Chapter 16: Asama Santayū

After a while, fifty kilometers northwest of Konoha, Naruto was walking briskly along a country road with a pack slung over his shoulder.

The road was flanked by dense forests, the trees lush and vibrant, wildflowers spilling from the underbrush in riotous colors.

Naruto whistled as he walked, the tune drifting gently on the breeze that passed him by.

"Don't try to live so wise, don't cry 'cause you're so right~"

"Hmm?"

Kurama, who had been dozing lazily in the seal space, suddenly opened one eye.

"What's that song called?"

"'Wind.'"

Naruto raised a hand and brushed his fingertips against the passing breeze, a soft smile on his face.

Strictly speaking, Wind was just a translated title. Its original name was still Wind the ending theme of the very first episode of Naruto.

Given that this world was loosely based on Japan, its culture was a jumbled mess: pseudo-kanji calligraphy scrawled everywhere, random bursts of English with terrible pronunciation, and more.

Naruto had even asked Ino about it once. The girl had chirped something about the writing being ancient and the English supposedly a dialect from the Land of Lightning popular because it sounded trendy.

Seriously, what kind of absurd lore was that?

"This song... it suits you," Kurama said after a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in amusement. "Since you like singing so much, why not learn to play an instrument? Become a wandering bard or something."

"Great idea!"

Naruto's eyes lit up. His biggest regret was never having learned to play any instruments. Every time he camped out with fellow travelers, the mood would be perfect but he always felt like something was missing. Like a eunuch visiting a brothel tragic and pointless.

He had bought a guitar once, but after a couple of days of practice, it ended up gathering dust in a corner of his room.

Naruto had never been a particularly patient person. But now that he had Shadow Clones, a three-day crash course wasn't out of the question.

Honestly, Shadow Clones were the ultimate cheat code in this world. If the original manga had realized that earlier, the first Valley of the End battle would've ended with Sasuke getting his limbs broken and dragged back to the village.

"Alright, small goal: I'll learn ten instruments within a year!"

Motivated for once perhaps because he was finally free of Konoha's suffocating grip Naruto walked with newfound energy.

Kurama splashed a bucket of cold water over his enthusiasm.

"I bet you'll burn out in three days."

"You're right. Let's knock a zero off."

Naruto sobered instantly.

"One instrument will do."

"…"

Kurama felt a chill about his future. He was genuinely worried that if they ever encountered danger, this idiot would propose just giving up because running away was too much effort.

"By the way, are you really okay just walking away like this? That Ino girl might be heartbroken when she finds out you're gone."

"It's fine."

Naruto gazed up at the sky, voice light.

"If it's meant to be, we'll meet again…"

"But when you meet again, who's to say if you'll be friends or enemies?"

Kurama snorted.

"Maybe she's already training hard to take you down for breaking her heart."

"She's free to try."

Naruto didn't seem bothered. He had his reasons for leaving without saying goodbye. And knowing Ino's personality, she wouldn't sulk over something like this.

"So where are we headed, anyway? Do you even know the way?"

"How could I?" Kurama grumbled. "Konoha was founded just a few years before I got sealed away!"

Naruto glanced up at the sun. Judging by its position, they were heading northwest.

Whatever. He'd just let fate guide him.

A traveler with no destination never loses his way.

"Even the sorrow of that day, even the pain of that day 

I loved them all," he sang softly.

"Along with you, they remain in my heart,

the bitter scent of lemon that won't fade…"

Naruto was humming Lemon by Kenshi Yonezu as he leisurely approached a fork in the road. Just up ahead, two passing carriages came to a sudden halt in front of him.

With a shff 

The curtain of the front carriage window was pulled back, and a man with round glasses and a small braided ponytail poked his head out.

"Yo, little brother!"

The moment he laid eyes on Naruto, a flash of intrigue sparkled in his eyes.

"Tell me what's the name of that song you were singing just now?"

"'Lemon.'"

Naruto replied casually. He wasn't trying to show off in English Lemon sounded pretty much the same in Japanese and English anyway, just different intonation.

"Lemon…"

The man looked surprised.

"And may I ask who the original artist is?"

"Me."

Naruto didn't even blink.

Let's be real plenty of transmigrators had done this. Some wrote Machiavellian treatises, some plagiarized the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and others didn't even spare Alan Walker.

He, Naruto Uzumaki, was at least the protagonist. Stealing a few songs? Totally fair game.

"Well, well. Isn't that something…"

The man's face broke into an exaggerated look of wonder.

"So, young man, where are you from? What about your parents?"

Naruto tugged at the pack slung over his shoulder.

"I'm an orphan. I go wherever the road takes me."

"An orphan…"

The man gave a soft sigh. He looked at Naruto's delicate features, a hint of excitement flickering in his expression.

"In that case, how would you like to come with me? Don't worry, I'm not some shady guy."

He pulled out a business card and handed it over.

"Allow me to introduce myself Asama Santayū. I'm a talent agent."

Asama leaned closer, voice coaxing.

"Not gonna lie, kid you've got star quality. With the right training, I bet you'd become a sensation across all Five Great Nations."

"Asama Santayū… hmm"

Naruto instinctively tried translating the name into Chinese. It took him a second to place it.

Wait a minute wasn't this the same guy from the Land of Snow movie? The talent manager?

"Heh, you do seem like you've got the makings of a professional pretty boy," Kurama snorted.

"You've barely left the village and already someone's trying to 'scout' you. Wanna give it a shot?"

"Sure."

Naruto nodded toward Santayū.

Back in the seal, Kurama shot upright in shock.

"Oi, you're seriously saying yes?"

"Why not? I've got nowhere else to be."

Naruto shrugged.

"Being a celebrity sounds way better than struggling to hunt for food. Plus, if my name gets out there, he might just come find me on his own."

"Whatever," Kurama huffed, flopping back down.

This kid was definitely going to get bored in three days, tops.

Naruto tilted his head slightly, grinning.

"Hey, you wanna come too?"

"Scram! Are you stupid?! I'm not doing that!"

Kurama roared, thoroughly offended.

Did this brat even hear what he just said?

He, Kurama the Nine-Tails. The very embodiment of hatred, feared by generations of shinobi. Accompany Naruto Uzumaki on a showbiz journey?

He could already see the headlines.

Every time they got into a fight, the enemy would ask:

"Wait... do all entertainers fight like this now?"

How the hell was he supposed to respond?

"Oh yeah, back in the day I provided backup for Madara Uchiha's interpretive dance routine"?

What kind of lunacy was that?!

Absolutely not!

Kurama's dignity couldn't take it.

Let the record show he would rather be mind-controlled by a Sharingan or sealed for ten thousand years than stoop so low.

No way in hell!

Meanwhile, on the outside, Asama Santayū's eyes lit up at Naruto's answer.

"Fantastic! That's really wonderful! Oh, by the way, I didn't catch your name."

Naruto looked up, cerulean eyes gleaming under the sun.

"Uzumaki Naruto. Pleased to meet you."