The Treasure of the Land of Snow

Land of Snow.

Shamu brought everyone to the Rainbow Ice Wall.

"This is the place."

There were twelve Rainbow Ice Walls in total, like enormous full-length mirrors.

They stood in six directions, with two walls in each direction, forming two nested hexagons.

At the center of the hexagon was a stone platform, with a hexagonal recess in its middle.

It was a keyhole, and the key hung around Kazahana Koyuki's neck. It was a keepsake her father had left her.

Shamu first searched the surrounding area and eventually found the stones Kazahana Dōtō had mentioned.

These stones had all condensed beneath the Rainbow Ice Walls.

Only after examining them carefully did Shamu recognize what they were.

They were ley line energy. Normally, the Rainbow Ice Walls would absorb all of it.

But the Rainbow Ice Walls had remained in standby mode, so the ley line energy had gone unused and naturally condensed.

Shamu saw Kazahana Koyuki and the people from the film crew approaching.

He said to Kazahana Koyuki, "This is the treasure your father left for you."

Kazahana Koyuki asked in confusion, "What treasure?"

Instead of answering directly, Shamu spoke to the crew behind her.

"There will be a beautiful scene here shortly. Be ready to capture it."

Though the crew had no idea what kind of beautiful sight the twelve ice walls would produce, they all trusted Shamu.

"Understood, Lord Shamu. We'll make preparations right away."

Okamura hurried off to make arrangements.

"Before opening the treasure, there's still Kazahana Dōtō for you to deal with. How do you intend to handle him?"

As Shamu spoke, he controlled Kazahana Dōtō and brought him before Kazahana Koyuki.

Kazahana Koyuki looked at the man before her, the one who had killed her father and forced her into years of wandering.

Hatred flashed in her eyes.

"Mr. Shamu, lend me a weapon."

Shamu raised his brows. He had not expected Kazahana Koyuki to act personally.

Shamu held out his hand toward Sasuke.

Sasuke untied the Kusanagi Blade and handed it over.

Shamu placed it, sheath and all, before Kazahana Koyuki.

Kazahana Koyuki took a deep breath.

Gripping the sword with both hands, she drew the Kusanagi Blade with a sharp hiss.

Kazahana Koyuki usually handled props. It was her first time holding a real weapon, and it was far heavier in her hands.

But she had no time to think about that now.

Holding the Kusanagi Blade, Kazahana Koyuki pressed its tip against Kazahana Dōtō's chest.

She turned and glanced at Asama Santarō, whose face was filled with encouragement.

Kazahana Koyuki did not hesitate for long. With both hands, she thrust forward with all her strength.

The Kusanagi Blade was extremely sharp, even sharper than she had expected. Kazahana Dōtō, controlled by Shamu's genjutsu, did not resist in the slightest.

Even his muscles were relaxed.

The instant Kazahana Dōtō was stabbed, he jolted awake, but he only had time to glance down at his chest.

Pain and darkness swept over him.

Kazahana Koyuki staggered back two steps and nearly fell onto Kazahana Dōtō.

Fortunately, she shifted her weight and steadied herself.

By then, the Kusanagi Blade had already pierced through Kazahana Dōtō's heart.

Kazahana Koyuki froze briefly, then pulled out the Kusanagi Blade.

A spray of blood splashed out, staining her face red.

Kazahana Koyuki wiped the blood from her face, flicked the blood from the blade, and returned it to Shamu.

"Thank you, Lord Shamu."

Shamu handed the Kusanagi Blade back to Sasuke.

"Alright. Next comes the time to open the treasure."

"When this treasure is opened, it may answer many of the questions that once troubled you."

Shamu pointed at the hole in the center of the stone platform. "Go insert the key."

Kazahana Koyuki looked at the stone platform and instantly realized that her necklace was the key.

She inserted the key, and a great deal of light spread out from the stone platform.

Rainbow-like colors appeared across all twelve Rainbow Ice Walls.

Several of the youths gathered around Shamu, watching the breathtaking sight in amazement.

Shamu asked, "Do you feel it?"

Haku, Kimimaro, and Naruto all nodded, while Hinata looked somewhat uncertain.

Only Sasuke looked bewildered. "Is it getting hotter?"

Shamu shook his head.

The temperature around them was indeed rising, but Shamu was not referring to that. The Natural Energy was gradually increasing.

At that moment, the rainbows on the Rainbow Ice Walls grew brighter and brighter.

The temperature rose faster, the ice covering the ground continually melted into flowing snowmelt, and mist rose all around them.

The outer layer of the Rainbow Ice Walls fell away, revealing that they had been sealed in ice.

They had not been entirely made of ice. Inside were special crystal panels.

The Rainbow Ice Walls became Rainbow Crystal Barriers.

When all the Rainbow Crystal Barriers were revealed, immense heat and Natural Energy burst forth.

A gigantic rainbow arched overhead, spanning above Shamu and the others.

Green grass began sprouting rapidly from the ground, budding and growing at incredible speed.

Small flowers even bloomed, while green spread outward as far as the eye could see.

Everyone was stunned by the scene that seemed like a miracle.

Then a gentle male voice sounded in everyone's ears.

"Believe in the future, and spring will surely come."

An image of a little girl appeared amid the Rainbow Crystal Barriers.

"What does little Koyuki want to do after spring arrives?"

Everyone knew that little girl was Kazahana Koyuki.

Kazahana Koyuki answered in a childish voice, "Koyuki wants to become a princess."

"Hm?" The male voice laughed gently.

"What kind of princess?"

Kazahana Koyuki answered earnestly, "A gentle, strong princess with justice."

"That will be very difficult..."

"But if you treat your dream as faith and pursue it without giving up, then it will surely come true."

A bespectacled middle-aged man appeared in the image.

He was Kazahana Koyuki's father, Fuuka Sōsetsu.

Kazahana Koyuki had not expected to see her father again. Her eyes were already brimming with tears.

In the image, Kazahana Sōsetsu placed the necklace made from the key around her neck when she was little.

He said gently, "Do you see her? A beautiful princess is standing right here..."

Only then did Kazahana Koyuki's scorching tears pour down.

"But Koyuki is troubled by one thing, because she has another dream."

"What is the other dream?"

"An actress..."

"Ha ha ha..."

Hearing her father's hearty laughter, a smile also appeared on Kazahana Koyuki's face without her realizing it.

"Incredible, incredible! The Land of Snow really does have spring!"

Okamura had personally recorded everything that had happened. If he put this miracle-like scene into the movie,

his film would definitely become a massive hit.

The Natural Energy around them had already reached its peak. Only now did Sasuke belatedly realize that the surroundings had not merely grown warmer.

There was also extremely dense Natural Energy.

A voice rang out. "Lord Shamu, am I too late?"