chsdbacks Page 153
Page 153
People emerged from the ruined houses (though this was caused by the aftermath of Sasuke and his companions' battle) and appeared from the corners where they had been hiding.
His face showed an incredulous surprise and a sense of bewilderment at surviving a disaster, which was then overwhelmed by immense joy.
The cheers, which had been suppressed for too long, finally broke through the frozen silence and echoed for a long time in the snow-covered streets.
The cold wind still howled on the highest terrace of the castle.
Feng Hua Xiaoxue was wearing a heavy, silver-white cloak, a symbol of royalty, inlaid with ice crystals and sapphires.
Standing on the edge of the railing, I looked down at the crowds that were gradually gathering below and flowing into the castle square like a white river.
Her face did not show the excitement of about to reach the pinnacle of power; instead, it carried a lingering sense of confusion and heaviness.
Beneath the large cloak, her slender body appeared even more frail.
"Your Majesty, Xiaoxue,"
San Taifu stood a step behind her, his aged voice hoarse with excitement.
More than anything, there was a sense of relief and joy: "Did you see? The people are calling for you. The Land of Snow needs you, needs the bloodline of Lady Hayayuki to guide the way."
"Third wife..."
Feng Hua Xiaoxue didn't turn around, her voice so soft it seemed as if it would be blown away by the wind: "I... really can? I've never... never wanted to be a queen. I just... just wanted to be an ordinary actress, to escape everything here..."
She recalled the carefree roles she had played on the stage of the Land of Fire, fragile illusions she had constructed for herself to escape the harsh reality.
San Taifu's voice suddenly rose, filled with an undeniable firmness: "Running away won't change anything! Look at this land!"
He pointed excitedly to the shattered ice field below, and to the still menacing ice peaks in the distance: "The ambition and tyranny of Feng Hua Nu Tao have ravaged it, leaving it riddled with holes! If you continue to choose to run away, who will heal these wounds? Who will lead the Land of Snow to a true spring? Do you want Lady Hayayuki's hard work, Naruto's efforts, all to go to waste?!"
The name struck like a bolt of lightning, instantly dispelling the confusion in Feng Hua Xiaoxue's heart.
The image of the blond boy fighting a bloody battle clearly appeared in her mind.
—He was never afraid of the terrifying monster that could destroy the world!
—Faced with the final frenzy of the raging storm, he dragged his injured body and unleashed a breathtaking power and speed, putting into practice his promise to "protect the present"!
—He stood at the edge of the pit, bathed in sunlight, with a tired but incredibly radiant smile on his face.
That pure, dazzling courage; that sense of responsibility to do the impossible; that trust to entrust hope to someone personally…
Like scalding lava, it burned away the ice in her heart called "escape".
Yes... what's the point of running away?
The death of my father, the suffering of the nation, the expectations of the people...
These heavy shackles will not disappear just because she escaped.
It will only be like an avalanche, eventually burying her and everything she cherishes completely.
Instead of wallowing in fear and running away, why not... stand up bravely like that blond boy!
Use your own hands to protect and change!
An unprecedented force, like a new sprout breaking through the soil, emerged from the deepest part of Feng Hua Xiao Xue's heart.
She took a deep breath of the cold, crisp air and slowly turned around.
The confusion faded from her beautiful eyes, replaced by a serene and resolute light, like that of a snow-capped mountain.
She looked at the Third Grand Master, and at the people below who were eagerly waiting; her voice was not loud, but it pierced clearly through the cold wind:
“I understand, Santayu. From this day forward, I will no longer run away. The Land of Snow… I will protect it!”
Tears streaming down his face, San Taifu knelt down in overwhelming emotion: "Your Majesty... the Land of Snow is saved!"
For reasons that cannot be disclosed, the coronation ceremony could only be held in the largest council chamber of the castle.
Although hastily and simply made due to the war, it was filled with sincere joy and profound hope.
When the icy crown symbolizing royal power was placed on her black hair, which was as black as a waterfall of snowflakes, the entire hall erupted in deafening cheers.
She stood before the throne, her posture upright.
As my gaze swept over the weathered yet hopeful faces below, I truly felt the heavy responsibility on my shoulders for the first time.
After the ceremony, Santayu led Fuka Koyuki and the rest of Class 7 through the heavily guarded castle corridors to a very secret underground workshop.
This place is far from the ravages of war and is well preserved.
