Chapter 34: Mask of Ice
Naruto made sure he was clean from head to toe. His headband was tied to his forehead, its metal bright and shiny. His green flak jacket was unzipped, showing the blue spiral on his orange shirt. The olive bracelet Shikamaru gave him was visible on his right wrist.
A kunai holster was strapped on his right thigh over his black pants, stocked to the brim with all the ninja tools he'd need, and his backpack contained the scrolls he didn't keep in his flak jacket, along with some rations.
He was ready to go.
Jiraiya had gone ahead to ensure his meeting with his new partner went smoothly, and when Naruto reached the hotel's lobby, he took in a deep breath. This early in the morning, barely anyone was loitering around, which made it easy for him to join Jiraiya and the woman he was talking to.
The first thing he noticed was her cold blue eyes. He only knew one person with a stare like hers, and with her blonde bowl-cut hair and statuesque figure, it had to be her.
"We meet again, Naruto Uzumaki," Samui said.
Naruto inclined his head. "It's good to see you."
"Likewise."
He was expecting to see someone from his village, but this was a welcome surprise.
"You're already acquainted?" Jiraiya said. He smiled. "Good. Samui is going to be your partner. You'll be working with her over the next six months."
"Six months?" Naruto asked. "I thought I only had to do one mission."
"Thank Tsunade," Jiraiya said. "When I asked her to give you a mission, she thought it would be a good idea to test out inter-village teams. The Raikage was willing to take her up on her offer, in order to strengthen ties between our villages."
"Lord Raikage decided I was best suited to represent our village as your partner," Samui said. "My skills and temperament should complement yours."
Naruto nodded, keeping his excitement on lock. "When does our mission begin?"
"Today," Jiraiya said. "The client insisted on starting as soon as possible, so you'll have to get used to your new partner pretty quickly."
"What kind of mission is it?"
"A-Rank protection detail," Samui said.
"It should help you get back into mission shape," Jiraiya said. He handed Naruto a mission scroll, and Naruto quickly perused its contents.
"We're going to the Land of Snow, huh?" Naruto said. It was an island nation far to the north. "Sounds good to me."
Jiraiya nodded. "Well then, I'll leave you to it. It was a true pleasure getting to meet you, Samui."
"Of course," Samui said. "I'll be sure to take care of Naruto for you, Lord Jiraiya."
Somehow, Jiraiya managed to keep the lecherous leer out of his smile. "I appreciate it. Good luck, Naruto. You've got this. Be sure to keep in touch, alright?"
It was going to be hard, getting used to life without Jiraiya's constant presence, but he was a ninja, and their separation wouldn't be for long.
"Thanks, sensei," Naruto said. "And I will."
Jiraiya smiled at him, and in a puff of smoke, he was gone, leaving Naruto alone with his new partner. She'd grown taller since they last met, but now, they were the same height.
"We're expected to meet our client in two days," Samui said. "Are you ready to go?"
Naruto's mask fell into place. "Yeah. Let's get going."
Naruto spent the whole morning travelling through the Land of Lightning with Samui. She was quiet throughout, but that was fine with him. Most of his journeys with Jiraiya had been spent in silence. It gave him the chance to watch her run.
She was confident in her movement, that was easy to tell. Her footsteps barely made any sound and she put her long legs to good use with graceful, efficient strides. Her chakra crackled with jolts of electricity, and her senses were keenly honed, as she noticed pitfalls or detours seconds after he did.
Eventually, they reached a clearing before sunset, and his clones were able to set up a perimeter and clear the area of any debris. They were settled in shortly after, and when night fell, Samui broke the silence.
"What have you learned since we last met?" she asked. She'd been snacking on a protein bar.
Naruto slurped up some of his instant ramen. "Why do you ask?"
"We're going to be partners, so it's best if I know what you're capable of doing."
Her expression was impassive, but he saw a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Do you mind going first?" he said. "I'm sure you know more about my skills than what I know about yours."
"Very well. I'm proficient in kenjutsu, both with the tantō and the katana. I'm skilled in genjutsu, and decent at taijutsu. I know a wide range of lightning jutsu and a couple of fire jutsu. My primary role is supporting the front line, though I am more than capable of holding my own in single combat."
"Are you still a chūnin?" Naruto asked.
"I was promoted to jōnin in January," she said.
Naruto whistled. Taking only three years to get promoted was no easy feat. "Congratulations."
The corner of her mouth twitched. "Thank you. I presume you're skilled in genjutsu as well."
He almost smiled from pride, but kept a cool mask instead. "I'd say I'm pretty good at it. I've also mastered wind chakra, and I'm okay with water jutsu. I know a fire jutsu, but it's not my speciality. I can use the summoning jutsu."
"It appears that you are a long range specialist, then," Samui said.
Naruto nodded. "You can say that, but I can hold my own in close range. Actually, I tried practicing with a bunch of swords, but I couldn't figure out how to integrate them into my fighting style."
Samui looked him over and finished eating her protein bar, burning the plastic and standing up pretty smoothly. She unveiled a wooden tantō from a scroll she kept next to her sheath. "Show me what you can do."
Something told him he didn't have a choice, so after he tore through his instant ramen, he took the tantō from Samui. He swung it a few times and went through the couple of formations he learned. She was watching him intently, and when he finished, he handed her weapon back blade first.
That made her frown. "Hand the tantō over handle first."
Naruto bit back his irritation and did what she said. He got such a simple thing wrong, and he thought he could get away with it because he wasn't handling metal.
"You have potential," Samui said, once the wooden blade was back in its scroll. "Be sure to get some rest." She sat back down, leaning against the tree with her legs clamped together and closed her eyes. Naruto watched the gentle swell of her chest as she breathed in and out, and realized that she'd said her piece.
It was good to know that he actually had potential in kenjutsu, but right now, he decided to follow Samui's lead and meditate. It was the last thing Jiraiya asked him to do, and it was something he already had a headstart in practicing, so he closed his eyes and focused on the energy vibrating all around him.
The next day, Naruto and Samui reached the port town that would lead them into the Land of Snow. He had a change of clothes to brave the country's harsh climate. As for Samui, she assured him she could manage. He hoped she wasn't saying so for his sake; there was no way he'd ever go into the cold wearing a skirt.
