Inspired because he'd left his more "adults only" habits behind to embrace this new media - where he was introducing concepts to a much broader audience that might just grow up familiar with those ideas. Miffed because of the lack of quality and use of HIS characters in such materials.
Current projects at the studios included an eight-minute short-film to be played at the beginning of another movie by the studio that had helped jump-start their own studio: Suplex Studios (which specialized in sports films and movies dealing with the "fires of youth" and similar tropes) and which maintained a somewhat competitive but friendly relationship.
(The Suplex Studios film in question being their first foray into an alternative genre. They'd been inspired by the success of the Abukunai movie, and were currently finishing production on the first Magical Girl movie - Kurohime and the Tomb Of Doom.)
Another project they were working on was the animated version of an old folk tale. Shiroyuki - the story of a young princess, an evil queen trying to hang onto power and fading youth, and a decided lack of ninja. Naturally, Basu Teruka was adding all sorts of musical numbers that were new. One of which involved Shiroyuki learning the bow and naginata at the hands (paws) of the ghost-wolf Shaman Moon.
Okay, they were taking liberties with the old folk-tale. As far as he knew NOBODY in the original story sang about anything at all.
"Ah, Jiraiya. What brings the famous writer to my doorstep?" asked the clan head.
"Actually, I cleared something with the Hokage," said Jiraiya, holding out a scroll. "If you agree to it, I want to see if you and your ninken can spare some time out at my studio."
"Are you flirting with me?" asked Tsume Inuzuka.
"Uhm, no," said Jiraiya.
"Well, I'm on maternity leave anyway," admitted Tsume as she took the scroll and flipped it open. Eyes scanned the contents briefly.
A large shaggy shape moved from the shadows. "So, do I get a speaking part?"
"Actually, I was thinking we could use you as both a character model and voice actor," admitted Jiraiya.
"Cool," grumbled Kuromaru. "I'm not Gruff McSnarl?"
"Shaman Moon," answered Jiraiya.
Tsume and Kuromaru turned their full attention to Jiraiya.
"You're doing 'Shiroyuki'?" asked Tsume. "The Inuzuka version?"
"Well, yes," admitted Jiraiya. "With some liberties of course - there will be singing and no ninja techniques."
"The story of Shiroyuki and the Seven Wolves," said Kuromaru thoughtfully. The story, the local version at least, had Shiroyuki fleeing the assassins sent by the Evil Queen with the help of a guardsman loyal to the old regime. Fleeing into a forest, she was adopted by a pack of wolves and eventually returned to fight the Evil Queen's forces and reclaim her homeland. Some Inuzuka claimed the story was real and was how the Inuzuka clan and their dog allies had come to form their partnership.
"I'll have to discuss this with the clan," said Tsume.
"Very well, I'll be heading back to the studio tomorrow," said Jiraiya. Clan business was clan business after all. The original charter for Konohagakure was pretty clear on all that.
Not that he had any doubt as to what the end result would be.
"DYNAMIC ENTRY!"
CRASH!
Tsunade, Moko, Tsunade, and Shidori all stared at the tanned woman who was smouldering slightly as she lay half-on a desk.
"I'm okay!" chirped the girl, sitting up a moment later.
"You've got a chunk of glass imbedded in your skull," noted Tsunade.
"Oh, thanks!" said the woman, plucking it out and setting off a geyser of blood.
"Urk!" managed Tsunade before her eyes rolled up and she froze in place.
"Damn, she's still alive," said someone as he strode through the door. "Tsunade?"
"Gurple," managed Tsunade.
Orochimaru sighed. "Shikoro? Stop bleeding over everything."
"Oh, right!" chirped Shikoro, applying direct pressure.
Shizune quickly began mopping up the blood, knowing this would help bring her lady around.
"Oh great," said Shidori. "Orochimaru, I presume?"
"Yes, you know of me?" asked Orochimaru.
"Well, yes, you were on the same team as Jiraiya and Tsunade, so it was kind of expected that you would eventually show up. Do you terribly mind if I ran screaming towards the next town?" asked Shidori.
"Yes, actually, that would be terribly annoying. Where's Jiraiya?" asked Orochimaru.
"Konohagakure. Called by the Hokage. Don't know why. How about if I ran quietly towards the horizon with my niece?" asked Shidori.
"Less annoying but... why is Tsunade here?" asked Orochimaru, pointing towards his twitching former team medic.
"She thought she was the inspiration behind Tomoe Tiger," answered Shidori.
Orochimaru stared for a moment. Then his shoulders began quivering. Finally he did something nobody who knew him would expect.
Orochimaru began laughing. Not in the manner of 'mad scientist experimenting on helpless newborns' or 'evil overlord torturing puppies' either.
Tsunade actually began coming out of her blood phobia paralysis because of that. "What's so funny?"
"You!" answered Orochimaru. "You thought a weapon-wielding honor-bound samurai girl was based on YOU?"
"Why are you here then?" asked Tsunade, trying not to grit her teeth.
"Because he obviously based Otenmaru on ME," said Orochimaru, going from amused to affronted.
"That explains the pink hearts and blue moons and shamrocks on your robes," noted Tsunade. "Is that what is fashionable for missing-nin nowadays?"
"That was me," chirped the tanned girl as she continued to wrap bandages around her head. It now looking like she was wearing a white turban of some kind.
"That's HER fault," said Orochimaru.
"I also did the forehead protector thing!" chirped the girl. "Oh my gosh! It's gone dark! Is this some enemy attack?!"
"No, you wrapped bandages over your eyes," noted Tsunade. "Though that does explain the crescent moon on your headband."
Orochimaru frowned and untied that in order to hold it where he could look at it. Sure enough, a blue enamel crescent moon was there instead of a scratched-through leaf symbol. "Well, at least it's better than a pink heart."
Tsunade immediately could picture Orochimaru wearing such a thing and found herself trying to hold back a laugh at THAT image.
"Well, I..." Shizune's voice trailed off. "Where did those two go?"
"Most likely?" asked Tsunade. "They're halfway to the next town."
"Not bad for non-ninja," admitted Orochimaru.
"Uhm, Orochimaru-sama?"
Orochimaru looked over at his minion and seriously considered leaving her here in Tsunade's company. Maybe she wouldn't be able to find him again. He could be free of this calamity.
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Sat, 10 Aug 2013 18:21)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.