Today's Rock Lee is starting!
But this episode has a bit of a different flavor.
Yes, today's show draws from that new movie...
This is bad, I totally forgot to buy this week's Jump!
I hope they still have some.
Shonen Jump
Yes! There's one left!
Tenten?
Lee... You, too?
Good thing it was you I ran into.
Anyone else and it would've been a serious tug-of-war.
Yeah, now we'll both be able to read it.
Ready to―
What was that for?
My question exactly.
Ladies first. Let me read it.
Excuse me, aren't you the one who always says gender doesn't matter?!
You're going to read it on the toilet.
You're going to read it in the bath.
Better than stinking it up!
I'm not reading a soggy magazine!
Let go! This issue has info on the movie!
I know! That's exactly why...
I want the latest details right away!
What just happened?
It felt like the world turned inside-out for a second...
Don't panic.
This has happened before.
Let's keep calm and find some water.
No, no, no, you just had heatstroke.
What are you two doing here?
Oh, good timing, Shino.
Something weird just happened―
But not as weird as your outfit!
What's that supposed to mean?
I'm just being flashy like usual!
I may be a ninja, but I don't blend in the background.
That's the kind of man I am.
I can't take my eyes off you,
and as the main character I'm jealous of your flashiness!
Lee and Naruto alone are all the flashy ninjas we need...
Did Shino get a concussion or something?
D-Don't stare...
Something wrong?
You're not usually so shy, Kiba.
I'll answer for you.
And it's not because I'm being nice,
but I can't depend on anyone else here, so I've got no choice!
Hinata's snapping at people?!
That's impossible!
What's wrong with everyone?!
There a problem?
Oh thank God, Shikamaru―
I... think a punchline would actually be inappropriate, right?
Whew, I cleaned up again today!
Yay, time to make the village a better place!
We're off to fight evil, don'tcha know!
What next? The world's gone topsy-turvy!
I know just what to do.
At times like this, there's only one way out!
So, good night.
We're not in a dream!
Indeed.
Be serious! This is not a normal crisis!
If we don't figure out what happened, we could be stuck here forever!
Then let's move out.
Where to?
To find Neji.
We'll need help if we're going to figure out what happened.
But...
It'll be okay.
No matter how much the world's changed,
our friendship is unshakable.
Hyuga
No, no way.
Huh?!
The Dark Emperor appears!!
Tenten | Neji | Rock Lee
Me and my friends from a previous life...
...are battling to save the world from the Dark Emperor.
No matter what happens, I can't abandon this fight.
Stay Out
O-Our friendship...
I can't believe Neji's an angsty teen gamer...
We're stuck. We'll have to look for clues on our own.
Neji, I'm leaving your dinner out here.
I may have just the clue we're looking for.
What is it?
Ah ha.
It's the exact same ramen.
And the weird situation we've found ourselves in...
It's all just like the promotional material for the movie!
So you're saying...
I don't know how or why, but in that instant,
our wish to know what the movie would be like...
...was granted by this issue of Jump.
Maybe we've been transported into the world of the movie!
You really think it's possible?
Let's do it, Tenten!
Right on!
Send us back!
Nothing.
Everything was exactly the same...
No, it's lacking something.
Huh?
The first time, we both longed to see...
...the sneak peek from the bottom of our hearts.
Our souls burned with passion,
and we both refused to let the other have the first look.
Like this!
Cut it out, you'll rip it!
I'm sorry...
You might be on to something, though.
We need those strong emotions, we can't just follow a script...
Script...
That's brilliant!
What are you wearing?
Prepare for my "script rewrite" plan!
If we don't have the passion,
we'll just physically alter the situation!
That's way too literal. It'll never work!
I'll make it work.
I'm not staying in this world!
The Neji I know is arrogant and wears boxers...
But he's a man who values friendship!
I'm bringing that Neji back!
Did... it work?
Come out, Neji!
The explosion of youth!
That's not right! Neji's like Guy Sensei now!
One, two, one, two...