"Want to eat some lunch?" Naruto asked.
Samui glanced at the midday sun. "Yes. You can pick what we eat."
Lunch was a quiet affair, but Naruto saw that Samui was enjoying her food. She wasn't much for idle chatter, and that suited him well. It meant she wouldn't make things awkward. He did notice her looking at some of the drunks who lingered at the nearby bar with distaste.
The waitress appeared after they finished eating. She was pregnant; Naruto could see a tiny cluster of chakra forming around her stomach. Naruto paid for their meal, gave the waitress a bit extra and after they left their restaurant, they continued their trek.
More than once, he saw people checking Samui out and he couldn't blame them. He had to keep himself from staring at the swell of her voluptuous breasts. They were big enough that she modified her white flak jacket to act like a makeshift corset, with mesh covering her cleavage.
It seemed like she didn't care about the attention she received, but at the same time, her poker face put his attempt at masking his emotions to shame.
They reached the place where they'd be meeting their client, a large building with two guards stationed at the entrance. They stood at rapt attention, as if they were anticipating an attack. Strange. The guards let them in after confirming their identities.
Naruto heard explosions, shouting and gusts of wind bombarding the inside, but a quick check with his sensor confirmed they weren't chakra-based. Regardless, he motioned Samui to approach cautiously. They moved past the divider to see a large movie set, complete with cameras, actors and film crew milling about.
Seeing how a movie was made was definitely interesting, but they were on a mission. They found their client after some searching: he was an older man with short gray hair and a full beard, dressed in a light blue shirt, gray jacket and matching pants. He held himself like a soldier.
"Are you Sandayū Asama?" Samui asked.
The man nodded, adjusting his round glasses. "Yes. You must be the team that I requested. I am grateful you chose to help us." He shook Samui's hand first, and when Naruto grasped Sandayū's calloused hand, it proved his assumption right: his client was definitely a man who'd seen battle and faced hardship.
Their mission was to protect the cast and crew on their journey to the Land of Snow. Samui took time to learn about their transport and the reason behind their hasty departure. He scanned the area, and as he examined the set design, the costumes, and the special effects, he almost smiled.
They were actually on the set of a Princess Gale movie, and they were going to be escorting Yukie Fujikaze herself. What looked to be a standard escort mission just got a lot more interesting.
Naruto stood guard on the ship taking them to the Land of Snow. Looking at the still ocean water calmed him down, but he saw a large iceberg in the distance, and at the rate they were going, they'd hit it if they didn't go around.
Samui joined him. She'd put on a black jacket over her gray shirt and zipped it up, replacing her gray skirt with a pair of insulated black pants, Her tantō and katana were strapped to her back in red scabbards.
As for him, he put his flak jacket over a black hoodie with orange trim. At least they were matching.
"How's Yukie?" he asked.
"She's managing," she said, in a tone that could freeze the ocean.
"Is that right?"
Samui looked at the ocean. Naruto shook his head. To put it bluntly, Yukie Fujikaze was a pain in the ass. He couldn't forget the first time they met, how he had to catch her with a clone after one of the guards told them she'd run off.
The disappointment still stung. Naruto watched one of her movies with Kurenai's fancy VCR, and he'd been enamoured by her. He knew that actors wouldn't be the same as their characters, but it'd be a lot better if Yukie was compassionate or determined like Princess Gale. Instead, she was cold, bitter, rude and callous.
He was trained to deal with irritating teammates, and he hadn't grown used to infuriating clients, yet. It was good that Samui had agreed to watch Yukie while he watched the crew. She could guard her dressing room from the inside and she was a lot calmer than he was, but it seemed like even Samui had her limits.
In any case, the director was pretty enthusiastic about shooting a scene on the iceberg, so once Naruto confirmed it was safe, Samui escorted Yukie onto the iceberg. Maybe it was the cold, but the crew were a well-oiled machine as they set the stage and shot the scene. Yukie transformed into someone else entirely as she said her lines, and the ease with which she inhabited her role as Princess Gale was mystifying to watch.
Still, Naruto didn't neglect his duties, and his vigilance paid off when he noticed mounds of snow on top of the glacier. Something about them was setting him off, even though he couldn't sense it.
Then there was a flash of movement: Naruto threw an explosive kunai at one of the mounds, told Samui to grab Yukie, formed Shadow Clones to protect the crew, and saw three people surround him.
The man in front had a pale blue ponytail and smug green eyes. He was the one who dodged his kunai. The man on the right was stocky, with short purple hair and beady black eyes. The woman on the left wore a helmet that exposed twin pink ponytails, and she also had green eyes.
All three of them were ninja, judging from the metal on their forehead, and they all had metal contraptions and a yin-yang symbol covering some part of their body.
"Welcome to the Land of Snow," the blue-haired man said. "And special greetings to you, Princess Koyuki."
Princess?
"I hope you brought the hex crystal with you," the pink-haired woman said, smirking.
Naruto watched Samui guide the alleged princess towards the boat, and since his clones were busy ferrying the crew, that let him focus on the ninja.
"What are you doing here?" Naruto asked.
"We are ninja who would defend this land from anyone who would dare harm it," the blue-haired man said, sneering at him.
The woman laughed, a menacing sound that set Naruto off. Regardless, he didn't let anything show on his face. "You've come all the way here and you don't know who you're guarding?"
"I don't need to know who I'm protecting to do my job," Naruto said. "Can't you let us pass?"
"You can pass," the purple-haired man said. "Just hand over the princess and the hex crystal first."
Naruto raised his hands. "I can't do that."
The blue-haired man sighed. "Then you leave us no choice. Fubuki, go after the princess. Mizore, destroy their boat. I'll handle the Blade of Illusion."
Naruto suppressed a grin. It seemed like his reputation preceded him.
"Yes, Nadare," his compatriots said.
Immediately, Naruto ran through hand seals, forming a genjutsu that should have conjured vines made of snow to ensnare his enemies. The chakra dissipated before it could take hold.
"Such magnificent technology," Nadare said. "It deflects your chakra while enhancing ours, rendering ninjutsu and genjutsu completely useless."
