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

Every year, the country needs to purchase a lot of grain and daily necessities from the mainland.

"If only the Land of Snow had spring too," Kazahana Koyuki murmured. "It would be even more beautiful than spring in Konoha."

Gengetsu Shimura glanced at her but said nothing.

Without lingering too long, the group took a train to the capital of the Snow Country, Windflower City.

That's right, it's a train.

The Snow Country already has something that even the Five Great Nations don't have, but it's a coal-fired train that's extremely polluting and doesn't provide a very pleasant riding experience.

In just half a day, the group arrived at Fenghua City.

Upon entering the city, they headed straight for the royal palace in the very center. On the way, they encountered a middle-aged man.

Asama Santayu bowed respectfully, "Lord Nutao."

Feng Hua Xiao Xue also respectfully said, "Uncle Nu Tao."

"Santaifu, you've finally decided to bring Yuki back." The middle-aged man's expression was serious. He nodded to Asama Santaifu and his niece without a smile, then his gaze fell on Gengetsu and the other two, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Isn't the money your brother gave you enough? Why are the ninja guards children?"

"Lord Futao, that's not how it is."

Asama Santayu quickly explained, "Gengetsu Jonin is very strong. He is an excellent ninja recommended by the Third Hokage, and his teammates are also very powerful."

"That's it."

Feng Hua Nu Tao nodded slightly, said nothing more, and left.

Upon entering the palace, Asama Santayu led the group to the daimyo of the place—Fuka Hayase.

"Father!"

Feng Hua Xiao Xue happily ran up to a middle-aged man who bore a resemblance to Feng Hua Nu Tao.

Feng Hua Zaoxue smiled and nodded, "Xiaoxue, did you have fun this time?"

"Yes, I'm so happy. I want to go again after my birthday."

"No problem, it's summer there, the scenery is indeed very beautiful."

"It would be wonderful if we could see spring and summer in the land of snow."

Kazeka Hayase's eyes flickered. "Perhaps the Snow Country really will have spring in the future?"

"really?"

"Yes, as long as Xiaoxue likes it, it will definitely be available."

"Yes! I believe in Father!"

After a tender moment between father and daughter, Kazama Sayako turned to Gengetsu and the others. After Asama Santayu introduced them, Kazama Sayako politely thanked them for their hard work and then arranged accommodations for them.

"This person must be a very good father."

On the way to their lodgings, Uchiha Izumi whispered, "The way he looks at Xiaoxue is just like how my mother looks at me."

Gengetsu Shimura nodded noncommittally. "He's a good father."

But that doesn't necessarily make him a good ruler.

"Have the Jonin of Konoha found out anything?"

In a dimly lit, secret room, Feng Hua Nu Tao frowned, his expression even more somber than when they had first met.

A snow ninja with a purple ponytail, wearing a combat suit, shook her head. "We are too far from the Land of Fire. It will take a lot of time to investigate their information."

"In five days, it will be time for you to take action. It will be too late."

"However, the pattern on that little girl's clothes is the Uchiha clan crest."

"Uchiha?"

Feng Hua Nu Tao was even more worried. Who in the ninja world didn't know the Daimyo of the Uchiha clan?

He feared that Kazahana Sayayuki had noticed something, and that protecting Kazahana Koyuki was just a decoy; the Konoha ninjas were actually there to deal with him.

"Lord Nutao, I think you're overthinking it." The ponytail ninja didn't seem to care much about it.

"Wolf Fang Avalanche, why do you say that?" Feng Hua Nu Tao asked.

Wolf Fang Avalanche laughed and said, "If Konoha really colluded with Kazahana Hayate, the ninjas they sent wouldn't be such children, but rather those elite Jonin who have been famous for a long time."

"Even if he's an Uchiha, he's still a child. On the contrary, I would suggest you pay more attention to that guy named Gengetsu. Although he's also young, he's a Jonin after all, so don't underestimate him."

"Then let's proceed according to the original plan."

