Chapter 34 — Cloud Ninja Want to Act Like Righteous Saviors Now?
"Go on."
Perhaps it was the unease of returning to her homeland's deepest secret—
standing before the final gift left by her father, Koyuki gripped the hexagonal key but could not bring herself to turn it.
Her hesitation only made Doto Kazahana sneer mockingly.
He already knew he was as good as dead—
so why not spit a little more venom at his "dear niece"?
He inhaled sharply, preparing to open his filthy mouth once again—
But unfortunately for him,
he had now outlived his usefulness.
Before the man could spew more resentment,
Nobunaga cast a subtle glance to the side.
Zōmajirō understood immediately.
Without a word, he drew his blade—
and smashed every one of Nutao's teeth with the hilt.
Crack. Crack.
Wet, bloody clinks hit the ground.
And Zōmajirō didn't stop there.
Once the man's "surface value" had been squeezed dry,
he ordered subordinates to drag the bloody, toothless traitor away like garbage.
Only after removing this eyesore did Nobunaga stroll over to Koyuki.
"Try it," he said gently.
He placed his hand over hers, guiding her to the console.
Under his warm gaze, Koyuki's voice trembled.
"Did Father… truly hide something here?"
The fear in her heart was real.
Because if her uncle's accusations were true—
that her father had concealed a power capable of changing Snow Country—
then all her memories of him would collapse.
At this moment, the cowardice buried in her bones resurfaced.
"What kind of man was your father?"
Nobunaga spoke slowly, gently, guiding her thoughts.
"As his daughter, you should know better than anyone."
He wrapped her fingers around the key, helping her insert it into the slot.
Then he met her eyes—calm, steady, confident.
He trusted her father…
more than she did.
"I don't believe a man who raised a kind, earnest girl like you
would secretly hoard a world-changing power out of selfishness."
The words landed like a warm hand on her heart.
Koyuki blinked, staring at him—
and in that instant, she felt profoundly grateful
that fate had led her to such a dependable, remarkable partner.
Even if something unexpected awaited them—
she would no longer face it alone.
Someone was here now.
Someone she could lean on.
Taking a deep breath, Koyuki finally turned the key.
The ancient device—her father's legacy—began to awaken.
The ground trembled.
Technicians positioned around the platform immediately extended their chakra to record the changes.
Deep beneath the earth, they sensed it—
a surge of geothermal energy being drawn upward.
That raw heat—Mother Earth's own gift—
was then transformed by the device into a mysterious force
that was neither purely natural energy
nor purely chakra…
but something in between.
"This is…"
Kakuzu, oldest and most experienced among them, stiffened in shock.
His gaze snapped toward Jūgo—
who was being forcibly held down by Kimimaro.
Touching his chin, Kakuzu murmured to himself, astonished.
He wasn't a technician, but he'd seen enough in his long life to understand:
"This guy…
has discovered something incredible again."
In the short time he had spent with Oda Nobunaga, the worldly, ancient Kakuzu had begun to notice a pattern:
Nobunaga was a man of frightening purpose.
Even when events seemed sudden or chaotic, everything somehow unfolded exactly within his expectations.
As the legendary Snow Country device activated, Kakuzu narrowed his eyes.
Geothermal energy was drawn up from the depths of the earth—
and the strange converted power that radiated outward began to reshape the world.
The nation long buried beneath eternal ice and snow… began to thaw.
Its bitter, skin-cracking winter wind softened into a warm spring breeze.
The permafrost—something even the extreme northern lands could barely melt—vanished in moments.
Kakuzu glanced at Nobunaga's calm face, then at the miraculous transformation happening before them.
In the blink of an eye, winter turned to spring.
The vast snowy fields became lush green plains.
A scene like the shifting of heaven and earth—enough to make any man gasp.
Any man… except Nobunaga.
He simply watched, unmoved, as though this miracle were nothing more than a routine outcome he expected.
"Interesting," Kakuzu murmured.
His attention turned to the projection of the previous daimyo, explaining the device's true nature—
while Koyuki cried her heart out and Nobunaga comforted her gently.
Just when the machine had nearly transformed half the Snow Country into a land of spring…
Hurried footsteps cut through the awe.
"Lord Nobunaga."
A messenger ninja rushed in from the airship.
After whispering a few words to another retainer, the document was handed to Zōmajirō.
Zōmajirō's expression hardened.
He approached Nobunaga and Koyuki—who was still stunned, tears on her cheeks.
"Something's happened," Zōmajirō said bluntly as he handed over the file.
"After searching all of Grass Country and failing to find us…"
"Grass Village has publicly denounced us to the entire ninja world."
"They claim we abducted their Uzumaki prisoners using force."
"They're now demanding Sound Village hand the Uzumaki mother and daughter back."
Zōmajirō's tone grew heavier.
"If it were just Grass Village, that wouldn't be a problem."
"But for some reason, the Cloud Village of Lightning Country has involved itself."
"The Cloud ninja are posturing as if they want to 'seek justice' on Grass Village's behalf, pressuring Sound Village through various channels."
"They've even announced a so-called envoy delegation will travel to Sound Village to conduct an investigation—"
"And they've invited the Grass Village 'victims' to accompany them into our Land of Rice Fields."
"What?!"
Koyuki, who moments ago was full of joy at Snow Country's liberation, froze with panic.
She turned anxiously to Nobunaga, who was calmly scanning the documents, his eyes sharp.
"Nobunaga… what should we do?"
"If Snow Country can help, we will—whatever you need!"
Her words made the surrounding Sound ninja secretly pleased.
Even without formal engagement, Koyuki already behaved like the future daimyo's wife—
and she offered Snow Country's resources without hesitation.
Even Asama Sandayū nodded approvingly.
But then—
"Just pay me enough and I'll take care of it."
Kakuzu stepped forward, utterly unashamed.
War didn't scare him.
Not making money did.
Now that he'd taken an interest in Nobunaga, he wasn't about to let someone he could profit from get crushed so easily.
Worst case?
He would even drag Pain into this mess—
after all, Pain seemed very interested in Nobunaga as well.
"Do not panic."
Nobunaga closed the final page of the document.
He scanned the people around him—
those gathered closely at his side
and those standing at the edge, like Kimimaro and Jugo, silently ready to serve.
Then he issued calm, precise orders.
"Kakuzu, take my sigil and a handwritten letter to the Shrine Maiden Shion of the Land of Demons."
Then he turned to Koyuki.
"Koyuki… may I bring this device—your father's legacy—back to the Land of Rice Fields?"