Bloodshed in the Land of Snow

Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Tenjho Tenge

AUTHORS NOTE: 

This chapter was originally planned a long time ago and revolves around the events in the Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow. If you haven't seen the film, you may be a little bit lost. Here is Chapter 60, enjoy!

[ ] signifies hand signs

{ } signifies a foreign language

Last time:

Natsume Clan Home

That evening, Maya and Aya came home and found Hinata, Hikari, Naruto and Hinata were waiting for them among many friends and relatives. Most of the ANBU Brats were there with the exception of Team 9 that was on a mission. They were preparing a feast to celebrate Team Kuro coming home. A lot of things were discussed and Uzumaki Honoka's spirit was brought up as well as Summoning Island. 

"The Uzumaki fuinjutsu: Body/Spirit Reformation should work from what I know of it." said Naruto as he thumbed the pages of the Uzumaki Black Book that Tayuya's Grandfather had left behind. "According to this, all we need is a sample of Honoka's original body like a drop of blood or a piece of hair to complete the process. We'll have to go to Summoning Island and search."

They were also discussing Kanna's situation. "I like it here in Konoha. There is so much to explore!" exclaimed the red-orange haired huntress. "That being said; I want to find out who tried to kill us all on Caldara Island. That's a crime that carries a death penalty in the Tiger Tree Village. I want to know who is responsible and bring them to justice." Her green eyes sparked with vengeance. "Heads will roll."

'Never piss off an Uzumaki.' was the collective thought of all the non-Uzumaki present…

Hiruzen said, "Ahem…Well, vengeance aside you seem to fit in well here with your clanmates Kanna. It will probably take some time to get back to Ōrora though."

"I'm well aware of that Sarutobi-sama." said Kanna. "I can wait. We Uzumaki are long lived after all…"

…

Hokage's Office

The next morning, Kirabi, his team and Aiko were sworn in as Konoha Ninjas despite diplomatic protests from the Raikage. Bee rapped to the Kumo diplomats, "Tell A he's got no class and that he can shove it up his ass. Konoha found a cure for the disease, so we've got every right to leave."

Cringing at Bee's bad rapping, Tsunade said to the Kumo diplomatic envoys, "The Raikage threw away some of his most promising and loyal ninja. To send them back would be a death sentence. Inform A that he's lost this one." 

Finding their arguments were getting nowhere; the Kumo diplomats left Konoha empty handed…

…

Chapter 60

Fire Country, Konoha, Natsume Clan Home

Team Kuro/Team 11 were on mandatory rest for three weeks following their mission to Ōrora and had become minor celebrities as a result of their quest. A week later, they were relaxing and entertaining visitors at the Natsume Estate, Team Bee and Aiko.

"You all look so young without the masks, just how old are you I gotta ask?" rapped Bee.

Yūgao smiled at Kirabi's odd way of expressing himself and said, "I'm twenty-two and my Teammates are sixteen."

"You guys are our age?" ask Omoi in surprise. "That's wild that you are so strong."

"It is cool." agreed Samui. "We owe you big for saving our lives."

"Well, you can thank your sensei and Aiko for guiding us through Kumo territory." said Maya. "We couldn't have done it without them." 

Karui nodded. "Bee-sensei put his life on the line, but you actually accomplished the task. We will always be grateful to all of you."

Aiko was eating a cinnamon bun that Hinata gave her. "These are unbelievably good!" said the ten-year-old food junkie as she chowed down. "I can't believe how amazing they taste!"

"You can thank Hinata-chan's wonderful baking for that." said Naruto.

Hinata blushed prettily and said, "There are enough here for everyone."

Soon everyone was happily stuffing themselves on Hinata's cooking…

…

Land of Snow

Four days later, Konoha Team 17 under Jonin Genma Shiranui was in deep trouble in the Land of Snow. He and his charges Ami, Kasumi and Fuki had drawn the 'simple' mission of acting as bodyguards to the glamorous actress Fujikaze Yukie who was famous for her role as Princess Gale. 

Unfortunately for Team 17, they found out the hard way that the melancholic and apathic actress was actually Kazahana Koyuki who was the displaced heir and rightful Daimyō to the Land of Snow. Worse still, their client had been captured by her tyrannical Uncle Kazahana Dotō who ruled over Snow Country with an iron fist. 

