Takumi took the Hexagonal Crystal from her hand and led them to the sealed location.
Takumi brought the group to the sealed place.
It was an altar, or perhaps a sealed-off dry well.
At the top was a slot.
Takumi inserted the Hexagonal Crystal, and it fit perfectly.
After doing this, Takumi stepped back a few paces, coming to stand beside Koyuki.
"Feel it carefully."
He said softly.
The altar began to glow.
The dark clouds in the sky dispersed, sunlight appeared.
Then, several pillar-like structures around the altar, under the sunlight, emitted a brilliant, colorful light.
The surrounding temperature rose bit by bit.
The snow rapidly melted.
"So warm."
Koyuki said, still dazed.
She still didn't understand what was happening.
Doto, for this thing, had killed her father and hunted her relentlessly for years.
In her mind, it must have been something incredibly powerful, which was why Doto pursued it so desperately.
But now, it seemed that wasn't the case?
She remembered Takumi had said earlier the Hexagonal Crystal was a heater's key?
She thought Takumi had said that just to provoke Doto.
But now, it seemed Takumi might have been telling the truth?
But how would he know?
"How did you know?"
Koyuki's eyes were full of curiosity.
"That's a secret."
Takumi smiled slightly. "But the important thing isn't that. It's the meaning your father left behind with this thing."
"Father's meaning?"
Koyuki looked around. The snow melted bit by bit, gradually revealing the brown earth.
Although barren, it was more pleasing to the eye than the endless white.
That expanse of white, though beautiful, was also deadly.
This brown earth, though ugly to look at, could nurture life.
"The Land of Snow has snowfall year-round, so bountiful harvests are naturally impossible."
"Your father created this heater to turn the Land of Snow into a place of eternal spring, so its people could have enough food to fill their stomachs, and no longer plagued by cold and hunger. He was a truly great ruler."
"Unfortunately, before he could successfully put this device into operation, he was killed by Kazahana Doto. A regrettable thing."
"But it's okay. You're still here. I believe you will inherit your father's will, turning the Land of Snow into a prosperous and bountiful nation."
"So its people will no longer be hungry, nor cold."
Listening to Takumi's words, Koyuki stared blankly at the altar before her, as if recalling many, many things.
At that moment, the colorful light from the pillars converged in the air above the altar, forming a phantom image.
And the earth beneath their feet was quickly covered in green.
"This?!"
Koyuki looked up. The phantom image was of herself as a child. Opposite her was a person who hadn't yet appeared in the illusion.
But she knew it was her father.
The former ruler of the Land of Snow, Kazahana Sosetsu.
"Koyuki, what do you plan to do when spring comes?"
A gentle voice spoke.
In the illusion, the young Koyuki tilted her head playfully and said:
"Koyuki will become the Princess."
"What kind of Princess will you become?"
The gentle voice continued asking.
"Hmm..."
Little Koyuki thought for a moment. "A gentle, strong, and just Princess."
Koyuki stared blankly at the phantom, murmuring, "I... actually said something like that."
"That's right."
Takumi held her hand tightly. "This was your promise to your father. Now, it's time for you to fulfill that promise."
"To become a gentle, strong, and just Princess."
Seeing the image of her father appear in the phantom, tears finally welled up in Koyuki's eyes again.
"Thank you."
Koyuki lowered her head, choking up. "I will work hard to do what I should do."
"That's good."
Takumi smiled, whispering softly in her ear, "But don't forget our agreement."
Koyuki's face flushed red. The earlier feeling of being moved faded considerably, replaced by more shyness.
She couldn't help but lightly tap Takumi's chest, but as her hand rested on his firm torso, she found it hard to pull away.
"Hurry! Film this!"
The only one who noticed Takumi and Koyuki was the director.
Though he was also amazed by the changing scenery, his director's instinct made him immediately focus on the film's protagonists.
So, he urged the cameraman, who was lost in the scenery, to switch targets and film Koyuki and Takumi.
This moment was filled with warmth.
"And it even turned into a romance film!"
"This movie is definitely going to be a hit!"
The director was thrilled.
Big scenes, a strong enemy defeated, and love found!
All the elements for success were there!
He couldn't imagine any possibility of the film failing!
…
As time passed, several days went by.
During these days, Sakura, Ino, and the others thoroughly explored the streets of the Land of Snow.
Meanwhile, Takumi stayed with Koyuki, doing things lovers do.
Early the next morning.
Kakashi and the group were all prepared.
With the combined efforts of the heater and Takumi, the snow in the Land of Snow had completely melted.
And with the heater continuously active, no more snow would fall.
"Takumi-kun, time to prepare to leave."
Kakashi reminded Takumi, then glanced at Koyuki standing before him and shook his head as he left.
As a long-time admirer of Jiraiya's works, he could naturally tell Koyuki's feelings for Takumi were unusual.
'She'd probably fallen in love.'
But he obviously didn't realize what they had experienced together over the past few days.
"Can you really not stay?"
Koyuki held Takumi's hand, her eyes full of reluctance.
"I can't stay now. I have many things to do."
Takumi gently shook his head, then smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll come visit you often in the future."
"Mmm, alright then."
Koyuki nodded reluctantly. "I'll come visit you in Konoha when I have time too."
"Mmm, you're always welcome."
Takumi pulled her into an embrace. "Don't worry, our relationship won't change because of distance."
"Mmm." Koyuki nestled against his chest like a little bird, listening to his heartbeat.
The steady sound made her feel very secure.
After lingering for a while, Takumi let go of the reluctant Koyuki and left with the main group.
"Please, come see me often."
Koyuki watched Takumi and the others, now distant specks, the reluctance in her eyes seeming to overflow.
After they left, Kisame and Itachi, hidden nearby, revealed themselves.
"Holy crap? How did that woman get together with that kid?"
Kisame's observation was very detailed.
The way Koyuki and Takumi said goodbye just now was clearly the way of a couple!
'What the hell... came on a mission and incidentally bagged the country's princess too?'
"I don't know. Maybe because he saved her life."
Itachi wasn't concerned with such male-female matters.
Because in his eyes, there was only Sasuke.
As long as Sasuke was safe and happy, as long as he could be with Sasuke, what use were women?
Women would only affect his relationship with Sasuke!
"Cough, well, I think we need to reconsider this assassination of Takumi."
Kisame scratched his cheek. "At least until we find a way to counter that high-temperature technique he emits, we'd better not bother him."
"Mmm." Itachi nodded. "Even if I use Genjutsu to control him, if he keeps using that high-temperature Ninjutsu, we won't be able to get close."
"That's right. Let's head back for now. At least think of a complete strategy before we come for him again."
Kisame breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't want to go up there and get roasted into fish jerky.
Better to wait until they found a way to deal with that abnormal heat emanating from him.
Itachi also went along with it.
He wasn't planning to appear before Sasuke yet.
Mainly because there were too many people.
And with Takumi as an unknown factor, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to control the situation, potentially harming Sasuke.
So,
Retreating like this today was fine.
'Wait for me, my foolish little brother.'
'We will meet again sooner or later.'
'But not now.'