Escape From Konoha

Chapter 203: 199: Adopt

He boarded a cruise ship from the Land of Fire's port, traversed the Strait of the Land of Wind along the sea, and drifted for three or four days before finally reaching the port of the Land of Snow.

Cold.

This was Kakashi's first impression of the Land of Snow. The majority of the land was covered in pale snow throughout the year, reminiscent of the constant rainfall in the Land Of Rain. Frozen mountains and woods could be seen everywhere, with thick snow accumulating on the mountains and branches, adding a pervasive chill to the atmosphere.

After disembarking at the port of the country, Kakashi chose not to take the official road to the capital. Instead, he discreetly followed the snow-covered forest path, arriving in close unnoticed. Although he was quite disappointed that his vacation plans fell through, duty called, and he had to execute it flawlessly.

It was something that couldn't be helped. The Fourth Hokage's subordinates were basically unavailable. The Anbu recruiting plan faced constant obstruction, hindering even the recruiting. However, this political struggle was beyond Kakashi's role as a part-time ninja and Anbu team leader.

After all, even the Sannin had withdrawn, and intervening would be useless.

Jiraiya pretended to be crazy, neither helping Minato nor supporting his sensei. Tsunade left Konoha due to a business trip, and Orochimaru had been silent for months. It indicated the turmoil within Konoha.

And Minato's mission this time to the Land of Snow wouldn't be a simple mission. A few days ago, there was a bloody coup in the Land of Snow.

The younger brother of Snow Daimyo, Kazahana Dot, gathered a large number of ninjas, assassinated his elder brother Kazahana Ssetsu, and her ruthlessly slaughtered anyone opposing his rule as the new Diamyo. He had brutally seized control of the Land of Snow.

While the coup would certainly bring instability to the regime relying on terror and violence, the Land Of Snow definitely belonged to Doto.

The reason for Dot's coup and his killing of his brother was unknown to Kakashi. His mission wasn't to save the Land of Snow but to secretly extract Kazahana Koyuki, the former Daimyo's daughter, the sole heir, to safety and find her a secured place to settle down. As for what happens next, it wasn't his concern.

Originally, Konoha wouldn't interfere in such matters, but the deceased Land of Snow's daimyo had generously rewarded Konoha. Konoha, slowly recovering from the ninja war, lacked funds. As long as the assistance from the Land of Snow, resolved Konoha's urgent needs, it was sufficient for Hokage Minato to give the green light.

Given these circumstances, Kakashi's arrival made perfect sense. The only thing unpleasant was the disruption of his leisurely vacation plans.

From the gathered inyel, Koyuki was secretly moved out of the castle during the coup and was currently hiding in a corner of Yuki City under protection. The rebel, Dot, had dispatched nins under his command to blockade Yuki City, and initiated a citywide search for the Princess.

Kakashi couldn't predict when Dot would find Koyuki. But judging from the current situation, he needed to act quickly as possible. Before Dot found her, he had to successfully rescue her and safely escort her out of the Land of Snow. If she fell into Dot's hands, the mission's difficulty would increase from A-rank to S-rank.

Minato's order to Kakashi was clear: depending on the circumstances, if Koyuki was captured, he could abandon the mission. The Land of Snow might lack a ninja village, but it didn't mean there were no ninjas. The ninjas in the Land of Snow were called Yuki nins, not affiliated with a ninja village but a force trained by the daimyo.

However, in this generation, Doto had seized control of most Yuki nins, the power of this ninjas fueled his ambitions to replace his brother Ssetsu as the new daimyo.

.....

After hours of travel, the sky had darkened, and the city was in sight. A magnificent city stood on the mountainside, covered with cold snowflakes that fell profusely under the night sky.

The city wall was tall and thick. Climbing such a structure might be a dream for ordinary people, but for them, it was mere decoration.

Easily crossing the city wall, Kakashi avoided the guards and entered silently. The letter had pinpointed the princess's hidden location in the city, and Kakashi rushed there.

It was a dilapidated private house. After evading the Yuki ninjas combing the city, Kakashi showed himself and watched as the ninjas left. The number of ninjas searching the city was far more than his expectations. They wore wore some kind of blue and white thick with a core device resembling a gem on their chest, which gave him a bad feeling.

