AN: Yo here's another chapter, I hope you like it. As always, I appreciate the likes follows, favorites and comments. Have a good one!
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As Naruto, Kakashi, Sandayuu, and Yukie, traveled through the Land of Fire towards the docks, Yukie continued to fidget more the closer they were to the docks. Kakashi and Naruto noticed immediately, Her eyes darted around the area, intently looking for a way to escape. Sandayuu had lied to her about their destination, He told her they were going on tour to promote her new movie. Naruto was surprised to find out she was an actress. She made rude comments the whole time, tried to make a caravan of people they met attend to her demands like a spoiled princess. Naruto was positive it was all a ploy to hide her escape plan. As they walked over the hill overlooking the docks Naruto could see Yukie's eyes widen in panic. Naruto turned to his senpai carefully masking his expressions. "Senpai?" He hoped Kakashi could pick up on his eyes to understand what he was trying to say. Kakashi hummed, Naruto could tell that meant he understood the situation better than Naruto could ever hope to grasp "That's your responsibility. I trust you to handle it." Yukie's eyes darted between both shinobi with suspicion. Sandayuu continued to walk with a calm smile on his bearded face.Finally the group reached docks where tens of merchant ships where in port with sailors loading and unloading crates, animals and other goods. Sandayuu led them to a moderately sized ship, the captain was barking orders at his men to finish unloading the cargo hold. The captain had a long black beard covering his neck, a bald head and black eyes. He was darkskinned. Sandayuu bowed to the captain who squinted at him in confusion. "Captain, I sent you a letter about travel to the Land of Snow."The captain eyes filled with recognition. As Yukie darted off down the docks of the small city. "Damn it." Naruto took off after her, weaving through the throngs of people carrying crates, rope pulleys loading objects and animals being loading onto ships. Yukie moved quickly for a civilian, something Naruto noticed right away along with the way her hips moved. A red blush crept up his cheeks when he realized he was staring. He caught up her fairly quickly, she noticed him, turned into an alley and leaned against a wall to get some air.Naruto approached Yukie with a mixture of annoyance and curiousiry, his voice filled with empathy as he reached her, "Yukie, don't be a dramatic princess, its time to go," he urged, his eyes watching her every move in case she decided to run.But Yukie's anguish ran deep, her resolve shaken by the prospect of returning to her homeland. As Naruto spoke, her eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling with despair. "I can't go back there," she whispered hoarsely, her words choked with emotion. "I'd rather die than face that again."Naruto's eyes narrowed at Yukie's words and tears. What was going on in the Land of Snow that would elicit these emotions? He thought something was going on with this whole mission but this proved it, but why wasn't Kakashi-senpai acknowledging any of it? He knew more than he let on.Naruto took a step closer to her. He knew that convincing her would not be easy, but the mission required they get there.. "Yukie, I'm not sure what's going on," he said softly, his voice gentle yet unwavering. "But running away won't solve anything."Despite Naruto's earnest plea, Yukie remained silent, her eyes distant and haunted. She turned away, retreating into herself, her pain too raw to put into words. Naruto felt a pang of frustration, He didn't have time to coddle her, he needed to get stronger to avenge Hana.Yukie dried her tears with her shirt. She approached Naruto, walking towards him until they were only a few inches away from each other. She wrapped him into a hug that caught him off guard, it had been so long since he had been hugged that his arms dropped by sides unsure of how to respond. Naruto reached out to hug her back, when her feigned gesture of affection turned into a swift act of deception as she pilfered a smoke bomb from his pouch, dropped it on the groind and vanished into the cover of the billowing smoke. Naruto cursed under his breath, his annoyance burned as golden eyes shown through the smoke. He quickly activated his Sage sensory ninjutsu to track her down.Using his heightened senses, Naruto swiftly located Yukie at a nearby bar, Naruto entered the establishment to see Yukie's silhouette, hunched over the counter as she drowned her sorrows in alcohol. With a heavy sigh, he approached her."Yukie," Naruto called out, his voice tinged with both frustration and irritation. "Its time to head back."But Yukie's response was harsh and bitter, her words slurred by the alcohol she consumed. "Buzz off, Naruto," she spat, her eyes flashing with defiance. "I won't go back to the Land of Snow. I'd rather die."Naruto's exasperated grew at her words, this annoyed spoiled movie star was driving him crazy."Yukie, please listen to me," Naruto pleaded, his voice rough. "I know you're scared, but running away into a bottle won't solve anything."But Yukie's resolve remained unyielding, her pain too raw to be soothed by mere words. As Naruto watched her drown her sorrows in alcohol, his impatience grew.Realizing that words alone wouldn't be enough to reach her, Naruto made a decision. "Plan B it is." Yukie turned completely drunk and sluring her words. "Wazzts