Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

Finally, the group that went to the Land of Snow to carry out the mission this time became Shimura Gengetsu, Uzuki Yugao, and Izumi.

Originally, he wanted to bring Yekura along, but Shimura Gengetsu thought about it and decided that it was better to leave a skilled person in the village just in case.

I'll have to take Yekura out another time.

The next day, at the hotel entrance, Xuan Yue and his two companions met Asama Santayu and Princess Fuka Koyuki.

The princess of the Land of Fire wore a purple kimono and had her hair styled in an ancient bun. She looked to be about eight or nine years old, with a bit of baby fat on her face, like the cutest and most exquisite porcelain doll.

"Wow...the princess is so cute." Uchiha Izumi exclaimed softly.

Last night, when Izumi learned that he was going to protect a princess, he was so excited that he couldn't sleep.

She had read many fairy tales about princesses, but had never met one in real life. Now, Feng Hua Xiaoxue perfectly matched her fantasy of a princess.

"Thank you, you're very cute too." Feng Hua Xiaoxue smiled shyly and performed a standard aristocratic etiquette.

Please take good care of me on the road.

“Alright, let’s set off now.” Shimura Gengetsu nodded and looked at Asama Santayu.

"Okay, let's go now."

Asama Santayu helped Fuuka Koyuki and a maid into the carriage, then drove it slowly away from Konoha Village.

To travel from Konoha to the Land of Snow, one must first go to the port in the eastern part of the Land of Fire.

If Shimura Gengetsu and his group were traveling at ninja speed, they could reach the port in two days. However, this was an escort mission, and to ensure comfort, Asama Santayu was not driving the carriage very fast.

We traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently along the way, and it took us a full two weeks.

Due to their age difference and the boredom of the journey, Uchiha Izumi and Kazahana Koyuki quickly became good friends.

The princess of the Snow Kingdom also revealed her true nature in front of her friends, becoming much more lively.

"Quan, is Lord Xuan Yue really as powerful as you say?"

“Of course.” Inside the carriage, Izumi patted his chest and assured them, “Xuan Yue is Konoha’s most outstanding genius. She also helped the village win the war, and the Land of Lightning even gave her a…”

What is Ye Shen's nickname?

"Konoha's Reaper..."

Through the carriage window, Fuuka Koyuki secretly glanced at Shimura Gengetsu, who was traveling alongside the carriage, her curiosity growing even stronger.

How did such a handsome young man become the Grim Reaper?

"Xuan Yue, what are you thinking about?"

Uzuki Yugao's gentle voice entered the boy's ears, startling him from his reverie.

"No, I just feel that Izumi should have her eyes opened now, and I'm thinking about how to help her..."

Recently, Gengetsu Shimura has been troubled by this.

It seems that Izumi Loli is being protected by him too well; she shows no signs of opening her eyes at all.

Even after being so provoked by Uchiha Taka last time, nothing changed.

Although he will always protect the spring, everyone makes mistakes sometimes, so improving his own strength is the right thing to do.

Shimura Gengetsu's requirement for Izumi was that she possess three tomoe, not even the Mangekyou Sharingan; she only needed to reach the level of an elite Jonin.

Chapter 88 The Minotaur's Eye-Opening Technique, The Birth of a Yandere

Upon arriving at the port, Shimura Gengetsu and his group rested for a day, prepared ample supplies, and then boarded the ship that Asama Santayu had booked in advance.

The danger at sea is not from people, but from nature.

The technology in this world is outrageous; they even have spy equipment like live streaming devices and audio/video recording devices, yet the ships are still wooden boats, which makes Shimura Gengetsu always have some doubts.

However, apart from him, it seems that no one else has such concerns.

Once on the ship, Quan became curious again.

Not only were they interested in the ships, but they were also filled with curiosity about the boundless sea.

"It's so blue, it's really beautiful."

"Yes, it's been a long time since I've seen the sea."

Uzuki Yugao stood beside Izumi, the sea breeze ruffling her purple hair, and the girl smiled knowingly, a sight to behold.

Click——!

Gengetsu Shimura took out his camera and captured the beautiful scene.

