A few days later, in the capital of the Land of Snow.
The changes brought about by the continuously operating geothermal generator are visible to the naked eye. The thick ice and snow that had accumulated on the streets of the capital for countless years has melted away most of it, revealing the ancient stone-paved roads underneath.
Icicles dripped from the eaves, melting into streams that flowed merrily into the newly formed ditches along the street. The sky was a clear, azure blue, a sight unseen for a long time, and the sunlight shone down without obstruction, bringing a real warmth that was no longer biting and harsh.
The square in front of the palace was packed with people. They were no longer the ragged, emaciated "patriots" from the icy plains, but countless ordinary people who had come from all over the Land of Snow upon hearing the news.
They changed into old but clean clothes, their faces flushed from frostbite, but more than anything, they radiated unbelievable joy and hopeful light.
Children chased and played among the crowd, their clear laughter a beautiful melody that hadn't been heard in this land for a long time.
On the makeshift platform, Kazahana Koyuki, dressed in an elegant and dignified white dress, with her long hair tied up, revealed her smooth forehead and determined eyes.
Although still somewhat immature, the grace of a princess and the composure gained through hardship were already clearly visible.
Standing beside her was the sprightly Asama Sandayu, her back straight despite tears streaming down her face, and several young officials who had distinguished themselves in the resistance and had been quickly promoted.
There were no elaborate ceremonies, no lengthy speeches. Koyuki simply walked to the front of the stage, looked down at the dark mass of people gazing up at her, took a deep breath, and spoke in a clear and powerful voice:
"Citizens of the Land of Snow!"
The square fell silent instantly, with only the sound of the wind and the distant sound of melting snow flowing through it.
"The long-lasting winter is over."
Her voice wasn't loud, yet it seemed to carry a certain power, reaching far and wide, "My ancestor, my father, Kazahana Sōsetsu, left us not weapons, not the power to conquer other lands. He left us a spring. A real, warm spring that belongs to each and every one of us."
She held up the Hexagonal Crystal in her hand, which had regained its warm and peaceful feel, and the sunlight and the crystal's brilliance intertwined on her face.
"Tyranny and the bitter cold have passed. But spring does not mean we can stop. It means melting snow irrigating the land, seeds sprouting, and that we must use our own hands to build a new Land of Snow where there is no more fear, no more hunger and cold, where everyone can earn their food and dignity through labor! This requires time, sweat, and above all, the unity of each and every one of us!"
Her gaze swept across the crowd, and she saw many familiar faces—those who had taken up makeshift weapons and stood with her on the icy plains, those who had begun clearing their homes from the ruins.
"I, Kazahana Koyuki, hereby swear that I will be guided by the will of my ancestors, and take it upon myself to bring spring and hope to the people. Together with you all, I will strive to make the Land of Snow a warm, prosperous, and just land! This country no longer belongs to any one person; it belongs to all of you who live on this land and work so hard!"
After a brief silence, the square erupted in thunderous cheers! People waved their arms, wiped away tears, and shouted with all their might, "Your Highness!" and "Long live Spring!"
The sounds coalesced into a torrent, dispelling the last vestiges of gloom over the capital.
Shūji stood in an inconspicuous corner at the edge of the square, looking at the boiling crowd in front of him and listening to the energetic cheers. His chest heaved violently, and his eyes uncontrollably burned and reddened.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, but he felt no pain. The image of Atetsu flashed through his mind, and the figures of those struggling to survive outside Sunagakure seemed to overlap with these people who had been given a new life.
Different countries, different people, but the look in their eyes when they break free from oppression and see hope is so similar.
"Did you see that, everyone...?"
He murmured to himself, his voice choked with emotion, "It really can change, as long as we don't give up. As long as there are still people willing to stand up..."
At that moment, he felt that his perseverance along the way and those ideals that were considered "naive" had found the most solid explanation.
This joy and satisfaction, emanating from within, was more intense and real than any new Ninjutsu he had learned.
The celebration lasted a long time, with people reluctant to leave, as if they wanted to fully enjoy the hard-won sunshine and hope.
Evening, in a side hall of the royal palace. The people of Konoha and Sunagakure were taking their final rest and saying goodbye. The mission had been exceeded. For Konoha, it meant successfully escorting and helping their client restore their kingdom; for Sunagakure, it meant acquiring key technologies and establishing initial contact. It was time to return to their respective villages.
Kakashi leaned against the window, watching the gradually thinning but still excited crowd in the plaza outside, and said to Shira beside him, "This time, we owe a great deal to the assistance of Sunagakure. Especially you, Shira."
"If Kai knew how amazing you are now, and how you accomplished such a great feat with us, he'd probably run five hundred handstands around Konoha to celebrate his youth."
