The Villainous Rebirth of an Anime Heroine | naruto

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"It's me!"

"Pick me!"

"Me!!"

With a loud bang, two foreheads crashed into each other as sparks flew between their eyes. But just then, a cold voice came from behind them—

"Ino, Sakura—what are you two doing here?"

The unexpected interruption made the two arguing girls turn around in shock. The moment they saw the signature white eyes of the person speaking, both of them froze.

"Hinata?! You too... don't tell me, you're also after Sasuke-kun?!"

As the two love-struck girls asked in perfect sync, Hinata's lips twitched slightly. But the next second, a strange smile appeared in her eyes.

Oh~ This is perfect. I need more people in the cast anyway. And these two... seem just right!

"Don't get the wrong idea~! I'm not interested in that emotionless guy. I'm here to collect a debt!"

With her hands in her pockets, Hinata dropped her usual soft tone and instead took on the cold attitude of a debt collector.

"Sasuke owes me about 400,000 ryō, and he still hasn't paid me back! I came today to get my money!"

"F-Four hundred thousand ryō?!"

Ino and Sakura were completely stunned by the number. Even for adults, that was an insane amount of money, let alone for students like them. Their minds immediately filled with worst-case scenarios—crushing debt leading to despair, Sasuke forced into exile, or even being kicked out of his home to wander the streets...

"Wait a second! How could you have that much money to lend Sasuke in the first place?! You're just a student like us!"

Shaken by her own mental image of Sasuke being driven to desperation, Sakura forced herself to calm down and pointed a finger at Hinata.

"Did you trick Sasuke-kun into this?!"

"Sakura~ You better watch your mouth. I'm the heiress of the Hyūga clan. Someone like you wouldn't understand, would you?"

Hinata casually blew on her nails, looking completely unbothered. She had to admit, the Hyūga name was pretty useful in situations like this.

"W-What does the Hyūga clan have to do with—Mmmph!!"

Sakura was about to argue, but before she could finish, Ino quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

With a nervous smile and slightly pale face, Ino hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"Ahaha~ Hinata, don't take Sakura too seriously! She just cares about Sasuke too much... She didn't mean anything by it!"

"No worries. But Sasuke probably won't be able to pay me back anytime soon. I have no idea what he even did with that money... But if he can't return it, I'll have no choice but to call the Konoha Detention Unit and have him locked up for a few days."

Hinata folded her arms and carefully observed their reactions.

Of course, Konoha did have a Detention Unit—it handled disputes and punishments. And if someone owed an enormous debt like Sasuke's, they could be jailed and forced into labor to pay it off.

"Eh? But... Hinata, he's our classmate. Isn't that a bit too—"

Ino's understanding of the village was better than Sakura's, so she knew the Hyūga's influence was no joke. She hesitated, her voice uncertain. Unlike Sakura, she had never really interacted with Hinata before. But now that the normally soft-spoken girl was acting like a full-on debt collector, Ino felt completely out of her depth.

"I... I have some savings! I can give you what I have—it's only about 2,000 ryō, but please, don't take Sasuke-kun away yet! I'll find a way to help him!"

Sakura finally caved, stammering out her plea.

Ino looked at her, conflicted, before sighing and stepping forward.

"I... I have about 3,000 ryō saved up. Hinata, can't you give us some time?"

"Hmm... That's a tough one."

Hinata twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers, pretending to think.

"Even if we are classmates, 5,000 ryō is nowhere near 400,000... And it's not like you two can make that much money on your own, right?"

She gave them a slow, knowing smile before dropping her next line—

"But~ If you really like Sasuke, and you're willing to do whatever it takes to help him... I do have a way for you to make money fast. And if you work for me, I won't turn Sasuke over to the Detention Unit—at least until the debt is paid off."

There was no doubt in Ino and Sakura's minds—this situation felt dangerous.

This girl, who they had always thought of as quiet and harmless, was suddenly like a completely different person. There was no way the job she was offering was anything normal.

"Alright... I-I'll do it."

But even as fear made her body tremble, Sakura bit her lip and forced herself to speak.

"Sakura?!"

Ino looked at her, clearly shaken. But when she saw the determination in her friend's eyes, she hesitated, then sighed.

