A/N: Now we go further into Yuki no Kuni.

Hopefully, the update will be appreciated.

Anyway, onto our adventures.

…

[Namahage Forest, Yuki no Kuni]

There was an awkward silence as everyone sat around the heating element. Asama sat next to Yukie, wearing a measure of contrition on his face while keeping a close eye on her. Due to safety concerns, a proper campfire was not started. Luckily, Makino was able to factor in the possibility of unexpected misfortunes, and so he purchased a few emergency ration buckets, and a heater or two to make their time in Yuki no Kuni more bearable.

Naruto sat at his folding chair, forcing himself to eat his dinner from a steaming packet in one hand. The need for rapid mass production made the new emergency ration kits an unpleasant dining experience: the menu items were neither tasty nor nutritious, the instant heating element built into the main course packet was unreliable, and they sometimes came without tableware. On the other hand, they had their pros: they were vacuum-sealed for safety and a long shelf life, the food had enough calories for a day or two, and they were ready within minutes if the heating element worked. In Naruto's mind, what really made these ration kits bearable was that they were cheap, and they always came with good tea bags to help wash the unpleasant taste of the main course down.

In general though, most Hunters would try to hunt and forage for their meals before resorting to rations, but the urgent need to stick together trumped Naruto's desire for better food. Such a shame, since the Anteka that Yuki no Kuni had were large, burly beasts that could easily satisfy the larger predators, and possibly keep a family well-fed if preserved and rationed well. Instead, he had to settle for bland teriyaki pork and beans on rice, with a very bitter dark chocolate bar pumped with stimulants, a side of pickles, and a steaming cup of black tea. Taeko's meal was simpler: a large, lightly-spiced sausage stuffed with cheese, which she washed down with cool drinking water.

"Now that we're safe, I think you owe us an explanation," said Kakashi, glaring at Asama, "If you want us to continue aiding you in this endeavor, you need to be straight with us."

Everyone in the area looked to Asama, who was silent as he contemplated his next words. "I believe you've heard of the burning of Kazahana Castle?"

"I've heard rumors," Kakashi admitted, "I don't know all the specifics, but I do know that Kazahana Dotō betrayed his brother Sōsetsu, and led a coup that burned down the castle. Last I heard, nobody survived the incident, not even Sōsetsu's daughter."

"All true except for one," replied Asama, "As a matter of fact, Sōsetsu-sama's daughter Koyuki survived."

"Which means that rightfully, she could challenge his claim to the throne at any time," Sasuke noted.

"Correct, but that's not all," Asama continued, "Sōsetsu-sama was a brilliant inventor, having used his genius to build a great many wonders for Yukigakure. Once, he'd started building a machine that he claimed would change everything…one that nearly bankrupted our country-"

"-thereby justifying Dotō's coup," Kakashi finished, "Do you know what that machine does?"

"Unfortunately, no," answered Asama, "Sōsetsu-sama kept mum on the details, and I doubt we'll ever know since that traitorous coward killed him."

Kakashi looked in Yukie's direction. "Which means we're here for her sake."

Naruto took a moment to look in Yukie…or rather, Koyuki's direction, watching as she clutched onto her necklace as though it were the last precious item in her possession. As it was, she was already famous…the revelation that she was also a princess in hiding was another thing entirely. Still, it explained her coldness to her fans and her general attitude throughout the trip; not that it excused her being an ass in general, but he still understood her situation. Complicated indeed, he thought to himself.

"Well, it's late, might want to get some sleep before we hit the road again," said Makino.

Asama sat up with Koyuki, as he escorted her to her tent.

"We'll take one-hour shifts," Kakashi commanded, his voice low enough for his students to understand, "Sakura, you have the first watch, followed by Naruto and Taeko, and then Sasuke. Keep your eyes and ears open; Koyuki's already tried to run away before, she might try again tonight."

Sakura nodded in affirmation before leaving, Naruto and Taeko smothering the campfire before heading into their tent with Sasuke. There was nothing too elaborate set up inside; just a pair of sleeping bags, a folding mannequin to hold their weapons and armor, an electric heater, and a folding table with a battery-powered water boiler and corrugated paper cups.

After filling the tea kettle with water and putting in a bag of strong black tea, Naruto set the timer for a good forty-five minutes before he and Taeko slipped into their sleeping bags. As he went into deep sleep, he found himself alone, looking at a path going up a cliff face. Strangely enough, he had his knife and hunting sword at the ready, but he didn't seem to have his other supplies.