That didn't make taijutsu useless, so he split into three. His clones fought against Mizore's red board and metal gauntlet, assisting Samui as she clashed against Fubuki's ice shuriken with fire and steel. He was in Nadare's guard in an instant, Rasengan slamming against his chakra armour.
A deep purple barrier separated them, eating through the spiralling sphere, but Naruto pressed on, pushing more and more chakra into the Rasengan. Nadare's confident smirk began to slip, and he jumped away, flashing through hand seals of his own.
"Nice trick," Nadare said. There was a shallow crack on his metal shoulder pad. "But it won't be enough to save you!" He created a tiger made of ice that chased after him. He knew how to beat a tiger, though. Leaping backwards, Naruto moulded wind chakra and released twin scythes that lopped off its legs.
One of his clones had dispelled, taking a hard hit from Mizore as he tried to protect the crew from becoming his victims. Fortunately, Samui had gained ground on Fubuki and cut her dress, while a solid clone made of lightning stood vigil at Yukie's comatose side.
With so many bystanders in the crossfire, it'd be a mess if he cut loose, and he didn't want to fall into the ocean and risk losing Yukie or anyone else.
Naruto slammed his palms onto the snow, sending it skyward, then blew it all over the iceberg, forming a sandstorm of ice that would mask his movements. He caught up with Samui and after exchanging a nod, she grabbed Yukie's body, having the clone act as a decoy. Together, they charged to the ship.
Everyone had made it back safely, and Yukie had recovered, so he considered it a success. The crew stared slack-jawed at him and the director was grinning like he won the lottery. Even Samui looked at him with a glimmer of respect in her eyes.
It rankled that he couldn't take the fight to them, but he was sure that this wouldn't be the last time he'd see these Snow ninja and their strange chakra armour.
Naruto escorted the princess and Sandayū to the ship's conference room. Sandayū had tensed up when Nadare revealed that Yukie was an actual princess. That meant he knew something, and if they were going to protect the crew, they had to know everything.
The princess had chosen to stand, and Samui blocked the door.
"Explain," Naruto said.
Sandayū took a seat, and they listened carefully as he told his tale.
Yukie Fujikaze's real name was Koyuki Kazahana, daughter of the Land of Snow's former ruler Sosetsu. Sosetsu had been murdered thirteen years before by his younger brother Dotō, who desired his wealth and power and planned to steal it in an attempted coup. However, while he'd seized power, Sosetsu had hidden his wealth away as a last act of defiance.
Koyuki had been spirited away by a ninja, and she had been presumed dead until Sandayū found her years later as an actress, eventually becoming her manager. His true intention was to bring her back to the Land of Snow so she could reclaim it from Dotō and take her rightful place as ruler.
It was clear that Koyuki had been traumatized by what happened. According to Samui, she'd seized up and fainted after Samui countered Fubuki's ice with a jet of fire. And after everything she went through, he completely got why she'd been so harsh and reserved.
"Princess Koyuki, will you be our last hope and return your country to its former glory?" Sandayū asked, prostrating on his knees in front of her.
"No," she said. "Koyuki Kazahana died thirteen years ago, and I have no more tears left to shed for the Land of Snow."
Sandayū frowned, tears threatening to fall. "Princess. I will do everything in my power to help you. My life and death belong to you. I beg you, take up arms and help us defeat Dotō!"
Koyuki glowered at him like he was a rat. "Dotō cannot be defeated. I have no interest in throwing my life away for nothing."
"Please..."
Everything about this was making him sick.
"What the hell did you expect?" Naruto asked, scowling. "You think that you can force Koyuki to fight your battles because of who her dad was? She chose to be an actress, but you made her come here, you put her life at risk to save a country she never wanted to see! It doesn't matter if you beat Dotō, there's no way that she'd be able to rule if she has no reason to care!"
Naruto's heart was pounding in his chest. Samui glanced at him, and Koyuki's glare had waned. Seeing the surprise in her eyes brought him back to reality.
"Why did they want the hex crystal?" Samui asked.
Sandayū swallowed, wiping his eyes. "It is the key that will unlock Lord Sosetsu's treasure. He entrusted it to the princess because he believed she would bring about a brighter future."
Just like his father believed that he could use the Nine-Tailed Fox's power and handle the burden that came with it.
"Our mission is to protect the princess until the movie has finished production," Samui said. Her gaze was practically frigid. "We will have to stay here until they've finished shooting their scenes."
"And there's no way those Snow ninja will leave us alone," Naruto said. He sighed, finding his calm. His eyes turned cold. "Well, Sandayū, you've got what you wanted. We'll protect Princess Koyuki. Is there anything else we should know?"
Sandayū shook his head. "No. I apologize for deceiving you."
"Thank you for your honesty," Samui said. Naruto held back his own retort.
"I'll enforce the guard and prepare myself for battle," he said. He stood up, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief. "Princess, know that if there was any other way to save this country, I would do it if it meant protecting you."
Koyuki frowned, remaining silent, and her manager took the hint, leaving them be.
No matter how Naruto felt, there wasn't much point in alienating Sandayū any further. All that mattered was that they finished the mission, and the easier it was to do it, the better.
They reached the shore before dawn broke, and as the crew unloaded their equipment and prepared the carriages for transport, Naruto watched them from the ship's bow, reflecting on the previous day's events.
What did he care about the struggles of some foreign country? His job was to protect Koyuki, and nothing more, but he couldn't help himself. He insulted a man who loved his country and believed in Koyuki's ability to change their fates, just because Koyuki's predicament hit close to home.
If nothing else, they shared common ground, and it wasn't the first time he'd been tricked by a client who was desperate to save his home. It didn't justify Sandayū's manipulation, but it didn't change their mission, either. Desperation led to truly dangerous decisions, and he'd ensure that he didn't fall victim to it.
Koyuki walked up the stairs to join him. She was tall, with long black hair, smooth skin and deep blue eyes, covered in a magenta coat. Samui was watching them from the captain's wheel, just far enough that they'd have some privacy. He got used to the fact that Princess Gale was a real-life princess, but it was the kind of thought that brought a smile to his face.
