The Grand Metropolis Cinema of the Land of Fire.
Natsume looked around with curiosity.
It was somewhat similar to the cinemas of his previous life, but more retro.
Of course, he wasn't here to watch a movie—he was here to find Koyuki Kazahana.
More precisely, the film queen Yukie Fujikaze.
"Sorry, sir. The back is the actors' lounge. Outsiders aren't allowed in."
Two middle-aged men each extended a hand to block Natsume.
"I'm a fan of Ms. Yukie Fujikaze."
Natsume pulled out a movie poster. "I'd like to ask for her autograph."
"Do you have an appointment? If not, please leave."
The man on the left spoke. "Ms. Yukie Fujikaze doesn't meet fans."
"I have an appointment."
Natsume took out a stack of ten-thousand-ryō bills.
"Sir, this is against the rules."
The two men's eyes lit up immediately, but then their faces tightened with reluctance.
"Alright then."
Natsume, seeing their great reluctance, put the money away—and gave each one a punch.
He hadn't intended to make a scene.
But since he'd run into guards this upright, he figured they deserved respect.
He opened the door and entered the back.
"Who are you?"
A bearded middle-aged man stepped in front of him, puzzled. "How did they let you in?"
"Before you ask a guest's name, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
Natsume had already guessed who he was.
"Sandayū Asama, Yukie Fujikaze's manager."
Sandayū Asama frowned. "You don't even know me. What business do you have here?"
"I have something to discuss."
Natsume smiled. "You'll be interested—it's about the Land of Snow."
"What Land of Snow? We don't know what you're talking about. You've got the wrong people."
Asama's face changed, but he quickly waved it off.
"I can help you restore your country."
Natsume continued.
"Restore the country?"
Asama froze for a few seconds.
If it were only the Land of Snow, he might not be sure.
But since the words "restore the country" were spoken, their identities were obviously exposed.
"I don't want to restore the country."
A voice came from behind.
Natsume turned and saw a young girl in a luxurious kimono.
It must have been her film costume—the makeup was bold, with red eye shadow and red lips.
She looked older than she really was—gave Natsume the impression of around twenty.
The original story never stated her exact age, but she should only be a few years older than Naruto.
At this point, about fourteen or fifteen.
"Why don't you want to restore your country?"
Natsume asked. "Don't you want to avenge your father?"
Koyuki trembled. She slowly closed her eyes as past memories resurfaced.
"Restore the country? With what?"
She looked scornful. "With you? As if you could defeat Dotō Kazahana!"
"Oh, so you're a coward."
Natsume recalled the original plot. "So much for the 'murder of one's father'—that's all it amounts to?"
Koyuki had been in hiding for years because of the trauma she suffered. She lacked a sense of safety.
Strictly speaking, that wasn't cowardice—it was normal.
But for negotiations, you start by putting on pressure.
"Shut up!"
Koyuki's composure as a princess shattered. "What do you know? That's a good way to get killed!"
"You're not wrong."
Natsume paused. "But if you do want revenge, why not use your money from acting to hire ninja from the Five Great Villages?"
"I…I…"
Koyuki was at a loss.
It was indeed a good idea.
But she didn't want to use it.
In her view, it was still too dangerous.
She had no reason to risk her life for the Land of Snow.
"You don't even know how strong Dotō Kazahana is!"
Koyuki snapped. "Leave now. I don't want to see you again!"
"Princess."
Sandayū Asama quickly tried to persuade her. "I think we should give it a try."
Although he was her manager, he was also once a minister of the Land of Snow.
After finding Koyuki, he had always wanted her to return, but she refused.
Now that Natsume had come, the thought rose again.
"Get out!"
Koyuki completely lost her reason.
Natsume didn't get angry.
He thought of Uchiha Mikoto.
The two were similar in a way.
Fear of power.
Of course, Koyuki had another trait—she valued her own life highly.
In the original, if not for Naruto's talk-no-jutsu, she wouldn't have returned to the Land of Snow.
And his performance had impressed Koyuki and won her favor.
You had to admit—Naruto's charm with women was maxed in the movie.
"Is Dotō that strong?"
Natsume took a few steps forward. "Is that all your definition of a strong person amounts to?"
"W-what are you doing?"
Koyuki, who had been furious a moment ago, retreated in fear.
"Sir, please don't do anything rash."
Asama blocked Natsume. "I'll protect the princess with my life."
"How much are you paid a month? What life are you playing with?"
Natsume recalled how, in the original, he led forty-nine old, weak, and infirm loyalists of the previous daimyo in a charge.
