Inside the Snow Country Palace.
Nadare Roga knelt on one knee, gazing up at Lord Doto Kazahana with a solemn expression. "Lord Doto Kazahana, I bring both good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
Raising an eyebrow, Doto Kazahana replied, "Let's start with the good news."
Nadare Roga responded immediately, "We have confirmed that Sosetsu Kazahana has entered the Snow Country's territory."
"She'll arrive in Kokuto before long."
Upon hearing this, Doto Kazahana shot up from his seat, an excited gleam flashing across his face.
Years ago, he had personally killed his older brother to obtain his treasure.
But the key to the treasure had been taken away by Sosetsu Kazahana.
Ever since then, Doto Kazahana had been relentlessly searching for any information about her.
Never did he expect she'd actually come knocking at his door.
"Now, what's the bad news?"
Seeing Doto Kazahana's eager gaze, Nadare Roga cleared his throat.
"The bad news is that Sosetsu Kazahana came to the Snow Country together with Mirai Uchiha."
"Mirai Uchiha?" Doto Kazahana blinked, momentarily stunned. "Which Mirai Uchiha?"
Nadare Roga answered solemnly, "The ninja from the Shen Nation who claims to be the Emperor."
What?!
Doto Kazahana's mouth fell open in shock.
The Emperor of the Shen Nation?
How could such an exalted figure possibly be connected to Sosetsu Kazahana?
"Are you sure there's no mistake in your intelligence?"
"There's absolutely no error," Nadare Roga thumped his chest confidently. "We saw them traveling together with our own eyes. They should already have arrived in Kokuto by now."
"Hmph!!"
Doto Kazahana sucked in a sharp breath.
Now this complicated things!
Noticing the anxious look on Doto Kazahana's face, Nadare Roga couldn't help but ask, "Lord Doto Kazahana, what should we do now?"
Taking a deep breath, Doto Kazahana issued orders, "You go and test their strength discreetly. Maybe they're just using Transformation Jutsu to confuse us."
"Remember, if the opportunity arises, seize the hexagonal crystal from Sosetsu Kazahana."
"These are three brand-new chakra armor suits I've recently developed. Take them with you."
"Yes sir!"
———
"How come the Snow Country has changed so much after all these years?"
Santa Asama gritted his teeth.
Back when Sosetsu Kazahana was in power, the Snow Country thrived with boundless energy.
At that time, the people of the Snow Country were filled with hope and driven by passion.
But now...
So many years had passed, yet the people of Snow Country remained lifeless and expressionless.
He had even seen several beggars wandering the streets.
This was the capital!
If even the capital had fallen to this state, the rest of Snow Country was surely worse.
Ever since Doto Kazahana took power, everyone must have been living in misery every day.
Sosetsu Kazahana didn't have vivid memories of these times, but the recollections she unwillingly unearthed still filled her with fear.
Noticing Sosetsu's discomfort, Mirai Uchiha gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm here."
Sosetsu glanced at Mirai Uchiha, then reached out and held her hand.
Only by leaning close to Mirai could she feel a strange sense of safety.
Seeing this scene, Might Guy behind them couldn't help but nudge Kakashi Hatake with his shoulder, winking playfully. "Well? Thanks to me, you didn't end up being a third wheel along the journey, right?"
Upon hearing this, Kakashi Hatake withdrew his envious gaze, looking somewhat surprised at Might Guy.
"Kai, you're really sharp. You actually noticed something like that too."
"You bet." Might Guy grinned, scratching the back of his head. "In fact, I'm not dumb at all. Most of the time, I'm super sharp, believe it!"
Kakashi Hatake started to sweat nervously.
Oh no, did he really lack talent when it came to romance?
Just as the group were talking, three shinobi suddenly blocked their path.
"Watch out!"
Might Guy and Kakashi Hatake immediately darted forward to stand in front of the group.
Meanwhile, Mirai Uchiha quietly pulled the trembling Sosetsu Kazahana aside.
"Hand over the hexagonal crystal, Sosetsu Kazahana."
"Otherwise, today will be your last day."
Santa snapped coldly, "You're Doto Kazahana's dogs?!"
"Dare!" Nadare Roga roared furiously, turning toward his subordinates beside him. "Fubuki Kakuyoku, Tsumeta Fuyaguma, you two handle them."
"Yes!"
Without hesitation, the two charged directly at Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy.
Empowered by chakra armor, they felt terrifyingly powerful.
[Ice Release: Thousand Needles Like Raindrops!] Riding atop chakra armor, Fubuki Kakuyoku flew straight into mid-air.
Countless ice spikes as sharp as senbon poured down in dense waves from the sky.
Might Guy immediately roared and released the Seventh Gate.
[Daytime Tiger!]
Boom!
With Might Guy's straight punch, a tiger-shaped shockwave of immense pressure shot straight toward Fubuki Kakuyoku mid-air.
All incoming ice spears melted instantly. Fubuki Kakuyoku's body, along with her chakra armor, shattered into pieces.
Blood fell like crimson rain as Might Guy's figure had already vanished.
When he reappeared, he stood right in front of Tsumeta Fuyaguma.
[Morning Peacock!]
A barrage of punches, delivered at such blistering speed that flames erupted, reduced Tsumeta Fuyaguma's massive form to pulp.
Then, under the searing heat, he was vaporized completely.
After taking down two enemies in one move, Might Guy reappeared as if summoned from the void before Nadare Roga.
With one hand behind his back, he fixed a frigid gaze on Nadare Roga.
"Don't move."
Nadare Roga stood rooted to the spot, his eyes filled with shock.
It all happened too fast—he didn't even have time to react before both his teammates were already dead...
They were wearing damn chakra armor!
With the strong defensive power of the chakra armor, plus the enhancement to their own strength, Fubuki Kakuyoku and Tsumeta Fuyaguma should each have possessed at least enough power to fight against a Jonin.
Yet they couldn't even last a moment against this guy covered in blue steam before being killed outright.
Just how powerful was this man?!
Nadare's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
But before the saliva even went down, his face took a heavy punch full-on.
"I told you not to move!"
Crunch!
Under the immense force, Nadare Roga's neck snapped clean.
He was already lifeless before his body even hit the ground.
Meanwhile, Kakashi Hatake, Sosetsu Kazahana, and the others who had witnessed the entire battle stood frozen in stunned silence.
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