Spring in the Land of Snow (Part One)

Then the warm sunlight shone down, reflecting different colors on the ice. A rainbow appeared behind the ice cliff, and the sunlight warmed everyone's faces, making them feel extremely comfortable.

As Kazahana Koyuki gradually regained consciousness, she saw herself lying in Issui warm embrace, her body flushed and looking incredibly beautiful.

"Cut, cut, good, that's the perfect scene! Princess Gale lies beside the ninja guarding her, their eyes filled with hope and the spark of love. A rainbow appears in the sky, symbolizing the perfect fruit of their love. Great! That's exactly the effect we wanted! It's a perfect scene. Combined with the battle just now, this movie, Princess Gale, is sure to be a huge hit!" The director, oblivious to the danger, exclaimed, bursting into laughter.

Kazahana Koyuki blushed and quickly pushed Issui away, breaking free from his embrace.

"Why are you so scared? I kept my word, didn't I? I protected you. Trust me, I will continue to protect you until this mission is over. That's my promise, okay?" Issui said confidently to Kazahana Koyuki.

"Hmph, all pretentious. But thank you anyway. Are you alright?" Kazahana Koyuki said, bowing her head.

"It's alright, I'm Star of Hope, a genius ninja of Konoha. It's impossible for these few enemies to scare me or hurt me. Let's get on the ship, it's too cold here, you'll catch a cold," Issui said.

"Hmph, I know, you're not even as old as me, yet you're so nosy. But I'll agree because of your sincerity." Kazahana Koyuki turned her head and whispered as she walked towards the boat.

"Hey, Sandayū, tell me about this Snow Ninja in a bit. Why did they try to steal Miss Yukie's necklace? That way I'll have a strategy, and even if something unexpected happens, I can figure out how to deal with it. After all, we don't know the enemy's movements or purpose yet," Issui said to the Sandayū, who was standing there dumbfounded.

"Ah, okay, I didn't expect them to arrive so quickly..." The Sandayū nodded heavily.

The three of them boarded the large ship together and went into a cabin where the director and production assistant were also present.

"What's going on? There's an attack by ninjas from the Land of Snow! Miss Yukie, why are you their target?" The director asked impatiently as he saw Issui three of them enter the cabin.

"I'll explain," said the Sandayū, standing to the side.

First, I pulled Koyuki down to sit and calm her down.

"Actually, the actress Fujikaze Yukie's true identity is Princess Kazehana of the Land of Snow. Her real name is Kazahana Koyuki, and she is the true heir to this country. This country needs the princess to save it, so I suggested to the director that we film in the Land of Snow. In order to bring the princess back to this country, I had no other choice but to do this," the Sandayū said quietly.

"So Miss Yukie is actually a real princess, her name is Kazahana Koyuki, that's a beautiful name. I never expected this. And what about those attackers?" Issui said.

"Actually, I've been serving Princess Koyuki since she was very young. Perhaps she was too young then to remember me. I used to serve the First monarch of this country, Her Majesty Kazahana Sōsetsu. The Land of Snow is a small but peaceful country. Her Majesty Hayate loved Princess Koyuki very much, and they lived peaceful lives every day. But one day ten years ago, Hayate's younger brother, Kazahana Dōtō, actually hired the Snow Ninja to launch an attack and invade this country. The beautiful Kazahana Castle was engulfed in flames and eventually collapsed. We all thought Koyuki had perished. When I saw the movie starring Princess Koyuki, I was so happy. You... you're still alive... that's wonderful." The Sandayū shed tears of joy.

"Hmph, wouldn't it have been better if we had died back then..." said Kazahana Koyuki.

"Please don't say that. Your being alive is the greatest encouragement to us," the Sandayū said.

"Hmph, though I am alive, my heart is dead. Ten years ago, on that day, I cried all my tears..." Kazahana Koyuki said calmly.

Issui interjected, "Your tears haven't dried yet. Didn't you just cry for me out of worry?"

"Hmph, I didn't." Kazahana Koyuki blushed and lowered her head.

"In order to bring Princess Koyuki back to this country, I managed to become Fujikaze Yukie's agent after that, and then waited for the opportunity to bring the princess back to this country, and finally..." the Sandayū continued.

The stagehand shouted, "So, you're saying we've all been used by you?"

"Oh, I apologize for deceiving you, but it was for the people of the Land of Snow..."

The Sandayū ran to Kazahana Koyuki's side and earnestly said, "Princess Koyuki, please defeat the Dotō, become the ruler of this country, and save its people! I, Sandayū Asama, will protect Your Highness even if it costs me my life. Please join us in fighting the Dotō!"

"No, I don't want to. No matter what, you can't defeat the Dotō," Koyuki said.

