(Arthur POV)
The afternoon sun beat down on our film set in the village outside Nihhon City. Wooden buildings and carefully constructed props transformed the landscape into a feudal-era setting for "Seven Samurai."
As I called cut on the final scene of the day, a familiar chime echoed in my mind, and the system interface materialized before my eyes.
[Divine Offering Received! Your follower has presented wines and grapes, converting to 0.80 Divine Points!]
Curious, I retreated to my domain to check the viewing mirror. The reflective surface rippled like disturbed water before revealing Crystal - the young girl whose prayers had touched me before. But she wasn't alone. A woman in pristine white robes stood beside her, the unmistakable attire of a Solarus Faith sister.
So this is Elena, the sister Crystal mentioned...
Crystal had told me about Elena during her prayers. The sister had formed a protective bond with my young follower, making it unlikely she'd report Crystal for worshipping a "false god" like myself.
After thanking Crystal for her offering, I left my domain, satisfied with how my following had grown.
The Divine Points had been flowing more steadily since I'd unlocked the offering function a few days ago. I'd informed my followers about acceptable offerings - wine, honey, fruits, bread, even animals.
Some clever followers had tried gaming the system by praying for wine, then offering portions back to me. While I appreciated their ingenuity, the system took offense. It prompted me to punish such deception, and I complied.
The punishment came in the form of minor curses - temporary loss of speech, sight, hearing, or movement lasting a few days. The system ensured these cursed followers didn't suffer from hunger or other hardships during their punishment, but the message was clear. After that, no one dared attempt the prayer-and-offer trick again.
Back on set, we continued shooting the crucial scenes where the samurai train the villagers in self-defense. The cast had exceeded my expectations, especially Rendō.
The veteran actor had insisted on actually shaving his head for the role of Kambei, despite my offers of alternatives. That level of commitment to authenticity impressed me - it was exactly the kind of dedication that elevated a good film to greatness.
Enji had truly embodied Kikuchiyo. The makeup team had aged him with carefully crafted sideburns and weathered skin, transforming him completely into the character I'd envisioned. His performance carried both the character's rough energy and hidden depths.
Seiji brought a quiet intensity to Kyūzo that perfectly captured the master swordsman's essence. The rest of the Japonese cast matched their dedication, putting their hearts into every scene of "Seven Samurai."
Prince Yasushi's three samurai proved invaluable, especially Takeshi. He meticulously guided the actors in everything from sword positions to the proper way to project their voices with samurai authority. Their expertise added layers of authenticity I couldn't have achieved otherwise.
The days had flown past, and suddenly we were approaching the film's climactic scenes.
The sky opened up, releasing a steady drumbeat of rain that soaked the set - perfect conditions for the final battle we needed to shoot. The raindrops created a misty curtain across our carefully constructed village, adding a somber atmosphere to the scene.
"Action!" My voice cut through the rainfall.
The scene unfolded - the bandit leader, cornered in his hut, taking aim at Kyūzo. Seiji's performance as he fell was devastating in its simplicity. His eyes widened in surprise, then understanding, before he crumpled to the mud. The rain streaked down his face like tears, and I felt my own throat tighten at the power of the moment.
Enji's reaction as Kikuchiyo was explosive. His face contorted with grief and rage as he charged the hut, heedless of the gunfire. The bandit leader's shots rang out, but Kikuchiyo pushed forward with unstoppable fury, cutting down his comrade's killer before finally succumbing to his wounds.
I signaled the camera crew to move in closer, capturing every detail of Enji's final scene as his fellow samurai rushed to their fallen friend.
"Cut!" The word barely made it past the lump in my throat.
After calling cut, I noticed Enji and Seiji still lying in the mud, their eyes glistening with tears as they remained caught in their characters' final moments. The simple power of their performances had created something truly special. Reviewing the footage, I nodded with quiet satisfaction.
We continued filming until dusk settled over the set. That's when Takeshi and his fellow samurai returned to review the day's scenes.
Their reactions to Kyūzo and Kikuchiyo's deaths were immediate and heated.
"We agreed to Heihachi and Gorobei's deaths," Kaede's voice rose with indignation, "but Kyūzo and Kikuchiyo? This makes no sense at all!"
I couldn't help but chuckle wryly at their reaction.
"They should be celebrating victory with the villagers!" Haruto protested. "They're supposed to be heroes!"
Kaede leaned forward hopefully. "Can't you change this part?"
I shook my head firmly. "No. This ending is exactly as it should be." I gave them a pointed look. "If you'd read the script I provided, you'd have known Kyūzo and Kikuchiyo's fates from the beginning."
The samurai's slight blush confirmed my suspicion - they hadn't bothered reading the script.
"You two," Takeshi's deep voice cut through their protests, "if you truly understood the way of the samurai, you'd recognize the honor in dying while fighting for what's right, defeating those cowardly bandits." His eyes carried a deep emotion as he spoke.
Kaede and Haruto fell silent, absorbing their senior's words.
Takeshi turned to me with newfound respect. "You wrote this perfectly, Mr. Arthur. Kyūzo and Kikuchiyo - they died as true samurai."
I smiled, grateful he understood. "Thank you."
Takeshi bowed formally before dragging his still-contemplative companions away.
***
(3rd Person POV)
The morning mist clung to Nihhon Airport's ancient stone towers where massive airships swayed gently at their moorings. After just one month in Japon, Arthur had completed "Seven Samurai" and prepared to return to Horn Kingdom. The Japonese cast gathered at the departure platform, their figures distinct against the pale morning light. Steam hissed from the docked airships while dock workers scurried about with cargo and luggage.
Arthur smiled warmly at his cast as they bowed deeply, their respect evident in the formal gesture. With a final wave to the actors who had brought his vision to life, he boarded the airship with his crew. The vessel's massive silk envelope cast rippling shadows across the platform as it rose into the morning sky.
As Japon's misty coastline receded below, Arthur settled into his cabin and reflected on his time in the kingdom. The month had immersed him in Japon's rich culture – he'd witnessed traditional theatre performances where masked actors brought ancient myths to life, studied their literary traditions, and absorbed their storytelling techniques.
These experiences had sparked an unexpected idea. Through his system interface, he had purchased classic novels from his previous life. But rather than releasing them in the real world, he saw an opportunity in the fictional realm of Naruto.
His attempts to share literature in the Dragon Ball universe had fallen flat – that world's inhabitants were too focused on martial arts and power to appreciate written stories.
But the Naruto world, with its appreciation for arts and culture, proved different.
Under the pen name "Dattebayo Diaries," his novel "Snow Country" had found an eager audience in Konoha. The story resonated with the ninja village's residents, who appreciated its themes of transient beauty and human connection.
To Arthur's surprise, this success finally earned him Entertainment Points in a fictional world – something he hadn't achieved even in Dragon Ball's universe. The notification had appeared just as his novel began climbing Konoha's bestseller lists.
During the airship journey, Arthur entered the {Creator's Realms}.
His first-class cabin provided the privacy he needed. The {Creator's Realms} skill had reached level 2, allowing him to access the white world with just a thought. Now his physical body merely appeared to be sleeping when he made the transition, unlike before when it would completely vanish from the real world.
In the Naruto world, Arthur had taken Kiba's place in Team 8, working alongside Hinata and Shino as their teammate.
With Entertainment Points now flowing from his success in Naruto, Arthur began considering a new direction. He contemplated leaving the team to establish a theatre company in Konoha. Perhaps he'd even publish manga under the pen name "Dattebayo Diaries".