I'll Wait Here for You

After saying that, Naruto suddenly took off his Death Reaper Mask and stared at it for a second.

His actions just now were completely out of character; it was just something he really wanted to do, a spur-of-the-moment decision.

But this wasn't from the heart. According to his habits, Kazahana Dōtō should already be a corpse, not standing there trembling.

He consistently avoids doing meaningless things; this has always been his style of doing things.

Despite being tempted by the mask, he still did something out of character. Like that time in Kumogakure, when he suddenly wanted to fire a small Tailed Beast Ball.

Before this, he didn't know how to use it; he just used it on a whim because he was feeling frustrated. He felt good at the time, but now he felt a chill run down his spine.

What the hell is this?

Everything went wrong starting with Temari's choice to Evil God's Hound. The rewards became increasingly outrageous, ranging from the blessing of Evil God to the gaze of Death Reaper.

Damn it, I hope I haven't gotten myself into trouble with something evil.

Kazahana Dōtō remained motionless, standing close to the throne, watching the man remove his mask and stand there in a daze. For a moment, no one knew what he was up to.

Just as he was about to make a move, he saw Naruto shudder as if he had a seizure and stare at him again.

You deserve to die!

"What?"

"Ah!!!"

With a beautiful, decisive strike, Naruto pierced through Fuuka Nuta's Kusanagi Sword without using Chakra, simply ending the king's reign with his divine weapon, the Kazahana Dōtō Chakra Armor.

Kazahana Koyuki stood there, sighing as she thought about how everything was over.

The Land of Snow's palace was purged, and Kazahana Koyuki became the new queen.

During the coronation ceremony, the old minister, trembling, placed the crown on Kazahana Koyuki's head. Whether it was due to old age or excessive fear, he almost tripped and fell while descending the steps.

Naruto stood by for a whole day, watching as Kazahana Koyuki completed all the rituals. The people below didn't seem happy; they were all filled with worry.

Is it possible? A princess who disappeared more than a decade ago?

The next day, Kazahana Koyuki used the Hexagonal Crystal necklace to open the Geothermal Generator inside the Rainbow Wall. The ice Land of Snow melted, spring arrived, and all things revived.

The people were overjoyed and quickly changed their address to "Long live Her Majesty the Queen."

Inside the palace, Kazahana Koyuki lay wearily on the large bed, turning her head to look at the tall boy leaning against the wall.

"The Land of Snow needs to find a new way out. The tax will be set at zero for now, and will be levied in three years. The tax rate has not yet been determined. You can give your opinions in three years."

"Okay," Naruto replied.

[Ding! Reward: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken successfully deployed!]

[Ding! Reward: Max-level Flying Thunder God (Bonus: 6 Flying Thunder God Kunai visible only to the host) Successfully deployed]

He had achieved his goal, and the system had given him two rewards, but he wasn't happy at all. Those two masks were like hot potatoes; he still had to return to the Land of Whirlpools to find out more when he had time.

This damn lazy dog system doesn't seem so pure after all. But what's the point anyway? Is it for more active sperm or to look as handsome as Pan An?

"Are you going back?"

"Something came up," Naruto said casually, his thoughts completely focused on the system. This damn system was getting worse and worse; he wouldn't even know when he'd be tricked.

"You should be able to handle things on your own, right? If you can't, that's okay too." Naruto wanted to say something malicious, "It's okay if you can't handle it, I've already completed my mission."

"I can handle it. When can you come back?" Kazahana Koyuki looked at him expectantly.

"Back?" He was somewhat taken aback.

Go back to the Land of Snow? He really hadn't thought about it; that place was too far from Konohagakure. If he went back this time, he probably wouldn't even think about it for a long time.

He didn't see anything wrong with it. Although they had some acquaintance due to their mission, it wasn't to the point of being close friends like Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya. To put it another way, they could only be considered friends, and not even particularly good friends.

The main reason is Kazahana Koyuki's sophisticated, world-weary face; she's overly ascetic, and everything seems to evoke a sense of listlessness. It's as if nothing matters, her face practically screaming, "I could never like anyone!"

"I'm not sure," he said after a moment's hesitation, moving away from the wall and walking towards her. "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to ask how old you are when you'll come of age?" Kazahana Koyuki sat up from the huge bed, without even putting on her socks.

A pair of lotus-white feet sank softly into the bed, their bones like jade and their skin like snow. The slender toes were very clean, each one distinct and graceful, embodying the delicacy of a woman in her late twenties.

"About three years, why are you asking?" Naruto casually found a sofa to sit on, tilted his head back, and asked in return.

