The Reason

At this Asama Sandayu picked up where Kazahana Koyuki left off, shaking his head and saying.

"Kazahana Dōtō is the kind of ruthless person who will eliminate any threat completely. No matter which country's ninjas we hired this time, no matter whether we're here to film a movie or to overthrow him, he will send people to completely wipe out Xue. Moreover, he has ruled the Land of Snow for so many years without finding the treasure, so he probably knows that the key to the treasure is on Xue, making it even less likely that he will let Xue go!"

Asama Takehiko echoed his uncle, saying, "Xue has been hiding her identity for so many years, but I never expected Fūsetsu Dotō to still recognize her... Alas, it's all my fault. I was clinging to hope, thinking that after so many years, there wouldn't be any problems. I never imagined that Kazahana Dōtō would turn out to be this kind of person... I've ruined everyone by insisting on filming here."

Hmm, hiding your identity? Sakura glanced at the well-known movie star, Kazahana Koyuki, and felt like she had learned a new trick.

"Don't blame yourself, Takehiko," Sandayu patted the director's hand, "I'm partly to blame too. Who would have thought that heartless bastard would still be eyeing a girl who ran away more than ten years ago!"

"Okay, we understand the general situation now." Hearing this, the girl basically understood what a melodramatic soap opera plot this was.

She nodded slightly to indicate that she understood. "So, as the ones who commissioned the mission, what are your plans for the next steps?"

Director Asama said with difficulty, "If we continue filming, the next attack by Kazahana Dōtō might come too. This is already a mission of A-level difficulty or higher; it's a bit too much to ask of us. I think—"

"Oh? An A-rank mission?" Naruto had been half-asleep, caught the word precisely.

"Does Mr. Asama mean that Kazahana Dōtō is a stronger ninja?" Sasuke was also dozing off, suddenly brightened up when he heard this.

"Uh, that's true. Kazahana Dōtō is probably the strongest among the Snow Ninja, roughly at the level of an ordinary Jonin from one of the Five Great Villages, right?" Director Asama was startled by the sudden burst of enthusiasm from the two.

He carefully chose his words: "So this mission is now at Rank A difficulty. Do you still want to continue? I think we should terminate the mission and return to Konoha directly, because this was a mistake on our part when we reported the mission, and the mission will still be considered completed by you."

"Terminate the mission? No way, absolutely not! We finally got an A-rank mission!" Naruto was completely energized by the words "A-rank mission." He waved his hand vigorously, opposing Director Asama's suggestion, "Our Team 7 tradition is to never give up!"

"Hmph, if the opponent really is at the Jonin level, then such an opponent cannot be missed!" Sasuke glanced at Naruto and Sakura. "Leave the Kazahana Dōtō to me!"

"Hey, Sasuke, you're too cunning!"

"Alright, alright, you two!" Sakura Haruno snapped, silencing the two idiots who had started fighting amongst themselves before even engaging the enemy. "We haven't even decided whether to continue the mission yet!"

"What?! Sakura! Don't you want to complete this A-rank mission?!" Naruto shouted, rubbing the mess of hair on his head.

"At least ask the person involved for their decision first!" Sakura rolled her eyes at him.

Then, turning to Asama other two, he said, "You've heard it all. We are confident in our ability to guarantee your safety, regardless of whether our opponent is a so-called Jonin- level figure like Kazahana Dōtō. I've already dispatched reconnaissance clones. If you trust us, we will launch a surprise attack on the mastermind tonight and resolve this issue completely. So, what are your thoughts?"

"If the filming in the Land of Snow can be completed as scheduled, that would be ideal," Asama Takehiko stated. "Then, if you wish to continue the mission, I will not object."

"I have an irreconcilable hatred for Kazahana Dōtō. If the three ninja masters can help me avenge this grudge, I, Asama Sandayu, will be eternally grateful and will repay you even at the cost of my life!" Asama Sandayu said resolutely.

Everyone then turned their attention to Kazahana Koyuki.

If Kazahana Dōtō is defeated, then Kazahana Koyuki will become the next daimyo of the Land of Snow, so her opinion is of great importance.

Kazahana Koyuki's family was destroyed because of his uncle, so he naturally hated Kazahana Dōtō to the core.

She only regretted her inability to take revenge, which was why she had kept her feelings hidden in her heart and dared not mention them. Now that the old story had been brought up again, and she heard that there was a chance to avenge her great grudge, her heart was filled with mixed feelings of sorrow and joy, and she was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Hearing Asama and his nephew express their opinions one after another, Yuki nodded vigorously, choked back tears as she stated her stance, and then threw herself onto Sandayu's shoulder and wept bitterly.

Asama Sandayu had no children and had relied on Kazahana Koyuki for many years. She had long since become like a father to Fuuka Yuki and regarded her as her own daughter.

He patted Kazahana Koyuki on the shoulder and sighed softly, "Alas, I was a guard serving Yuki's father, Prince Kazahana Sōsetsu, and I witnessed that tragedy firsthand. Fortunately, with the help of you Konoha Ninja, Yuki was rescued."

"If we can get rid of that heartless scoundrel, I, Asama Sandayu, will finally have the face to meet Kazahana Sōsetsu!" As she said this, Asama Sandayu's eyes also became moist.

Asama Takehiko, on the other hand, had been traveling and working away from home all these years and hadn't experienced that tragedy firsthand. He had only heard about it from his uncle, so he wasn't as emotional or agitated. He patted Sandayu on the shoulder. "Uncle, don't get too emotional."

Seeing the atmosphere threatening to escalate into a melodramatic soap opera, Sakura quickly suggested to the only composed director, "Since that's the case, let's proceed with the project. Let's suspend filming for today and tomorrow until we've dealt with the Fūsetsu Dotō."

Asama Takehiko nodded repeatedly, saying, "Understood! Then, on behalf of the crew and my uncle, I thank you!"

"We need to rest for a bit now, and set off for our mission close to midnight. When we do, make sure the boat is out to sea, far from the shore, and that the Snow Ninja don't spot us. If all goes well, everything should be finished by noon tomorrow." Sakura gave these instructions before leaving the meeting room with Naruto and Sasuke.

That night.

In the early hours of the morning, with a bright moon and few stars, it was the perfect night for murder.

Sakura led the two straight to the capital city where the Kazahana Dōtō were located.

"After I defeated those three Snow Ninja, I left a Snow Ninja Ice Clone to track them to their base, in the castle of the Land of Snow's capital. The Snow Ninja have quite a few ninjas, thirty or forty in number, but apart from three who are relatively strong, the rest are just lackeys without any special armor, not worth mentioning."

While traveling, she took the opportunity to ask the two of them about the intelligence that her Ice Clone had gathered.

(This is the third update today. From now on, there will normally be two updates every two days.)

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