Land of Snow

"Because... because I have love—love for all the villagers, love for all my comrades, love for the girl I love, love for Konoha, love for the Land of Fire, love for this world. With these loves, I found my means of survival. They silently support me from behind. How many times in life can one fight? If not now, when? There is a kind of love called courage, and a kind of love called cherishing. Cherish the love that is hard to come by, and then muster the courage to fight. Even if I die on the road of hope, someone will still appear to take on this burden and continue on. Although I am dead, I live in their hearts, in everyone's feelings. If a person dies because of everything they have protected, then even in death, it is worthwhile. As the saying goes, 'Though there be thousands, I will go!'" Issui said, clenching his fist.

"That sounds nice, but once you're dead, you're dead. Who else would want to die? No one will remember you; you'll just be buried and abandoned in a dusty corner..." Kazahana Koyuki smiled softly and shook her head.

"Is that so? Then let's make a deal." Issui held up one of his index fingers.

"What promise? Pshaw, childish stuff..." Kazahana Koyuki thought this kid was playing a pinky promise game with her, which was really tasteless.

"I promise I'll protect you, even if it costs me my life. If I live, all the better. If I die, I'm sure you'll never forget me! Come on, pinky promise, it's a promise. I'll protect you. Anyone who tries to harm you will have to fight me. Even if it means death, I'll protect you from any harm. I won't be afraid or back down even if I face all the evil forces in the world!" Issui said with a smile.

Kazahana Koyuki's performance of affection for Issui has captivated me. What is this feeling? He would actually risk his life to protect me, just like my father. Is it really effective? Should I trust him? Maybe I should trust him this once, but...

Issui the hesitant Kazahana Koyuki, Yishui took her right hand with his other hand, hooked his fingers with hers, and said, "Alright, now I will be your protector. I will stop anyone who wants to hurt you before your dream comes true, and I will eliminate them all. I will risk my life to protect you."

Kazahana Koyuki abruptly pulled her hand back, her face flushed with embarrassment, and said, "What? Trying to take advantage of me? You little pervert! I've seen this kind of flirting before. You don't need to risk your life to protect me. I won't accept your kindness."

"You don't need to thank me. This is our agreement. We agreed to protect you, not in the form of protection that requires a reward, but as a life-or-death commitment. Some things are far more important than money, like our agreement, Princess Gale. Let me protect you then," Issui said, looking at his wine glass.

"I..." Kazahana Koyuki was about to speak when she was interrupted.

"Miss Yukie, we've finally found you! That's wonderful! We're about to set off for the Land of Snow. You can't be so willful anymore..." Sandayū Asama rushed in anxiously.

"I'm not acting in Princess Gale anymore. It's normal for many movies to change the lead actor halfway through filming," Kazahana Koyuki said nonchalantly, continuing to drink her wine.

"This won't do! We've put in so much effort to get the role of Princess Gale, we can't give up halfway. We need to use this role to gain a lot of popularity..." The Sandayū panicked when Kazahana Koyuki wasn't going to the Land of Snow. She was their hope for reviving the Land of Snow; they couldn't let it end like this...

"I don't want to be an actress anymore, okay...?" Kazahana Koyuki was terrified that if she returned to the Land of Snow and saw Kazahana Dōtō, he would definitely kill her.

"No, if we don't act, we won't get paid. How will we live?" the Sandayū advised again.

Issui, not wanting to listen to their endless chatter, simply conjured a knife with one hand and gently tapped Kazahana Koyuki on the back of the neck, causing her to faint. Then, smiling, she said to the Sandayū, "See? That's simple enough. Let's go. Let's not waste any more time. This method is the most direct."

Sandayū Asama breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's great."

Then the two of them walked towards the film set together, Issui took the initiative to carry Kazahana Koyuki back.

In the Land of Snow, inside a magnificent palace.

"It's confirmed that the famous actress Fujikaze Yukie is actually Kazahana Koyuki. The Hexagonal Crystal is on her, and they're even planning to film a movie in the Land of Snow," Nadare Rōga said, kneeling beside Kazahana Dōtō.

Fubuki Hisame said happily, "It seems our hard work of searching for over ten years has not been in vain; we have finally found her."

Fuyukuma Mizore confidently said, "Tch, she's just a weak little girl, easy to deal with."

"I heard that she's being protected by Konoha's Star of Hope this time, the infamous Demon God Issui Kanna. He's incredibly powerful, so be careful," Nadare Rōga said nonchalantly. He wasn't interested in this so-called Star of Hope. "Why isn't Kakashi here? What a shame. I wanted to fight him again."

"It's not Kakashi. I thought we were going to have a fateful showdown," said Flying Swallow Fubuki regretfully.

"What 'Star of Konoha'? 'Demon God'? Never heard of it. Let's just wipe them out in one go," Fuyukuma Mizore said, curling his lip.