They'd witnessed Koyuki's loyal samurai followers get slaughtered and frankly, the three genin were scared. Ami and Kasumi had been injured in the clash. Wisely realizing his team was in way over their heads, Genma requested backup from Konoha…

…

Konoha, Natsume Clan Home

That afternoon, Naruto was busy in his fuinjutsu office on the Body/Spirit Reformation so he could (hopefully) revive Uzumaki Honoka. It was a very different seal from the Black Seals like Black Gate because it was designed to create something rather than destroy it.

"How is it going Naruto-kun?" asked Maya leaning in the doorway. "Are you making any progress?"

Naruto turned to face his silver haired fiancé and stretched in his chair. "It's coming along Maya-chan. The matrices of this seal are very different, so I have to study them." He stood up and kissed Maya warmly. "How is my hime this evening?"

She returned his kiss and said, "I've been helping Aya-chan with her ryugan training. She's really advanced a lot while we were gone in Ōrora. Before long I think she'll be using the more advanced scrolls."

The blonde smiled. "It's hard to believe that Aya-chan and her friends are in Advanced Genin training. It makes me feel old." Then his stomach growled loudly.

Maya snickered. "Come on Naruto Jiji. Let's get some dinner. Kanna-chan is going to be eating with us. I think she's interested in how you intend to get her back to Ōrora." 

"I'm making a more advanced version of the Hiraishin seal for that." said Naruto. "The basic mechanics are all there. It's just a matter of range."

Maya smiled with a question mark above her head. "Explain that to Kanna, mister seal master. I don't have a clue what all is involved. My brain isn't wired that way."

…

Kanna was in the front room showing Hikari some more advanced sealing techniques. "So, Naruto has been teaching you basic fuinjutsu but wants to teach you the components of it… Hmmm…" mused the redhead. "It's an admirable goal, especially when you consider he had no teachers of his own. To be a matriarch of the Uzumaki Clan we need to take you up a level."

"What about you Kanna?" asked Hikari.

The redhead smiled, "I'm above an Uzu jonin level in mastery but I was instructed from birth. I-"

Hikari smiled, "No, I mean you becoming a matriarch of the Uzumaki Clan, Kanna." 

Kanna blushed as red as her hair and squeaked, "What are you saying?"

The purple haired ANBU kunoichi grinned. "There is a very obvious attraction between you and Naruto-kun and I think Maya, Hinata and I all approve of you Kanna-chan."

"Naruto-sama is very special." said the still blushing Kanna. "For him to marry me-"

"You are practically an Uzumaki Princess." said Hikari knowingly. "You would be a good match and he needs a strong Uzumaki wife in his harem."

"What about Tayuya or Karin?" asked Kanna.

"They don't interest him that way." Hikari replied. "I know Naruto-kun very well. I think he sees you as much more than a friend. We need to talk to the other girls."

…

Later, Naruto was sitting down at dinner with his fiancés and Kanna. They were discussing the situation with Uzumaki Honoka on Summoning Island. "…We should at least take Yamanaka Ino with us so we can talk to Honoka-san directly. I'm sure she can point out things we might miss otherwise." stated Hinata.

"I agree." replied Maya. "Once Naruto-kun masters the Body/Spirit Reformation seal we can go -provided they'll let us. Team 11 is still on mandatory downtime you know."

"I'll put in a request as the Uzumaki Clan head with Tsunade-sama tomorrow." said Naruto "That will hold a little more weight than just a chunin making a request. Besides, Konoha does owe Honoka-san for helping to find the medical library in Uzu."

"I wonder what else is buried in the rubble in the Land of Whirlpools." Kanna pondered. "I think that resettling our ancestral homeland might be possible if we bring back some of our clansmen from the Tiger Tree Village."

"First we have to get a working extended range seal Kanna-chan." said Naruto. "Right now, it's all theory."

Kanna raised an eyebrow, "But it's a sound theory. There is no reason your Hiraishin seal couldn't be adapted to function as a long-range transport seal."

The two Uzumaki seal masters were soon debating back and forth what it would take to modify and Hiraishin seal in abstract fuinjutsu terms. Maya and Hinata had swirls in their eyes and although Hikari caught the gist of the conversation; most of it was over her head as well.

After about twenty minutes of discussion, both Kanna and Naruto realized no one else in the room was talking and blushed slightly in embarrassment.