Lee, what did you do?!
Well, I was thinking really hard about Neji,
but I guess I missed the mark a little bit.
Anyways, it looks like this method is effective.
Next...
Hinata, a quiet hard worker who never neglected training.
And Kiba and Shino, her loyal friends...
Come back!
The explosion of youth!
Not more!
Why do all your mistakes turn them into Guy Sensei?!
It looks like Guy Sensei maintains...
...an inordinately large presence in my subconscious...
Guy Sensei is always with me.
The stronger the emotion,
the more entrenched he becomes.
Then you should include Guy Sensei and think of everyone.
Wish to return to our old friends!
I don't want this to go on any longer.
I...
I want to go back to everyone!
That was just like the first time...
Guys?
You're back to normal!
Oh no! Everyone turned into Guy Sensei!
Even the normal villagers?!
Lee, this is ridiculous!
What?! Guy Sensei?!
What are you talking about? It's me.
You wear the exact same outfits!
Jeez, now your face looks like his, too...
Don't tell me...
No, I'm Guy Sensei, too!
Make it stop. Standards and practices is gonna yank us off the air!
The explosion of youth!
Youth!
Get away from me!
Why is this happening?
I just wanted to know about the movie!
That's because the movie is...
"Naruto: Road to Guy!"
It is not!
That's not the movie's title!
Super Groovy Ramen
Now, about the new Naruto movie...
Super Groovy Sales
Everyone's heard all about it, right?
Super Groovy Gyoza
Movie
Movie, not groovy!
Rock Lee and his pals are excited, too!
Neji, did you get the tickets?
Of course!
The entire Hyuga clan plans to attend.
Our special advance-sale tickets are in hand!
Neji, Lee, we've got a problem!
What's got you so worked up?
A while ago, Lady Tsunade...
What?
You say the movie's still missing a critical piece?
Yeah, something big, too.
That doesn't sound good.
Something's lacking.
Lacking... with the film?
The Amazing True Story of the Leaf Village Film Festival!
What could be missing?
So that's the problem...
I've got it.
Man, I've got no luck at all.
Here it is, Christmas Eve...
But I've gotta save my family.
What the heck is this?
We just started this pointless skit for no reason!
Don't you see, Tenten?
The movie's missing a big Hollywood action sequence,
and a tough American hero who overcomes all odds!
No way, we don't need that mess!
An American hero?
Naruto's supposed to be the hero.
If you jump in like that you'll obliterate him!
It's fine, the movie's a compilation of several arcs anyway!
Oh, yeah, what if the enemy he's fighting...
...eventually becomes his most powerful ally?
What crazy direction are you trying to take the movie in?!
She's right, Lee.
You've got it all wrong.
For starters, we haven't had one movie that's lacked in big action sequences!
Then do you know what's missing, Neji?
Of course!
What's lacking... is...
O Nejio, Nejio...
Wherefore art thou, Nejio?
Hinaette...
My life were better ended, than death prorogued...
...wanting of thy love!
But the two young lovers belonged to houses embroiled in a feud...
Their love doomed to fail.
And so the two of them...
O Nejio!
Hold the phone, why do we need this?
A fair maiden and her lover,
a fleeting romance, two soul mates fading into the night!
What's missing is melodrama!
This is a summer movie, no one wants to see a tearjerker now!
Precisely why we must have the courage to break the mold!
The movie will go down in film history...
as a powerful drama that wrung tears from the eyes of the audience,
a timeless piece that will forever remain a shining ex―
Go shine out in the stratosphere!
I've been listening to you guys, and you're all clueless.
You're saying you all have a better idea?
Sure do!
Right, Hinata?
W-Well...
Maybe a more innocent love is what's missing.
"The most powerful film of this era." - Puko Film Critics ―
"The whole audience was bawling!" - Leaf Times ―
It begins with a young love...
A girl with no courage,
who could only watch him from afar.
But she had to change,
so he would finally notice her.
Welcome home.
Ointment
Hinata
Please use that ointment, if you like.
