Fine, I'll take the job!

Kazahana Koyuki's face reddened even more, anger and embarrassment mingling. "You... you little brat! I knew I hated you!"

She grabbed her wineglass and tipped back a gulp, set it down, then turned and left, her retreating figure swaying a little.

Watching her leave, Uchiha Yi sank into thought. In truth, he had never considered Kazahana Dōtō a threat. His current strength might not rank among the Shinobi World's very best, but in the tiny Land of Snow, there was no one he feared.

After the tavern incident, Kazahana Koyuki became much more cooperative. She stopped trying to escape or demanding drinks and focused on filming. She barely even spoke to him anymore.

A few days later, most of the movie had been filmed, with only the scenes in the Land of Snow remaining. The group set off for the Land of Snow, and this time, Kazahana Koyuki obediently boarded the ship.

But in the middle of the night, Kazahana Koyuki got ideas again. While everyone was resting, she slipped out of her room and went to lower a small boat, intending to row away.

She had just reached the boat and was about to lower it when a voice came from behind her. "Hey, you boozehound. What are you doing?"

Kazahana Koyuki shuddered in fright and turned around stiffly. Seeing that familiar face, she gritted her teeth. "Brat, staying up this late will stunt your growth!"

"Don't worry, I haven't finished growing yet. I've still got a growth spurt in me. You, on the other hand, should watch out. Staying up all night will age you faster!"

Kazahana Koyuki puffed out her cheeks and angrily muttered, "You little brat," but she kept grumbling as she turned and ducked back into her room.

"You little brat! I really, really hate you!"

But she failed to notice the bodies floating in the sea near her feet, almost swept out of sight by the waves.

He's already making his move? Kazahana Dōtō really can't wait.

He shook his head, then slipped away into the darkness.

Their sea voyage lasted five days. During that time, they encountered more than a dozen assassination attempts, but Uchiha Yi dealt with every one before anyone aboard could react.

They finally entered the Land of Snow's waters. Unlike the summer weather before, huge snowflakes began falling as soon as they arrived, instantly blanketing the sea in white.

In a secluded corner, Asama Sandayu approached Uchiha Yi.

"Lord Uchiha Yi, please protect the princess for another three days. Once our people arrive, you can leave."

With that, he turned and left without waiting for an answer.

Uchiha Yi had wanted to say that if he really left in three days, they would be done for. But he swallowed the words and decided to bring it up when the time came.

Yet trouble arrived less than two days later-Kazahana Koyuki had run off again!

At the edge of a snowy field, Uchiha Yi grabbed her by the back of her collar and snapped, "You boozehound, can you give it a rest?"

Kazahana Koyuki struggled and shook her head. "No. I can't stay in the Land of Snow. It's too dangerous."

Just then, a sinister laugh drifted over.

"Well, Princess Kazahana Koyuki, at least you know your limits."

With a swish, three white figures landed in the snow. It was Nadare Rōga and his two cronies.

Uchiha Yi had noticed them long ago; he simply hadn't said anything. He couldn't even remember their names. Kazahana Koyuki, however, went pale at once.

"Nadare Rōga, Fubuki Kakuyoku, Fuyuma Tōu... it's you! What are you doing here?"

"You must be joking, Princess. We're here to escort you back, of course. You still have the Hexagonal Crystal, don't you?" Nadare Rōga licked his lips, cruelty written across his face.

"Don't tell me you don't have that crystal on you!"

Kazahana Koyuki gritted her teeth and pointed at Uchiha Yi. "I have the Hexagonal Crystal. I'll go with you. Let him go!"

"Oh? This brat? No problem." Nadare Rōga glanced at Uchiha Yi and readily agreed.

Kazahana Koyuki let out a relieved breath, but Uchiha Yi was baffled.

"You boozehound, don't tell me you actually think these three small fry can take me down?" He pulled Kazahana Koyuki back as she started to leave.

"Small fry?" Nadare Rōga flew into a rage.

"I wasn't going to kill you in front of the princess, but now-Fuyuma Tōu, take care of this brat!"

Fuyuma Tōu gave a savage grin. "You got it!"

Kazahana Koyuki was so frantic she nearly cried. "Hey! Hurry up and run! I know you're strong, but you can't possibly beat them!"

"Tsk, tsk. You really don't know me very well, do you?" Uchiha Yi shook his head and stepped forward, facing Fuyuma Tōu.

He formed hand seals with both hands and enunciated each word. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Fire Release? Are you an idiot? This is the Land of Snow! Using Fire Release here is a joke!" Fuyuma Tōu doubled over laughing, but before his words had faded, a massive fireball twenty meters across surged toward him. His laughter caught in his throat.

"Fuyuma Tōu, watch out!" Nadare Rōga roared, but it was already too late.

Fuyuma Tōu hurriedly formed hand seals, but the fireball slammed down before he was halfway through.

Boom!

The enormous fireball struck the ground and blasted open a huge hole. The heat wave melted a broad swath of surrounding snow. Not even a scrap of Fuyuma Tōu remained, only a few blackened traces drifting through the air.

"Damn it!" Nadare Rōga's furious roar rang across the snow.

Nadare Rōga clenched his fists, his teeth grinding as a hint of panic entered his gaze at Uchiha Yi. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Fubuki, keep your eyes on this brat! Something's wrong with him!"

Fubuki Kakuyoku rolled up her sleeves and charged forward, pointing at Uchiha Yi as she cursed. "Brat, you killed one of our own! You're dying here today!"

Uchiha Yi raised an eyebrow and drawled flippantly, "Oh? Then let's see if you've got what it takes to keep me here!"

