Kazahana Koyuki

In a small tavern in Konoha, a beautiful woman wearing a trench coat sat at a small table, drinking alone to drown her sorrows.

Many people around were drawn to her figure.

"Where did such a beautiful babe come from?"

"She's truly gorgeous, and all by herself, too."

Murmurs drifted in from all sides.

By now, the beauty was already drunk, her face flushed red, her expression dazed and alluring.

Several thugs in the back exchanged glances and stood up in unison.

"Had a bit too much to drink, beauty? How about we brothers see you home?"

"That's right, beauty. Don't you want us to take you back? It's not safe here."

As the thugs spoke, they began to get handsy.

"Get lost."

Kazahana Koyuki was already in a foul mood, and seeing these thugs, she simply lashed out and slapped one of them.

"Damn bitch, refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

"Boss, why waste words? Just take her."

"Exactly, let the brothers teach her how to behave."

The thugs finished speaking and immediately reached out to grab her wrists.

Only then did Kazahana Koyuki feel a surge of fear.

"Ah! Help!"

She cast a terrified gaze around her, yet all she saw were onlookers eager for a show.

A faint sense of regret stirred in her heart.

The four men dragged her back, quietly retreating to slip out the back door.

"Boss, this chick is something else."

"Heh heh!"

The four of them wore expressions of triumph.

The leader, walking in front, was already lost in fantasy when he accidentally bumped into something.

"Which blind dog is in my way?"

The insult slipped out instinctively.

He looked down, only to be met by a pair of eyes that were chillingly indifferent.

It was a Shadow Clone of Naruto Uzumaki.

"Kid, what are you looking at? Get lost!"

Seemingly rattled by that gaze, the leader flew into a rage and instinctively swung a slap at him.

Naruto Uzumaki's eyes turned cold; he hated these brainless pieces of trash the most.

He activated his Sharingan, which had been unlocked for three months, and cast a genjutsu on the four of them.

The four men's eyes went vacant as they were controlled by the genjutsu, walking away in a daze; as for their fate, it was already sealed.

Only then did Naruto Uzumaki look at the beauty on the ground.

Having watched the movie just yesterday, he had a deep impression of the female lead.

"What a drag."

Looking at the drunkard on the floor, Naruto Uzumaki wore an expression of utter disdain.

He activated Reverse Eight Directions, causing Kazahana Koyuki's body to float, and Naruto Uzumaki grabbed her with one hand, heading toward the meeting point.

"I'm not going back."

By now, Kazahana Koyuki had fallen asleep, muttering in her dreams.

Naruto Uzumaki himself was busy recalling the plot, though since it was a theatrical film, his memory was a bit hazy.

Back at the main body, the group gathered, exchanged glances, and shook their heads.

"Man, what a pain, what a drag," Kakashi said, scratching his head.

Just as they were wondering how to resolve the situation, a Naruto Uzumaki walked over, carrying a beautiful woman.

"Naruto Uzumaki, you found her."

"Koyuki!" Kazahana Koyuki's Manager immediately ran over in excitement.

"Don't worry, she's just drunk and asleep."

Seeing everyone looking at him, Naruto Uzumaki quickly offered an explanation.

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, since everyone is here, let's set off."

Kakashi did not want to waste any more time.

The group had already packed their belongings and were ready to depart.

This mission was an escort, though nominally, it was for a film shoot.

The group soon left Konoha, traveling along the main road toward the coast to board a ship bound for the Land of Snow.

As it was their first time leaving Konoha, everyone appeared somewhat excited.

Naruto Uzumaki and the others looked left and right, only to find that everything looked much the same as it did in Konoha.

The next day.

The group was already on board. Naruto Uzumaki sat at the bow with a fishing rod, while the deck behind him was a hive of activity.

The director and his large crew were busy setting up the filming location, though Naruto Uzumaki had no interest in making movies.

Sasuke and Hinata, on the other hand, were quite curious and stayed to the side to observe.

After some time, the assistant to Kazahana Koyuki ran over and said something to Kakashi.

Kakashi scratched his head with a pained expression.

"What a drag."

Naruto Uzumaki was fishing when he suddenly felt someone standing behind him; he turned to look.

"Kakashi-sensei, do you need something?"

"Well, Naruto Uzumaki, that young lady is feeling a bit despondent. Why don't you and Hinata go try to talk to her?"

"Ah, why me?"

Naruto Uzumaki was not at all willing; he was not the Naruto Uzumaki from the original story and possessed no "Talk no Jutsu."

"There's no help for it. Sasuke isn't suited for this, and neither am I. Only you and Hinata can give it a try."

Kakashi spread his hands.

Naruto Uzumaki looked at him—indeed, Kakashi's appearance didn't exactly scream "approachable"—and then glanced at Sasuke, who wore his usual haughty expression.

He shrugged helplessly and reeled in his fishing rod.

He took Hinata and followed the Manager to the door of a room below deck.

"I'm counting on you two, my lords." The Manager bowed deeply.

"I'll give it a try."

Naruto Uzumaki didn't dare make any promises as he knocked on the door.

There was no sound from within.

"Open the door."

Naruto Uzumaki looked at Hinata beside him.

"She's inside."

Hinata had already activated her Byakugan.

"What a pain."

He channeled his chakra, and the door opened instantly.

The room was pitch black, but Naruto Uzumaki's eyes clearly saw a beautiful woman sitting in the corner with her arms wrapped around her knees.

Naruto Uzumaki frowned and glanced at Hinata.

He then walked straight inside.

"Get out."

There was a hint of anger in Kazahana Koyuki's voice.

"Are you afraid?"

Naruto Uzumaki's expression remained calm as he looked directly into her eyes.

"You have no idea what I am about to face."

"How would I know if you don't tell me?"

"It's useless even if I do."

"How do you know it's useless if you don't say it?"

"Get lost." Kazahana Koyuki was furious; she felt this young boy was insufferable.

"Truly unreasonable." Naruto Uzumaki's mouth twitched; he felt that girls were simply illogical.

Fortunately, his Hinata wasn't like that.

"I don't know what you're afraid of, but you can trust in our strength."

"Impossible. Even ninjas couldn't possibly do it."

Having never witnessed a truly powerful ninja, Kazahana Koyuki remained skeptical.

Because she knew that the moment he stepped foot in this place, that person—her uncle—would absolutely be aware of it.

Her uncle had become her nightmare; the mere thought of that man brought back the horrors of her childhood.

Her body could not stop trembling.

Seeing such a beautiful woman reveal a fragile, fearful temperament stirred even in Naruto Uzumaki a desire to protect her.

"You know nothing of true power."

Naruto Uzumaki's body began to levitate, and with a wave of his hand, the still-trembling Kazahana Koyuki rose into the air as well.

"What is this?"

Her voice trembled with disbelief.

"I have absolute faith in my own strength. You can rest assured; no matter what the difficulty, I can resolve it."

Naruto Uzumaki was incredibly confident.

This aura of confidence seemed to infect the person before him.

Kazahana Koyuki gradually suppressed the fear in her heart.

"Is this really still the power of a ninja?"

The Ninja World knew nothing of the power possessed by Kage-level experts.