phlann bee." Naruto cast a small genjutsu on Yukie, causing her to slump unconscious against the bar.Scooping her up gently, Naruto carried her back to the docks where Kakashi and Sandayuu awaited their return. As they walked onto the boat, Naruto felt a little guilty at forcing her back. Whatever she was scared of he would do his best to keep it from ending her. Yukie stirred from her slumber, the gentle sway of the ship indicating they were at sea. Her eyes snapped open, She got up from the bed, left her room and ran all the way to the small meeting. She shot a glare at Naruto, who seemed unfazed. "What's going on? Why are we on a ship?" she demanded, her frustration evident in her voice.Ignoring Yukie's outburst, Sandayuu began to explain the situation,"You have many fans waiting for you Ms. Yukie." "Fans, huh? Who cares about them," Yukie muttered, her tone dismissive.As the ship approached its destination, they all donned their cold weather gear, preparing for the biting chill that awaited them. Yukie adjusted her attire with a scowl, clearly unhappy about their current predicament.Meanwhile, Naruto took the opportunity to press Kakashi for more information about their mission. "Hey, Kakashi-senpai, can you tell me about what's going on with this weird mission?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.Kakashi's response was characteristically vague, eliciting a frustrated groan from Naruto. "You'll find out soon enough, Naruto," Kakashi replied with a cryptic smile, leaving Naruto's questions unanswered.*BOOOOM* The ship hit something halting all movement. As Naruto conversed with Kakashi, a sudden prickling sensation crept up his spine, alerting him to the presence of three approaching chakra signatures. "Kakashi-sensei, we've got company," Naruto whispered urgently, his instincts on high alert.Kakashi's gaze sharpened at Naruto's warning, a flicker of recognition flashing across his visible eye. With a terse nod, they both swiftly made their way to the ship's deck, ready to confront the imminent threat.As they emerged onto the open deck, their eyes fell upon three imposing figure standing across from them on a glacier. Among them, Nadare Rouga stood tall and confident, a mocking smirk twisting his lips as he locked eyes with Kakashi."Well, well, if it isn't the infamous Copy Ninja," Nadare taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Are you planning to run away again, Kakashi? Or will you finally face me like a real shinobi?"Kakashi's expression remained impassive, though a glint of annoyance flashed in his eye at Nadare's jibe."Nadare Rouga." With a calm demeanor, he prepared to confront their adversaries head-on, refusing to be baited by Nadare's provocations."Fubuki, Mizore, Kill the blonde and grab the princess. I'll take on Kakashi."As Nadare issued his orders to Mizore Fuyukuma and Fubuki Kakuyoku to take down Naruto while he squared off against Kakashi, the tension on the deck of the ship escalated to a palpable degree. With swift precision, the two enemies advanced towards Naruto, their intent clear.Naruto was confused. "Princess?" He muttered to himself. Naruto swiftly threw a rain of ninja tools forcing them both back onto their glacier.Sensing the imminent danger, Kakashi wasted no time. With practiced ease, he weaved through hand seals, summoning a powerful water dragon that surged towards the three shinobi. "Naruto, free the ship!" Kakashi commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.Nadare went through handseals creating a frost covered Narwhal that clashed with the water dragon freezing it instantly, the water dragon collapsed into ice, falling back on to the deck of the ship."Got it!" Naruto responded without hesitation. Drawing upon his chakra reserves, he swiftly performed a series of hand seals, summoning four clones to his side. In perfect synchronization, they unleashed a barrage of fireball jutsu, their combined efforts transforming into a searing flamethrower.The intense heat engulfed the icy prison, melting the frozen barriers and freeing the ship from its constraints. With a surge of momentum, the vessel rapidly departed, leaving Nadare, Fubuki, and Mizore in its wake. Naruto approached Kakashi-senpai, his brow furrowed with curiosity and concern. The mention of Nadare's words struck a nerve, and Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of personal affront. "Senpai, what did he mean by that?" Naruto inquired, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance.Kakashi was his role model. He never backed down. He showed Naruto what it meant to he a Shinobi.Kakashi met Naruto's gaze with his usual calm demeanor, his single visible eye crinkling in a subtle smile. "Ah, it seems he hasn't forgotten our encounter from long ago," Kakashi remarked cryptically, his tone tinged with nostalgia. "Back when I was in ANBU, I had a run-in with Nadare during a mission to the Land of Snow."Naruto's curiosity deepened at Kakashi's response, his instincts telling him there was more to the story than met the eye. "And what about the princess?" Naruto pressed further, his voice edged with suspicion.Kakashi's eye gleamed mischievously as he shrugged nonchalantly. "Hmm, who knows? It could mean anything," he replied evasively, his demeanor masking the true depth of his knowledge. Naruto rolled his eyes, they both knew who he meant, but why?Naruto took a seat next to Kakashi."They will come back senpai." Naruto remarked "Hmmm. We'll do a planning exercise, I want you to analyze