Spring in the Land of Snow

"Dead! Kazahana Dōtō is dead!"

"Oh, he's finally dead!"

Sandaime and the others erupted into excited cheers.

Director Kitano shouted to the camera crew, "You got all of that on film, right?!"

"Don't worry, Director! We got everything!"

Kazahana Koyuki pushed past Sandaime and the others and ran toward Masayo. Kazahana Dōtō's upper body had been completely obliterated by the Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.

"He's dead... he's finally dead!"

Kazahana Koyuki clenched her fists. The enemy who had haunted and threatened her for so long was finally dead, and she felt a sense of release.

Masayo turned around, glanced at Kazahana Koyuki, and said, "Before coming to the Land of Snow, I investigated many things about this country. That included some matters concerning the Kazahana Family Secret Treasure. Princess Koyuki, do you want to see what kind of treasure your father left behind for you—and for the entire Land of Snow?"

"For me?"

Kazahana Koyuki took the Hexagonal Crystal from inside her collar. This Hexagonal Crystal was the key to the Kazahana Family Secret Treasure. Seeing the mysterious look on Masayo's face, everyone crossed through a dense forest and arrived at the Rainbow Ice Wall.

Under Masayo's encouraging gaze, Kazahana Koyuki placed the Hexagonal Crystal inside. As a flash of light flickered, an aerial view revealed snowflake-shaped markings spreading around the altar's keyhole where the crystal rested. The surrounding Rainbow Ice Wall released a dazzling glow.

"Th-this is..."

Hiss...

Before everyone's eyes, the rocks and mountains around them began melting at a visible rate, while the ice and snow covering the ground started to thaw.

"A geothermal emitter..."

Sandaime recognized it at a glance. The secret treasure Kazahana Dōtō had pursued all along had turned out to be this geothermal emitter.

Tenten came to Masayo's side and asked curiously, "Senior Masayo, did you know the Kazahana Family Secret Treasure was this?"

Masayo smiled and nodded. "I investigated Kazahana Sōsetsu, the former daimyo of the Land of Snow, before carrying out this mission."

The Rainbow Ice Wall shone with seven-colored light. Spring had arrived in the Land of Snow. Flowers and grass grew, and all things came back to life. Then, a curtain of light appeared over the altar ahead.

"You must believe in the future. If you do, spring will surely come. What does Koyuki want to do after spring arrives?"

The image within the curtain showed Kazahana Koyuki at around seven or eight years old. She looked obedient and adorable, with a little baby fat that made people want to pinch her cheeks.

"Wow, I never expected Princess Koyuki to be this cute when she was little. How did she grow up into a hedgehog that pricks people everywhere?"

Masayo's eyes lit up. He was especially fond of well-behaved, sensible little girls and boys. Brats were the most annoying. Of course, liking children did not make him a pervert—his preferences were perfectly normal. He liked mature, well-built older women like Kurenai Yuhi.

If it had been before, Kazahana Koyuki would definitely have argued with Masayo. But now, all her attention was focused on the image in the curtain of light.

"Koyuki wants to become a princess. A gentle, strong princess with justice in her heart. Oh, and I have another dream too. I want to become an actress."

Kazahana Sōsetsu's projected image laughed and placed the Hexagonal Ice Crystal Necklace around Kazahana Koyuki's neck.

"Hahaha... If you treat your dream as faith and never give up pursuing it, then it will surely come true. Koyuki, look! A beautiful princess is standing right here!"

The curtain of light faded away. The words within it were what Kazahana Koyuki and her father, Kazahana Sōsetsu, had said to each other long ago. Her heart trembled as tears slid down from the corners of her eyes, but a relieved and gentle smile appeared on her face.

Rock Lee smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "This is the true perfect ending for the Princess of the Wind and Clouds, Guy-sensei!"

Masayo finally relaxed completely. The Snow Princess Ninja Scroll had finally come to an end. His battle against Kazahana Dōtō had been even easier than the earlier fight against Nadare Rōga.