Upon hearing this, Shira smiled faintly. Teacher Might Guy's ever-burning passion and purity were indeed a rare and warm memory for him.
"Teacher Kai took good care of me. If I have the chance, I would really like to ask him for more advice on Taijutsu." He paused, then added, "However, as a student."
Kakashi glanced at him, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath his mask, but said nothing more. Some things are better left unsaid.
On the other side, Naruto was grabbing Shūji and recounting his heroic feat of Rasengan that "felt a little different" in his last attack, though he himself couldn't quite put his finger on what made it different.
Sasuke stood alone in the shadows by the door, arms crossed, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Shira.
As Kakashi announced their preparations to return to Konoha, Sasuke suddenly walked over and stopped in front of Shira. He looked up, his black eyes staring directly at Shira, his voice as cold as ever. " Shira, I will catch up with you. In my own way, I will become stronger."
Looking at the Uchiha descendant burdened with a heavy destiny, Shira could clearly sense the burning flame in his eyes, a flame mixed with pride, loneliness, and a strong desire to become stronger.
He paused for a moment, then nodded very seriously to Sasuke and said, "I believe in you, Sasuke. Your talent and will are outstanding."
"But remember, power is a weapon; the key lies in the person wielding it. On the path to power, you'll encounter many choices and temptations that seem like shortcuts. Stay clear-headed, see clearly what you truly want to protect, and don't let darkness cloud your judgment."
Sasuke's pupils contracted slightly, and his lips tightened, as if he wanted to refute something, but in the end he only gave Shira a deep look, let out a barely audible "humph" from his nose, and turned to walk towards Kakashi.
How much of what Shira said he actually listened to, only he himself probably knows.
"Well then, we'll take our leave. Thank you all for your great help during this mission." Kakashi nodded to Shira, Koyuki, and the others.
"Lord Koyuki, may the Land of Snow truly usher in spring under your leadership. If there are any routine missions that require Konoha's assistance in the future, please announce them through official channels."
"Thank you, Lord Kakashi, and thank you everyone in Konoha. Have a safe journey." Koyuki bowed solemnly. Sandayu also bowed repeatedly in thanks.
The figures of Konoha 'Team 7 quickly disappeared at the end of the street leading from the royal capital to the port.
Only the four from Sunagakure, along with Koyuki and Sandayu, remained in the side hall, and the atmosphere shifted slightly from farewell to pragmatism.
Shira gestured to Maki, Maki understood and took out a specially made, rather large sealing scroll from his bosom, presenting it with both hands and placing it on the table in the hall.
"Lady Koyuki, Mr. Sandayu," Shira spoke, her tone becoming much more formal, "First of all, this is a portion of the Chakra Armor and related components that our side seized during the mission. After a preliminary inspection, the core energy device and key rune structure are basically intact. In accordance with the agreement before the mission, and considering that this item originally belonged to the Land of Snow, we are now returning it in its entirety."
Koyuki and Sandayu exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. They hadn't expected Sunagakure to return these extremely valuable technological artifacts so readily.
"Your Excellency Shira, this..." The Sandayu hesitated.
"This is simply returning it to its rightful owner," Shira. "However, on behalf of Sunagakure, I hope that this will allow us to establish a deeper and more mutually beneficial cooperative relationship with the newly reborn Land of Snow."
He looked at Koyuki, his gaze frank. "To be honest, Sunagakure is very interested in your country's Chakra Armor technology, as well as the energy principles and precision manufacturing processes that support its operation. This technology has immense practical value in specific environments. But we also understand that this is your country's core technology."
Koyuki had regained her composure as a princess. She gestured for the Sandayu to accept the scroll, then said to Shira, "Your Excellency Shira, please speak frankly."
" Sunagakure hopes to reach a technology exchange and cooperation agreement with the Land of Snow."
Shira already had a plan in mind. "We can provide the Sunagakure with mature technologies and experience in areas such as Wind Release applications, Puppet Technique precision mechanical structures, and survival and construction in desert environments. These might help the Land of Snow better transform its environment and develop production."
"At the same time, the puppet forces of Sunagakure can also serve as reliable partners for the Land of Snow, providing escort services for foreign trade or for specific missions without involving them in internal affairs."
He paused, then continued, "In exchange, we hope that the Land of Snow will share some of the formulas for the outer protective materials of the Chakra Armor, the energy buffer design concepts, and data on steady-state thermal energy conversion technologies related to geothermal generators that can be used in other environments, provided that core technological details are not excessively disclosed."
"We have no intention of replicating your country's armor or geothermal systems. Rather, we hope to learn from your ideas to solve some of the problems faced by Sunagakure itself, such as individual soldier protection in harsh environments and energy supply for remote outposts."
