The earth rumbled as countless slabs of snow broke loose, surging downward like a raging white tide.
Minutes later, when the roar finally faded, the landscape had vanished beneath an endless blanket of snow.
Koyuki Kazahana slowly lowered her gaze and let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
When the avalanche had slammed into the Wood Dragon, her heart had nearly stopped—she'd truly believed, for an instant, that even it might not endure such overwhelming force.
But her fear proved needless.
Not a single crack marred the Wood Dragon's body.
"No wonder the First Hokage was revered as the God of Shinobi," Sanzaemon exclaimed in awe.
"This Wood Release… it truly deserves its legend."
He had heard of Wood Release all his life, but seeing it with his own eyes was something else entirely.
One man had halted a natural disaster.
"Kitazawa-sensei will definitely become the second God of Shinobi!"
Ino brushed her golden bangs aside and declared without hesitation.
"I agree!"
Kiba Inuzuka chimed in enthusiastically.
Haku nodded quietly.
To him, Kitazawa's strength felt limitless.
"Lord Kitazawa… Thank you. Truly."
Koyuki stepped forward and bowed deeply, her voice thick with emotion.
With Doto's death, her father had been avenged—and her rightful place as the daimyo of the Land of Snow restored.
From this moment on, she no longer had to flee through blizzards or hide her name.
"It's nothing," Kitazawa said lightly, snapping his fingers.
"We're allies now. Next stop—your coronation tour."
As if answering his will, the Wood Dragon surged forward, cutting across the snow toward the capital.
"Sensei, shouldn't we retrieve Doto's body?"
Kiba glanced back at the buried battlefield and asked.
"Their corpses aren't worth the effort," Kitazawa replied casually.
"With the avalanche, digging them up would only waste time."
Kiba nodded and said no more.
Sanzaemon hesitated, lips parting before closing again.
Doto had ruled for years; loyalists undoubtedly remained. Displaying his corpse might have crushed their resistance.
But one look at the Wood Dragon beneath them erased the thought.
Doto and his men had been the four strongest fighters in the Land of Snow.
Before this dragon, numbers were meaningless.
The Wood Dragon thundered onward and soon loomed before the capital.
"What… what is that?!"
Guards atop the walls and at the gates went pale, terror flooding their faces.
The dragon's size rivaled that of a Tailed Beast.
Its arrival shook the capital like an earthquake, the sheer pressure of its presence freezing even hardened soldiers in place.
Then the dragon stopped.
The tremors ceased.
"Oi! Go fetch whoever's in charge!" Kiba shouted.
Riding atop a dragon the size of a Tailed Beast—with Kitazawa beside him—gave him a surge of boldness.
When else would he get a chance like this?
Usually Sasuke or Naruto stole the spotlight.
This time, it was his.
Ino clicked her tongue quietly, a touch annoyed she hadn't spoken first.
Only Haku remained uninterested in the theatrics.
"There are people on it…?"
The soldiers steadied themselves and finally noticed the six figures standing atop the dragon's head.
They exchanged stunned glances before a chilling realization struck.
Someone was controlling this monstrosity.
Who could possess such terrifying power?
Whoever it was, they could not afford to offend him.
Without hesitation, four soldiers rushed off to summon their commander.
[Current Mission: Help Koyuki Kazahana reclaim her country.]
[Reward: Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.]
[Mission completed. Reward distributed.]
As they waited, three translucent lines of text surfaced before Kitazawa's eyes.
Ice Release techniques were exceedingly rare in the Ninja World, andDemonic Mirroring Ice Crystals was arguably the most powerful among them.
He had already seen Haku use it—summoning countless ice mirrors and moving between them as if teleporting.
Kitazawa stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The technique itself was excellent, but its destructive power was lacking.
His thoughts drifted to the neighboring universe—to Aokiji's Ice–Ice Fruit.
Many of its applications could serve as inspiration for a more terrifying Ice Release.
Ice Age, for instance.
Freezing entire seas, locking multiple islands together in solid ice for days on end.
If he could develop a similar technique, Water Release users would be rendered utterly helpless before him.
Invading the Hidden Mist?
One Ice Age would freeze the surrounding seas solid, leaving their greatest advantage meaningless.
And in theory, it wasn't complicated—just an overwhelming conversion of Chakra into Ice Release.
"Lord Kitazawa, I still have some influence here. Let me handle the negotiations."
Sanzaemon glanced at the shaken soldiers below.