Typically, such bulky armor would slow down a ninja's speed, but these ninjas moved swiftly, hinting at a special armor enhancing their agility. Therefore it probably wasn't the best strategy to confront them head-on. Fortunately, he didn't need to engage them directly; he just needed to safely extract the target from the Land of Snow.

Entering a dark path, Kakashi reached the innermost house.

It was dark inside, but there was a strange musty smell, signifying no one had lived here for a long time.

In the dark, Kakashi located the secret compartment, recalling it was behind the cabinet. Pressing the mechanism in the concave hole, a click sounded, and a stone slab slid open, revealing a hidden path to the ground, illuminated by moonlight. He walked down the dark path for about a minute before reaching the bottom. Though still pitch-black through his senses, he discerned the number of people hiding and where they hid.

Two knocks sounded on the door.

Kakashi stood in the darkness, waiting for whoever were on the other side of the door to open.

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Creak!

The wait wasn't long; the door creaked open, revealing light that shone on Kakashi.

A Yuki ninja, similar to those outside, stood there, donning blue and white armor with the snowflake imprint forehead protector. Different from the ninjas outside, these were ninjas solely belonging to the late Snow Daimyo.

Without them, Koyuki wouldn't have safely escaped the castle, remaining undiscovered by Doto.

The Yuki ninja, seeing Kakashi's Konoha attire and forehead protector, visibly sighed in relief.

They didn't underestimate Kakashi due to his age. Even in the remote Land of Snow, with his mask, sword, and silver hair, Kakashi's reputation preceded him. The son of Konoha's White Fang Hatake Sakumo, a student of the Fourth Hokage Minato, Kakashi was a genius Jonin who had shone in the previous war.

Konoha sending him here, obviously meant they had a sincere concern for the Land of Snow, not just sending a ninja to deceive them.

Kakashi took out a letter handing it to the ninja for verification.

"Come in."

Realizing Kakashi wasn't a Doto supporter, they opened the door wider. The stone room was small, housing only a little girl besides the ninja.

Her identity was quite clear, the daughter of the lat Snow Daimyo. She looked at Kakshi with fear and nervousness.

"Koyuki-sama, please don't be afraid. This is Hatake Kakashi from Konoha. He's here to protect you."

After the ninja's explanation, Koyuki nodded, her tension easing a bit.

"Tell me about the current situation?" Kakashi nodded to the Princess, then turned to the nin.

"Most of the power in the city is being controlled by the traitor, Doto. Officials who opposed him must have been executed by now." The ninja sighed softly.

This implied that Doto's ascent as the new daimyo of the Land of Snow was imminent. Doto's public declaration to the outside countries stated his brother Ssetsu died of illness and that the Land of Snow couldn't be left without a leader for a day.

Without powerful external intervention, the princess couldn't overthrow the usurper and reclaim her power. But it was too early to discuss these matters. The priority was to get the Yuki Princess out of the Land of Snow to escape the impending catastrophe.

"The situation is graver than imagined. How do we get her out of this city?"

Kakashi wanted to hear the arrangements that had beej made. He was a local, they would likely have made plans long time ago.

"I'll draw the firepower, and you lead Koyuki-sama to leave the city and escape from the Land of Snow."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, we.. Although we're not that much, we're enough to cause chaos and distract those who will chase. When the time comes, it will be the best time to take Koyuki-sama out of the city. As long as you leave quickly, Doto who's yet regain the full power, won't have enough people to chase."

Simple but effective. Moreover, there wasn't enough time lay out careful plans. Doto's ninjas would soon search the area.

Kakashi had no objections.

"By the way, after taking Koyuki-sama away from here, please go to the Land of Rainbows and find a way contact a mam called Sanday Asama.".

"Sanday Asama? I understand. I'll go to the Land of Rainbow to contact him later." Kakashi nodded solemnly. Without saying much, the Yuki nin left the stone room directly, contacted his companions. Together they would attract the firepower of the rebellion.

"Excuse me." Kakashi put the Princess behind his back and quickly left the stone room.