"Fine... I'll do it too."

"Great~ With both of you working together, the debt will be repaid much faster!"

Hinata smiled slightly. She figured she could take full advantage of these two real actresses now.

"Alright, let's go~ We have a lot to do today."

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"First, I have a rule for you both—you must use the Transformation Jutsu as a disguise. Here are some soldier pills. You need to maintain the transformation for at least two hours. Second, no matter what you see later, you are not allowed to question it or act on your own. Understood?"

Without looking back, Hinata spoke sternly to Sakura and Ino behind her. Meanwhile, she frowned as she studied the script in her hands. Not bad. Even though Tales of the Fox was basically a knockoff of The Legend of the White Snake, she still planned to make some changes.

For example, replacing that weak and useless scholar character with a carefree, flirtatious nobleman. After all, Sasuke had played a playboy-type character in the movie version before—dressing him up that way would at least make things 15% less of a hassle.

"Transformation Jutsu? That's fine... We don't want to be recognized either."

Muttering slightly in frustration, Sakura and Ino didn't mind this requirement. Female shinobi naturally had better chakra control than males. In terms of ninjutsu, this translated to a 40% increase in sustained jutsu duration.

"Good. Now take a look at this script. You two will be playing a noble lady and her maid. Ino, you have the more refined demeanor, so you'll be the noble lady. Sakura, you'll play the maid. Get familiar with your roles."

Hinata tossed the script to Ino and activated her Byakugan to check on the Uchiha household. Good, both Sasuke and Naruto were there. At least they had enough sense as actors to wait at the scheduled time.

Soon, the three girls walked through the deserted Uchiha district and arrived outside Sasuke's house. The courtyard gate was left open, and leaning against a pillar was Sasuke, arms crossed, eyes closed, striking the perfect cool-guy pose. The moment he heard Hinata's footsteps, he turned his head away with an arrogant hmph!—a pose that fit every schoolgirl's idea of a dreamboat.

Immediately, Hinata could feel the temperature behind her rise several degrees. She didn't even need to look to know that Sakura and Ino's hearts had just burst into flames.

"You're late, Hinata~"

But right next to the cool-looking Sasuke, crouching like a grumpy toad, was Naruto. And just like that, all the romantic feelings Sakura and Ino had were doused with a bucket of cold water.

"Enough nonsense. Looks like you two managed to hold out. Hm?"

Hinata's gaze flickered over Sasuke and Naruto. One was acting cool, the other was acting dumb, but neither could hide their sense of accomplishment. Still, Sasuke had bandages wrapped around his arms and legs, and Naruto had a bandage on his cheek. Clearly, their training had been rough.

"Hmph~ I could already endure 500 volts of electricity by the day before yesterday. Didn't think you'd take this long."

Sasuke smirked slightly. The pride in his tone and expression was obvious.

"Tch~ Show-off Sasuke~ I crossed the waterfall the day before yesterday too! What's there to be so proud of?!"

Naruto pouted and immediately tried to knock Sasuke down a peg. Meanwhile, Hinata's forehead twitched, and an indescribable irritation bubbled up in her chest.

Wait... she had only barely finished her Blazing Fist training yesterday afternoon. And these two had already completed their own training the day before?!

"Hm? Who are these two ladies?"

Naruto finally noticed Sakura and Ino standing behind Hinata. Both of them had already used the Transformation Jutsu, appearing as elegant young women around 17 or 18 years old—completely unrecognizable to outsiders.

"Supporting actresses. One is playing Sasuke-kun's fiancée, and the other is her maid. They're just women working in Konoha temporarily, so don't worry about it."

Hinata said this casually, without hesitation.

But to Sakura and Ino, it felt like a bolt of lightning striking their brains.

Fiancée of Sasuke-kun?! This must be a dream!

No way! How can that pig Ino be Sasuke-kun's fiancée?! I won't accept this~!

"They'll cooperate completely. No unexpected actions. So, Sasuke-kun, don't be too cold to them, alright?"

Hinata's casual but firm words snapped Ino and Sakura out of their love-struck daze. That's right—this wasn't the time to fight over who got to play the female lead. The most important thing right now was making sure Sasuke could pay off his debts.

"Hmph... I'll try my best..."