"Me too, me too!" When Quan saw Xuan Yue taking pictures, he quickly struck various energetic poses and took more than ten pictures in one go.

However, upon seeing the finished product, the two girls' faces fell.

Fuuka Koyuki also curiously came over, wanting to see how Shimura Gengetsu's photos turned out, but what she saw...

puff!

"Yes, I'm sorry." Feng Hua Xiaoxue was holding back her laughter with great pain. "I didn't want to laugh either, but I just couldn't help it."

The background is as sharp as a razor blade, and the figures melt like cream.

If it weren't for the difference in height, clothing, and hair, Feng Hua Xiaoxue really couldn't tell who the photo was of. The people were all blurred together, and the focus was entirely on the sea.

"Alas, it seems you don't understand the beauty of abstract art."

Gengetsu Shimura sighed, suddenly feeling a sense of shared misfortune with Deidara.

These people don't understand what true art is.

"Let me take the photos." Feng Hua Xiaoxue picked up the camera. "I'm very interested in movies, and I've even studied a lot of shooting techniques myself."

"Okay." Quan nodded her little head and pulled Feng Hua and Xiao Xue outside.

After drifting at sea for a week, Xuan Yue and her group were finally nearing their destination.

The weather was getting colder and colder, and everyone was wearing thick winter clothes. Xuan Yue even mocked Quan for getting so fat, which made Quan, the little girl, not speak to him for an hour.

In the end, it was only through the "head-patting charm" technique that he managed to coax her back to her senses.

Feng Hua Xiaoxue looked at the two with envy. In the Snow Kingdom, she held a noble status, but because she was too noble, she had no friends of the same age.

This is one of the reasons why I could have so much fun with Uchiha Izumi.

Although Quan always liked to call her princess, it was more out of longing for that title that he truly regarded her as an ordinary friend.

"Oh no! There are ice floes ahead!"

Just as Feng Hua Xiaoxue was lost in thought, a sailor's exclamation came from outside.

Xuan Yue led her men out to the bow of the ship and saw a huge ice floe several hundred meters away. It must have been drifting along with the waves. The helmsman hadn't seen it, and now it was impossible to turn around and go around it.

Seeing that they were about to collide, Asama Santayu had no choice but to look to Shimura Gengetsu for help, "Jonin Gengetsu, can you handle this?"

"give it to me."

Gengetsu Shimura nodded and quickly formed hand seals.

Fuuka Koyuki watched him with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. The journey had been smooth and without any danger, and this was the first time she had seen Shimura Gengetsu make a move.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bite!"

Suddenly, a dragon's roar echoed from the sea, and countless streams of water shot into the sky, converging in the air to form a gigantic water dragon. It roared and opened its blood-red maw, charging towards the huge ice floe.

boom!

To everyone's astonishment, the ice floe crackled and shattered into countless small pieces.

Gengetsu Shimura clasped his hands together again and channeled his chakra.

"Water Release: Wave Strike!"

A powerful current appeared in front of the ship, the sea churned up waves, and the giant waves swept away all the ice shards, clearing a safe passage.

"Great, that's it. As expected of a Jonin from Konoha."

Asama Santayu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, while the sailor beside him kept thanking the ninja.

Fuuka Koyuki looked at Shimura Gengetsu, who remained calm as if he had done something insignificant, with sparkling eyes.

Is this what ninjutsu is...?

The journey became much smoother thereafter, with no further unexpected incidents. Two days later, the ship arrived at the port of the Land of Snow.

"Welcome to the Land of Snow." After stepping ashore, Fuuka Koyuki gave a faint smile.

"As expected of the land of snow... Konoha has never had such thick snow before."

Quan looked around and saw nothing but icebergs and snow, which covered everything.

Although it was very impressive, after looking at it for a while, I felt it was too desolate.

"Is it like this all year round here?" Uzuki Yugao tightened her winter coat and asked softly.

It's June now, and Konoha is experiencing a period of intense heat.

“Yes, it’s always been like this,” Asama Santayu sighed.

Although the snow country is a popular vacation destination for many people due to its year-round snow cover, allowing them to experience the joy of skiing in the summer, the environment is too harsh for those who live there long-term.