Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Princess Xiaoxue, Please Stop!

[A few days later…][The coronation ceremony for the new Princess of the Land of Snow, Koyuki Kazahana, officially began.]Excitement buzzed throughout the entire nation. Citizens gathered in celebration, and even a number of Snow Country ninjas and former subordinates of the late San Taifu arrived for this significant occasion. It was a historic moment, and all eyes were on the center of it—Fenghua Xiaoxue.Beneath her elegant makeup and ceremonial robes, Fenghua Xiaoxue radiated beauty and confidence. Today, without a doubt, she was the most dazzling presence in the Snow Country. The roaring cheers from the crowd echoed through the snow-covered streets, far louder than any she had ever received at her past celebrity fan events.Today wasn't about stardom. It was about sovereignty.[High above the crowd, on the tallest tower in the country, a figure stood quietly—Uzumaki Naruto.]He observed the ceremony from the shadows, calm and unmoved by the celebration. The sunlight couldn't reach him here. His silhouette was hidden in the gloom, like a watchful god who ruled from the darkness.A faint smile tugged at his lips.> "The Land of Snow… will soon become my most loyal vassal state."It was clear. Behind every successful woman was a man capable of nurturing her potential—and in this case, guiding her destiny."Uzumaki Naruto-sama!"A sudden voice cut through the silence.Langya Avalanche, clad in traditional snow ninja gear, knelt respectfully in front of Naruto, his expression filled with awe and reverence.> "I've already arranged everything for Princess Xiaoxue's inauguration," he reported with solemn devotion.Naruto glanced down at him but said nothing. Still, deep inside, his impression of Langya Avalanche rose a few notches.> He's competent… very competent.Every village, every nation, no matter how noble its ideals, needed a shadow. Konoha had Danzo and the Root Organization to handle what the Hokage could not. There would always be tasks too dark, too bloody, for a leader who represented the light.Langya Avalanche, in Naruto's eyes, had the makings of such a man. The dark side of the Whirlpool Nation—Naruto's growing power base—would need someone like him.[Naruto raised his hand, and chakra flowed from his body into Langya Avalanche.]Within moments, Langya felt a tremendous surge of power awaken inside him. His chakra grew stronger, denser, and more vibrant.> "Thank you… thank you, my lord!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with gratitude.Naruto had activated the vitality in his chakra pathways using the power of Yang Release, increasing both his training speed and the potency of his ninjutsu. To Naruto, it was a simple favor. But to Langya, a ninja from a struggling land, it was life-changing.> Following Lord Naruto is so much better than serving under Kazehana Dotō…Langya Avalanche recalled the days of serving under the tyrant Fenghua Nutao. Besides a broken set of chakra armor, he had received nothing. The Snow Country, with its perpetual winter and scarce resources, relied entirely on technology. Farming was near impossible, and starvation was common.Now, in a matter of seconds, Uzumaki Naruto had empowered him more than years of servitude ever could.When he finally steadied himself and looked up again, Naruto had already vanished without a trace.---[Inside the grand palace of the Snow Country...]The long coronation ritual finally came to an end.Fenghua Xiaoxue, now officially the queen, stood alone in the ornate hall. Just then, a golden flash lit the room. Naruto had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear before her silently.> "Naruto…"She wasn't startled by his sudden entrance. In fact, her eyes glimmered with affection as she looked at him.> "Princess Snow—no, I suppose I should call you the Snow Queen now," Naruto said with a charming smile. "Congratulations."Xiaoxue blushed faintly, lowering her gaze.> "Even though I'm now Queen of the Snow Country," she whispered, "you will always be… the true king of this land in my heart."She bit her lower lip shyly, avoiding Naruto's eyes. Her intentions were crystal clear, but she feared rejection.Naruto said nothing. The silence stretched on.Finally, when he didn't respond negatively, she sighed with relief and patted her chest.> "Phew… Looks like Naruto-kun doesn't hate me!"She looked up again, their gazes meeting. The tension between them was unmistakable—filled with unspoken emotions.Naruto, for his part, understood the situation completely. After all, he had learned a thing or two about relationships from Yuugao Uzuki. He wasn't naive anymore. On the contrary, he might even qualify as a mentor for a "first-time queen" like Xiaoxue.But...Naruto shook his head gently.> "Princess Xiaoxue, it's easier for me to call you that. Now that your dream has come true, it's time for me to return."Her body trembled slightly at his words.> "You're… leaving?"She didn't understand. Why did he want to go so soon? There was still so much they could do—together.She opened her mouth to say something, to stop him, but couldn't find the right words.Naruto, however, smiled again, as if anticipating her emotions.> "Oh, right. I almost forgot—I brought you a gift," he said casually.> "Huh? A gift?" she asked, blinking in surprise.> "Your country has harsh living conditions. Your father's idea—floor heating generators—wasn't bad. It might really change the future of the Snow Country."He paused before continuing.> "Coincidentally, I know a ninja who's a genius when it comes to technological inventions. Maybe he can help bring your father's vision to life."> "Naruto-kun… your friend?"Naruto nodded.> "He's a bit of a weirdo, honestly. Bad temper. Bit of a freak about corpses. But when it comes to tech, he's a genius."> "W-What??" Xiaoxue stared, bewildered. A pervert obsessed with corpses??Still, if this bizarre individual could revolutionize the Snow Country's infrastructure, it would be worth the trouble. Her heart warmed again at Naruto's thoughtfulness. Even now, as he prepared to leave, he still thought of her people, of her dreams.> Naruto-kun… You really do care for me.> "In that case," she said, smiling mysteriously, "I also have a gift for you."Naruto tilted his head.Xiaoxue took a deep breath and then moved forward. She bent one knee, gracefully kneeling before him, a soft glow on her cheeks.> "This is… my gift to you.""S-Stop!" Naruto blurted out, completely caught off guard.For a man usually so calm, his expression at that moment was downright panicked.Though his mouth rejected her gesture, the awkward stammer and tone in his voice were vastly different from his usual commanding self.> "No, seriously—shut up! Don't… don't do that!"---[To Be Continued…]