Inside the Land of Snow's castle.
The grand hall, though filled with a dense crowd, was eerily silent. The people stood trembling, their fear palpable, making the vast hall feel even colder and more oppressive.
Naruto, alone, had completely subdued everyone in the castle of the Land of Snow.
This meant that most of the Land of Snow's high-ranking officials were now under his control.
Seeing this, Sandayu finally abandoned any lingering thoughts of rebellion.
Such power was beyond their ability to resist.
On the raised platform of the throne, Sandayu bowed his head, resigned to his fate. At least, nominally, Koyuki would remain the Daimyo of the Land of Snow, and Naruto had promised them a degree of autonomy.
Koyuki, however, wasn't as disheartened as Sandayu. Her original goal had been revenge, and now, with Naruto actually intending to make her the Daimyo of this nation, it was an unexpected boon.
Therefore, Koyuki lifted her chin slightly, trying to embody the dignity befitting a nation's leader.
Naruto looked down at the crowd of castle residents, who didn't dare to even breathe too loudly.
These people included current ministers of the Land of Snow, their relatives, Ninjas, and numerous researchers. But now, they all stood with their heads bowed, their faces filled with terror, trembling like frightened quails.
Naruto's shadow clones had already made an example of a few when they rounded up these individuals, so the survivors were all thoroughly cowed.
Naruto wasn't worried about wasting talent. After all, he still had the Edo Tensei.
"Sandayu-san, tomorrow you will announce Princess Koyuki's return to the entire city. The coronation ceremony will be held the day after. At that time, I will prepare a miracle for you."
"Understood!"
Sandayu bowed his head even lower, while the crowd below remained silent, not daring to make a sound.
"A miracle?" Koyuki tilted her head slightly, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes, though she quickly hid it.
Her expression softened, and she bowed slightly. "Then I will look forward to Naruto-sama's miracle."
After speaking, Koyuki glanced at Doto, who was still lying unconscious on the ground, and hesitated before speaking.
"Naruto-sama..."
Naruto understood her intent and smiled. "You may take his life whenever you wish."
"I want... to watch him die in agony."
Koyuki tightened her grip on the sword in her hand, her expression dark.
"As you wish."
Naruto flicked his finger, sending a pure stream of Yang Nature Chakra into Doto's body.
Then, Doto's eyelids twitched.
Doto felt as though he were a piece of driftwood, floating in a dark, icy abyss. The darkness around him was thick and suffocating.
Every second felt like an eternity, yet the next moment seemed to pass in an instant. His body gradually lost sensation, as if all his strength had been drained, leaving him unable to even struggle.
This was the feeling of being on the brink of death.
But as a surge of energy, brimming with vitality, entered his body, he groggily opened his eyes.
The faint light was blinding, but when he finally focused and saw the face before him, fear gripped him.
"Ko-Koyuki!"
Doto practically spat out her name through gritted teeth.
Koyuki's expression was complex as she looked at the man who had once been a nightmare in her life. Now, he lay before her like a beaten dog, his face twisted in impotent rage.
She didn't say a word, simply thrusting her sword into his shoulder and twisting it sharply.
Rip--
"Ah!"
Doto let out a blood-curdling scream as the sound of tearing flesh echoed through the hall!
Blood gushed from the wound, staining the ground. Doto's face turned as pale as paper, his body trembling and convulsing from the pain.
His screams reverberated through the hall, intensifying the fear of Doto's former subordinates below. They hadn't expected the once-gentle princess to become so ruthless.
Koyuki watched Doto's writhing form with an impassive expression. Seeing him in such agony, the young girl in her couldn't bear to continue torturing him.
A glint of resolve flashed in her eyes as she raised her hand, preparing to deliver the final blow.
"W-wait!"
Realizing his death was inevitable, Doto spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with flesh, which are the remnants of his shattered internal organs from when Naruto had slammed him into the ground, and cried out.
"Do you have any last words?"
Koyuki's sword tip rested on Doto's forehead.
Doto managed to show a bitter smile, and said, "Koyuki, I underestimated you. This time, you've won. I know I'm as good as dead."
"But, before I die, can you grant me one last request?"
"What is it?"
Koyuki asked, though she had no intention of indulging him.
"I want to know... what is the treasure that my brother hid?"
Doto's voice was a mix of hatred and desperation.
Since becoming the Daimyo of the Land of Snow, the treasure Sosetsu had hidden had become his obsession.
In his eyes, this treasure held the power to change the future of the Land of Snow.
But Koyuki frowned when she heard this and said in a flat tone, "I don't know anything about a treasure my father left behind."
As she said this, Koyuki turned to Sandayu, who stood with his head bowed. "Sandayu, do you know anything about this?"
Sandayu shook his head in equal confusion. He had never heard of any treasure from the late Daimyo.
"No! Cough, cough! That's impossible! Cough, cough, cough!"
Doto's spirit seemed to flare up, but his protests were cut short by a violent coughing fit.
However, his coughing stopped abruptly.
Because he felt the tip of the sword press deeper into his forehead.
"I don't have time for your nonsense. If that's all you have to say, then just die!"
"No, wait!" Doto pleaded, then continued. "It must exist! I spent a long time searching before I found out."
"When I became the daimyo, my brother left nothing behind. But then I discovered that he had hidden all his wealth at the Rainbow Glacier. And the key to opening the Rainbow Glacier is the Hexagonal Crystal you possess."