Snow Country

Sasuke escorted Fuji Kazahana Yukie back to the film crew.

He said to the director, "Director, I've brought Miss Fuji."

Then Sasuke carried Fuji Kazahana Yukie down from the horse and said to her, "Sorry about that."

With that, Sasuke pushed off the ground and swiftly left.

The departure for the Land of Snow was tomorrow, so Sasuke could still spend one more day at home.

The moment he stepped into the Uchiha compound, Sasuke spotted a little white snake by the gate.

He did not enter his home, instead following the little white snake toward the woods.

Orochimaru had been waiting for Sasuke in the woods for quite some time.

Sasuke asked, "Orochimaru, what do you want?"

Orochimaru chuckled. "Heh heh, you won't even call me Sensei? How rude."

Sasuke said coldly, "Do you have something to say? If not, I'm leaving."

Orochimaru hurriedly said, "Wait, wait. Of course I do. This Kusanagi sword is a gift for you."

Orochimaru then picked up a Kusanagi sword and handed it to Sasuke. "This Kusanagi sword is called [Sky Blade]. I searched for this sword for a very long time."

Orochimaru continued, "Sasuke-kun, this Kusanagi sword can perfectly withstand chakra and serve as a vessel for it."

Orochimaru had originally intended to keep this sword for himself.

But Orochimaru was planning to do something "meaningful," something that would take a very long time to prepare for. He feared Sasuke would forget him.

So he offered this Kusanagi sword to Sasuke.

Sasuke gripped the Kusanagi sword, feeling the sharpness of its blade, and nodded in satisfaction.

Then, without even saying goodbye, he left.

Orochimaru watched Sasuke's departing figure.

He greedily licked his lips. The more heartless Sasuke was, the more Orochimaru liked him.

Back home, Sasuke strapped the Kusanagi sword's sheath to his waist. Looking at the sword, he found it truly incomparably cool.

The next day, it was time for the fleet to depart.

But Fuji Kazahana Yukie had disappeared again.

The director was pacing anxiously. Supporting roles and villains could be recast without issue, but the female lead could not be replaced!

Sasuke said to the director, "I'll find her."

The director placed all his hopes on Sasuke. "I'll have to trouble you, then."

Sasuke came to the banks of the Nanga River. Sure enough, Fuji Kazahana Yukie was there.

She gazed at the surging Nanga River, her eyes filled with calm.

As she watched the churning water, memories like shattered mirrors surfaced in her mind.

The Land of Snow...

Koyuki Kazahana...

Doto Kazahana...

Father...

The painful memories made Fuji Kazahana Yukie clutch her head. In those memories, a raging fire destroyed the royal family of the Land of Snow, and Doto Kazahana killed her father, Sosetsu Kazahana.

He usurped the throne!

And she herself had been rescued from the Land of Snow by a ninja named Hatake Kakashi.

I'm not Fuji Kazahana Yukie.

I'm the princess of the Land of Snow, Koyuki Kazahana.

These painful memories had once been forgotten, but with the mention of the Land of Snow, Koyuki Kazahana once again etched them into her heart.

Two streams of tears slipped unconsciously down Koyuki Kazahana's face. She found it hard to believe. Hadn't I already cried all my tears dry?

Return to the Land of Snow.

I don't want to go back.

Even if I die, I don't want to return to the Land of Snow.

Koyuki Kazahana slowly rose to her feet and walked step by step into the Nanga River. Her figure was swallowed inch by inch by its waters...

Sasuke hurried forward, wrapped his arms around Koyuki Kazahana from behind, and carried her back to shore.

Sasuke asked, "Why are you trying to kill yourself?"

Koyuki Kazahana closed her eyes and said, "Even if I die, I don't want to return to the Land of Snow."

Sasuke said, "Why? Because of one Doto Kazahana?!"

Koyuki Kazahana stared at Sasuke in disbelief. "How do you know?!"

Sasuke said, "Don't underestimate the Uchiha intelligence network."

Actually, it was Sasuke's memories.

Sasuke continued, "Don't worry. Since I accepted this mission, I'll definitely protect you. As for Doto Kazahana, he isn't worth mentioning."

Koyuki Kazahana said in a trembling voice, "You don't know how powerful Doto Kazahana is."

Sasuke said, "You're the one who doesn't know how powerful the Uchiha are!"

The Mangekyo appeared in Sasuke's eyes, making Koyuki Kazahana's heart tremble.

She asked, "Why... are you treating me like this?"

Sasuke smiled. "Because I like you!"

Sasuke's words were like arrows, piercing straight into Koyuki Kazahana's heart.

Her heartbeat accelerated without end!

Finally, Koyuki Kazahana grasped Sasuke's hand and said, "All right, I believe you. Let me see just how powerful the Uchiha are!"

Koyuki Kazahana kept warning herself in her heart.

Sasuke is only ten! There's an eight-year age gap between us!

(He hasn't even had his tenth birthday yet.)

But her racing heart told Koyuki Kazahana that this feeling could not be wrong.

Since she could not stop these feelings from arising, she would leave it to fate.

On the ship, the director looked at Koyuki Kazahana and kept muttering, "Oh, my dear ancestor, you finally came."

The corners of Koyuki Kazahana's lips lifted slightly. "Let's go... to the Land of Snow!"

Nearby, Kakashi looked thoughtfully at the necklace around Koyuki Kazahana's neck.

Ten years ago, Kakashi had gone to the Land of Snow on a mission.

It was then that Kakashi witnessed Doto Kazahana's rebellion and rescued Koyuki Kazahana.

At the time, because Kakashi was not strong enough, he could only flee in a sorry state.

The Land of Snow was a peaceful country. Perhaps because it was far from the mainland and the Five Great Nations, its technology was highly advanced.

Two days later, the ship collided with an iceberg.

The director's eyes lit up when he saw it. "These steep peaks are the perfect filming location!

Start the cameras, get ready!

Yukie, put on your makeup and prepare to shoot!"

But Hinata tugged on Sasuke's sleeve and said, "Sasuke-kun, there are people on the iceberg!"

Hinata's words made everyone on the ship shudder.

People on the iceberg?

Where could there be anyone?

Everything was a vast expanse of white, but Hinata's Byakugan could not be mistaken!

Sasuke, Kakashi, and Naruto exchanged glances and nodded, each picking a target.

Then they rushed forward in an instant!

Naruto: "Rasengan!"

Kakashi: "Lightning Blade!"

Sasuke drew the Kusanagi sword. Chidori covered the blade, causing the entire sword to crackle with lightning. "Chidori Blade!"