"Why did you defend me?" Koyuki asked. She sure wasn't wasting any time. He would have let her wait for as long as she wanted, but this served him well.
"Does it matter?" Naruto said. "I'm here to do my mission."
Naruto stared at her with the cold eyed stare he'd grown accustomed to donning, a mask he created to protect himself from forming attachment and keep himself from lashing out. He was met with an unexpected intensity emanating from Koyuki, like she was truly Princess Gale.
"I know you care, on some level, or you wouldn't have defended me," she said.
He exhaled, his breath curdling in the air and coming to life. "I've been used as well, without being allowed to choose."
"I see."
The ocean water lapped at the ship's hull, a gentle breeze whistling through the air.
"That doesn't mean you should abandon who you are," Naruto said.
Koyuki scowled, heat seeing through the cold. "What did you say?"
Naruto wasn't fazed. "You shouldn't have been forced to come here, but you still have a duty to your people."
"Duty? Don't talk to me about duty!" she shouted. "Duty doesn't matter if you're dead!"
A frown marred his mask. "So you're just going to run away for the rest of your life while your people suffer under your uncle's rule? You'll let people like Sandayū die for you and act like it's okay? That's no way to live."
Koyuki turned away, clutching the guardrail. "So what would you have me do? I was too young to learn how to rule. All my father gave me was a crystal and some platitudes about mirrors. I am an actress, and as much as I despise it, it is all I know."
Naruto's eyes gleamed. "Then act like a queen, like Princess Gale rallied her army to defeat the evil king! You can't be a worse ruler than your uncle."
She laughed, a harsh, quaking rattle filled with disbelief. "You would have me act as a queen and peddle lies to innocent people? Who would hand me my script? Who would help me maintain this farce?"
"I don't know," he said. "I'm not you, and I can't imagine what you've gone through. I do know that you can't close yourself off from the world and hide from your pain. You have to face it, one way or another. You don't want to die with regrets."
She stared at him with lidded eyes, like she was staring into an abyss that could swallow her whole. "Is that what you did?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes. It wasn't easy, but it was worth doing."
Koyuki went back to watching the sea, deep in thought. The silence that grew between them was companionable, and he waved Samui off so she could rest while he watched his charge. Koyuki stayed on the bow until the crew finished their work and the sun blazed in the sky.
"Acting coldly doesn't suit you," she told him. "Besides, your partner is much better at feigning detachment than you." She gave him a small smile before parting ways.
Of course an actress could see through his act. He'd misjudged her, that was for sure.
Naruto managed to get some rest before the crew departed for their next destination. He was used to waking up early and managing on little sleep, even if he did enjoy a deep slumber every now and then. They made their way into the Land of Snow on carriages containing engines that let them ride without any horses or wind, and snow treads that cut through the snow like water.
Koyuki was in the vehicle next to him, in clear view of his sensor, and she hadn't moved much since their talk.
"This is amazing," Naruto said.
Samui's hands were tucked in her lap. She was facing him on the other side of the table. "I have to agree."
"Do you think we could get them on the mainland?"
She shook her head. "We could, but I'm not certain it would be worth it in the long run. From what I've gathered, the purpose of these vehicles are to transport goods or people across large distances. Their main benefit would be for civilians, who would be able to provide ninja with farming, commerce and rare materials with greater independence and ease. It would cut down on travel times, which would allow people to settle further away from their country's Hidden Village or state capitals, something that is already becoming common."
Naruto nodded, swallowing his surprise. "So what's the catch?"
"The Elemental Nations are in a state of constant conflict, and war always has the chance of breaking out. If supply lines become located in distant areas, the vehicles would be targeted first in times of war, making it more difficult to provide food or medical aid to civilians affected by this conflict in the event that our society became accustomed to vehicular transport."
"But we could still use ninja to send aid, couldn't we?" Naruto asked.
Samui gave a curt nod. "We could, but if civilians start using vehicles, I'm sure that ninja would use them as well. If a vehicle like the one we're in could travel faster than a seasoned ninja, it would allow us to conserve energy and provide transport for large battalions in times of war, or use them for missions that do not require secrecy.
"However, that creates its own set of problems. Where would you find the blueprints or gather the materials to make these vehicles? How would you prevent the enemy from learning you're developing these vehicles or sabotaging your work? Could these vehicles be modified for combat purposes?"
He blinked. "You've really put a lot of thought into this, haven't you?"
"Yes," she said. "Forewarned is forearmed."
This was, by far, the most he'd heard Samui say in such a short period of time, so hearing her talk about the potential impact of vehicles on the Elemental Nations with such passion threw him for a loop.
"Well, it seems like you know your stuff."
Samui nodded once more, before looking out the window. He would have to get used to this, wouldn't he? Naruto took the chance to meditate, and it was only in the afternoon when the carriages stopped. They just passed through the mouth of a giant cave. Apparently, a railroad used to run through it, but it had been buried by snow and ice.
According to Sandayū, there was a hideout just beyond, where the people loyal to Koyuki's father would finally have their princess back.
Once they passed through to the other side, the director began to round up the crew in order to shoot the next scene, but their star was gone. Koyuki had run away while the crew was offloading their equipment.
"Samui, how are you feeling?" Naruto asked. They got out of their carriage to stretch their legs. Snowflakes fell from the sky, tranquil and entrancing.
"I'm fine," she said. Her chakra reserves were pretty robust, and she was alert, ready for battle. "The princess is gone, isn't she?"
"Yeah. Don't worry, I'll go look for her." He formed a single clone. "Make sure the crew stays safe."
Samui nodded. Her expression had lightened somewhat. "Of course."
Naruto rushed off towards the last place he'd sensed her, and found a trail of snow leading into a thick forest. It didn't take him long to find Koyuki, and she was out cold. Fortunately, she was breathing, but she was burning up, so he picked her up piggyback style and made his way back to Samui and the film crew.
It wasn't until they were deep in the tunnel that Koyuki stirred. "It's you. Why do you always come looking for me?"
Naruto smiled tightly. "Because it's my mission. You're stuck with me, Princess, and even if you hate it, you'll be safest with the crew and my partner."
