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The Shinobi Knight

Chapter9: The Snow War Part 2

Land of Snow: Snow Fortress

"That's a lot of guards," Naruto whispered as they gazed down at the fortress in the canyon below.

"Judging by their chakra I'd say they're all Genin level...except for one," Yugito responded.

"Doto," Haku mused.

"It would seem so," Yugito agreed.

"Okay let's get this over with," Naruto said as he backed away from the cliff edge.

"This is insane; attacking Doto's stronghold like this," Koyuki spoke up from the side.

"This isn't the first time we've done something like this princess," Naruto told her.

"He's right...this is just like what happened in the Land of Wave," Yugito agreed.

"There's a difference between Gato and Doto though," Haku spoke up. "We don't know what kind of things Doto has up his sleeve so this might not be as...easy as it was in Wave."

"All the more reason to strike sooner rather than later," Naruto concluded.

"Have you got a plan?" Yugito asked as her eyes flashed purple for an instant.

"Something worthy of a practical joke..." Naruto trailed off before he told them the plan.


"I can't believe we're doing this," Yugito grumbled as she readjusted her purple dress.

"It's not so bad Yugito-san," Haku said from the side, walking perfectly in her own white dress.

"I don't mind the dress...it's what we're using it for and her plan," Yugito said as she turned to the other female teammate.

"Don't look at me...you agreed to it and you said you wouldn't hit me," Naruko said from the side as she tried to walk straight in her red dress.

'Damn his Oiroke no Jutsu,' Yugito bit back a growl from escaping her throat as they neared the main gates of the fortress.

"Well hello ladies, what can we do for you?" asked the lead guard, clearly a mercenary.

"Daimyo-sama has requested us for today," Haku answered with a rather forced smile.

"Doto? Why don't you come with me and get to know a real man," offered the merc as he held out his hand with a grin.

"We were requested for him specifically," Haku countered quickly.

"Let them through Fumaru," said the other guard. "You don't want to upset the boss by breaking them in before he does do you?"

"I guess your right...shame though," Fumaru shrugged and waved the three 'girls' through. "I'll take you to him," he said as he led them inside the fortress.

'Nicely done Haku,' thought the two blonds as they walked through a long corridor towards the throne room.

"Erm excuse me," Haku said seemingly nervous causing the guard to stop.

Fumaru turned and asked, "is there something wrong?"

"I'm sorry about this," Haku responded with a smile.

"Sorry about wh-" Fumaru started only to fall to the floor with three Senbon in his neck.

"Alright we're in," Naruko said as she made a hand-seal. "Kai," instantly her body changed back to its original form of Naruto.

"That perverted jutsu of yours is disgusting," Yugito growled out.

"But effective," Naruto countered. "Besides we got past them didn't we?"

Yugito huffed and started down the hallway towards the throne room. They kept to the shadows they made their way through the large fortress towards their destination. Just before they entered the chamber the group stopped and Naruto pulled out a scroll.

"I hope your plan works Naruto," Yugito muttered as the blond boy laid the scroll on the ground unravelled it.

"It'll work as long as the seal I placed on Koyuki reacts to my chakra properly," Naruto said as he formed several hand-seals.

"Where did you learn how to do these seals? Neither Zabuza-sama nor Kirabi-sama have ever mentioned anything like these seals before," Haku inquired curiously.

"The dragons are surprisingly good at Fūinjutsu and they've been teaching me how to do them. The toads actually do something similar with the seal I'm using now but they can only do it with those who sign their contract. The dragons don't have that limitation," Naruto explained as he settled on his final hand-seal. "As long as I've placed the seal on a person I can summon them...Gyaku Kuchiyose no Jutsu," he slapped his hand down on the scroll and smoke exploded from it.

When it cleared Koyuki appeared and looked around confused. "What...was that," she said slowly as her mind began to clear.

"You wanted to get inside the palace undetected right?" Naruto asked as if it were obvious.

"Can you do this at any time Naruto?" Yugito asked him as she looked down at the scroll.

