AN: Hey welcome to another chapter. I hope you're enjoying it. As always, I appreciate the likes, follows, favs and comments. Have a great Sunday.
As the caravan plodded through the desolate Snow Country, Naruto leaned in towards Yusef, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "So, Yusef-san, what's life like here in the Land of Snow? Must be pretty tough, huh?"
Yusef chuckled, a weathered smile gracing his features. "Aye, it ain't easy, lad. But we make do, we do. Been living here my whole life, seen it all."
Inside the cramped confines of the wagon, Yukie's frustration bubbled over, her voice tinged with impatience. "I can't take this anymore! How much longer until we reach the capital?"
Sandayuu placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his voice calm and reassuring. "Please be patient, Yukie-sama. We'll be there soon enough. Just try to relax."
Meanwhile, Kakashi remained engrossed in his book, the rhythmic sound of his turning pages the only indication of his presence.
As the journey dragged on, the landscape transformed, jagged peaks looming in the distance as they ascended a steep mountain pass. Sensing her opportunity, Yukie seized her chance, launching herself from the carriage and disappearing down the snowy slope.
Poking his head out of the wagon,
Kakashi's voice cut through the chilly air, his gaze flicking towards Naruto with a sense of urgency. "Naruto, go after her," he ordered, his tone firm but composed. "Make sure she's safe and guide her to the other side of the mountain, we'll meet you there ."
Naruto nodded determinedly, his resolve firm as he prepared to leap into action. "Got it, Kakashi-senpai. I'll bring her back," he declared, before propelling himself down the mountainside in pursuit of Yukie.
Naruto slid down the mountain with practiced ease, his senses keenly attuned to Yukie's chakra signature. She moved fast, too fast for his eyes to keep up, but he tracked her unique energy pattern as they both reached the bottom of the slope.
As Yukie struggled to navigate through the thick snow, Naruto observed her repeated faceplants with amusement. With a focused application of chakra, he elevated himself above the snow, moving gracefully despite the treacherous terrain.
Yukie fell again, she screamed into the snow, then just lay there.
Approaching Yukie's prone form, Naruto gently lifted her onto his back, her weight surprisingly light against his frame. He scanned the surroundings, spotting a tunnel that led in the direction Kakashi and Sandayuu had taken earlier. With Yukie secured, he ventured into the cave, the warmth enveloping them in stark contrast to the biting chill outside.
Despite the relative comfort of the cave, Yukie remained unusually silent, her arms draped limply around Naruto's shoulders.
Yukie's voice was quiet, almost a small whisper.
"Why didn't you just leave me to die in the snow."
Naruto let the quiet envelop the two of them for a few moments, only the sound of the snow compressing could be heard.
Naruto decided to break the silence, his voice calm and reassuring. "That would directly go against my mission to protect you," he remarked.
Her hair tickled his face as she leaned against him further. Her whisper against his ear was warm and delicate.
"Is that all I am, a mission? Even when I don't want to be protected?" she murmured, her tone tinged with resignation.
Naruto's grip tightened ever so slightly, "No, you're a person. You deserve to live," he affirmed, his resolve clear in his words. "No one should have to face their struggles alone."
As they made their way deeper into the cave, Naruto's senses tingled with danger as he spotted a series of railroad tracks that became visible from the ground, emanating warmth that melted the snow around them. "Someone's channeling chakra through these tracks from a long distance," he remarked, his tone tense with suspicion.
Yukie's eyes widened in alarm, mirroring Naruto's concern as they both assessed the perilous situation. Before they could react, a deafening roar filled the cavern as a train thundered into view, hurtling toward them on the railroad tracks with alarming speed.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Naruto sprang into action, his instincts kicking into overdrive as he gripped Yukie's thighs, bolting towards the nearest exit. Yukie's panicked screams echoed off the cavern walls, her struggles adding to the urgency of their escape.
As they raced against time, the rumble of the approaching train grew louder, threatening to engulf them in its path. Naruto yelled to get Yukie's attention over the loud sound of the train.
"Hold on tight, we're going to move quickly."
Yukie wrapped her arms around his chest, gripping him tightly. Naruto molded his chakra without a hand seal. They disappeared, reappearing outside of the cave. Naruto dove them to the side avoiding the oncoming train as it thundered past with a deafening roar. Gasping for breath, Naruto and Yukie collapsed onto the icy ground, their hearts pounding in their chests as they looked back at the peril they had escaped.
The train stopped once it exited the cave. Kakashi joined Naruto as they stood up to assess the situation.
Naruto evaluated the situation with a frown.
"Where's Sandayuu?"
"He said he was heading out to gather a few local bodyguards for Yukie."
