Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

Tsurugi Fubuki, one of the three Snow Ninja, died at Naruto's hands.

The battle ended in an instant.

"You're probably the only one in the entire ninja world who would rescue a shadow clone with your main body."

Naruto looked at Naruto's retreating figure and said with a slightly teasing tone.

Naruko was not surprised by Naruto's sudden appearance, as both she and her shadow clone "Sakakibara" had Naruto's Flying Thunder God mark on their bodies.

Naruko was more concerned about Naruto's "solo appearance".

"It seems I'm the only one left as a shadow clone."

Having fulfilled his purpose, Sakakibara's shadow clone naturally dispelled the technique.

"Karin and Fuuka Koyuki were just arrested."

“I know, Fuuka Ryuu has just appeared over there. And it’s fine as it is now, it saves me a lot of trouble—Judging from the map of the Snow Country that Santayu showed me earlier, the location of the Fuuka Ryuu airship should be that he went directly to the Rainbow Ice Wall in the Snow Country after getting the hexagonal crystal from Fuuka Koyuki.”

Naruto glanced at Naruko: "Our plan needs to be moved up."

"I see."

Naruko indicated that she understood.

Naruto saved Naruko because her shadow clone was about to come into play.

Although Karin is still somewhat naive in dealing with people, it doesn't mean she's not perceptive. She can clearly distinguish "Naruko," with whom she has formed a bond.

Chapter 18 Wind, Flowers, and Light Snow

On the airship, the kidnapped Xiaoxue was enjoying VIP treatment.

The ordinary snow ninjas invited her to sit in the VIP seat on the airship.

It seems that she truly holds such a position in this snowy country.

Karin, who was kidnapped along with her, did not receive such good treatment.

The snow ninjas roughly restrained her, about to take her to some unknown place.

Kazeka Koyuki hurriedly reached out and grabbed Karin, preventing Yukishino from taking Karin away.

"It's alright, it won't be a problem for her to stay here."

In front of Feng Hua Xiao Xue, the robust middle-aged man gave orders to the Xue Ren in a deep voice.

The man who spoke had long, slicked-back black hair, and his entire body was hidden in a loose cloak.

Even after ten years, his image is still deeply imprinted in Feng Hua Xiaoxue's mind.

Men are like a stormy sea!

"This red-haired girl is probably a descendant of the famous Uzumaki clan, who possesses immense chakra. She's perfect material for experiments... Avalanche."

Feng Hua Nu Tao glanced at the male ninja beside him. This snow ninja with a light blue high ponytail walked towards a corner of the airship against the wall.

This snow ninja's name is Wolf Fang Avalanche.

The man who had just hooked Kazeka Koyuki and Karin onto the airship was a burly snow ninja with small eyes and thick lips, and a winter bear named Hyoyu.

And another female snow ninja who is not here at the moment, named Tsurugi Fubuki.

The three of them were Feng Hua Nu Tao's confidants.

Feng Hua Xiaoxue still remembered these three people; they were the ones who contributed the most to the fire ten years ago.

Like the raging waves and the swirling wind, he is an enemy of the gentle snow.

But Feng Hua Xiaoxue just looked at them with a cold expression.

Feng Hua Xiaoxue knew her own weakness; she was undoubtedly a complete and utter weakling.

They didn't even dare to express anger towards their enemies.

She simply covered her face with the acting skills of an actress, concealing her inner fear and timidity.

"What... are you going to do to Karin?"

However, Koyuki Fuuka did not want to involve Karin, an outsider, in the internal strife of the Fuuka family in the Land of Snow.

You'll find out soon enough.

As Feng Hua Nu Tao spoke, a circular device with six raised lines along its edge appeared in Langya Xue Beng's hand.

Wolf Fang Avalanche pressed the device against Karin's abdomen through her clothes.

Sensing the chakra emanating from Karin, the device extended chakra-absorbing tubes from its six protrusions, which then firmly adhered to Karin.

A bright electric current surged around Karin, and she suddenly became extremely weak, her legs buckling as she was about to collapse to the ground.

With quick reflexes, Feng Hua Xiaoxue caught Xiang Lin in her arms.

"Huali, are you alright?"

Feng Hua Xiao Xue asked Xiang Lin with concern.

Karin simply shook her head; she was mostly fine, but—

"This device absorbs chakra."

Karin became weak due to the momentary discomfort caused by the absorption of her chakra.

"Although it's still just an experimental product, the results are quite good."