"Wouldn't it be better if you took me away from here? I'm the Land of Fire's number one actress, after all."
He chuckled. "No can do. Your uncle knows you're alive, and he'll chase you down to the ends of the earth. There's no point in running."
Koyuki stiffened, but there was no use in lying to her. She did a good job hiding. The only reason she was alive now was because the ninja her manager hired fended off her would-be assassins. She could continue to pay them for a long while; actresses did make a good amount of money, but her coffers would run dry and their time together would have to come to an end.
He continued to walk at a more sedate pace. It was only a matter of time before they reached their destination, and Samui would let him know what was up if the need arose.
"What's the point in fighting?" Koyuki asked. "Why don't you just give up? Dotō Kazahana cannot be defeated."
Naruto's smile widened. "Give up? I never give up, and I never go back on my word. The only time I'll give up is when I'm dead, and even if you're willing to call it quits, I don't plan on dying any time soon."
He immediately felt a burst of memories invade his brain and looked down to find chakra running through the railroad. Light emerged from behind, a whining sound coming in fast.
"A train?" Koyuki said. "What's a train doing here?"
Naruto felt around and saw chakra energizing a black metal contraption that dwarfed him in size. If this was a train, then he didn't want to get in its way.
"Hold on tight, Princess," Naruto said, and he ran as fast as his legs could take him, ignoring Koyuki's backseat negativity. It took him a lot of effort, but he was able to outpace the train and jump out of the way as it charged out of the tunnel.
Naruto set Koyuki down on the snow and took in deep, gulping breaths of air, laughing as adrenaline coursed through his veins. He straightened up and checked the area. Samui was watching over the cast and crew, hidden from view of the train. It had stopped just in front of them.
"It's been too long, Koyuki," a man spoke from the train, his voice reverberating across the mountain. His lavender cloak covered most of his body, leaving his face and shoulder-length brown hair free. He squinted at them, wrinkle lines arching from his eyes.
"It's Dotō," Koyuki said.
"Let me see your face," Dotō said. "Let your uncle see how much you've grown."
Naruto stood in front of her, shielding Koyuki from view. Just then, a horde of logs barrelled down the mountain, crashing into the side of the train. An army of men wielding spears and katana stood on top of ice-covered rocks, and Sandayū was smack-dab in the middle, clad in samurai armour.
"Our beloved princess has returned to us!" Sandayū said, with the valour and gravitas of a true leader. "With her at our side, victory shall be ours! The Land of Snow shall be ours!"
With the raucous cheers of his men at his back, Sandayū raised his sword. "Your day of reckoning is at hand, Dotō Kazahana. I am Sandayū Asama, and I have gathered fifty loyal warriors to defeat you. Lord Sosetsu's death shall be avenged, and you shall know our fury!"
They ran down the mountain, weapons aloft, but while Naruto now knew that Sandayū was a man of conviction, Dotō was completely unperturbed, and Nadare stood next to him. They'd be slaughtered, for nothing.
Naruto faced Koyuki, taking in her astonished face, and made his choice. "Are you going to let those men die in vain? Are you going to give up without doing everything you can?"
The wooden walls of the train collapsed, revealing a metal grate manned by Dotō's men. Koyuki looked at him, concern and fury and fear warring across her face.
"Can you really defeat him?" she asked.
"I think I can, but I won't really know until I face him. What about you, Princess? Will you fight, or are you going to die without truly getting to live?"
Dotō gave his order. Koyuki's eyes had the steel of determination. "If you manage to win, I'll do my part."
Naruto grinned, baring his teeth. "That's what I like to hear."
A trio of clones appeared to guard Koyuki, and the real Naruto appeared in front of the charging samurai. A gust of wind slammed against the wall of kunai, scattering them, and Naruto drew blood, slamming his hand on the freezing snow.
Suddenly, he was over nineteen metres above the ground, standing on top of a massive magenta toad.
"Gamaken! Drop your shield now!"
Gamaken plunged his gigantic shield onto the snow, deflecting all the kunai that hit it like they were merely snowflakes. The barrage continued for almost half a minute, but it subsided, and the entire brigade of samurai were unharmed.
Naruto smiled. "Great job, Gamaken!"
"I appreciate it, Naruto. It is quite mollifying that my clumsiness did not cost us."
He gave the toad a clean thumbs-up. Gamaken might have suffered from a lack of self-esteem, but he was one of the strongest toads he could summon, and he got pretty good at working with him.
"What would you have me do?" Gamaken asked.
"Destroy the bridge and protect the civilians from harm while I deal with the ninja."
Gamaken raised his sasumata, a giant clubbed weapon. "I shall do my best." In a single bound, he reached out and crushed the bridge, hitting the ground with a mighty crash.
"Protect them, Gamaken," Naruto said.
He jumped off the giant toad's head as Gamaken leaped to the top of the mountain, protecting the brigade as they retreated. When Naruto landed, he used the blood from his thumb to summon another toad. Unlike Gamaken, this one was about a metre taller than he was, though he was a lot heftier.
"Naruto!" Gamatatsu said. He had yellow skin and wore the blue sleeveless coat like his brother and father did. "Are you going to give me some snacks?"
Naruto smiled. "I will, if you help me. We're going to blast that train off the cliff, and I need a lot of water."
Gamatatsu nodded, giving Naruto a dopey grin. "Okay, I'll do it!" He might have looked a bit slow, but he was capable. In fact, Naruto was able to get the hang of Water Style jutsu by helping Gamatatsu learn how to use it.
"Hold your tongue!" Dotō said, voice clear as day. "I am the King of the Land of Snow, and if you dare to attack this train or impede me in any manner whatsoever, you shall face the full weight of my might."
"Is this guy really a king?" Gamatatsu asked.
Naruto scoffed. "He isn't." He turned to face Dotō. "What happens if I don't attack you?"
"I will let you go on your way if you dismiss that fool you call a summon. I am a magnanimous king, after all. Of course, Koyuki must stay behind."
Gamatatsu began to shiver, and Naruto shook his head. "Sorry, I can't do that." He went through hand seals and once Gamatatsu released a vortex of water from his mouth, Naruto spat out his own water jet, making the vortex balloon in size and collide against the train with the force of a hurricane.
