A/N - Okay, I FINALLY decided to update this one after leaving off with a horrible cliffhanger last time. Hopefully you aren't too upset with me for that.

Anywho, before I begin with anything else, one of my fans has some challenges he's looking for people to take on. I said I'd give a shout out so people could go check 'em out. Gundam Meister Uzumaki is the person whose challenges I'm talking about. Please check out his profile and give 'em a look.

Now that that's out of the way, this chapter takes place primarily in Yuki no Kuni. I decided to change things up a bit rather than stick strictly to the events in the movie. Hopefully you enjoy what I did with this chapter, but if you don't...ah well.

I can't remember what else I wanted to talk about, sooo...yeah. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 22 - Cold as Ice

Anko and Jima were talking animatedly with one another as they approached Kurenai's apartment building. They planned to have a girl's day out with each of the women Sean was with, as well as spend a little bit of time with Naruto's fiances and the other women living in the Uzumaki compound. However, as they approached the door of Kurenai's apartment, they could immediately sense something was off. For one thing, her door was ajar. The bigger clue though was the fact they could hear whimpering within the apartment.

Looking into one another's eyes, they quickly slipped inside and rushed towards the sound of Kurenai's whimpering. Upon reaching her bedroom door, they peered inside and saw Asuma looming over Kurenai. He was in the process of stripping out of his clothes and it was quite obvious what he had planned.

Looking at one another again, they both nodded and quickly rushed into the room. Anko immediately thrusted out her arms and called out, "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Within seconds, a whole collection of snakes shot out of her sleeves and bit into Asuma Sarutobi, injecting him with a paralytic venom. She watched with a glare as he collapsed to the ground, unable to so much as twitch.

Meanwhile, Jima rushed to Kurenai's nude form and pulled her into a tight hug. "Kurenai-chan? Are you going to be okay?" Looking over the woman, she could already see bruises beginning to form from where Asuma had hit her. A really nasty one was over her eye and she couldn't help but wince in sympathy.

Kurenai shook her head and wrapped her arms around Jima, clutching to her tightly. "I...I thought...I thought...ugh. I feel sick…"

Jima nodded in understanding and began to rub her hand in a circle on Kurenai's back in an effort to try and soothe her. It helped that she was using her chakra to emit a kind of calming effect on the distressed Genjutsu Mistress. "You'll be okay Kurenai-chan. Let's get you into some clothes. Then we'll head out to see Tsunade-sama. She should be able to tend to your health and I'm sure she'll help come up with a suitable punishment for this scumbag."

As Jima began to help Kurenai into a suitable outfit, Anko glared scornfully down on the paralyzed Asuma. "How dare you?! You just tried to rape my best friend! And for what reason?! Because she chose someone else over you? You're a damn monster!"

The smoker glared up at Anko, wishing very much that he could lash out and kill the bitch. "F...fuck you. T-that bastard...t-taking her f-from me…"

"Oh, get over yourself! You could have moved on and found another woman that genuinely loved you. But no, you chose to try and rape my friend! You're going to suffer for this transgression if I have anything to say about it, you lowly piece of shit!" Anko exclaimed angrily.

Asuma began to chuckle darkly. "S-she...is mine. I'll...I'll kill him n-no matter...what it takes…"

This only caused Anko to become even more furious than she already was. Rolling Asuma over with her foot, she looked down at his penis and smirked viciously down at him. "Oh no you won't. Face it Asuma, you're fucked, and not in the good way." she said before stomping hard on his privates over and over again, causing his eyes to widen in horror. Despite being paralyzed all over, he was somehow still able to feel what she was doing. Screaming from the pain, he began to beg and plead with her to stop, but Anko was having none of it.

After a while, she removed a kunai from one of her pouches and smirked evilly as she knelt down at Asuma's side, placing the kunai just under his ballsack. "Keep up your attitude and I'll remove these here and now. I plan to do this anyways, but I'd first like to see what Hokage-sama will do to you first. Now come along little asshole, it's time to pay her a visit." she said before slipping away her kunai and grabbed him by the hair. Afterwards, she nodded at Jima before they both vanished in dual Body Flickers, Jima bringing Kurenai along with her.

Hokage's Office

Upon arriving at Tsunade's office with a bound and naked Asuma Sarutobi and a teary-eyed Kurenai, the Hokage couldn't help but frown deeply. "What's going on?"

Anko glared down at Asuma for a moment before looking into the older woman's eyes. "Jima and I caught this piece of scum about to rape Kurenai-chan. On top of that, he's threatened to kill Sean because Kurenai chose him over this asshole. What do you want to do with him, Hokage-sama?"

The busty blonde looked at Asuma with narrowed eyes. "You must think really highly of yourself to think you could get away with these kinds of actions. What do you have to say for yourself, Asuma Sarutobi?"

The bearded jonin narrowed his eyes in a glare and said, "Kurenai was mine. Sean, that rotten bastard, has enough women! He had no right to take Kurenai away from me! We were happy together before he came along and ruined it! He deserves to pay for what he's done! Look at all the lives he's ruined already! The Hyuga clan especially has been harmed by what he's done! All because he just keeps taking without sparing any thought for the rest of us and what we have to go through!"

Tsunade let out an aggravated sigh. "From what I understand, Hiashi and the Hyuga clan elders brought it on themselves with their actions. The punishment, therefore, fit the crime. Or rather, crimes. As for you, obviously one of you wasn't exactly 'happy' in the relationship if Kurenai left you for another man. You can't force a woman to stay with you if she's unhappy in the relationship. And you most definitely do not attempt to rape her because you're pissed off and jealous!"

"I don't even have to think over your punishment, Asuma Sarutobi. Anko, remove what makes him a man. Jima, seal his chakra. And from this moment forward, you are no longer the sensei of Team 10. You're going to rot in prison for a while." Tsunade commanded.

Asuma growled. "You can't do this to me! Sean's the bad guy here, NOT me!" he shouted as he struggled against his bindings.

Anko glared down at him as she withdrew a kunai once again. "No, Asuma, you're the monster here." she said before kicking him in the face, knocking him on his back. Immediately afterwards, she held him down while she cut off his balls and penis, leaving him to scream out in sheer agony.

Jima, leaving Kurenai by herself for the time being, walked over and, after unsealing her fuinjutsu kit, inscribed a seal on his skin before activating it, sealing his chakra away. Meanwhile, in order to make sure he didn't bleed out and die, Tsunade went about healing his new wound, as much as it annoyed her to do so.