Fuuka Nutsou was focused on the effectiveness of the chakra absorption device on Karin's body.

Even though Karin is a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, she cannot use chakra, so having a large amount of chakra is useless.

They learned that the device only restricted the use of chakra and would not take Karin's life.

Feng Hua Xiaoxue was finally relieved.

Then she suddenly realized that the airship had become completely silent.

The overly quiet environment made Feng Hua Xiaoxue subconsciously soften her breathing.

"That's enough for now, Xiaoxue. It's been ten years."

The raging wind and waves broke the silence inside the airship.

He was not referring to Fuuka Koyuki by the name of the actress known to the public, "Fuji Fuuka Koyuki," but rather as the princess of the Snow Country.

Wind, flowers, and light snow.

This name carries too many painful memories, yet the instigator, Feng Hua Nu Tao, so easily calls her that.

"Amidst the raging winds and waves, I have no lingering attachment to the Land of Snow."

Kazeka Koyuki assumed that her sudden appearance in the Snow Country had aroused Kazeka Nutō's suspicion, which is why she took the initiative to sever all ties with the Snow Country.

"It's great that you have this idea, but it would have been better if you had told me sooner."

The tone of his passionate words turned into a feigned regret.

As Feng Hua Xiaoxue stared at Feng Hua Nutao's subpar acting, a sudden alarm bell rang in her heart.

A bad feeling welled up in Feng Hua Xiaoxue's heart and wouldn't go away.

What do you mean by that?

"I thought those guys who returned to the Snow Country with you... were the power you were gathering to rebel against me."

Feng Hua Nu Tao spoke the cruelest words in a calm tone, "So, I made them feel—despair."

Upon hearing Feng Hua Nu Tao's words, Feng Hua Xiao Xue's pupils contracted sharply.

But she felt...it was only natural.

The terrifying ruthlessness of the wind, flowers, and raging waves was something Feng Hua Xiao Xue had personally experienced ten years ago.

That's why she frantically tried to escape the film crew; if she ran away, at least she would be the only one suffering.

But she couldn't escape; it was as if fate had already decided.

It seems she's destined to return to the Land of Snow...

But what good would returning to the Land of Snow do? It would just be repeating the pain of the past.

"...Fortunately, the ties between the Feng Hua family have not been severed. Your words just now made me feel very gratified, Xiao Xue."

The concessions of Feng Hua Xiao Xue were met with Feng Hua Nu Tao's further encroachment.

However, Fuuka Koyuki herself was not in a position to make concessions. For a concession to be made, both sides should at least be evenly matched in strength on the surface.

Feng Hua Xiao Xue stared blankly at Feng Hua Nu Tao.

Feng Hua Nu Tao stopped being mysterious and said, "Ten years ago, the ninjas of Konoha accepted your father... Hayayuki's request and took you away from the Land of Snow. Hayayuki should have given you a pendant before you left, right?"

Feng Hua Xiao Xue knows what Feng Hua Nu Tao refers to.

"Do you have that pendant called hexagonal crystal with you now?"

Feng Hua Nu Tao patiently waited for Feng Hua Xiao Xue's reply.

His gaze shifted from Fuuka Koyuki to Karin in her arms: "Leave her to me. I can guarantee I won't hurt you or this little girl who's protecting you."

What do you need that pendant for?

Kazeka Koyuki looked puzzled. When Kazeka Shoyuki handed her the hexagonal crystal, she didn't say much.

For the past ten years, Feng Hua Xiao Xue has only kept the hexagonal crystal as her father's sole keepsake, a memento of his passing.

Judging from Feng Hua Nu Tao's attitude, he seized Feng Hua Xiao Xue not because he was afraid that Feng Hua Xiao Xue was preparing to regain power and compete with him for the Snow Kingdom.

Instead, he coveted the pendant.

"As expected, you know nothing. When I took over this country from Hayayuki, I found it to be extremely poor and destitute. However, Hayayuki's secret documents repeatedly mentioned hexagonal crystals and rainbow ice walls."

"Your father must have hidden the treasures of the Snow Kingdom within the Rainbow Ice Wall, and the hexagonal crystal is the key to unlocking those treasures."

"With that wealth, I can expand the production and research of chakra armor, defeat the five great nations in one fell swoop, and take this world for myself!"

The raging waves and turbulent waters make no attempt to conceal their ambition.

In his view, the defenseless Fuuka Koyuki was the perfect listener.