"As long as I've placed a seal on the person I'm summoning then yes I can; the only bad thing is that it only works once. As soon as it's used then the seal fades and I have to reapply it," Naruto explained.

"...Have you ever thought about summoning yourself like you can other people?" Yugito asked after a moment.

"No...why?" Naruto blinked in confusion.

"Because what you just did sounds an awful lot like the Yondaime Hokage's Hiraishin no Jutsu," Yugito replied making everyone freeze.

"...She's right," Haku spoke up. "That jutsu you just used...it sounds like a primitive version of the Hiraishin no Jutsu that Iwa fears so much."

"...You know I read in the Forbidden Scroll about that jutsu...I can't believe I missed how similar they are," Naruto blinked and looked down at the scroll that was now in his hands again.

"Let's talk about this later," Haku shook herself and looked down the corridor towards the throne room.

"Right...we still need to deal with Doto," Yugito nodded in agreement.

"...You're all fools," Koyuki shook her head with a smile. "You're hopelessly outnumbered and you still want to continue."

"Damn right we do," Naruto nodded with a smile. "Now...let's go and take back your country."

They ran through the opening and into the large throne room which lay beyond. At the end of the chamber was a set of stairs with a lone chair at the top with a cloaked man sitting in it.

"It's been a long time...Koyuki," Doto said with a chuckle. Ten years...you've grown quite beautiful...and judging by that sparkle hanging from your neck it looks like you still have the Hex Crystal too."

"And you won't get your hands on it," Koyuki declared as she clutched the purple jewel.

"How wrong you are..." Doto shook his head and then clicked his fingers. Instantly thirty Yuki nins appeared in the room, "as you can see you are surrounded...that crystal is the key to unlocking the Kazahana treasure...hand it over to me...now."

Naruto spoke up before Koyuki could respond, "hey bastard. Has anyone ever told you that you talk way too much?"

A second later the ceiling exploded, sending debris crashing down into the room and forcing the Yuki nins to scatter. High above was an airship which Doto immediately recognised as one of his own and couldn't help but become consumed by anger at having his own equipment used against him.

"Hear me Doto! We've waited a long time for this day of reckoning to come! Asama Sandayu and fifty loyal warriors stand before you to avenge our beloved ruler Sosetsu-sama! You will die here Doto!" Sandayu shouted from the airship as they dropped several more explosive barrels on the fortress.

"You..." Doto growled at the sight.

'You weren't expecting us to capture the airship that belonged to the snow team we faced on the iceberg were you? That should keep the Yuki nins off of us for awhile,' Naruto grinned as he ran along the side wall and jumped at the Snow Daimyo. "Come here!" the blond boy shouted as he drew the Ryujin from its sheath.

Doto cast off his cloak and extended his wings as he turned. Naruto struck down and connected with some kind of barrier similar to those used by the Yuki nins. He quickly realised that Doto was wearing chakra armour and it seemed to be a newer, clearly more powerful class of armour as well.

"You are such a pest," Doto sneered and backhanded Naruto away, sending him crashing into the nearby pillar as Yugito appeared from above.

"Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!" she exclaimed as she exhaled a large fireball down on the Snow Daimyo. It dissipated as soon as it hit the barrier, "damn it! We can't even touch him like this!" she shouted in frustration.

"It's his armour!" Haku shouted back as she threw a volley of Senbon at the Snow Daimyo. "Ninjutsu are useless against it and this armour is too thick for my Senbon to pierce!"

"Damn it," Yugito gritted her teeth in frustration as she landed on a chunk of stone. "Alright then...let's see how this armour of his holds up against my new jutsu," she said with a smirk. She quickly formed a set of hand-seals and her right arm was suddenly encased in golden flames, "Kaizuki!" She shot forward and shouted "here I come! Haku get ready to finish him off!"

"Not so fast! Hyoton: Kokuryū Bōfūsetsu!" Doto called out as he threw out a punch at her and a large black mist-like dragon exploded out towards the approaching blond kunoichi.

