Back on the ship, the atmosphere was tense. The director, a stout man with a booming voice and a temper to match, paced back and forth in the cramped meeting room. His face was red, his hands flailing wildly as he scolded Kakashi, who stood there with his usual relaxed demeanor, flipping through his book.
"Do you realise what that crazy subordinate of yours almost did out there?" the director bellowed, his voice echoing off the wooden walls. "She nearly sank the entire set! If that ice had broken, our equipment, our crew, everything would've been ruined! And for what? A fake crystal prop? I swear, I've worked with divas before, but this… this is madness!"
Kakashi turned a page in his book, not even looking up. "I understand your concerns, Director-san. But Naruto meant well."
"Meant well?" The director's voice cracked. "She's a walking disaster! How is someone like that a ninja? Aren't they supposed to be stealthy? Professional? Sane?"
Kakashi closed his book and finally looked at the director, his visible eye curving into a calm smile. "Naruto… is an acquired taste."
"She's unhinged!" the director shot back. "She was waving that prop around like it was some kind of trophy, shouting 'Victory!' while the ice was cracking beneath her! And don't even get me started on that absurd speech about saving the princess. She scared the entire crew half to death!"
Sandayu, Yukie's assistant, cleared his throat nervously from the corner. "To be fair, she did retrieve the crystal before it fell into the lake…"
The director whirled on him. "That's not the point! What if the ice had broken? What if the princess had fallen in? What if—"
"Dattebayo!" a familiar voice rang out, interrupting the tirade.
The door slammed open, and Naruto strode in, her posture stiff and robotic as always. She had swapped her winter coat for her usual frilly black dress, though her boots were still caked in snow from the earlier escapade. Her glowing sapphire eyes scanned the room, completely oblivious to the tension in the air.
"Hey, what's going on?" she asked, her monotone voice somehow managing to sound both curious and bored. "Is this a meeting? Why wasn't I invited? Dattebayo."
The director's face turned an alarming shade of purple. "You!"
Naruto tilted her head mechanically, her beauty mark catching the dim light. "Me?"
"Do you have any idea the trouble you caused today?" he roared, jabbing a finger in her direction. "You almost ruined everything! The equipment! The set! The entire production!"
Naruto blinked slowly, her expression unreadable. "Tch. It's just a movie. Dattebayo."
The director looked like he was about to explode. Kakashi stepped in, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "Easy there, Director-san. Let's not have a heart attack."
"Just a movie?" the director sputtered, ignoring Kakashi. "Do you know how much money is on the line here? How many people are depending on this production?"
Naruto crossed her arms, looking as unimpressed as ever. "Money? Pfft. I'm here to protect the princess, not your wallets. Dattebayo."
Sandayu tried to intervene again, his tone placating. "Naruto-san, while we appreciate your enthusiasm, the crew and equipment are vital to keeping the princess safe. Without them, we can't complete the mission."
Naruto blinked at him. "So… you're saying I should've let the fake crystal fall?"
"Yes!" the director shouted.
"Oh." Naruto paused, her head tilting to the other side. "Well, I saved it anyway. Dattebayo."
Sasuke, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, muttered under his breath, "Loser."
Naruto's glowing eyes snapped to him. "What was that, Duckbutt?"
"Enough!" Kakashi clapped his hands, his voice firm yet calm. "Let's all take a deep breath, shall we? Director-san, I assure you, I'll have a word with Naruto about her… methods. Naruto, next time, think before you act. We're here to protect the princess and ensure the mission goes smoothly. Understood?"
Naruto huffed, her arms still crossed. "Fine. But next time, I'm doing it my way. Dattebayo."
The director threw his hands in the air, muttering something about "insane ninja" as he stormed out of the room. Sandayu followed, murmuring apologies.
Once they were gone, Naruto turned to Kakashi. "Was I really that bad?"
Kakashi gave her a lazy eye-smile. "Let's just say… you left an impression."