Sasuke sighed at the mention of filming. He wasn't exactly thrilled about this, but there was no way he could refuse Hinata right now.

Not only was she holding onto the next part of the Nanto Seiken training scroll, but for the past two weeks, she had also been dropping off ointments for electrical burns at his doorstep. It had been a long time since Sasuke had experienced anything close to companionship, but this... it felt oddly familiar.

"Well then, let's get into character. We're out of money, and if we don't start earning soon, we won't even be able to continue our training."

Hinata pulled a camera out of her bag. She wasn't exaggerating—her training methods were brutal, pushing people to their limits. Without proper healing medicine every day, they would've collapsed long ago.

"Ugh, fine... Henge no Jutsu!"

Sasuke and Naruto both formed hand seals and transformed. With a loud poof, the smoke cleared, revealing two completely different figures standing where they had been.

"Ehh?!"

Before Hinata could even say a word, the sharp shrieks behind her nearly burst her eardrums. Ino and Sakura were both frozen in shock. Sasuke's new look was flawless—a charming, refined playboy with a confident smirk. His every move oozed an effortless charisma.

But the real problem... was Naruto.

According to the script, Naruto was now a fox spirit who had cultivated for a thousand years and taken on human form. That meant his transformed appearance had to match the role.

And, oh, did it match.

Naruto—no, Naruko—was now a breathtakingly beautiful fox spirit, draped in an elegant kimono fit for a high-class courtesan. His golden twin ponytails had turned into flowing silver hair styled in a graceful updo. And thanks to all the practice he had put into mastering his Oiroke no Jutsu, his movements had a natural, alluring grace.

"This... what is this?!"

Ino and Sakura looked utterly horrified. If just moments ago they had been excited about playing Sasuke's love interest, now, something in their instincts was telling them that things had taken a very, very wrong turn.

"Hm? You've figured it out, haven't you?"

Hinata smirked mischievously as she turned to look at the two girls. Their faces were pale, their expressions frozen in shock—pure, undiluted horror (° △ °).

"Y-you said we're playing the roles of Lord Sasuke's fiancées, right...? The side characters?"

Ino's voice was trembling as the reality of the situation started to sink in.

"Then... then doesn't that mean... the female lead is..."

Sakura couldn't even finish her sentence.

Hinata clasped her hands together and gave them the gentlest, most sympathetic look she could muster.

"That's right~ Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun are in love~♥"

The moment she spoke, both girls instantly turned to stone. If a tragic soundtrack had started playing right then and there, it would've been a picture-perfect scene from a heartbreak drama.

"Ugh, Sasuke, I swear, one day I'll turn you into a girl too."

Naruko flipped her long silver hair with a pout, clearly displeased. And thanks to the sheer perfection of the transformation, she looked exactly like an elegant, tsundere noblewoman throwing a tantrum. Any man—any man—would've fallen for her instantly.

But Sasuke just scoffed, coolly flicking his bangs to the side. In his transformed state, he looked eerily similar to his older self from the original timeline.

"Hmph. Only an idiot who spends his time practicing ridiculous jutsu like you would suit a female role. I have no interest in playing a woman."

"Enough! If you two keep bickering, it'll be nighttime before we even start! Shut up and get ready for the shoot!"

Hinata cut in, her patience running thin. She had already seen this exact scene play out countless times in anime—it was getting old.

As for the filming location? No need to look for one. They could just use the Uchiha compound.

Meanwhile, Ino and Sakura were still in shock, unable to process the painful reality before them.

Their prince didn't need them as his leading lady.

Instead... he had chosen a dumb, loudmouthed, blond dead-last to play his love interest.

Unforgivable.

One day... one day they would make that damn idiot pay.

Biting their sleeves in frustration, the two teary-eyed girls had no choice but to swallow their pride and prepare for filming.

"Alright. Fox Tale Chronicles, Scene One!

A long time ago, in the capital city of Kyoto, there was an exceptionally charming and flirtatious nobleman, Lord Sato.

With his handsome appearance and honeyed words, he could steal the heart of any woman who crossed his path. He was a notorious playboy, known throughout the entire city."

Standing at the side, Hinata lifted her hand, signaling for the actors to take their places.