Once the deed was done, Tsunade called for one of her Anbu to take Asuma away. After he was out of the room, she turned to Anko and asked, "Do you think Sean would be interested in becoming a full time sensei to Team 10?"

Jima frowned in thought for a moment before she decided to ask a question. "Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest? Sean is seeing Ino Yamanaka, after all."

Tsunade shook her head. "No, Sean took their training seriously even before he and Ino got together. It's obvious to me that he's as serious about training the various genin on each of the teams as he is about his own training. I actually put him in charge of the mission to escort Yukie Fujikaze because I trust him to be just as serious about the mission as he is about everything else. I also wanted this to serve as a test of sorts for him, to see if he's really ready to lead a team on his own or not. I'm quite confident that he'll be fine, and I'd very much like it if he became the new sensei for Team 10."

"I'm sure he'd love the chance to work as a real sensei for Team 10. I remember he wasn't too pleased with Asuma's lazy approach to everything, so he worked extra hard to prepare each of them for the Chunin Exams. I'd say he did a pretty good job." Anko said with a smile on her face.

"I agree. Though, speaking of his mission, I wonder how it's going…" Jima said, all of them beginning to wonder how Sean's mission was going.

Sean's Team - On the boat to Yuki no Kuni

"So you're telling me she's the lost princess of Yuki no Kuni? How come I wasn't informed of this until now?" Sean asked Kakashi seriously. The two of them were alone in their shared room on the boat, discussing the details of the mission and what they could likely expect in the days to come.

Kakashi chuckled somewhat nervously as he rubbed at the back of his head. "I couldn't be sure until I got a real good look at her. And no, not like that." he said, seeing the incredulous look on Sean's face. "She's wearing the necklace she had when I rescued her all those years ago. I have to say though, that I didn't quite expect her to turn out the way she did."

Sean sighed and nodded his head. "Makes sense. She's definitely not like what I expected a famous actress to be like. Though her reluctance to go to Yuki no Kuni makes perfect sense now. Doto Kazehana's going to be a problem that we'll have to deal with on this mission, I can see it now. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he already knows we're coming somehow. So we're going to need to play it safe. I'll try talking to Yukie...er, Koyuki-hime and see if I can get her to open up a bit. Maybe I can convince her to take the throne once we've dealt with Doto." he said with a shrug.

The cycloptic jonin chuckled a bit and shook his head. "I doubt it. With her attitude regarding her home country, I'm pretty sure she wants nothing to do with ruling such a place. Who knows though? You might be able to pull off a miracle."

Chuckling as well, Sean nodded once before he made his way out of the room, waving his hand over his shoulder in a lazy goodbye. As he made his way to Koyuki's room, he couldn't help but frown to himself as he thought about her strange behavior lately. She didn't seem focused on their destination or even on filming the movie. No, she seemed to be focused on something else entirely. It didn't help that she was trying her hardest to avoid him. He really wasn't sure why that was, but he hoped a nice chat would do them both some good.

"Sean-sensei? What're you up to?" he heard Naruto ask. Turning around, Sean looked at his cousin and offered him a small smile.

"Nothing much, Naruto. I'm just going to have a talk with Yukie-san." he replied, being careful not to give away Yukie's true identity just yet. "Actually, you have perfect timing. Get the others and wait with Kakashi for me, alright? The two of us have something important we need to talk with you three about regarding this mission. Got it?"

"Of course! I'll get right on it." Naruto said before rushing off to get Sakura and Haku.

Once he was gone, Sean let out a soft chuckle before he walked up to Koyuki's door and knocked on it. "Yukie-san, it's me, Sean. I need to speak with you."

He heard Yukie practically squeak in surprise, which he found to be pretty adorable. Sean also heard shuffling and various other noises as he waited for her to respond. When she finally did, he couldn't help but sigh in relief. "I-It's open. Come in."

Opening the door, Sean offered the princess a small smile and closed it behind him. Walking over to the side of her bed, he pulled over a chair and sat down. "Alright, we need to have a chat about a few things. I've been informed about who you really are, Koyuki Kazehana-hime. I understand your reluctance to return to your homeland after what happened as well. However…"

The beautiful actress sighed and lowered her head. "It was Kakashi-san that told you, wasn't it?" Seeing him nod, she looked calmly as she could into his eyes. "I never wanted to go back there. Not after what my uncle did. But...Sandayu-san has been so insistent on returning and overthrowing my uncle, Doto, that I fully expected him to try something like this one day. To be perfectly honest with you? I'm kind of glad he hired you and your team. You're...a good person. But...I'm not sure if I want to become the new daimyo of Yuki no Kuni. I'd...much rather settle down with a nice man and start a family together. Does that sound selfish of me?"

Sean shook his head no. "That doesn't sound selfish to me at all, Koyuki-hime. We won't try to force you to accept the position of daimyo of Yuki no Kuni, unlike that manager of yours. If you don't want to be the leader of that country, then you don't have to be. However, let me just say this:" offering Koyuki a soft smile, he reached out and gently took her hand in his, "some of the best leaders in history are those that didn't want the position to begin with. Whether they were leading a small clan or a major country, it doesn't matter. What does matter is what they did in life and how their actions affected their people. I think you have what it takes to be an incredible leader to your people, Koyuki-hime. But, as I said before, we aren't going to force you to take up the position if you truly don't want it. Hell, if you want to keep acting, go for it. Just do what makes you happy. Okay?"

Koyuki blushed and averted her gaze from Sean's eyes to their linked hands. "O-Okay. Thank you Sean. I really appreciate your understanding. And...I'll take your words to heart, I promise."

"Glad to hear it. Now, I've got to go brief my team on the situation. Koyuki-hime, I want you to be extra careful while we're in Yuki no Kuni, okay? Stay close to us at all times. I have a strong feeling that Doto already knows we're coming and will have his men ready for us. We'll do our very best to protect you, but you need to stay close. Do you understand me?"

Koyuki nodded slowly. "Of course. I promise I won't run off or anything. I trust you, Sean."

"Good. Thank you for your cooperation, Koyuki-hime. Though...I have something I'd like to ask you real quick before I leave. Why have you been going out of your way to avoid me? Did I do something to bother you?"

The actress blushed deeper and shook her head. "N-No, you haven't done anything of the sort! I'm just...embarrassed at how I acted around you when I was drunk. That and I've had a lot on my mind. That's really all it is."