"Mm."
Kitazawa nodded and lowered the Wood Dragon's head.
Sanzaemon and Koyuki leapt down and approached the guards.
As expected, things proceeded smoothly.
The moment the soldiers learned Doto was dead, they knelt without hesitation, swearing loyalty to Koyuki and welcoming her return as the rightful ruler of the Land of Snow.
Seeing this, Kitazawa dispelled the Wood Dragon.
He had kept it partly for transportation, partly to make a statement.
Now that both purposes were fulfilled, there was no need to maintain it.
"Lord Kitazawa."
Koyuki approached him respectfully. "After you."
The Land of Snow wasn't one of the Five Great Nations, and her restoration rested entirely on his support. A little humility cost her nothing.
Kitazawa nodded.
He didn't care much for ceremony, but her attitude made the journey worthwhile.
"This entire wall… it's ice?"
Up close, Kiba finally noticed the city's ramparts were carved from solid ice.
"The Land of Snow experiences snowfall year-round," Koyuki explained.
"The ice never melts, so it's perfect as building material."
Kitazawa was reminded of ice-themed attractions from his previous life.
Combined with Koyuki's fame as a movie star, Snow Country could easily develop tourism to boost its economy.
The group entered the capital.
Nobles and officials had already heard news of Koyuki's return and gathered before the palace to welcome her.
Life under Doto had been brutal.
He had seized the throne in pursuit of the so-called secret treasure.
No one knew where it was.
Doto didn't believe them.
Torture followed. Many died.
The survivors were then forced to scour the country for clues.
Under such tyranny, death could come at any moment.
Koyuki's return was salvation.
After brief greetings, she handed matters over to Sanzaemon.
He needed to learn everything that had happened during her absence.
"Lord Kitazawa." Koyuki turned back to him. "Allow me to show you to your quarters."
"We'll return to Konoha tomorrow," Kitazawa reminded her calmly.
"So soon?" Koyuki protested.
"Please stay a few days. Let Snow Country thank you properly."
"No need for that," Kitazawa replied lightly.
"You've just become daimyo—you'll be busy."
Koyuki opened her mouth, then closed it.
His tone left no room for argument.
"Go rest," Kitazawa said, stopping.
"I still have one thing to discuss with the daimyo."
"Understood, Sensei."
Ino, Kiba, and Haku asked no questions and headed to their rooms.
"Lord Kitazawa," Koyuki said with a small smile, "Just call me Koyuki."
"Our alliance includes you acting as a spokesperson," Kitazawa said.
"Now that you're daimyo, will you still make films?"
"I will." Koyuki thought for a moment before answering.
"Filmmaking is my passion—and it brings revenue to develop Snow Country."
The Land of Snow wasn't prosperous.
Its environment was nearly as harsh as the Land of Rain's.
That was one reason her father had researched the environment-modification device.
Although Kitazawa had many ways to develop Snow Country, they were concepts from another world—ideas Ninja here simply didn't think of.
"Good."
Kitazawa smiled faintly.
"Orihika, negotiate the details with her."
Orihika was Konan's Anbu codename.
In front of outsiders, he couldn't use her real name.
Konan appeared at once, wearing her Anbu mask.
She instinctively glanced at Kitazawa.
He had only mentioned hiring an actor as a spokesperson in passing.
She hadn't expected him to go this far—personally reclaiming a country—to recruit Koyuki as an ambassador.
For some reason, her emotions felt… complicated.
"What product will I be endorsing?"
Koyuki looked at Konan curiously.
Konan composed herself and explained the Land of Rain's water business.
Although Koyuki found it odd that it wasn't for Konoha, she agreed without hesitation.
"And besides the endorsement," Kitazawa added casually, "there are the technologies."
"Including Doto Kazahana's Chakra Armor."
He had no personal use for it—but in Konoha's hands, it could still prove valuable.
"I'll have them delivered first thing tomorrow."
With the agreement settled, she didn't linger and soon took her leave. Just as Kitazawa had said, she had far too much to deal with—an unfamiliar Land of Snow awaited her rule, and countless matters demanded her attention.
Kitazawa casually pushed open the door.
The accommodations Koyuki had arranged were exceptionally generous—a small palace, so spacious that occupying it alone felt almost lonely.
"Kitazawa."
Konan followed him inside and spoke softly. "Thank you."
"The water business is yours—but it's also mine."
Kitazawa sat down on the sofa and replied calmly, "I'm only doing what I should."
