Chapter 95: Clash
"Ara ara…"
Kakashi awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"That's honestly a little embarrassing…"
A Jōnin stronger than Naruto?
He absolutely wouldn't dare claim that.
Back when he entered ANBU and infiltrated the Land of Snow for reconnaissance, Kakashi himself had been roughly Naruto's age.
At that time, he definitely could not defeat one of Kazahana Dotō's elite retainers mentioned by Sandayū—
Nadare Rōga.
Of course, now things were completely different.
"Anyway, no time to waste."
Kakashi turned toward Asama Sandayū.
"The ship you arranged departs today, correct?"
"Ah— yes! Yes, that's right!"
"Then let's move! Start loading equipment!"
The film crew's efficiency instantly became absurdly high.
The Konoha shinobi stared in amazement.
Well—
Everyone except Naruto.
"Director-ossan, I'll help carry stuff too!"
"Whoa! You can carry all this equipment?! Kid, you're insanely strong!"
Honestly, the director's earlier praise was practically the highest compliment Naruto could receive.
It made him unbelievably happy.
So he enthusiastically threw himself into moving cargo like an excited laborer.
"... Accept reality already."
A somewhat cool voice suddenly sounded beside Koyuki Kazahana.
"And if you still want revenge…"
"Then make sure you seize this opportunity properly."
"You…"
Koyuki frowned while looking toward Sasuke standing beside her.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing."
Sasuke's expression remained calm.
"My assigned mission is simply protecting your safety."
"You?"
Koyuki immediately examined Sasuke suspiciously.
The boy still had bandages wrapped around parts of his body.
"How about this, little brother? Maybe focus on your own injuries first."
"Should I switch with Hinata instead?"
Sasuke sneered coldly.
Ever since Naruto brought Koyuki back earlier, Sasuke had already noticed something.
Compared to Naruto—
Koyuki actually seemed far more afraid of Hinata.
"..."
Instantly recalling Hinata's terrifyingly calm expression while discussing "kidnapping" her earlier, Koyuki immediately lost confidence.
"T-Then…"
"That doesn't mean I have to stay beside you the whole time, right?"
"What if fighting starts? Won't you go help your teammates?"
"I'll stay with you."
Sasuke answered calmly.
"If danger appears, my teammates will handle it."
Your teammates?
Koyuki silently lowered her eyes.
You people still have no idea how terrifying my uncle Kazahana Dotō truly is…
Yet strangely—
Whether due to giving up entirely or genuinely being moved by Sasuke's words about revenge—
Koyuki became unusually cooperative during the journey toward the Land of Snow.
That honestly surprised Sasuke.
Originally, he fully expected this troublesome actress to cause endless problems.
He had even stayed awake the entire night guarding outside because of it.
The following morning—
"Mmm… that sleep felt amazing…"
Naruto stepped out from the cabin before suddenly staring brightly ahead.
"Whoa! What're you guys doing?"
Before him, the film crew had somehow already constructed sets and begun filming directly on the ship itself.
"There are still several days before we reach the Land of Snow!"
The director laughed loudly.
"And since we're stuck on the ship anyway, we might as well film the ocean voyage scenes!"
Koyuki had already finished changing into her Princess Gale costume inside her room.
The moment she stepped out in full attire, she instantly entered character completely.
Despite the violent sea winds and rough waves around them, the actors still performed with remarkable professionalism.
The emotional atmosphere genuinely became moving.
"She really is an incredible actress."
Leaning against the ship railing while relaxing slightly, Kakashi couldn't help commenting toward Sandayū nearby.
"Looks like your princess didn't become an actress solely because she fell from power."
"The princess genuinely loves acting."
Sandayū nodded proudly.
"However, once we enter the Land of Snow's territory, we should first contact—"
But before he could continue discussing plans, Kakashi suddenly waved his hand while intentionally tugging his collar aside to reveal the bandages beneath.
"I'm technically injured too."
Kakashi smiled lazily.
"So maybe you should discuss the detailed operation plans with Naruto instead."
Sandayū froze.
Why did this elite Konoha Jōnin suddenly feel a lot less reliable…?
At that exact moment—
Noisy shouting suddenly erupted from the front of the ship.
"Whoa! Everyone look!"
"There's a massive iceberg ahead!"
"That's pretty rare around here!"
"Hurry and steer around it before we crash!"
"Iceberg?"
Everyone immediately turned toward the horizon.
A gigantic iceberg over ten times larger than their ship slowly drifted across the sea.
For a film crew mostly used to shooting inland, the scenery truly looked spectacular.
The bearded director's artistic instincts instantly exploded.
"What a perfect filming location!"
He dramatically spread his arms toward the sky.
"Thank you, movie gods!"
"Oi! Dock the ship here! We're filming additional—"
"Director-ossan, wait a second."
Naruto suddenly interrupted him.
The director didn't become angry.
Instead, he turned curiously toward the blond boy—
Only to see an expression he had never witnessed on Naruto's face before.
Complete seriousness.
"Hinata."
"Byakugan!"
The instant Naruto's tone changed, Hinata immediately understood.
Her Byakugan activated at once as she scanned the iceberg.
"One person at the summit."
"One hidden beneath the ice."
"And another behind the iceberg."
"Three people total."
"Also…"
Hinata frowned slightly.
"Their chakra feels strange."
"Three people, huh?"
Naruto nodded calmly.
"Then I'll handle it myself."
"Hinata, stay here and protect Director-ossan and everyone else."
Then Naruto turned toward the director.
"Just wait a little before docking the ship."
The moment his words ended, Naruto touched the ship deck and left behind a Flying Thunder God marker.
Then—
His figure vanished instantly from the ship's bow.
"What was that?"
The director looked toward Hinata in confusion.
"Naruto-kun detected enemies hiding on the iceberg."
Hinata calmly explained.
"This area may become dangerous."
Yet somehow—
Instead of becoming nervous, the explanation only made the director even more excited.
"Assistant director!"
"Assistant director!"
"Hurry and point the cameras toward the iceberg!"
"If we miss this footage, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!"
As expected of a man overflowing with artistic passion.
He immediately rushed to reposition the cameras personally.
Meanwhile—
Atop the iceberg—
A purple-haired Snow Ninja hiding near the summit frowned slightly.
"Why did the ship suddenly stop moving?"
"Did they notice something?"
"Looks like they're pretty alert after all…"
Just as he prepared to regroup with his two teammates and launch an active assault—
An overwhelming sense of danger suddenly exploded inside his heart.
Something was approaching at terrifying speed.
Not good!
As the strongest Snow Ninja currently serving the Land of Snow, Nadare Rōga instantly reacted.
Without hesitation, he rapidly formed hand seals and slammed a hand against the ice before him.
"Ice Release: Ice Prison Technique!"
"Rasengan!"
Almost simultaneously—
A figure shot toward him like a storm-driven arrow, smashing directly into the newly formed ice barrier!
The entire iceberg seemed to tremble violently from the impact.
Only then did Nadare Rōga finally clearly see the attacker—
Bright blond hair.
A wild, confident grin.
Charging directly toward him head-on—
Naruto Uzumaki had arrived.
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