First Snow

Over a month after the Kyuubi Rebellion, winter gradually settled into Konoha Village.

Located in the central part of the Land of Fire, where Konoha Village lies, the region experiences all four seasons distinctly, and temperatures drop significantly in winter.

As the temperature dropped, people became lethargic. This morning, Shintaro arrived at the Yuhi residence, planning to stay over.

Shinku was still on a mission. Kurenai and Shintaro were lounging side by side on the sofa, chatting. Shiro lay in his small nest with his rear end sticking out, not moving at all.

"It's winter now. I really wish winter would pass quickly."

Kurenai complained while leaning on the sofa, clutching a pillow.

"Why?" Shintaro looked at Kurenai gently with an amused smile.

"Now that winter's here, I can't wear nice clothes anymore, and I don't feel like going out to play." Kurenai pouted and mumbled.

"Aren't you beautiful enough as you are? Or are you saying you don't want to stay home with me?"

Faced with that question, Kurenai was momentarily at a loss for words.

"I get it." Shintaro hugged her, "I know you don't like winter, but there's nothing I can do to change the seasons. However, I can make time go by faster."

Kurenai looked up at him, curious: "Can time really go faster?"

Shintaro raised an eyebrow, winked, and said, "Of course."

"When you're with someone you like, doesn't time seem to pass more quickly?"

Kurenai blushed at first, then smiled brightly and said, "How cheesy, Shintaro. Where do you get all these strange romantic words from?"

Shintaro lovingly patted her head, "I don't know either."

Kurenai leaned on his shoulder, feeling much better.

Since their engagement, Kurenai had now learned to accept Shintaro's affection generously.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

There was a knock on the door.

"Who's being so annoying?" Kurenai frowned.

Shintaro smiled and walked to open the door, "It is indeed an annoying man."

It seemed he already knew who was outside.

"Long time no see, Kakashi. What's been keeping you busy lately?"

"I can't refuse ANBU missions." Kakashi, dressed in his ANBU uniform, said with a pair of dead-fish eyes.

"Come in, aren't you cold?" Shintaro waved him in like the host, noting Kakashi's thin clothing.

Despite the winter, Kakashi was wearing a gray ANBU ninja vest. Aside from the black mask and black armbands clinging to his body, he had no additional clothing, and his upper arms were still exposed.

Only the yellow scarf around his neck indicated that Kakashi was indeed in winter.

"No, I'm here to tell you about this mission." Kakashi shrugged, "If you were really worried about me being cold, you wouldn't have made me search for you so long."

His words were full of resentment.

"That's because you don't know me well enough. I spend more time at Kurenai's house than at my own."

Shintaro pulled him inside. He didn't want to continue talking against the cold wind outside the door.

Kakashi and Kurenai greeted each other politely.

"So what kind of mission is this? You made me come here personally."

"It's a mission entrusted by the Daimyo of the Land of Snow. We won't know the details until we go to the Hokage Building." Kakashi stood by the entrance and didn't come in.

Shintaro frowned, "The Daimyo of the Land of Snow? Then we must go to the Land of Snow, which is the northernmost country in the ninja world."

"Possibly." Kakashi didn't seem to know the details of the mission.

"All right." Shintaro glanced at Kurenai and responded with a bit of nostalgia, "I'll pack up and leave."

He came to her side, and Kurenai spoke clearly, "Go ahead, I'll wait for you to return to the village."

"Wait a moment."

Kurenai suddenly remembered something and ran to her room. After a while, she came out holding a pile of black scarves.

"I heard the weather is freezing all year round in the Land of Snow. Please take this scarf with you. I originally planned to give it to you when the first snow fell this year, so I haven't finished knitting it yet, and it might be a bit short."

Shintaro took the scarf and gently kissed her fair forehead.

"Thank you."

He wrapped the scarf around his neck twice and tucked the rest behind to secure it. The scarf stood upright on his neck, enough to withstand the winter wind.

From Kurenai's infatuated gaze, it was clear how handsome Shintaro looked with the scarf on.

"I have to go now."

The two reluctantly parted ways.

Kakashi and Shintaro then headed to the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen was sitting in his chair as usual, smoking a pipe and handling government affairs.

Shintaro had seen this scene many times. As far as he knew, the only ones who had sat in that chair were Hiruzen and Minato. One short year seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye.

This was also the perception of most villagers in Konoha.

The Third Hokage had held the position for too long and had worked tirelessly even without outstanding achievements. This had built a broad support base and increased Hiruzen's prestige.

"You're here." Hiruzen looked up and temporarily set down the document in his hand.

"Hokage-sama."

"This mission is extraordinary. It was personally announced by the Daimyo of the Land of Snow." Hiruzen rarely discussed the topic directly, which indirectly indicated the exceptional nature of the mission.

"There's been a rebellion in the Land of Snow."

He crossed his hands on the desk and spoke solemnly.

"A rebellion?"

Kakashi and Shintaro exchanged surprised glances.

Hiruzen nodded and said, "Yes, a rebellion."

"The younger brother of the Daimyo of the Land of Snow launched a rebellion to seize the position of Daimyo."

"In other words, the mission is to suppress the rebellion? In that case, wouldn't just Kakashi and I be insufficient?" Shintaro proactively asked.

"The mission issued by the Daimyo of the Land of Snow is to rescue Princess Kazahana Koyuki, but he has not issued a mission to suppress the rebellion." Hiruzen shook his head and changed the subject, "But, Konoha is one of the five great nations. The village leader cannot sit idly by."

"However, we are not allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries without permission. This would give the other ninja villages something to say. So I'm sending another mission in my personal capacity."

"That's your mission, Shintaro, to single-handedly suppress the rebellion in the Land of Snow, and let everyone in the ninja world know the consequences of rebellion."

"And Kakashi, while completing the mission of rescuing the princess of the Land of Snow, you must ensure the princess's safety."

"Here's the information about the Land of Snow and this rebellion. You should leave immediately and understand this information on the way."

Both Shintaro and Kakashi acknowledged, and they promptly left the Hokage's office and headed north.

Along the way, they both went through the information.

Shintaro already understood why Hiruzen had entrusted him with the task of suppressing the rebellion.

The reason was no more than a show of force. After the Kyuubi Rebellion, the village's strength had weakened, but the Uchiha Clan's strength had not only not weakened but had grown stronger.

Moreover, the Uchiha Clan's reputation had also begun to improve, which made Hiruzen wary.

He tasked Shintaro with suppressing this rebellion to show him that the consequences of rebellion should be quelled.

Shintaro smiled inwardly and didn't take it to heart at all.

Indeed, a failed rebellion could ultimately be quelled, but if it succeeded, it would not be called a rebellion but a coup.

In his previous life, even someone as powerful as Oda Nobunaga had fallen due to a coup. How could Konoha and the Third Hokage not fall as well?

"Shintaro, it's snowing."

Kakashi opened his hands to the side, observing snowflakes falling into his palm, and then quickly melting into small droplets of water due to the warmth of his hand.

Shintaro looked up and saw the snowflakes obstructed by [Infinity].

He pulled the scarf around his neck, feeling warmth in his heart, "Yes, it's the first snow of the year."

The softness in his eyes didn't weaken his resolve at all; instead, it became the driving force behind his firm determination.