Sean frowned as he looked into her eyes searchingly. After a while, he sighed and shook his head. "You shouldn't worry so much about how you behaved. You didn't bother me at all. Yeah, it was a little awkward, but I have to admit I was pretty flattered." he said with a chuckle. "And...if you ever need someone to talk to in order to help sort out your thoughts, I'm here for you. Okay?"

Koyuki frowned and shook her head. She was about to say something, but she stopped herself and began to think over her situation. After a while, she released a frustrated sigh and looked seriously into Sean's eyes. "I think I've got a slight crush on you. I'm just wondering if I should pursue a relationship with you or not. And if I do and you and your fiances accept me...I'm wondering if I should remain an actress or not. I'm honestly a little tired of acting, but I recognize the fact that my movies bring joy into people's lives. So...I don't know."

The blue-haired Uzumaki nodded slowly in understanding. With a small blush on his face, he found himself rubbing the back of his head nervously. "I...I see. I'll admit that you're a beautiful woman, and I think you've got a genuinely kind heart, despite how you've been acting. And...I'll admit that I'm a fan of your movies, but if acting doesn't really bring you any joy, then it's okay to give it up. You shouldn't force yourself to do something you don't want to do just to please other people. I do pretty much whatever I want and I say 'fuck it' to the people that have a problem with me. So, I advise you to do whatever makes you happy. Don't think so much about other people and think about yourself. What does Koyuki-chan want?"

Koyuki smiled at him and moved off her bed, quickly hugging him tight. "Thank you Sean-kun. You're such a wonderful man. I really appreciate your advice. I'll take some time to think on it seriously. But...I think I know what I'm leaning towards." Before Sean could reply, she pressed her lips to his and gave him a long, passionate kiss. When they separated, she smirked at his shocked expression. "Might want to get used to that. I might just end up choosing to be with you, Seanie-kun. Now, didn't you say you had to go talk to your team? I'll be here if you need me later." she said with a wink before she sat back down on her bed, picking up the script she was reading over before he came in.

Blushing badly, Sean slowly nodded and rose from the chair, leaving her room without a word. Once he was back in the hallway, he brought a hand to his mouth and chuckled a bit while shaking his head. "Wow." he said quietly before he began walking back towards his room.

Upon entering the room, he saw his team eyeing him curiously. "Good, you're all here." he said, trying to stave off the questions before they could start. "We've got something important to discuss with each of you."

"What's up Sean-sensei? It must be important for you to call us all here." Sakura questioned.

Sean looked at Kakashi before returning his attention to the genin. "The woman we're supposed to be protecting, Yukie Fujikaze? She's actually the princess of Yuki no Kuni. Her real name is Koyuki Kazehana. Sandayu-san wants her to become the new daimyo after using us to overthrow her uncle, Doto Kazehana. He's not a good man, and he'll do anything in his power to get what he wants. I have a strong feeling that he already knows we're coming, so I want you three to be on heightened alert. Our primary goal is to keep Koyuki-hime safe. But we'll also have to look after the film crew and our client, Sandayu-san. Do you all understand what this means?"

Each of them nodded, and Haku said, "That means our mission just got a lot harder. We don't know anything about our enemies, and there's a good chance we'll need to take down Doto as well as whoever he sends at us. Most likely, this mission is now an A-rank and we're going to need to be far more careful."

Kakashi nodded his head in affirmation. "Correct. Sean, how'd your meeting with Koyuki-hime go? What did she decide?"

Sean shook his head and offered him a small smile. "I just spoke honestly with her. I told her that she should follow her heart and do what she wants. She's admitted that she doesn't want to rule Yuki no Kuni, and I told her that we won't force her to become the daimyo if that's not what she wants. The only one trying to force it on her is her manager, Sandayu. I did tell her that some of the greatest leaders in history were those that never wanted or imagined that they'd be a leader of something, so hopefully she thinks it over at the very least. However, I don't think she's going to become the new daimyo. She's more interested in...erm...something else." he said.

Sakura smirked at her temporary sensei, already realizing what had happened. However, Kakashi was the one to speak up, his eye formed into his traditional eye-smile. "She's more interested in you, isn't she Sean?"

Naruto and Haku blinked in shock at this as they looked between Kakashi and Sean. When the white-eyed Uzumaki began to blush, Naruto smirked at him. "Just imagine if you do end up in a relationship with her. You could star in her movies! That would be awesome!"

Sean chuckled a bit and shook his head. "I don't know about that. Yeah, it'd be pretty cool, but nothing's set in stone right now. She has time to come to a decision about what she wants to do with her life. Like I said though, I highly doubt she'll choose to become the new daimyo of Yuki no Kuni. She's already said she has no interest in that." he said with a shrug.

They would have continued to converse with one another, but the ship suddenly lurched to a stop, nearly sending the party tumbling. Looking at one another, Sean barked out his orders. "Naruto, Sakura, go check on Koyuki-hime! Kakashi, Haku, you're with me. We're going up to investigate what the hell just happened. I've got a bad feeling…"

Upon emerging onto the deck of the ship, they quickly saw the problem. They had run into an iceberg! Looking around cautiously, Sean frowned deeply. "Yeah, this doesn't feel right to me. Kakashi, Haku, prepare for an ambush. I have a strong feeling this is the work of our foes."

Haku and Kakashi both nodded and looked to Naruto and Sakura as they emerged from down below with Koyuki quickly following them. "Get ready you two. I'm 100% certain that we've stumbled into an ambush."

As they nodded, the group let out groans as the film director declared that this would make for the perfect spot for a particular scene in the movie. Looking into Koyuki's eyes, Sean placed a hand on her shoulder and offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Just focus on the scene and leave everything else to us. We'll deal with any threats before they can get anywhere close to you."

Koyuki nodded slowly and released a shaky breath. "O-Okay. Thank you." she said before she walked off to get ready.

After a short while, the scene was underway and the group of shinobi couldn't help but admire Koyuki's acting talent. She was amazing! When it came time for the teary part of the scene, they were surprised to see her shed some actual tears. They kind of figured she'd have to pause so her assistants could apply the false tears. "Huh, I don't think I'd be able to do something like that." Sean admitted with a wry chuckle.

