At the gates of the Capital City, Land of Iron.
White snow blanketed the mountain path, as though it would swallow the footsteps of all who approached.
Kakashi Hatake and Tsunade stood just a step behind, already surveying their surroundings warily. The instant they heard those words, their expressions visibly changed.
"Leader?"
Kakashi froze, his lone eye beneath his white hair widening slightly. His voice was full of disbelief. "Wait, Qingxue Uchiha is their leader?!"
The next second, he saw those imposing Land of Iron samurai, who had been standing ramrod straight, all drop to one knee and turn their gazes toward Qingxue Uchiha.
Qingxue said nothing, merely nodding helplessly, her expression composed, as though everything had long been under her control.
Kakashi instinctively turned toward Tsunade and asked in a low voice filled with shock:
"What's going on? She's... the leader of the Land of Iron? You're kidding, right? That's the military commander of the entire Land of Iron! Isn't that the very heart of this neutral nation's power?"
Tsunade's expression changed instantly.
She stared at the guards kneeling in the snow, then looked at Qingxue's placid face. A rare gravity surfaced in her eyes.
"Qingxue Uchiha... when did you get involved with the Land of Iron?" she murmured, shock buried in her voice.
"Lady Tsunade, this goes beyond being involved." Kakashi drew a sharp breath. "She's their leader. In other words, the real power in the Land of Iron is now in her hands."
Tsunade fell silent for a moment, gazing with a complicated expression at Yemu and Qingxue standing side by side. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I finally understand why you were so relaxed about bringing them to the Five Kage Summit."
"She's not here as an escort at all, is she? She's practically on the level