Creak!
Creak!
Creak…
Lin Yu gazed at Kaguya, who was treading on the snow like a little girl, a look of regret in his eyes.
This wasn't what he had envisioned. Shouldn't he be holding Kaguya's small hand, treading on the snow together?
Then he would deliberately misstep, tripping Kaguya, and they'd roll around in the snow, leading to some wonderful developments…
What was happening now?!
Creak!
Lin Yu's face twitched slightly. He was becoming somewhat sensitive to the creaking sound.
Creak! Creak! Creak!
"Kaguya, are you done playing? We should catch up," Lin Yu said, utterly resigned, despite his initial reluctance to follow the main group.
Creak!
Alright, Lin Yu admitted he had underestimated Kaguya's curiosity. From now on, he should call her "Baby Kaguya."
After a while, this patch of snow was flattened by Kaguya's stomping, covered entirely with the imprints of her shoe soles. Still not satisfied, Kaguya's gaze drifted towards the boundless white expanse in the distance.
"Stop!"
Lin Yu quickly interrupted Kaguya's terrifying thought. Was she planning to flatten the Land of Snow?
Kaguya tilted her head, not understanding why Lin Yu was stopping her. She hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time, and perhaps, had never felt this relaxed before.
"Didn't we agree to watch the snow together?"
Kaguya blinked her beautiful eyes. Weren't they watching the snow together right now?
Lin Yu walked over, took Kaguya's cold, soft little hand, and placed it in his own. He smiled and said, "What we're going to watch are snowflakes in spring."
Kaguya instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but she had just promised Lin Yu that she wouldn't use any chakra or strength, and that she needed to experience things firsthand to truly appreciate their joy.
The previous snow-treading had proven Lin Yu right. Kaguya struggled slightly before allowing Lin Yu to hold her hand.
Feeling the warmth emanating from his palm, a subtle curve appeared on Kaguya's clear, cold face. She had agreed not to use chakra, but that didn't mean she couldn't absorb…
She couldn't refuse such a delicious offering presented to her.
"Hiss! Kaguya, slow down your absorption, give me a chance to breathe!"
On the snowy ground, the distance between the two sets of footprints grew shorter, and the snowflakes overhead began to fall more heavily. A blizzard was coming.
…
In a town in the Land of Snow, a masked man was searching for something in a bookstore.
"Nothing. Not here either. Was I too late?"
Kakashi sighed, leaving the bookstore dejectedly. This was the fifth one he had visited, and he still hadn't found that limited edition book.
"Kakashi, are you looking for this book?"
A familiar voice suddenly rang in his ears. Kakashi looked up to see a book with "Ice and Fire Nine Heavens" printed on it placed before him. In the bottom left corner, it was labeled "Adult Manga."
"Obito, how did you know I was looking for this book!"
The person before him was none other than Uchiha Obito. Having received Kakashi's invitation, how could Obito possibly refuse, especially when Might Guy was not around?
Obito pouted. "I know you inside and out, and recently I've developed a bit of an interest in books myself. I just bought it on impulse."
Obito rubbed his nose, his gaze drifting into the distance. "It's for you."
"This… Thank you, Obito. I'll treat you to a meal."
"No need for a meal. Let's find a place and study it together. Besides, I haven't read it yet."
Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then clapped his hands. "Then let's find a secluded spot, and we'll study and discuss it thoroughly!"
"Good!"
…
"Everyone, stop! A blizzard is coming. Let's find a place to take shelter for now."
Asama Takemikazuchi, a local of the Land of Snow, called out to the group and led them into a dilapidated wooden hut.
"This was once a shelter for some people of the Land of Snow, abandoned because they had to constantly evade the pursuit of Hōzuki."
After speaking, Asama Takemikazuchi glanced at Koyuki Kazahana, who showed no reaction. He couldn't help but sigh. He knew it was a bit cruel for Princess Koyuki, but for the people of the Land of Snow, she had to step up.
While everyone was resting, Naruto nudged Sasuke beside him. Sasuke opened his eyes and looked at Naruto with confusion.
"Sasuke, didn't you notice? Teacher Kakashi and Teacher Lin Yu are gone."
"Idiot, I noticed that long ago. Not only them, but even that Otsutsuki Kaguya has left the group."
Due to his clan's background, Sasuke, with strong backing, was aware of Otsutsuki Kaguya's existence, but he only knew her name, not the extent of her terrifying power.
