Generally speaking, when a ninja wears such heavy armor, their speed would decrease, but those Snow Ninjas showed no sign of clumsiness. On the contrary, they moved swiftly, likely due to some specialized armor that enhances Taijutsu.
Therefore, going head-to-head with these Snow Ninjas is definitely not the best strategy.
Fortunately, Kakashi doesn't need to fight these Snow Ninjas directly; he only needs to escort the target safely out of the Land of Snow.
He stepped into a dark alley and entered the innermost house.
It was pitch black inside, with a strange musty smell, evidently uninhabited for a long time.
Kakashi groped for the hidden compartment in the dark, remembering it was behind the cabinet, in an inconspicuous recess. Pressing the mechanism inside the recess, he heard a series of clicking sounds, the sound of the stone slab rolling, as it opened beside him. By moonlight, he could see it was a concealed path leading underground.
Kakashi descended into the darkness, walking for about a minute until he reached the bottom.
It was still completely dark at the bottom, but through his perception Ninjutsu, Kakashi knew how many people were hiding there and where they were hidden.
He knocked on the door twice.
Kakashi stood in the darkness, waiting for someone on the other side to open the door.
He didn't have to wait long before the door was opened, and light from inside shone through the crack, illuminating Kakashi.
The person was dressed in the same blue and white specialized armor as the Snow Ninjas outside, with a headband engraved with a snowflake emblem.
Unlike the Snow Ninjas outside, these were confidants of the late Land of Snow Daimyo, Kazahana Sosetsu.
Without them, Kazahana Koyuki could never have escaped from the Kazahana City castle and remained unfound by Kazahana Doto's men until now.
Seeing Kakashi's attire and the Konoha headband on his forehead, the Snow Ninja visibly relaxed.
He didn't underestimate Kakashi because of his age.
With a mask and a short knife on his back, and a head of silver hair, even the ninjas of the faraway Land of Snow had heard of Kakashi's fame.
The son of Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, and a student of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, he was a genius Jonin who shone brightly in the previous ninja world war.
Konoha sent someone of his caliber, indicating they were taking the Land of Snow seriously and not just sending any ninja to deal with them.
Kakashi took out a letter and handed it to the Snow Ninja for verification.
"Please come in."
After confirming Kakashi was not a disguise of Kazahana Doto's men, the Snow Ninja opened the door wider, allowing Kakashi to enter.
It was a small stone room, with only the Snow Ninja and a little girl in fine clothes residing inside.
The girl looked at Kakashi, the stranger, with a face full of fear and tension.
Her identity was self-evident: the daughter of the late Land of Snow Daimyo Kazahana Sosetsu, and the princess of the Land of Snow, Kazahana Koyuki.
"Princess Koyuki, don't be afraid. This is Hatake Kakashi from Konoha, here to protect you."
Upon hearing the Snow Ninja's explanation, Kazahana Koyuki nodded, her tension and anxiety subsiding a little.
"So, what's the situation now?"
Kakashi nodded at Princess Koyuki and then turned to the Snow Ninja guard to inquire about the current state of affairs in Kazahana City.
"Most of the power in Kazahana City has been seized by the usurper Kazahana Doto, and those officials who didn't obey him have likely been purged by now."
The Snow Ninja guard sighed lightly.
This meant that it was only a matter of time before Kazahana Doto declared himself the new Daimyo of the Land of Snow.
His public statement claimed that his brother, Kazahana Sosetsu, had died of illness, and that the Land of Snow couldn't be leaderless even for a day. He used this upheaval to promote himself as the Daimyo.
Without a strong external intervention, the tragic princess Kazahana Koyuki would be unable to defeat the usurping Kazahana Doto and reclaim her rightful power.
However, it's too early to discuss these things now. The top priority is to get Princess Koyuki out of the Land of Snow and avoid this disaster altogether.
The thought of the peaceful Land of Snow falling into a bloody storm because of Kazahana Doto's ambition elicited a sense of helplessness.
"The situation is more severe than I imagined. How do we get Princess Koyuki out of Kazahana City?"
Kakashi wanted to hear the arrangements from the Snow Ninja, who was familiar with Kazahana City and the Land of Snow and likely had a plan.
"We'll create a distraction while you take Princess Koyuki and leave Kazahana City, then escape the Land of Snow."
"You all?"
The Snow Ninja nodded, "Yes, us. We're few, but enough to cause chaos and draw Kazahana Doto's men. That would be the best opportunity to take Princess Koyuki out of Kazahana City. Once out, Kazahana Doto, who hasn't fully grasped all the power of the Land of Snow, will have less ability to pursue."
It's simple but effective.
Moreover, there wasn't time for an elaborate plan.
Snow Ninjas from Kazahana Doto's faction would soon search the area.
Kakashi had no objections.
"Also, once Princess Koyuki is out, contact someone named Asama Sandayu in the Land of Rainbow."
The Snow Ninja spoke again.
"Asama Sandayu? Understood, I'll get in touch with him in the Land of Rainbow later."
Kakashi nodded earnestly.
Without further words, the Snow Ninja guard left the stone room to coordinate with his companions and divert the attention of Kazahana Doto's faction.