Activating his Byakugan, Sean looked around for any possible threats. When he focused enough, he saw the threat coming and pointed towards the top of a nearby snow-capped cliff. "They're coming. Get ready. Naruto, Haku, Kakashi, I want each of you to take one of the enemies. Sakura and I will guard Koyuki and the film crew. Try to learn as much as you can about your foes just in case they manage to escape. Any information you can glean will help us in the long run. Go!"

In an instant, the top of the mountain was blown to bits, causing a small avalanche to start. Shortly afterwards, three ninjas, two men and one woman, came surfing down on snowboards. Without wasting a second, the Konoha shinobi moved to intercept them.

Naruto quickly leapt at the biggest of their opponents, aiming a spin kick at his head. The enemy shinobi, known as Mizore Fuyukuma, quickly ducked under his attack and went to punch the blonde shinobi in the stomach. However, the moment his fist made contact, the young blonde burst into a puff of smoke, blinding him and opening him up to attack.

The next thing he felt was something drilling into his armor before suddenly dispersing as his chakra armor ate away at Naruto's attack. Still, the damage was done and he scowled deeply at his opponent once the smoke cleared away. "You little runt! You damaged my perfect armor!"

The whiskered youth smirked at his opponent as he looked over the crack in the center of Mizore's armor. "Aww, too bad. It's pretty interesting that it can suck all the chakra out of an attack, but it seems it has its limits. How about I push those limits until they break, hm?"

Haku vs. Fubuki Kakuyoku

Haku was not happy. Her opponent kept gliding around using her wings and was unleashing Hyoton techniques against her! Her, a member of the Yuki clan! It was insulting!

At one point, Fubuki attempted to encase Haku in a prison made of ice, but Haku quickly manipulated the ice to send hundreds of ice kunai at Fubuki, causing her to yelp and fly out of the way as quickly as she could. However, a number of kunai clipped one of her wings and sent her crashing to the ground, rolling for a while before eventually coming to a stop.

As her pink-haired opponent slowly stumbled to her feet, Haku glared at her and activated her deadliest technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals. After the mirrors surrounded Fubuki, Haku entered one and grinned wickedly at the woman. "So sorry, but you won't be leaving here alive. I don't like to kill, but I recognize that it's necessary at times. Farewell."

Fubuki's eyes widened in horror as she watched her opponent. She could only hope that her chakra armor would protect her. Too bad for her that her head and limbs weren't protected…

Kakashi vs. Nadare Roga

"It's been far too long, Kakashi Hatake. I have to admit, I was worried I'd never see you again. You ran off like a coward the last time we met. I have been looking forward to fighting you again. And this time, I'm going to end your life!" Nadare exclaimed as he formed three wolves made of ice and commanded them to attack.

Kakashi let out an inaudible sigh. "You're still holding onto that grudge, hm? How sad." he said quietly as he dispatched the wolves easily enough. Quickly flashing through hand seals, he called forth a torrent of water that rushed towards his opponent. However, before it could reach him, Nadare used his improvised Hyoton technique to freeze it solid. "Well, that's interesting. I wonder though, how powerful is that armor of yours? Shall we find out?"

The purple-haired man glared at Kakashi. "Take this seriously! Ice Release: Swallow Snow Storm!" he exclaimed, creating numerous swallows of ice that he directed to attack his foe.

The cycloptic jonin of Konohagakure quickly sped through hand seals before he unleashed several bullets of fire, taking down each of the birds of ice before they could even get close. Looking into his opponent's eye, he reached up and scratched at the back of his head. "You're really not putting up much of a fight. I should probably end this now. I'm rather bored."

Sean & Sakura

Koyuki was watching the fighting with wide eyes. "Your friends are really amazing, aren't they Sean-kun?"

"Heh, Kakashi's just awesome like that. As for the genin, I chose each of them specifically for this mission because I believed their skill sets would prove most beneficial on this mission. I'm glad to see them coming through like this. I guarantee right now that your uncle will suffer for his transgressions against you and your family. You'll be perfectly safe with us, Koyuki-chan." he said with a smile.

The princess slowly nodded her head. "Y-Yeah, it would seem so. Sean-kun...how strong are you exactly? If you're leading this mission...you must be pretty strong, right?"

Before Sean could say anything, Sakura piped up. "Believe it or not, but Sean-sensei is one of the strongest people in our village. I don't mean to demean Kakashi-sensei in any way, but Sean's definitely stronger."

Sean blushed a bit and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "I'm not that great, Sakura-chan. But thank you."

The trio couldn't help but notice that the film crew was happily filming everything that was going on at the moment. "Heh, they're taking full advantage of this situation to make the film that much more exciting, I see." Sean muttered.

Koyuki sighed and nodded her head. "You're going to have to get used to it. It's just how they are."

Sakura and Sean both nodded in understanding. Noticing how Haku's fight was going, Sean decided to warn Koyuki about something. "You might not want to watch the fights past this point. They're going to kill their enemies. It might be a little too much for you to handle."

The actress nodded in understanding once again before she turned away, not wanting to watch what was about to happen.

Naruto vs. Mizore Fuyukuma

Naruto twirled his dual kodachi around as he eyed his opponent carefully. Despite being wounded with blood dripping into his left eye, Mizore was still cornered, and as they say, a cornered animal is perhaps the most dangerous thing in the wild.

Mizore scowled at his opponent as he weighed his options carefully. He dared not take his eyes off of his opponent, as he was sure he'd die if he did. Meanwhile, his opponent could spam Shadow Clones over and over again and wear him out in a battle of attrition. I need to retreat! He thought to himself as he tried to figure out how to do just that.

"Planning to flee, are you? Tsk, tsk." Naruto mocked, a sadistic grin on his face. "I'd rather just deal with you here and now. Don't try to run."

The large man scoffed at this and shook his head. "Live to fight another day, and all that. You understand." Mizore said before he unleashed an Ice Release technique that sent large balls of ice flying at Naruto. While he was distracted, Mizore tried to flee, only to get a blade through his eye and out the back of his head the very moment he turned around. He was dead before he even hit the ground.

Naruto sighed as he cleaned the blood off of his kodachis and sheathed them again. "I don't enjoy killing. I doubt I ever will." he muttered to himself as he went to rejoin the others.

A short while later

After the fighting had finished with two of their enemies dead while the third, one Nadare Roga, escaping, they were gathered together once again. The film crew, especially the director, seemed quite happy with how things had progressed. After all, they got some prime footage and their movie was looking to be a smashing success!

Looking at Kakashi, Sean frowned in thought for a while before he finally said something. "So, any particular reason you let him get away?"

