On the battlefield, the rebels were cleaning up, taking the surviving Snow ninja back to the village under guard, while Yuhan used Shadow Clones to treat the wounded.
The unconscious Sandayu woke up once his treatment was finished. "We're saved! Where's Princess Koyuki?"
Yuhan said, "Hongshi drove Kazahana Dōtō back. Koyuki and Hongshi went after him, and Neji and Rock Lee followed them. Don't worry."
Sandayu said, "Hongshi-kun? Then there's nothing to worry about. Thank you, ninja of Konoha."
Yuhan shook his head. "You're the ones who've worked hard. We can begin the next stage of the operation."
Kazahana Kinji raised his katana high. "Boys! Let's raid Kazahana Dōtō's lair and reclaim Lord Sōsetsu's honor!"
"Move out!"
The rebels who could still fight set off one after another toward the other end, heading straight for Kazahana Castle.
Yuhan said to Tenten and Sandayu, "Let's go see how things are going on Hongshi's end too."
"Right!"
Deep within the iceberg.
Kazahana Dōtō took out the Hexagonal Crystal and handed it to Hongshi. "Boss, you do the honors."
Hongshi took the Hexagonal Crystal, then passed it to Koyuki beside him. "You do it. This treasure belongs to you."
Kazahana Dōtō and Kazahana Koyuki had both completely submitted to Hongshi by now, so naturally, neither refused.
Kazahana Koyuki inserted the Hexagonal Crystal into the stone pedestal. "Father, I'm home."
Rumble...
A rumbling rang out.
Kazahana Dōtō said, "Huh? Where's the treasure?"
Hongshi said, "The treasure? (͡°͜ʖ͡°)✧ I hid it in the depths of the sea. Go find it."
Kazahana Dōtō said, "???"
Gradually, Koyuki felt her surroundings grow warmer. "It's so warm. What's going on?"
Steam billowed.
With a rushing sound, the iceberg turned to water, rapidly melting and merging into flowing rivers.
On the surface of the mountains and rivers.
Kazahana Dōtō said, "This is... a geothermal heater! Could the treasure Sōsetsu spoke of have been nothing more than a geothermal heater?"
Hongshi said, "What else would it be! Did you expect a nuclear bomb in a place the size of a sesame seed?"
Kazahana Dōtō said, "I never imagined Kazahana Sōsetsu would..."
"Heat Concerto!"
"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
"Ice Release: Ice Protective Wall!"
Two figures came flying over from afar: Rock Lee and Neji. Upon arriving, they spotted the three facing off. Rock Lee seized an opening, immediately swallowed his last vial of chakra supplement, turned into a ball of flame, and kicked at Kazahana Dōtō, while Neji followed close behind with a palm strike.
The ice wall Kazahana Dōtō hastily conjured could not stop Rock Lee's full-power kick at all. The kick struck his chest, breaking who knew how many ribs. He spat out blood and slammed into an ice wall, the remaining force cracking it open and exposing the mirrored surface within.
Hongshi said, "Don't kick him to death."
Rumble... The film crew followed close behind too.
The director said, "What a perfect kick! Thank the god of cinema! Look, it's a scene of spring! Film it, film it! Don't miss a single corner!"
Although the director was already shivering from the cold, with two trails of snot frozen into icicles hanging over his chest, his dedication drove him ever onward.
"Yes!"
Rock Lee stood in front of Kazahana Koyuki. "Princess Koyuki, are you all right?"
Kazahana Koyuki said, "Lee-kun..."
Hongshi held his head. "Rock Lee, your timing is just perfect."
Neji still had his Byakugan activated, and all he could see was a vast amount of steam gushing out. "What's this??"
Hongshi walked up to Kazahana Koyuki. "Princess Koyuki, your father wanted to turn the Land of Snow into the Land of Spring."
At that moment, the rising heat dispersed the snow clouds overhead. Sunlight shone onto the ice wall, and a recording began to play.
Its central figures were, naturally, the young Princess Koyuki and the late Kazahana Sōsetsu.
"Koyuki, what would you like to do once spring arrives?"
"Koyuki wants to become a pwincess..."
"What kind of pwincess?"
"A gentle... strong pwincess with a sense of justice."
"Hahahaha, that will be very difficult."
Kazahana Koyuki stared, transfixed. "I... I said that?"
Hongshi said, "You sure did. You were so cute when you were little."
Neji said, "Hongshi, shut up!"
The recording continued:
"But if you make your dream your faith and keep pursuing it without giving up, your dream will surely come true!"
Sōsetsu placed the hexagonal necklace around Kazahana Koyuki's neck and said slowly, "Look, there's a beautiful pwincess standing right here."
Everyone present shed tears.
Kazahana Koyuki said, "Father..."
Hongshi said, "(*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ) So touching! Don't worry, I'll definitely bring your dad back to life!"
Rock Lee said, "(*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ) So touching! Her Highness the Pwincess's father was truly so gentle!"
Hongshi said, "Lee-kun!!"
Rock Lee said, "Hongshi-kun!!"
Neji said, "(╬•᷅д•᷄╬) If you two hug again, I'll kill you!"
The recording continued.
"But there's something troubling Koyuki, because she has another dream!"
"What is it? Your other dream?"
"An actress!"
"Hahahahahaha."
Everyone present laughed through their tears.
The sunlight gradually intensified, refracting through the ice wall to form a rainbow. The pure white snow was gone, leaving only brilliant colors. The breeze that blew was no longer bitingly cold, but gently warm, just like Kazahana Sōsetsu.
Kazahana Koyuki said, "Father, this is the other side of the rainbow."
Kazahana Dōtō, lying on the ground playing dead, also secretly shed two trails of tears. "Big brother... I understand your wishes now!"
Kazahana Koyuki now understood her father's wish too. "I know what I should do."
"Cut!" the director shouted. "Now that's a perfect ending!"
The cameraman said, "Director, please wipe your nose."
Far away, on the other side of the Land of Snow, a firework rose and burst into a flower in the sky, signaling that Kazahana Kinji had successfully taken Snow Castle.
Rock Lee said, "Your Highness, Tenten and the others succeeded!"
Hongshi walked up to Kazahana Koyuki. "Princess Koyuki, the Land of Snow is your country now, and we've delivered you to your destination. Our escort mission ends here."
Rock Lee said, "Yeah! Mission complete!"
Neji said, "The hassle is finally over."
Kazahana Koyuki felt a little dejected upon hearing this. "But I don't know what to do."
Hongshi interrupted, "No buts. Veteran retainers like Kazahana Kinji and Sandayu will assist you well."
Kazahana Koyuki caught hold of Hongshi, her face slightly flushed as she stammered, "Ho... Hongshi-kun... could you stay and help me?"
Neji said, "(°ー°〃)???"
Rock Lee said, "(°ー°〃)???"
The Lord God said, "It's acting, acting. Don't mind it."
Although Hongshi was only thirteen, he looked little different from a man of thirty. He slowly reached out and deployed the headpat of doom. "Koyuki, I'm a ninja with no feelings. You're destined to walk this road on your own. However..."
Kazahana Koyuki said, "What?"
With a resolute gaze, Hongshi continued stroking Kazahana Koyuki's head. "Work hard and grow strong. I'll be waiting in the New World-no, in Konoha. When the time comes, you must visit as the ruler of the Land of Spring."
Kazahana Koyuki said, "Is that so? I know what I should do now! Thank you, Hongshi!"