When he got outside, the sound of an explosion shattered the silence of the night. A building not far away was engulfed in flames, casting a brilliant glow against the night sky.

Kakashi saw the guard Yuki nins rushing towards the hostile ninjas without hesitation, starting a fierce battle.

Chaos erupted elsewhere, and the operation began.

Kakashi merely glanced, focusing on the task at hand. With the Snow Princess on his back, he rushed to the city wall with the help of the buildings shadow.

....

Kakashi ran along the forest road. The wind and snow whizzed past, causing the Snow Princess on Kakashi's back to turn pale from the cold. The biting chill made her gasp.

Suddenly, Kakashi sensed an unrelenting cold murderous aura enveloping the air, colder than the falling snow.

Kunai swiftly flew from both sides. Kakashi accelerated, his legs surrounded by fine lightning currents, expertly avoiding the projectile attack, causing the Kunai to stab deeply in the snow.

"Ice release Sleet!"

White snowflakes, manipulated and turned into an attack by a Kunoichi.

Still dodging, Kakashi still gained a wound on his shoulder from the snowflakes. Koyuki on Kakashi's back was already pale with fright, she didn't dare breath. Her bright eyes flickering in the dark forest.

Laughter echoed from the forest. A female ninja, clad in blue and white special armor with bat-like wings, soared into the snowy night.

"It turned out to be the famous Hatake Kakashi. Is this Sosetsu-sama's support? Entrusting foreign ninjas to interfere with the Land Of Snow's affairs."

Although Konoha was powerful, it was far from the Land of Snow. The ninja wasn't too concerned about Konoha.

Kakashi remained silent, throwing a kunai towards the opponent. The ninja didn't dodge; a transparent shield formed around her, deflecting the kunai.

"Know this, whether it's taijutsu or ninjutsu attacks, it's all meaningless to us with chakra armor. This armor can even defend against genjutsu." The ninja laughed wildly.

Unconcerned about revealing her capabilities, her chakra armor gave her unwavering confidence. As long as they had it, the Land Of Snow would eventually rival the Five Great Nations. Once they found the treasure hidden by the late daimyo, the Land Of Snow could regain its strength.

"Tell Koyuki-sama to handover the crystal. Then you can leave. What do you say, Hatake Kakashi?" The ninja proposed.

'Crystal?' Kakashi looked puzzled. That wasn't mentioned. Whatever it was, a mission was a mission, and compromise wasn't an option. Moreover, even if she had the armor defending against taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu, it made no difference.

Without hesitation, Kakashi unsheathed his sword from his back.

"Koyuki-sama, please hug me tightly and don't fall." Kakashi didn't pay too much attention caring for Snow Princess on his back, as he had to fight seriously.

Hearing this, Koyuki quickly hugged Kakashi's neck from behind.

The sword glowed with a moon-white gleam. Under the snowy night, that light carried a deadly aura.

"I've said it before; your broken sword is"

The ninka sneered arrogantly, but halfway through the conversation, she winced in pain. Blood gushed from her body, splattering on the snow. At her shoulder, the chakra armor was sliced open before the sword. A slightly deeper cut, and her entire arm would be severed.

Terrified, the ninja hurriedly flew to a higher altitude, looking at Kakashi with terrified eyes.

"What did you just say? You were cut by the broken sword."

Kakashi's calm words grimaced the ninja, who didn't dare to approach him. Because the next time she gets cut by the sword, she would undoubtedly die.

Just then, there was movement behind Kakashi.

Snowflakes danced as a male ninja emerged, shrouded in a massive shadow. Covered in the same chakra armor as the female ninja, coupled with his strong body, the overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe. He clasped his hands together, releasing a surge of cold air from the Chakra armor. A formidable momentum erupted, striking Kakashi's head.

"!"

The male ninjasl's widened his eyes.

The attack,, was blocked by the sword raised above Kakashi's head.

To others, it might be terrifying, but to Kakashi, it was nothing surprising. At this moment, he used Senjutsu chakra to significantly enhance his physical abilities, allowing his slender frame to unleash strength surpassing that of the male Yuki ninja.

