As time passed, the aroma of roasting meat grew richer and richer.
The people gathered around the campfire all swallowed involuntarily.
It smelled way too good.
Naruto kept staring at the sizzling slab of meat as fat dripped and crackled over the fire. "Dad, you've got skills like this too?"
"I feel like you could open a barbecue shop."
At that, Yuzuru smiled, took out a knife, and sliced into the meat to check it. Then he pulled out his secret seasoning from his robe and sprinkled it over the surface.
In an instant, a rich, mouthwatering fragrance spread through the air. Even Koyuki, who usually wasn't all that interested in food, couldn't help being tempted.
"Alright, time to eat!"
Yuzuru cut the roast into portions, and everyone immediately dug in.
Gaara ate while mumbling through a full mouth, "Dad, how are you so good at cooking? I've never even seen you cook before."
Yuzuru said flatly, "I picked it up while doing missions in the past. Otherwise, I'd have had to chew on dry rations or eat those soldier pills you were just eating."
After hearing that answer, Sasuke frowned. "Dad, didn't you say ninja in the past had to be extremely careful during missions and avoid being discovered at all costs?"
"That's right."
"Then how did you say you learned this while on missions?"
"Because..." Yuzuru cut off another piece of meat and chewed it slowly. "I'm not like other ninja."
That left Sasuke, Gaara, Naruto, and the others completely baffled.
Not like other ninja?
What was that supposed to mean?
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Yuzuru asked, "When most baby animals are born, they enter a silent state. Aside from crying out when they need food and such, they hardly make any sound at all."
"But human babies cry loudly the moment they're born. Do you know why?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Yuzuru smiled. "Because human beings possess a kind of power no other animal can compare to. Even if a baby's cries really did attract wild beasts, all it would do is deliver a bundle of fresh meat right to humanity's doorstep."
After hearing his explanation, everyone suddenly understood.
The meaning behind that little story was obvious.
Yuzuru possessed overwhelming enough power that he didn't need to be as cautious as everyone else.
Anyone trying to ambush him in secret would only be throwing their lives away.
Koyuki's eyes filled with admiration as she propped her cheeks in her hands and gazed at him, her beautiful eyes shining.
As expected of Lord Yuzuru. Even when he told a story, he did it with style.
Sasuke, meanwhile, wore the excited expression of someone who had just learned something profound and discovered a whole new world.
As expected from Father.
Even the most ordinary thing became something worth studying when it came from him.
Looks like from now on, he'd have to study more cultural subjects too. That way, when the time came, he could combine allusions with action just like Father did.
That was way too cool.
Two full months passed before Yuzuru's group finally arrived within the borders of the Land of Snow.
The moment they saw the endless stretch of white, Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara naturally became excited all over again, laughing and chasing each other ahead.
Seeing that, Yuzuru let out a quiet chuckle.
Then Koyuki's voice came from beside him.
"Lord Yuzuru... you really are a wonderful father."
During these past two months, she had spent day and night with him.
This mighty figure, renowned throughout the ninja world, had not only been willing to travel at a slow pace for Naruto, Sasuke, and the others, but had even joined in their roughhousing and games from time to time.
Although he occasionally used a bit too much force and made Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara cry every now and then, Koyuki still found it all incredibly warm.
When she was little, her father had been that kind of gentle man too.
He had doted on her in every possible way.
If not for what Kazahana Dotō had done, then maybe she too could have lived as happily as Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara did now.
At that thought, Koyuki's eyes reddened.
Seeing this, Yuzuru turned and said gently, "Koyuki, I'll carry you."
Koyuki nodded and skillfully climbed onto his back.
She was just an ordinary person. She couldn't endure nonstop travel like the others, so Yuzuru would carry her from time to time whenever they moved.
By now, she had long since gotten used to it.
Feeling the breadth of his back and shoulders, Koyuki was suddenly struck by the faint illusion of being carried by her father again when she was a child.
Unable to help herself, she leaned against his back and murmured, "Lord Yuzuru..."
Yuzuru gave a quiet laugh. "Hold on tight."
The moment the words fell, he burst forward at full speed.
The Gaara group, who had been fooling around up ahead, saw this and instantly shrieked as they ran even faster.
"Run! If he catches us, we're getting beaten again!"
In no time, the group vanished into the distance, leaving only Sandayu Asama kneeling in place and gasping for breath.
Can't catch up. I seriously can't catch up.
Didn't anyone think about an old man like him at all?
After traveling through the Land of Snow for several more days, Naruto and the others started getting restless.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but endless white snow.
Nothing else at all.
The Land of Snow truly lived up to its name.
Koyuki, on the other hand, wore a bright smile the whole time.
The feeling of stepping through snow beneath her feet had appeared in her dreams countless times.
And now, she had finally set foot in her homeland once more.
"Judging by the time, we should reach the capital in less than ten days," Sandayu said as he wiped the white frost from his glasses. "It's almost noon now, so I'll go boil some hot water for everyone. It'll help warm us up."
Yuzuru nodded, and the group found a sheltered spot out of the wind to sit down.
But just as Sandayu had scooped up a potful of snow, he suddenly shouted.
"Everyone, be careful! Enemies!"
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw three armored ninja appear before them.
There were two men and one woman, each wearing a Snow Ninja forehead protector.
The leader was a tall, thin man. He stood with his arms crossed and spoke in an arrogant tone.
"Koyuki Kazahana, you stole the Hexagonal Crystal Pendant, the secret treasure of the Land of Snow. Hand it over now."
Koyuki snapped back angrily, "That's a lie! This is my father's keepsake! Who are you people?!"
The tall man let out a cold laugh and said in a low voice, "My name is Rōga Nadare. These two are my teammates."
The woman beside him immediately spoke up. "Fubuki Kakuyoku."
The burly man also rumbled, "Mizore Fuyuma."
Rōga slowly continued, "We've been ordered by the king to bring you back. I advise you to surrender quietly."