33 The Land of Snow

Kibo sat on the boat as he watched the film crew work on a new scene, one of the lead character's companions was shooting their death scene; Kibo had to admit the young princess was indeed a talented actress.

When they went to bed that night, they woke up the next morning to one of the film crew member's screaming "Miss. Producer! We got a big problem."

"What is it!?" The producer got up and shouted as she walked out onto the deck of ship; it didn't take long for the whole crew to see a massive ice berg that clearly wasn't there when they anchored down last night.

"I don't know what happened, but this thing just appeared here overnight." The cameraman said with worry in his voice, when the film director stared intently at the 10 or so miles of the icy snow covered plain. Surrounding it were dozens of snow covered ice blocks that made the whole scenery combined look like miniaturize mountains, the Director laughed wildly when he suddenly shouted, "This is perfect. It's like the gods of films are telling us to shoot here, we'll set down and continue with production."

With that said; everyone got up and went along with the film director's orders. Team 7 had put on a tan winter cloak that covered most their bodies, and to prevent frost bite from forming on their toes, they wore boots on that didn't have their usual toe openings on them.

The cast was set up, but just as they were filming the scene, Kakashi and Yamato suddenly threw exploding Kunai into the ice block in the distance.

"Get back!" Kakashi shouted as a voice echoed throughout the terrain.

"Welcome to the Land of Snow! Princess Koyuki!" A tall man appeared from out behind a snow sheet cover, he had a long thin face with large doted eyebrows, his sharply shaped eyes had teal pupil-less irises, at the bottom corners of his eyes were two small purple lines going at a diagonal angle that stopped just above his cheeks. His long light purple blue hair was tied up into a ponytail, which came out of his flapped mask-style Yukigakure forehead protector, and was wearing a blue and white high tech looking Chakra Armor that had small a yin-yang on one of its components.

He looked to the group and said, "Nadare Rōga! Wait did you just say Princess Koyuki?!" Kakashi looked back at the lead actress Yukie in surprise, when Nadare shouted "Fubuki, Mizore!" the two other Yukigakure Ninja in hiding appeared from out the snow. Mizore Fuyukuma was big burly man with a short crop of purple hair and dark eyes. He wore the standard uniform of his team which consisted of a blue and white outfit with Chakra Armor. He also had small circular shaped purple eyebrows, next was Fubuki Kakuyoku, she had green eyes and pink spiky hair that stuck out of two holes at the top of her grey helmet, reminiscent of pig-tails. She has small circular dark pink eyebrows. Like her team-mates, she also wore a similar Chakra Armor, but hers had wings on the back, that could spread out into a glider.

Kakashi jumped up to Nadare and listened as the snow ninja began bragging. "It's been a while Kakashi, I do hope you don't run away like last time!" Kakashi thought back to when he first escaped with the princess, and said "I see your Chakra armor has changed."

"Oh yes it's one of our latest models, it increases the Chakra of the wearer and produces a Chakra barrier that makes Gen-Jutsu and Nin-Jutsu pointless." This of course was a lie, it could do what he said, only up to a peak Jonin, but if a Kage were to attack these ninja's would be helpless.

"What about Tai-Jutsu?!" Kakashi said as he disappeared and punched an unsuspecting and surprised Nadare into a glacier floating in the distance, Kibo didn't wait around as he wanted to steal their armor and study it for himself. With a powerful Wind Lord's Step he kicked Fubuki into an ice block instantly knocking her out, after removing the armor; he tied her up, and watched as the rest pummeled Fubuki into oblivion. After gathering up the enemy Nin, there were taken inside the ship to be questioned; only after Yamato was done interrogating them were the prisoners had been disposed of and tossed into the freezing ocean.

Kibo helped himself to their armor by stashing them in his inventory to view at a later time. He thought that if he could replicate it, it would provide a useful benefit for his future Village. He had even selected a location, and was biding his time until the location resurfaced. Only then would he start development, Kibo imagined Hoshigakure would become a Shinobi village much like Konoha in the future, but he wanted his rules to be a bit different.