"Furthermore," Shira added, her tone becoming more serious, " Sunagakure wishes to establish formal diplomatic relations with the Land of Snow, setting up permanent liaison offices in each other's territories and strengthening trade ties. The Land of Snow possesses unique Ice Release ninjas and advanced technology, while Sunagakure controls trade routes to the vast deserts of the Land of Wind and the southern countries."
"We can help the Land of Snow sell its unique ice crystal minerals, cold-resistant crops, and even some civilian-use insulation products to regions lacking these resources, in exchange for food, cloth, metal, and other materials necessary for the reconstruction of the Land of Snow."
He didn't mention a military alliance, as that was too sensitive. What he proposed were concrete technology exchanges, economic cooperation, and foreign aid, each of which was extremely attractive to the newly established Land of Snow, which was in dire need of rebuilding. At the same time, they were also entirely in the interests of Sunagakure, especially Rasa's desire to "acquire technology" and "enhance Sunagakure's influence."
Koyuki listened attentively, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her teacup. She glanced at the Sandayu, who nodded slightly, his eyes showing approval.
Shira's proposal was pragmatic and specific, without vague promises or excessive demands; it was more like an equal and complementary partnership.
"Your suggestion, Lord Shira, is very constructive." Koyuki pondered for a moment before speaking slowly and clearly.
" The Land of Snow has just escaped the harsh winter and tyranny, and it truly needs support and cooperation from all sides. The Sunagakure's Puppet Technique Wind Release experience will be helpful in exploring construction methods for this new environment, and stable foreign trade routes are key to the Land of Snow's recovery."
"Sharing some non-core technical ideas in exchange for much-needed development resources and the support of allies is a feasible approach, in my opinion."
She stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the people still busy rebuilding their homes in the twilight. Her back looked resolute.
"However, I have one condition."
She turned around, her gaze clear as she looked at Shira. " The Land of Snow will no longer be a vassal state of any nation, nor will it allow its technology to become a mere tool of war. Our condition for sharing technology is that it must be used to build, protect, and improve the lives of our people."
" Sunagakure needs to promise that the acquired technological ideas will not be used to develop weapons of mass destruction targeting ordinary civilians, or to wage unjust wars of aggression. Furthermore, cooperation must be conducted on the basis of equality and transparency."
"If Sunagakure agrees, we can immediately begin drafting the specific terms of cooperation and send an envoy to accompany you back to Sunagakure to meet with the Lord Kazekage and formally finalize the alliance."
Shira secretly admired her. This princess had grown remarkably quickly after experiencing hardships. She had seized the opportunity for cooperation while firmly upholding her bottom line, demonstrating clear thinking and a firm stance.
"A very reasonable request." Shira nodded without hesitation. "I can represent Sunagakure and cooperate with the Land of Snow under this principle. Specific terms can be negotiated in detail by our respective envoys. I believe the Lord Kazekage will also be pleased."
He glanced at his companion beside him. Shūji's eyes gleamed, clearly indicating his strong approval of this cooperative approach that was based on equality, mutual benefit, and contributed to the well-being of both peoples. Maki and Ishikawa also nodded slightly.
"Then," Shira extended her hand to Koyuki, "I wish us a pleasant cooperation and a brighter future together."
Koyuki looked at Shira's outstretched hand, then at his sincere eyes, and finally revealed a relieved and bright smile, reaching out to shake his hand.
"It was a pleasure working with you, Shira. Please also convey my sincerest gratitude to everyone in Land of Snow Sunagakure."
As night fell, the palace lit up with warm lights. In the distance, the geothermal generator continued to operate steadily, continuously supplying warmth to the awakening city.
The four members of Sunagakure stood on the terrace of their temporary residence, gazing at the night view of the Land of Snow under the starry sky, a view that was completely different from what they had seen a few days earlier.
"The mission is a complete success, Captain," Ishikawa breathed a sigh of relief. "We even managed to secure such a significant cooperation agreement for the village."
"Yes, I didn't expect it to end like this." Maki smiled, stroking the scroll containing sealed technical samples. "This information should satisfy everyone in the village."
Shūji didn't speak, but just gazed at the scattered lights in the city and the faint outline of the mountains that were beginning to turn green in the distance, with a satisfied and peaceful smile on his face.
His ideal found a vivid and successful example here.
Shira's gaze, however, turned further south, towards Sunagakure. The technological references for the Chakra Armor and the cooperative channels with the Land of Snow would all contribute to Sunagakure's future development.
Through this mission, he further proved his worth and solidified his position in the village.
More importantly, he changed the fate of some people and participated in creating a new spring for a nation. This feeling gave him a greater sense of fulfillment than the mere increase in power.
"Get ready, we're heading back home tomorrow." Shira turned her gaze back to her companions. "There's still a lot we need to do."
The wind, carrying the fresh scent unique to melted snow, swept across the terrace, gentle yet firm.