Curiosity overtook him as he walked up the pathway. After nearly an hour of walking, Naruto crested the steps to find a savage-looking woman with long, orange hair and blood-red eyes sitting on a throne of bones. Her armor was very simple, just a pair of bone greaves and armlets, a rib cage cuirass, a wide belt with leather tassets, and hip bone pauldrons. Beneath her armor, he could see pale, tattooed skin pulled taut over a well-endowed athletic body that emphasized long, powerful legs scissored in front of her. The only luxurious thing she wore was a diadem of three gold plates riveted onto a leather strap tied around her head, each plate featuring a blood red gem and ornate carvings.

"Finally, I was beginning to think I was going to die of boredom," she said, inspecting her well-manicured nails.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked, his eyes drifting to the weapons propped up against the throne.

"Nobody to be trifled with," the barbarian queen answered, her eyes still on her manicure.

He had no idea who this woman was, but Naruto could sense that she wasn't simply arrogant; that she had more than enough skill and experience that her arrogance was rightfully earned. Though from what he saw, she carried herself more like a Guild Knight than a full-on Hunter. "Where are we?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Home," the woman answered cryptically, propping her head on an armrest while looking at him.

"Aren't you at least going to tell me what I'm doing here?"

"You're only here because I'm bored," she said, a half-smile on her face, "And what better way to relieve myself of boredom is there than to show you a new trick?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You're going to teach me something? In a dream world?"

"What have you got to lose?" she asked, half-amused and half-challenging.

Something about this woman bothered Naruto; not that it seemed like she was lying…in fact, he had a feeling she was so powerful that she probably didn't even need to lie to destroy him. "What's the catch?"

"Not yet," answered the barbarian queen, a bit too quickly for his liking, "For now, all I ask is that you try it out after waking up."

"You got a name?"

The barbarian woman's grin widened, showing razor sharp canines as she chuckled darkly through her teeth. "Oh, I've gone by so many names and titles throughout my life; I've even heard some people call me Hijoō. You can call me Kaede."

"Like the renegade Huntress?" Naruto asked, looking at her as though she'd grown a second head.

There were many stories about the renegade Huntress known only as Hijoō Kaede; while her origins and lineage remain unknown to this day, the fact that she was able to use jutsu during the Sengoku Era implied that Kaede was a Ryōshinobi. Since her first appearance, stories were told by Hunters claiming to have seen her at work, having recognized her by her namesake fiery orange hair and her use of powerful jutsu in tandem with Hunter weapons. Though all accounts differed on which stories were true, most generally agree that after rumors of her creating special jutsu only Ryōshinobi could use, she was best known for defeating a Disufiroa alone. One day, she disappeared shortly before the foundation of Konoha, though there were at least as many theories of what had happened to her as there were stories in her legend. Eventually, all hopes of discovering the truth of Hijoō Kaede were lost to history, but her adventures became a myth most commonly told to and between Guild children at the campfire.

"I can still feel your skepticism," Kaede noted, "Would it help if I gave you a sample of what I have to teach you?"

Naruto considered her offer; on the one hand, this was just a dream…on the other, she had a point in that he had nothing to lose. His mind was made up in his response: "Sell me."

He could see that predatory grin returning on Kaede's face. "Then let the lesson begin…"

…

[Kazahana Castle, Yukigakure]

The silence was heavy as three Shinobi stood before a dark-haired man in the fineries of a nobleman, his heavy, chiseled features and muscular body spoke of a life spent as a warrior. He glared at the gathering of three shinobi with cold blue eyes.

The leader of the three was a man with purple hair. Of the three, he'd gotten out of the fight relatively unscathed, though there were signs that his chakra armor had taken a few hits. He was accompanied by a pinkette missing a part of her own armor, and a large man with his chest covered in bandages.

"You're telling me the three of you were defeated by a genin team, Nadare?"

"We thought we could complete the mission swiftly if we led them into an ambush, Dotō-sama" Nadare replied, his head still bowed, "We never thought that Hatake Kakashi would be their Jōnin sensei."

Dotō had heard of the man. Sharingan no Kakashi; the man was formidable even before one considered the Sharingan rumored to be in his left eye. Evidently, he was also his niece's savior, having originally come to this land on an entirely different mission.

"Even then, you should have been able to handle him," Dotō said, admonishing Nadare, "Your chakra armor should've been able to handle any jutsu he could've used against you."

"That's not all, apparently they had a Ryōshinobi kid on their team."

"You're serious?" Dotō asked, an eyebrow raised in skepticism, "First you tell me that you've been defeated by Hatake Kakashi, and now I hear that he had a mongrel barbarian on his team?!"

"Dead serious," Nadare confirmed, "He was able to use jutsu, and he had no problems shooting at us with a really big bow. And even though his blades couldn't cut through the armor, he hit hard enough that he damn near broke Mizore's bones."