Result: zero enemies killed, forty-nine killed on their side.
You'd be flagged as intentional feeding.
"Don't move."
Natsume spoke calmly.
An invisible pressure surged from him.
The faces of the two in front turned pale; terror filled their eyes.
Natsume raised his hand.
"D-d-don't kill me…"
Koyuki's teeth chattered; her voice trembled.
She was an ordinary person who feared death, and Natsume's killing aura terrified her.
"I want you to understand Dotō is nothing."
Natsume pressed a hand on her shoulder, about to use Flying Thunder God—but suddenly paused.
In her extreme fear, a warmth flowed.
Her face flushed pale with shame and fear.
Natsume casually knocked Asama unconscious to preserve a shred of her dignity.
"Sorry, you misunderstood. I'm not going to kill you."
He sighed. "Go change your clothes."
Koyuki bolted into the room.
She felt like dying.
But her survival instinct won over social death.
Besides, it was only seen by one person.
…
Koyuki reappeared, changed.
She took a deep breath. "Can you really defeat Dotō?"
What just happened had made it clear Natsume wasn't ordinary.
She couldn't resist him.
But compared to Dotō, she still felt her uncle was more terrifying.
"Seeing is believing."
Natsume extended his hand. "Come with me."
Koyuki stared at him, trying to find fear or panic.
There was none.
She bit her lip. With no other options, she reached out and took his hand.
Flying Thunder God activated.
Koyuki felt a lurch. When she opened her eyes again, she was stunned.
The Land of Snow was beneath her feet.
What was happening?
A miracle?
From the Land of Fire to the Land of Snow in an instant.
Koyuki was shocked and bewildered.
But she quickly realized they were on a massive aerial fortress.
What was this?
In seconds, her worldview was remade.
"Natsume."
Uchiha Shisui sensed their arrival and appeared.
"How's the situation?"
Natsume asked.
"Yesterday they launched an attack; we took them down. No movement since. But this morning they began massing forces—likely preparing for a decisive battle."
"Let's go down."
Natsume grabbed Koyuki's shoulder. "You come see as well."
Before she could answer, they were already before the royal palace of Snow City.
Dotō Kazahana, standing in the square, froze—slow on the uptake.
When he saw Koyuki, he was ecstatic.
"Hahaha! Koyuki! Uncle has missed you so much!"
"You said you could defeat him."
Koyuki shuddered and hid behind Natsume.
"Defeat me? With these two runts?"
Dotō sneered. "Kill them. Capture Koyuki alive."
Nadare Rōga, Fubuki Kakuyoku, and Mizore Fuyukuma moved. Fubuki Kakuyoku struck first, her chakra armor venting air as she took to the sky.
Ice Release: Swallow Snow!
She weaved signs; countless snowflakes became throwing blades that swept toward Natsume and Shisui.
The Snow ninja's Ice Release wasn't a kekkei genkai.
It was more like a secret technique enabled by the environment.
Change the locale and they might not be able to use it at all.
It was different from Haku's Ice Release.
Shisui drew a short blade and swept forward, knocking all the blades aside.
"Ah!"
Koyuki screamed reflexively.
Mizore Fuyukuma lunged with massive hands to grab her.
Natsume pulled Koyuki into his arms, clenched his right fist, and punched straight through both hands, striking the center of the chakra armor.
"Idiot!"
Mizore grinned hideously.
The strongest part of the armor was the center of the chest.
But then, a crack sounded.
He looked down involuntarily, the grin vanishing in disbelief.
His body flew backward.
Koyuki's eyes widened.
In her childhood memories, their Snow ninja guardians had been helpless before enemies in chakra armor.
No ninjutsu could penetrate its defense.
But Natsume, with a simple punch, casually killed one—like a dream.
Dotō's face changed drastically.
Even he couldn't shatter the armor so easily.
He stopped watching and formed seals.
Ice Release: Black Dragon Blizzard!
A giant black dragon of chakra roared forth.
Koyuki's face filled with despair.
Her thin body wasn't enough to fill a tooth gap for the dragon.
She shouldn't have come.
Natsume clapped both hands, done playing.
Wood Release Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees!
Under his control, the entire square's floor heaved as giant trees burst into growth.
In moments, it became a small grove.
Koyuki was dumbfounded.
The living trees easily bound dozens of Snow ninja, leaving them totally immobile.
Including the "invincible" Dotō.
Shisui sheathed his blade, a bit regretful—no chance to show off again.