The next day, at a hot spring somewhere in the Land of Snow, Masayo soaked blissfully in the spring water, which carried a faint sulfur scent. The geothermal emitter was only a half-finished product, but with further research, it would completely transform the Land of Snow.

"Ahh... As expected, nothing feels better than soaking in a hot spring. It feels like all the exhaustion in my body has vanished. Sigh... I wonder what Neji and Rock Lee are doing. Why aren't they here yet?"

Masayo yawned lazily. This kind of clean, refreshing bath was the most comfortable, and it also made him especially sleepy.

"Masayo, you really are here!"

Just as Masayo was about to lean against a stone carving and take a nap, an uninvited guest entered. Kazahana Koyuki, with only a towel wrapped around her body, appeared and instantly jolted him fully awake.

"Princess Koyuki, why are you here?! No, this is the men's bath. Guy-senpai and Rock Lee will be coming over soon. If they find out, I won't be able to explain this clearly."

Masayo instinctively covered his private parts. He was completely naked right now.

Kazahana Koyuki carelessly exposed her long legs. There was no need to think about it—she probably had nothing on beneath that towel. Masayo's eyes widened. What was this princess trying to do now?

"Sorry. Starting now, this is a mixed bath."

Masayo stared wide-eyed at Kazahana Koyuki, pointing at her. He had a stomach full of words, but in the end, all he managed was, "What a willful and filthy female tyrant. Fine, I'll leave."

"Do you hate me, Masayo?"

Just as Masayo wrapped his towel around himself and prepared to leave, Kazahana Koyuki's words stopped him in his tracks.

Masayo looked seriously at Kazahana Koyuki and shook his head. "No, I don't. But why are you asking that? Don't tell me our Princess of the Wind and Clouds has fallen for an ordinary little Chunin like me."

As he spoke, the smile on Masayo's face became increasingly kind, making Kazahana Koyuki roll her eyes at him speechlessly. This guy had changed the subject again.

"Forget it, forget it. How boring. Want to soak together, or are you afraid a helpless girl like me will eat you up?"

Kazahana Koyuki had also figured out Masayo's personality. Now that the knot in her heart had been untied, she had become even more cunning and cheerful than before. She had also become the ruler of the Land of Snow. Kazahana Koyuki pulled off her towel and stepped cleanly into the hot spring.

"You... Heh, it's not like I'm losing out. Who's afraid of whom? Hmph..."

Kazahana Koyuki's provocative words made Masayo clench his fists. If Kazahana Koyuki was not afraid, then what was he afraid of?

With that thought, Masayo refused to be outdone. He pulled off his towel and entered the hot spring. The two stared wide-eyed at each other, sizing one another up as though trying to imprint each other's naked forms into their minds.

After a moment of silence, Kazahana Koyuki broke the atmosphere and asked, "Masayo, do you have a dream?"

"A dream..."

Masayo considered it for a moment before answering, "My old dream was to live peacefully and find a woman who was neither pretty nor ugly to spend the rest of my life with. Later, I realized I had extraordinary talent as a ninja, so my dream changed. In the future, I want to become the strongest, most powerful ninja. I definitely want to see Haku... Uh, cough, cough..."

Masayo suddenly fell silent. He had almost let it slip. The bath was making his head feel a little muddled, and he was especially sleepy.

"Haku what? Say it. What exactly do you want to see?"

Kazahana Koyuki narrowed her eyes. She felt that Masayo was hiding something.

"Of course, I want to see the bright and dazzling world. There must be countless beautiful older women and lots of money waiting for me. Hehehe... Of course, that doesn't include you, Princess Koyuki. You're not my type!"

Masayo deliberately provoked Kazahana Koyuki so she would not dwell on what he had almost said earlier.

"As expected, you're a total pervert!"

Kazahana Koyuki puffed out her cheeks and submerged herself in the hot spring, leaving only her head above the water. Masayo's words had truly angered her.