"A barbarian mongrel educated in the Shinobi ways? Their Hokage must be insane to let him learn jutsu at all!"

By themselves, Hunters were considered outsiders at best in most Shinobi villages they walked into; an inconvenient necessity that they had to at least be civil with if they wanted their village to survive a Monster attack. On the other hand, Ryōshinobi sometimes encountered treatment no different from Jinchūriki simply for being born of both Hunter and Shinobi parents. As a result, Ryōshinobi children were barred from attending local Ninja Academies, and it was often illegal for Shinobi parents to teach them even a single jutsu. Though it seemed that the so-called "God of Shinobi" had made an exception for some odd reason.

"Dotō-sama, I -we!- would like another opportunity to go after their team," Nadare offered, "The humiliation that little mutt has inflicted upon us must be avenged."

"An opportunity that has been granted, but this will be the last failure I will tolerate from any of you," said Dotō, "Now go, but remember: my niece must not be harmed. I want her brought to me alive and well. Dismissed!"

Dotō left the room, no doubt to work on one of his personal pet projects. Satisfied that he was no longer in the throne room, Fubuki let out a sigh of relief. "Thought he was gonna kill us for sure this time…when I see that barbarian freak again, I'm gonna rip his face off."

"I didn't think you were the type to hold grudges, Fubuki," Nadare jeered, a smirk on his face.

"That little mutt clipped my wings with that huge bow of his, so yeah, I'd say it's personal."

…

[Namahage Forest, Yuki no Kuni]

Naruto woke to the gentle beeping of the timer, lightly tapping Taeko awake.

After taking a moment to stretch himself awake, Naruto poured a cup of tea before motioning toward the Rathian armor he had on the stand. As he took a sip, he contemplated the dream he'd had of learning a new jutsu from the barbarian woman who claimed to be Hijoō Kaede. He doubted that there'd be a chance to see if the jutsu she taught him was real, but he would see about testing it out the first opportunity he had.

Setting down his empty tea cup, Naruto and Taeko began the process of arming up. The first thing to come on were the gambeson and trousers, next came the steel greaves, then the Rathian scale jacket and steel cuirass, before finishing off with the supply belt and the helmet. Once he was done with his armor, Naruto mounted his hunting knife and sword, satchel, and Scoutfly lamp onto their respective places before reaching for a large bearded axe with a wide, flat hammer poll. Taeko's armor was simpler, consisting of a steel cuirass and pauldrons, along with a fauld, tunic, and bandana made of Izuchi hide; her new weapon was a sickle made from the creature's tail. All in all, it took a good thirteen minutes for the Hunter-Palico duo to be fully prepared.

As he shouldered his axe, Naruto and Taeko walked out and found Sakura sitting on a branch overlooking Koyuki's tent.

"What're you, a lumberjack now?" she snarked upon seeing Naruto approach.

"Better safe than sorry," Naruto said, shrugging, "I figured that if my sword and knife can't cut through their armor, maybe I can at least break a few bones with my axe before I have to bring out my Hunter weapons."

"You'll do more than break a few bones with that thing," she countered, "Anyway, she's your problem now."

Before she could lower herself from the branch, Naruto quickly, but gently grabbed Sakura's wrist. "You've been sitting here the whole hour?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Did you notice anything odd?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "No, I haven't seen her leave the tent; and before you accuse me of dozing off during my shift, I'll have you know that I'm still awake because of that cheap tea bag you gave me. I mean, seriously, what kind of tea was it anyway?"

"I'm not saying you weren't doing your job, it's just that it looks like everything's going too well," Naruto replied, "By the way, it's breakfast tea…Yukumo Midnight tea, I believe."

"So what do you want me to do about it?" Sakura queried.

"I want you to be my witness when I look in on her," Naruto answered, cutting off Sakura before she could respond, "I know you said you didn't fall asleep, but something doesn't add up. We know Koyuki-hime's tried to run away before, so why would she stop trying now?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow at the question. "You think she's already escaped?"

Naruto shrugged. "I'm just saying, it seems a little too easy so far. Look, if I'm wrong, I'll be your punching bag for tonight."

"And if you're right?"

"Then we need to wake the camp," answered Naruto as Taeko climbed onto his shoulders.

Naruto and Sakura lowered themselves off the branch, and approached Koyuki's tent, opening the flap quietly before entering. The two genin were quick to note that her tent was a little more luxurious; a fancy folding table, and on the floor next to it was a heater with a built-in hotplate on top, and an ornate tea set consisting of an iron teapot and six small cups. They also saw a form on the floor in a luxurious sleeping bag. Noting that something was off, Naruto crept closer to the head of the sleeping bag and felt something ugly flaring in his stomach upon finding an effigy made up of pillows and hide blankets stuffed into the shape of a sleeping woman.

