Nara Kazuki remembered now.
Koyuki Kazahana — a character from one of the Naruto movies. The daughter of the Daimyō of the Land of Snow, pursued by her treacherous uncle Dotō Kazahana. Her retainers had turned to Konoha, seeking to escort her back to her homeland. It was Team 7, led by Kakashi, who had accepted the mission.
Typical movie plot: dangerous enemies, a climactic battle, and in the end, Naruto helps her reclaim her rightful throne.
Classic Naruto — restoring monarchies like it's a daily D-rank mission.
Sure, the Land of Snow was just a minor nation, but a king was still a king.
What stuck with Kazuki most wasn't the drama or the politics — it was the so-called "Great Treasure" mentioned in the movie.
If he remembered correctly, Dotō had murdered his brother for this "Great Treasure." But it turned out to be just a giant heating system — created to warm up the Land of Snow and make the region more habitable and fertile.
"Typical ninja world logic," Kazuki muttered. "That's what you get for being cryptic — betrayal and patricide."
If Dotō had known the Great Treasure was just a massive heater, would he still have killed his brother?
Kazuki figured he probably would have. The guy clearly had ambition — the kind that festers for years. The "treasure" had just been the excuse.
He glanced over at the supposedly brotherly pair — Dotō and Sōsetsu Kazahana — acting all warm and cordial, and Kazuki's gaze sharpened.
If his memory was right, Dotō was the usurper. Sōsetsu would be killed, and Koyuki would escape, only to grow up in hiding as an actress.
Amusing.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed, thoughts turning.
Dotō hadn't made his move yet, but he must have been gathering strength — likely including rogue shinobi or hired mercenaries. And if Naruto had to take Dotō down personally, then Dotō was probably a ninja himself, or had some chakra-based abilities.
Dotō = rogue shinobi = chakra farming opportunity.
Plus, if Kazuki helped Sōsetsu Kazahana, the gratitude alone might net him special access to trade goods — maybe even a personal cache to take back home.
"Kakashi, let's go take a walk," Kazuki said with a friendly grin. "First time I've been to the Land of Snow. Might as well see the sights."
He didn't say more than that.
If Dotō was planning a "Xuanwu Gate Incident"-style coup, then Kazuki needed to distance himself, blend in, maybe shadow Sōsetsu for a while.
When Dotō finally moved, that would be the moment Kazuki would strike — and profit, both in ryo and chakra.
Was he worried Dotō had too much power?
Not at all.
If the original Team 7 plus Koyuki had been able to deal with Dotō, then he obviously hadn't fully consolidated control. Or the country was just too weak overall.
"The kind of fat sheep the main story gives Team 7 for warm-up… You think I'm gonna pass up a free meal?" Kazuki rubbed his hands together eagerly.
And once everything was over, there'd be praise from Konoha.
The Land of Snow wasn't a major power like the Five Great Nations, but even a minor nation could be a valuable ally.
"You look... weirdly excited?" Kakashi noted as they walked through the snow-covered harbor, full of exotic architecture.
"Dotō Kazahana — his eyes are sharp like a hawk, his movements cautious like a wolf. That's the look of a traitor," Kazuki said, cryptically.
Kakashi blinked. "Wait, what? 'Eyes of a hawk, caution of a wolf'?"
He didn't get the idiom, but the meaning was clear.
"You're saying... he's planning to overthrow his brother?"
"Exactly. I think he wants the throne," Kazuki replied, suppressing the urge to reference historical coups like the Tang dynasty's Xuanwu Gate.
Kakashi went quiet, thinking.
"Huh? Become king?" Guy looked totally confused.
"Yeah. And that benefits us and Konoha," Kazuki replied casually as he bought a cup of juice from a street vendor — cold and fresh, naturally chilled by the snowy weather.
Kakashi looked puzzled.
Kazuki gave a simple breakdown: the Land of Snow might be small, but it produced goods, had ports, and possibly mines. A minor ally, sure — but every connection had value.
"Even if we don't get political leverage, we can still turn a tidy profit."
Guy's eyes lit up. "A side hustle for justice? I'm in!"
Kakashi didn't argue.
Normally, he'd let things slide if it were just him. But with Kazuki and Guy both motivated — and with good reasons — he was more than willing to lend a hand.
"So, what's your plan?" Kakashi asked, intrigued.
Kazuki leaned in, whispered his scheme.
"No one remembers the one who brings a gift when it's sunny," he said with a smirk. "But everyone remembers the one who brings firewood when it's snowing."
Kazuki's eyes gleamed.
He wasn't going to help Koyuki when she was strong.
He was going to save her when she was weak — and then, she'd never forget what Nara Kazuki had done for her.