After hearing Yuzuru's question, Koyuki had already guessed that he had most likely investigated her identity thoroughly.
So she had no intention of hiding anything and said directly, "Lord Yuzuru, my real name is indeed Koyuki Kazahana. Yukie Fujikaze is only the stage name I gave myself."
"The reason I did that... was to hide my identity."
Yuzuru had already known all of this long ago, but he still put on a look of ignorance and asked, "Oh? Tell me in detail."
Koyuki also wanted to use this opportunity to see whether she could ask Yuzuru for help in taking revenge, so she fell silent for a moment and carefully organized her thoughts.
Only after a long pause did she slowly begin to speak. "Lord Yuzuru, my father was the former king of the Land of Snow. His name was Sōsetsu Kazahana, and I was his only daughter."
"I have an uncle named Dotō Kazahana."
"When I was still very young, Dotō took advantage of my father's guard being down and set the entire palace ablaze. After that, he even used a long blade to pierce straight through my father's heart."
At this point, Koyuki's body began trembling uncontrollably. "At the time... I was hiding in the garden. I saw all of it with my own eyes."
"Later, Sandayu Asama and a group of my father's loyal retainers risked their lives to save me. That's how I managed to survive."
"In order to earn enough money to support the people protecting me, I chose to become an actress. I never expected that I would actually become somewhat famous."
"But what came with that... was Dotō Kazahana's endless pursuit to kill me..."
Koyuki recounted the experience buried deepest in her heart, the one she least wanted to revisit. By the time she finished, her forehead was already covered in cold sweat.
She would never forget the savage expression on Dotō's face when he murdered her father back then.
"I see now."
Yuzuru revealed an enlightened expression and pointed at the burly man kneeling on the ground, his five senses sealed away.
"This guy was sent by Dotō Kazahana. He had two missions."
"One was to steal the hexagonal crystal pendant on your body. The other was to kill you after obtaining it."
Hearing that, Koyuki bit her lip. "So it really was like that..."
"Since everything's clear now, there's no need to keep him alive."
Yuzuru spoke calmly and raised a finger to the burly man's forehead.
The next second, a bone pellet shot out like a bullet, blasting straight through the man's skull and leaving behind a pitch-black hole.
Bang!
The sound of the corpse hitting the ground startled Koyuki.
A living person... had just died like that.
No matter how she thought about it, she hadn't expected someone of Yuzuru's status to act so directly.
He really was decisive when it came to killing.
Thinking of that, Koyuki immediately knelt down and said in a deep voice, "Lord Yuzuru, may I ask you for a favor?"
Yuzuru's expression remained calm as he said, "Let's hear it."
Koyuki raised her voice and pleaded, "I want to ask you to help me kill Dotō Kazahana!"
The moment she said that, the Hokage's office fell into dead silence.
After a long while, Fugaku finally frowned and said, "Dotō Kazahana is currently the king of the Land of Snow. Killing him would be the same as declaring war on the Land of Snow."
"If this isn't handled properly, it could trigger a war between our two nations."
"And everything you've said is only your side of the story. How are we supposed to know whether you're telling the truth?"
After hearing Fugaku's questioning, Koyuki froze on the spot, at a complete loss.
That was right.
She was nothing more than an actress. In the Warring States Era, someone like her would at most have been regarded as a courtesan.
And Dotō Kazahana, on the other hand, was the reigning ruler of the Land of Snow...
What reason did Konoha have to assassinate him for her sake?
In that instant, a wave of despair welled up in Koyuki's heart, and she felt as though revenge was something she would never achieve in this lifetime.
Seeing the look on her face, Yuzuru cleared his throat and took the initiative to speak.
"I believe you."
Koyuki raised her head blankly. "Eh? What did you say?"
"I said I believe you." Yuzuru's tone softened. "After investigating the identity of the assassin who attacked you, I pulled all the relevant information on the Land of Snow and found that many parts of it were indeed suspicious. But if things happened the way you said they did, then all of those inconsistencies suddenly make perfect sense."
"And besides..." Yuzuru's gaze turned cold, and his voice carried an unquestionable edge of authority, "Dotō Kazahana dared to send people to openly commit murder in a place under my jurisdiction. That alone means he must pay the corresponding price."
"Don't worry. I will help you get rid of Dotō Kazahana."
At those words, Fugaku said anxiously, "Yuzuru, that could very well trigger a war between the two nations!"
Yuzuru gave a cold snort. "For the sake of maintaining peace and justice in the ninja world, this is my duty and responsibility."
Koyuki had already fallen into despair, yet she never expected the situation to take such a sudden turn.
With her emotions swinging wildly, all the grievances she had suppressed for years came pouring out, and tears burst from her eyes.
"L-Lord Yuzuru... you're truly a good person."
"You not only saved my life, but now you're even willing to help me take revenge. I... I don't even know how I could ever repay you."
Seeing that, Yuzuru stepped forward and helped Koyuki to her feet.
"There's no need to repay me. With great power comes great responsibility."
Koyuki felt even more moved. Taking a deep breath, she said in a resolute tone, "Lord Yuzuru, I've heard that most of the ninja world is already under your control. Even though I don't know what your ultimate goal is, I believe it must be something that will benefit the entire ninja world."
"I've made up my mind. If you help me kill Dotō Kazahana, then I am willing to lead the people of the Land of Snow into submitting to you."
Yuzuru reached out and gently wiped away the tears still lingering on Koyuki's face.
"That would be wonderful."
"In three days, we'll depart."
Feeling the slightly intimate gesture from Yuzuru, Koyuki's face flushed red as she softly said, "Then I'll go tell Sandayu this good news right away."
"Lord Yuzuru, I'll take my leave now."
After saying that, Koyuki turned and left the Hokage's office.
Yuzuru felt the lingering warmth still left on his fingertips, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward.
For someone to become a female star famous across the ninja world, Koyuki's beauty naturally went without saying.
Even he had to admit that seeing her cry so pitifully stirred a feeling of tenderness in him.
Meanwhile, Fugaku wore a slightly smug and prideful expression.
Without his wholehearted cooperation just now, how could they have achieved an effect like this?
Heh heh heh...
This was the bond he and Yuzuru had built over so many years. (T/N: I knew it XD)