The Land of Snow.
True to its na, this was a nation perpetually shrouded in ice and snow. If the Land of Wind had at least a few oases amidst its endless sands, the Land of Snow had nothing but snow—no other distinguishing features.
In such harsh weather, only the hardiest of crops could survive.
Hikari could understand why the Land of Snow had no shinobi village. In an environnt like this, anyone with even a shred of ability would leave. Who would willingly stay in such a place?
Compared to the great nations, or even the many smaller countries with far more hospitable climates, the Land of Snow was simply unappealing.
"The Land of Snow... I’ve finally returned!" Kazahana Koyuki gazed at the familiar expanse of white before her, unable to hold back her emotions.
"Princess, rest assured. With the help of these shinobi, we will surely reclaim the Land of Snow! You will officially beco its queen!" Sandayū declared with unwavering loyalty.
His devotion was undeniable.
Having followed Koyuki all these years, even in his advanced age, he still sought to restore her to the throne. His loyalty had remained steadfast for decades.
It was precisely because she knew of his devotion that Koyuki had initially hesitated to drag him into this ss.
But now, things were different. With Kamizuki Hikari’s presence, Koyuki felt that defeating Dotō was no longer an insurmountable task.
Compared to the hundreds-of-ters-long sea whale, what was Kazahana Dotō?
She didn’t know what thod Hikari had used to drive away the sea whale, but that didn’t diminish her newfound confidence in his strength.
A man who was both handso and powerful—it was impossible for her, as a woman, not to feel so degree of admiration.
"Alright, let’s keep moving. The sooner we deal with Kazahana Dotō, the sooner we can return to Konoha." Hikari yawned, his dislike for the cold evident. In this weather, all he wanted was to curl up in a warm futon.
Unfortunately, there was no warm futon here—only endless snow and biting winds.
"Are you all in such a hurry to go back?" Koyuki had initially ant to say "you", but at the last mont, she realized that addressing Hikari alone might sound too intimate.
So she switched to "you all", including the three young shinobi in her question.
"Yeah, can’t be helped." Hikari replied, pulling his collar tighter. Even with his high physical endurance, he couldn’t suppress his instinctual dislike for the cold.
"Can’t be helped? Couldn’t you stay a few more days? I could show you around the Land of Snow!" Koyuki extended the invitation to the group.
Instantly, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio turned their eyes toward Hikari.
"Princess, it’s not that we don’t want to, but right now, Konoha is on the verge of conflict with Kumogakure and Iwagakure. War could break out at any mont. The four of us may not be the strongest, but we’re still valuable assets. It wouldn’t be right for us to stay here and enjoy ourselves."
At the ntion of war, Koyuki instinctively frowned.
As a kind-hearted woman, she despised war.
With Konoha teetering on the edge of conflict, no matter how much she wanted them to stay, she couldn’t bring herself to insist.
If Hikari and the trio were foolish enough to agree, they wouldn’t be the people she admired in the first place.
Thinking this, her expression couldn’t help but darken with disappointnt.
"Fine, I understand. But I’ll still be acting in films. When my new movie premieres in Konoha, you all better support !"
"Princess!" Sandayū looked at her in shock. "You’ll be the queen! How can you continue acting? Such public exposure is—"
Before he could finish, Koyuki turned away. "If you don’t agree, then I might as well go back to Konoha!"
"Alright, alright! I agree! Just don’t leave!" Knowing Koyuki’s stubbornness, Sandayū decided to play along for now. Once she beca queen, perhaps she’d change her mind.
"That’s more like it. Let’s go!"
Now that they had arrived in the Land of Snow, Koyuki no longer wanted to dwell on things.
What had once been a place of fear for her now filled her with anticipation—thanks to Kamizuki Hikari’s strength, she couldn’t wait to see Dotō defeated.
"Right, let’s move!" Hikari agreed without hesitation.
---
Iwagakure Camp.
"Tsuchikage-sama, this is a letter from the Fourth Raikage." An Iwa-nin, after carefully inspecting the letter for any poisons, respectfully handed it to Ōnoki.
"What does it say?" Ōnoki took the letter and asked casually.
The Iwa-nin shook his head. "It’s addressed to you, Tsuchikage-sama. We didn’t dare open it."
"Fine, dismissed." Ōnoki had only asked out of habit—for a mont, he’d mistaken the ssenger for his granddaughter. Not that he’d ever admit it.
Opening the letter, Ōnoki squinted through his aged eyes, reading it carefully before setting it down on the table to ponder its contents.
"The Raikage says that Tsunade has challenged us—both and him—to a joint battle. Has she gone senile?"
This kind of challenge was practically an insult.
They were all Kage. What gave Tsunade the right to act so arrogantly? Did she really think they wouldn’t team up against her?
"Tsuchikage-sama!"
Kurotsuchi’s voice called from the entrance before she stepped inside.
"Ah, you’re here. Good timing. Take a look at this and tell what the Raikage is playing at." Ōnoki handed her the letter and leaned back, waiting.
Kurotsuchi skimd the contents, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"This has to be fake, right? How could sothing so ridiculous be real?"
As Ōnoki’s granddaughter, she knew exactly how powerful her grandfather was.
His Kekkei Tōta, Dust Release, was no joke.
To this day, no one had ever survived its obliterating force.
At the sa ti, the Fourth Raikage was a monster in his own right.
Though not quite at the level of the Third Raikage in his pri, his Lightning Release Chakra Mode made him one of the most feared shinobi in the world.
For Tsunade to challenge both Ōnoki and the Raikage at once—had she lost her mind?
"I’d like to think it’s fake too, but I recognize the Raikage’s handwriting. And his seal is there. If this is real, then what does that imply?"
Kurotsuchi thought for a mont before her eyes widened further.
"If it’s true, then Tsunade must have so kind of trump card. Which ans... the balance among the Five Kage could be shattered!"
Aside from the First Hokage—who had been in a league of his own—the other Kage had always been relatively equal in strength. Even if there were gaps, they were never too wide.
But if Tsunade was confident enough to challenge two Kage at once, she must have sothing up her sleeve.
And if she lost... the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Fine. We’ll wait and see. If the Raikage is coming, then I’ll welco him. I want to see just what Tsunade is capable of—daring to challenge both of us at once!"
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Read 40 advanced Chapters on my P@treon.
/KakuzuTL
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