(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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A beautiful figure riding a white horse came out first, followed by more than a dozen knights dressed as samurai.
"Not bad," Colt remarked, somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected her to outride so many men running behind her.
Yet no matter how skilled she was, she was still vulnerable to simple tricks.
Seeing that they were falling further behind, they began throwing oil bottles. The glass shattered, spilling oil across the road ahead.
The white horse lost its footing on the slick surface, throwing the woman from its back.
Just as Fujikaze Yukie closed her eyes, bracing for a serious injury, she felt a pair of warm arms embrace her.
"Thank you," Yukie quickly expressed her gratitude, about to break free from the embrace and continue fleeing. However, she found herself held firmly by a pair of strong arms.
"I think it's too early to thank me. I'm actually with them," Colt shrugged.
He recalled this scene - these pursuing soldiers were all staff members from the film crew.
Fujikaze Yukie, on the other hand, had fled in a panic upon hearing news of returning to the Land of Snow.
But were these people really here to protect her?
Casting nets and pouring oil - it seemed they feared her escape more than her injury!
Fujikaze Yukie immediately panicked at Colt's words.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a Konoha shinobi, sent to protect you. Come with me," Colt revealed his identity.
The dozen staff members relaxed their guard upon hearing this. They had thought Colt was interfering and going to do something bad to her.
"No! I don't want to go to the Land of Snow!" Fujikaze Yukie suddenly shouted, deploying the pepper spray hidden in her earrings.
*Swish*
Colt simply blew all of it back into her eyes.
"Ahhh!" Fujikaze Yukie instantly felt a burning sensation in her eyes as Asama Sandayū rushed over.
He recognized the forehead protector on Colt's arm immediately.
"You're the ninja sent by Konoha. Thank you for helping me stop Lady Koyuki."
Asama Sandayū behaved very respectfully, not underestimating Colt due to his age.
Konoha was well aware of the true mission objective this time, and the person sent must be sufficiently strong as a consequence.
Meanwhile, Fujikaze Yukie continued shouting relentlessly.
Colt grew impatient and knocked her unconscious with a single chop to the neck.
Asama Sandayū looked stunned.
This... guy really showed no understanding of how to treat a delicate lady.
Shouldn't the average man act gentlemanly when encountering a beauty like Fujikaze Yukie?
However, it did solve his immediate problem.
**********
In the Land of Snow, the current daimyo Dotō Kazahana had just finished watching Fujikaze Yukie's movie.
It was easy to recognize that this was his niece, Koyuki Kazahana.
At this time, the Snow Ninja trio guarding him also provided timely information.
"We've heard that this time it's a ninja from the Konoha Village escorting the Snow Princess back."
"It's said he is only a thirteen-year-old boy."
After Nadare Rōga finished speaking, he smiled disdainfully.
Even Kakashi wasn't his match and had suffered a major defeat in the Land of Snow ten years ago.
Was Konoha out of their minds, actually sending a kid to die?
It would have been better if it was Kakashi this time.
Killing him would make one's name famous in the ninja world, right?
Dotō Kazahana smiled coldly, "Since she's returning, don't let her leave. Prepare to bring her and the Hexagonal Crystal back!"
After ten years of waiting, he finally had the opportunity to obtain the national treasure of the Land of Snow.
If this niece proved cooperative, it might not be impossible to keep her alive.
**********
After knocking out Fujikaze Yukie, the entire crew boarded a ship heading to the Land of Snow.
Above the sea, blue waves rippled gently.
Looking at the scene where the sea and sky merged, Colt's mood improved considerably.
The magnificent nature always gave people a sense of their own insignificance.
He could keenly perceive that the natural energy here was several times more potent than the densest part of Konoha.
If there was nothing urgent after the mission, perhaps he could fully master the Sage Mode here.
Suddenly, his attention turned to a guest room on the ship.
Koyuki Kazahana had awakened and was struggling against her restraints.
Sure enough, when Colt walked in, he saw the beauty tied up in a rather compromising position.
"It's you?" Koyuki Kazahana grew angry upon seeing Colt.
"What the hell are you doing? Let me go! I told you I won't go to the Land of Snow!"
Colt remained indifferent, sitting on a chair with a relaxed tone.
"It's too late, we're already on the boat now."
Koyuki Kazahana was stunned.
She saw the sea outside through the window and felt helpless.
"Why, why are you forcing me to return to the Land of Snow? I'll die!"
She knew who she was and what she carried.
However, now she had nothing and just wanted to live a good life. What was wrong with that?
Colt understood Fujikaze Yukie's perspective, but that wasn't justification for jeopardizing the mission.
Not everyone had to pay for her suffering.
"Fujikaze Yukie, or rather, Koyuki Kazahana, my mission this time isn't just to escort you back."
"The most important thing is to help you complete the great cause of reclaiming your country."
Colt decided to be straightforward, hoping the woman would be more cooperative from now on.
'Just stop causing trouble'
Fujikaze Yukie looked at Colt in disbelief, as if staring at a lunatic.
Reclaim the country? Just you alone?
"Don't worry, since Konoha dared to send me here, it means I have sufficient enough power to do so."
"Otherwise, do you think I'm here to die?"
Colt said with a smile. Explaining the strength of ninjas to ordinary people was too troublesome.
Koyuki Kazahana hesitated for a moment before seemingly accepting her fate.
There was nothing she could do if she refused to accept it.
Now that the boat was at sea, it wasn't as if she could swim back.
Besides, what this man said wasn't entirely unreasonable.
Who would rush to their death if they knew defeat was certain?
"Let me make this clear: if your performance differs from what you've said, I'll run away without hesitation!"
Colt nodded indifferently, and with a single motion, cut the ropes binding her.
Only then did she realize that she had maintained such a compromising posture while talking to him, and immediately roared with a flushed face.
"Get out! I hate you!"