"That won't stop me!" Yugito shouted back as she threw out her fire blade and cut through the mist-like ice dragon. She descended upon the Snow Daimyo a moment later and struck down, slamming hard into the chakra barrier. "Come on, come on," she muttered as she pushed down, hoping to break through the barrier.

"Insolent little girl! You dare to oppose me?" Doto shouted in anger and swung his arm round, catching her in the midsection and sending her crashing down at the bottom of the stairs. Haku suddenly appeared behind him and swung with the Kubikiri Hōchō. Doto narrowly avoided the attack and kicked her away, "don't toy with me!"

"Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" a voice exclaimed and suddenly the room was filled with three hundred Naruto shadow clones.

"You think this scares me? Think again! Hyōton: Sōryū Bōfūsetsu!" Doto gave out a war cry as he unleashed two black ice dragons at the clones. The two formed a tornado which began to tear the clones and the fortress apart.

Outside the airship was having trouble maintaining its position...

"Keep us steady!" Sandayu shouted the order to the crew of the airship as the storm raged.

And then suddenly...the tornado stopped...Back down in the fortress a shadow clone had grabbed hold of Doto from behind, making sure to keep his arms secure and effectively cutting of the Hyoton jutsu.

"Get off of me!" Doto shouted in anger as he tried to break free.

"I got two words for you! Bunshin Daibakuha!" the clone shouted before exploding in a furious blaze of destruction which shook the entire fortress.

Silence...

"It's over," Koyuki sighed in relief.

Land of Snow: Rainbow Glacier

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Naruto asked as the airship descended onto the snow-covered ground at the edge of the glacier.

It had been three days since the battle and the Yuki forces had all surrendered after the Doto fell. Team B had taken two days to recuperate from their injuries while they remained on guard in case any of Doto's former associates sought vengeance against Koyuki.

Speak of the snow princess...

"Yeah this is the place," Sandayu confirmed. "The vault of the Kazahana clan should be in the center," he then pointed towards the altar at the center of the glacier.

"And the Hex Crystal is the key," Koyuki whispered as she started towards the altar.

"Are we clear Yugito?" Naruto asked his blond teammate.

"I don't sense anything within a hundred kilometres," Yugito confirmed.

"Good," Naruto grunted out as they approached the altar.

Koyuki stood before it and inserted the crystal into the slot in its center. A moment later the area around them suddenly changed from ice and water to grass and streams.

"It's so warm...what is this?" Koyuki asked confused.

"It's...a heat generator," Sandayu blinked in astonishment.

"Believe in the future; if you do, then the spring will surely come". The image of a younger Koyuki appeared in the middle of the 'glacier' though everyone could tell it was a recording. "What will you do when it comes, Koyuki?" a male voice asked.

"I'm going to become...a princess," the recorded Koyuki said with a childish smile.

"Oh and what sort of princess?" the male voice asked.

"Well...let's see...one who's strong...and kind...and fights for justice!" the young girl said cheerfully.

"Hahahaha; that's some dream," the male voice sounded happy.

"Did I...really say those things?" the real Koyuki asked as she stared at the recording.

A man much taller than the young Koyuki appeared with a smile as he stepped out beside the girl. He was dressed in green robes and was wearing glasses with a proud smile.

"Well so long as you believe in your dream and never give up...one day you'll be that fine princess," the recorded Sosetsu told her with a smile. He placed what looked like the Hex Crystal around the little girl's neck and looked onward. "Can you see her? There's a beautiful princess standing right in front of you now," he said with a smile.

By now the real Koyuki had tears trailing down her face as she looked up at her father's face.

"Erm...I have a problem though; there's something else I want to be," the younger Koyuki said over her shoulder.

Sosetsu looked curiously at her, "really? What's that?"

"An actress," she replied with her childish smile.

Sosetsu chuckled at that; clearly believe she could do it. The real Koyuki started laughing lightly; eventually the image dissipated however and the recording became nothing but memory. Sandayu watched on and smiled as he shook his head. After a few more seconds the image faded and silence fell on the 'glacier.'

"Father..." Koyuki whispered sadly.

