Back in the boat, Naruto placed the catatonic Koyuki on her bed, snapping his fingers in front of her face but getting nothing.
Kakashi stepped and slowly swiped his palm near her face, Koyuki falling back on her pillow, unconscious.
"Let's give her some time to rest."
Kakashi walked out with his team and Sandayu, going to a meeting room where everyone was already waiting.
"You have some explaining to do, Sandayu."
The director said, glaring at the man behind his glasses.
"Yeah, when were you going to tell us about Yukie being the princess of the Land of Snow? Were you using us the whole time?"
Another spoke up, more disappointed than angry.
Sandayu got on his knees and bowed, his forehead touching the ground.
"I apologize for all of this. But… this is for the sake of our people, the people of the Land of Snow."
Sandayu said earnestly before turning and bowing to Kakashi and his team.
"Please help the princess overthrow Doto. I'm willing to offer you whatever price you decide, along with the chakra armor of those you defeat."
Kakashi raised a brow.
"Are you sure you have the authority to make that offer? If you wish us to deal with Doto, then that would make Koyuki the new Daimyo of the Land of the Snow."
Kakashi watched him squirm as well as the reactions of the film crew before shrugging.
"Fine, but our deal is set in stone; you'll have to pay us a commission for an S-Rank mission, and the chakra armor of those three from earlier belongs to the Hokage to decide what to do with them."
"Thank you."
Sandayu kept his forehead on the wooden floor, crying silent tears of relief.
Kakashi nodded to the film crew before escorting his team out, giving them all time alone and walking back to Koyuki's room.
"Why are we back in here, sensei? Didn't you say to give her time to rest?"
Karin asked
Sasuke wondered the same as he watched her fall back into the pillow after whatever Kakashi did.
"Maa, well, she faked it. I didn't put her to sleep, isn't that right, Koyuki?"
Kakashi replied, watching Koyuki crack her eyes open.
"What did you do?"
Koyuki asked, having not been put to sleep; her mind was no longer in a state of distress like it was during the battle.
Kakashi waved it off.
"You heard everything, correct?"
Kakashi asked rhetorically
"You don't have the option to run away from this forever, Koyuki. Doto will chase you until you're dead."
Koyuki gripped her blanket in a death grip, knuckles white and hands shaking, in a mix of emotions Kakashi perceived as a dull, miscolored rainbow.
"I should have died with my father… at least then I'd have been with him."
Koyuki muttered softly, not a reply to Kakashi's words, but her thoughts escaping.
"Do you think that's what he'd want from you?"
Naruto spoke up suddenly, stepping up to the side of her bed.
"And what would you know?!"
Koyuki shouted, throwing her covers off her bed as she stood to glare at Naruto.
Kakashi felt the signatures of the movie people, and Sandayu got closer.
"Sasuke, go make sure no one enters this room; it would interfere with what Naruto is trying to do."
Kakashi whispered.
Sasuke silently slipped from the room, going unnoticed by the furious princess.
"My father and mother not only died for me, but for the entire village."
Naruto's reply took the wind out of her sails before he continued, gesturing to Kakashi.
"Kakashi sensei was the student of my father, and he knew my mother well. I've learned all about them and how much they'd have loved raising me. You have memories of your father, Koyuki. Do you really want to let his memory be trampled on by this Doto? Fight with us, Koyuki, for the memory of your father and the people of the Land of Snow."
For the first time in years, Koyuki's eyes watered, but no tears fell.
"This is reckless, suicidal even. Doto has too much power."
Naruto smiled softly.
"Nothing worth fighting for is ever without its risks."
Naruto held out his hand.
"Fight for it, Koyuki; only then will your life have meaning again."
Koyuki couldn't stop the dam that was her tears, lunging towards Naruto and crying into his shoulder.
Kakashi quietly led Karin out as Koyuki let out years of sorrow, anger, and heartbreak, Karin giving Koyuki a sympathetic look as she too felt like that when her mother died.
"Is Princess-"
Kakashi raised a finger to his lips, interrupting Sandayu and waving them away with a look that perfectly conveyed 'Give her space.'
The crew and the rest of Kakashi's team left to prepare for docking, as they were only 10 minutes away from where they planned to unload everything and continue in snow trucks.
- 10 minutes later -
Arriving at the shore, the movie crew lowered a bridge on the boat and unloaded a bunch of snow trucks, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Karin splitting up into three while Naruto guarded Koyuki in the fourth.
The group rode trails, made their own trails, and went through a large tunnel of ice, stopping once out to film a scene.
"Alright, everyone, unload the camera and get ready!"
The director shouted as they all stepped out of their vehicles.
Kakashi and his team helped set up everything, but just as they were about to begin filming, the snow under their feet melted from chakra-coated train tracks.
"Everyone, get back, get to safety!"
Sandayu warned, running off with a determined look.
Kakashi helped the crew to safety on a nearby hill while the rest of the team waited.
A large train blew through the tunnel at blistering speed a minute later, coming to a stop beside the team with a sharp hiss.
Naruto stepped in front of Koyuki, Karin, and Sasuke on his left and right as they all pulled out kunai.
"Stay here, everyone, don't attempt to get any closer."
Kakashi advised before leaping away, leaving his team to deal with the situation as he went further down the train tracks and placed bombs all over the bridge.
After loading the bombs, Kakashi hurried back, feeling the signature of Sandayu and many more following behind them.
- -
"Doto!"
Sandayu shouted from atop a snowy hill, catching the attention of everyone, dressed in samurai attire and with a group of samurai behind him, all resolved to fight and die if they must.
Doto turned, looking at Sandayu with utter disinterest.
"Sandayu."
"Everyone, today is the day we take the Land of Snow back!"
The gathered Samurai roared in response, ready to charge when Sandayu gave the order.
"I, Sandayu Asada, and fifty loyal warriors will avenge the late and rightful ruler of the Land of Snow, Lord Sosetsu Kazahana."
Doto scoffed, somewhat amused by their declaration.
Sandayu charged, and the fifty samurai charged behind him, battle cries reverberating loudly.
Doto smirked as the train's compartments began to open, revealing launchers aimed at the charging force.
The Samurai, despite the unknown, continued to charge, a volley of kunai shooting out just as a Kakashi landed in front of them and slammed his hands on the ground.
"Earth Release: Multi-Style Earth-Style Wall"
A wall of Earth mixed with a thin layer of quartz rose up just in time, countless kunai slamming into the large wall and bouncing off in a continuous volley.
"Kakashi?"
Sandayu exclaimed in shock, realizing that he was a second away from leading these men to their deaths.
"Circle around, but don't engage any of the ninja; leave that to us."
Kakashi ordered, looking to the side to see all three of the ninja trying to capture Koyuki this time, to no avail.
The samurai raised their blades and charged from a different angle, away from the shuriken launchers, as Doto's own force emerged from the train and met them in combat. Blades met blade, and sparks flew.
Doto felt a chill run down his spine as he remembered the warning Nadare gave him about Kakashi: he made a signal and fled with his three subordinates; the 15 minions not fast enough to jump back on were left behind and quickly surrendered under Kakashi's gaze and his team's.
"Do we chase, sensei?"
Karin asked
Kakashi shook his head, bringing his fingers up and flaring his chakra right as the train arrived at the bridge.
*Boom,boom,boom,boom,boom,boom
- Chapter End -