Inside the fortress of Kazahana Dotō in the Land of Snow, a warm grand hall shut out the piercing, biting cold of the outside world.
The hearth fire burned fiercely, baking the entire palace until it was warm as spring, feeling like a completely different world from the ice-sealed snowfields outside.
Kazahana Koyuki was respectfully escorted back by two Snow Ninjas and seated upon a soft cushion, a lingering trace of anger and grievance still present between her brows.
Below the high seat, a middle-aged man wearing long robes and a tall, upright posture stood quietly.
He was the ruler who had governed the Land of Snow for ten years-Kazahana Dotō.
His features were stern, and the exhaustion and forbearance of ruling for many years were hidden between his brows. Not a shred of a tyrant's brutality remained, leaving only heavy vicissitudes and fatigue.
At this moment, the Snow Ninja leader Nadare Rōga spoke up.
"Lord Dotō, Princess Koyuki has been brought back safely."
Kazahana Dotō nodded slightly, his gaze calm:
"Thanks for the effort, Nadare. Everything went smoothly on the road, right? Those Konoha Ninjas didn't step in to stop you, did they?"
Hearing Dotō mention this, a trace of surprise flashed across the depths of Nadare Rōga's eyes, and he finally reported truthfully:
"At first, Kakashi intended to stop us from taking the princess."
"But an ordinary Konoha villager suddenly stepped forward and publicly rebuked the Konoha Ninjas for crossing the line."
"That person said the mission to escort a film shoot had already concluded, and that arbitrarily interfering in the internal affairs of the Land of Snow violated Konoha's regulations and betrayed the village."
"Kakashi and the others were left speechless and ultimately remained silent throughout, so they didn't make a move."
"A villager?"
Kazahana Dotō was slightly startled. What the hell? He had prepared himself to face Konoha Ninjas, yet they were telling him an ordinary Konoha villager cursed out Kakashi and the others, and that made them back down?
Immediately, Dotō chuckled in a low voice, his laughter carrying a hint of surprise, a touch of emotion, and bewilderment.
"Interesting."
"The ninja villages of the Five Great Nations have run amok for many years, and ninjas relying on their strength to wantonly interfere in the affairs of small nations has already become the norm."
"I never expected Konoha would actually have an ordinary villager who doesn't fear ninja authority, understands the rules, and knows right from wrong."
He slowly closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting far away, and he sighed softly:
"There was news before that the incident in the Land of Waves was also interfered with by Konoha."
"Dazuna deceived Konoha Ninjas with extremely low compensation, concealing the rogue ninjas and underworld forces within the Land of Waves."
"I heard that fellow squandered money meant to save civilian lives on drinking and gambling, and couldn't even afford to pay the basic mission reward."
"Yet Kakashi's group ultimately still made an exception and took action, wiping out Gato who was entrenched in the Land of Waves. Konoha's actions really crossed the line."
Kazahana Dotō opened his eyes, a trace of coldness flashing through their depths.
"Sandayu brought Konoha Ninjas into the Land of Snow this time playing the exact same card as the Land of Waves."
"He was certain that the Konoha Ninjas would act just like they did in the Land of Waves; as long as he lured those people in, those people would be able to help him forcefully intervene in the coup of the Land of Snow."
"It's just a pity that Sandayu fellow is truly trash. For all his scheming, he never counted on Konoha producing an extra villager who would ruin his good deed."
"That villager named Miki Yūya... ruined Sandayu's plan, so he can be considered a rare good person among the Great Nations."
Kazahana Koyuki, seated to the side, heard Kazahana Dotō loud and clear. Hearing this, she instantly flew into a rage, her chest heaving violently with a face full of mockery and defiance.
"That bastard Miki Yūya is no good person at all!"
"He's just a low-character, overbearing, and unreasonable rogue villager in Konoha Village!"
"That person has a notorious reputation in the village, and no one is willing to provoke him."
"He usually runs amok, and even the Third Hokage's grandson, Konohamaru, was chased all over the village and beaten up by him!"
"Full of vile habits, arrogant, and completely lacking upbringing-and you're actually praising him?"
"It seems you and he really are the exact same kind of person, equally vile."
Watching his niece's spoiled, paranoid, and willful expression, Kazahana Dotō merely shook his head helplessly without arguing.
He walked forward slowly, picked up a kettle, and filled a cup of hot water for Kazahana Koyuki.
Blowing steam rose as scalding clear water was poured into the cup, hazy as it obscured the young woman's delicate yet fiercely hostile face.