"…Like two peas in a pod." said Maya calculatedly.

Hinata nodded. "It seems that you are right Hikari-chan." 

"Told you so." replied a smiling Hikari. "They even use similar hand motions."

Kanna blushed and Naruto looked confused…

…

After dinner, the conversation drifted to a totally different subject; Uchiha Mikoto. Hikari explained, "Mikoto-chan is moving in over at my apartment. She is my friend and teammate after all. She saw what was left of the Uchiha sector and said she wanted nothing to do with that place."

Hinata sighed. "I really don't know what to do with the old Uchiha estates either. Father suggested we have them surveyed and redeveloped. No one wants to live in the ruins as they are."

"Sasuke did." said Maya. "It may have been part of the reason he became so unhinged. Living in an environment like that must have been unhealthy."

"That's the reason I invited her to become my roommate." explained Hikari. "She wanted to be with someone she was friends with and was horrified about the Uchiha coup attempt that happened years ago."

Naruto nodded in approval. "I think you did the right thing Hikari-chan. I don't blame her for being lonely." 

"There's only one tiny problem…" said the purple haired ANBU.

"What is it?" asked Maya.

"I haven't redecorated in years, and we need help!" exclaimed Hikari. "Hinata-chan, Maya-chan; will you help Mikoto-chan and I redecorate the apartment? Kanna-chan can help too. In the meantime, Naruto-kun can apply his security and cleaning seals and so on! Please?"

Hinata clapped once and said, "I'd be happy to help!"

Maya smiled and said, "Sure, why not?" She turned to Kanna and asked, "How about it Kanna-chan? Are you in?"

"I think I'd rather do the fuinjutsu with Naruto." said Kanna. "The way they decorate here is nothing like the Tiger Tree Village where I grew up. I'd just be underfoot."

Naruto grinned. "Well then, Kanna-chan and I will do sealing work while the rest of you girls go out and shop." 'Thank the gods. I was afraid I'd have to go shopping.' thought the blonde.

…

Hokage Tower

Late the next morning, Naruto went to make a formal mission request to send his team to Summoning Island to (hopefully) revive Uzumaki Honoka. He went to the mission desk and found Sarutobi Hiruzen there. Doing his best to be formal, Naruto said, "Sarutobi-sama, I would like to put in a formal mission request regarding my clansman Uzumaki Honoka on Summoning Island."

Hiruzen smiled and said, "There is already a mission set up by Jiraiya to head to Summoning Island once Team 11 is recovered from the Ōrora mission. I trust you've been working on the fuinjutsu to restore Honoka-san? I'm surprised Jiraiya hasn't told you."

The blonde sweat dropped and said, "Jiraiya and I have been training together. He left a note that he'd be coming by this afternoon Jiji…"

The former Hokage laughed. "Still calling me and old man though I'm young again?"

Naruto smiled and said, "You'll always be Sarutobi-Jiji to me."

"I guess that's true Naruto-kun." replied the elder. "Anyway, the mission has already been approved. What do you say to an early lunch? I have a craving for ramen."

"You know I'm always up for ramen!" declared Naruto boisterously.

Hiruzen smiled at his surrogate grandson and the two headed to Ichiraku's Ramen stand to catch up on things.

…

Tsunade's Office

At the same time, Shizune brought in the request from Team 17 that Genma sent out via messenger bird. He explained in the message the full situation and that they need a more experienced team to deal with the treacherous Kazahana Dotō and his followers.

This left Tsunade in a quandary. They had several genin teams, but they weren't prepared for this sort of brutal mission. The other ANBU Brats were out on various missions except for Team Kuro that was supposed to be resting…

After considering her options, the Slug Sannin said, "Summon Uzuki Yūgao. I have a possible mission to discuss with her."

…

Hikari and Mikoto's Apartment

Yūgao was over visiting Hikari. "…And that's why I'd like to give you the Sword breaker katana Tomoe. Hayate-kun has his family blade and I was blessed with the Kusanagi so the Sword breaker just gathering dust. I was going to turn it over to the ANBU Armory but the more I thought about it, the more I felt it should go to you as you are a skilled swordswoman yourself. You're already engaged to Naruto-kun so consider it an early wedding gift of sorts."

Hikari's green eyes lit up. "Are you sure Yūgao senpai?" Seeing the older woman nod, Hikari accepted the blade gratefully and said, "Thank you so much! I will take good care of it."