The three of them regrouped, walking up the hill toward the rendezvous point Sandayuu set.
A gruff voice full of malice spoke, the word colder than the icy land around them.
"Koyuki."
Kakashi, Naruto, and Yukie spun around to see an older man with long brown hair, and deep lines on his face. He was 6 feet tall with a big build. He was standing on the train looking down on them.
Yukie's eyes opened wide in fear as she started to shake.
"Uncle?"
Yukie's uncle smirked menacingly in her direction. As Naruto and Kakashi flanked her sides.
"It is good you have come home Koyuki." Nadare, Fubuki, and Mizore flanked him as horses appeared on the snowy hill above Kakashi and Naruto.
Koyuki, formally Yukie turned her head to see Sandayuu and 20 other men in samurai armor on horseback.
"Sandayuu?" Koyuki whispered in confusion.
"DOTOU! These men and I have come to avenge our true Diamyo! SÕESTSU-SAMA!"
"SÕESTSU-SAMA!" The soldiers Roared.
Dotou sighed with fake regret.
"So old and pitiful. You were able to survive this whole time only to do something so stupid."
Nadare walked to stand alongside Dotou with his eyes narrowed toward the samurai.
"I'll take care of them Dotou-sama."
"No, Fubuki activate the launcher."
Fubuki walked into the container to flip a switch, two containers rotated showing giant kunai in a launched-type system.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
"Naruto! Defensive jutsu now! "
Not hesitating for a moment, Naruto pulled out three seal tags, he threw them in front of him and Koyuki. They activated creating a light blue barrier.
A rain of giant kunai shot out cutting through every single samurai. Kakashi formed a lightning blade in his hand, using it to bat the kunai off course as he tried to reach Sandayuu, only for ice spears to come up blocking his path for a second. It was just enough for the kunai launcher to skewer all of the samurai.
"Odama Rasengan!"
'Naruto' slammed into the launcher throwing it off the mountain and disabling the train.
'Naruto' poofed into smoke right after.
The real Naruto escorted Koyuki to Sandayuu with Kakashi. Sandayuu was barely clinging to life.
Sandayuu was bloody with numerous kunai impaled all over his body. He reached out a hand toward Koyuki I'm his final breath.
"I'm sorry Koyuki-sama, keep living." Sandayuu pleaded with tears running down his face, his body shook as he went silent. The three of them stared at his unmoving form. Koyuki stared at him impassively.
"You should have been honest from the start." She muttered. Her face was blank, eyes empty, Naruto turned to her angrily but Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder shaking his head no.
A few of the surviving rebels reached their position. They were talking amongst themselves about a base near the capital that they used to stage attacks against Dotou and his Shinobi.
"Koyuki-sama! Come with us, hurry."
BOOOOM*
A large hot air balloon inflated above the train, it rose with a control center. A cable from Nadare quickly wrapped around Koyuki carrying her into the sky.
"No."
Before anyone could react, small propellers on the back of the passenger deck, spun into life, carrying it away from the battle quickly.
Kakashi cursed in irritation, he looked around for Naruto, not seeing his blonde hair, he sighed. There was only one place he could be. Kakashi looked at the rebels planning to depart.
"Show me where your base is, and I'll help you save your princess. "
Dotou reclining back into his chair aboard the hot air balloon chuckled menacingly, Koyuki down on her knees looked up with dead eyes. She knew that now that her uncle had her, there was no future for her.
His voice came out menacingly yet sure of himself and his victory.
"Koyuki, give me the crystal your father gave you and I will spare your life."
Koyuki fingered the necklace around her neck. Either way, she was dead, but she died a long time ago in this cold frozen wasteland. Whatever her father's wishes or goals were, it didn't matter anymore, just like her life. She took the necklace off her neck holding it out for him to take. He ripped the necklace out of her hands. Gripped her face with his palm and narrowed his eyes in desire.
"You are a beautiful woman Koyuki, maybe there is another use for you after all." Her dead eyes looked down on him.
"Do whatever you want." Her dead face stared at him. He snarled at her response, smacking her into the doorway.
Nadare, Fubuki, and Mizore flanked his seated form. Dotou stood up, slowly walking towards her.
"I will enjoy breaking you, princess."
He was a few feet away from her when Naruto appeared with a blue spiraling ball in his palm and hurtled to Dotous's chest.
"Rasengan!" The Rasengan slowly disappeared shocking and confusing Naruto. Nadare moved to intercept as Naruto threw a smoke bomb, moving to secure Koyuki and flee. He scooped her up when a blow to the back of the head sent him sliding dropping Koyuki In the process.
