The Nine-Tails Chakra surged through his body, granting him a sudden burst of speed.
"We have to get out of here!"
They finally burst out from the tunnel, and Naruto immediately jumped aside as the train roared past them.
Naruto stood up and helped Koyuki to her feet with a grin.
"Told you we could outrun a train!"
"Koyuki, it's been a long time," said an old voice.
Still catching her breath, she looked up at the train.
"Nadare..."
A man with brown hair falling to his shoulders stood atop the now-stopped train, clad in ornate, flowing robes.
"It's been ten years, my dear. Let me gaze upon your beautiful face once more."
Koyuki recoiled under his gaze. Naruto stepped in front of her, drawing his sword.
"So this is the guy I'm supposed to kill? Doesn't look so tough."
Before he even finished speaking, a cascade of wooden logs tumbled down from the nearby slope, crashing into the side of the train.
Standing on the mountaintop was Santa's group, clad in samurai armor.
"Did you see that? Our Princess is here—victory is within our grasp!"
Santa drew his sword from his waist.
"Nadare, we've waited a long time for this day. Here stand Santa and fifty loyal warriors, to avenge our fallen lord, Yukizuna!"
Nadare glared at them with disdain.
"I thought you'd already wiped out all the rebels."
Avalice appeared at his side, bowing deeply.
"My lord, forgive us—we shall deal with them at once."
"No, no." Nadare said cheerfully. "Only complete annihilation will teach them obedience."
With a shout, the rebels charged down the hill toward Nadare's train.
Nadare nodded. Avalice formed a hand seal, opening the train doors to reveal mounted kunai launchers that began rapidly firing, cutting down every rebel charging forward.
Naruto stood frozen as the massacre unfolded.
Sai threw himself in front of Koyuki, but dozens of kunai riddled his body.
Nadare ordered another round to finish him off.
Suddenly, Tenten leapt in front of him, conjuring a massive iron dome that shielded both herself and Koyuki.
On the mountaintop, Sakura Haruno used chakra-infused punches to trigger an avalanche, blocking the shots coming from the train.
Tenten launched explosive-laden kunai onto the bridge ahead of the train, nearly obliterating it.
However, the carriage carrying Nadare detached and sped away.
"Sai said as he saw Naruto and Koyuki walking past the wreckage of the slaughter. What do we do now?"
The film crew moved among the dead and wounded, while Sakura Haruno did everything she could to heal Santa.
"This… this is monstrous," she said, struggling to mend the man. "What kind of monster is he?"
Koyuki coldly surveyed the scene.
"If they hadn't opposed Nadare, there would have been no bloodshed."
"No," Sai replied. "This is what's always happening to civilians—women, children… anyone he even suspects of opposing him. To him, it's all the same. He's a tyrant who delights in the crimes he commits."
Santa gasped for breath for a moment, then looked at Koyuki.
"Princess…forgive me. I shouldn't have dragged you into this. But the belief that you were still alive gave us hope. You have to believe in yourself...you've always been the symbol of hope for our country. Don't waste your grief on me." With those final words, he breathed his last.
Sakura Haruno ceased performing her technique and looked seriously at the others.
Koyuki just stared at the lifeless body of Santa.
"You truly were a fool, Santa…"
Then she turned toward the director and the Konoha ninjas.
"Are you happy now? Let's go back. Staying here is a death wish."
"This is your homeland," Naruto said. "You can't just leave now. Nadare already knows about you—he'll keep hunting you down until you're dead. Running away won't solve anything."
"What do you know?" she shot back. "Springtime will never return to this country. Our hearts have grown cold like ice."
"No," Naruto replied. "Because of him." He pointed in Nadare's direction. "But if you face reality bravely, you can change this country."
Hearing Koyuki's cold words, Sakura clenched her fists in rage.
"Santa believed in you. He spent his whole life protecting you so that one day you could return here and free this country. And not even a single tear for his sacrifice? Because you're a coward!"
Sakura impulsively moved toward Koyuki, ready to slap her. Her muscles tensed as she prepared to strike—until Naruto's voice stopped her.
"Sakura, calm down! Hitting her won't change anything, and it won't bring anyone back."
Koyuki tried to walk away, but Tenten stood firmly in front of her.
"I'm sorry, but this time you're not getting your way."
Suddenly, Koyuki gasped, spotting something.
A flying ship rose from the nearby cliff. The giant Winter Bear swiftly grabbed Koyuki with his elongated arms.
His partner, Fubuki, hurled kunai at them that split into jagged ice spikes, forcing them to dodge frantically.
The two took Koyuki aboard the flying ship and quickly flew off.
"Damn it!" Tenten shouted. "What do we do now, Naruto?"
Everyone turned their eyes to him as he watched the flying ship disappear.
"Sai?"
******
## On the Flying Ship ##
"You truly are beautiful, Koyuki," Nadare said. "Do you have the hex crystal?"
"I do," she answered. Her tone remained unusually calm despite facing her father's killer.
"Good," the man said with an unsettling smile. "It's the key that binds the Kazahana bloodline and unlocks their greatest treasure."
"Treasure?" Koyuki asked, puzzled.
"When I seized your father's throne," Nadare paused, choosing his words carefully, "the clan's coffers had been nearly drained. Clearly, Old Snow had hidden the treasure. I scoured every corner until I finally found a keyhole hidden deep within the Rainbow Glacier—one that only the hex crystal can unlock. Once I obtain the wealth hidden there, I'll gain military dominance across the Five Great Countries."
"Now..." Nadare held out his hand toward Koyuki. "I'm taking the hex crystal right now. After all, you don't need it… right?"
Koyuki took off the necklace from her neck and handed it to Nadare. He examined it, and his face twisted in fury:
"What is this?"
"Huh?" Koyuki exclaimed, startled by his sudden change in mood.
He grabbed her collar:
"You think I can't tell this is fake? Where's the real crystal?"
"That's impossible!" Koyuki shot back. "Naruto… that blond-haired guy. He must be the only one who has it."
Avalice leaned against the wall, grumbling to himself:
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