The Land of Frost lay directly north of the Land of Fire—a small country bordering the Land of Waterfall and the Land of Rice Fields, while also touching both the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
For the Land of Frost, their ideal was simple: that their people could live freely, prosperously, and happily.
Yet for a nation wedged between two great powers—Fire and Lightning—such ideals were often nothing more than wishful thinking.
A country's strength was closely tied to the size of its territory. Vast lands allowed for flexible ninja deployment and made it easier to stand firm in the shinobi world, resisting invasion. Unfortunately, the Land of Frost was simply too small.
That said, they were not without countermeasures.
For Frost Country, survival meant siding with the stronger power. At present, that power was clearly Konoha. As a result, the Land of Frost became one of Konoha's allies.
Through heavy financial contributions and mutual defense agreements, Frost Country bought itself stability. Coupled with its perpetually cold climate and harsh frost, the nation had largely avoided the covetous eyes of other countries.
Now, however, Konoha needed Frost Country to act.
Thus, Uchiha Ran had been sent—not exactly to request aid, but to ensure Frost Country's territorial safety by asking them to dispatch a jōnin.
For a small ninja village like Frost, two or three jōnin already represented the upper limit of their military strength.
Between the Land of Rice Fields and the Land of Waterfall lay the Land of Frost. Unless one took a long detour through Konoha's territory, there was no way around passing through Frost Country.
Relying on this indispensable route, Frost Country had made enormous profits over the years—wealth that was then used to curry favor with the Fire Daimyō and Konohagakure.
—
On this day, along that forest-dense mandatory passage…
A three-man Frost ninja patrol finished their rounds and set up a small campsite by the roadside, lighting a fire to stave off the cold.
At that moment, a small bird—pure white from beak to tail—flew in from nowhere and landed lightly on a nearby branch. Suddenly, it flapped its wings hard, shaking loose a cascade of snow that scattered across the ground.
The three Frost ninja immediately reacted, snapping their heads up and scanning their surroundings, prepared for an ambush.
But when they realized it was only a bird, they relaxed.
They exchanged puzzled looks. It was strange to see a bird from the Land of Birds at this time of year. Spring in the Land of Frost was still bitterly cold; most birds had long since migrated south or found warmer places to survive the season.
They began speculating—had it lost its way, or was something unusual going on?
"Damn, it's freezing, A-Tai," one of them complained. "Spring, and it's still this cold. I'm really jealous of Konoha—by now they're probably enjoying warm sunshine."
"Yong-ge, still not used to it?" another replied with a laugh. "You've lived in Frost Country for years. This is normal for us. Once this mission's over, why not go to Konoha for a bit? Or the Land of Hot Water—soak in some hot springs."
"Hah, you youngsters really know how to enjoy yourselves," the third said. "I wouldn't dare go to the Land of Hot Water—you know what my wife's like. I say we go to the Land of Lightning instead. Their high-altitude electric hot springs are amazing."
"Lightning Country's electric therapy springs?"
A sudden, unfamiliar voice cut in.
"Not bad. I just came from there myself."
The three Frost ninja stiffened in shock, instinctively trying to turn—
But their bodies suddenly went numb.
They couldn't move.
"Damn it—who's there?!"
With great effort, they twisted their necks to look behind them.
A man dressed entirely in black stood there. No forehead protector. No identifying mark.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on the Frost ninja's faces.
"Scared?" the man said calmly. "Relax. It's just a Lightning Release technique—nonlethal. But you three… you were unlucky to be on this road today. I'll have to ask you to die quietly."
He smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. I'll be quick. You won't suffer much."
Just as the man prepared to strike, the three Frost ninja forced chakra through their bodies and barely broke free of the paralysis.
"Bastard!" the apparent leader snarled. "Even without a forehead protector, that Lightning Release—you're Cloud Village! Damn you… Kumogakure actually dared to tear up the ceasefire agreement!"
"Correct," the man replied indifferently. "But there's no reward for guessing right."
He paused.
"No… your reward is a faster death."
"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!"
"Water Release: Violent Water Wave!"
"Water Release: Flowing Water Whip!"
Three Water Release techniques surged forward simultaneously.
"Pathetic."
The man sneered and rapidly formed hand seals.
"Storm Release: Laser Circus."
Three arcs of pitch-black lightning shot forward, colliding head-on with the incoming Water Release techniques. The difference in power was overwhelming.
The water techniques were pierced instantly.
In the next heartbeat, the black lightning punched straight through the bodies of all three Frost ninja.
Their combat instincts were abysmal. Not a single one had even managed to use a Substitution Technique.
So this is the difference between small nations and the great powers, the man thought. Their strength is worlds apart.
"Black lightning…" one of the Frost ninja gasped weakly. "You're… Osōi… the Third Raikage's aide…"
Blood spilled from his mouth.
"…Captain… I don't think I can… damn it… Xiao Li… we promised we'd go home and get married after this mission…"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Three bodies collapsed to the snow-covered ground, their breathing stilled.
"Tsk. Too easy," Osōi muttered. "Frost ninja… such pitiful strength."
He turned to leave—
Crack.
The sound of a branch snapping echoed faintly.
Osōi's eyes instantly locked onto a large tree in the distance.
"Who's there?"
"…Sorry," a calm voice answered. "If I say I was just passing by and saw nothing at all… would you believe me?"
A boy stepped out from beneath the tree, both hands raised in a gesture of surrender.
It was Uchiha Ran.
Ran hadn't expected that a simple courier mission would turn into something this intense. Osōi was an aide to the Third Raikage—an elite jōnin, without question.
"Leaf forehead protector. Uchiha crest." Osōi's lips curled into a grin. "So you're a Konoha Uchiha brat."
"Ahaha," Ran said, adjusting the glasses perched on his nose. "Esteemed Cloud ninja… could we just pretend you didn't see me?"
Osōi laughed.
"A living Uchiha, showing up on the border?" His eyes gleamed with cruelty. "You must've awakened the Sharingan already, right? Don't worry—I'll kill you quickly, pluck out your eyes, and present them to the Raikage."
At that moment, Ran knew there was no peaceful way out.
"…What a hassle," he sighed.
Then, slowly, he drew his blade.
"In that case," Ran said calmly, "I'll have to resist with everything I've got."
He raised the sword.
"Unveil yourself—Life Is But a Dream."
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