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Inside the spacious Uchiha estate, Sasuke lay lazily on a soft couch, his kimono slightly disheveled, his eyes hazy from intoxication. Beside him, Ino attentively served him food, while Sakura knelt on the other side, holding a sake bottle. From an outsider's perspective, the scene was the very definition of indulgence and decadence.

Meanwhile, outside the window, a small white fox hid in the shadows. Her blue eyes quietly observed Sasuke. Without a doubt, she was the little fox from a thousand years ago, who had spent a millennium cultivating her powers just to meet the reincarnation of the shepherd boy she once knew.

But a thousand years had passed. The world had changed beyond recognition.

The boy who had once died alone with the fox was now a carefree noble, surrounded by people who adored him. For the little fox, this was a painful dilemma.

Should she still reveal herself to him and fulfill her promise, or should she simply walk away in silence?

After a brief moment of hesitation, the fox made her choice. No matter how much he had changed, she still wished to be by his side. So, she leaped gracefully to the ground and performed the transformation jutsu she had spent centuries perfecting. With a swirl of mist, she took the form of an enchanting woman—her long, silky hair as pale as cherry blossom snow, her skin flawless, and her deep blue eyes shining like the ocean. To win over the man she had longed for, she became the most beautiful songstress in the world.

"Stop! Yes, just like that! Hands above your head, left foot lifted back. Hmm~ make your expression a little more dreamy—perfect! Good!"

Directing Naruto—who had transformed into a woman—Hinata excitedly pressed the camera shutter. No doubt about it, just from this stunning entrance pose alone, this volume would sell for at least a third more than the last one.

"That's enough for today. The first meeting between the male and female leads should be enough for now. Suspense needs to be built up gradually."

"Tch! Hinata, you're so sneaky~!"

Naruto grumbled as he dispelled his transformation jutsu, returning to his usual form. Meanwhile, Sasuke, still in disguise, looked irritated as he pushed Ino and Sakura away before stepping forward with his arms crossed.

"I did everything you asked. Now, when are you giving me the second-stage training manual?"

"What's the rush? Until we make enough money, I'm not handing over the second-stage manual. So, just focus on making money for now! Once we have enough funds to buy the necessary medicines, I'll let you know."

Hinata adjusted her camera, ready to pack up, when a lazy voice interrupted her.

"Ahh, so this is what you guys have been up to."

"Who's there?!"

Standing at the entrance of Sasuke's house was Shikamaru, his expression as unmotivated as ever, holding a lunch basket in his hand. Beside him, Choji was munching noisily on a bag of chips.

"Shikamaru?! Why are you here?"

Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly. The pineapple-haired boy scratched his head in annoyance.

"I didn't want to come here, but my mom said you've been buying a lot of medicine from our shop lately, so she made me bring some rice balls for you. But when I got to your house, they said you weren't there. I figured this was the only other place you'd be."

He jabbed a finger at Choji's chubby cheek. "As for him, I just ran into him on the way. He had nothing better to do, so he tagged along."

"Hm?"

Hinata lifted her chin slightly. At first glance, Shikamaru's words seemed truthful. In a society like theirs, it wasn't unusual for the Nara family, who owned the medicine shop, to show concern for a long-time customer. Plus, Hinata and Shikamaru were classmates, so it wasn't strange for his mother to send food as a kind gesture.

But the problem was... how did he guess she'd be here? The Uchiha compound was usually a place people avoided.

"We've been found out..."

As that realization sank in, Hinata took a deep breath before calmly stating the obvious.

Naruto and Sasuke's expressions instantly changed.

"Ahhh... if Shikamaru and Choji saw this... then that means... Sakura will find out soon too... Ugh..."

Naruto clutched his head and sank to his knees in despair. Sasuke, though not as dramatic, was visibly mortified—his normally pale cheeks flushing red like a ripe apple. He was clearly dying from embarrassment.

This was exactly like a student secretly working in an underground film industry to make money, only to be caught by classmates. The sheer humiliation was unbearable.

"Shikamaru, Choji... what exactly did you see?"

Hinata casually brushed her bangs aside as she asked the question. But the way her voice dropped sent a chill down Shikamaru's spine. He suddenly felt the same tension as when his mother was about to scold him.

"Nothing! We saw nothing—"