"Sakura, wake the camp." Turning to find a gobsmacked Sakura still by the entrance to the tent, her hands over her mouth, Naruto's tone had taken on a firmer edge. "Now would be a good time, Sakura!"

It took a good minute for Sakura to collect herself before running out and shouting for Kakashi's attention, nearly five for the whole camp to gather around Koyuki's tent. As much as Naruto wanted to track her down as soon as possible, he had to stay behind to learn what their next move would be.

"We need to press on," Kakashi suggested.

"Well we can't go on without Koyuki-hime," Makino said, "Film or not, she's still the central character in this story."

"The only reason Dotō has any legitimacy to the throne is because he is Sosetsu's brother," the one-eyed Jōnin countered, "Killing Koyuki-hime will make it official, as she is the rightful heir to Yukigakure's throne. And that is before we get to the issue of the machine that Sosetsu created. I'm not saying that we leave her out in the wilderness, but I doubt that Dotō's forces have given up on finding us, and staying in one place will increase the odds of that happening; once we've found a good hiding place, we'll look for her."

"Where did she go?" Asama asked Naruto.

"I had a good look at her tracks," Naruto replied, "Looked to me like she's heading to the east."

"Then I propose a compromise," Asama suggested, a map on the table in front of him as he pointed to a white Go stone placed on top of a particular location, "Here we are, in the Namahage Forest; for now, we've got plenty of time to pack up and leave." He then placed three white stones on a location to the northeast of their current position. "I've been planning our return for quite some time now, gathering a number of trained warriors for an uprising. We're meeting with one group at a tavern here; once we're done, we're going to split up and muster our forces on opposite sides of Yukigakure." Asama turned to regard Naruto. "Now this is where the compromise is going to kick in…your Hunter is going to track down Koyuki-hime and bring her to the muster point north of Yukigakure."

"A pincer attack?" Kakashi surmised.

Asama nodded. "We're hoping that by the time we get in position, enough of us will have gathered together for that final push. With any luck, seeing Koyuki will motivate us all the more to overthrow Dotō."

"The plan is sound, but things rarely work out as they do on paper," Kakashi cautioned, before turning his attention to Naruto, "You're confident you can track down the princess?"

"Pretty sure I can," replied the Ryōshinobi boy.

"Good," Asama replied, unfurling a piece of paper from a nearby satchel, "I have a map of Yuki no Kuni to aid you in your hunt…I expect you to find her within two days."

"Why two?" Taeko asked.

"Before we got here, I've heard the weather forecast say that there would be very heavy snow in Yuki no Kuni," explained the old Samurai, marking the important locations on the map before handing it to Naruto, "Around this time of year, blizzards are already more frequent and unpredictable, so I'm willing to bet one will come within the next few days, and even a native like Koyuki-hime will be helpless if caught in it. Luckily for you, the Yuki no Kuni Guild has built a number of cabins should a local Hunter get lost in the wild specifically for times like this; once you find her, you will bring her to one, and sit tight until the blizzard passes over. Once you're able to move, you will bring her to the rally point north of Yukigakure."

"Be careful, you two," Kakashi warned, "You'll be deep inside unfamiliar territory; if you run into trouble, I can't help you."

"Thanks, but I grew up around this," Naruto said confidently as he walked back into the tent, "I'll have her at the meeting spot as soon as possible."

After twisting a knob, a lightshow of tiny, glowing insects flew out of opened slits in the lamp, and landed on everything inside the tent. It took nearly a minute for the Scoutflies to pick up traces of Koyuki's scent, before they flew out the back of the double-ended tent. After popping a Soldier Pill into his mouth, Naruto put the haft of his axe through a frog below his knife and allowed Taeko to climb onto his shoulders before following the Scoutflies after Koyuki's trail.

…

[Hokage's Office]

Things had slowed down for Hiruzen as he sat at his desk, smoking his pipe. Being back in the Hokage Tower made him appreciate the brief window of peace found in the eye of the storm.

As he took a drag off his pipe, his mind drifted to the why of his little experiment; particularly why he convinced Shirohige to allow Naruto to enter the Ninja Academy. It was a story that began years ago, when a nine-year-old boy by the name of Namikaze Minato moved into an apartment in Konoha about a month or so before the first day of class.