Land of Spring: Kazahana Palace / Airship

The inauguration ceremony went off without a hitch and Koyuki had already set into place several laws that would start the repairs on the damage done by Doto and his forces. A week after the battle Team B prepared to set off towards home in a very...different way compared to how they arrived.

"We can really have it?" Naruto blinked as he looked up at the massive airship that Doto and his forces had used.

"I don't see why not," Sandayu shrugged. "After everything you've done for us it is the least we can do; I'm sure Koyuki-hime feels the same way."

"But still...we can't even fly this thing right," Yugito countered as she gestured to the airship.

"Actually I've been learning how use the controls for awhile now," Haku spoke up.

"Can you fly it?" Naruto asked her.

Haku nodded, "for the most part...just don't ask me to do any loops or anything."

"What about the generator?" Yugito asked.

"That generator isn't fully developed," Koyuki replied as she approached the group.

"So it'll be back to winter soon huh?" Naruto sighed.

"Not really...if we take what we know and continue working on it then we might be able to make it permanent without having to turn it on again. The Land of Spring has been born thanks to your actions," Koyuki said with a smile.

"Yeah but...it's kind of a shame really...I mean you're a big star and you're going to have to retire right?" Yugito asked with a sad smile.

"Who said I was retiring?" Koyuki asked with a smile. "Ruling over the Land of Spring and acting...I think I can handle them both. I mean I'd have to be out of my mind to give it up now," she started away from them. "I hope you all visit sometime when things are less...hectic," she disappeared into the palace again.

"Story of my life," Naruto said with a sigh.

"Well we'd better be off," Yugito said as she climbed into the airship with Haku.

"Hey Naruto...here," Sandayu said as he handed the boy an envelope.

"What's this?" Naruto asked him.

"Something for you and your team," Sandayu answered with a smile. "Now go on...and I hope to see you three visit us sometime."

"We'll do that," Naruto nodded as he jumped onto the airship and opened the envelope.

It was an autograph with a picture of his team and Koyuki standing in front of the altar at the Rainbow Glacier after it was melted. As he entered the command section he saw Haku sitting at the controls and heard the sound of the airship's engine coming to life.

"This thing is amazing," Yugito said from the side. "Imagine what Kumo could do if they had this kind of technology...we'd have aerial superiority everywhere."

"We'd also be able to bomb any village and they would be hard-pressed to counterattack," Haku added.

"Yeah...but it'll be awhile before Kumo has anything like this ready for combat. For now...let's just get this thing back to Kumo and report to Raikage-sama," Yugito sighed as she sat down in one of the chairs. She then looked over at the quiet blond, "is something wrong Naruto?"

"...It's nothing," Naruto shook his head and turned away. As he exited the room he stopped and almost fell against the wall, 'this feeling...it's-'.

What do you want from me!

Everything!

'W-what the hell was that? It can't be...' Naruto thought as he tried to steady his breathing. He shook himself as he recognised the image of a dark warrior, '...Yami.'

Author's Notes:

Alright there's the Snow Arc done and finished. Next chapter will be the Chunin Exams where I will be taking another major leap from canon which should be obvious since Naruto isn't there to fight Gaara and Shukaku. As you can no doubt guess Yami will play a major role in the next chapter so I hope this chapter gives a sense of forboding.

Translation

Oiroke no Jutsu = Sexy Technique
Kai = Release
Fūinjutsu = Sealing Technique
Hiraishin no Jutsu = Flying Thunder God Technique
Kuchiyose no Jutsu = Summoning Technique
Gyaku Kuchiyose no Jutsu = Reverse Summoning Technique
Hyoton: Kokuryū Bōfūsetsu = Ice Release: Black Dragon Blizzard
Hyōton: Sōryū Bōfūsetsu = Ice Release: Twin Dragon Blizzard
Kaizuki = Fire Blade
Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu = Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique
Bunshin Daibakuha = Clone Great Explosion
Ryujin = Dragon Sword
Kubikiri Hōchō = Decapitating Carving Knife
Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu = Multiple Shadow Clone Technique

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