When the steam gradually dissipated, Kazahana Dotō looked at his niece, whom he hadn't seen in years, speaking in a gentle tone like an ordinary elder catching up on old times.
"It's been ten years, Koyuki. You really have grown up."
His words paused, his gaze landing on the wound at the corner of Koyuki's brow, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"That injury on your forehead was inflicted by that Konoha villager, wasn't it?"
Kazahana Koyuki's entire body stiffened, her pupils violently contracting.
The scene of being knocked unconscious by Miki Yūya after getting drunk at the bar instantly rushed into her mind. How did her uncle know about this?
Could it be that every move, every word, and even trivial matters like getting drunk and losing composure during her decade outside had been entirely monitored and controlled by her uncle's people!
She remained silent, defaulting to everything.
Seeing this, Kazahana Dotō spoke softly to himself, voicing words repressed for a decade.
"Back then, I inherited the Land of Snow from Hayayuki."
"At the time, the Kazahana Family didn't leave behind a single asset."
His original intention was to tell his niece that what he had taken over was a completely ruined, near-collapse rotten nation, and how difficult those ten years of steadfast perseverance had been.
Yet Kazahana Koyuki, whose temperament had long since been rendered paranoid and extreme by a decade of wandering and drifting as an actor, could not catch the subtext of her uncle's words at all.
She only stubbornly seized upon a single phrase-that he had inherited the Land of Snow from her father.
To her ears, this sentence was incomparably grating and immensely hypocritical!
Ten years of grievances, hatred, and the bitterness of wandering instantly erupted completely!
"Bulls-!"
With bloodshot eyes, Kazahana Koyuki abruptly raised her hand and fiercely swept across the tabletop!
Clatter-!
The water cup plunged heavily, smashing fiercely right in front of Kazahana Dotō!
Glass shards shattered and flew everywhere, and scalding hot water splashed out, instantly drenching the lapels of Kazahana Dotō's robes!
Soaked in water stains, he looked a complete mess.
Kazahana Koyuki stood up, trembling all over, and screamed in a harsh voice:
"You are the murderer who killed his father and usurped the throne!!"
"You are a traitor who murdered his brother to seize power! You didn't inherit this country from my father at all!"
"My father was killed by your own hands!!"
The hall fell into a profound silence.
Hot water slowly dripped down the wrinkles on Dotō's face. Kazahana Dotō stood rooted to the spot, his clothes soaked through, yet he didn't offer a single word of defense.
He merely looked deeply at his hysterical niece, endless exhaustion and desolation flashing through the depths of his eyes.
After a moment, he finally suppressed the bitterness in his heart and spoke calmly:
"Have you made enough of a scene?"
"Hand over the hexagonal crystal of the Kazahana Family."
"That is the treasure of the Kazahana Family. As long as we unlock the treasure of the Land of Snow, we will possess military power that surpasses the Five Great Nations."
"Only a Land of Snow like that can truly grow strong."
Though hatred burned monstrously within Kazahana Koyuki, she also knew she had no way to resist.
Without hesitation, she reached out to remove the hexagonal crystal pendant hanging around her neck and threw it fiercely into Kazahana Dotō's hand.
"Take it!"
Kazahana Dotō caught the crystal, his expression calm, and gave a deep command toward the door outside:
"Take Princess Koyuki down to rest, and don't let her out of your sight."
The two Snow Ninjas bowed and entered, leading the emotionally agitated Kazahana Koyuki away from the hall.
Until the doors of the grand hall completely closed, shutting out all outsiders.
The previously calm, forbearing, and gentle Kazahana Dotō instantly shed every trace of warmth from his eyes.
His fingertips suddenly exerted force!
Crack-!!
The clear and bright hexagonal crystal was instantly crushed to powder with bare hands!
Fine crystal debris fell pattering to the ground, completely devoid of the energy fluctuations a secret treasure should possess.
The entire process was silent and utterly ordinary.
Nadare Rōga, standing by on standby, was instantly startled and stepped forward quickly:
"Lord Dotō!! What is the meaning of this?!"
"This crystal is fake."
Kazahana Dotō's gaze was ice-cold, his tone absolute.
Nadare Rōga's pupils shrank as he instantly reacted:
"It's Kakashi! Kakashi came to the Land of Snow ten years ago, and since Kakashi handled this matter this time, he must know the importance of this item!"
"Kakashi must have switched the crystal! This subordinate will immediately lead men in pursuit and bring the real crystal back!"
"Don't rush, Nadare."
Kazahana Dotō raised a hand to stop him, his gaze deep.
"Konoha's intention in doing this is obvious."
