CH 7:Mission in the Snow

After leaving the Hokage's office, Kakashi and Kushina didn't speak much. They walked in opposite directions, each heading home, lost in their own thoughts. An A-rank mission was no trivial matter, and even though they were both seasoned shinobi, working together again—after quite some time—made things feel... a little awkward.

Upon arriving home, Kushina went straight to her room. She opened her gear cabinet and began packing swiftly: senbon, kunai, smoke bombs, a few small sealing scrolls, and dried provisions for a few days.

Her hands moved with practiced precision, but her thoughts wandered to Naruto. She paused briefly, glancing at the small room where her baby usually slept.

"Please take care of him, Jiraiya-sensei… even if you're a bit of a perv, I know you're no ordinary man," she whispered with a sigh, then headed out.

Meanwhile, Kakashi stood in front of his bedroom mirror, adjusting his forehead protector and checking the hidden kunai strapped to his wrist. He took a deep breath.

"Let's hope there are no nasty surprises," he muttered.

Thirty minutes later, they had both gathered at Konoha's front gate. The village entrance was quiet. The gate guards simply nodded politely, not wanting to interfere with the business of elite shinobi.

"You're pretty quick, Captain," said Kushina with her trademark teasing smile. She looked fresh and full of energy.

Kakashi simply raised an eyebrow, then glanced up at the sky before replying quietly, "This isn't a picnic, Kushina-san."

"I know, I know," Kushina replied with a small laugh. "But no harm in keeping the mood light, right?"

Without answering, Kakashi leapt onto a nearby tree branch and gestured for her to follow. They began moving out of the village, weaving through trees and rugged terrain. The silence between them was filled only by the sound of footsteps on branches and the whisper of the wind.

A few kilometers from Konoha, in a secluded area hidden behind hills and pine trees, Kakashi stopped. He opened his pack and pulled out a long scroll sealed in red.

"Here's the mission details," he said flatly, handing it to Kushina.

Kushina unrolled it slowly. Her eyes narrowed as she read the encrypted lines written in standard ANBU cipher. Her expression turned serious.

"The Daimyo of the Land of Snow doesn't want to deal with the rebellion directly… and has chosen to send his daughter to safety... Koyuki Kazahana?" she murmured.

"Correct," Kakashi replied briefly. He waited until Kushina had finished reading, then extended his hand to take the scroll back.

With a single hand seal and a small amount of chakra, he ignited a small flame from his fingertip, burning the scroll until it was nothing but ash.

"Basic rule. Leave no trace," Kakashi said softly—more as a reminder to himself than to Kushina.

Kushina gave a slow nod. "Yeah. Classic... But it always feels heavy, burning something that seems more important than it looks."

"Alright then, Captain. Let's begin our little snowy stroll," said Kushina in a light tone, trying to break the tension.

They resumed their journey, their shadows stretching beneath the morning sun. Their destination: the beautiful yet treacherous Land of Snow.

According to the intel, their mission was to secure the daughter of the Snow Daimyo, Kazahana Koyuki, who was currently being hunted by her own uncle, Kazahana Dotou. The mission was A-rank. Although Konoha wouldn't directly interfere with political conflict, they had been asked to escort her discreetly, without drawing attention.

They reached the border four days later. An endless blanket of snow stretched before them. The air was bone-chilling, yet Kushina seemed unfazed, as if the cold meant nothing to her.

"Brrr… not my favorite kind of place," muttered Kakashi, pulling his hood tighter.

"But you don't see me complaining, do you?" replied Kushina with a chuckle, nudging his arm. "Come on, let's find an inn. We need intel."

They followed a narrow path toward the nearest village tucked behind a snowy slope. The buildings were worn and frosted over, dim oil lamps flickering weakly in the windows.

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Upon reaching a small inn that seemed to still be in operation, Kushina stepped inside, ringing the bell that hung over the door.

"Welcome," greeted the innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with her hair in a bun and a face full of wrinkles. "Rooms are available, but only two left."

Kushina glanced at Kakashi with a mischievous grin. "In that case, let's just book one room. Save some money."

Kakashi, who had just pulled down his mask, choked on his own spit. He immediately coughed and stepped back half a pace. "K-Kushina-san! Don't joke like that...! That could… kill me mentally, you know?!"

Kushina burst out laughing, slapping his shoulder. "Haha! Your face is red, Kakashi. Relax, I'm just teasing. I'm not that desperate."

"Y-yeah… good to hear…" muttered Kakashi, trying to calm his heart that had just jumped three levels. He turned to the innkeeper nervously. "Two separate rooms, please."

The innkeeper simply smiled, clearly amused by their antics.

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That night, the sky above the Land of Snow was shrouded in thin fog and pale moonlight. The freezing wind bit deep into the bone. Two shadows moved swiftly across the rooftops of the Daimyo's estate, nearly silent.

Kakashi, wearing an ANBU mask and custom black gear, crouched beside a wooden vent, his eyes sharp. Meanwhile, Kushina—disguised as a palace servant in a plain kimono, with a kunai hidden in her obi—stood near the rear door.

They exchanged brief nods before slipping inside through the loosened vent. They moved quickly and quietly like shadows, avoiding the patrols of the estate guards.

Moments later, they reached the private study of Kazahana Sousetsu, the Daimyo of the Land of Snow. The middle-aged man eyed them warily, still holding important papers when Kakashi lifted his sleeve to reveal the secret Konoha symbol on his wrist.

Sousetsu exhaled in relief. His eyes softened.

"So… you're from Konoha?"

Kushina nodded, her gaze firm and full of resolve. "We were sent directly by the Hokage. Our mission is clear: protect Koyuki and ensure her survival."

Sousetsu's face tightened, then he nodded with a long sigh. "Thank you… I knew Dotou would make his move sooner or later. He's not just after the throne. What he wants is the hexagonal crystal…"

His voice weakened, as if a heavy burden pressed on his chest. "And he won't hesitate to harm Koyuki to get it. I must act before he does."

"Where is she now?" asked Kakashi, his voice calm yet urgent. His eyes scanned the room, always alert.

Sousetsu gestured for them to follow him. They walked down dimly lit palace corridors lined with lanterns. It was quiet, but anxiety filled the air. Their footsteps echoed softly against the cold marble.

After passing three turns and a hidden chamber, they stopped in front of a modest room. Sousetsu knocked gently.

"Koyuki, sweetheart... it's Papa."

A young girl's clear and cheerful voice responded from inside, "Eh? Papa? What is it this late?"

The door creaked open, revealing a small girl around eight years old with shimmering long hair and eyes that sparkled with pure happiness. She sat on her bed with the blanket half-slipped off.

Sousetsu smiled, though there was clear sorrow in his eyes. He entered and knelt beside the bed.

"Papa has to go for a while, sweetheart. But I want you to go visit the Land of Artisans. Remember Uncle Mifune? It'll be like a vacation, okay?"

Koyuki looked confused, her expression hesitant. "But… I want to stay here… with you…" Her voice was barely a whisper, and her eyes began to shimmer with tears.

Sousetsu gently stroked her hair, his fingers trembling slightly. "Papa promises to follow you soon. But for now… you have to go first. These two will protect you."

He glanced at Kushina and Kakashi briefly, then opened a drawer and pulled out a hexagon-shaped crystal necklace. The crystal glowed softly, reflecting the lantern light in bluish hues.

With great care, Sousetsu placed the necklace around Koyuki's neck.

"Guard this well. It's very important… more than anything."