The Konoha shinobi, along with Temari and the others from Sunagakure, gathered in the distance and watched the newly formed snow mountain.
Temari lightly punched Shikamaru. "Hey, was that one of your guys?"
Remembering the pursuit of Sasuke, Shikamaru said helplessly, "Yeah, that idiot Naruto. Ice Release again. It was already that spectacular before, but now he's gotten even stronger!"
Kakashi shrugged. "This isn't a bad ending. The matter of Mōryō has finally been resolved."
Might Guy said excitedly, "Rock Lee, did you see that? This is youth! Even the freezing wind of youth is still so dazzling and magnificent!"
"Yes, Guy-sensei!" Rock Lee roared excitedly.
Neji's mouth twitched slightly. Like Shikamaru, he recalled the time they had pursued Sasuke.
Up ahead, Naruto emerged from the altar carrying Shion. She was wearing Naruto's red ceremonial robe and shivering from the cold, constantly burrowing into his arms as though she wanted to melt into his body.
After they moved beyond the snow mountain's range and regrouped with everyone, the chill lessened considerably. Only then did Shion climb down from Naruto and look toward the shrine.
Naruto said casually, "So does that mean the shrine maiden's job is over now?"
Shion shook her head. "No. When Mōryō died, I realized something. Human hearts are filled with greed. So long as humanity's wicked and negative thoughts do not disappear, Mōryō will always exist. That monster from another world survives in this world through that very method. Mōryō is nurtured by the evil in human hearts. Perhaps a second or third Mōryō will appear in the future!"
Naruto grumbled, "Ah, humans again. Every random mess gets blamed on humanity. Sigh."
Shion gave Naruto an annoyed yet coquettish look. "How would I know? Mōryō is just that kind of thing. In any case, Genin like