Fubuki Kakuyoku smirked, her voice sultry.
"Shall we go out and find them? We can flush them out in no time."
Nadare grinned again.
"No, that won't be necessary. All we need to do is wait for those mice to come right to us."
He failed to notice a black-and-white mouse scurrying silently across the corner.
******
## Nadare's Fortress - Prison Level ##
Koyuki sat curled up alone in her prison cell, hugging her knees to her chest.
Every few seconds, two armed guards passed by her cell, on patrol.
When they moved out of sight, she heard the muffled sounds of a struggle, then silence.
A moment later, Naruto appeared in front of her cell holding a kunai.
"Look at you. A face like yours was made for freedom, not bars. Want to get out?"
She stared at him in shock.
"How did you find this place?"
Naruto scratched his ear.
"I've been tailing you since the flying ship."
He said, prodding the lock with his kunai.
"Damn it." The lock sent electric shocks through him.
"Don't bother," Koyuki said. "You can't take on Nadare's men alone."
"You really don't know much about me," Naruto said.
Koyuki fixed her gaze on Naruto.
"My father always used to say... As long as I never gave up, spring would come to Snow Country. But there's no spring here. My father is dead, I was forced to flee, and my life has turned into a cruel joke."
Naruto pulled out a blank scroll and brush, beginning to draw.
"There's a beast sealed within me... My father sealed it inside me when I was just a baby to protect the village. That village shunned me through my whole childhood. Know what I did?"
"How?" Koyuki asked.
"I endured years of rigorous training and became a ninja of my village. I fought and bled for their safety. I wanted to become the best so they couldn't ignore me any longer. It took eleven years for anything to finally change. Now, guess what I'm going to do next?"
Koyuki shook her head. A smile spread across Naruto's face.
"I'm going to show them all. I won't let anyone stand in my way. Watch this—the seal is done!"
Naruto stood up and made a hand sign.
[Sealing Technique: Elemental Absorption!]
He slapped the completed sealing tag onto the bars, placing his hand on it.
When the current surged through the cell, Koyuki turned her head away.
Opening her eyes, she saw the current swirling around Naruto's arms before vanishing completely.
Naruto peeled off the seal from the door and unlocked it.
"How did you do that?" Koyuki asked as the cell door swung open.
"This seal absorbs elemental chakra and converts it into usable energy. But if your chakra isn't compatible, the surge could destroy your pathways. Fortunately, I have sufficient affinity with lightning nature."
He extended his hand toward Koyuki.
"Let's go."
Smiling, Koyuki took his hand, and together they fled the prison level of the fortress.
They encountered a group of Snow Country ninja. Naruto signaled Koyuki to stop.
"Hello everyone. It's good to see you again."
Sai and the others revealed their disguises.
Sai gave his signature smile:
"You've successfully located the Princess. Should I return the hexagonal crystal to her?"
"Return it to her." Naruto said, pointing at Koyuki. "I'm going to destroy this place and end this once and for all. You guys should leave now."
"I won't leave, Naruto-kun," Tenten said. "We can't let you face this alone."
Sai agreed with her:
"I came here to ensure your safety, Captain Naruto. I won't leave either."
"You need someone to heal you, you idiot," Sakura Haruno said.
"Let's go," Koyuki said, reclaiming the hexagonal crystal from Sai. "I hear guards approaching. Follow me."
She led them away.
She brought them into a room that echoed with Nadare's laughter:
"Well done, Koyuki."
She dashed toward the throne where he stood, but Avalice, Fubuki Kakuyoku, and Winter Bear blocked their way.
Avalice looked at Naruto with a victorious smile:
"Looks like you're about to lose, kid. After all these years, you still can't defeat me."
Naruto turned to Koyuki, who was standing beside Nadare:
"What are you doing?!"
The Princess handed her necklace to her uncle:
"What's all the fuss about? After all, I'm an actress."
Nadare laughed triumphantly:
"Yes! Koyuki's act begins again!"
"Yes... All of this is just a play." Then she drew the tanto hidden beneath her clothes and stabbed Nadare. "Didn't I tell you? I'm an actress."
"You traitorous brat..." Nadare grabbed Koyuki's throat.
Koyuki gripped Nadare's arm:
"I knew returning to the Snow Country meant death… But at least in my final moments, I can fight to protect the ones I love."
Naruto gritted his teeth:
"You'd better survive, damn it!"
Under Nadare's grip, Koyuki weakly smiled at Naruto:
"It's because of you, Naruto, that I had the courage to face my homeland..."
His eyes flickered red:
"Avalice, get out of my way—or I'll rip your head off!"
Suddenly, he charged forward, rammed his shoulder into Avalice, knocking him aside, then rushed toward Nadare and Koyuki, knocking both down.
"Forgive me, Father… Third…" Koyuki thought as Naruto knelt beside her.
Nadare stood up, kicked Naruto away from Koyuki, and removed his long robe, revealing advanced black chakra armor.
"You actually thought that tiny blade could kill me?"
The blade left a mark but failed to pierce the armor.
He seized Koyuki and sneered coldly as she struggled:
"Don't waste your strength. Your chakra is draining fast. There's nothing you can do."
Her struggle was futile. The ceiling cracked open, and Nadare shot a line upward, preparing to escape.
Naruto formed a blue chakra sphere in his palm:
[Rasengan]!
Naruto kicked through a nearby wall and burst outside, spotting Nadare and Koyuki fleeing into the distance.
"They're heading northwest! Let's go!" Naruto shouted, and they quickly chased out through the opening.
Out of nowhere, a volley of kunai sliced through the air toward them.
"Time to end this, Naruto—no running this time, right?" Avalice mocked.
Naruto fixed Avalice with a cold glare:
"No time for games, Avalice. Let's make this quick."
He hurled a kunai—Avalice batted it aside with a chakra shield.
"Ice Release: Nadare Roga!" Avalice roared.
From the fortress roof, snow cascaded down, coalescing into a pack of snarling wolves that lunged at Naruto.
Naruto formed a cross-shaped seal with his arms across his chest:
[Wind Release: Spiral Cyclone!]
A roaring whirlwind spiraled violently around Naruto.
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