Shortly after classes began, this newcomer who had just moved in more than a month ago had proven himself to be quite a student. Being healthier and stronger than most other children his age, there were no concerns about his physical education grades, and he was one of the top fighters in the sparring matches. As far as actual academic work, he'd consistently earned respectable grades on his studies, and was normally very prompt about turning in his homework. By all accounts, he was a rising star in a classroom filled with clan children and prodigies.

The strange thing about Minato's time at the academy was his life outside of class; very little was known about his personal life beyond the fact that he was a war orphan, and that his birthday was on the twenty-fifth of January. Even stranger, the gate guardians reported that he always left the village for the weekend…he always came back before school started, but nobody understood why he left the village in the first place. Speculation arose about what he could be up to outside the village walls; rumors ranged from criminal activity to espionage.

More worried about the rumors that Minato was a spy, Hiruzen sent an investigation team to follow him the next time he left the village. While he was relieved to learn that the boy was neither a spy nor a criminal, he was not prepared to learn that Namikaze Minato was a Ryōshinobi, using the skills he'd learned in school for the hunt. An even deeper dive revealed that while the boy was truly a war orphan born on January 25, he was legally adopted by Shirohige after the war, which came as quite a shock to the old Kage.

Hiruzen went to Hiyōsai for a conversation with his Guild counterpart over the matter. Whitebeard wasn't even surprised that his adopted son was attending the Konoha Ninja Academy, after having announced his intention to become a Shinobi shortly after his last birthday. He would then reveal that Minato always returned to the fortress every weekend to take on Guild missions, to relax outside of Konoha, and to visit his father as any dutiful son should. When asked for the reason behind the secrecy, Shirohige responded with his own question: "Would the Academy have taught Minato anything if they knew?"

In the end, Hiruzen had decided to keep everything a secret for the boy's own good. Unfortunately, mere seconds after he'd stamped the documents as confidential, one of the more malicious members of the investigation team decided to publish his team's discoveries through a no-name journalist. In a twist of irony, the snitch's attempt to destroy Minato wound up doing the boy a favor…he overcame the hardships sent his way because of the leak, and became stronger for it. On top of that, the prejudice he'd initially experienced for being a Ryōshinobi actually pushed him closer to his future wife Uzumaki Kushina…much to Tsume's envy at the time (though they did make peace afterwards).

Indeed, the story of Namikaze Minato was a good story; the tale of a boy that nobody thought would rise to greatness. Inspired by that story, Hiruzen initiated the experiment to see if it could happen again…to see if Minato's rise to power was a fluke. By his calculation, if the experiment was successful, and Naruto was able to follow in his father's footsteps, it could lead to closer ties with the Guild and a potentially more profitable alliance between them. It would also be the realization of Minato's desire for better relations between the Hunters and Shinobi.

Hiruzen felt blessed that the experiment was progressing as well as it did. The first phase experiment was a resounding success…granted, Naruto didn't graduate with flying colors, but it was still proof that Ryōshinobi could potentially serve in a village's armed forces. The second phase was ongoing, and required oversight to monitor Naruto's progress as a Shinobi, to see how far he could go up in ranks. The problem was that Hiruzen was too old to see the experiment to its conclusion; and as much as Shirohige loved his grandson, he could not be expected to keep tabs on Naruto's progress.

The old Hokage reclined in his seat, rubbing his temples in frustration at the need for a successor to take his place and oversee the experiment. He was already considering two candidates, each of whom could potentially become Hokage; the only problem was that each of them had their fair share of vices and responsibilities. Sure, they each had their pros and cons as successors, but the one thing they had in common was that they were both the most trustworthy people he could think of.

When looking at alternatives, Hiruzen knew that Homura and Koharu couldn't be trusted, having backed Danzo on far too many issues for his liking. To be fair, they were not total Guild-haters, they understood the need for Hunters to operate in the Shinobi Nations and grudgingly allowed them to stay active in Hi no Kuni. The problem was that they simply distrusted many Hunters simply for being foreigners, and their views on Ryōshinobi were even lower, seeing them as freaks who could not be trusted with village secrets. They even refused to acknowledge that a Ryōshinobi became Hokage, and that Minato's case was a fluke.

Meanwhile, Kakashi was a close third choice as a successor, being in a good position to oversee Naruto's development, and he had the potential to become Hokage one day. He was also quite brilliant, which would enable him to survive the political battlefield if he ever did get that far. The big problem with naming Kakashi as his successor was that Hiruzen needed someone in the near future, and he may not have the time to wait for the Jōnin to develop into a viable candidate.

Taking a calming drag from his pipe, Hiruzen simmered in thought as to which of the candidates he considered was a better choice to supervise the experiment.