"I heard you were redecorating this place from Maya-chan." said Yūgao. "I'd be happy to help if you want."

"Do you have the time?" asked the younger woman. 

Team Kuro's leader nodded. "I'm going stir crazy with this mandatory downtime. Besides, Naruto-kun and Kanna are going to be applying those marvelous cleaning and security seals over at my place, so I'll be stuck outdoors." 

"Mikoto-chan and I would love the help!" said Hikari eagerly. "Between all of us I'm sure we can make the place look fantastic."

…About five minutes later ANBU Lizard arrived and said "Jonin Uzuki Yūgao, you are to report to the Hokage immediately."

The purple haired sword mistress was honestly surprised. She quickly acknowledged Lizard and nodded at Hikari. "I'm on my way."

…

Tsunade's Office

After donning her combat gear, Yūgao appeared in the Hokage's Office in a body flicker. She said without preamble, "Reporting for duty Hokage-sama."

Tsunade said, "Jonin Uzuki Yūgao, I realize that Team Kuro is on rest duty but an emergency mission in the Land of Snow has come up. Are you and your team up to it?"

"Team Kuro is always ready Hokage-sama" said Yūgao. "Besides, we are all getting restless laying around, mandatory or otherwise." 

The Hokage smiled. "Assemble Team Kuro for an ANBU mission to Snow Country and report to me for the mission details. One of our genin teams is in trouble, so this is urgent."

…

Natsume Clan Home

Naruto had been training with Jiraiya over the past week in his spare time. The Toad Sannin said, "That's it Naruto, perfect!"

In Naruto's hand was a brightly glowing, spiraling sphere of pure chakra energy. Over the last few days. The blonde had mastered his Father's signature technique, the rasengan.

Yūgao appeared in a body flicker just in time to see Naruto punch a hole through a solid rock and said astonished, "Naruto, was that the Fourth Hokage's jutsu?"

Jiraiya nodded proudly. "Yes, it is. The rasengan is Naruto's legacy after all." He looked up at Minato's face on the Hokage Monument. "Your old man would be proud of you Naruto. I know I am."

Naruto smiled. "Thanks Jiraiya sensei. I wonder if I could add my wind element to it."

The Toad Sannin pondered. "An elemental rasengan? Well, the sky's the limit Naruto. Feel free to experiment. It's your jutsu now after all."

Naruto nodded before turning to Yūgao. "Sensei, why are you in your full combat gear? I thought we had to rest against our wills."

The purple haired jonin grinned. "Team Kuro has an unexpected mission. Get your combat gear on. We have a mission in Snow Country, full war load. We have another team to rescue."

…

Tsunade's Office

Team Kuro was assembled in the Hokage's Office thirty minutes later. Tsunade explained, "Your mission is to extract Shiranui Genma's Team 17 from Snow Country and rescue the actress Fujikaze Yukie whose actual name is Kazahana Koyuki."

Is she any relation to Kazahana Dotō who is the ruler of Snow Country?" asked Maya.

"Kazahana Dotō is her uncle." said Tsunade. "Koyuki-sama is the rightful Daimyō but Dotō took over through a coup d'état when Koyuki was still a child. We don't know all the dynamics from Genma yet but the people loyal to Koyuki tried to overthrow Dotō and were crushed brutally by the Snow Country ninja forces. Kazahana Koyuki was captured in the process and Team 17 is in too bad of shape to mount an offensive and rescue her."

"So, we have to rescue both Kazahana Koyuki and Team 17 before matters get worse." said Yūgao making a 'tsk' sound as she read Genma's report. "What about Dotō?"

"I'll leave the matter of Kazahana Dotō up to your discretion." said Tsunade. "If he or any of his snow ninja interfere with your mission objectives then deal with them accordingly. This is an A-Ranked mission."

Naruto clenched his fist. "You can count on us Hokage-sama." 

"When do we leave?" asked Hinata.

"You can leave as soon as you are ready." replied the busty Hokage.

Yūgao said to her team, "Meet at the front gates in two hours Team Kuro. Make sure to pack your polar gear." 

…

Land of Snow, Port

Team Kuro had an uneventful five day voyage to Snow Country via ship and arrived in Snow Country's main port without incident. They had a lot of work to do and spent most of their time below decks studying the history and maps of the Land of Snow and Kazahana Castle which was Dotō's central base of operations. 