Feng Hua Nu Tao was not one to hesitate, and quickly made a decision: "If the Konoha ninjas jump out to stop us, they are yours. Just drive them away, don't kill them. After all, we can't afford to mess with the Land of Fire right now."

Looking at his snow-white armor, Wolf Fang Avalanche smiled confidently.

"With the chakra armor, the Snow Village can still handle a mere Jonin."

The Chakra Armor is the result of years of research by the Snow Village. It can not only enhance the chakra within the body, but also form a chakra shield on the body's surface to neutralize most ninjutsu.

With this armor, Wolf Fang Avalanche's confidence was off the charts.

After the two finished their discussion, Wolf Fang Avalanche left.

Looking towards the royal palace, Feng Hua Nu Tao clenched his fists. "Brother, only I can lead the Snow Kingdom to become stronger and a force comparable to the Five Great Nations."

"Cutting off the Snow Village's budget and even wanting to abolish the ninja village system...you're really courting death!"

"Xuan Yue, are you sure you really want to do this?"

In a courtyard, after listening to Shimura Gengetsu's plan for Uchiha Izumi to awaken her Sharingan, Uzuki Yugao asked in astonishment.

"This is the only way we can try it out for now."

Gengetsu Shimura stroked his chin. "Izumi is already this old, opening her eyes won't harm her body, but I can't really put her in danger, so I have to use other methods."

"Okay, but you have to explain it to Quan afterwards, otherwise I'm afraid she'll get angry and never talk to me again."

Uzuki Yugao turned her head uncomfortably, feeling her face starting to burn.

In the evening, after spending the afternoon building snowmen with Feng Hua and Xiao Xue, Quan happily returned to his lodgings.

The waiters from the Land of Snow have already brought over dinner.

"Let's go to the hot springs." After finishing her meal, Uzuki Yugao received a cue from Shimura Gengetsu and forced herself to speak.

"Great! Great!" Izumi's eyes lit up. There were two small hot spring pools behind the courtyard.

"Walk."

Gengetsu Shimura put down his chopsticks, and the three of them changed into yukatas and went to the backyard. There was a curtain separating the two small hot springs into a men's bath and a women's bath.

However, when they reached the pool, Uzuki Yugao suddenly let go of Uchiha Izumi's small hand.

"Sister Xiyan?"

Izumi Lori looked up, puzzled, at Uzuki Yugao who was standing still.

Uzuki Yugao nudged her, "Izumi, you're all alone here at the bar. I have to keep Xuan Yue-jun company and scrub his back."

"Huh?" Quan's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "But...but Xuan Yue is a boy."

"What's this?"

Uzuki Yugao casually tossed her hair, "I've been bathing with Gengetsu-kun for a long time and giving him massages to relieve his fatigue. It's all something I should do."

"Oh right, and you'll be sleeping alone tonight too. It's not convenient in the wild, but here, I'll be responsible for warming Xuan Yuejun's bed."

The light in Uchiha Izumi's eyes gradually faded.

At this moment, Shimura Gengetsu, who had already entered the hot spring, poked his head out and said impatiently, "Yugao, what are you dawdling for? Come here quickly."

"Quan, don't disturb us."

"I'm coming."

Uzuki Yugao walked over, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Uchiha Izumi was still standing there blankly without any reaction. With a sigh, she kissed Shimura Gengetsu on the forehead in front of her.

Genjuro Shimura also kissed her pretty face without backing down.

boom!

Uchiha Izumi's mind exploded.

"why why..."

“I was here first…”

A mysterious power surged into my eyes, and in an instant, the world turned blood red.

Two magatama appeared in his pupils, spinning wildly.

"It's a success!" Uzuki Yugao exclaimed softly, afraid of disturbing Uchiha Izumi's awakening of her Sharingan.

Gudong!

Gengetsu Shimura swallowed hard.

"This is no longer just a simple success..."

Looking at Izumi Lori's unprecedentedly terrifying expression, her eyes devoid of their luster, and those two spinning tomoe...