…

[Yuki no Kuni]

Naruto had followed the trail for nearly a day, trying to avoid tiring himself out too quickly while making good time to catch up with the runaway princess. From the tracks he was able to pick up, he could see that Koyuki's pace was sporadic, running and walking in equal measure as she tried to get as far away as possible. Every step he took saw more traffic from the Scoutflies, which indicated that the tracks were getting fresher.

There was no time to stop for rations…the Soldier Pill Naruto had eaten yesterday provided at least a day's worth of energy, which meant that he had to catch up to Koyuki before he was exhausted. The good news was that the weather wasn't so bad that he needed a Hot Drink immediately, and he was getting closer to her; the bad news was that the good weather couldn't last, and anything could happen by the time he arrived at Koyuki's current location. One way or another, he needed to close the chase before the worst happened.

As he continued down the trail, Naruto found that the scent from the tracks were stronger than before, which meant that the princess was near. The area he found himself in was a rocky outcrop shaped like a gigantic gateway to another world; the portal was made of grey rock and white snow, with lush vegetation growing around the base.

Naruto was brought back to reality by a terrified shriek from the opposite side of the natural gateway. He ran through the forest, and found his quarry below him unconscious on the floor with ten blue bipedal monsters jumping triumphantly while a larger one let out a victorious howl. The creatures were covered in blue scales with a white underbelly and tufts of downy feathers on certain parts of their bodies, and their heads had a large horn pointing forward. Their bodies were too small and slim to classify them as Brute Wyverns, but what Theropod Bird Wyverns like the Baggi pack lacked in brute strength they compensated for with agility and teamwork.

Use it!

Ignoring the voice in his head, Naruto dropped from above, bringing the blade down on the alpha of the pack; he landed just in time to stop it from getting the first bite of Koyuki. He used the beard of his axe to hook around the Great Baggi's neck while sitting astride its back before freeing up a hand to draw his knife, stabbing viciously into the creature as it flailed around. After nearly three minutes of struggling, it successfully threw Naruto off its back; Naruto broke his fall and rolled back up, brandishing both his axe and knife as he stared back at the Great Baggi.

"Taeko, stay behind me!" Naruto warned, sheathing his knife, "The first chance they get, they're gonna ignore me to go after Koyuki-hime, so make sure they don't take a single bite."

"You got it, Meowster!" replied the palico, readying her Izuchi sickle.

The Great Baggi barked its commands, sending two of its packmates to initiate the first attack; Naruto responded by tripping one Baggi by hooking the beard of his axe around its ankle before following through with a strike to its packmate's knee with the poll. More commands from the alpha ordered the pack to attack in sequence, probing at his defenses; Naruto did his best to stay in one place, fighting back against Baggi trying to displace him. Fortunately, his Rathian armor prevented the worst of the damage; claw slashes that would have torn through Shinobi flak jackets were stopped by steel plates and Rathian scales, while the bites and tail swipes were cushioned by the gambeson underneath.

The biggest obstacle that prevented Naruto from using lethal force on the Baggi pack was that he simply didn't have time to deal with the aftermath; by the time he finished carving up and recording his kill, a blizzard could be on top of him. In order to show strength without killing them, he struck the Baggi with every part of the axe, switching grips from time to time to either grapple the Baggi or to punch them in vulnerable areas like the eye. Whichever member of the pack managed to get past him, Taeko countered by throwing dung bombs at their face…much to Naruto's displeasure.

Having lost its patience, the Great Baggi roared a command for the pack to regroup, and another to order a charge.

USE IT NOW!

Seeing nothing else to lose, Naruto shouldered his axe to form his index and middle-fingers into a t-shape before focusing chakra into it.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Naruto vanished in a puff of smoke, causing the Baggi pack to pause their charge momentarily. When the smoke cleared, no less than thirty copies of axe-wielding Naruto's filled the entire area, all of them standing glaring at the pack before them. The Great Baggi ordered its packmates to resume charge, only to be met by thirty or so axe-wielding Hunters, attacking with nonlethal strikes from axes. After realizing that they were outnumbered, the Baggi pack turned tail and ran, leaving Naruto alone with Taeko and a slumbering Koyuki.

Confident that the Baggi pack was long gone, Naruto dispelled his Kage Bunshin before putting the axe back in its frog before turning to find a gobsmacked Taeko behind him.

"That was so clawsome!" Taeko cheered, jumping with joy, "Where'd you learn that trick, Meowster?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Naruto replied, turning his attention to the unconscious Koyuki, "How's she looking?"

Taeko took a moment to inspect the unconscious form of Koyuki. "Smells like she was hit with a spray of their sleep-venom, but other than that she's fine."

