"Bow before Princess Koyuki?"
"Even if Hatake Kakashi of Konoha were here, he wouldn't dare say something that absurd."
"You're getting a little full of yourself, brat."
Rock Avalanche narrowed his eyes as chakra surged from his chakra armor.
Winter Bear Hail slung the sled off his back. "I've been meaning to see it for myself—what's stronger, your mouth or your fists?"
Fubuki Kakuyoku chuckled, patting his chest.
"You mean you want Princess Koyuki to wear my chakra armor?"
"I'm right here. Come and take it."
In the distance, a boat approached. San Taifu recognized the three figures instantly and shouted, "Watch out!"
"Tch."
"Ice Release: White Whale!"
Rock Avalanche rapidly weaved hand seals and growled.
FWOOOSH—
The ice trembled violently.
BOOM—BOOM—
The frozen sea split open, and from its depths, a massive white whale with twin ice horns erupted, its massive body shimmering like crystal.
"No!"
San Taifu leapt from the boat, glancing back midair. His heart sank at the sheer size of the beluga-like beast. Panic, regret, and dread gripped him.
With power like that... there's no way Princess Koyuki could survive.
He had heard tales of Naruto's strength—but to see it in person was another thing entirely.
That monstrous whale blotted out the sky. It was more than just a jutsu. It was a spectacle. He regretted everything.
Princess Koyuki's face turned pale with fear. She collapsed onto the snow, her mind going blank.
Whoosh—
A rope zipped through the air.
"Don't be afraid, Princess Koyuki. We won't harm you."
Fubuki Kakuyoku reached out to pull her away.
But Naruto grabbed the rope and yanked it back.
"What?!"
Ajisai froze in disbelief.
The force behind that pull was unreal—completely beyond her understanding.
Naruto reeled her in like a feather. She struggled and quickly began forming seals.
But Naruto merely glanced at her—and she slumped into unconsciousness, just like Princess Koyuki before her.
"Remove her chakra armor," Naruto said. "Once you try it on, you'll understand why I came here personally."
He turned his back.
Winter Bear Hail hopped on the sled and followed Fubuki Kakuyoku without hesitation.
Above them, Rock Avalanche stood frozen in shock.
"That eye... Sharingan? No—! It's not Kakashi's. It's different!"
Just then, the massive whale attack closed in.
Naruto raised his hand. Blue chakra flared around him.
BOOM—
Susanoo: Complete Form!
The towering avatar caught the beluga with both arms. One hand formed a seal.
"Earth Release: Super Light-Weight Rock Technique."
VMMMM—
Naruto stopped in midair. With a single thought, the Susanoo launched the massive ice whale far into the distant sea with a mighty heave.
"Who... are you?!"
Rock Avalanche backed away, trembling as Naruto hovered toward him, still encased in the glowing Susanoo.
Gritting his teeth, Avalanche flew through seals with both hands.
"Ice Release: Dragon Breaks the Tiger!"
"Ice Release: Wolf Fang Avalanche Technique!"
BOOM—BOOM—
The iceberg shook violently. From its cliffs, an avalanche tumbled down—gathering snow as it fell.
Multiple snowballs rapidly grew and squirmed, shaping themselves into white-furred snow wolves that rushed toward Naruto.
At the same time, a deep roar echoed.
Behind the glacier, an enormous ice dragon burst into the air, circling once before diving at Naruto with jaws wide open.
"I got the shot!"
"Amazing!"
"A real princess! A real bodyguard! A real battle scene!"
"Follow them! Capture everything!"
The film crew was ecstatic.
If they missed this moment, they'd never forgive themselves. They might never see something this incredible again.
Naruto let out a sigh.
"Enough with the weak jutsu."
"Chakra armor... you should know what it truly means. Consider yourself lucky—I'm letting you live."
His right eye spun rapidly.
Kotoamatsukami.
FWOOSH—
Rock Avalanche's eyes widened, pupils shrinking to pinpoints... then slowly dilated.
A second later, he dropped to his knees before Naruto, expression blank.
The dragon and wolves surged in.
Naruto frowned, formed hand seals, and shouted—
"Ice Release: Ice Flow Wall!"
BOOM—BOOM—
A shimmering ice wall rose up. The dragon smashed into it. The wolves shattered against it.
A crystalline dog's head—part of the ice wall—protruded from the center, catching both attacks at once.
Naruto's guess was confirmed.
This Ice Release wasn't a kekkei genkai—it wasn't like Haku's true bloodline ability.
It was just a mutated form of Water Release.
Good thing Kakashi hadn't tagged along. That would've drained a ton of chakra.
As the battlefield fell quiet again, Naruto looked down at Rock Avalanche. His eyes had regained clarity, but he still knelt silently.
"Lord Naruto."
Naruto nodded. "Let's go."
He wasn't surprised—after all, Kotoamatsukami ensured absolute control. For someone like Avalanche—a mid-tier ninja without armor—this was child's play.
"Yes."
Naruto turned and floated back.
Princess Koyuki's lips parted slightly.
Everything that was once a fantasy—just special effects for a film—had appeared right before her eyes.
And the man who stood against them all, who made Avalanche kneel with a glance...
...was now walking away like it was nothing at all.
Gulp—
The scene before her completely shattered her worldview. Koyuki Kazahana swallowed hard.
