The Villainous Rebirth of an Anime Heroine | naruto

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Ino sighed, pressing her fingers against her temple. It was clear she had no idea how to handle Shino.

"...No, this is fine. Or rather... this is perfect."

Hinata stood up, a strange smile forming at the corner of her lips.

Yes, Aburame Shino—the bug-user of the Konoha 12—was originally the squad leader of Hyuga Hinata's team. So, as former teammates, wouldn't that actually make things easier?

"Alright then, I'll go bring Shino in. In the meantime, you guys should start practicing the melody a cappella. Once he's here, we'll begin rehearsing and recording properly."

Cracking her knuckles, Hinata leaped onto the nearby wall and disappeared in an instant.

Watching her go, Ino mumbled to herself, "Was Hinata always this decisive?"

"I don't really remember... but I do recall she used to get picked on a lot. And Naruto stepped in to help her more than once."

Chōji tossed a potato chip into his mouth, tilting his head slightly. "Maybe... she had a complete personality shift?"

"Who knows~ Anyway, let's start practicing the song! Shikamaru, you go first~"

"Ughhh, why me?! What a pain..."

Meanwhile, outside the Uchiha residence, someone was observing them.

Perched lazily on a tree branch, Kakashi lay on his side, his single visible eye watching the scene below with interest.

"Writing their own songs and doing their own rehearsals, huh? Not bad... these kids have some real motivation."

With a quiet chuckle, the silver-haired jōnin murmured to himself, "I'll observe a little longer before deciding how to approach them."

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Since it was Sunday, looking for Shino at school wasn't an option.

However, the Aburame clan was a unique ninja family in Konoha. Though they kept a low profile, they had their own small district within the village.

Thanks to the Konoha map, Hinata easily located their residence. Checking the list of household names at the entrance, she quickly found Aburame Shino and made her way to his home.

Standing at the door, she knocked politely.

"I'll be right there. Please wait a moment."

A calm voice responded from inside.

Despite being young, it carried a composure and logic that most kids didn't have.

A moment later, the door opened, revealing a boy wearing dark sunglasses—exactly the person Hinata had come to find.

"Good day, Shino-kun. I'm sorry for showing up unannounced."

Hinata gave a polite bow.

She knew from the original story that Shino was someone who strictly followed rules. With someone like him, it was best to be formal and respectful.

"Thank you for your courtesy. Is there something I can help you with?"

Shino adjusted his sunglasses slightly.

According to the original series, he was obsessed with secrecy—to the point where, later on, he practically wrapped himself up like a mummy.

"Yes, actually. There's something I'd like to ask of you."

"Then please, come inside. I'll prepare some tea."

Shino's movements were methodical—almost robotic. He was calm, composed, and followed etiquette perfectly.

Hinata nodded in approval. Good. His personality was exactly as she had expected. That would make things much easier.

Once seated in the living room, Hinata got straight to the point.

"I'll be direct. Recently, I've been training in a secret technique, and I need a lot of money for it. But borrowing money isn't a long-term solution, so I decided to work with some classmates to produce a drama. It's actually doing pretty well so far.

Now, I want to expand the project by adding a unique opening song. After asking around, I found out that you're the best in our class when it comes to music. So, I'd like to invite you to join us. What do you think?"

Hinata was straightforward and honest.

With someone like Shino—who valued logic and order—the worst approach would be lying. Not only was he highly intelligent, but getting caught in a lie would ruin any potential trust between them.

"I see... so that's what this is about."

Shino's sunglasses reflected a glint of light as he spoke.

"That would mean your current collaborators are Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji... and the recently absent Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino, correct?"

Hinata's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

She had always known that Shino was one of the few people in their class who could match Shikamaru in intelligence.

But the fact that he had figured out everyone involved—just like that—made her feel slightly uneasy.

"Please don't be alarmed. This conclusion is simply based on my observations over the past few weeks."

As if sensing her discomfort, Shino adjusted his sunglasses and continued in a measured tone.

"First, there's you, Hinata.

About a month ago, you underwent a sudden personality change. Shortly after, you began suffering frequent injuries from training.

My insects detected the scent of blood and herbal medicine on your fingertips more than once in the classroom. That caught my attention.