The silver-haired jonin chuckled a bit as he rubbed the back of his head. "He distracted me with some pretty big techniques while he slipped away. But, think of it this way: he knows what we're capable of now and will be more wary of us in the future. Doto, on the other hand, will likely let his overconfidence hinder his judgment and he'll likely make a fatal mistake, thus allowing us to take him out. I'll handle Nadare when we see him again, don't worry."

The white-eyed Uzumaki nodded slowly. "I trust you, Kakashi. I was just curious about how he got away, that's all. I do think you're probably right about Doto, too. We'll just have to deal with him when he shows himself. Afterwards? Well, we'll just have to see when we get to that point."

Kakashi sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "When I was here last, Doto seemed pretty convinced that Koyuki-hime's father was hiding a secret, all powerful weapon away somewhere. Problem is, he needs the necklace Koyuki-hime's wearing in order to activate it. But…"

Sean interrupted him here. "From what you've told me about her father, I highly doubt he was building a weapon. It's most likely some advanced technology that will do something to benefit the people of Yuki no Kuni. Doto's a damned fool."

The silver-haired jonin nodded in agreement with that statement. "We'll have to convince Koyuki to trust in her father and activate the device. Not sure what it's supposed to do, but I guess we'll see when we get to that point."

The Uzumaki clan head looked at Naruto and Haku with a small smile. "Good job you two. You've removed some of our enemies and we've taken their armor for further study once we return to Konoha. I'm proud of you both."

Naruto blushed a bit in embarrassment, but nodded happily all the same. "Thanks Sean-sensei! We did our best."

Haku sighed and nodded her head slowly. "I hate killing, but I recognize it's required sometimes. It never gets any easier though…"

Sean placed a hand atop Haku's head and petted her scalp for a bit. "I'm sorry for making you do such a thing, Haku-chan. But you know as well as I do that we can't spare these enemies. If we did, they'd only ruin this country that much more."

The young woman nodded slowly, smiling at the affectionate gesture. "Thanks Sean-sensei. I'll be okay."

"Glad to hear it. Naruto, Haku, you've earned a break. Get some rest while you can. Sakura, I want you to stick near Koyuki-chan for now and make sure she's alright after this trying experience. Kakashi, speak with our client and see what he knows about any possible resistance movement in the country. I want to know what we can expect before we get caught by any kind of surprise. I'll keep an eye out up here for anymore enemies."

Everyone nodded in understanding of their orders before they took off to do as instructed. After they left, Sean took a look at the film crew and sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. They're going to be hard to work with, I can just tell.

Konoha - Uzumaki Compound

Zabuza frowned as he listened to the women of the Uzumaki household discussing what had happened to Kurenai. Just looking at her, he could see that she was still shaken up. After a brief while, he piped up, unable to keep silent any longer. "Damn. Just...damn. That Asuma guy seemed like a good person. Who'd of thought he'd pull shit like this? Guess it really is that hard to know a person's true nature. You gonna be okay Kurenai?"

The crimson-eyed beauty looked at Zabuza and nodded slowly. "I'll be alright. I'm just a little shaken up right now. I'm grateful that Anko and Jima showed up when they did. He...he was so nice before. I never saw it coming. Sean-kun's the only one I want touching me in that way. I'm glad I never took that next step with Asuma."

Anko nodded her head in agreement. "Definitely for the best. I never thought he was right for you. Something about him just rubbed me the wrong way. Guess now we know why that is. I'm just glad you're alright now."

Jima walked in from the kitchen carrying a tray of tea and cookies. Placing it down on the coffee table, she offered Kurenai a smile and said, "So, to help take your mind off of what happened, why don't you tell us when you started feeling that way for Sean, hm? What drew you to him?"

Kurenai allowed a small smile to adorn her features as she took a sip of the tea that was presented to her. "I first realized how I feel about him when I gave him that kiss to snap him out of his funk back during Naruto's match in the finals. But...I'm not sure when I started to feel that way about him. It's obvious to me that I began feeling something for him sooner than that, otherwise I doubt there would have been that special spark when I kissed him."

"Hmm, you asked what drew me to him as well, didn't you?" Seeing them nod, Kurenai thought on it for a while before saying, "He's got this natural charm to him, doesn't he? He's kind and genuinely cares people. When he worked as assistant sensei for my team, I found that I really enjoyed his presence. He was a constant source of inspiration not just for the genin, but for me as well. Sean makes me want to be better than I ever thought I could be. There's just something...special about him. Do you know what I mean?"

Kin nodded her head in understanding. "That makes perfect sense. It sounds similar to why I like Naruto-kun as much as I do. I...haven't told him that I like him that way, yet. I'm not even sure if Naruto-kun likes me that way or not. Or if he even notices my feelings…"

Anko smirked at Kin and folded her arms across her chest. "Well then, you need to confess your feelings for the kid when he returns from this mission Seanie took him on. You can do it!"

The ex-Oto kunoichi shook her head a couple of times as a large blush spread across her cheeks. "I...I can't. I want to, but…"

"No but's, girl! She's right. Naruto's a good kid and I doubt he'd turn you away. Plus, it's obvious he cares for you. Not sure how deep those feelings of his go, but it's worth a shot. So make a move damn it!" Zabuza exclaimed before placing a hand on her head and ruffling it affectionately. "Just have more confidence in yourself."

Kin sniffled as she wiped away the tears that were building up. Looking up at Zabuza, she smiled at him. "Thanks Zabuza. I'll give it a try then!"

"Good. Kinda envy the brat now that I think on it. He got to go on a mission to protect that actress, after all. He's getting to witness the filming process up close and personal for the next Princess Gale movie. I bet they're having a great time of it." Zabuza said with a chuckle.

Sean's Team - Yuki no Kuni

As they watched the film crew work their magic, they conversed with one another about their current situation. "I see. So Sandayu's planning to gather the members of the resistance together and try to make a stand, is he? I would recommend against it. There's no telling what Doto's got hidden up his sleeves, so to speak."

"But wouldn't having their support make things easier for us in the long run, Sean-sensei?" Sakura questioned, sounding confused.

Kakashi shook his head and said, "In the case of Nami no Kuni when the people were being oppressed by Gato, sure, they're a big help. But here? Look at the kind of technology they have in this country, Sakura. Our enemy is a virtual unknown at this point and we can't split our focus from guarding the princess and the film crew to focus on protecting the resistance when they get in over their heads. Doto's likely already planned for this resistance group that's cropped up and will take steps to eradicate them once the moment comes. Sean's got the right of it, we need to convince them to leave everything to us."