I've watched you since the day we met. I still am...
I only have EYES for you...
That's not innocent love! That's a stalker horror flick!
Stalker?
That does it! I'll settle this once and for all!
This could be okay.
We live in a world where...
...ninjas face one brutal mission after another.
What we need is...
Moe
...moe!
Come on, Akamaru!
Oh, you!
Wait, only the dog does the moe?
Well, duh. What's cuter than that?
Think of the audience, not just yourself!
People.
Your preoccupation with the superficial...
...has caused you to overlook something vital.
What's truly lacking here is...
Man's true thoughts... Yes...
The voice of our hearts made clear.
Wow, that's Shino for you. He's deep!
The weather was awful the day we filmed this scene.
I can't tell you how many takes we did.
Oh, yeah, we took lunch while we were waiting for it to clear up,
but mine was pretty light on the veggies.
Honestly, I wish I'd ordered a salad instead―
The "voice of your heart" is audio commentary?
Where's the problem?
The whole thing's the problem!
You can't have audio commentary over the theater shows!
Oh, Tenten.
Huh?
Yeah, I wanted to get this scene just right,
so we shot a ton of takes, I―
Don't drag me into this!
What could possibly be missing?
You fools.
How can you not see it?
Orochimaru! What're you doing here?!
Just dropping in.
We saw you idiots flailing about and couldn't resist.
Wait, then you know what the movie's missing?
Silly child.
You're completely forgetting.
There is one element essential to a film.
One that must never be overlooked...
The most important part of all!
Orochimaru
And, action!
I turn forty this year.
I've spent my whole career as an actor playing no-name bit parts.
I always considered myself to be dedicated to my craft...
But one day I realized everyone around me was half my age.
I saw them striving for starring roles, while I just spun my wheels.
F-Fired?
The thing is... You're hard to work with.
Orosuke's takes things way too seriously.
Orosuke's a nice man, but he's too pushy.
Fantasy!
The camera's over here!
Sake Beer
Pierrot
We're closing, pal. Go home.
What'd you say to me?
Enough!
But even I found someone who loved me.
The sheltered daughter of a bigwig film distribution company president...
running off with a two-bit nobody like me.
He objected, of course, so we ran off,
but before we even had a chance to make one real memory...
I've gone back home. -Kabuko
I guess even common courtesy runs out eventually.
Guess it's time to face the music.
Dear! Dear!
You...
Why?
Audition
What do you think of this role?
You asked your father, didn't you?
I had to.
At first he threatened to disown me,
but getting on my knees and begging was a small price to pay.
But why?
I've seen it...
How brightly you shine when you're in front of the camera.
And I want to see you shine from as close as possible.
That's all.
Audition
This should be good. Let's see what you're made of.
I'll do it.
No matter what it takes.
Standby.
Watch! I'll shine like the sun for you, my love!
Too long!
Wait, is this an anti-piracy commercial?!
Well? Without one of these you'd be in big trouble.
Maybe so, but what does that have to do with the story?
Well done, Lord Orochimaru!
Truly, you bring a whole new perspective!
I'd say your perspective's truly skewed.
Give me a break!
What's this got to do with stopping piracy?
You'll see. I'll explain everything shortly―
We need an American hero!
Melodrama!
Love...
Love!
Dear me.
Well, what exactly was missing, Lady Tsunade?
It just got here, actually.
Everyone, make sure you go see the new Naruto movie!
Ah, it was the movie poster!
See you at the theater, viewers!
Then that was all pointless?!
Next time is "Boom! The Shinobi Fireworks Show!"
Boom! The Shinobi Fireworks Show! Bang! Tenten's Acting Weird!
and "Bang! Tenten's Acting Weird!"
A fireworks show, I can't wait!
With everyone off seeing the show,
I can get in a good nap.
I hear the ramen's got a really unique flavor.
Sakura's going to look so pretty with her face lit up by the sparklers!
Isn't anyone going to look at the actual fireworks?!