The train was pushed off its tracks, but the three train cars in front disconnected before they could fall with the rest.
"Then you have chosen to die, forgotten," Dotō said. He still sounded confident, like half of his train hadn't crashed down a cliff.
A machine that flew in the air thanks to a massive balloon appeared, carrying Dotō with it. Mizore shot his metal gauntlet at Koyuki. Fubuki flew with purple wings that extended from her armour, so while one Naruto's clones was able to push Koyuki out of the way and the others pulled Mizore off the machine. The clones were able to shield Koyuki, but it cost them their existence, caught by the ice spears that emerged from Fubuki's kunai.
Meanwhile, Nadare had charged towards him.
"Thanks for your help, Gamatatsu," Naruto said, "but I don't want you getting anywhere near this guy's armour."
Gamatatsu's eyes glazed over. "I think I get it. Make sure you have some nice sweets for me next time, okay, Naruto?"
He smiled. "You got it." Gamatatsu returned home in a puff of a smoke, just as Nadare closed the distance.
"You're full of tricks, aren't you?" Nadare said. "Fortunately, so am I."
Naruto bit his thumb again – sometimes, superfast healing was a drag – and the toad he summoned appeared right in front of Nadare.
"Gamakichi!" Naruto said. "You ready to kick some ass?"
The orange toad grinned. He'd gotten really big over the years, and he was just as big as his brother Gamatatsu. "I'm locked and loaded. What's your plan, Naruto?"
"This guy uses ice jutsu," Naruto said. "I need your fire to beat it."
Gamakichi puffed up. "Good thinking."
Nadare had rushed around Gamakichi, forcing Naruto to fend off his taijutsu onslaught. He wasn't all talk, it seemed, but Gamakichi wasn't either, and he launched a springing kick that caught Nadare in the side and sent him head-first into the cliff.
He was about to make another clone, but he didn't need to. Samui had appeared in front of Koyuki, taking the fight to Fubuki. Mizore had climbed to his feet, fully intent on supporting his partner. Samui stood tall against both of them, not giving an inch as she fought with all her might.
Good. It let him focus on Nadare unimpeded, since he was able to bounce off the cliff mostly unharmed. The chakra armour was completely intact, and it wasn't something he wanted to test his luck against.
"Let's see how you do against this!" Nadare said, unleashing a pack of wolves conjured from the snow. They pounced towards him at a rapid pace. Naruto took in a deep breath and blew out a gale of wind, fanning Gamakichi's flames and creating a massive inferno that burned Nadare's wolves to a crisp.
The flames died down and Naruto closed the gap. He thrust his palm out like he was going to use the Rasengan, but closed his fist at the last second and shoved it into Nadare's stomach.
Nadare grabbed hold and hit his stomach with some kind of metal, but it wasn't enough to keep Naruto from stabbing him in the eye with a kunai.
"You thought I needed ninjutsu or genjutsu to beat you?" Naruto asked. "Well, that's where you're wrong!"
Nadare fell, but for some reason, Naruto swore there was a smile on his face. The metal latched onto his sweater, digging into the skin beneath. It felt like he'd sprinted for hours, like it'd be just great if he got some shut-eye.
He searched for Samui with his sensor, but shocks of electricity lanced through his body. Trying to take off the metal contraption was no help; the tentacles were in too deep for them to budge.
It was nearly impossible to use his sensor, and forcing it only brought images that were too was too fuzzy to be worth the effort, leaving him blind, deathly afraid. Naruto looked to see how Samui was faring. Koyuki was gone and Samui had swapped out her tantō for her katana, giving her more range.
Mizore punched her with his gauntlet, and just as she swerved out of the way, Fubuki shot a volley of rope to bind her. She cut the rope with her katana and pulled her in, but Fubuki used the momentum to kick her at the same time Samui sliced through her wings.
It took the air out of Samui's lungs. Just as Mizore was about to slam her into the snow, she threw a smoke bomb. When the smoke cleared, Mizore's head was covered in snow, his decapitated body collapsing to the ground.
Fubuki scowled, and wasted no time at all, throwing her shapeshifting ice kunai and shuriken at Samui. However, Samui used Mizore's corpse as a shield. The kunoichi from the Snow was no slouch, even if she had come down to Earth, and she dashed behind Samui, kunai swiping down at her blind spot, Samui swapped places with Mizore's corpse and kicked it into Fubuki.
Pink lightning arced between Fubuki and her deceased partner. Samui was just able to get out of the way before they exploded, but a black dragon made of ice had swamped her, knocking her off her feet. She didn't get up.
"Samui!" Naruto shouted. He tried to gather his chakra, but the damn thing on his stomach was still interfering.
"Don't worry, Naruto, I've got you!" Gamakichi said, leaping to Samui's defense and blasting a stream of water at Dotō with the sharpness of a razor, slicing through the balloon. Dotō jumped off before his machine could crash, but he was mostly unharmed.
"Toads, humans, nothing you throw at me will save you!" Dotō shouted, grinning like a madman. He discarded his cloak, revealing black chakra armour that covered his torso.
Gamakichi was good, but there wasn't a thing his ninjutsu could do against Dotō's chakra armour, and to add insult to injury, it was outmatched by Dotō's black blizzard dragons. If he tried to use taijutsu, Dotō would fly out of harm's way. He had to get back into the fight.
There was no other choice, since he didn't want Gamaken to get involved and give Dotō free aim at the crew. Hey, Nine-Tails, if you don't want to die in some snowy land far from home, help me beat this tyrant!
The Nine-Tails' mocking laughter was its only response. Naruto wasn't lying when he said he'd rely on his own power, and he'd gotten really far in doing so, but there was no shame in asking for help. In this case, his life, Samui's life and everyone else's lives were on the line.
Let's show him what happens when you mess with the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox!
"If you insist."
His body surged with the Nine-Tailed Fox's immense, suffocatingly intense chakra, shattering the metal seal and giving him his sensor back. Samui was unconscious, but still breathing, and Gamakichi had taken some nasty hits from Dotō's ninjutsu and one crushing punch.