Then, there was the time you, Naruto, and Sasuke all skipped class together. Later, I noticed that the scent of herbal medicine lingered on all three of your arms. Meaning, you were likely training together.

After that, Sakura and Ino—who never skip class—also started being absent.

So, naturally..."

"..."

Hinata's mouth twitched slightly—now she understood why Sakura and Ino found this sunglasses-wearing guy hard to approach.

Honestly, having someone around who always kept a deadpan expression yet could see through every little trick of yours... yeah, that would be uncomfortable.

And no matter how you looked at it, wasn't this guy a total show-off? The way he kept talking, analyzing everything for her—wasn't that just his way of trying to get attention?

It seemed like the original story had him figured out pretty well. He really was the type who hated being ignored and loved to talk too much.

"Urusai! Your way of speaking is seriously annoying! I'll just ask you straight—do you want to be our composer or not?"

Hinata finally lost her patience and interrupted Shino's nonstop analysis with a shout. But Shino remained calm, casually adjusting his sunglasses before replying.

"I don't mind. Our teacher always says we should get along with our classmates. Personally, I also think participating in group activities outside of class can help strengthen our relationships—"

"Then meet us this afternoon at the Uchiha compound entrance! Bring whatever instruments you're good at! We don't have much time before the cultural festival!"

Feeling a headache coming on, Hinata pulled out 100,000 ryo from her wallet and placed it in front of Shino. The pain of spending that much money didn't even matter anymore.

"This is your advance payment! If you need any new instruments, buy whatever you want! Now, I'm leaving!"

And with that, she dashed out the door.

Watching her retreating figure, the sunglasses-wearing boy pushed his glasses up again and muttered to himself.

"I hate being ignored..."

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"If you spread your wings and fly, there's no turning back~"

A sweet, flowing voice carried through the Uchiha compound. A harmonica played alongside it, the light and crisp notes weaving perfectly into the melody. Even a few birds perched on the cherry blossom trees outside had stopped to preen their feathers, seemingly enjoying the sound just as much as the humans did.

Inside the hall, a blonde girl stood with her hands gently clasped together in front of her chest, her long lashes resting against her cheeks as she sang with closed eyes, as if in prayer.

Meanwhile, the others listened intently, each showing different expressions.

No doubt about it—Shino, the guy who hated being ignored, had shown up right on time at the Uchiha compound. Not only that, but he had also brought a ridiculous number of extra instruments—flutes, saxophones, harmonicas, accordions, even a small harp. His face might not have shown any emotion, but his actions screamed enthusiasm.

Well, it made sense. For a kid as mature as him, the Academy's childish lessons must have been getting boring. Of course, he'd jump at the chance to do something bigger.

Lying back lazily on a soft cushion, Hinata tapped her fingers in rhythm with the song, eyes still closed. Hearing this familiar tune again in this world... it felt like a dream. She didn't want to wake up.

Sasuke sat by the window frame, head slightly lowered. His expression was unreadable, but the way his fingers clenched told the truth—he was completely absorbed in the music.

Lying on the floor with his head propped up on one hand, Shikamaru let out a content sigh. For someone who loved peace and quiet, this kind of beautiful singing was perfect.

Sakura and Ino sat properly on their cushions, eyes closed, immersed in the melody.

And lastly, Choji—he carefully nibbled on his chips, not crunching them like usual, but letting them dissolve in his mouth, as if afraid to make a sound and disturb the song.

"Soaring toward the endless blue sky~"

As the last note faded, the golden-haired girl in the center of the room vanished in a puff of smoke—revealing Naruto, who immediately grabbed his throat and started coughing violently.

The peaceful atmosphere shattered.

"Jeez—so singing really does mess up your throat... Hinata, am I gonna lose my voice forever?!"

Naruto looked at her with wide, panicked eyes. His exaggerated reaction made Hinata sigh in frustration.

Without a word, she snapped her fingers in Sakura's direction.

The pink-haired girl rolled her eyes but picked up the teapot beside her, pouring Naruto a cup of tea.

"Here. Hinata already thought of this—it's mint tea for your throat. Drink up."

"Oh! Thanks, Sakura!"