The three genin nodded in understanding. "I get it. You're thinking about how best to keep everyone safe. How are you going to go about convincing Sandayu-san not to make a move?"

Sean folded his arms across his chest and thought on it for a time. "That's a good question. He seems like a pretty stubborn fellow, especially when it comes to putting Koyuki-chan on the throne. He's completely disregarded her wishes in all of this, so he'll likely be just as stubborn about holding back when there's a group of freedom fighters ready to take action against the tyrant Doto. I'll try talking to him, but if he doesn't listen and runs off to gather them together...I hate to say it, but our priority is the princess and the film crew. We'll do what we can to keep everyone safe, but we can't push ourselves past our limits to try and protect them."

Kakashi let out a heavy sigh at this and nodded his head. "That's probably the best call you can make in this situation. Listen up team, and make sure to drill this into your heads. No matter what happens, we must continue on with our mission and keep Koyuki-hime safe. Sandayu may be our client, but the mission he's requested us for: guarding Koyuki, takes precedence over all else, even Sandayu. Do you understand?"

Naruto frowned at this, but nodded his head slowly in understanding. "Yes. I don't like it, but I understand. We should always try to help people in need and save who we can, but…"

Sakura hugged her fiance and kissed his cheek. "Sweetheart, we can't save everyone. It's just not possible. I know how you feel, believe me, I do, but...but I'd hurt more if I knew you got yourself killed because you tried to protect everyone instead of thinking about yourself, even a little. If you die trying to save them...think about how those you leave behind would feel."

That caught Naruto's attention and made him really think on it for a while. When what she said really sunk in, he let out a heavy sigh and nodded in understanding. "I understand Sakura-chan. Thanks."

"Good. Now, keep an eye on Koyuki-chan and the film crew. I'm going to look for Sandayu and see if I can talk some sense into the man." Sean said before waving bye as he walked off to find Sandayu.

"Do you think Sean-sensei's going to be able to talk some sense into him? 'Cause I'd really hate to see our client die like that…" Haku questioned.

Kakashi shrugged his shoulders as he watched Sean for a moment before turning back to his temporary team. "Honestly? I doubt it. Like Sean said, Sandayu's a stubborn man. He believes so strongly in what he's doing and that it's what's right for both Koyuki-hime and Yuki no Kuni as a whole that any complaints or protests tend to go in one ear and out the other. So no, I don't think Sean's going to be able to persuade Sandayu-san otherwise."

"Well...damn." Naruto said, summing up everyone's thoughts quite nicely with just those two words.

A short while later, Sean came back to the group, grumbling incoherently to himself. "What's the matter, Sean-sensei?" Naruto questioned.

Shaking his head, Sean shot a quick glance to Koyuki to make sure she was still okay. Once he was sure she was fine, he turned back to his team. "Sandayu's gone. I'm not sure where the hell he went, but it seems like he's been missing for a while now. I'm pretty sure you know what this means."

"He's already gone to meet with the resistance. Shit." Kakashi said in understanding.

It was at this point that they all saw something that disturbed them greatly. The ice and snow began to melt suddenly, revealing a set of tracks underneath. "Everyone, get ready! Naruto, get Koyuki to safety! Haku, Sakura, get the film crew to safety! Kakashi, you're with me. I don't like this." Sean commanded.

In an instant, each of the Konoha shinobi was off, doing as directed. They acted just in time, too, as a train soon came bursting forth from the tunnel nearby and pulled to a stop some distance from them. Soon enough they all heard a voice being projected from the train.

"So, my precious niece has returned home at long last. How I've missed you! And to think, you brought Kakashi of the Sharingan and The Wind God with you. You must be so desperate to avenge your precious father if you sought them out. Well too bad!"

As soon as the voice faded, they heard a commotion from behind them and turned to see Sandayu and the rebels at the top of a hill. As Sandayu shouted something, Sean paid close attention to the train opening up, revealing a set of kunai launchers. "Oh son-of-a-bitch! Kakashi, get Haku and the two of you erect the biggest wall you can in front of the film crew and Koyuki-chan. I'll do what I can to save the rebels, but I don't like their chances."

Kakashi quickly rushed off to get Haku while Sean remained motionless. Focusing on his new kekkei genkai, he shifted his element to water and called out, "Water Release: Tidal Wave!" forcing the water molecules in the air around him to form into a massive wave of water that began barreling towards the train. Sadly, the kunai were launched and a large number of them managed to punch their way through the tidal wave before it could decimate the train. As such, a large number of the rebels were struck down, but thankfully a good number would survive.

As soon as the tidal wave struck the train, it was toppled over, falling off the tracks. Once the technique faded, having destroyed most of the train, Sean bent over, his hands on his knees, and took a deep breath. "Damn. That took more out of me than I thought it would."

Kakashi and Haku quickly rushed up to him. "Sean? Are you okay?" the cycloptic jonin questioned, genuinely concerned about his friend.

"I didn't know you could do that, Sean-sensei! That was just like what Nidaime-sama could do!" Haku exclaimed.

Sean took in a deep breath before he steadied himself and turned to face them. "I'm alright. I'm not even sure how I really pulled that off, to be honest with you. I kinda just figured that if Nidaime-sama could do it, I might be able to as well. I was trying to stop Doto before he could fire his attack...but I didn't manage to stop him in time." he said, looking over all the injured and deceased rebels littering the snow around them. "Damn it."

Kakashi frowned as he placed a gentle hand on Sean's shoulder. "You did what you could, Sean. If we had a dedicated medic-nin on our team, they might be okay, but…"

"No...it's fine, Kakashi. I'm the one that said this was likely to happen and that we shouldn't overexert ourselves trying to save them. And yet, what do I do anyways when it does happen? I push myself trying to save them." Sean said with a sigh. "Haku, find Sandayu. I'm going to check on Koyuki-chan."

Haku nodded and rushed off to see if she could find Sandayu amongst the many rebels that were still amongst the living. At least, she hoped he was still alive. Meanwhile, Kakashi walked with Sean, obviously still concerned about him. "You sure you're going to be alright, Sean? You look a little exhausted."

