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Android in the Land of Snow: III

A Puppeteer And A Doll

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The meeting room of the ship was dimly lit, the swaying of the sea making the lanterns cast a slow, almost hypnotic dance of shadows. Seated around the table were the film director, arms flailing as he argued passionately, Yukie Fujikaze looking both annoyed and mortified, and the Leaf shinobi—Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, Lee, and, of course, Naruto.

Naruto sat stiffly, her sapphire eyes faintly glowing in the low light. She rested her chin on her gloved hand, looking every bit the image of someone lost in an entirely different universe. Inside her head, a completely unrelated drama was unfolding:

"Four days… It's been four whole days without ramen. Four! No miso broth. No noodles. No egg or chashu pork to grace my taste buds. Karin better be cleaning my apartment, or else... and watering my poor, thirsty plants! My cactus must be crying by now. Why am I even here? Ugh, Dattebayo…"

However, even in her ramen-deprived haze, a few words managed to pierce through the fog of her thoughts. Something about Yukie being an actual princess. Naruto blinked once. Twice. Wait…what? She tilted her head slightly, trying to catch up. Princess? Like, real life royalty princess? Cool.

Then there was something about "bad ninja" chasing Yukie down. That was less cool. Naruto sighed internally. The bad guys always showed up when it was least convenient. But before she could fully process, the director slammed his hands on the table, his face red with determination.

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime!" the director declared, his voice trembling with fervour. "A PRINCESS as the lead in my film! We'll shoot it all, even if our lives are at risk! ART DEMANDS SACRIFICE!"

Kakashi rubbed his temples. "I'm not sure that's how art works…"

"Sacrifice?" Sakura muttered, looking mildly horrified. "What kind of crazy director is this?"

Naruto, however, suddenly stood, the chair scraping loudly against the floor as she did so. She moved stiffly, almost mechanical in her movements, and struck a dramatic pose—one arm outstretched and pointing at Yukie, her other hand on her hip, her glowing eyes narrowing with robotic determination.

"Fools," she said, her monotone voice somehow managing to sound commanding. "You're all underestimating the situation. But fear not!" She flicked her white bob-cut hair with exaggerated flair. "For I, Naruto Uzumaki, the White Flash of Konoha, will protect this utterly useless actress-slash-princess!" She paused for effect, her glowing sapphire eyes briefly meeting everyone else's bewildered stares. "And simultaneously turn this film into a blockbuster! Dattebayo!"

Sasuke groaned and leaned back in his chair, muttering, "She's going to ruin this mission, I can feel it."

Lee, however, jumped to his feet, punching the air. "YES, NARUTO-SAN! I BELIEVE IN YOUR FLAMING PASSION AND YOUTHFUL SPIRIT!"

Yukie buried her face in her hands. "Why me?" she mumbled, but her voice was drowned out by Naruto's ongoing monologue.

"With my superior intellect, stunning charisma, and unmatched combat skills, there is no challenge I cannot overcome!" Naruto continued, lifting one hand into the air as though she were addressing a cheering crowd of thousands instead of five very confused individuals. "Fear not, Princess Yukie! Your blockbuster dreams are safe in my capable hands."

"Is she even listening?" Kakashi asked, raising an eyebrow at Sakura.

"She stopped listening hours ago," Sakura deadpanned.

Naruto dramatically turned toward the director. "You, noble artist of cinema, shall have your masterpiece. I, the White Flash, personally guarantee it! Dattebayo!" She finished by flipping her hair again, a move that looked more calculated than natural.

The room fell into a stunned silence for several beats.

"...This is why I hate ninjas," Yukie finally muttered.

The director, however, had stars in his eyes. "White Flash, you say?" he whispered. "YES! A PERFECT TITLE FOR THE FILM SEQUEL! YOU, NARUTO, HAVE INSPIRED ME!"

Naruto smirked, a little too pleased with herself. "Naturally. Inspiration follows wherever I go."

Sasuke, head in his hands, muttered something inaudible but no doubt unflattering. Kakashi, meanwhile, just shook his head, pulling his book out of his pocket. "This is going to be a long mission…"

Û~Û

The room was dimly lit by the pale glow of moonlight filtering through the frosted windows. Sandayu, Yukie Fujikaze's bespectacled assistant, stood before Team Seven and Lee, his hands folded neatly. His voice was sombre as he recounted the tragic tale of the Princess of the Land of Snow.

"Yukie Fujikaze," Sandayu began, adjusting his round glasses, "is not just an actress. She's Koyuki Kazahana, the rightful heir to the throne of the Snow Country. Years ago, her uncle, Doto Kazahana, betrayed her father, the daimyo, and staged a coup. Her father was killed in the rebellion, and it was Kakashi Hatake who helped us escape with our lives." He glanced at Kakashi, who leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze distant. "She has the hex crystal, a key to unlocking the country's treasure. That's why Doto won't stop until he captures her."

Team Seven and Lee exchanged looks, already familiar with the story from the earlier meeting. But across the room, Naruto, perched on a chair with one leg dangling off the side, was making obnoxiously loud slurping noises as she licked a massive ice cream cone. Her sapphire eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, utterly detached from the gravity of the conversation.

"I shall save the princess," she declared abruptly, her voice monotone but carrying her usual arrogant flair. She took another exaggerated lick of her ice cream. "Dattebayo."

Sasuke's brow twitched, his patience wearing thin. "She doesn't need saving. She needs protecting."

