Abukunai the Ninja Mouse of 108 Special Techniques. Who, in the eyes of many within Hi No Kuni, embodied the Will Of Fire. Coming from the Village Hidden In The Treasure, a war orphan who dreamed of a world where peace and family would be considered of great importance.
Dobe Duck had a good heart and a talented bloodline, but was often overwhelmed by a quick temper and an ego that belonged on someone with a far greater success rate. The Uchiha Clan of Konoha for some unknown reason felt that the Duck Clan was a parody of them and therefore not particularly acceptable.
Gruff McSnarl, whose appearance was of a large bulldog or something similar. A tragic past where he was forced out of his own clan through a mistake, and kept an antagonist because of his own temper. Also prone to astonishing gullibility, a tendency not to think things through, and known to have a gambling addiction.
Moneybags S. Richduck, aka Uncle Richduck. The blind, sometimes accident prone, but quietly philosophical member of the Duck Clan of Hidden Treasure Village - also the wealthiest citizen of his village and the second-richest individual in his country. What few knew or even suspected was that this was also Devil Duck, the heroic adventurer.
His frequent bodyguard, gofer, and associate - the young Tomoe Tiger. A supremely skilled samurai-ko who was often ignorant of the world outside the battlefield, who had sworn service to Uncle Richduck not too long ago. (The details of which was, in fact, something Jiraiya had requested kept secret so it could be used as a revelation later on.)
Jiraiya had been quite pleased to see the curvaceous figure of Tomoe Tiger on a set of women's tee-shirts being worn at the theater. In fact, he was doubly pleased in that apparently a number of young girls were learning some of the same weapons as Tomoe did. Such skills could keep attractive young women alive in their world, and Jiraiya liked keeping that aspect going.
The foxgirl, Ranko. A rough-and-tumble tomboy kunoichi who focused mainly on taijutsu. There were a few tee-shirts and such with her likeness as well. Unable to pass up a challenge, and a formidable warrior in her own right.
The somewhat idiotic but friendly big guy, a bit overweight and sometimes didn't know his own strength - but once given a task would see it through to the end. Oki Doki, the gorilla ninja, who declared himself Ranko's rival but just didn't have the speed to compete.
Oten, aka the Master Blot/Blotmeister/Otenmaru. A true villain whose nature was hidden and always had at least three escape routes. A manipulator who was always ready to escalate chaos and destruction in hopes of making a buck or accumulating power along the way.
The Cat's Pajamas Ninjas. Antagonists who didn't even realize their own leader had been replaced with Oten. Sometimes their own incompetence would foil their plans more than the actions of the heroes.
As the movie played out, Jiraiya watched the audience. Noting reactions. Which characters drew the biggest reaction? Which lines seemed to provoke the most laughter? Where were spots where the attention of the children wandered from the screen?
Some minor characters making an appearance drew reactions. Jiraiya noted which ones drew the positive reactions, which the negative. Both were useful after all.
"How DARE he?!" hissed Orochimaru.
"It's just a movie," said one of his subordinates, a decent if uninspiring lieutenant named Shikoro. What her name had been prior to joining his service was not a consideration for himself or for her at this point that mattered.
"Notice how he moves?" asked Orochimaru. "Serpentine, wouldn't you say?"
"Are you saying that you're the Master Blot?" asked Shikoro, fingering the scar along her scalp. "You'd never do something like hypnotizing people or strange jutsu to make them become your fanatic devotees."
Orochimaru tried not to sigh or facepalm. "Yes, of course. That would be silly."
Shikoro nodded, still looking at the screen. "Tomoe Tiger kind of stands out though, doesn't she?"
"Gee, a tiger samurai girl who actually has a figure who is at least a head taller than anyone else in the room stands out among a crowd of ninja. I wonder why?"
"I don't know," said Shikoro. "There's something though."
Orochimaru fought the impulse to facepalm again. "Sarcasm is lost on you isn't it?"
"Hmmm? What's 'sarcasm'? Is that like popcorn?" asked Shikoro.
"More like the salt on the popcorn, once you've used a little sarcasm you just can't seem to stop," noted Orochimaru. Maybe he'd gone a little TOO far in the case of this little kunoichi, as apparently she was less functional now than before he'd started the loyalty seals and conditioning.
"Ah," said Shikoro. "Sarcasm makes you thirsty."
Orochimaru stopped watching the screen in order to stare at the former Cloud kunoichi and tried to figure out exactly how that conclusion had come about. "Never mind. It's not important. What IS important is getting back at my former team-mate for this insult."
"What insult?" asked Shikoro.
"The insult of portraying me as a major villain within his movie!" declared Orochimaru, garnering himself a few "hush"es and a number of "shh"es.
"You'd rather be a minor villain?" asked Shikoro.
"Well, no, actually..." Orochimaru's gaze went flat. "Missing the point."
"Well, if you're not the Master Blot," said Shikoro thoughtfully. "Does that make you Gruff?"
"I find myself getting fairly gruff right now," admitted Orochimaru.
"You don't look a thing like him," said Shikoro.
"Well, for one thing, I'm not a dog," said Orochimaru.
"If you're anyone in the film, great Master, I would think it would be Abukunai, master of 108 great and special techniques," said Shikoro.
"...I'm the mouse singing about 'wishing on a ninja star'?" asked Orochimaru as the lead character on the screen was currently doing just that.
"I didn't know you could sing, great Orochimaru," said Shikoro, focusing on him now.
"Oh yes," said Orochimaru. "Not many people know it, but I'm also the great bard of the Land Of Flowers. I finance my secret labs and such by doing charity concerts for the blind."
"I always knew you were a great man, Orochimaru-sama," said Shikoro, nodding firmly and solemnly.
Orochimaru just went ahead and face-palmed. Yes, way too much brainwashing on this one. Apparently he needed to 'retire' her much sooner than he'd planned.
Meanwhile though, he would have to get even with Jiraiya for this insult. How dare that untalented fool portray him as a major villain with a penchant for cheap theatrics, loyal mook army, complete lack of regard for conventional morality, and genius level intellect?
Orochimaru frowned as he considered that and watched the rest of the film anyway.
Though he had to send Shikoro for another bag of popcorn, if nothing else just to get a respite from the brainwashed minion's humming along with all the damn songs.
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(Posted Sat, 22 Jun 2013 16:54)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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