"You…", Kazahana Koyuki originally wanted to say something, but Rouga Nadare spoke before her.
"As expected of Konoha's ninja. However, we have no intention of making enemies with Konoha. That person is the princess of our Snow Country. This is an internal matter of our Snow Country, so I ask that you not interfere."
He looked at his two companions, who were already locked in bitter combat, and knew he couldn't delay any longer.
Because not far away, there was still a jōnin glaring at them like a tiger watching its prey.
"I don't know what this 'princess' you speak of means, but let me remind you of one thing. If you don't want to die, then obediently stand there and don't move."
Aoba stood in front of Kazahana Koyuki, shielding her behind him, looking at Rouga Nadare with a calm and unbothered expression.
"After all, stepping over ants without killing them, that kind of power is very difficult to control, you know."
When Rouga Nadare heard this, he fell silent. Looking at Aoba's utterly calm appearance, his eyes narrowed, "What an arrogant brat. But arrogance requires skill to back it up."
Although he was wary of the other's identity, he didn't treat Aoba as an opponent at all. In fact, he didn't even put him in his eyes.
His strength wasn't something Fubuki and Mizore could compare with.
At the same time, age was something that often caused people to make wrong judgments.
He only knew the other had performed well in the Chunin Exams, but in his eyes, the Chunin Exams were nothing more than a game between genin.
Rouga Nadare began forming seals, "Next, make sure you don't die."
"Ice Release: One-Horned White Whale!"
From the sea leapt a gigantic white whale made of ice and snow. Its hard, sharp horn easily split open the glacier as it soared high into the sky, then came crashing down toward Aoba and the others.
"We're… we're dead!"
Sandayu's eyes filled with despair, while Kazahana Koyuki just stared blankly at the enormous whale, and at the not-so-tall back standing in front of her.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of chains colliding suddenly rang out.
Behind Aoba, several thick golden chains appeared, wrapping around the enormous whale.
In just an instant, Rouga Nadare realized his connection with the jutsu had been severed.
The giant ice-and-snow whale that had been about to crush everyone crumbled apart into countless flakes of wind and snow, slowly fluttering down.
"How is that possible?"
Rouga Nadare's expression changed, and he immediately looked at Aoba, who was standing there without moving, only to see that the boy was also staring right back at him.
He rushed at Aoba. He was still wearing his chakra armor, which not only allowed him to ignore ninjutsu and genjutsu attacks, but also strengthened his own jutsu.
He didn't believe that the boy had blocked his attack just now without taking any damage.
Yet his thoughts froze in that instant.
Aoba vanished into thin air, followed immediately by a deafening roar as the shockwave exploded outward, visible to the naked eye.
Aoba appeared right above him and swung down a monster-strength punch.
Rouga Nadare's chakra armor shattered on the spot, and his body crashed into the mountainside like a fired cannonball.
"Wh… what…", In the deep pit, Rouga Nadare spewed blood, struggling to speak, but the words never came. He breathed his last and died.
Aoba calmly returned to the side of the stunned Kazahana Koyuki.
On the other side, after Hinata used Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, Fubuki's chakra armor was like thin paper.
With just a few palms, the armor broke, and the rest of the blows landed directly on his body.
His internal organs were destroyed by Gentle Fist's chakra, and the terrifying power of her monster strength shattered his bones and muscles.
Confirming with Byakugan that he was truly dead, Hinata returned to Aoba's side.
"Aoba-kun, it's already taken care of."
As for Mizore, when she realized her armor couldn't withstand Yakumo's flames, she spread her wings and flew into the air.
She originally thought they wouldn't be able to touch her, but then. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck her from the sky.
She fell straight into the sea. Judging from the look of it, she was done for as well.
"Aoba, it's handled," Yakumo also walked over.
Aoba finally looked at the still-dazed Kazahana Koyuki, smiled, and said, "Miss Yukie, all the enemies have been dealt with."
Kazahana Koyuki stared blankly at Aoba, then glanced at Rouga Nadare, who would never rise again, and collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
The repeated emotional shocks caused her to faint right on the spot.
———
On the deck.
The old director was excitedly circling around the cameraman, constantly asking, "Did you capture all of that? Hurry, let me see it!"
During the fight between Aoba's group and Rouga Nadare's group, while hiding and dodging, he had also directed the cameraman to record the footage.
"It's all captured, every bit of it."
The cameraman nodded repeatedly and handed over the working camera for the director to check.
"Well done!", the director couldn't help but shout.
This was an extremely rare opportunity.
At this moment, another crew member walked over.
"Director, are we still going to the Snow Country?"
"This…"
That question stumped the director.
There were still many staff members on deck looking at him, waiting for his answer.
To tell the truth, most of them didn't really want to go. After all, they had only come here to make money.
Go any further, and they might not come back alive.
But the director, the one who could make the decision, remained silent, staring at the footage on the camera. What had been captured left him truly torn.
In the end, he looked at Sandayu.
"Sandayu, about Yukie's situation, I hope you can tell us the truth."
Sandayu nodded again and again, "Of course, no problem!"
With his tearful explanation, everyone finally understood Kazahana Koyuki's connection to the Snow Country.
"To think Yukie is really a princess. No wonder she plays Princess Gale so well."
"Being wanted by an entire nation… Yukie's situation is truly dangerous."
The staff all started chattering after hearing the explanation.
The director once again fell silent.
"If you're worried about any danger, when the time comes, we will step in," Aoba cut into the conversation, interrupting everyone and bringing the director back to his senses.
Sandayu also looked at him.
In his heart, he felt true, heartfelt shock at the boy's strength.
Rouga Nadare, that had been the great mountain blocking Kazahana Koyuki from ascending to the position of daimyo. He had already prepared himself to die.
Yet the man was defeated just like that, killed in a single punch.
The other two fell in nearly the same way.
Konoha's ninja really were on another level.
He felt a little fortunate that he had previously made up an excuse to watch the Chunin Exams in Konoha.
The director looked at Aoba with burning eyes, "If the Snow Country keeps sending more ninja, can you really handle them?"
"Don't worry. A mere Snow Country is nothing we even put in our eyes."
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