Naruto pouted. "They probably snuck out to play, right? This is just a simple escort mission, after all."
"Fool, didn't you hear the client say that this Miss Koyuki is a princess of a country and could be assassinated at any moment?"
"Are you scared, Sasuke?"
"Quite the opposite. I can't wait for them to arrive!"
Naruto grinned, a smile playing on his lips. "Me too. How about we go on the offensive?"
Sasuke frowned. "That might not be good… Besides, how do you know where the enemy will ambush?"
Naruto rubbed his nose, analyzing proudly. "There haven't been any enemy traces along the way. And the other party couldn't possibly not know about the arrival of that big sister in the Land of Snow."
"Therefore, there's only one truth: the other party knows our destination and is already waiting for us at the Rainbow Ice Wall."
"What do you say, Sasuke? We can go there tonight and capture them all. Then we'll have more time to explore the capital of the Land of Snow."
Sasuke was somewhat tempted. The journey these past few days had made him restless, and he desperately craved a thrilling battle.
"Let's go!"
The two left a note for Sakura, who was sleeping with her eyes closed, and under the cover of night, they vanished into the swirling snow, following the route they had memorized before setting off.
Not long after the two departed, a flying ship tore through the night sky and landed in front of the dilapidated wooden hut. The hatch opened, and squads of soldiers in armor emerged, surrounding the hut.
"My dear niece, your uncle has come to bring you home!"
Inside the hut.
The commotion woke everyone. Before they could even complain, the hut door was kicked open, and a squad of soldiers burst in, subduing all the actors.
"Who are you? Why are you attacking us?"
To their questions, the soldiers' expressions were icy, offering no response.
At that moment, Fūjin raised his voice from outside again. "Dear niece, must I personally come in to get you?"
Hearing that nightmarish voice, Fūki Koyuki, hiding in the corner, her pupils constricted. She recalled the painful memories of her childhood and clenched her fists tightly. She couldn't escape, just like this country itself, perpetually shrouded in wind and snow, never seeing a warm spring.
"Mew…"
Shiro let out a groggy meow. Why had this woman woken it up? It was having a beautiful dream, about to eat roasted Lin Yu, and just as it was about to take a bite, the dream was gone. What a frustrating beast!
Shiro's meow seemed to awaken Koyuki. The fear in her eyes slowly calmed. She took a deep breath. Death was death. If she was going to die, she'd take someone down with her. She wouldn't lose!
Seeing Koyuki walk towards the door, Asama Takemikazuchi was about to rush out to stop her, but was knocked unconscious by a soldier beside him. The actors nearby dared not move an inch.
Sakura had already been awakened by the commotion. Just as she was about to discuss their next move with her two companions, she saw a note stuck to her ninja tool pouch.
"Sasuke and I are heading ahead to flank the enemy's nest. Sakura, stay with the group and protect the princess. Signed, Naruto."
Those two!
Sakura furiously tore the note to shreds. Their sensei had gone off somewhere, and her two companions had taken it upon themselves to leave while she was asleep. Why was her mission as Haruno Sakura so difficult!
…
Fūjin saw Koyuki walk out, carrying a peculiar-looking pet. He placed his hands behind his back and said with a smile, "Long time no see, Koyuki. You've become even more beautiful."
"You know what I want."
Koyuki grasped the pendant around her neck and said coldly, "I'll go with you, but you can't hurt anyone else. Otherwise, I'll smash this right now."
Fūjin's expression was blank. "You know that their lives are of no use to me. I only want what you have in your hand."
"Alright, I'll give it to you."
"Miss Koyuki, I will protect you."
Just then, a pink-haired Sakura landed in front of Koyuki, kunai in hand, her face grim as she looked at Fūjin.
Sakura had chosen to step forward. She knew her strength wasn't great, but dealing with ninjas from a few remote countries should be more than enough, right?
Fūjin looked at the pink-haired girl blocking his path and couldn't help but laugh.
"Koyuki, Koyuki, did you really think you could defy me by finding a few Leaf Village ninja?"
"Come out, all of you!"
Swish swish swish!
Three figures clad in chakra armor landed around Sakura, encircling her.
"Little girl, let me, Rangga Yukiryuu, play with you."
A drop of sweat trickled down Sakura's forehead. Her heart sank to the bottom. These guys didn't seem easy to deal with.
Teacher Kakashi, where are you?
Naruto, Sasuke, why don't you come back!
And that red-haired Teacher Lin Yu, where have you all gone!