The next morning, the campsite had only just stirred awake from the cold night, and a trace of warmth still lingered in the campfire's embers.
Asama Sandayu brought Kazahana Koyuki over to Naruto Uzumaki, who was checking the horses and their luggage. Her expression was conflicted, but yesterday's uncertainty had vanished from her eyes, replaced by a measure of resolve.
Sandayu held a cloth bundle that was smaller than yesterday's but still heavy. Inside were all his savings apart from the money he needed to gather his former comrades, along with the money Kazahana Koyuki had secretly slipped in-the savings she had earned as "Yukie Fujikaze."
Their gazes were earnest, their bearing deeply deferential.
"Young hero Naruto," Sandayu said hoarsely, his voice carrying the exhaustion of a sleepless night and the desperation of a final gamble, "we discussed this last night.
"We cannot let Kazahana Dōtō continue ravaging the Land of Snow. Her Highness has resolved to reclaim her country, and this old man is willing to serve her unto death.
"We wish to ask you again-no, to beg you-to help us eliminate that traitorous usurper, Kazahana Dōtō!"
Kazahana Koyuki stood beside him without speaking, but her beautiful eyes were fixed on Naruto, filled with hope, pleading, and a barely perceptible trace of royal pride.
She had witnessed Naruto's strength yesterday. It was the greatest power she could currently rely on.
Yet Naruto's response was far colder than they had expected.
He did not even fully raise his head, continuing to check the saddle straps as he said evenly, "To be frank, I can't go around assassinating rulers."
At those words, the hope on Sandayu's and Koyuki's faces froze.
Only then did Naruto straighten up, dust off his hands, and look at them, his blue eyes clear and calm. "Whether