"Princess, how would you like to deal with them?"
Natsume turned, lifted a hand gracefully. "Let's sit and talk."
Koyuki came to, at a loss for words.
"Then let's kill the four ringleaders first."
Natsume smiled and snapped his fingers.
Sharp branches pierced chakra armor as if it were nothing, turning Dotō, Nadare Rōga, Fubuki Kakuyoku, and Mizore Fuyukuma into pincushions.
Blood sprayed.
Koyuki trembled, her face pale.
She wasn't unfamiliar with blood, so she didn't overreact.
But to see enemies she'd fled for years die so easily felt absurd.
"Do you believe me now?"
Natsume asked, seeing her dazed.
Koyuki nodded reflexively.
It felt like a dream, but everything around her was real.
"Then let's discuss cooperation."
Natsume crooked his finger; two huge trees bent down their trunks into makeshift benches. "Let's sit."
Koyuki sat; the cool touch told her she wasn't dreaming.
She took a breath. "Cooperation? With your strength, you don't need me."
"I don't. But the Land of Snow needs a daimyo."
Natsume explained. "You be daimyo; we provide protection—like a one-country-one-village model."
"No problem."
Koyuki agreed without hesitation.
"So straightforward?"
Natsume was surprised. "Aren't you afraid we'll deceive you?"
"Even if you do, what can I do?"
Koyuki understood her situation.
Behave, and she could live—and be daimyo.
Disobey, and her uncle's corpse told her her own end.
"You're smart. I believe you'll govern well."
Natsume jumped down and looked at the bound Snow ninja. "Kneel and greet your new daimyo and you live."
He clapped. The trees withdrew, leaving a ruined square as proof.
"Greetings, Daimyo!"
The Snow ninja fell over themselves to kneel before Koyuki.
They had little loyalty to Dotō.
They obeyed because they couldn't beat him.
Changing allegiance was easy.
Koyuki accepted their fealty, still dazed.
Minutes ago, she was a successful actress.
In a blink, she was daimyo of the Land of Snow and had avenged her father.
Thinking of her father, she looked at the crystal necklace at her chest—Hexagonal Crystal.
"This is the key to my father's treasure."
Koyuki took off the necklace and held it out to Natsume.
It would be discovered anyway.
Better to bring it up as a show of sincerity.
"Do you know what it is?"
Natsume accepted the still-warm crystal.
"No."
Koyuki shook her head. "My father never told me."
"Then let's go see."
Natsume knew what it was, but it wasn't his place to explain.
It was a father's gift to his daughter.
She should see it with her own eyes.
"You want me to go?"
Koyuki was surprised.
Dotō had usurped power for this treasure—it must be incredibly valuable.
Yet Natsume looked utterly unconcerned; she couldn't fathom it.
"You lead the way."
"Okay."
Koyuki led him. Soon, they arrived.
Natsume set the crystal into the environmental modification unit—the heater.
In an instant, ice and snow melted; spring arrived.
Black technology indeed.
Natsume was impressed.
Koyuki stared blankly at the projection that appeared, tears flowing.
It was her father, Sosetsu Kazahana.
He built the heater to change the Land of Snow's climate—to fulfill Koyuki's wish.
Sadly, Dotō's coup halted the research; it was unfinished.
"Here."
Natsume put the crystal back in Koyuki's hand. "For your father."
Time to work, girl.
Devote your limited life to the unlimited construction of the Land of Snow—fulfill your father's dream.
Koyuki put the necklace back on, glanced at Natsume, then quickly lowered her head. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Natsume smiled. "Mutual benefit."
"Will… you stay in the Land of Snow?"
Koyuki's delicate face flushed.
"I told you—Snow will be under our protection."
Natsume turned. "Let's go."
Koyuki's eyes grew dreamy. She hurried to follow.
To a teenage girl, Natsume's appearance was that of a hero—saving her.
Feelings formed naturally.
Natsume wasn't thinking that far.
He just needed a figurehead.
They returned to the palace.
Shisui and the others were already handling cleanup.
Natsume brought Sandayū Asama over.
When he learned everything, Asama wept and immediately rallied the old retainers to prepare Koyuki's enthronement.
[Because of your actions, the fates of Koyuki Kazahana, Dotō Kazahana, Sandayū Asama, and others have changed. You gained 190 Fate Points.]
Not bad.
A pleasant bonus.
More than Natsume expected.
After killing Dotō, everything else fell into place.
Koyuki was the rightful heir, and far less brutal than her uncle. In three days, she had true control of the Land of Snow.