She smiled and simply said, "I should have been free by then."

Naruto lowered his eyes, seemingly deep in thought, as time ticked by. He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally looked up and spoke.

"It's hard for me to stay in one place, and I don't know where I'll go in the future."

"It's alright." Kazahana Koyuki understood and said with a smile, "I won't stay here to be a queen forever. My father has passed away, and I have no relatives here."

He was just about to get up, rubbing his hands on his trouser leg, when he looked up and met Kazahana Koyuki's gaze. Somewhat unexpectedly, he saw Kazahana Koyuki's eyes glistening with tears in the darkness.

She stared at him with intense longing and dependence, but quickly suppressed it.

"I just want to spend some time taking care of the legacy my father left behind, and I don't intend to continue like this forever," she continued. "Once things are settled here, I will abdicate and do what I like."

"Is that all?" he asked.

"Go see the person you like," she said half-jokingly. "Remember to wait for me."

"Okay." Naruto agreed with a smile, walked up to her, and returned the Hexagonal Crystal to her. "Since it's a keepsake from your father, it's better to return it to you."

Their shadows were cast against the wall, and the masculine scent wafted over them, causing Kazahana Koyuki's heart to race for no apparent reason. She snapped back to reality and immediately shook her head.

"You don't want it?"

"No!" Kazahana Koyuki hurriedly snatched it away.

"Anyway, I'm leaving now. Governing a small country well in three years is no easy task." Naruto smiled. "I wish you all the best."

That smile was like a ray of light shining into Kazahana Koyuki's heart; she believed he would understand. Even without a direct response, that gaze still sent shivers down her spine to her toes.

It was the gaze of an adult, fleeting with admiration for her body and a hint of desire.

Kazahana Koyuki's mouth suddenly went dry, and her heart pounded for a moment. In the dimly lit palace, she slowly crawled off the bed, her beautiful toes touching the ground as she got off.

The air was slightly damp; the humidity had increased considerably after the snow melted. She walked up to Naruto, only to find that she was shorter than him.

"Grown up so fast?" She was slightly surprised and stood in front of him, momentarily at a loss for words. With a delicate, world-weary face, she looked up at him slightly, her dark hair lightly covering her temples.

"What's up?" he asked, not looking away, his gaze fixed on Kazahana Koyuki.

Kazahana Koyuki's full lips parted slightly as she murmured softly.

"I have lived in palaces and slept on the streets since I was born. I have suffered countless setbacks and hardships. I have seen the highest mountains and cheering crowds. I have struggled, doubted, and given up. I thought this was all there was to my life and I was extremely depressed in a tavern."

"I kept acting, living in front of the camera as another character. I thought I could escape, but I failed. Luckily, you pulled me out. I've never truly been myself in my life, but now I think I can."

"I have someone I like, and we're at the perfect age."

Naruto stared at her deep collarbone, his gaze drifting downwards until he could no longer look away. She squinted with difficulty, as if afraid of light, her face flushed as she looked at him.

"I like you." She stood on tiptoe and gently hugged him.

"Actually, you should know that I'm leaving soon," Naruto said, coughing, standing there without moving. "I'm still Konohagakure ninja, and I need to go back to report."

"I hope you can stay. I can give you everything I have." She let go of Naruto, but her arm was still around his neck, and she gave a dry laugh.

"Although I know it's pointless to say this, you don't need everything I have, you have many better options."

"Yes." He didn't hide anything. "I'm going back to Konohagakure. I'll probably stay there until I come of age. I probably won't go back to the Land of Snow before then."

These words struck Kazahana Koyuki like a stone falling into her heart. Her body stiffened slightly, and a hint of fear appeared on her face.

"Will you come back? It's okay, I can come to you, but I can't live without you," she said almost pleadingly, a tingling sensation spreading through her heart.

She found it incredibly difficult to maintain her self-respect in his presence, regardless of her status as a major star or the king of the Land of Snow. Whenever he stood there, she would involuntarily walk towards him.

"I will," he said, his voice a little hoarse, and he coughed. "Don't be so dramatic. I'm just going back to the village, not going to the Yomi."

Before she could finish speaking, Kazahana Koyuki hugged him again, her thin and frail body embracing him tightly, as if she wanted to melt into his body.

Without a word, she forcefully kissed his neck, showering him with kisses, her breath hot, her voice carrying a unique chill, and bit him hard on the shoulder blade.

"If you forget, you're finished," she said viciously.

Before parting.

She wanted to say something more, Naruto had already waved and left. A short while later, his figure vanished completely, disappearing without a trace, just like the snow evaporated by the geothermal heat.