Nadare stood in front of his escape path,
"Kakashi's pet, huh?"
Naruto took a breath to settle himself, calming his body he started to absorb natural chakra, and Nadare spat out a spear of water forcing him to move and disrupting him.
Nadare appeared in front of Naruto throwing two crosses, which Naruto blocked, transitioned into a roundhouse that Naruto ducked under,
"I don't care what you were trying. It won't work here."
Nadare appeared right in front of him.
Fast! Naruto thought to himself as he wanted to backpedal but the limited space on the airship forced him to stand his ground. Naruto back slammed into the side, and Nadare took full advantage, fainting another roundhouse that Naruto went to duck, he hit Naruto with an uppercut that slammed him into the ceiling. Nadare grabbed him as he fell slamming his head into the floor.
Naruto disoriented and seeing double tried to flip backwards and form a hand sign but his leg was grabbed and he was hurled into another wall. Nadare rushed Naruto to finish him, Naruto's body flickered to his side plunging a kunai into his kidney only to miss the target area from being disoriented, hitting armor instead.
Nadare chuckled at the poor attempt.
"Are you sure you're a shinobi? Your rescue attempt was poor, combat poor, and tactics poor. I even gave you an opening and you couldn't capitalize."
Nadare backhanded 'Naruto' who poofed into a cloud of smoke. The other Naruto jumped him from behind but Nadare spun around palming him in the chest with a device.
"Thanks for the warm-up, but we're done."
Naruto stood up to the body flickering to Koyuki when the device sparked red lighting that shocked his body into unconsciousness.
Nadare pulled a kunai out to kill him when Koyuki ran over throwing her body over Naruto's.
"Please don't kill him! I'll obey you from now on, I swear it Uncle!"
Nadare made eye contact with Dotou who stood in the doorway. Dotou gave Nadare a nod.
Dotou smirked, he was close to the ultimate weapon his foolish brother had created for Snow, he would use this weapon to subjugate the other villages in Snow and spread his influence to the other villages.
Dotou's booming voice caused Koyuki to flinch, she could remember how dark he was when she was a child. It seemed he only grew darker.
"Good choice Koyuki, if that Is your decision, then together we will see the ultimate weapon. your father created."
‐—--
—--
Naruto woke up In a cell in the still-flying airship. His body hurt like hell, his senses were muted and he had a weird device on his chest. He needed to get out of there and find Koyuki, once Dotou had what he wanted, he would kill her for sure. Naruto formed a hand sign when red electricity sparked from the device, he gritted his teeth in pain but continued to attempt to manipulate chakra. Naruto could feel his chakra, it was close. There! Naruto dealing with the pain continued to manipulate his chakra.
The device began to turn red from the chakra load. Naruto's arms and legs started twitching as he screamed, the pain was overwhelming but he continued.
"Aaaahhhhhhhhhh." The device cracked allowing more chakra through.
"That's not the best idea but it will have to do."
Naruto formed hand seals ending with the bird. The device sparked shocking him, "Wind Style: Great Breach!" A cannon of wind left his mouth tearing through the gate with ease.
"Kami Damn it!" Naruto realized he would have to leave Koyuki here for now. He wanted to save her but he struggled a lot against Nadare, how would he be able to handle Nadare plus Fubuki and Mizore? No, the best option would be to link up with Kakashi-senpai. Naruto snuck toward to back of the airship. It sounded like they were all in the passenger cabin as Dotou outlined his plans. Naruto exited the last door to reach the outside.
Naruto jumped, falling quickly toward the snow at 3000 feet. He searched with his senses to find Kakashi-senpai. He found him surrounded by very small chakra signatures. Naruto was approaching the ground so he summoned two clones that went through hand seals, the two clones locked their arms with the original and let loose an air cannon, slowing his descent until he landed gracefully.
Naruto looked around to see the capital in the distance. He was surrounded by a forest covered in snow. There was a small village to his right built completely of wood in a traditional style. He could sense Kakashi-senpai's chakra in that area. Naruto dashed toward his location eager to create a plan to free Koyuki.
Naruto using the shadows to hide his form, scoured the village looking for his senpai, someone left a large tent, the flap waving in the wind. Naruto could see Kakashi gesturing to something looking annoyed.
Naruto keeping his form hidden, entered the large tent and settled in a spot adjacent to him. Kakashi noticed him immediately.
"Ah Naruto, were you able to secure Koyuki?"
"No, I lost badly to Nadare, I underestimated him and overestimated myself.
"Don't get too down kid. He's an elite jounin, he's been fighting since before you were born.."
Naruto frowned, he was trying to let it go and focus on the next encounter but his head just wouldn't stop thinking about her.
