Snow Country, once peaceful and beautiful, was now in ruins.
This icy land, usually pure and untouched, had been stained red with blood—the site of the largest war in its history.
Yet despite the overwhelming strength of Akagakure's forces, the ninja of Snow Country did not fall. Under the wise leadership of Sovereign Sosetsu Kazahana, they launched a fierce resistance against the invaders.
Throughout the battles, the Snow ninja used their deep knowledge of the frozen terrain to their advantage. Newly developed chakra-powered armor allowed them to stand against superior numbers, repelling enemy attacks again and again.
In contrast, the army of the Lightning Nation, overconfident at the start of the war and unaccustomed to the brutal cold, found itself stuck. Continued failures led to unrest among their ranks.
Then, suddenly, the situation took a sharp turn.
Doto Kazahana, Prime Minister of Snow Country and younger brother of Sosetsu Kazahana, long desired the throne. He turned traitor from within, leaking state secrets to Akagakure and working with enemy forces. In a coup, he imprisoned his own older brother.
When the news broke, shockwaves rippled across the nation, and the painstakingly built defenses collapsed overnight.
As history shows: even the mightiest walls crumble not from outside attacks, but from betrayal within.
Snow Country was no exception.
It wasn't defeated by foreign enemies—it fell because of betrayal from one of its own.
For his treachery, Doto Kazahana received promises from Raikage ninjas: Snow Country would not be annexed, but made a vassal state instead. He would take his older brother's place as sovereign ruler.
After all, no one else wanted to stay in this frozen wasteland.
In return, Doto signed a humiliating treaty with Akagakure, agreeing to pay tribute—money, supplies, and technological resources—every year.
Both sides got what they wanted.
Inside the castle, Doto hosted a grand banquet for high-ranking Raikage officers. Amid feasting, music, and dancing, they discussed the final details of the treasonous agreement—a scene of apparent mutual satisfaction.
Yet within this cheerful atmosphere, a most disharmonious sight unfolded:
In one corner of the hall stood several cages, holding Sosetsu Kazahana, his young daughter Yuki Kazahana, and several other Snow Country officials, displayed like animals for public viewing.
Worse still, chakra-inhibiting devices were attached to their abdomens—octopus-like machines that drained their chakra and created restraining barriers around their bodies, impossible to remove or destroy.
They looked pitiful.
Sosetsu's hair was messy, his eyes locked on his younger brother with burning fury and deep sorrow.
Beside him stood four-year-old Yuki, her eyes swollen from crying, tear marks fresh on her face—clearly terrified beyond measure.
But soon, even this bleak situation would change dramatically.
Just as Doto and the Akagakure commanders finished dividing up their gains and raised their cups to celebrate their new alliance—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shattered the silence. The grand hall's doors burst inward as massive wooden panels flew into the room, crashing heavily onto the banquet table, sending dishes flying and guests scattering in panic.
"Who dares?!" Doto shouted, startled and furious.
Only roaring wind and snow blasted in through the broken doorway in reply.
Whooooo!
Swirling snow blasted into the hall, instantly spreading frost across the floor as thick ice formed beneath their feet.
Wherever the cold swept, Raikage ninja and Doto Kazahana's men barely had time to react before they were frozen solid, turned into lifeless ice statues.
Doto Kazahana glared furiously. Letting out an angry roar filled with regret, he too was soon encased in ice, his life extinguished like the others.
This traitor, who hadn't even reigned as sovereign ruler for a single day, got exactly what he deserved.
Strangely, those waves of freezing snow seemed almost guided, deliberately avoiding Sosetsu Kazahana and the others cowering in the corner, sparing their lives.
"What's going on?!"
As Sosetsu Kazahana and the others stared in shock, echoing footsteps came from outside, and a man and woman entered the hall side by side.
They were naturally none other than Heiyan and Yurou the Immortal Sage.
Before Heiyan, these Raikage ninja and Snow ninja were utterly helpless, effortlessly wiped out like ragdolls.
Yurou stepped forward, unlocked the iron cage, and removed the chakra-inhibiting devices from Sosetsu Kazahana and the others, setting them free once more.
"We pay homage to Heiyan!"
The moment Sosetsu Kazahana stepped out of captivity, he bowed deeply to Heiyan, having recognized that this elder was indeed the legendary Heiyan, whose name spread far and wide across the Ninja world from Water Country.
"My sovereign ruler of Snow Country, please rise."
Heiyan himself moved forward to help Sosetsu Kazahana up, then said to them, "From now on, Snow Country is safe."
