3 PM. Who starts preparing dinner now? And the supermarket is the other way."

Sakura was now convinced that Ino and Yoichi had a special relationship, likely the reason for Ino's separation from Sai. However, she chose not to dwell on it, believing it was Ino's decision to make. Between Sai and Yoichi, Sakura found herself leaning toward supporting Ino.

With that thought, Sakura headed to the Hokage's office.

Naruto and Shikamaru were visibly surprised when Sakura delivered the medicines.

"I can't believe it went this smoothly," Naruto said, inspecting the numerous bottles of high-grade medicines.

"Neither can I," Shikamaru added. "Especially with so many Grade 4 and 5 medicines. If what Yoichi said is true, combining some of these could even double the Five Kage's strength."

The three discussed how to distribute the medicines. The Grade 4 and 5 medicines were prioritized for the Five Kage and Sasuke, as they would be the main force against the Ten-Tails and Kara. The remaining medicines would be distributed among other ninja.

Unbeknownst to them, Yoichi was already aware of their discussion. Naruto's phone had been discreetly transmitting their conversation to him.

"The only thing left is Kara's Ten-Tails... and the Ōtsutsuki clone is nearly ready," Yoichi mused.

He was already reaping significant rewards in this timeline, including two Chakra Fruits. Once he returned to his original timeline, he planned to seize Kara's Ten-Tails there as well.

For the Ōtsutsuki, each Chakra Fruit was an opportunity to evolve further. Yoichi, who had already ascended to the Ōtsutsuki's level of existence, now surpassed them in power.

"All that's left is to wait."

Yoichi's only task now was to wait for the Five Great Shinobi Villages to act. Once they ventured into Isshiki's alternate dimension, his Kamui clone would seize the Ten-Tails, completing his plans. Afterward, he could finally relax in this timeline.

"Thank you for your hard work today, Hinata-san! Your performance was excellent!"

Director Wada praised Hinata as the filming wrapped up for the day. This session was normal and devoid of any questionable content.

Several days had passed since the last incident. Though Hinata still blushed uncomfortably when seeing Yoichi, she had been doing her best to act as if nothing had happened.

"The ratings have increased by another 2%, reaching nearly 70%. We're now officially the 'Shinobi World's Number One.' All we need to do is maintain this momentum. Oh, by the way, Hinata-san, your fan mail has piled up—three full boxes! I've had them sent to your home."

"Th-three boxes? That many?" Hinata was startled by the sheer amount.

"Of course! You don't realize how popular you are, Hinata-san. If the filming locations weren't secret, or if you participated in interviews and events, your fans would be swarming Konoha by now."

After a round of praise, Director Wada turned to serious matters. "By the way, the scene we failed to shoot last time needs to be reshot soon. While we might salvage some of it for the final cut, this drama needs to be perfect. With a 70% viewership, we're essentially performing for the entire Shinobi World. We can't let them down."

"Eh? Ehh?"

Hinata panicked, her voice rising in alarm. "Director, does it really have to be reshot? Can't we skip it?"

"Absolutely not, Hinata-san. We're no longer filming this drama for money—it's a matter of responsibility!"

Wada's expression turned solemn. "With so many people watching, we can't afford to disappoint them. If we were to cut corners, we'd face their collective wrath. This is the expectation of millions!"

"But..."

Hinata grew anxious, recalling the previous filming session that had led to her entanglement with Yoichi.

"If you refuse, Hinata-san, you might find thousands of fans descending on Konoha. It's something to consider carefully."

Realizing the potential chaos, especially with Naruto about to embark on a critical mission, Hinata reluctantly agreed to continue filming.

After leaving the set, Hinata caught up to Yoichi.

"Yoichi-san, please wait."

He turned back with a calm smile. "Yes, Hinata-san? Is something wrong?"

"The next filming session... about last time..."

Hinata's face turned crimson as she struggled to speak. Though her shyness had improved since marrying Naruto, the memory of her previous encounter with Yoichi made her unable to speak calmly.

"Last time's incident must never happen again, Yoichi-san. Never!"

Her tone was resolute, and her expression reflected her unwavering loyalty to her family. "Even if I have to quit acting, I won't allow the same mistake to happen again!"

"I understand, Hinata-san. Please rest assured," Yoichi replied before turning to leave.

However, as he walked away, he couldn't help but smile to himself. Hinata-san, you truly are fascinating.

(End of Chapter)

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