… 

Flashback…

"Tell me about the Land of Snow's Daimyo before Dotō took over." said Yūgao to her team. 

Hinata answered, "Kazahana Sōsetsu was the Daimyō of the Land of Snow ten years ago and ruled his land peacefully. He was overthrown and murdered by his brother Dotō at that time supposedly for a treasure which was never located." 

The Jonin nodded. "What about the Princess Koyuki?" she asked Maya.

"Kazahana Koyuki was still a child then." replied the silver haired kunoichi. "She was rescued by Hatake Kakashi and brought to Fire Country where she eventually took the name Fujikaze Yukie and became a popular actress. She is around twenty years old now."

Yūgao asked Naruto, "What do we know about climate of the Land of Snow?"

The blonde responded, "The climate is bitterly cold with winter covering the land in snow and ice year-round. The landscape is dominated by snowy mountains with tall glaciers making parts of the coastline inaccessible from the sea."

"Any other things of note?" asked Team Kuro's leader. 

Maya nodded. "The Village Hidden in the Snow is the main base of their ninja and is twenty kilometers north of Dotō's power base is Kazahana Castle."

"The Land of Snow is very industrialized compared to other countries." said Hinata. "Things such as railroads and airships are commonplace instead of being rare like on the mainland." 

"Well done you three." praised Yūgao. "Our first goal is to link up with Team 17 and find out what we can from them. Knowledge is power."

Flashback end…

…

Kazahana Castle

Kazahana Dotō was less than thrilled with his current situation. The whole point in capturing his niece Koyuki had been to recover the hexagonal crystal that she wore as a necklace. It was the key to the Land of Snow's Treasure! He had sent his top three ninja to capture the crystal first and foremost. Now it was in the hands of the Team of Konoha ninja led by Shiranui Genma and Dotō's forces couldn't find them anywhere! It had been nine days and the tyrant was absolutely furious. Now his ninja underlings were combing the countryside hunting for Team 17…

…

Team 17's Camp

It only took a few hours for Team Kuro to track down Genma's team using their maps from him showing the way to Team 17's location and Hinata's byakugan. The well-hidden camp of the genin team was deep in the hills camouflaged as a snowdrift.

Fuki was surprised when Team Kuro appeared out of nowhere. The violet haired girl's brown eyes widened, and she took a defensive stance until she saw the Konoha ANBU tattoos on their shoulders. Yūgao said, "Stand down genin. We're here to help. Where is your sensei Genma?"

"I'm over here." said Shiranui. He was glad to see Yūgao's Team. "ANBU Cat, two of my genin are injured. Do you have medical supplies?"

The purple-haired swordswoman smiled behind her mask. "I can do you one better. ANBU Raven here is trained as a combat medic."

Genma sagged in relief as he looked at Hinata. "I'd be grateful if you'd look over Kasumi and Ami ANBU Raven."

Raven asked, "How bad are they?"

"Nothing is broken as far as I can tell." answered the bandana wearing Jonin. "…But then again I'm not a healer."

ANBU Cat motioned to the others. "Raptor, stand guard. Fox, set up our tent and camouflage it. I'll talk to Genma while Raven patches up Kasumi and Ami. As for you Fuki, take a breather and assist Raven if you can."

Fuki nodded. "Yes Cat-san."

…

Inside Team 17's tent

Hinata was carefully checking over Ami and Kasumi. She ran a diagnostic jutsu and found both girls were beaten up pretty badly but none of their injuries were life threatening. She turned to Fuki and asked, "What happened?"

Fuki explained, "We were watching over the film crew as they filmed the next Princess Gale movie when we were blindsided by three Snow Country ninja calling themselves Dotō's Three Man Team… 

…

Outside… 

Genma was describing the battle to Yūgao. "We were able to fend them off, but Ami and Kasumi were injured in the process. According to the bingo book the three we fought are named Rōga Nadare, Kokuyoku Fubuki and Fuyukuma Mizore. They were all involved in Dotō's coup ten years ago. They all wear chakra armor, have a form of ice release*① and seem very confident about their abilities. Nadare was just plain arrogant, but he is an ice ninjutsu powerhouse."

"And the other two?" asked Cat.

