"Kimimaro!"
Koyuki Kazahana's eyes widened in surprise, then softened with joy. "You actually came!"
"Of course," Kimimaro replied with a rare smile. "How could I stand by while my beloved sister is being forced to marry a corrupt official? The heroic young Kimimaro appears at the last moment to rescue her—wasn't that your favorite script back then?"
"Is this the time to joke around?" Koyuki scolded him lightly, though her laughter bubbled up. "Do you really think of me as your beloved sister?"
"It's possible," Kimimaro answered vaguely.
"Hmph, not even a trace of sincerity. Didn't you say you wanted a reward last time?"
"I never said I didn't still want one," he responded smoothly. "I remember you promised yourself to me, and I said that wasn't enough. You'd have to throw in the entire Land of Snow and help me build three palaces and six estates."
Koyuki chuckled despite herself. "You always know how to ease my nerves. All right, tell me—how do you plan to rescue me?"
"Let's finish the earlier conversation first," Kimimaro said with a playful shrug.
Her expression turned serious. "Are you being serious?"
"Didn't you once say you hate people who act in front of you?" he replied calmly. "From the moment we met, I've never pretended with you. I was honest then, and I'm honest now."
"Still, it feels like you're taking advantage of the situation." Koyuki frowned, the warmth fading just a little.
"Then negotiate," he said casually. "Say something like, 'Feelings can't be forced,' and we can leave that aside for now. Just hand over the Land of Snow to me."
"Why not just marry him then? Isn't that the same as giving up the country?"
"It's not the same," Kimimaro's tone turned solemn. "You and I—our ideals align. You've lived through hardship, so you care for the common people. I believe that both civilians and shinobi, commoners and nobles, should have equal rights and dignity. That's what I'm building in the Land of Vegetables."
"I'm sorry… I've been cut off. I don't know what's happening out there."
Kimimaro paused. That made sense. The Land of Snow was naturally isolated—three sides bordered by sea, the other by the Great Snow Mountains—and with her under house arrest, outside information wouldn't reach her easily.
"I understand. Let me explain."
He patiently outlined the reforms and progress made in the Land of Vegetables: the dismantling of class barriers, the redistribution of resources, and efforts to bridge the gap between shinobi and civilians. Then he spoke of his broader vision.
"Is that really what you're aiming for?"
"Do you think I'd lie to your face?"
"I don't know. You might be able to lie to girls and get away with it." She hesitated. "Your goal… I support it. But as someone who rules a country, I know how hard that path is. Ideals alone won't hold a kingdom together. In this world, strength means everything."
"That part you don't need to worry about." Kimimaro looked her straight in the eye. "If I told you I'll reach the level of the First Hokage within a year, would you still think I'm bluffing?"
"That sounds like a boast to me."
Kimimaro sighed. No one believes the truth when it sounds impossible.
The completion of his gene-modification serum was close. With the fusion of Senju DNA, perfected Wood Release, and the Sage Body, he'd be a force rivaling Hashirama—even without the Mangekyō Sharingan. And that was just the beginning.
But that wasn't something he could explain now. So he adjusted.
"It's fine if you don't believe me for now. Here's my offer: support me quietly. Promote these ideals in the Land of Snow, give me logistical support, and I'll take care of your enemies for you. Until I prove myself, I won't demand anything more."
"What do you mean, 'quiet support'?"
"I mean, the Land of Snow doesn't need to declare allegiance to me openly. Stay neutral. That way, if someone decides to come after me—like Akatsuki or Konoha—they won't come knocking on your door. No one pays much attention to this place anyway."
As he spoke, his plan grew more refined in her mind.
Kimimaro had already secured the Land of Vegetables. Akatsuki and Konoha knew about his presence there; he couldn't hide it. But his power wasn't yet strong enough to defend two countries across a sea divide.
In contrast, the Land of Snow—remote and self-contained—was perfect for laying low, with Koyuki fronting the leadership while he pulled strings from the shadows.
Koyuki crossed her arms, contemplative. "You really do think things through…"
Kimimaro gave a faint smile. "When your dream is large enough, you have to."
Koyuki Kazahana's advantage over Haruna was clear: she had loyal retainers and trained shinobi who continued to protect her in secret. Haruna, in contrast, had lost nearly all her influence and had no ninja force to rely on.
"If you rescue me, won't it be obvious who's behind it?" Koyuki asked, still cautious.
Kimimaro gave a rare smile. "You don't need to worry. I have plenty of ways to conceal my identity."
After all, the simplest method was to avoid using the Shikotsumyaku. For a skilled ninja, changing one's disguise and suppressing chakra signatures was child's play—especially for someone trained under Orochimaru and familiar with the tricks of ANBU-level infiltration.
"Once I eliminate Himizu Kazekawa, rescue you, and help clean up the court, you'll remain the Daimyo—but this time, allied with me. And if 'Daimyo' sounds too traditional, you could be something more… How about the Snow Queen? My Queen."
"Queen?" Koyuki mused, eyes sparkling. "That doesn't sound bad."
She understood the unspoken meaning behind his offer. Given the state of the Land of Snow, aligning with Kimimaro—if he truly had the power he claimed—might be the only way to secure stability without foreign interference.
"So, how do you plan to get me out? Should we sneak out now?" she asked.
"That wouldn't be any fun," Kimimaro said coolly. "If I'm going to move, I'll do it in broad daylight. I'll crush Himizu's faction in front of the entire court—on your wedding day."
Koyuki let out a charming laugh. "Oh? I thought you were all about business now and had forgotten your ridiculous talk about claiming me and building your three palaces and six courtyards. But crashing the wedding? Sounds more like a jealous lover than a rebel general. Little brother, are you falling for your big sister?"
"You're in a better mood than I expected," Kimimaro remarked.
Then, without warning, he reached out, gently cupping her chin and pulling her into his arms.
"Sister Koyuki," he said softly, voice firm, "there are some games you shouldn't play. Teasing me comes with consequences."
He leaned in and kissed her.
And not just a polite brush—this time, he didn't hold back.
As he turned and left, he called back with a confident chuckle, "Since you said I'd crash the wedding, then wait for it. Don't go starving yourself these next few days—you'll need your strength that night."
"Bastard!" Koyuki muttered, fingers touching her lips. "He actually used his tongue… That was my first real kiss."
Her heart pounded in a way it hadn't in years. She had never expected to actually feel something in a moment like that.
"Kimimaro… He's younger than me, but when he talks about reshaping the world with that calm, commanding presence… it's strangely reassuring. Is that how he took over the Land of Vegetables?"
She fell silent, then straightened her back with queenly poise.
"Hmph. Fine. If he really does everything he promised, I'll be the Queen. He'll have to call me 'My Queen.' No—'Queen Sister' sounds better."
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