Koyuki was in that airship. Alone, scared, and probably wasting to die.
"Senpai." Naruto began with a frown on his face, walking up to Kakashi's side, a group of rebels and Kakashi who were overlooking a map of the Capital. They were planning on attacking it in three separate areas simultaneously if the markings he saw were accurate.
"What's the plan to rescue Koyuki?"
Kakashi frowned underneath his mask looking at sensei's child. His frown and dark blue eyes reminded him of how his sensei would look when he was angry. They were so alike it was hard at times. He could see it in his face, Koyuki meant something to him already. Kakashi looked back at the map and sighed, the third unit attacking the back of the castle would need support. Nadare would protect against a direct assault, and the other two with him would handle any additional points of entry towards the main part of the castle. He turned to his sensei's son.
"Take a look here at the third Force attacking the rear of the castle," Kakashi said, grabbing Naruto's attention. "They'll need a shinobi to overcome any Snow shinobi on the defense in this area. I'll be with the main groups attacking the main entryway, that large group will pull Nadare, our main obstacle."
Naruto got the unspoken words in that message, slowly nodding, he scanned the map again paying close attention to the unit attacking the rear.
Only 30 regular samurai. Their main job was to rescue Koyuki. They could push too hard, forcing the enemy to send more units their way. That would be disastrous against a small force.
"Only 30 men being sent to the rear? If they call for reinforcements, it will be trouble. We're cut off from any support." Naruto rebutted the plan they had come up with.
Another native of the Land of Snow spoke from the other side of the table.
He was old, with graying hair and beard wearing old samurai armor. His weathered brown eyes spoke of many conflicts he lived through.
"There's no other way. Our rebel group is made up of volunteers. Unfortunately, it would help the main groups if they do draw attention away from us. Your senpai agreed to come with us to give that unit a better chance with the stronger Snow shinobi focused on him. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Naruto surveyed the map one more time before looking at the old samurai, then Kakashi.
"You want me to go with this group." it was a statement, not a question. Naruto could feel their desires and emotions albeit subtly. There was a worry that the rear unit would be slaughtered by shinobi.
Kakashi frowned looking down at Naruto with apprehension.
"Naruto..This will be dangerous, I won't be able to support you. It will be up to you to make sure your group succeeds. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, say so now. I will not think less of you."
Naruto spoke without hesitation. This was the perfect opportunity to rescue Koyuki.
"I can do this." Naruto got a hesitant look from Kakashi and an approving nod from the old man.
The Old man placed a pin in the map.
He turned his head toward Naruto.
"You'll be heading out in 30 minutes with group Yon, led by Momaru. They'll be at the base exit, any questions?"
Naruto shook his head and then headed out, he knew what his job was. He would shadow these men to make sure they succeeded.
Base exit
Naruto walked up to a group of 30 men working on securing their final supplies.
"I'm looking for Momaru." Naruto was met with a lot of suspicious looks before a man In his mid-twenties with long black hair, black eyes, and pale skin got up walking towards him.
Momaru's voice was hard yet soft. It was understandable, he was in charge of these men's lives during a dangerous mission.
Momaru gave him a hard stare.
"What do you need boy?
Naruto met his look when one of his own.
"I'm joining your unit, I'll be trailing you, dealing with any shinobi or situations that impede you."
Momaru snorted, so what if this young boy was a shinobi? This child would be no help, but he would not let him die. Youth deserve to grow.
"Whatever, don't slow us down," Momaru said before turning around to fix-packing his supplies. Naruto watched him go, watching the others finish packing their supplies. They all got up on Momaru's order and began marching through the cold snow.
A part of Naruto felt uneasy. This was an armed and open conflict. The first was he had been exposed to. He was unsure how to guarantee success. As Naruto looked at the laughing jeering men, he smiled. He could see the relationships they formed with each other over time. Naruto wanted to have that someday.
They began to swoop wide right around the castle. The sound of broken branches falling from dead trees kept most of the men awake and alert. Naruto stretched out his senses. *ping*
There, he could feel the Land of Snow's army begin to respond. It reorganized itself to fight off the attackers assaulting the main entrance. Naruto could also feel a shinobi dispatched to his area. Probably a scout. Naruto jumped landing on a broken tree and launching himself forward to another tree to intercept the shinobi before they got too close.
Naruto disappeared quickly, leaving Momaru frowning deeply. Naruto had traveled for about 300 meters when a bunch of kunai and shuriken were thrown at him from his left side, Naruto inhaled, spitting out a large air bubble that reflected all the ninja tools, Popping right after.