"Fubuki has wings on her armor that allows her to fly short distances and uses ice needles." explained Genma. "The last one Mizore is a big taijutsu specialist that has a snowboard to increase his mobility and has some sort of extendable armpiece that is connected with wires."

Yūgao motioned towards the bingo book. "Any observations on this chakra armor?"

Team 17's leader shrugged. "Nadare was really bragging on the stuff. He claimed chakra armor blocks out opposing ninjutsu and genjutsu while strengthening the user's own chakra and techniques. He acted like it made him invincible."

ANBU Cat growled, "I guess we'll have to put this chakra armor to the test then."

"…There's one other thing." said Genma as he held up a purple hexagonal crystal. "Dotō is after this necklace of Koyuki's. I don't know what purpose it serves outside of a family heirloom, but he is willing to kill for it. We might be able to trade it for the Princess."

"A trade might be something worth considering." agreed Yūgao. "For now, we'll keep it hidden. As long as we have the necklace, he'll most likely not harm Koyuki-sama." 

…

Kazahana Castle

Rōga Nadare was groveling before his Lord Kazahana Dotō. "We've searched everywhere Dotō-sama! The Konoha ninja have simply vanished!"

"Well search again until you find them Nadare!" Dotō roared. "They have that key! I want you to get the key and BURY them!"

"Yes Dotō-sama!" replied the Snow ninja. "Mizore, Fubuki and I will not rest until your will is done. Our ninja are hunting them as we speak."

"Then get to work." commanded Dotō in a calmer tone. "This time I expect results." 

…

Team 17's Camp

"Since the Snow ninja seem to be intent on hunting down Team 17, our best bet would be to throw them off balance." said Maya from behind her Raptor mask.

Fox immediately picked up on his teammate's idea. "The Snow ninja are few in number and we know where their village is."

ANBU Cat pondered and said, "So you two are proposing a counterstrike? It could be very effective."

Raptor nodded, "Let's see if Raven agrees."

ANBU Raven came out of Team 17's Tent and said "Ami and Kasumi are going to be fine now with a little rest. I told Genma they should lay low until tomorrow night."

Yūgao asked, "How are you on chakra Raven?"

"I'm at about half." replied Hinata. "With a chakra pill I can be at full again."

"We have an idea and wanted your input Raven…" said Fox.

…

The Village Hidden in the Snow

It was midnight and the small Snow Country ninja village was quiet as a tomb. Their sentries weren't expecting a silent strike by four sword wielding Konoha ANBU. Blood was everywhere and the fresh snowfall covered any tracks left by Team Kuro. When Rōga Nadare, Kokuyoku Fubuki and Fuyukuma Mizore arrived in the morning to gather reinforcements, the slaughter was already complete. Everyone in the Village Hidden in the Snow was dead…

"What happened here?!" cried Fubuki in horror as the three searched for survivors.

Mizore came out of another home with a pale look on his face. "There's no survivors here either…" he said solemnly.

Nadare was shocked beyond belief. "All of our comrades… dead. What are we going to tell Dotō-sama?

…

Up on a nearby ridge

"And then there were three." said ANBU Raptor grimly as she looked through her binoculars. 

Cat zoomed in with her own binoculars. "Rōga Nadare, Kokuyoku Fubuki and Fuyukuma Mizore… Dotō's Three Man Team." 

"Should we attack them now sensei?" asked Fox.

"As tempting as it is, the answer is no." said ANBU Cat, "We're tired, cold and hungry from being up all last night. They may be shaken up, but they are at full strength. Let's slip away and get some rest." 

Team Kuro vanished like wraiths…

…

Kazahana Castle

Dotō said in shock, "ALL OF THEM?! Every last one of my Snow ninja in the village are dead?!

Nadare was clearly shaken up. "We don't know what happened Dotō-sama. We are the only three left alive. They were slaughtered to the last man…" 

"Were there any signs of a battle?" asked the tyrant.

Mizore shook his head. "The sentries died at their posts and everyone else died in their beds asleep."

"They all had their throats slit." added Fubuki in a haunted tone.

Dotō was at a loss as to what to do. The vast majority of his military forces had been cut down in one night and there was no way to replace them. 'All I have left is these three and my retainers at the castle.' he thought worriedly.