Konan opened her mouth, then hesitated.
Though half the profits went to Kitazawa, the true beneficiaries were Amegakure and the Akatsuki Organization. Without him, they wouldn't even have earned the other half.
In fact, the income Akatsuki made from bounties and missions was less than a tenth of what Kitazawa brought in through trade.
"Alright, let's drop the subject."
Kitazawa waved his hand lightly. "Would you like a massage?"
Konan stepped forward on her own initiative, sat neatly on the sofa, and asked, "Should I massage you?"
"Let me do it."
Kitazawa blinked and said, "Lie down."
Konan hesitated briefly, then leaned sideways and rested her head on his thigh.
Kitazawa lifted his hand and gently kneaded her cheek.
Konan's eyelashes fluttered as a realization struck her—he really did like pinching her face.
"Let me ask you something." Kitazawa smiled faintly. "Don't you think the Land of Snow resembles the Land of Rain?"
"The climate is similar," Konan replied after a moment's thought.
"Then how do you think the Land of Snow should develop?" Kitazawa asked, looking down at her.
Konan fell silent, thinking it through.
The Land of Rain had abundant water, so they sold water. The Land of Snow, naturally, had ice.
"We could sell ice blocks to hotter regions," she answered.
"A very standard answer," Kitazawa commented.
Konan paused, slightly startled, but didn't argue—she simply waited for him to explain.
"The truly hot regions in the Ninja World are basically limited to the Land of Wind," Kitazawa said. "And unlike water, ice melts during transport. The cost would be enormous."
Konan understood immediately.
Even with refrigeration equipment, transporting ice over long distances would be prohibitively expensive—unless Ice Release ninja were involved.
At present, only Kitazawa and Haku possessed true Ice Release.
There was also the issue of demand.
Only the wealthy could afford to buy ice as a luxury. Most civilians struggled just to survive.
She briefly thought of shaved ice and frozen desserts—but the snow here fell directly from the sky and wasn't clean enough for consumption.
"The best solution is tourism," Kitazawa said, sharing his idea of an ice-and-snow-themed attraction.
As she listened, Konan found the concept wildly imaginative.
Theme parks, ski resorts, ice festivals—none of these existed in the Ninja World.
War was constant, and economic development was far too limited for such leisure industries to flourish.
Kitazawa wasn't suggesting immediate implementation; he was simply broadening her perspective.
Even so, the Land of Snow actually had potential.
Local materials were abundant, costs could be kept low, and with railways and airships, transportation wouldn't be an issue.
As they talked, Kitazawa continued to "help" Konan relax—his massage far from perfunctory.
That evening, Koyuki hosted a grand banquet in their honor.
The atmosphere was lively and celebratory.
The following day, Kitazawa received the railway schematics, airship blueprints, and Chakra Armor technology.
In return, he discussed the Ice and Snow World concept further with Koyuki.
Soon after, Kitazawa led Ino's group back toward Konoha.
Naturally, Koyuki would later send an official delegation to Konoha to negotiate more detailed cooperation.
After all, signing the alliance was only the first step—there were countless follow-up matters to handle.
None of that concerned Kitazawa.
The moment he returned to Konoha, he handed everything over to Shikaku.
Just like Tsunade, Kitazawa firmly believed in slacking off whenever possible.
After meeting Shikaku, he headed to the Ninja Academy and found Iruka.
"Kitazawa-senpai,"
Iruka reported, "Four student squads have already returned. Only Third Hokage-sama and Kakashi-senpai are still out."
"Let me know as soon as they're back," Kitazawa nodded.
This monthly exam carried extra weight.
Its rankings—especially in the practical portion—would directly affect team selection for the final term's team battles.
Leaving the academy, Kitazawa paused briefly before turning toward the Hokage Office.
This trip had delayed him for nearly a week; checking in with Tsunade was necessary.
He knocked, received permission, and stepped inside.
"Where did this mission take you?" Tsunade asked casually as she set aside her paperwork.
"The Land of Snow," Kitazawa chuckled. "And I turned it into an ally of Konoha while I was there."
"That easily?"
Tsunade blinked in surprise.
Alliances between nations—especially involving Ninja villages—were never simple.
For smaller countries, neutrality allowed them to commission missions from any village.
Once allied with Konoha, they would prioritize Konoha missions, losing flexibility and potentially offending other villages.
For Konoha, it was undeniably advantageous.
For small nations, it was a calculated risk.
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