43 - Kazahana's problems...

Snow Lord's Castle...

Currently, Kakashi and Kirito are leaving the castle to do some shopping after obtaining permission from the Snow Lord. After all, starting from noon, they will be assigned their duties.

While exploring and purchasing items unique to the Land of Snow, they suddenly notice something unusual.

"Did you feel something strange about her armor?" Kirito asked. The girl who just passed by them was wearing a peculiar type of armor that appeared to naturally absorb Chakra from the surrounding area.

"Yes, I've never seen anything like that before," Kakashi also observed the armor. Being in close proximity to her made him even sense that his Chakra might have been detected by the armor.

"What should we do about it?" Kirito inquired with seriousness.

"Let's focus on our current mission for now. If things take a turn for the worse, we can take action. After all, I haven't seen or heard of her before, so she shouldn't pose a problem," Kakashi suggested with a serious tone, his gaze following the girl who was walking away.

"If you're confident, then I won't press the matter for now," Kirito agreed and turned towards a food store.

"We should head back to the castle for now," Kakashi said as Kirito followed closely behind, letting out a sigh.

...

Upon their return to the castle, the duo was summoned by Sosetsu Kazahana.

Inside a private room...

Sosetsu is seated, with his daughter, Princess Koyuki Kazahana, in front of him.

"Why do you wish to become an actor, Koyuki?" Sosetsu asked, amusement in his tone as he looked at his daughter.

"Because if I become an actor, I can be anything I want at the same time: a shinobi, a samurai, a heroine—everything that I can imagine, not just a princess," Koyuki answered with a smile after a brief moment of thought.

"Most girls dream of being princesses, but here you are, a princess who aspires to be an actor," Sosetsu remarked with a smile, his gaze fixed on his daughter.

As the father and daughter conversed, two figures arrived outside the room and requested permission to enter.

"You may come in," Sosetsu granted, recognizing the individuals.

Entering the room for the second time that day, Kirito and Kakashi noticed another presence alongside the Snow Lord. A young girl, slightly older than Kirito, was also present.

"Allow me to introduce my daughter, Koyuki Kazahana," Sosetsu introduced his daughter to the duo. He continued, "Koyuki, these are Kakashi, a shinobi from Konoha, and Kirito, also a shinobi from the same village."

'Isn't this the kid I saw yesterday? Could Father have been speaking about him earlier?' Miyuki, the young girl, wondered as she looked at Kirito in surprise. She then turned her attention to her father and inquired, "Is he the one who will guard me throughout the festival?"

"Yes, Kirito will ensure your safety and protect you from any unforeseen dangers. In public, he will pose as a common servant in your service," Sosetsu explained, his tone serious.

"Alright, I understand," Koyuki nodded. She rose from her seat and addressed Kirito, "Why are you staring there? I want to visit the market. Follow me."

"Yes, Princess," Kirito replied neutrally, his stance unchanged, but he followed Koyuki obediently. After all, his mission was to protect her.

Once the two youngsters had left the room, Sosetsu turned his attention to Kakashi and said with a smile, "Please don't mind my daughter. Trust me, she's not always like this."

"It's not an issue, Lord Sosetsu. You can rest assured that Kirito wouldn't do anything to compromise your daughter's safety. He's a diligent individual who always gives his best effort," Kakashi reassured, shaking his head slightly.

"In that case, I must express my gratitude once more," Sosetsu responded with a smile.

"No need, but there's something I'd like to ask, if you don't mind," Kakashi interjected with a hint of hesitation.

"Mr. Kakashi, you're welcome to inquire about anything, and unless it's a highly classified matter, I'll do my best to provide answers," Sosetsu offered, his curiosity piqued by Kakashi's expression.

"Very well, Lord Sosetsu. During our exploration of the capital earlier, we encountered someone suspicious," Kakashi began, striking a pose for emphasis.

"And your point?" Sosetsu inquired with seriousness, as he hadn't received any reports of suspicious individuals from his guards.

"The question I have is whether your castle is susceptible to an attack or not?" Kakashi asked with a serious tone.

"If you're asking me this question despite the extensive guard detail, I might mistakenly assume you're jesting," Sosetsu chuckled. His expression then turned serious as he continued, "Of course, the possibility of a castle being attacked can never be ruled out. But tell me, is the renowned Kakashi of the Sharingan feeling apprehensive even before an attack occurs?"

"No, it's not that…" Kakashi replied, a hint of frustration in his voice. Despite acknowledging potential problems, he still retained his pride. Furthermore, his experiences, especially his recent encounter with Sasori's team, had diminished his fear of the unknown.

"Very well, if you're confident, you and the temple's Shinobi may join the castle's guard duty. Your primary focus, along with Kirito, should be protecting my daughter. Make her safety your top priority," Sosetsu instructed with a serious tone, his gaze unwavering.

"Understood," Kakashi acknowledged with a nod. He disappeared in a swirl of water, a common technique among ninja.

As Kakashi vanished, another presence entered the room. A man with two swords and dressed in black descended from the ceiling, his tone heavy as he spoke, "Brother, where have you hidden the hex crystal? I want to access our clan's treasury."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Doto," Sosetsu retorted, his tone hostile.

"Don't play games with me, Sosetsu. I know you're withholding it from me," Doto snapped angrily.

"Believe what you wish, Doto," Sosetsu responded firmly.

"You'll regret this, Sosetsu," Doto declared before storming out of the room.

"Are you certain he won't take drastic actions, my Lord?" a middle-aged man, clad in black attire and bearing two swords, descended from the ceiling. He spoke with a serious tone, his concern evident.

"Don't concern yourself over his words, Sandayu. He might put on a tough front, but I know him well enough. I can assure you he won't do anything foolish," Sosetsu asserted, placing considerable trust in his understanding of Doto's character.

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