…

Team 17's Camp

Team Kuro was examining a spare set of chakra armor they'd captured in the Village Hidden in the Snow. Team 17 was there as well. "It seems that this armor is powered by these chakra crystals." said ANBU Cat. "They aren't a huge target, but they are a weak point we can exploit. If we damage these then the Snow ninja should be vulnerable." 

"Crystals aside, the armor is weaker around the joints, waist and the neck." observed Raptor. "Those points would be prime targets for sword strikes." 

After the two Leaf ninja teams examined the armor in detail, ANBU Fox sealed up the chakra armor in a scroll to take it back to Konoha for further study.

…

The next morning, Team 17 was combat ready again. Their job was to act as bait for Dotō's Three Man Team. "THERE THEY ARE!" roared Rōga Nadare as his team crested a hill looking down upon Team 17. "We will avenge our comrades at all costs!" he yelled.

Mizore rocketed down the slope on his snowboard towards Team 17. He fired his extendable arm towards Genma only to be hit with a two-pronged attack from ANBU Raptor and ANBU Raven who had been hiding in the snow. 

Maya sprang up and cut the wires from his extended hand in half with the Reiki rendering his weapon arm useless and Hinata hit the distracted man in the chest with at point blank range with an Eight Trigrams: Mountain Crusher that caved in the front of his armor and killed him in an instant.

Fubuki saw her partner die brutally and went airborne to rain ice needles down on Raptor and Raven. That's when she was hit with a kunai that had an exploding tag attached to it. ANBU Fox whispered "Boom." as it detonated.

The pink haired Snow kunoichi screamed horribly as she fell from the sky in a ball of fire.

For his part, Rōga Nadare was too horrified to react and froze up for a spit second. That was all the time ANBU Cat need to behead him from behind with the Kusanagi.

It was a textbook ambush and Dotō's Three Man Team were dead in seconds. They never came close to Shiranui Genma's genin team…

Yūgao flicked the blood off the Kusanagi into the snow and said, "It looks like that chakra armor isn't as invincible as they claimed it to be."

…

Kazahana Castle

Kazahana Dotō found he was on his own and the only bargaining chip he had left was his niece, the Princess Koyuki. Koyuki wasn't sure what to think of her murderous Uncle. He suddenly seemed very afraid and told her, "I'll exchange your worthless life for the key to the treasure."

Koyuki didn't trust Dotō to keep his word but had also heard whispers among the servants that the Snow Ninja had been completely wiped out and that his retainers feared for their lives. That's when she heard her cell suddenly open and a kunoichi with a strange Cat mask motioned the Princess to be silent and quickly picked the locks on the chains that kept Koyuki bound.

The Princess was soon free of her bonds and the Cat masked kunoichi got out a radio and whispered, "ANBU Cat to Team, Princess Kazahana Koyuki is free. Beginning extraction. Commence with the distraction Team Kuro."

…

Throne Room

Dotō wasn't expecting company when masses of three-pronged kunai came flying at him from different directions. His heavy chakra armor protected him from the kunai but then the tyrant started seeing yellow flashes everywhere as he was bombarded with multiple rasengan strikes from every angle imaginable.

The dictator was horribly battered and bleeding when his heavy armor gave out and he toppled over in a pool of his own blood. Kazahana Dotō's last words before he died were, "I was supposed to rule everything…everything…"

Princess Koyuki's nightmare was over…

…

It was shortly thereafter that Koyuki's purple hexagonal necklace was revealed to be a key to a massive heat generator designed to turn the Land of Snow into the Land of Spring. For the first time in a decade, the Princess gave a true, heartfelt smile and she agreed to assume her birthright as the Daimyō of her country.

Team 17 attended the festivities of the new Daimyō's coronation and the following celebrations which lasted nearly a week. Koyuki explained to her people that the generator wasn't fully developed but with further research the Land of Spring would become a reality as her Father had promised. She also announced that her acting career would continue and went on to sign several fans' pictures with her autograph which she never did before.

Smiling in the shadows was Team Kuro who left once all was well to report to the Hokage…

…

POSTSCRIPT:

*①: Ice Release: The Snow ninja's form of Ice Release is not the same as the Yuki Clan's. Rather than combining wind and water to make ice like the Haku, the Snow ninjas manipulate preexisting ice in the Land of Snow. 

This chapter was originally going to be Team Kuro's first mission as ANBU, but it didn't work out that way. Anyway, it worked out as a good filler chapter now. See you next time. Blue out. 10/14/23