As Naruto happily slurped his tea, Hinata ignored him and turned to the others.

"So? What do you think?"

She wasn't asking about anything else—just the song's quality. This was their first real attempt at recording, and if they were going to make this work, it had to be good.

"Hmph~ It's just so-so."

As always, Sasuke kept up his cool attitude, never giving a direct compliment. But that didn't bother the others. Still lying lazily with his eyes closed, Shikamaru casually gave a thumbs-up, using body language to express his thoughts.

"That was amazing~! I've never heard a song like this before!"

Compared to Shikamaru's laziness and Sasuke's indifference, the rest of the group was much more enthusiastic. Satisfied, Hinata nodded and turned to Shino. "Well done, Shino-kun. You really are a great composer."

Shino didn't show much of a reaction, just pushed his sunglasses up coolly before speaking. "This result was expected. Naruto's transformed voice is very clear, my instrumentals were well-balanced, and Hinata, your composition and lyrics were excellent. So, naturally, this high-quality result was inevitable."

"...Uh, in short... I'll just take that as you being satisfied..."

Hinata resisted the strong urge to punch Shino and instead moved straight to wrapping things up. "Alright~ I'll give everyone one night to practice this song. Tomorrow, we'll officially record each character's solo tracks. But for now~ let's get to the main event."

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"Fox's Tale" - Act Two: A Fateful Reunion

After a thousand years of waiting and reincarnation, the little fox finally found the young shepherd from back then. But he was no longer the lonely boy who died in solitude a thousand years ago—he had become a decadent noble, known as Sōrin.

Sōrin, the pleasure-seeking noble who spent his days indulging in lavish entertainment, was once again surrounded by dancers and music. But on this particular day, a figure appeared before him.

"My lord, it has been so long. Do you still remember me?"

Cherry blossom petals rained down as a white-haired fox spirit, dressed in an elegant courtesan kimono, pushed aside the curtain and stepped inside. Her bare, snow-white feet landed on the fallen petals, crushing them into soft pink fragments.

The noble, Sōrin, froze. He had never seen such a breathtaking woman before. As his gaze locked onto her deep, sorrowful blue eyes, it felt as if time rewound a thousand years.

"You... who are you? Have we... met before? Why... do I... not remember you?"

Letting go of the dancers at his side, Sōrin slowly rose to his feet. The smooth-talking noble suddenly found himself at a loss for words. Instead of his usual sweet flattery, he felt only a deep, aching sense of familiarity.

It was like the mountain wind—melancholy. Like the night sky—lonely. Memories from a hundred lifetimes stirred restlessly within him.

Unconsciously, Sōrin waved his hand, dismissing the dancers around him. His full attention was drawn to the white-haired fox spirit standing before him. The invisible thread of fate that had once bound them still existed, tying their souls together across centuries.

"Once, you sang me a song. Please allow me to sing it for you now~"

The fox spirit stood still, her pure white hair gently swaying in the breeze that drifted through the open window. In that moment, it was as if the two of them had returned to the distant past—to that quiet hillside a thousand years ago.

The melody that the shepherd boy had once played over and over still lingered in her heart.

"Alright... then I shall accompany you..."

Sōrin didn't know why he said those words. He wanted to ask her something, but the moment he opened his mouth, his body moved on its own. He straightened his robe, picked up a flute left behind by one of the dancers, and was shocked to find that the instrument felt so natural in his hands—almost as if he had played it countless times before.

Watching him, the fox spirit's heart ached. Even if Sōrin had forgotten their time together, his soul still remembered the song... and the feeling of playing it.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she felt tears threatening to fall. But instead, she parted her lips and let out the song—the same song the shepherd boy had once sung to her.

"You said that if you spread your wings, you would never return~"

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"CUT!!"

Hinata's sudden shout shattered the moment like a kunai through glass.

Naruto, who had just been about to sing, choked on his own breath. Sakura and Ino, who had been completely lost in the scene, stumbled in shock, nearly falling over. It was as if they had been yanked out of another world and slammed back into reality.

Shikamaru and Chōji had it even worse—Chōji ended up choking on a chip and was now rolling on the floor, gasping for air.

"Ugh..."