Naruto appeared in front of Gamakichi, claws elongated, whiskers darkened and fangs biting his bottom lip. The bastard nearly killed his partner, he was going to kill Gamakichi if he didn't stop him.
"Gamakichi, let me at 'im!" Naruto screamed. Gamakichi jumped out of the way.
It had been so long since he'd actively used this power. The Nine-Tails' hatred and rage was deafening, overwhelming, but if he was going to win, he had to stay calm and focus. One tail appeared. It would be enough.
"Do your best, it won't be enough," Dotō said. "You will never destroy what I am!"
Dotō punched out two black blizzard dragons, but Naruto ran like he was gliding on the wind, dodging the monstrosities completely and reaching the tyrant in seconds.
"Justice will prevail!" Naruto screamed.
His hand was outstretched, a blood red Rasengan in his palm, and he rammed it into Dotō's stomach. A deep purple chakra barrier appeared, but it was no match for Naruto and the Nine-Tailed Fox's combined might. The yin-yang symbol shattered, and the Rasengan grinded through the armour before it detonated. Dotō's grisly remains flew far past the cliff.
Naruto flexed his sensor and let the Nine-Tails' chakra fade from his body. Samui had woken up. Koyuki was okay. The brigade had come down the mountain.
"All hail the Princess!" they cheered. "Long live Princess Koyuki!"
It was over. They had won.
Just because they overthrew a tyrant didn't mean that his followers would immediately accept that Dotō had fallen. Naruto and Samui spent the next week rooting out Dotō's followers, and they weren't willing to surrender until they showed the corpses of Dotō's elite guard. The implication was clear: if they fought, they would end up like their former ruler.
They fell in line. The castle had been taken and preparations were made for Koyuki's coronation. Sandayū had been a huge help in smoothing over any pitfalls they might have faced, serving as Koyuki's official advisor and enlisting officials he trusted to begin the formation of a new government.
It had been almost two weeks since Dotō's downfall, and Naruto stood with Sandayū, lying in wait for Koyuki to be officially introduced to her subjects as their daimyō. They were in a gathering room that led to a balcony that overlooked the palace's main courtyard.
"I still cannot believe that we're actually here," Sandayū said. He was dressed in sweeping sky blue robes. "It is all thanks to you, Naruto."
Naruto nodded. "It's my job, but I'm glad I was here to help."
Sandayū smiled like a free man, his face lighter than he'd ever seen it. "You've given us our country back, and you chose to continue your mission after... how I tricked you. I cannot ask you to forgive me, but I am eternally grateful for your help."
Naruto's eyes hardened. "Do me one favour. Help the princess, be honest to her when no one else will. If you do, then I'll forgive you."
Sandayū nodded, eyes burning with conviction. "Yes. That is something I'd be honoured to do."
Finally, Naruto let himself smile. He raised an eyebrow when Sandayū held out his hand. Naruto let it hang there for a second, then he gave him a firm handshake. "I know you'll do a good job."
Betrayal never sat well with him, but Sandayū had gone above and beyond in proving his loyalty to Koyuki ran far past his duty to her father, from putting his life on the line in battle to his tireless work in preparing Koyuki and the Land of Snow for their future.
In light of this, it wasn't that hard to forgive him for his treachery. After all, it was Koyuki he truly betrayed, and it was up to her if she'd ever trust Sandayū.
Koyuki chose to enter the gathering room, shadowed by Samui. The princess was dressed in lavender robes woven from the finest silk. The hex crystal was displayed over a red and gold shawl. Her countenance was befitting of a true queen, and she strolled to the balcony with poise and elegance.
She might have been acting, but she was truly born to play this role. When Koyuki reached the balcony, Samui stayed behind, standing next to him. Naruto took the chance to inspect the area: his clones were still in the crowd, carefully disguised, and no one inside was taking any chances. Banners bearing the Land of Snow's symbol were raised proudly.
He gave Sandayū the nod, allowing the man to take his place at Koyuki's side and present her with her crown. She went through her speech and Naruto was stirred by her eloquence and her passion. Samui rubbed at her shoulders, standing stiffly as her cold eyes tracked the crowd, the clear blue sky, anywhere but Koyuki.
"I would be honoured to introduce you to the young man who brought me back home and defeated Dotō Kazahana in single combat, Naruto Uzumaki!" Koyuki said, sending a shiver down Naruto's spine.
He'd been summoned, apparently. Naruto walked onto the balcony to the cheers of the onlookers, and suppressed a sigh after seeing the gleam in Koyuki's eyes.
"For his boundless bravery and valour in such trying times, I award Naruto with this medal, commemorating his services to our country. In addition, I pledge that the Land of Snow shall stand behind Naruto in any dispute, and should he ask, we shall come to his aid."
Naruto's eyes bulged, and as Sandayū placed the gold medal around his neck, he fought back the urge to smile. The applause from the crowd was enough to sway him, and he beamed.
"I would also like to grant a medal to another warrior whose stalwart courage and steadfast professionalism proved to be a key factor in bringing Dotō Kazahana to justice. Please welcome Samui!"
With his sensor, Naruto saw her mouth open in shock. Her surprise lasted for a moment, but he engraved it in his memory. He took a step back as she was presented with the same gold medal he had received. She maintained her stoic facade, but he saw how the tension in her shoulders had lightened.
"I am deeply grateful for your support," Koyuki said. "I shall endeavour to prove myself worthy of this responsibility and rule as well as my father had, and bring spring back to the Land of Snow!"
It was so convincing that when she absconded from the balcony, her emotionless eyes brought him pause. She was truly a world-class actress.
After all the ceremonies had ended, Naruto was invited to a mountainous clearing, surrounded by metal spires that stretched to the sky. Koyuki was there, waiting for him.
"Thank you for joining me," Koyuki said. "I know you have places to go, but this won't take long."
Naruto shrugged. "It's fine with me, but Samui is another story."
Samui had already packed up and was raring to go. Koyuki might have changed, but while Samui grew to tolerate her, it seemed that she was slow to forget how Yukie Fujikaze had treated her. Naruto knew better than to point it out; it made Samui clam up and glare at him.
Koyuki chuckled. "I don't blame her. I tried my best to get under her skin, but nothing would break her. If she wasn't a ninja, she could try her hand at being an actress."