Naruto let out a relieved sigh as he hefted the princess over his shoulders in a fireman's carry. Before he could respond, he felt a powerful breeze lightly pushing him in one direction. "We should hurry up and find a cabin soon," he cautioned, as the winds died down slightly, "The winds feel kinda tame right now, but I don't wanna risk walking through a blizzard."

The Hunter-Palico duo sprinted through the Namahage forest, doing their best to avoid monster encounters before the blizzard rolled over them.

…

[Elsewhere in Yuki no Kuni]

The frozen lands of Yuki no Kuni were filled with the chorus of whipping winds as the blizzard blew through the trees.

A monster enjoyed a meal consisting of a large Popo it'd caught out in the wild. Blue stripes against a backdrop of orange scales did not do it any favors when hiding from prey, not that it needed to hide…it was strong and vicious enough to keep its kill. It didn't mind the extreme temperatures, so long as it could find prey, but it still needed to find more food if it was going to survive the frequent blizzards that came with the territory.

It would need to go after bigger prey…possibly a Beotodus, if it was lucky…maybe even a Jade Barroth. Still, there were creatures even the orange tyrant was reluctant to take on if it could help it…the most obvious being more powerful predators like Deviljho and Ukanlos.

The monster had picked the bones of the Popo clean, letting out a satisfied yawn as it lay down on a cushion of dried branches.

There was nothing for it to do with the blizzard raging outside besides sleep, and plan for its next meal.

…

[Unknown location]

Koyuki stirred as she awoke, her vision clearing as she inspected her surroundings. She could see that she was indoors, in a cabin with herbs and spices strung up in the rafters. The interior of the cabin was lit up with a combination of electric lights, and the fire of a communal nabe pot, allowing her to see the log and stone walls.

Near the center of the cabin, she could see her 'number-one fan' sitting by the fire, in front of a nabe pot suspended from a chain attached to a chimney, his pet cat sitting beside him as he stirred the nabe.

"Smells good, meowster."

"Lucky for us this place has a fridge and one of those fancy-ass solar generators," a male voice reminded her.

With her bodyguard and pursuer occupied, Koyuki moved slowly so as not to draw his attention. The tabi on her feet muffled her steps, enabling her to slide along the polished wood flooring while the fire crackled. She was elated that she was so close to freedom as she reached out for the doorknob…

"I really wouldn't recommend taking a walk right now, your majesty," warned the boy, startling Koyuki with her fingertips just centimeters away from the doorknob, "Last I checked, it was still pretty cold out there, so you might as well settle down by the fire and have some nabe."

Koyuki huffed in resignation as she walked towards the fire pit. She could see her unwanted bodyguard gently stirring the mixture with a long, wooden spoon, his Palico standing by with a number of bowls, chopsticks, and a combination of sesame oil, soy sauce, and spices. Along with a steaming teapot and cups, she spied thin slices of what appeared to be thin slices of beef on one ceramic dish, and pork on another. The nabe itself was a simple affair; just broth with green vegetables, udon, ginger, and spices in boiling water made cloudy by whatever stock the boy had used.

As she took her seat, the Palico courteously handed her a bowl and chopsticks, before placing a tray of condiments near her.

"I think we've gotten started on the wrong foot, so why don't we start over?" offered the bodyguard, reaching a hand out to shake, "The name's Uzumaki Naruto, Genin and Low-Rank Hunter."

"Taeko, Meowster Naruto's Palico," chirped his Felyne companion.

"You're not gonna tell me how wrong it was for me to run away like that, are you, Naruto?" she accused.

"I would, if I didn't see where you were coming from," answered the Hunter.

Koyuki scoffed. "Really? So you've been living your life on the run because your uncle murdered your dad?"

"No, I'm an orphan," Naruto answered matter-of-factly, "I grew up in a good environment, but I have seen my fair share of losses even before I became a Shinobi—I know a lot of Hunters that went on pretty simple Hunts, only to wind up missing in action. Now all of them were veterans, they knew the risks of the job, always thoroughly checking their gear and supplies like crazy before even an easy Hunt; they died anyway, though never because they were careless. Point being, if the Shinigami's determined enough to come see you, no amount of running or preparation is gonna stop that meeting."

"Aren't you afraid that death's gonna come for you too?" Koyuki asked, picking at a fishball.

"Not gonna lie, I'm always scared of dying," Naruto countered, dipping a raw slice of beef in the stew, "But the way I see it, life's too short to be afraid of death all the time; to me, knowing you could die at any time should make you want to enjoy life all the more. In fact, it gives me more motivation to get strong enough to take on an Elder Dragon before becoming Hokage."

Koyuki scoffed. "You need your head checked."

"If he did, then so does every other Meownster Hunter in the world," Taeko replied as she blew her beef cool, "And this is coming from someone as loyal to my meowster as me."

