"My apologies, Princess."
Kakashi carried Princess Koyuki on his back and quickly left the stone chamber.
Once outside, the sound of explosions shattered the silence of the deep night.
A fire blazed in the distant building, with sparks dancing as they shot skyward, illuminating the night sky brilliantly.
Kakashi saw the Snow Ninja guard, recklessly charging at the opposing Snow Ninja, engaging in a fierce battle.
Chaos erupted in other areas too, as the operation commenced.
Kakashi only glanced over, not paying more attention, as he carried Princess Koyuki and quickly dashed towards the city walls of Kazahana City, using the shadows of the buildings as cover.
◎
Running along the path through the forest.
The wind and snow brushed past their ears, and Princess Koyuki's face turned pale from the cold as she gasped for breath on Kakashi's back.
Suddenly, Kakashi sensed a chilling murderous aura spreading in the surrounding air, colder than the falling snow.
Kunai flew in rapidly from both sides; Kakashi accelerated with force, his legs covered with a fine current of electricity, dodging the kunai attacks, leaving them deeply embedded in the snow.
"Ice Style: Rain and Snow!"
Snowflakes flew, and the beautiful snowflakes, under control, attacked Kakashi.
He sidestepped to avoid them, but a wound was cut open on his shoulder by the snowflakes, and blood flowed out.
Princess Koyuki on Kakashi's back was so frightened her face turned white, she didn't even dare to breathe heavily, her bright, helpless eyes shimmering in the dark forest.
A playful voice echoed from the forest.
A female Snow Ninja, clad in specially crafted blue and white armor, with bat-like wings unfurling from her back, soared through the snowy night sky.
"So it's the famous Hatake Kakashi. Is this Kazahana Sosetsu's reliance? To actually commission foreign ninjas to meddle in the internal affairs of the Land of Snow."
Despite Konoha's power, it was far too remote from the Land of Snow, thus the female Snow Ninja felt no fear of Konoha.
Kakashi didn't speak, simply flicked a kunai at the opponent.
The female Snow Ninja didn't dodge; just as the kunai was about to hit her, a transparent shield instantly formed around her, deflecting the kunai.
"Understand now? Whether it's Taijutsu or Ninja Techniques, they're meaningless against us with Chakra Armor. This armor can even defend against Illusion Techniques."
The female Snow Ninja laughed arrogantly in the air.
Completely unconcerned about exposing her trump card to the enemy.
This was the strong confidence Chakra Armor gave her.
With this, the Land of Snow could eventually become like the Five Great Nations.
As long as they found the treasure hidden by the deceased Daimyo, Kazahana Sosetsu, the Land of Snow could become strong again.
"So, hand over the Hexagonal Crystal. You can take Princess Koyuki, how about it, Hatake Kakashi?"
The female Snow Ninja proposed a deal.
Hexagonal Crystal? Kakashi's eyes showed confusion.
What was that?
Regardless of what it was, a mission was a mission; compromise was impossible.
Moreover, even if the opponent possessed that kind of Chakra Armor that could defend against Taijutsu, Ninja Techniques, and Illusion Techniques, it was the same.
Without hesitation, Kakashi drew the White Fang Short Knife from his back.
"Princess Koyuki, please hold on to me tightly, don't fall."
As he needed to focus on the battle, Kakashi couldn't afford much attention to Princess Koyuki on his back.
Upon hearing this, Princess Koyuki quickly wrapped her arms tightly around Kakashi's neck from behind.
The White Fang Short Knife emitted a soft moon-white glow, and under the black and white snowy night, that glow carried a lethal aura.
"I've already said, this broken knife is nothing to me—"
The female Snow Ninja mockingly laughed, but in mid-sentence, her body was struck with intense pain, her face frozen.
Blood spurted wildly from her body, staining the white snow on the ground.
At her shoulder, the Chakra Armor was sliced through like tofu by the White Fang Short Knife; if the cut had been slightly deeper, her entire arm would have been severed.
The female Snow Ninja, shocked, flew to a higher altitude, casting a terrified look at Kakashi on the snowy ground.
He held the blood-stained short knife, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"What did you just say? The one cut by the broken knife is you, isn't it?"
Kakashi's indifferent words contorted the female Snow Ninja's face, but she dared not approach Kakashi for a fight anymore.
Because the next time, if struck by the White Fang Short Knife, she would surely die.
Just then, an unexpected movement came from behind Kakashi.
Snowflakes flew up, and a male Snow Ninja appeared there, casting a giant shadow, wearing Chakra Armor identical to the female ninja's. Paired with his robust physique, the overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe.
He clasped his hands together, and a massive amount of cold air instantly erupted from the Chakra Armor, bursting forth with powerful momentum, aiming at Kakashi's head.
"!"
The male Snow Ninja's eyes widened.
The attack with both hands clasped was stopped by the White Fang Short Knife raised above Kakashi's head.
While a terrifying sight to others, it was nothing surprising to Kakashi.
For he had, at that moment, harnessed Sage Art Chakra, greatly enhancing his physical attributes, giving his seemingly frail body the strength to overpower the male Snow Ninja.
Then, the White Fang Short Knife made a swift, bright cut.
Accompanied by a scream, blood splashed, and the male Snow Ninja's hands fell to the snow-covered ground.
"Touu!"
The female Snow Ninja in the sky screamed the burly male Snow Ninja's name, as she was about to descend, Kakashi's cold gaze locked onto her, freezing her in mid-air. Paralyzed by Kakashi's imposing presence, unable to move, she swallowed saliva born of fear.