"What did you just say?" Kazahana Koyuki exclaimed in shock at Sandayu's words.
"Princess Koyuki! The leader of Snow Village, the Demoness, was originally Kazahana Doto's woman. Now, she's rallying Snow's forces to destroy our country out of revenge!" Sandayu explained urgently, still using the old honorific for Koyuki.
Shikamaru let out a cold snort upon hearing Sandayu's report. Although the Land of Snow wasn't his concern, Kazahana Koyuki was his woman. How dare Snow Village target her? Clearly, they had grown tired of living.
"Ah... Shikamaru-sama! Hinata-sama..." Sandayu finally noticed Shikamaru and his companions. His face lit up with joy, especially upon seeing Hinata. In his eyes, even the mighty Kazahana Doto had fallen to Hinata's strength, while he'd never witnessed Shikamaru in action. The sight of Hinata gave him renewed hope.
Koyuki, reassured by Sandayu's reaction, composed herself and said, "Sandayu, keep this information confidential. Leave Snow Village to Shikamaru-sama."
"Yes, Princess Koyuki!" Sandayu replied and retreated, his worries momentarily eased.
"Shikamaru, what should we do now?" Koyuki anxiously clung to Shikamaru's arm once Sandayu left.
"Relax. Like you said, leave Snow Village to us." Shikamaru reassured her, brushing a hand affectionately through her hair.
"Fubuki!" Shikamaru called out to one of his team members.
"Present!" Fubuki promptly responded with respect.
"Take us to Snow Village. Hinata, you stay here to protect Koyuki and the others." Shikamaru instructed, leaving Hinata behind to guard the princess. It wasn't just her defensive skills; he also wanted to shield her from unnecessary bloodshed.
"Yes, my lord!" Fubuki replied immediately, without hesitation despite her loyalty to Snow Village.
"I understand, Shikamaru." Hinata said obediently, recognizing the importance of the mission.
⚔──────────────
In the tallest building of Snow Village, a middle-aged man dressed in Snow attire stood before a seductive silhouette, speaking respectfully. "Leader, our forces are fully assembled and ready to invade the Land of Snow at your command."
"Good." The alluring figure responded in a sultry tone, her voice both mesmerizing and chilling. "Have we heard anything about Kazahana Koyuki?"
"Yes, leader. Princess Koyuki has returned, accompanied by shinobi from the Leaf Village." the man reported with reverence.
"Oh? It must be Konoha's Shadow, Shikamaru, and the Byakugan user who killed Doto-sama, isn't it?" The seductive figure chuckled knowingly, as though anticipating this development. She turned to reveal herself, an enchanting, mature woman with an air of deadly elegance. She was none other than the leader of Snow Village, the Demoness.
"Yes, leader. There's also another woman I've never seen before, but she seems formidable." the man replied, his gaze betraying a flicker of awe.
Noticing his reaction, the Demoness stretched languidly, her voluptuous form on full display, eliciting a quickened breath from the man. She smirked slyly at his discomfort before dismissing him.
"I understand. You may go." she said.
"Yes, leader!" The man disappeared hastily, as if fleeing from an unbearable temptation.
"Foolish men." the Demoness murmured with an icy laugh. Her expression turned cold and vengeful as she muttered, "Shikamaru, Byakugan brat... I'll make you pay for taking my beloved away."
⚔──────────────
"Leader, Snow Village is just ahead." Fubuki announced, halting suddenly.
Shikamaru looked ahead, spotting a snow-blanketed village in the distance. "So, that's Snow Village," he said calmly. "Let's go."
Without concealing their presence, Shikamaru and his team strode toward the village. Fubuki and Kin flanked him, ready for action.
As they reached the gates, a volley of kunai and shuriken rained down on them. Before Shikamaru could react, the projectiles veered off course mid-air, scattering harmlessly.
Shikamaru glanced at Kin, who had subtly intervened. She met his gaze briefly before looking away, her cheeks tinged with red. Shikamaru chuckled internally. It seemed Kin's feelings for him were no secret, and perhaps it was time to address them.
"Kin." Shikamaru called out.
"Yes, Shikamaru-sama?" she replied eagerly.
"Handle those nuisances. Let's see how strong you've become." he said, curious about her abilities since she'd awakened her Kekkei Genkai.
"Yes, my lord!" Kin responded excitedly, charging into the fray. She saw this as an opportunity to prove herself.
"Fubuki, assist her." Shikamaru instructed.
"Understood!" Fubuki disappeared into the battle, her movements a blur as she engaged the enemy.
⚔──────────────
Atop the tallest building, the Demoness watched the chaos unfold below, her expression unreadable. She was unbothered by the deaths of her subordinates, confident they would deplete her enemies' chakra.
"Where is Shikamaru?" she mused aloud.
"Looking for me?" a casual voice spoke behind her.
Startled, the Demoness turned to find Shikamaru standing leisurely nearby. "You..." she gasped.
Shikamaru studied her, a striking woman in a tight purple outfit that highlighted her curves. A tinge of heat rose within him, but he pushed it aside. "You're the Demoness, right? Doto's lover?"
"Humph! It's Kazahana Doto." she corrected with a sneer. "And I've been waiting for you."
"Oh? You knew we'd come?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. He suspected she had deliberately lured Koyuki into seeking his help.
"Enough talk! Today, you will pay for Doto's death!" she snapped, weaving hand seals.
"Ice Style: Twin Dragon Frenzy!"
Two icy dragons erupted from the ground, charging toward Shikamaru with deadly force.
Smirking, Shikamaru vanished in a blur, the dragons crashing harmlessly into the ground. The resulting explosion leveled the building, scattering debris.
"Shadow Imitation Jutsu!" Shikamaru's voice rang out as he reappeared behind her. His jutsu connected, but the Demoness dissolved into an icy clone.
"So, you're skilled." Shikamaru muttered.
"More than that." the Demoness replied, stepping out of the shadows. "Now, behold Snow Village's ultimate weapon!"
Biting her finger, she performed a summoning technique.
"Summoning Jutsu: Ice Emperor Armor!"
⚔────────
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