"Where am I? I feel so dizzy. Sandayū, please get me some water..." Kazahana Koyuki gradually regained consciousness.

"Yukie, Miss, you're finally awake! That's wonderful..." Sandayū Asama heard Kazahana Koyuki's voice outside the door and hurriedly came in, greeting her warmly. He seemed quite dutiful.

"I feel a little shaky. Am I not fully awake yet...?" Kazahana Koyuki took a sip of warm water from the Sandayū and rubbed her temples.

"You are very lucid. We are on a ship, so..." the Sandayū said.

Kazahana Koyuki immediately interrupted the Sandayū, shouting, "What did you say...?"

The Sandayū smiled helplessly. Kazahana Koyuki immediately jumped out of bed, ran out of the cabin, and looked at the vast blue sea before her, feeling greatly uneasy. What on earth was going on?

In the end, Kazahana Koyuki had no choice but to accept reality and work with the director to film the movie.

When Kazahana Koyuki was filming the movie, Issui finally witnessed what a genius actor was. Kazahana Koyuki's performance was excellent, and coupled with her stunning beauty, she would definitely become the most popular actress, without a doubt. If such a person were in her previous life, she would probably have won Oscars for Best Actress so many times she wouldn't know where to begin.

However, the performance of "Kazahana Koyuki" wasn't perfect. Some necessary props were still needed, such as eye drops. I've heard in my past life that some actors can get so deeply into character that they can cry or laugh at will. Some even need a break after filming a scene, otherwise they'll suffer a mental breakdown. After finishing a scene, they unconsciously put themselves in the lead role, and if they don't rest before filming the next scene, it's hard to get into character. Without being in character, it's difficult to express the character's expressions. Actors are a very hard-working group. They appear beautiful on the surface, but no one knows how much hardship they hide behind the scenes. Only they themselves know. Sacrificing their bodies is the least of their worries; sometimes they have to sell their souls. But this is the path they chose, and we can't blame or comfort them.

The first day passed quickly amidst the intense filming.

The next day, the weather was gloomy, and a huge, steep ice cliff appeared ahead of the road. But the director was delighted, as this was an excellent filming location.

And so, here, Princess Gale Kazahana Koyuki the Great Demon King engage in a final battle. Just as the two are putting on their passionate performance, a section of the massive ice cliff is blasted away, the enemy appears, and the battle begins...

"Eye of Heaven - Ice - Ice Clone Technique!!! Everyone, get back to the ship quickly, I'll handle this." Issui split into three Ice Clones and stood in front of everyone.

The three members of Nadare Rōga went straight to Issui, seemingly not thinking that he needed to be careful, considering him just a brat who hadn't even grown up yet.

"Kid, hand over the girl behind you to us, and we'll spare your life, how about it?" Nadare Rōga said calmly.

"Tch, underestimating me? I won't hand her over to you. This is my promise to protect her with my life, isn't it, Miss Yukie?" Issui said to Kazahana Koyuki, who was lying on the ground in fear.

"Tch, I think we should just wipe them all out, Avalanche," said Flying Swallow Fubuki.

"Don't act yet, Princess Koyuki. If you hand over the Hexagonal Crystal, we'll release everyone here, okay?" Nadare Rōga Avalanche asked Kazahana Koyuki.

"Tch, Sandayū, hurry up and bring Miss Yukie to the ship. The battle is going to be very intense, I hope she won't get hurt." Issui said, taking out a Shuriken.

"Pah! Kid, you're asking for it! Watch this!" The Fuyukuma Mizore attacked directly.

Pshaw, you think you can hit him with such slow speed? I'll take you down in a second.

"Konoha Whirlwind!" Yishui kicked Fuyukuma Mizore away in Issui instant.

"Not bad, kid. But I'm not hurt at all. Kid, do you know what this armor we're wearing is for? It'll scare you to death if I tell you." Fuyukuma Mizore stood up and mocked. He was indeed unharmed, apparently the armor had absorbed some of the damage. Although he had suffered some injury, it wasn't significant.

"Tch, it's just a tortoise shell. I saw three stupid tortoises, so what?" Issui mocked. Without one's own strength, anything borrowed is illusory and meaningless.

"Hmph, arrogant! Our armor is called Chakra Armor. It amplifies the Chakra within the body, enhances all kinds of Ninjutsu, and constructs a Chakra defensive barrier around the body. It can even negate your Chakra attacks and reflect your Chakra. No matter what kind of Ninjutsu or Genjutsu it is, it's ineffective. How about that, scared now? If you kowtow to me a few times and hand over the girl behind you, we might spare you and even allow you to join the Land of Snow. With hard work, you too can obtain such armor," Nadare Rōga said.

"No..." Kazahana Koyuki was very worried that Issui would hand her over, and then she would lose her life.