This boy... so strong, yet so handsome?!
Seriously, with power like that, could you not smile so gently and beautifully?
Flash an evil grin twice and maybe I wouldn't be blushing like a schoolgirl...
"Perfect!"
"Quick! Get the cameras rolling!"
The veteran director bolted from the boat, shouting commands with infectious excitement.
Beside him, the Third Lady was frozen in place, rubbing his eyes like he couldn't believe what he'd just witnessed.
"Snap out of it! Want me to do a genjutsu slap?" Naruto grinned, waving a hand in front of Koyuki's dazed face.
She blinked, finally coming to her senses, only to be met with that same warm smile.
Flustered, she muttered, "Tch... I'm fine! I'll go change on the ship..."
But Naruto didn't give her the chance.
Without warning, he scooped her up in one arm and grabbed the unconscious Tsurugi Fubuki in the other.
Minutes later, a blushing Koyuki reappeared, now dressed in Fubuki's chakra armor.
"This... is the armor you were talking about?"
She looked down at the sleek design with curiosity. "Doesn't feel any different."
"Because you can't control your chakra yet," Naruto said, rolling his eyes.
He gently tapped her shoulder.
Hum—
The armor activated.
In that instant, the dormant chakra deep in her body surged forth, mobilized by the armor's unique circuitry.
Koyuki's expression lit up. "Whoa...! My whole body feels supercharged—like I could punch through a tree!"
(Author's note: Early Naruto lore stated everyone had chakra; later, civilians didn't. Let's just say she had latent chakra all along.)
"Seriously?!"
Koyuki rushed toward Naruto. "I feel like I could lift you right now!"
Thud!
Instead, she tripped and landed right in his arms.
"Oww... Wait—it doesn't even hurt?!"
She looked up at Naruto like a curious little puppy.
Then, realizing how that must've looked, she straightened up and tried to play it cool.
A radiant smile spread across her face as she casually lifted Naruto off the ground.
"See? Told you I could pick you up!"
"...Reality check. No, you can't. Never mind—Tsukuyomi."
"..."
Koyuki's body went stiff. A moment later, she blinked back to awareness, her eyes suddenly filled with understanding.
"I got it!"
"Let me show you what seventy-two hours of dream training looks like!"
She clapped her hands together, forming a few hand seals with shaky precision.
"Ice Release: Swallow Blowing Snow!"
She called out the jutsu name, her hands still mid-seal.
"...Why isn't anything happening?"
"Low chakra levels," Naruto said. "Also, your seals are off."
"Kurama. Help her out."
The Nine-Tails snorted inside his mind.
"One ton of chakra costs five million ryo. Let her know."
"She'll pay later. Besides, once Orochimaru and Nidaime finish the new chakra armor prototype, we'll be short on chakra anyway."
'Fine…' the fox grumbled.
Naruto held out his fist. "Bump it."
Though confused, Koyuki did as instructed. The moment their fists connected—
WHOOOM—
A rush of chakra poured into her like a tidal wave.
"Ice Release: Swallow Blowing Snow!"
She cried out again, and this time, the jutsu activated beautifully.
A delicate ice swallow materialized and took flight, fluttering twice before falling into her hands.
Koyuki's eyes sparkled.
"Amazing!!"
She ran up to Naruto, holding the icy bird proudly. "Look! Look at what I did!"
But Naruto just stared at her, arms crossed, silent.
Her smile faltered.
She turned away, face suddenly cold and distant again.
"I believe you now. About the chakra armor. About everything."
"But if we're talking peaceful coexistence between Konoha and Yukigakure, then there should be five basic—"
Clap.
Before she could finish, Naruto clapped his hands, and Langya Avalanche appeared behind him with a whoosh of displaced snow.
"He'll bring the other two Snow-nin to support you moving forward."
"Acting might be your dream," Naruto continued, "but chakra is life. You'll grow old without it."
"You can either chase eternal youth—or chase the spotlight."
"And don't get it twisted—you're in no position to negotiate."
He stepped closer, gaze firm. "All you need to do is—"
Push.
Koyuki shoved him back with a glare.
"Be good—and listen to me for once!"
"I see!"
Koyuki Kazahana suddenly stopped after a few steps, spun around, and shot Naruto a look of mild annoyance.
"So, respected Naruto-sama… The director is calling for me. Can I go act now?"
It wasn't just sarcasm. Her voice carried a flicker of hope.
Dreams, after all, weren't something that should be ripped away lightly.
Naruto chuckled softly, but shook his head.
"Once we've taken back the Land of Snow… once you've seen the Spring your father left behind—then you can decide what to do."
"I'll be sending researchers here soon. Your country will need to cooperate. We're also calling a summit with the neighboring nations to push forward the Shinobi Union Plan."
"It'll take a few years at most."
"But when everything's stable? You'll be free to chase your dreams—no more restrictions."
Koyuki froze.
The seriousness in Naruto's eyes wasn't for show. It hit her harder than she expected.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned away, flustered.
"D-Don't act like you're some kind of savior…! And anyway—!"
She spun back toward him, face flushed.
"—The Snow Country's still in chaos! Kazahana Dotō still has access to mass-produced ninja tools! We're not out of danger yet!"
That was the real threat.
And behind that…
Was a hidden debuff.
The Princess Killer.