CH - 152 Obito's Audition!

It wasn't until she stepped out of the meeting room that Nono found herself somewhat bewildered. if her true identity had been discovered or not. As she examined the employment offer notice in her hand and glanced back at the Grass Village leader's office, questions swirled in her mind.

Had she been discovered or not? Pondering over the 'Talent Recruitment Plan' documents, she couldn't shake the feeling that there might be a discrepancy in the information. Perhaps the Grass ninja who had spotted her intended to pass the document to her, but something happened, and he couldn't deliver her information. Could it be that the village had no idea that she was the supposed 'talent' who handed over this 'talent plan' document?

Simultaneously, she considered the possibility that the Grass Village leader had accidentally obtained the 'Talent Plan' document. Did he believe she was just one of the normal candidates, selected in an ordinary manner? Such identity confusion situations were common tactics in the world of espionage, albeit usually intentional. In this case, she seemed to have benefitted from a stroke of luck. 

However, Nono knew that this cover wouldn't hold up for long. After all, she had infiltrated the ranks of the Grass Village, led by the formidable Grass Village Leader, renowned for his intelligence and excellent information-gathering abilities. If he decided to investigate, her true identity would eventually be revealed.

Therefore, Considering the circumstances, she knew that she had to work diligently to gain the village's trust, seamlessly blend in, and, most importantly, find a way to transmit her information of successful infiltration back to Danzo-sama.

A gentle smile graced Nono's face as she pushed up her glasses and murmured to herself, "The next step is to work hard and gain trust."

…

Meanwhile, Akihiko glanced at the towering stack of documents on his desk, nearly overwhelming the entire surface. He indulged in a lazy stretch and mumbled to himself, "The workload should ease up now."

The aftermath of the war had kept him busier than ever, with paperwork accumulating significantly. However, as autumn settled in and the year approached its end, Akihiko anticipated a reprieve. The Grass Village was on the verge of releasing its new movie. Therefore, preparations for the new movie should also be nearing completion.

Speaking of which, Considering the recent misunderstandings stemming from the war, the relationships between the Five Great Ninja Villages and the Grass Village were strained. 

Therefore, There were uncertainties about the maintenance of the original distribution lines for the film. If disrupted, negotiations with the daimyos of various countries would become necessary. After all, When it came to matters outside the ninja villages, the influence of daimyos far surpassed that of the Ninja Village Leaders.

Akihiko cast one more glance at the documents on his desk and determined, "It's time to start preparing for the shoot."

…

A few days later, the clear and brisk autumn weather persisted in the Land of Grass. The crisp air carried a slight chill, but Obito had managed to adapt to his new life in the village.

Despite the lingering annoyance at how that 'scam leader'...Grass Village leader had swindled him out of 30,000 Ryo and saddled him with a mountain of homework, he couldn't deny the other benefits. Shelter, meals, and even school uniforms were provided to him and Rin. While the vivid green color of their uniforms might remind him of someone like Might Guy, they were comfortable.

Lost in thought, Obito's eyes were drawn to a sign promoting 'Grass Ninja Milk.' The advertisement boasted about the quality of the milk, emphasizing that the cows were fed with high-quality grass and trained by elite taijutsu ninjas, ensuring the production of natural and pure milk from the ninja world. The image featured a red-haired teenager confidently holding a glass of milk, with the slogan declaring, "Smarter than you! Stronger than you!"

Obito's mouth twitched involuntarily. He quickly averted his gaze from the advertisement, placed his hands in his pockets, and continued walking.

Not to mention, it felt like someone was targeting him and indirectly calling him an idiot. Even if he found it amusing, buying 'Grass Ninja Milk' was far from his mind, considering his current financial situation. As a student in the village, he couldn't undertake missions for income, and there was no financial support from his clan here. Consequently, he had been penniless for days.

While there weren't many immediate needs for spending money, Obito had a desire to take Rin out for a romantic evening meal. Additionally, he had promised to treat Zetsu, who had been taking care of him. However, without any income, these plans seemed unattainable.

Moreover, an important matter weighed on his mind – visiting Madara-sensei during the New Year. But how could he go empty-handed? He envisioned bringing some dango sticks as a gift. The challenge, however, was obtaining the necessary funds. Obito was perplexed and hesitant to resort to methods like garbage collection, like Zetsu. Thus, he found himself at a crossroads, uncertain about the best course of action.

Recalling the recent visit from Zetsu, who had advised him to study hard, Obito couldn't help but sigh. The idea of joining Zetsu in collecting garbage seemed disheartening, and he was afraid Madara-sensei would be disappointed in him if he took such a path.

Moreover, during this time, he found himself bombarded with homework and special attention from the teacher. The teacher, in particular, stayed with him after school every day, to tutor him. This puzzled him, was it possible that Madara-sensei specifically requested this focus on him? But Obito couldn't comprehend the reasoning behind it, considering he was already quite skilled. What was the point of such intense studying?

Deciding to take advantage of the day off, even though he was aware of pending assignments, Obito sighed and observed the peaceful day in the Land of Grass.

At that moment, Obito's attention was captured by a sign promoting the "Grass Studio's New Film Auditions." The sign boldly encouraged, stating, "If you're confident in your acting skills, what are you waiting for? Come and give it a try, showcase your talent to the audience. We will be waiting for you!"

Obito's interest sparked instantly. Recalling the popularity of Grass Village films from a few years ago, particularly the one titled 'Three Sannin in Kusagakure,' he remembered how his entire team had enjoyed it. Even Minato-sensei couldn't help but complain, "Is Jiraiya-sensei not afraid of getting killed by Tsunade-sama?"

However, The cinema industry had taken a hit due to the war, but now, it seemed that Grass Village was reviving film productions, sparking Obito's curiosity.

Obito found himself bubbling with excitement at the prospect of a potential movie role. While looking at the sign, he absentmindedly touched his face, the one visible eye, and mumbled, "Except for the missing eye, I am quite handsome."

Entertaining the idea, he thought it might be worth a shot. Imagining himself taking Rin to the premiere and surprising her when he appeared on the big screen, Obito considered this as a chance to earn some money without having to seek assistance from Zetsu.

However, the memory of that tricky Grass Village leader crossed his mind, and he couldn't help but wonder if someone like him would be involved in such activities. 'Let's just hope he isn't,' thought Obito.

With enthusiasm driving him, he made his way toward the Grass Studio. The cinema wasn't far, and in no time, he arrived. The long line of people waiting outside the studio, spurred by the advertisements, was already there. Without hesitation, Obito joined the queue, eager anticipation growing as he muttered to himself, "I wonder what kind of movie this will be."

Obito's mind briefly wandered back to Konoha and his friends, contemplating how Kakashi might react upon seeing him in the movie. However, he swiftly snapped out of it, scolding himself, "I've defected from the village. Why am I thinking about this now? I should focus on earning money."

With determination, Obito raised his hand, mentally outlining his goals: "Take Rin to a movie, treat Zetsu to dinner, and then buy some dango for Madara-sensei." That was his immediate focus.

After a couple of hours of waiting, it was finally Obito's turn. As he heard the gentle voice calling "Next," he took a deep breath and entered the room with resolve. However, as he was about to introduce himself, he suddenly went pale, locking eyes with a familiar figure who was smiling at him. Horror contorted his face, and he hastily bowed before the person, uttering, "I'm sorry for the intrusion, I've come to the wrong place!"

Inwardly, he was screaming, wondering why this bastard was here.