"You really think your village is going to let you become Hokage?" asked the princess, eyebrow raised in skepticism, "Knowing you have Hunter blood in your veins?"

"Didn't stop Namikaze Minato from becoming the Yondaime Hokage," Naruto retorted, "If I'm gonna die, might as well die trying to achieve my dreams. You? You've been running from this problem your whole life, trying to avoid your homeland like the plague because you're afraid that you'll end up dead like your dad. Well, you're here now, so you may as well work up the courage to see this thing through to the end. Who knows? Maybe it'll even make you believe in happy endings again."

There was nothing Koyuki had to say in retort. As Naruto said, she'd been running from her problems for too long…and thinking hard on it, he was right; they were bound to come knocking on her door sometime. And in all honesty, she was tired…the running, the constant looking over her shoulder, even the lies she'd told herself; but most of all, she was tired of the constant state of fear she lived in. Perhaps it was time to face her demons, to do everything she could to help while she was home, and let the chips fall where they may.

"I wouldn't even know where to begin," Koyuki sighed.

"Aren't you curious about what your dad spent so much time and money to make?" Naruto suggested, rubbing his chin in thought.

"My uncle wants it badly, so it's probably a weapon," Koyuki surmised, eyes downcast.

"Maybe, maybe not," Naruto admitted, "But something tells me that's not the case; otherwise, your dad wouldn't have given you the key to it. Maybe we can start with that, and work our way from there."

"And if it is a weapon?"

Naruto blew a beef slice cool before dipping it in chili. "Then we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Whatever you choose to do, we're gonna have your back."

She had no idea what to make of the Ryōshinobi boy that had been designated as her bodyguard. The part of Koyuki that wanted to continue running truly and genuinely thought that his bravery was brought on by false bravado from his time as a Hunter, that he was really traumatized by too many close brushes with death to be rational. That part of her melted away like a snowy winter, giving rise to the part that wanted to face whatever came her way; if her uncle wanted her dead, then she would die trying to make it an ending that she'd be proud of.

And for the first time in many years, Koyuki smiled sincerely.

…

A/N: …and we're done!

To those who have been paying attention, I'm setting up for an eventual grudge match.

Anyway, it seems we have a surprise jutsu…though I wonder what Kaede will teach Naruto now that she has his attention.

Please give ravenking64 thanks for giving this story a read and review.

…

Vocabulary/Translations

Namahage Forest━the forest is named after a particular type of Oni from the colder, snowier parts of Japan…the kind that walks around with a large butcher knife, looking for bad children to take away. The Namahage is the inspiration for Goss Harag.

Gō stones━game pieces for the game of Gō…little round pieces that come in black or white, and are used on a 19x20 board, where the objective of the game is to capture more territories than your opponent.

Nabe━short for "nabemono" or "things in a pot" where a pot of water is brought to a boil, and things are added like spices and herbs, along with vegetables, and then slices of raw meat or fish are dipped into the water.

…

And like in "Hunter Effect" if you have a Hunter that you'd like to show up here, (if only as a cameo), here's the following info I'd like you to enter…

…

Name:

Race: Human or Wyverian (They're the only races we see doing any active hunting)

Gender: No transgenders, please! I highly doubt MonHun-planet or Naruto-verse would have the technology or techniques to do so.

Age:

Height: In centimeters (please make it believable)

Weight: In kilograms

Body Type: Slim, Muscular?

Skin Color:

Eye Color:

Hair Color:

Notable Features: Tattoos, scars, amputations, etc.

Personality:

History: Just a little of what they've done before going to the Shinobi Nations, like what was the biggest monster they killed, or where they come from. That, and what they've been doing while in the Shinobi Nations, and how long they've been there. And like in the body measurements, please make it believable.

Guild Branch: Don't tell me who the Guildmaster is, I want to know which Guild Branch in the Shinobi Nations they are active in: Hi no Kuni? Rai no Kuni?

Guild Status: Are they still active? If not, then what do they do now? Are they Guild Knights?

Handler: Do they answer to a Handler, a receptionist, or the Quest Board? If they answer to a Handler, give a brief description of them; name, gender, personality.

Hunter Rank: Are they Low- or High-ranked? Master-ranked perhaps?

Equipment: Just what weapon they normally use, and the armor they wear; yes, even the slinger is allowed

Knife: Describe the knife they carry (this is optional)

Companions: Just a short description of the pets they have available to them. Palicoes, Palamutes, Scoutflies, or Cohoots, and a name for any of them

Voiceover: Optional, but you can choose whichever Japanese or English voice-actor you'd like for their voice.