A smile came to his face after imagining Samui's name in lights. "That'd be something. What does it take to be an actress?"
"A good memory helps," she said. "The most important trait is that an actress must be able to convince the people seeing her that her words, her actions, her very being is real. We breathe life to paper, and make magic happen on the screen."
Naruto wondered if Kurenai did the same thing, if she believed what she did or if she was just that good at acting. "So you don't despise being an actress any more?"
The reminder made Koyuki frown. "No. I hated that being an actress required me to fabricate the truth. I lied to everyone, and most of all, I lied myself for so long that my whole life had become a charade. I'd even forgotten that I wanted to be a princess and an actress, but now I can be both."
He was definitely looking forward to more of Koyuki's acting, whether it was another Princess Gale movie or something else entirely.
"So is Princess Koyuki, daimyō of the Land of Snow just another charade?"
Koyuki's eyes twinkled. "It is a role I am willing to play. I want to show you something." She guided him to the lone shrine, where a raised platform stood. She took out her hex crystal and placed it in the keyhole. The platform activated, and the metal structures that rose from the floor shone in a dazzling rainbow light.
"This is my father's treasure," Koyuki said. "I finally understand what he was trying to tell me. The future of my country, his dream of spring, he entrusted it all to me because he believed in me with all his heart. It will take time before I can reclaim the truth, but I am confident that I can live up to his expectations."
Naruto smiled. "I know you can do it."
Koyuki smiled, too. "You're the one who showed me the way forward, and thanks to you, I can truly appreciate the spice of life, and everything that comes with it."
"That's good to hear."
This adventure had reminded him of missions past and his own inner struggles, and he truly cherished the fact that Koyuki had found the strength to move on, free from the shackles of the tragedy that broke her.
"Just one more thing, before I go," Naruto said. "Were you serious about what you said in your speech?"
Koyuki nodded. "We have access to all of Dotō's advanced technology, and once this generator is fully developed, the Land of Snow will become the Land of Spring. Even if we didn't have these advantages, I would still stand alongside you, because you've already done so for me."
He grinned. "Thanks, Princess."
She planted a soft kiss on his cheek. "We're friends, Naruto. Feel free to call me by my name."
Naruto rubbed his nose. "You got it, Koyuki." He dropped his hand to his side. "Can I get your autograph?"
Koyuki laughed. "Of course you can."
He took a moment to stare at the rainbow, at the grass and flowers that bloomed through the ice and snow.
Not only did he rescue a princess, he saved a country, just like he always imagined a ninja did as a kid. He really was becoming the person he dreamed he'd be.
The next day, Naruto and Samui were on the ship that would take them back to the mainland. It had become pretty warm, so they put back on their regular clothing.
"That was a great mission, don't you think?" Naruto asked, after entering her room.
"It was pretty cool," she said. "Better than I expected it'd be." He'd caught her staring at her medal on more than one occasion, and at the moment, it was set on her chest. "You were pretty impressive. Those toads of yours made a real difference."
Naruto smiled. "Thanks. You were pretty good, too." He stared at Samui, watched her make eye contact with him. "If you don't mind, can you teach me how to use a sword properly?"
Samui gave him a once-over, then she nodded. "Be prepared to work hard. Talent is never enough."
"I will. Thank you." With that settled, Naruto walked over to his room and sat on the bed, diving into his mindscape. He'd put this conversation off for too long, and there was no excuse he could use to avoid it.
The Nine-Tailed Fox was in front of him, standing behind its barred cage and the seal that kept him bound.
"Naruto..." the Nine-Tailed Fox said, in its deep, menacing voice. "You tried your best to build yourself up, gain strength that you could call your own, but it was not enough. Where did that bring you? Back to me."
Naruto stayed calm, keeping his face carefully clear of anything other than a detached frown. "You knew about my parents, didn't you?"
"I did."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The Nine-Tails chuckled. "You never asked. Unlike your godfather or anyone else, I am not beholden to your laws or secrets. I wonder, though, would it have changed anything?"
It wouldn't have changed the fact that Sarutobi kept this from him. It wouldn't have affected how he saw Jiraiya, because Jiraiya didn't put up with him because of who his father was. His master truly cared.
"No." Naruto glared at the Nine-Tails' baleful red eyes. "You'll withhold the truth and manipulate me so that I only see things your way. You want me to use your power so I become dependent on it, and you can get out of your seal."
Saliva poured down the Nine-Tails' rows of gleaming teeth. "Perhaps, but this is unavoidable. If you want to defeat the Akatsuki, you must use everything available to you. You will use my power, and when you grow accustomed to it, you will ask for more."
"Exactly," Naruto said. "I know what you want, and if I were you, I'd want out, too. But you know what? It doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to jerk me around to get me to use more of your power. We're stuck together, whether you like it or not, and I'd rather work with you than reject you because of what my dad did."
"Is that right? And because you now know that your father gave you the chance to use my power, you believe you're worthy of it?"
Naruto smirked. "No, I'm not. But I will be, and you're going to help me. Believe it."
The Nine-Tailed Fox bored into him with its hateful, withering glare, but Naruto held his ground, because the Nine-Tailed Fox was making the best of a bad situation, just like him, and it was his duty to show the tailed beast that there was another way, a better way.
"It appears that you aren't as foolish as I thought," it said. "Very well, then, Naruto. I'll play your little game... for now."
Naruto's determined smirk shifted into a smile. "Trust me, we'll do great things together."
It huffed, the gusts from its mouth nearly knocking him off his feet. "Be glad that you found the courage to make this choice. Do not overstep your bounds. I am loaning you my power, and you are the one who benefits."
"Whatever you say."
Naruto opened his eyes. It did take courage to overcome his resentment of the Nine-Tails for manipulating him just like Kurenai and Sarutobi did. However, the Nine-Tails admitted it, and he wouldn't have learned the truth without it prodding him. It also didn't pretend to be his loved one, so he could deal with the Nine-Tails' attitude.
After all, his dad believed he'd be worthy of embracing the Nine-Tailed Fox's might, and now that he knew it was possible, there was no reason not to try.