"We don't know how to thank you enough."
Sosetsu Kazahana remained deeply grateful yet puzzled inside—what reason could this renowned Immortal Sage possibly have for traveling far from Water Country just to rescue Snow Country?
His question found its answer in what Heiyan said next.
Heiyan plainly stated his intent to establish a ninja village overseas and had come specifically seeking advanced technology and skilled individuals from Snow Country.
To demonstrate sincerity, he immediately presented a fortune in gold worth more than 100 million ryō.
Upon hearing this, Sosetsu Kazahana and the rest were both stunned and deeply honored.
You see, this was an era dominated by Ninja. Although Snow Country had developed certain technologies, compared to ninja powers, such achievements seemed insignificant—mere frivolous gimmicks.
Never did anyone expect that, in Heiyan's eyes, these techniques actually represented progress so significant that he personally traveled here, offering such a large sum to purchase them.
Faced with Heiyan's genuine intention, Sosetsu Kazahana had no reason to refuse; even without considering the recent salvation Heiyan brought to Snow Country, the 100 million ryō payment itself was already tempting enough.
Therefore, after brief preparations,
Sosetsu Kazahana immediately issued a nationwide declaration announcing victory in the war, especially thanking Heiyan for her assistance.
Then, he declared again to the citizens that Heiyan had invested 100 million ryō to buy and introduce Snow Country's technology and talent, urging people to actively apply.
Once announced, the news caused nationwide excitement.
The country had just gone through war, leaving countless people homeless and without work.
This kind of opportunity must naturally be seized with both hands.
For a while, people came flocking to sign up until they nearly broke down the castle gates.
Three days later,
In front of the castle's open lot gathered three hundred carefully selected scientists, engineers, and technical workers along with their families – over a thousand people in total.
Additionally, there were numerous products and equipment representing Snow Country's technological achievements: steam locomotives, airships, photographic equipment, and Chakra armor.
This armor developed by Snow Country could amplify internal Chakra, enhance various Ninjutsu techniques, form a Chakra-infused defensive barrier around the body, and neutralize Chakra-based attacks. Ninjutsu or Genjutsu below a certain power level became completely ineffective.
Moreover, some models even featured wings that enabled flight through the skies.
In functional terms, these armors were essentially a diluted version of Sage Transformation.
This was what defined as Ninja-Ware.
By widely equipping this type of armor, the ninja of Snow Country managed to hold their ground against Cloud ninja whose numbers and strength were several times greater.
If this armor could be popularized throughout Penglai, even reaching a point where every citizen could be armed during wartime, then Penglai's overall military might would likely rival the Five Great Nations – even without considering elite fighters like Heiyan.
At the front of the crowd, Sosetsu Kazahana was seeing Heiyan's group off.
"Master Hermit, this is my daughter Yuki Kazahana. I hope she can travel with you to Penglai to broaden her horizons and grow from the experience."
Sosetsu Kazahana gently held her daughter's hand and made the request to Heiyan with sincerity.
Oh?
Upon hearing this, Heiyan lowered his gaze toward Yuki Kazahana, who shyly hid behind her father, clutching at her mother's robe with a nervous demeanor.
After all, for a four-year-old little girl, leaving her hometown to live somewhere completely unfamiliar was quite difficult.
If he remembered correctly, in the original canon timeline, this girl Yuki Kazahana had become a famous movie star under the stage name Fuji Yukie, and crossed paths with both a young Kakashi and later Naruto.
Thinking about this, Heiyan nodded in agreement and smiled at Yurou beside him:
"I guess I'll trouble you again."
"No problem. I just love kids."
With a gentle smile, Yurou stepped forward to take Yuki Kazahana's small hand. The warm, motherly presence radiating from her quickly helped ease the little girl's nerves.
"Master Hermit, forgive me for asking, but surely you do want me to arrange a train to escort you out?"
At this moment, Sosetsu Kazahana asked Heiyan again with a puzzled expression.
He truly couldn't understand how over a thousand people and so much equipment would leave Snow Country without using trains.
But moments later, his eyes widened — it was the biggest shock of his life.
Heiyan politely declined Sosetsu Kazahana's offer and thanked him before clapping his hands together. The Kamui Mangekyou Sharingan pattern reappeared in his right eye as he activated his ocular power.
Vibrations rippled through the air, accompanied by a low hum [Bzzz].
A surge of spatial energy swept down, instantly transporting every single one of the thousand people gathered there — along with all the technological equipment — into Kamui's space.