Sean shrugged. "Meh, I'm fine. I'm pretty sure Jima can do that kind of thing too, but I haven't seen her do much yet, so I couldn't tell you for sure. Wait…" The Uzumaki clan head stopped walking and activated his Byakugan, his eyes widening as he saw something approaching Koyuki. "Crap! Koyuki-chan!" he shouted, rushing towards her. Sadly, she was grabbed and carried off by a mechanical hand right as a large airship came into view.

"Oh fuck no! You aren't getting away that easily!" Sean exclaimed as he shifted his element to wind and used his mastery over that element to fly after the blimp. He was a little shocked to see Naruto had pulled a similar stunt by using a kunai and ninja wire to latch onto the airship.

Propelling himself up onto the airship, he lended a hand to his pupil and pulled him up as well. "You alright there, Naruto-kun?"

"Yeah. Just pissed that they caught me off guard. I was so stunned by what happened I forgot my duty for a second. I saw you flying, you know? Since when could you do that?" Naruto questioned.

"Forget about that for now. Right now we need to rescue Koyuki-chan. I want you to stick close to me and follow my lead, alright?" Sean said, trying to make sure his cousin understood.

"Right! Let's do this Sean-sensei!" And with that, the duo snuck inside. Rather than blindly go about trying to find her, Sean activated his Byakugan and pinpointed her exact location. Unfortunately, a man he assumed was Doto Kazehana was in the room with her while Nadare Roga was guarding the room.

Stopping just out of Nadare's line of sight, Sean looked down at his pupil and began to give his orders. "Naruto-kun, I'll handle Nadare Roga. Once he's busy, I want you to get into that room and save Koyuki-chan. Think you can do that? I want you to hold nothing back if you're forced into a fight with that prick."

"Got it Sean-sensei. Just make sure you kick that guy's butt."

Sean chuckled quietly before he formed a compressed ball of air in his hand, similar to the Rasengan. Stepping out from behind the corner, he thrust his hand forward and watched as the ball of wind chakra shot off and slammed into Nadare, causing him to scream out in agony as he was sent rocketing off. Winking at Naruto, he said, "Gotta remember, we shinobi don't play fair." And with that, Sean took off after his chosen opponent, aiming to kill the bastard that Kakashi had let slip away.

Naruto watched his sensei go and chuckled a bit. "No, we do not play fair. Thanks for the tip, Sean-sensei." he said before creating a Shadow Clone and sent it into the room first, making sure to remain hidden just in case Doto had something up his sleeve.

Sure enough, Doto had something prepared just in case someone made a rescue attempt. The large man tried to slap some kind of device on the Shadow Clone's chest, but Naruto's clone was quick to avoid this attempt and flung three kunai at Doto's face, forcing him to dodge out of the way, lest his face become a pincushion.

Naruto made sure to keep hidden, waiting to see everything Doto had at his disposal before he would make his move. However, when he grabbed Koyuki and threatened to kill her, Naruto realized he needed to make his move. Focusing on Koyuki, he used the Replacement Technique to swap places with her, putting her out of harm's way and Naruto within Doto's grasp.

Without wasting a second, Naruto drove a kunai into Doto's arm, causing him to scream and let go of the smaller figure in his arms. Before Doto could react, Naruto leapt up and slashed his throat, causing blood to spray from his wound. Once the man collapsed to the ground, clutching at his neck, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief as he cleaned his blade with a cloth and slipped it back in his kunai holster. "And that takes care of the tyrant."

Koyuki hugged Naruto tightly. "Thank you for saving me, Naruto-san! Where are the others? Is everyone okay?"

Naruto gently pried her off of him and looked up into her eyes. "If you mean my team, then we're all alright. The film crew's alright too. But I don't know about Sandayu and the rebels. Also, I'm not the only one that came to save you. Sean-sensei's off fighting that Nadare Roga guy right now."

"Actually, I was. I just finished him off about a minute ago. Unfortunately...he killed the pilot in a last ditch effort to take us down with him...sooo...yeaaah. We're about to crash into the side of that mountain." Sean said as he walked up to them, rubbing the back of his head somewhat nervously. "We kinda need to go now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the airship lurched and Koyuki nearly went tumbling before she was caught by Sean, who held her protectively against his chest. She began blushing, but she knew that now was not the time to lose herself to any silly fantasies. The princess let out a cute 'eep!' sound as Sean lifted her into his arms and took off running, Naruto hot on his heels.

"Okay Naruto, we're going to jump. I want you to summon the largest wind beast you can think of after we do. We're going to need something to keep us from falling to our deaths, after all. Ready?" Sean asked his pupil as the airship began plummeting towards a nearby mountain.

"Got it sensei! Let's do this!" Naruto exclaimed before he leapt over the railing and began freefalling towards the ground.

"You...you're serious?! Oh Kami, you are! Please don't let me die!" Koyuki exclaimed right before Sean leapt off the airship as well. Clinging to her crush tightly, she buried her face into his chest and waited for what was to come. However, when they came to a sudden landing and didn't die, she opened her eyes and looked to see what they were standing on.

Right before Koyuki's eyes, she saw a giant hawk made entirely of wind below them. It was slowly lowering them to the ground. Looking at Naruto for a moment, she then looked into Sean's eyes and blinked a couple of times. "You ninja really are capable of pretty much anything, aren't you?"

Naruto smirked at her and patted the beast underneath him. "Heh, this is nothing. Besides, new techniques are being developed all the time, some much more impressive than something like this."

"I believe it." Koyuki said as Sean slowly put her down on her own two feet. "Oh, look! Everyone's waiting for us!" she exclaimed, pointing down below. "Oh...they're filming this. I should have known they would take full advantage of any situation, wouldn't they?" she said with a sigh.

Sean chuckled at this. "Hey, it's what they do. I'm getting used to it." It was at this point that he noticed something about the area they were gliding down to. "Hm? I wonder if that's where Doto was planning to take you?"

Looking down at what he was looking at, Koyuki blinked in astonishment. There was what appeared to be a small shrine or pedestal surrounded by giant slabs of ice. "I wonder if that's where this treasure Doto was after is located? I don't recognize it."

When the wind beast dropped them off before dispersing in a cloud of smoke, the trio were soon approached by the remaining members of the team. "Sean. Naruto. That was very reckless of the two of you." Kakashi reprimanded. However, he couldn't help but give his trademark eye-smile. "It looks like you saved the princess, however, so I'm assuming things went well?"

Naruto grinned at Kakashi and nodded once. "Yep! Sean-sensei took down that Roga guy and I dealt with Doto. Of course, the airship kinda crashed, but we're all okay!"

