"Hahaha! Little brother, did you know? Our Land of Snow has finally discovered our own Great Treasure!"
Nara Kazuki, trailing behind, silently mouthed the words, then shook his head in exasperation.
See? That's what happens when you speak in riddles.
You go around acting cryptic, stirring up greed where none existed. Look — Dotō Kazahana was already looking at his brother like a walking corpse.
"'Great Treasure'?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
In this day and age, who wasn't interested in treasure? Anyone claiming not to care about money was usually already drowning in it.
Only those with more ryo than they could spend could afford to sound above it.
"Come on, it's the Land of Snow. What kind of treasure could they possibly have?" Kazuki rolled his eyes.
He knew what the so-called "Great Treasure" was — just a massive heating generator. Something the daimyo, Sōsetsu Kazahana, had hoped would warm the country, making the bitter, snowy climate more livable for his people.
But of course, in his excitement, he just had to call it a "Great Treasure."
Which led Kazuki to remember a certain "Detective Conan"-style story where someone called the view from a castle "a treasure," which triggered a hunt that cost lives.
Kazuki had half a mind to try it himself someday.
"Son… your old man buried a treasure… somewhere in this village…"
Dead.
And then, the family would probably dig up the entire compound ten times over.
"What if it is real?" Kakashi asked, still a little intrigued. "Why else would he be so excited?"
Kazuki's mouth twitched, but he didn't reply. No point ruining the mystery now — better to wait until they saved Sōsetsu's daughter and revealed the truth.
Guy was walking beside Kazuki, visibly itching for action. But despite his simplicity, he still had enough discipline to keep from breaking cover. He tread carefully, step by step.
"That's great news, brother," Dotō said with a bright, too-wide smile.
He had heard his idiotic older brother mention the "Great Treasure" before — even asked what it was. But Sōsetsu had simply said it was something that could transform the entire Land of Snow.
That had made Dotō's curiosity flare. He knew how isolated and bleak their country was. Even Kirigakure had no interest in annexing it. But if something could truly reshape the Land of Snow...
He looked to the subordinate walking quietly beside him — Rōga Nadare. The man gave a subtle nod. Dotō's expression relaxed.
"Brother, we're almost at the station," Sōsetsu said cheerfully, patting his younger sibling's shoulder.
Yes, Dotō thought, we're almost at your final stop...
"Wait, station? Train?" Kazuki's eyes widened.
He looked ahead — sure enough, a full-blown rail station, iron tracks laid out across the snowy terrain.
Kazuki was stunned.
Even Konoha didn't have trains. Since when did the Land of Snow get a train system?
Trains changed everything.
Before them, the main methods of transport were horses and carts — slow, inefficient. Even smugglers like Gato used wagons. But a functioning railway? That meant mass freight transport, economic boom, and modernization.
"A damn train?" Kazuki muttered, eye twitching.
"Let's take a closer look," he told Kakashi, narrowing his eyes.
He had forgotten about the train being part of the original movie plot. But now it made sense — most Naruto films were semi-canon or completely standalone, disconnected from the main story.
Only The Last had real plot integration, tying Naruto and Hinata's relationship into canon.
But otherwise? Entire countries had railways… and the main villages still used ox carts.
"Henceforth, call me Nara Kazuki, the harbinger of the First Industrial Revolution…"
Then again, Naruto-world tech was notoriously erratic. They had TVs, electricity, even steam power… but no proper cars or rail infrastructure.
Kazuki followed the group further. The tracks came into clearer view. A steam-powered train roared by, kicking up snow in its wake.
As the flakes settled, a figure leapt from the snowdrifts — a blade flashing toward Sōsetsu Kazahana.
"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"
Guy blurred forward like a green beast unleashed, a spiral of air trailing behind him as he delivered a brutal roundhouse kick.
Kazuki and the others weren't far behind, which let Guy strike first.
"Tch! Damn it!" growled Rōga Nadare, dodging to the side.
"Oh?" Kazuki smirked, watching from the shadows. "Wouldn't want to trade your life for a noble's, huh?"
He already predicted it — no matter how loyal Nadare was, no one would take Guy's opening hit just to kill a daimyo.
As expected, the enemy dodged.
"Konoha shinobi?! What is the meaning of this!" Dotō shouted, fists trembling in rage.
So close! So close, and the throne of the Land of Snow would've been his!
"We're just completing a commission," Kazuki smiled brightly. "I'm sure His Majesty the Daimyō won't mind signing off on a little contract for our services?"
With a snap of his fingers, shadows darted across the snow, ensnaring a kunoichi preparing to attack.
Kazuki stepped forward — one clean stomp, and the woman screamed. Her ankle twisted unnaturally, bone snapping through skin.
Sōsetsu Kazahana, stunned by everything happening around him, simply nodded dumbly.