A Snow shinobi attacked Naruto from behind, stabbing toward the back of Naruto's neck. Naruto ducked spinning around to land a kick into the Snow shinobi's kidney, sending him skittering across the snow.
Naruto formed the hand seals for the fireball jutsu, unleashing a torrent of flames, the snow shinobi barely dove out of the way skidding on their back across the snowy wasteland. Naruto appeared kneeling right next to him, with his Kusanagi unsheathed. The Snow shinobi jumped back flipping through hand seals, he yelled out his jutsu!
"Ice Style: Ice Spears!"
From below 'Naruto', Ice jutted out in spears impaling him, his mouth opened in a silent scream before poofing away. Naruto appeared behind him spearing Kusanagi through his throat before he could react, dying the snow red. The Snow shinobi gurgled before collapsing.
Naruto searched his things for a missive, information, or anything he could use to figure out how they might respond.
He had finished when Momaru and his unit, appeared over the hills. The group reached Naruto, surprised at the dead shinobi and Naruto with no visible injuries.
Momaru turned to a small man holding a bow with a quiver on his back. He had a mustache, with a wool cap over his head. He wore a lighter version of their armor with a tanto tucked into a hakama.
"Lieutenant, go scout ahead. Report back quickly. "
Naruto stood up, addressing Momaru.
"He had nothing on him to identify who had sent him or what he was supposed to be doing here. He could be a scout, but it's too soon to tell."
Momaru looked at Naruto warily, Momaru had thought he was just a green kid that was in over his head, yet he was dispatching grown men, grown shinobi like it was just another day. Momaru peered into his eyes and stiffened, nothing, no regret, no hatred, nothing. Before his regiment could think anything was wrong he shook his feelings away. Addressing Naruto directly.
"You took off ahead of us, why?"
Naruto looked sternly at Momaru,
"I'm not your soldier, or under your command. I was asked to make sure your regiment survives. I only agreed to save Koyuki. If the shinobi had relayed information about our movements, there would be zero hope of saving her."
Momaru's eyes hardened at his response. He opened his mouth to respond when Naruto spoke up,
"There's more incoming, only samurai. Get your men ready to ambush them."
"You don't give the orders boy!"
The scout Momaru had sent earlier returned with grim news. His breaths came out harshly.
Momaru looked concerned. His lieutenant rarely got spooked.
"Calm down Tadashi, what's going on?"
Tadashi looked grim.
"There's 300 Samurai on their way to our position.
Momaru reeled back, eyes wide in disbelief.
"300?..."
"There's no way we can survive!"
"We have to retreat.."
"Call for backup from the other units!"
Murmurs went around the regiment about the overwhelming numbers they would soon be facing. Momaru held his hand to his face, there had to be a plan to survive, forget the operation, survival was the only plan right now.
Naruto watched silently as the regiment panicked. He walked a safe distance away to plan. An idea popped into his head.
Flipping through hand seals, he slammed his palms on the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu." *POOF *
"Brrrrrr."
A small 3-foot-long Sarco appeared in the snow. It looked around confused before spotting Naruto kneeling in front of him.
"Sana, I need your clan's help."
Sana the Sarco, shook its head surprising Naruto.
"Sorry, it's too cold, it will force us into hibernation. We're not much use in freezing environments."
Naruto let out a sigh, "I understand, thank you for responding."
"Anytime summoner," *poof*
Naruto held up his hand looking at it intently.
"Will I be responsible for the death of hundreds of men to save one person? What about their families, their hopes, their dreams? I'll be ending all of it, in an instant. Yet I…. I," Naruto squeezed his hand into a fist, "I'll do it, to save her spoiled ass, I won't let another person I care about die, while I sit and let it happen."
Naruto walked back to the regiment that was arguing vehemently about retreat, some calling it cowardly, while others thought they should call for help.
They were at the beginning of a valley, the enemy was entering from the other side.
Naruto spoke up, halting the arguments.
"Stop arguing, I'll thin their numbers. When I'm done with my assault, I'll give you the signal to start your attack."
Momaru was annoyed, this greenhorn thought he could fight 300 men by himself.
"Wait, boy! We will not be killed by your posturing and reckless boasts."
Naruto walked away,
"I don't have time to convince you," he pointed to the right where a group of Christmas-like trees, the only ones that contained some green, "Gather there. I'm going to force them this way."
Naruto's body flickered away appearing on the side of a mountain overlooking the other side of the valley. Naruto watched the captain of the men call out orders constantly, sending scouts to cover their rear and toward the front. Once their entire unit entered the valley, he would set off explosives to cave on the other side.
Naruto took a deep breath to calm himself down, his hands were shaking knowing what he set out to do.
Jutsu used: Ice Style: Ice Spears