"No, isn't there me? Koyuki Princess, I swore an oath to protect you. Don't you believe me? Besides, now that Dotō knows you've come to the Snow Chariot, he won't stop. So you only have one choice: defeat him and become the master of this country. Of course, I'll be there to protect you at all times. And do you want things to continue like this? Don't you want to avenge your father? Don't worry, with me here, we'll definitely defeat Dotō. We made a promise." Issui said, extending her right little finger.

"Well... okay then, but don't lie to me." Koyuki also extended her left little finger and hooked it with Issui's little finger.

Seeing that Koyuki had made her decision, the Sandayū exclaimed happily, "That's wonderful..."

"Hmm, this is a very good finale for Princess Gale." The director's eyes sparkled.

"What? You're going to continue being used by them?" the stage manager shouted.

"Of course, this is an excellent idea! A real princess starring in this movie, defeating the enemy, and becoming the heir to the country—it's a fantastic concept!" the director exclaimed happily.

"Yes, if a real princess played a princess in a movie, it would have a very good publicity effect, and this identity would be more easily accepted by the general public. The director's thinking is really different; he actually came up with such an idea. It's amazing!" The production assistant's eyes lit up, and he praised the director loudly.

"Of course, otherwise why would I be the director and you the production assistant? Okay, that's enough for now. We're almost at the Land of Snow, let's get ready to film." The director straightened up and said.

Upon arriving in the Land of Snow, the group was stunned by the Ice and Snow World landscape. Everywhere was a world of snow, with mountains like dancing silver snakes, plains like galloping wax elephants, thousands of miles of ice, and snow drifting for miles. Looking out... well, it's not Earth yet, we don't even know. It might not even be Earth at all, but another planet in the universe. After all, the world here is far different from Earth's, with no seven continents or four oceans or anything like that.

After tidying up the filming equipment, the Sandayū led everyone through a deep, icy pool, preparing to lead his companions to fight against the Dotō after filming the scene.

Issui watched Koyuki filming the movie while he waited for Kazahana Dōtō to appear.

After a while, the people filming suddenly noticed that railway tracks had been exposed on the ground, and they heard the roar of a train. Everyone stopped.

Issui walked up to the group and said, "Everyone, quickly hide! The enemy might appear any minute now."

The director and other crew members all went into hiding, while the Sandayū went to find his companions and told them that Princess Koyuki had returned to the Land of Snow. They were to join forces to resist the rule of Kazahana Dōtō, save the country, and stand with Princess Koyuki.

Kazahana Koyuki was pulled behind Issui.

"Boom... Whoosh... Boom... Whoosh..."

Kazahana Dōtō drove the train out of the ice cave, and he and his men Nadare Rōga, stood on the roof of the train.

The train stopped next to Issui Kazahana Koyuki.

"Oh, you defeated opponent, you still dare to come? The one next to you is your master Kazahana Dōtō, right? What, you want to go to the Yomi with your servant? How laughable." Issui mocked them.

"Koyuki, it's been ten years! You've grown so beautiful! Are you carrying the Hexagonal Crystal with you?" Kazahana Dōtō was overjoyed to see Kazahana Koyuki standing behind Issui Xiang. "My treasure is almost in my hands! This is wonderful! But I didn't expect such a powerful brat to appear and kill my two capable subordinates, Flying Swallow Fubuki and Fuyukuma Mizore. I'll have Nadare Rōga entangle him first, and then join forces with Rōga to destroy him after I obtain the treasure."

At this moment, the Sandayū appeared on the other side of the train with his dozens of brothers.

"Now let us protect Her Highness! Victory is on our side! Kazahana Dōtō, today, here with my fifty brothers, we will annihilate you! The hatred for Her Majesty Kazahana Sōsetsu's murder ten years ago, and all the grudges accumulated over the years, will be realized on this day! Brothers, for the Land of Snow, for the deceased Her Majesty Hayayuki, for Her Highness Kazahana Koyuki of Land of Snow, charge!"

The Sandayū, leading the group behind them, drew their weapons and charged down the snow-capped mountain.

"Tch, a bunch of trash, wipe them out..." Kazahana Dōtō looked at the Sandayū Asama Ōdaifuku charging down and scoffed. "Pah! A bunch of lambs trying to eat wolves? They're asking for death! Then let them go see their own Kazahana Sōsetsu."

"Eye of Heaven - Frost, Ice Creation, Giant Ice Serpent."

Issui didn't want Sandayū Asama to die. With them assisting Kazahana Koyuki after the country was reclaimed, her life would be easier.

A giant ice serpent burst forth from beneath the train, completely destroying all the carriages. The carriages that were preparing to launch Shuriken were also attacked and rendered useless. As for the snow ninjas inside the carriages, they were left to their own devices; they deserved to die for aiding and abetting evil.