Naruto tilted her head robotically, as if processing his words. "Then I'll conquer the country for her." She straightened dramatically, holding her cone like a sceptre. Her voice shifted into a poor mimicry of what she thought a princess might sound like. "'Oh, Naruto, you're so cool. Dattebayo.'"

Sakura smacked her forehead. "That's not how it works, you idiot."

Lee, ever the enthusiastic one, clapped his hands. "Naruto! That's the spirit of youth! Conquering a nation for love is truly—"

"Shut up, Lee," Sakura interrupted with a groan.

Naruto ignored them, her attention fixed on her ice cream. "I could make the Snow Country into a ninja-free zone. No bad guys. No treachery. Just ramen shops everywhere." She took another lick and made an exaggerated swallowing sound. "And a big statue of me in the middle. Dattebayo."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You're delusional. And what's with the ice cream? You can't even taste it, can you?"

Naruto stiffened. "Rude. I taste… vibes." She held up the cone as if it were an artefact of great significance. "And the vibes are immaculate, Sasuke. Im-ma-cu-late."

"More like pathetic," Sakura muttered.

"Whatever!" Naruto suddenly threw her head back, opening her mouth wide—far wider than anyone thought humanly possible. In one smooth motion, she shoved the entire cone into her mouth and swallowed it in one go.

The room went silent for a beat. Then Naruto, as stiff and arrogant as ever, declared, "Doesn't matter. I'll win anyway. I am, at the moment, invincible—"

"—Dattebayo," everyone chorused in unison, groaning as they did. Even Kakashi, though his voice carried an amused undertone.

Naruto blinked, looking around at them. "Huh? You guys practising to be like me? Good luck! You'll need it. Dattebayo."

Û~Û

Doto Kazahana sat on his grand iron throne, his sharp features illuminated by the eerie blue light of the frozen castle. His eyes glinted with annoyance as Nadre, Fubuki, and Mizore stood before him, their heads bowed. The tension in the air was thick enough to carve with a blade.

"You failed," Doto said coldly, his voice like the crunch of ice underfoot. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest of his throne. "Explain."

Fubuki, her face pale with unease, spoke first, her voice trembling slightly. "It's not as simple as it seems, Lord Doto. The princess was being protected—by the Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake."

Doto's eyes narrowed sharply. "Kakashi…" he muttered, his voice dripping with contempt. "After all these years, he's still alive and meddling? He was with the princess, you say?" His lips curled in disdain. "Tsk. Of course."

Mizore chimed in, his voice quieter but tinged with frustration. "That wasn't the real issue, Lord Doto. Kakashi is formidable, yes, but… there was someone else."

Doto leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Someone else?"

Nadre nodded, her fists clenched. "A girl. Strange, creepy even. She looked no older than thirteen."

"A child?" Doto asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice laced with incredulity.

"Yes," Fubuki said. "But not just any child. She had bob-cut white hair, a frilly black dress under her winter overcoat, and glowing sapphire eyes. She moved unnaturally, like a machine."

Doto's expression darkened, and his tapping fingers froze mid-motion. "The White Flash of the Leaf," he said, his voice a low growl. "Naruto Uzumaki."

Mizore blinked, startled. "You've heard of her, my lord?"

Doto's gaze turned icy as he leaned back in his throne. "Of course, I have. The girl who singlehandedly defeated Orochimaru and saved her pathetic village. She's a legend in the making, they say. And, to my knowledge, she's never lost a fight." He clenched his fist. "A Jounin in her teens. A child prodigy… and a problem."

Fubuki swallowed hard. "Then… what do we do, Lord Doto? Do we focus on Kakashi and his genin team?"

Doto's lips twisted into a cruel smirk. "Kakashi and his team are one thing. I trust you'll deal with them accordingly."

Nadre hesitated. "And the girl?"

Doto's eyes gleamed with a malicious light. "The girl requires a different solution." He rose from his throne, the room's cold air seeming to chill even further with his movement. "I anticipated complications. That's why I've already hired someone."

The room fell into a tense silence. Mizore exchanged a confused glance with Nadre and Fubuki. "Someone… else?"

"Yes," Doto said, his voice smooth and assured. "A mercenary."

Before they could ask further, a shadow shifted at the edge of the room. The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed in the frozen chamber. From the darkness emerged a tall figure cloaked in black, red clouds embroidered on the fabric. The cloak shifted slightly, revealing a metallic tail curling ominously behind him. His face was concealed beneath a hood, but the faint glint of a scorpion-like mask caught the dim light.

The figure stopped a few paces away from Doto, the cold air seemingly growing heavier with his presence. His voice was deep, deliberate, and carried a sinister edge.

"Dealing with the doll…" the figure said, his scorpion-like tail curling lazily behind him, "that will be my job."

"Sasori," Doto said, a cruel grin forming on his lips. "I trust you'll handle her."

Sasori, hidden beneath his mask, tilted his head slightly. "A puppet made of wood and silicone," he murmured. "Fascinating. A masterpiece in its own right. But no doll can outperform its master." His metallic tail twitched, the faint sound of grinding gears filling the room.

Fubuki shuddered. "You're sure he can—"

"Enough," Doto snapped, cutting her off. "Sasori of the Red Sand is the best. He'll take care of this… nuisance."

Sasori turned, the sound of his mechanical tail clicking softly as he began to retreat into the shadows. "She'll make a fine addition to my collection," he said, his voice fading as the darkness swallowed him whole.

Û~Û

Author Note:

Oooh, the worst opponent for our resident android. I wonder who gets their artificial butt kicked. Dattebayo.

I hope you liked this chapter.

Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words inspire me to write faster, better and with more depth.

Till next time!