He had many plans waiting for him to enact, and these Snow Shinobi weren't going to get in his way. The group continued on for another hour by sea, until they reached the port connected to land of snow, a large hill covered land could be seen that stretched all the way out to the distant horizon, the that only thing that could be seen on the surface was the pristine white blanket of snow covering everything in a few dozen feet of fresh powder. In the distance were massive snow capped mountains that towered into the skies and clouds. He headed to the Team a small meeting room at the port side building, as Kakashi was explaining Koyuki's history Kibo shook his head on the inside thinking of how similar she was compared to her character role in the movie; of course this was thanks to her manager, or rather her father's most loyal vassal as they discovered.

Sandayū and the rest of the crew were sitting quietly in contemplation at the large oval wood table while Kakashi and Sandayū continued debriefed team 7. The group learned that the actress they were supposed to be protecting Yukie Fujikaze was actually named Koyuki Kazahana, the only child of Sōsetsu Kazahana, the former Daimyō of the Land of Snow.

Doto Kazahana the current ruler was Koyuki's uncle; he committed treason by killing his brother and stole the throne. Ever since then he's scheming to find a treasure from hidden from him by their family. Sandayū even informed them, how Kakashi had helped her escape all those years ago. Sandayū bowed on the ground and began pleading with Koyuki to take back the throne and lead the Land of Snow back to prosperity.

Koyuki as it were now, didn't seem to react to any of Sandayū's pleas to return as the rightful heir, and shrugged him off with a face of disappointment. Naruto was put off by her uncaring attitude and gave her an ear full, "How can you the leader of your country not want anything to do with it? Do you know how much suffering your indecisive and uncaring attitude is causing? Reel your people in, and do your job!" Naruto yelled making Koyuki leave the room with a grunt.

The group carried on in a strange snowmobile truck that had many wooden components. They came to a stop because everyone needed a bathroom break and to stretch their legs. Naruto and the other men were busy relieving them self, when someone shouted, "She's Gone!" Princess Koyuki is gone! She's disappeared again!"

Kibo shook his head as Kakashi and Yamato gave the orders to fan out and search for her. The group began spreading out over the terrain, while Kibo searched for something specific. After a while he appeared over a hillside to see a tunnel running through a mountain side, looking with his Tengan he spotted the railroad hidden by a Jutsu that was running along the mountain side. Kibo smiled as he knew he found the right place.

Kibo found a spot and hid waiting for Naruto and Koyuki to come through the tunnel; he would only act to save Koyuki's vassals. After an hour or so of hiding in the snow, Naruto could be seen carrying Koyuki and moving at a very quick pace. After getting out of the tunnel he jumped onto a cliff side and started laughing, "I told you we'd be alright." When Naruto said this, a deep and eloquent voice began speaking through an intercom system. "It's been awhile Koyuki."

"Oh no! It's Doto!" Naruto finally heard some change in her usual non caring voice; fear." A tall and well built man stood on the back of the black metal war train. He had a wide face, stern jaw line, and a flat nose; his eyes were sharp and smaller than the rest of his facial features and had a blank look to them. He had straight long black hair and small bangs reaching out over his v shaped hairline, and was wearing a large white cloak and a standard Daimyo Hakama underneath it.

"Come now Koyuki it's been 10 years since I last saw you, let me get a good at your face." He said in a sickening tone, Naruto felt her clinch her hands and hide her face in his back, when suddenly a series of logs and the pile of snow accompanying them began slamming into the side of the tank like train. Sandayū appeared on the hillside facing away from the ledge, and was joined by many vassals of the previous Daimyo.

They were decked out in Samurai gear, and wielding swords and spears when Sandayū shouted "Doto today your schemes come to an end. . ." Before he could continue Kibo jumped out of the snow and unleashed a Wind God's Drawing Technique, slashing the train in half. The gust gathered by the technique pushed the train off the side of the cliff, and sent it rolling into the snow covered forest along with Doto and most of his men. Seconds later Kakashi and the rest of Team 7 came over after hearing the disturbance.

