The northern border of the Land of Fire, where it met the Land of Rice Fields.
Kakashi stood among the crowd, waiting for the princess of the Land of Rice Fields to arrive.
Several Konoha ninja had come with him. Wearing traditional Konoha combat uniforms, they stood out conspicuously among the diplomatic officials.
As noon approached, the ninja sent out to scout returned.
"Captain Kakashi, the princess is here!"
At this, the delegation immediately straightened up, everyone preparing themselves solemnly.
Looking into the distance, they finally saw a convoy approaching. Many people surrounded an ornate carriage.
Once the two sides met, the leaders of each party conveyed the intentions of their respective daimyo. After the handover procedures were completed, a woman in splendid attire slowly emerged from a carriage in the Land of Rice Fields' convoy. Her garments were covered in jeweled ornaments, her black hair gathered into an elegant cloudlike coiffure. A thin veil concealed her face, making it impossible to see clearly, yet even so, one could guess just how beautiful she was beneath it.
The Konoha ninja in the crowd could not help staring.
"This princess is really beautiful!"
"Yeah..."
"Captain Kakashi, what is the princess's name?"
Kakashi was also watching the princess. After a brief pause, he said, "...Kushinadahime."
The princess seemed to sense something and glanced in Kakashi's direction. Her clear, limpid eyes shimmered, and even Kakashi, who normally kept his distance from women, found his breath catching.
Kushinadahime...
He silently repeated the princess's name as he watched her, supported by attendants, enter the carriage prepared by the Land of Fire's delegation.
The curtain fell, completely concealing the figure that had captivated so many present.
Once Kakashi recovered, a wave of lingering fear suddenly washed over him. A woman like this was certainly no ordinary