Chapter 133 - Chapter 132: Your Highness Xiaoxue, I Have a Request!

Fenghua Xiaoxue's eyes sparkled as she watched the live broadcast."Great! The me from that world finally meets Naruto-kun!" she exclaimed with anticipation.She stared intently at the screen overhead, her heart filled with excitement.In the original timeline, Uzumaki Naruto had saved the Snow Country using his powerful and colorful Rasengan. It had been a dazzling spectacle. However, what remained a pity was that Naruto had never truly understood her feelings. Back then, his mind had been focused only on his dreams of becoming Hokage… and Sakura.And of course—Uchiha Sasuke.But the Naruto in this alternate, darker world? He was completely different.So much more... exciting.---[The Snow Country – A Hidden Power][Though the Snow Country is nowhere near as influential as the Five Great Nations, it isn't weak.][It possesses its own unique ninja force—the Snow Ninja.][In the world of shinobi, any country with its own ninja force naturally holds some power.][That said, helping Fenghua Xiaoxue reclaim the Snow Country was by no means an easy task.][Especially since Fenghua Xiaoxue herself was glaring warily at Naruto, her expression filled with anger and resentment.]["This damn bastard of a Genin...!"]She had only just met Naruto when everything went dark.Without warning, she had been knocked unconscious by him!When she awoke, she found herself aboard a ship sailing back toward the Snow Country. One of the attendants explained that Naruto had done it for her safety—to prevent her from escaping.But in the days that followed, she never once saw a hint of guilt on Naruto's face."Hey! Are you really just a Genin? Our opponent is none other than the infamous Fenghua Nutao!" she snapped.Naruto simply glanced at her, then closed his eyes again to continue developing a new ninjutsu."Can I handle it? You'll find out soon enough.""Just don't come begging for mercy when the time comes, Princess."His complete disregard infuriated Fenghua Xiaoxue. She was ready to lose her mind.---[A Return to the Nightmare]The Snow Country—the place of her nightmares.She felt like she was descending into hopelessness. The thought of returning terrified her. If she set foot there again, she believed she'd be captured… or even killed.But with endless sea around her, there was nowhere to run.Her once-beautiful face was now weighed down by anxiety and despair.---[Observations from the Original World]Naruto: "So this is how it goes? We put in so much effort to catch Fenghua Xiaoxue. We even had to use Kakashi-sensei's Sharingan to track her down!"Kiba: "Man, knocking out such a beautiful princess like that... Naruto in that world really has no clue how to treat women gently!"Minato: laughing "Haha! This boy really reminds me of Kushina sometimes..."Kushina (with Nine-Tails chakra flaring): "Minato! What did you just say?!"Minato: "W-Wait, Kushina… spare me…!"Tsunade: sighs "Naruto's methods really worry me."Kakashi: "No need to worry, Hokage-sama. I've fought Snow Ninja before—back when I was still young. They're formidable, yes, but not invincible. With Naruto's current power, he should be fine."Tsunade: "You misunderstand me. I'm not worried about Naruto's safety. I'm worried he'll go overboard and blow up the entire Snow Country. That would be disastrous for the Fire Nation's image!"Kakashi: "..."---[Land in Sight]After two long days at sea, the snowy coast of the Snow Country finally came into view.Naruto stood up and walked toward Fenghua Xiaoxue with a light smile on his face."Your Highness Xiaoxue, I have something good to give you."Seeing him smile so innocently, Xiaoxue lowered her guard and extended her hand.But instead of placing something in it, Naruto grasped her hand firmly. A warm red chakra began flowing into her body.She felt a surge of warmth spreading throughout her being."T-This… What is this?" she asked, bewildered.Naruto smiled and explained, "Just a little warmth-keeping technique. Also… this way, I'll be able to sense your condition at all times.""You... you're trying to spy on me?!"Fenghua Xiaoxue bit her lip angrily. This Konoha shinobi had offended her time and time again. Even if she was a princess in name only, this was humiliating!"Your Highness Xiaoxue," Naruto said seriously, "if you feel humiliated, then direct that anger not at me—but at Fenghua Nutao."The sea breeze blew Naruto's golden hair as he spoke with unwavering calmness. For reasons she couldn't explain, Fenghua Xiaoxue suddenly felt… safe with him.---[Facing the Past]She remembered her childhood—being rescued from the Snow Country by a silver-haired ninja. She had spent the years since wandering in fear.Though she carried the title of princess, she never dared return home.Even hearing Fenghua Nutao's name was enough to send chills down her spine.Yet here was Naruto—so rude and unpredictable—yet the only one she could trust.A decision formed in her heart.If she couldn't escape anymore, then she would face everything head-on.Naruto, noticing the change in her expression, smiled faintly.She had finally understood—running away wouldn't solve anything.---[A Deal Is Made]"Your Highness Xiaoxue," Naruto began, "if I help you reclaim the Snow Country, will you agree to one request from me?"Her eyes widened. "W-What request?"Naruto scratched his nose awkwardly, then looked up at the sky."We'll talk about that later. But first—Princess, could you hand me the key to the geothermal generator?""The geothermal generator? What's that?"Xiaoxue looked completely puzzled.Fortunately, San Taifu stepped in to explain. The six-sided key on her person was not a treasure key, as many had believed. Rather, it was a component for a geothermal energy generator, built by her father so she could see springtime in the Snow Country.Fenghua Nutao had no idea. He believed it to be the key to a national treasure and had spent years chasing after Xiaoxue because of it.Naruto had learned all of this while Xiaoxue was asleep—from San Taifu.There were no secrets when you possessed the Rinnegan.As soon as Naruto took the six-sided key from Xiaoxue's hand, his body vanished from the ship.---[Intercepting the Enemy]Whoosh!Naruto reappeared high in the sky—at least a hundred meters above the ship.There, in the clouds, hovered a fully-armored Snow Country ninja, flying with the help of her Chakra armor.She had been monitoring the ship from above and was about to report her findings—until Naruto appeared out of nowhere."You're flying this high without a helmet?" he asked coldly.Before she could even react, his fist smashed into her cheek.She plummeted toward the icy terrain of the Snow Country like a meteor.BOOM!!!The violent impact stirred up an icy shockwave that even reached the ship in the distance, rocking it fiercely.Fenghua Xiaoxue and San Taifu clung to the rails for balance, eyes wide with disbelief."W-Was that… Naruto?!"There was no mistaking it.The ninja he had just sent crashing into the glacier was none other than Tsurugi Fubuki, one of Fenghua Nutao's elite commanders.And Naruto had defeated her with a single punch.His power was overwhelming—beyond comprehension.Xiaoxue remembered his earlier words: "If I help you take back the Snow Country, will you agree to one of my requests?"For some reason, she suddenly had a bad feeling…Had she been tricked?