Kakashi chuckled a bit and looked into Sean's eyes. "So, enjoy your fight with Nadare?"

Sean sighed and shook his head. "The guy was a sore loser. He killed the pilot to try and take us down with him when he realized he couldn't win. Anyways…" looking around at everything, he quirked an eyebrow. "What is all this?"

Sakura piped up at hearing this. "There's an indentation over there where it looks like you can insert something. The shape reminds me of Koyuki-hime's necklace actually."

Koyuki lifted up her necklace and looked at it for a moment. "Doto was so sure that my father hid a weapon…"

The blue-haired Uzumaki frowned at this and placed a hand gently upon her shoulder. "You knew your father the best, Koyuki-chan. Do you think he'd have built a weapon? Or do you think he left something else behind? Something for you?"

The actress blushed a bit at the affectionate suffix before she offered him a thankful smile. "Thank you Sean-kun."

Walking over to the pedestal, she inserted her necklace and watched as the ice and snow began to melt. In fact, the entire area started heating up. Shortly afterwards, once the ice had melted off of those slabs, which turned out to be mirrors, they all watched as a video played of Koyuki and her father when she was younger. Just the sight of this made tears begin to stream down her face. "Father…"

Sean stepped up to her and pulled her into a hug. "I'm glad you trusted in your father, Koyuki-chan. It looks like Yuki no Kuni is going to be okay, after all. Though…"

Koyuki nodded slowly against his chest. Pulling back just a bit, she looked up into his eyes and said, "Now...I have to make a choice, don't I? Stay and become the daimyo of Yuki no Kuni? Or…?"

The white-eyed clan head offered her a warm smile and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Do what feels right to you, Koyuki-chan. Don't let the expectations of other people weigh you down."

The blue-eyed princess blushed a bit more and giggled a bit. "I guess that makes my choice a pretty easy one then, doesn't it?"

"Oh? And how's that?" Sean questioned curiously.

What he got in response was a deep kiss, catching him off guard. Slowly, he began to return it, only for their moment to be ruined when the film director called out, "Aaaaand cut! That was great! Real great stuff! You shinobi are really something else. I never thought we'd get to see something so amazing!"

Koyuki clenched her fist and prepared to chew out the director for ruining the moment, but she was stopped when she saw an injured Sandayu approaching her. "Koyuki-hime, I'm so glad you're alright! Now you can take your rightful place as ruler of Yuki no Kuni after all these years!"

The beautiful, black-haired princess shook her head no. "No, Sandayu, I will not become the daimyo of this place. I've made up my mind. I'm going to be with Sean-kun, and I can't do that if I'm stuck here. I'm going to live with him in Konoha. If you want someone to lead Yuki so badly, why not just do it yourself?"

"B-but...Koyuki-hime, you…" Sandayu tried to say, only for Sean to cut him off.

"No, Sandayu-san, she doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to. Koyuki-chan is capable of making her own decisions, and you should respect her wishes. You've been so obsessed with making her the new leader of Yuki no Kuni and overthrowing Doto that you've blinded yourself to Koyuki-chan's feelings. So, if you aren't comfortable with leading this country, then find someone else who is." Sean said, sounding somewhat angry with the man.

Sandayu's eyes widened and he looked at Koyuki almost pleadingly. "P-Please...you must reconsider!"

"Did you not just hear Sean-kun?! I. REFUSE. I want to settle down and start a family. I don't want to rule a country, Sandayu! The only reason I'm even considering remaining as an actress is because Seanie likes my movies!" Koyuki stated as firmly as she could, hoping Sandayu would understand.

"I...I see. So this is what you truly want?" Sandayu questioned somewhat bitterly.

Koyuki nodded her head and leaned against Sean lightly. "Yes. I never wanted to rule this country. I just wanted to follow my dreams and be happy, like my father encouraged me to before he was killed. Please try to understand, Sandayu."

The bespectacled man frowned at this and closed his eyes. "I'll be honest, this is not what I expected, nor hoped for. But if I truly can't convince you to stay…" he sighed and shook his head sadly. "Do what makes you happy. I'll act as de facto leader until a suitable replacement can be found."

"Thank you for understanding. And...I'm sorry things didn't work out like you had hoped. But for what it's worth, I do think you should be the one to lead Yuki no Kuni instead of me. I'm sure father would approve as well." Koyuki stated, trying to cheer him up a bit.

Sandayu sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know if I'm the right man for the job, but if you insist, Koyuki-hime, then I can't deny you this one last request. I'll do my best for this country, as I always have. Just...be well."

"I will. You take good care of yourself, Sandayu. And thank you for looking out for me for all these years. I know I didn't make it easy for you."

The elderly man chuckled good-naturedly at this. "It was my pleasure, Koyuki-hime, though you are right, it certainly wasn't easy at times. Still, it was fun, working as your manager for all these years. Goodbye, my dear Koyuki-hime."

"Bye, old friend." she said before she walked off, arm in arm with Sean, to rejoin the others.

"So, you've chosen to return to Konoha with us, haven't you Koyuki-hime?" Kakashi questioned as she and Sean approached them. "I take it Sandayu wasn't too pleased with your decision?"

Sean chuckled a bit and shook his head. "Oh, he was quite upset. But he relented in the end. So long as Koyuki-chan's happy, that's all that really matters to me, to be honest with you."

Sakura folded her arms across her chest and smirked up at Sean. "You see? This is why women keep falling for you. You're too darn nice!"

Haku and Koyuki nodded in agreement while Sean just blushed in embarrassment. After a moment, Naruto decided to ask something that caused them all to pause and blink in realization. "I wonder how the other women with Sean-sensei are going to react?"

When he saw the look on Sean's face, Kakashi couldn't help but have a good laugh. Oh Sean, you are always amusing to me in some way.

A/N - Okey dokey, that's the chapter for ya! Figured that was as good a place to end the chapter as any.

As you can see, Kin's admitted she has feelings for Naruto, and Koyuki has decided to return to Konoha with Sean. Yep, I told you I was changing how things went, and that's one of the big changes right there. I figured it would make things a bit more interesting in the long run.

Anyways, I know there was something I wanted to say, but I really can't recall off the top of my head. It's one of those moments where you've got something on the tip of your tongue, but you just can't remember what it was for the life of you. Yeaaah...

Ah well. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'm not sure what I'll work on next, as usual, so look forward to whatever! lol.