Afterwards, he made a quick slash with his sword

"Ahh!!!"

Accompanied by a scream, blood splattered, and the male ninjas hands fell onto the snow.

"Fuyukuma!"

The female ninja in the sky shouted the name of the burly male ninja. Just as she was about to fly down, Kakashi stared at her coldly. Her body immediately stiffened in the air, intimidated by Kakashi's aura, unable to move, swallowing the fear-induced saliva.

Kakashi shifted his gaze to a snow-covered tree.

A Yuki nin wearing Chakra armor appeared there, with long ice-blue hair, approximately 20 years old. Despite Fuyukuma writhing in pain on the ground, this new Yuki nin didn't advance.

The Snow Princess on Kakashi's back trembled. She recognized this Yuko nin with ice-blue long hair; he was a direct subordinate of Doto. During the previous coup, he massacred those opposing Doto.

Kakashi also sensed the newcomer had extraordinary abilities. If the male and female from before, with the help of the so-called Chakra armor, could engage a Jonin for a brief moment. This one was probably a Jonin. Wearing Chakra Armor made one stronger.

Kakashi remained silent and disappeared with the body flicker.

The female ninja in the sky wanted to pursue, but was stopped. "Fubuki, don't go there; you'll be killed. Hatake Kakashi isn't simple. He's indeed White Fang's son." He had a solemn expression, obviously unsure about taking down Kakashi.

Powerful ninjutsu that could ignore Chakra armor's defense was undoubtedly their bane to them who relied on it. Pursuing them now would likely result in all three of them being killed. Although he was a subordinate of Doto, he wasn't so blindly devoted to sacrifice himself for Doto's ambitions. In essence, it was merely for personal gain with Doto's ascension to the daimyo position.

"Then what's our next move, Roga?"

"First, stabilize Fuyukuma's condition, replace the lost hands with prosthetic limbs. As for the crystal... I don't believe Konoha can protect Koyuki for a lifetime. Once she's lost Konoha's protection, the crystal will be ours sooner or later." Roga analyzed rationally.

Fubuki nodded, following Ryoga's suggestion.

.....

"I never anticipated there would be such a turmoil in the Land Of Snow which appeared calm."

In the office, he received the specific information reported by Kakashi. Every detail witnessed in the Land Of Snow was meticulously recorded for Shiraishi to gauge the current chaos.

The kind diamyo of the Land of Snow, was assassinated by his younger brother Doto, who claimed it was due to illness. The succession ceremony for the new daimyo would take place in the next few days.

"Isn't this what you wanted? Moreover, the rightful heir to the daimyo has been placed under Kakashi's care is being brought here, to secure her safety. This appearance advantageous."

Ruri, saw the potential benefits.

"That's true. Even if Sosetsu's death was accidental, the legitimate heir should be his only offspring. Doto might have inherited the name, but overcoming powerful forces, suppressing, and eliminating all opposition won't be as easy."

Shiraishi nodded. Indeed, it was a golden opportunity. Using Koyuki's status as the heir, secretly funding her, defeating Doto's regime, and then taking over everything in Land Of Snow.

"So, when do you plan to act?"

"We're still a neutral territory. A grand takeover of the Land of Snow wouldn't be appropriate. We need to bide our time. In name, we're merely assisting Princess Koyuki in reclaiming her rightful power."

Moreover, how to take control of the Land Of Snow presented a challenge. A well-devised strategy was required, and they needed to avoid acting hastily.

"Anyway, we'll first head to the Land Of Rainbows and contact whoever this Sandayu Asama person..He was a servant the previous daimyo. If we can persuade him, things will become much easier."

After all, Koyuki was a child without any understanding, lacking autonomy. Shiraishi quickly made his decision.

"I'm afraid things won't be that simple."

"We will try as much as possible. The princess certainly won't be able to reclaim what's rightfully hers without the intervention of a powerful external force. But then again, Ruri, do you think matters would proceed smoother if I take Koyuki as my adopted daughter?"

Shiraishi thought about it matter seriously. This way, he had enough reason to assist the princess, intervene in the Land Of Snow's conflict, defeat Doto, and assist her in regaining control of Land Of Snow.

----

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