His attitude sent Fubuki Kakuyoku into a fury. She attacked as soon as she shouted, "Arrogant brat! I'll kill you!"

The ice blades of Ice Release: Swallow Snowstorm whistled toward him, but before they could reach Uchiha Yi, his Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique roasted them into ice pops. They clattered to the ground and melted into a puddle.

Seeing his subordinate get nowhere, Nadare Rōga threw caution aside and shouted, "Ice Release: One-Horned White Whale!"

The ground shook, and a whale made of ice erupted from it, hurtling straight at Uchiha Yi and Kazahana Koyuki.

Kazahana Koyuki squeezed her eyes shut in terror, but the pain she expected never came. Instead, someone grasped her right hand, and a warm surge flowed into her. She opened her eyes to see Uchiha Yi's profile. The ice whale had somehow passed right between them without leaving a mark.

Kazahana Koyuki's eyes went wide as saucers, and for a long while, she couldn't collect herself.

Uchiha Yi formed hand seals with one hand without so much as pausing for breath. As he shouted "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!", an even larger fireball slammed toward them. The ice whale exploded into shards on the spot, and Fubuki Kakuyoku vanished before she could even scream, leaving only fragments of ice drifting in the air.

Nadare Rōga stamped his feet in fury and pointed at Uchiha Yi. "Damn brat! Do you know anything besides that move? It can't kill me!"

Uchiha Yi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then take another look."

His eyes suddenly widened, the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan gleaming dazzlingly. Even he was momentarily stunned to discover that activating his Mangekyo Sharingan had doubled the power of his Fire Release.

Uchiha Yi raised his hands, formed hand seals, and shouted, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

This time, the fireball was over a hundred meters across, crashing toward him like a meteor. Nadare Rōga went white with fear and frantically shouted, "Ice Release: One-Horned White Whale!"

But the ice whale had barely emerged before the fireball vaporized it without a sound. Nadare Rōga fell into utter despair.

The fireball struck the ground, shaking the earth and blasting out an enormous crater. Meltwater instantly filled it, forming a small lake.

Uchiha Yi led Kazahana Koyuki back to her room, her mind still in a daze. Her clothes hadn't even gotten dirty, let alone suffered any injuries.

The next day, when the film crew noticed Kazahana Koyuki hadn't come out, they simply assumed she was having trouble adjusting to the Land of Snow and had caught a slight cold. They thought nothing more of it.

What they didn't know was that Kazahana Koyuki was sitting in her room, her eyes wide as saucers, staring at Uchiha Yi for two whole hours.

Her stare was giving Uchiha Yi the creeps. He complained, "You boozehound, you've been staring at me for two hours. Aren't you tired?"

Kazahana Koyuki abruptly snapped out of her daze, her face flushing bright red. Yet she still didn't look away as she asked seriously, "Just how strong are you?"

Uchiha Yi scratched his head. "Why are you asking?"

Kazahana Koyuki straightened her back. "Never mind that. Just answer my question."

Uchiha Yi smiled. "Very strong!"

Kazahana Koyuki nearly jumped up in anger. "Who are you trying to fool? I ask how strong you are, and all you say is 'very strong'?"

Seeing her frustration, Uchiha Yi stopped teasing her. "If you're asking who's stronger, me or Kazahana Dōtō, I could take on eighty or a hundred of him by myself!"

Kazahana Koyuki didn't believe him for a second and rolled her eyes. "Keep bragging! Why not say you could blow Kazahana Dōtō away with a single breath?"

Still, she knew that with his strength, Uchiha Yi could definitely handle Kazahana Dōtō.

A trace of resolve crossed Kazahana Koyuki's face. She looked up at Uchiha Yi and changed how she addressed him. "Lord Yi..."

Uchiha Yi quickly waved his hands. "Don't call me lord. It feels weird. Just call me Yi!"

Seeing her like this, Uchiha Yi didn't call attention to it and went straight to the point. "I know you want me to deal with Kazahana Dōtō. That's no problem, but why should I help you? It isn't part of my mission!"

Kazahana Koyuki grew so anxious her voice changed. "I... I'll pay any price. I'll even give you the Land of Snow!"

A fierce gleam suddenly flared in Kazahana Koyuki's eyes. Though she was terrified of Kazahana Dōtō, the hatred in her bones ran deeper than her fear.

But Kazahana Dōtō was so powerful that revenge had never been within her reach. She had spent these years completely giving up on trying. If not for that lingering hope she still clung to, she would have long since forgotten all about the Land of Snow.

"What did you say? Any price?"

Uchiha Yi raised an eyebrow and looked her face over. This girl really was stunning; otherwise, she wouldn't have enjoyed such success in the Land of Snow and become a nationally beloved movie star. As he spoke, his gaze began to wander, taking on a heated edge.

Kazahana Koyuki shivered under his gaze, but she gritted her teeth and steeled herself. "That's right. Any price, including myself!"

She stared at him, her tone carrying an impatient urgency. "Just tell me whether you'll help!"

Uchiha Yi smiled with undisguised mischief. "Fine, I'll take the job!"

At the Daimyo's Mansion in the Land of Snow, Kazahana Dōtō had just received word that all three of his trusted subordinates were dead. He was practically steaming with rage.

But he wasn't a brainless fool. Those three had been strong to begin with, and wearing their specially made Chakra Armor put them at Jonin or even Elite Jonin level. How could he not be furious that they had been killed just like that?

He sat down on his throne and delivered a threat through gritted teeth. "You'd better hope I never catch you, or I'll make you regret it!"

But no sooner had he spoken than a soft laugh drifted over. "Or you'll do what?"