everything you can about our enemies. Don't worry about Nadare for now. Doing this on the fly is how you become a Jounin."Naruto nodded, taking Kakashi seriously. "Alright, senpai. From what I sensed during our encounter, Fubuki and Mizore's chakra potential didn't strike me as particularly exceptional. I'd say they're both at a level just above genin, barely chunin level," he replied confidently, his voice steady with conviction.Kakashi nodded thoughtfully, absorbing Naruto's assessment. "Interesting," he murmured, considering their opponents' capabilities. "And what about their chakra affinities? Were you able to discern anything specific?" Kakashi inquired, his curiosity piqued.Naruto furrowed his brow in concentration as he recalled the distinct sensations he had felt from Fubuki and Mizore's chakra. "Fubuki definitely had a water affinity, but it felt... different. Colder than usual, almost icy," Naruto explained, trying to articulate the subtle nuances he had detected.Kakashi's visible eye crinkled with interest at Naruto's observation. "I see," he remarked, processing the information. "And Mizore?"Naruto shook his head slightly. "Mizore's chakra didn't exhibit any specific affinity. It felt... neutral, if that makes sense," Naruto replied, struggling to find the right words to describe the sensation.Kakashi nodded in understanding. "That's helpful. Now, let's move on to their combat styles and physical attributes," he said, flipping through his book once more. "We need to gather as much information as possible to formulate a strategy for our next encounter."Kakashi pondered for a moment before posing another question to Naruto. "What did you notice about their body structures?" he asked, curious to hear Naruto's insights.Naruto cast his mind back to their recent confrontation, recalling the distinct physical attributes of Mizore and Fubuki. "Mizore had a bulky, imposing frame, suggesting he's likely a taijutsu specialist," Naruto remarked, emphasizing Mizore's formidable stature and muscular build. "As for Fubuki, she seemed more reserved in close combat, indicating she might serve as a ninjutsu support," Naruto continued, deducing Fubuki's role based on their brief interaction.A pleased smile crept onto Kakashi's face behind his mask as he nodded in agreement. "That's an astute observation, Naruto. It's highly probable that Fubuki complements Mizore's taijutsu skills with her ninjutsu abilities," Kakashi affirmed, acknowledging Naruto's insightful analysis. "With this understanding, we can devise a strategy to exploit their respective strengths and vulnerabilities in our upcoming confrontation." "How would you take on Mizore and Fubuki?" Kakashi inquired, eager to hear Naruto's insights.Naruto paused for a moment, considering the best course of action. "Ninjutsu isn't always lethal, especially when dealing with fast opponents like shinobi," Naruto began, his mind already formulating a plan. "Fubuki would likely use ninjutsu to create openings for Mizore's finishing blows," he continued, envisioning the potential tactics of their adversaries. "I could exploit that by allowing Fubuki to lure me in, only to turn the tables and trap Mizore in a immobilizing technique," Naruto explained, outlining his strategy to neutralize Mizore's close-combat prowess."With Mizore immobilized, I can focus on quickly taking out Fubuki. Mizore's attacks wont mean much wothout someone to defend him from pushing to hard." Naruto continued, confidence evident in his voice. "I have a variety of devastating techniques at my disposal that can keep him at bay while I close in for the decisive strike," he concluded, emphasizing his readiness to confront their opponents head-on.Kakashi nodded in approval, impressed by Naruto's strategic acumen. "That's a solid plan, Naruto. Exploiting their teamwork and focusing on individual weaknesses will give you the upper hand in the next encounter," Kakashi remarked, "From now on, those two are your responsibility."Naruto nodded. "Understood senpai." As the boat gently rocked against the icy dock, Naruto and Kakashi exchanged a knowing glance, their resolve firm as they prepared to embark on their mission. Amidst the flurry of activity as the crew unloaded supplies, Kakashi suggested they go and collect their clients, and Naruto nodded in agreement.Venturing onto the frost-covered port, they found Sandayuu and Yukie patiently waiting for them. The air was crisp, each breath a visible puff of mist in the cold morning air. Yukie shivered slightly, her breath forming tiny clouds as she exhaled.Beside them stood a small caravan, consisting of a sturdy wagon hitched to two sturdy horses. The wagon driver, Yusef, greeted them with a warm smile, his brown eyes reflecting years of experience navigating the treacherous terrain of the Land of Snow."Welcome aboard," Yusef said, his voice gruff yet friendly. "I'll make sure we get to the capital safely."Sandayuu, Kakashi, and Yukie climbed into the cozy interior of the wagon, while Naruto opted to stay on top, perched beside Yusef. From his vantage point, he could see the expanse of the frozen landscape stretching out before them, a pristine blanket of snow covering the rugged terrain."Ready to head out?" Yusef asked, giving Naruto a reassuring smile. "It's a long journey ahead, but we'll get there in one piece."
Naruto returned the smile, a sense of determination burning in his eyes. "Let's go," he replied, his voice resolute. "We have a mission to complete."
Jutsu used: Frozen Narwhal
