Card Seal

On the deck, Kazahana Koyuki quickly got into character.

"Impressive. She really is a veteran actress."

"Her acting is incredible."

"She's completely immersed in her character's emotions."

The people around her praised her one after another, and even the director couldn't help giving her a thumbs-up.

"A woman's expression can change so much."

Looking at the beautiful woman before him, it was hard to imagine she was the same disheveled beauty who had been hiding in her room just moments ago.

After watching for a while, Naruto lost interest and went back to fishing at the bow.

Fishing was a kind of training, too—training in perception and control.

"You have a presence that really doesn't seem like something a child could have."

After filming her scene, Kazahana Koyuki immediately noticed Naruto sitting at the bow like an old monk.

"Who told you I was a child?"

Naruto replied casually without even opening his eyes.

"Heh. You little brat."

Naruto suddenly opened his eyes.

"What is it? Did the little brat get angry?"

Kazahana Koyuki smiled.

"I haven't run into any trouble. This is the perfect chance to show you my strength."

As Naruto explained, he looked ahead.

Far in the distance, a huge iceberg blocked their path.

The ship's crew soon noticed it as well.

The captain and the others came up onto the deck.

Naruto raised his right hand, and a massive Rasengan appeared in it.

Just as Naruto was about to destroy the iceberg ahead,

someone came running out behind him in a hurry.

"Wait, wait, wait! Don't waste such a great location!"

It was the director. The sight of the iceberg had given him an idea, and he'd decided to film a scene on it.

"Heh. Looks like you can't show off your strength, little boy." Kazahana Koyuki smiled.

Naruto could only sigh inwardly as the Rasengan in his hand faded away.

Kakashi, behind him, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"As expected of the teacher's child. His chakra is astonishing. No matter how many times I see it, it's still shocking."

Damn it, when did he learn such an incredible technique?

Sasuke was seething with frustration.

Naruto looked in a certain direction.

Meanwhile, the director and the crew began setting up the filming location on the massive iceberg.

Should I deal with them in advance?

Naruto thought it over. A true sage didn't seek fame; since he wanted to keep his identity hidden, it was better to take care of them.

A portion of the chakra around him quietly flowed out and transformed into a Shadow Clone.

Behind the iceberg, three people wearing armor were hiding.

"Bring the princess back. Don't bother with anyone else."

"What if the others get in our way?"

"Then kill them."

"Feeling confident, are you?"

"Who's there?"

The three looked behind them. A boy was floating in midair.

"He's a ninja from Konoha."

"He's found us. Kill him first."

The three instinctively backed away. Their armor began to emit wisps of cold air. They weren't especially strong on their own, but with the Chakra Armor boosting them, they could fight a jōnin.

Because of its geography, the Land of Snow had chosen to develop technology.

Trucks, trains, and Chakra Armor made it seem like a fantastical place. These weren't ordinary technologies, but chakra technologies developed by combining technology with chakra.

The armor these men wore was the finest the Land of Snow had to offer. It could strengthen its wearer's chakra and amplify ninjutsu, among other things.

Naruto, however, wasn't interested in any of that.

Three cards appeared in his hand.

He casually tossed them out.

His hands formed seals rapidly.

[Card Seal]

Countless chains shot out of the cards, wrapping around the three men.

"What is this? Get out of the way!"

The three used every method at their disposal, weapons and ninjutsu alike, but nothing could break the chains.

"What is this thing?"

The chains tightened, slowly drawing them toward the cards as their bodies began to shrink.

A gust of cold air blew past. Only three cards remained in the air. Inside them, three figures in armor wore terrified expressions, like people trapped in photographs.

This was the result of Naruto's research over the years.

He had combined the Adamantine Sealing Chains, the Five Elements Seal, the Four Symbols Seal, and many other Sealing Jutsu into a single technique: sealing cards designed specifically to target ninja, capable of sealing living people.

"Not bad for a first field test."

Naruto was satisfied. His body turned into a puff of smoke and vanished.

At the same time, the real Naruto opened his eyes aboard the ship. Three cards appeared in his hand.

The words "Recycle" appeared before him.

They can be recycled, so they must be dead. No, not necessarily dead—maybe they're just suspended.

Naruto stroked his chin as he looked at the three cards in his hand.

The system couldn't recycle living things. Whether they were alive or dead while sealed was hard to say.

He silently selected "Recycle," and the three cards disappeared.

At the same time, the cooldown for his next draw was reduced again.

The trouble had vanished without a trace.

Kazahana Koyuki's scenes had also finished filming.

That night, Kakashi told Naruto to meet in the cabin.

When Naruto entered, he saw that the people involved in the discussion were already seated in their places.

Naruto didn't ask any questions. He sat down beside Hinata.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I deceived you." Kazahana Koyuki's manager, Sandayu, stood up and bowed.

No one said anything.

They didn't know what was going on, so they had nothing to say.

Sandayu then began to explain, revealing Kazahana Koyuki's identity as he did.

"So she really is a princess."

"I can't believe we found a real princess while making a movie."

"Director, what should we do next?"

The film crew grew flustered. They were ordinary people and didn't want to get mixed up in this kind of trouble.

The director was a middle-aged man with glasses and an easygoing personality. Even after hearing about such a troublesome situation, he remained calm.

"Once you start something, you should see it through. We've come this far, so we'll finish filming."

The director clearly had a lot of authority. As soon as he spoke, his crew stopped objecting.

Sandayu looked toward Kakashi.

Kakashi fell silent.

He had just remembered who this man was.

"Please, Lord Kakashi, help the princess one more time."

Sandayu knelt directly on the ground.

Kakashi's brow furrowed.

Having ninja take part in a country's political struggle was a major taboo. It could make the daimyo wary of them.

"I know what you're worried about, Lord Kakashi. I've already contacted the righteous people in our country. All I ask is that you protect Princess Koyuki."

Naruto's attention shifted to the doorway.

"Sandayu, who gave you permission to act on your own?"

"The princess is dead. My name is Kazahana Koyuki now."

Kazahana Koyuki stood in the doorway, her expression cold.

"Your Highness, the people need you. Rest assured, even if it costs this old man his life, I'll fulfill the king's dying wish. Please join us and help us rise again."

Sandayu bowed until his forehead touched the floor.

"I won't do it."

Kazahana Koyuki's face remained expressionless.

"But, Your Highness, the people of the Land of Snow need you."

"What does that have to do with me? Don't be ridiculous. Why should I risk my life?" At that moment, Kazahana Koyuki seemed exceptionally cold.