This scene made Sosetsu Kazahana and the others profoundly understand what an Immortal sage truly was.
Whoosh!
After using Kamui, Heiyan and Yurou rode upon clouds into the sky, departing this icy nation while being respectfully seen off by Sosetsu and the others.
One day later.
The two returned to the Land of Water and descended upon Kirigakure.
By then, news had already reached Mist that Cloud's village had been destroyed and it had announced a withdrawal of troops. The village was filled with celebration, holding a grand festive event.
The title "Turtle Sage" had now become a myth in the hearts of countless citizens of the Land of Water.
Without the Turtle Sage, there would be no Kirigakure today, nor peace and tranquility in the Land of Water.
Heiyan immediately summoned Sage Master, informed him of Penglai's location (the legendary island known for its mystical properties), and instructed him to notify relevant departments within Mist to establish a trade route across the sea, transporting the Land of Water's specialty products and goods to Penglai for sale, achieving mutual benefit through resource exchange.
Starting from today, Penglai and Kirigakure would initially establish stable partnership relations and gradually realize exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
After finishing all matters in Kirigakure,
Heiyan and his companion lost no time, continuing southward until reaching the territory of Kumogakure.
In the woods near Hoshigakure, Pakura hid here together with a group of teenagers.
Several days ago, after arriving at Hoshigakure, she conducted thorough reconnaissance and planning. Then one night, she launched a sudden raid on the prison, killing the guards and successfully rescuing more than thirty boys and girls.
Among them was the red-haired girl Summer, whom Heiyan specifically requested to save.
These youths had been imprisoned by Ninja from Konoha as bargaining chips used to coerce the Star Shadow into revealing Hoshigakure's secrets.
The Star Shadow refused to comply under any circumstances, eventually suffering execution.
Fortunately, Pakura intervened in time; otherwise, these youths would not have escaped their impending elimination.
Unfortunately, although they were rescued, with only Pakura's strength against numerous Konoha pursuers blocking her way, escaping from the Land of Lightning with these kids was almost impossible.
Soon enough, their group was caught up with and surrounded.
From their enemies' attire and masks, Pakura recognized they must be Root agents from Konoha.
These Root agents were known for their merciless cruelty.
Realizing this, Pakura braced herself for a life-or-death battle.
With her abilities, she could easily escape if wanted, but she would never abandon these children.
"Pakura-sama, I will fight alongside you!"
Summer stepped forward from the crowd, holding a kunai firmly in hand, her gaze determined toward the enemy ahead.
No wonder she was the chosen prodigy of Heiyan.
Pakura cast a glance full of appreciation toward Summer, though guilt stirred within her heart.
This time she'd acted recklessly, foolishly volunteering without consulting Heiyan to complete this mission alone.
Right at that moment,
"Kill them!"
The Root squad leader coldly issued orders. Immediately following that command, every ninja rushed forward, charging straight at Pakura and others.
With a fierce battle cry, Pakura unleashed her Scorch Release fireballs swirling around her body, ready to fight back desperately—but suddenly noticed confusion erupting among the enemies.
Splash.
It turned out to be a vast sea of acid, pouring down from the sky like a waterfall. The Root agents were caught completely off guard. With the acid covering such an enormous area, not a single one of them escaped its reach—they were all swallowed up.
Under the corrosive power of this sea of acid, they cried out in agony. In an instant, their bodies turned into piles of animal skeletons, and eventually, even the bones themselves vanished without a trace.
"Fall back! There's an ambush!"
Seeing this, the Root squad leader roared furiously, not even looking back as he turned and fled.
"This kind of attack... it's Yurou, the Sage Slug!"
Pakura murmured, watching the scene unfold. She quickly looked up and indeed saw Yurou descending from the sky.
"Big Sister Yurou, why are you here?"
She was both shocked and thrilled.
"Heiyan and I wrapped things up, so I came here to back you up."
Smiling happily, Yurou created dozens of clones and ordered them to heal the young boys and girls' injuries.
"Then I'll go after the fleeing enemies!"
Seeing that Summer and the others were safe, Pakura suggested chasing after the enemies — she wasn't about to let them get away that easily.
"Don't worry. Heiyan won't let them escape."
Yurou placed a hand on Pakura's shoulder, signaling her to relax and rest properly. The rest will be taken care of by Heiyan.
Heiyan?
Standing nearby, Summer listened to this name that sounded somewhat familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. In his mind, a vague image gradually formed—one of a young man with black hair.
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