Kibo knew that wasn't enough to kill Doto, especially since he was wearing the latest prototype of the Yukigakure Chakra Armor. Kibo quickly explained what had happened when Koyuki said "It's no use, this won't be enough to stop him. Don't you see how pointless this is?"

Naruto had enough, "Is that all you're going to do, how long do you intend brush off your duties? You have 8 powerful Ninja at your service. You think we can't win you back the throne? Believe in us! Datebayo!" Naruto said grabbing his forehead protector and showing it off by shaking it slightly."

Koyuki felt something bubbling on under her skin, when a flying Blimp appeared soaring up from the cliff edge, hundreds of Kunai with strange Chakra pearls tied to the back of the back of them came flying down, meanwhile Yamato and Kibo began making shields for the civilians. Using dozens of intersecting wood logs and a flat screen of Star Chakra, a massive protective wall was formed between the projectiles and Koyuki's vassals.

As the Kunai struck the barriers they turned into dozens of ice branches that continued to spread out and split. The rest of team 7 dodged the sharp blades of ice landing safely on one of the branches, after the attack stopped Hinata looked around worried before saying "Where's Naruto?"

Sakura looked around and looked up as she heard Sasuke shout "That dobe!" Looking over at the ship leaving on the horizon, one could see Naruto climbing up a rope attached to a Kunai that was lodged into the ships steel surface. Kibo then made his Chakra wings and was about to give chase, he had barely made it over the cliff side, when his foot was suddenly encased in Ice.

Kibo frowned as he looked over to see someone standing on top of the Train's rubble. It was Doto, "No not Doto!" Kibo used his Tengan as saw through the mystery person's transformation Jutsu. "Who are you?" Kibo asked as the person who impersonating the Daimyo.

The person smirked as they removed their Jutsu, a frail looking, but gorgeous woman appeared. She had long black hair and clear white pupil-less eyes, her complexion matched that of the snow around her. She was wearing a Kage's Haori with snowflakes embroidered into the bottom of the cloth, a Kage's hat that symbolized the Yukikage was plain to see hung on string that was wrapped around her thin neck, two little black doted eyebrows were pushed together showing a sad expression on her face.

"My name is Setsuna, I am the 4th Yukikage, the Daimyo has order me to destroy you. I'm sorry but I'm afraid you're going to have to leave your life here." Setsuna said as a whirlwind of snow and Chakra rose around her body.

Meanwhile over on Naruto's side, he was busy searching through the ship for Koyuki. After sneaking into the air ducts, when he located the group he was looking for he overheard their conversation. "So Koyuki, did you think that hiring some random Ninja's could help you do away with me?" Doto frowned as he approached Koyuki and grabbed at the hexagonal crystal key on her neck, after he felt it his eyes widened.

"Do you think that I wouldn't notice a fake?!" Doto pulled the string off and crushed the fake into pieces. "Kakashi!" Koyuki said in surprise figuring out he had snatched the stone from her, Naruto wanted to jump out, but he knew starting a fight on the ship might endanger her life. So he bit his lip to the point that it bled, he stayed silent in the shadows, waiting for his chance to rescue her.

"No matter, If Kakashi has it; then your life still has value. I'm sure he'll exchange what I want for your pathetic life, of course I'm going to kill them anyway, that is if the Yukikage doesn't kill them first." Doto laughed as he threw her into the nearby cushioned seats. She looked down and actually started to cry, for a second during Naruto's speech she actually felt hope, Naruto who was watching this unfold felt enraged, he bit his tongue to keep his killing intent leaking out.

Returning to Kibo situation, he was staring down the Yukikage, when he started to laugh, "Well Setsuna, you're speaking to the future Hoshikage Kibo Hoshi, and I don't think either of us will be dying today. After all we wouldn't want any wars to start because of this, why not help Koyuki recover the throne?"

The Yukikage sighed and said, "You know, I want nothing more than that to happen, but I've been given orders from my Daimyo. I hope you can stop me from carrying them out, little future Hoshikage!" Setsuna said winking at Kibo, when Karin shouted, "Hey bimbo go find your own man, that one's mine."