Meanwhile, outside the Uchiha compound, a certain silver-haired Jōnin nearly lost his balance and fell from a tree. Gripping the branch tightly, Kakashi muttered in frustration, "Seriously?! It was just getting to the good part! What the heck is that Byakugan brat up to now?!"

"What's wrong, Hinata? The atmosphere was perfect just now."

Shino, who was actually playing the flute for accompaniment, adjusted his sunglasses slightly and asked calmly. Right now, he seemed to be the only one still capable of speaking properly.

"Urusai! We've recorded enough for today~ Next up is the song recording. All we need to do is match the vocals Naruto already sang."

Ignoring the others, who were still recovering from the abrupt mood shift, Hinata looked at the camera, satisfied with the recorded footage. Yes, this was just right. Good things needed time to perfect. Since they were still in the early stages, a photo drama format was more than enough.

"But didn't you say you wanted to expand?"

Sasuke, who had finally composed himself, asked with forced calmness. Though he hated to admit it, the atmosphere earlier… was something else.

"That's something for when we at least graduate from the Academy and have proper adult identities. Right now, even if we have money and talent, we're still just a bunch of eleven-year-olds. A small drama project is fine, but if we seriously wanted to produce a TV show or a movie, we'd need proper guardians to vouch for us."

Hinata casually packed up the camera and stretched. "Alright~ I'm heading out to get these photos developed. You guys should practice your songs—each of you has a solo, so no one's getting out of this! If we finish early, we're having a hot spring banquet tonight."

A hot spring banquet—as the name suggested, it was a high-end service at Konoha's hot springs, offering fine dining in a private bath suite. It was a luxury that not many could afford.

"Yeah~!! A hot spring banquet!!"

"Ah~ Won't that cost a lot?"

"Hmph, do what you want."

"I believe that after hard work, a proper celebration is necessary."

Hinata's suggestion instantly lifted everyone's mood. With that settled, she left the Uchiha compound to develop the photos, feeling reassured that everything was on track.

Meanwhile, up in the tree, Kakashi tilted his head in thought before standing up, satisfied. He had just figured out the perfect way to get close to these kids.

"Oh well~ Looks like I'll have to play the part of the generous adult this time~"

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As an experienced elite Jōnin, Kakashi was skilled at handling all sorts of missions. The one assigned to him by the Third Hokage had three main objectives: protection, investigation, and infiltration.

First, he had to protect these kids from any potential interference from Root. That was easy—he was confident he could handle any Root ninja that showed up.

Second, he had to investigate what exactly these kids—who all came from prominent clans—were really up to. That wasn't hard either; after all, they were still just children. As long as he observed from a distance, they wouldn't even notice him.

But the third part, infiltrating their little film crew, required some luck. The right opportunity wouldn't come every day, so when it did, he had to seize it. And right now, Hinata leaving alone to develop the photos presented the perfect chance.

After leaving a shadow clone as a sentry outside the Uchiha compound, Kakashi vanished with the Body Flicker Technique. He needed to find some reliable help for this mission.

Thanks to his speed, he arrived at the market district ahead of Hinata. His sharp instincts quickly spotted two familiar figures sitting inside a dango shop, sipping tea. Smiling behind his mask, he walked over and greeted them.

"Yo~ Asuma, Kurenai. Good evening~"

"Oh? Kakashi?"

The two ninja—a man and a woman—looked up.

The man on the left, Sarutobi Asuma, had a scruffy beard and a relaxed, easygoing expression. A cigarette hung from his lips, smoke curling lazily in the air.

"Seeing you out and about at this hour… now that's a rare sight."

The woman on the right, Yūhi Kurenai, had striking beauty. Her fair skin, delicate features, and soft, wavy black hair gave her an air of intelligence and allure.

Asuma and Kurenai were both Jōnin from the same generation as Kakashi—and they were currently dating.

"Mmm~ I hate to interrupt your date, but…"

Kakashi's tone turned serious. "Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai. I'm on a mission assigned by the Hokage. I need your help."

In Konoha, it was standard practice for ninja to request assistance from available comrades during a mission. Of course, those asked for help had the right to refuse, but in the cooperative environment of Konoha, most wouldn't turn down a reasonable request—helping others meant they'd receive help in return when needed.