"By deliberately keeping a grip on the key to the treasure of the Land of Snow, they are restricting the rise of the Land of Snow."
"The Five Great Nations are like that; they will never allow a small nation to possess strength surpassing the Five Great Nations."
He turned his head and gave a stern command.
"Nadare Rōga, you, Fubuki Kakuyoku, and Fubuki Fuyukuma go together."
"Go investigate the bottom line of the Konoha Ninjas and track down the whereabouts of the real crystal key."
"But remember the bottom line-it's best not to have a direct conflict with the Konoha Ninjas."
"Understood!"
The three Snow Ninjas acknowledged the order, turned swiftly, and rapidly departed.
The massive, warm pavilion hall plunged once more into dead silence.
Kazahana Dotō stood with closed eyes, his heart filled with helplessness and heaviness.
The humbleness of a small nation, the helplessness of minor states, and the hegemony of the Five Great Nations-he saw through it all more thoroughly than anyone else.
Only with a prosperous military and military power rivalling the Five Great Nations could the Land of Snow completely shake off its fate of being carved up at will.
Yet just as he was lost in thought, contemplating what to do next-
Tap, tap, tap...
Within the empty hall, a light, steady sound of footsteps echoed.
The sound was unhurried, step by step approaching, shattering the complete silence of the room.
Kazahana Dotō abruptly opened his eyes, his brow furrowing deeply.
Assuming it was Nadare Rōga returning, he spoke in a deep voice:
"Nadare, is there something else?"
Before Dotō's words fully faded, a black shadow abruptly launched a close-quarters surprise attack!
The speed was ghost-like, leaving him no room to react at all!
Hum-!
A Chakra Absorption Device was precisely and unmistakably clamped tight against the center of Kazahana Dotō's back over his heart!
Kazahana Dotō reacted instantly in alarm, his chakra erupting violently as he threw a fierce, heavy backhand punch!
Bang!
The ambusher was sent flying straight away, crashing heavily against a palace pillar and vomiting blood!
Yet everything was already too late!
Zila-!!
A harsh electric current roar suddenly sounded!
The Chakra Absorption Device instantly activated, and a violent electric current swept across Kazahana Dotō's entire body in an instant!
The Chakra Armor beneath his robes instantly lost control and became disordered!
The chakra within his body was also tightly bound by the device and crazily extracted!
His entire meridians grew numb, and his strength was instantly drained completely!
Plop!
The generation of the Land of Snow's ruler-who had endured for ten years and shouldered infamy to protect his country-softened in body and fell heavily to his knees, utterly unable to rise again.
Intense numbness and weakness swept through his entire body. He raised his head with difficulty, his eyes filled with fierce anger and disbelief.
The doors of the hall slowly pushed open.
A familiar figure stepped leisurely into the light.
It was Sandayu!
At this moment, Sandayu no longer possessed his previous humble and submissive appearance.
Dressed in neat warrior martial attire, his posture was tall and upright, and his aura sharp.
Slung diagonally at his waist was a sharp samurai sword, upon which hung an eye-pattern pendant exclusive to the Kazahana Family!
That was the symbol of the orthodox Kazahana Family of the Land of Snow.
A keepsake that only members of the Kazahana Family could wear!
Gritting his teeth to prop up his battered body, Kazahana Dotō stared with rage burning monstrously in his eyes, spitting blood with every word:
"Sandayu... You... You want to usurp the throne?!"
Sandayu walked slowly in front of him, looking down from above with an icy, ruthless gaze, completely devoid of his former respect and humility.
He looked down at the kneeling and powerless Kazahana Dotō, his tone indifferent, striking a dagger into his heart with every word:
"Since the Konoha Ninjas refused to enter the game and help, I can only accomplish the great cause of restoring the country myself."
"The Land of Snow has never been the private asset of you Kazahana family members."
Sandayu turned his head slightly, gazing out the window at the wind and snow, the corners of his mouth curving into an icy, sinister smile.
"That child Koyuki was raised by me for ten years."
"Ten years of drifting and extravagance have left her twisted, foolish, and spoiled."
"She was ruined long ago. She has the title of the rightful princess, but not a shred of common sense or wisdom."
"An arrogant, ignorant, naive fool like her is perfect as a puppet ruler for me to manipulate as I please."
"But you, Dotō... you managed to rebuild the Land of Snow when the Kazahana Family had no assets at all. In all these years, you've never once taken off your armor."
"You're too clever, too cautious. You... must die!"
"Hand over the Hexagonal Crystal Koyuki gave you, and I can give you a quick death."
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