Beneath the enormous dome, various sophisticated mechanical devices gleamed with a cold metallic light.
"Your Majesty, this is... the 'treasure' that Feng Hua Nu Tao sought throughout his life, even at the cost of betraying his brother."
San Taifu's voice carried a hint of complexity as he pointed to a massive machine in the center of the workshop, surrounded by enormous metal supports and possessing an incredibly complex structure.
The main body of the machine resembled a huge, inverted metal bowl, its surface covered with countless intricate pipes, valves, and energy nodes that shimmered with a faint light.
Many parts appear unfinished, with exposed wiring that looks somewhat rough.
Unlike the world-destroying weapons or immense treasures that people imagine, it exudes a kind of...
A gentle, slightly warm energy fluctuation.
"This...this is?" Naruto stared wide-eyed with curiosity and leaned closer to take a look.
Snow melting machine.
Feng Hua Xiaoxue stepped forward, her slender fingers trembling slightly as she gently stroked the cold metal casing.
Her voice was filled with an overwhelming longing: "It was designed and created by Father... Lord Hayayuki with all his heart and soul. He wanted to use it to melt the perpetual ice and snow of the Snow Country, to bring spring back to the earth, to let the sun shine... so that I... could see true spring, to see flowers blooming all over the mountains..."
Her eyes welled up with tears.
It turns out that the father's tireless efforts were not for any grand ambitions or great achievements, but simply to fulfill his daughter's small dream about spring.
San Taifu sighed, his tone filled with regret: "It's only a half-finished product. Lady Hayayuki hadn't even completed the stabilization device for the core energy when... alas. In its current state, even if it were forcibly activated, the area it could cover would be extremely limited, and... the duration would be very short."
He pointed to a device at the core of the machine that was flashing an unstable light.
"It's alright, Third Master."
Feng Hua Xiaoxue wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and a warm and firm smile bloomed on her face, like a snow lotus blooming for the first time on a snowfield: "Father has shown me the way. The real spring does not lie in the power of this machine, but in people's hearts, in hope, and in how we strive to create it."
She turned around, her gaze sweeping over Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi: "I believe that with everyone's efforts and the joint efforts of all the people of our Land of Snow, one day, a true and lasting spring will descend upon this land! Let this machine remain here as a testament to my father's dream."
A few days later, on the icy plains outside the capital of the Snow Kingdom.
The huge sled was ready to go, pulled by several strong sled dogs.
The members of Class 7 bid farewell to Queen Yuki and Santafu, among others.
"Your Majesty, Little Snow Queen! If you encounter any difficulties in the future, please feel free to send someone to Konoha!"
Naruto thumped his chest, his smile as bright as the sun over the snowy plains: "I, Uzumaki Naruto, keep my word!"
Kakashi sighed helplessly, but nodded nonetheless: "The gates of Konoha are always open to our friends from the Land of Snow."
Sakura stepped forward and gently took Yuki's hand: "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. Governing the country is hard work, but you can definitely do it! Please let us know if there is anything we can help you with."
Sasuke stood coolly to the side with his hands in his pockets, giving Xiaoxue a slight nod as a farewell.
“Thank you…thank you everyone!”
Feng Hua Xiao Xue bowed deeply to everyone: "Without you, there would be no Snow Kingdom today. The Snow Kingdom will never forget this kindness!"
Feng Hua Xiaoxue raised her head and smiled, "We will definitely work hard! When the Snow Kingdom welcomes its true spring, you are welcome to come again! At that time, I will definitely take you to see the most beautiful sea of flowers!"
"It's a deal!" Naruto replied loudly, his smile utterly sincere.
“Okay! It’s a deal!” Xiaoxue nodded vigorously.
The sled dogs let out low growls, and the sled slowly started moving on the snow, growing faster and faster.
It sped off towards the Land of Fire in the south, leaving a long trail across the vast ice plains.
Feng Hua Xiao Xue and San Tai Fu stood atop the castle, watching the trail disappear into the snowfield.
"Your Majesty, let's go back. There are still many government affairs that need your attention," the Third Prince said respectfully.
Feng Hua Xiaoxue withdrew her gaze and looked down at the people below the castle who were clearing the ruins and rebuilding their homes.
Her eyes were no longer lost; they were filled with a calm strength and unwavering hope.
"Yes, let's go back, Third Master."
She responded softly, her voice low but carrying an undeniable resolve: "A new era for the Land of Snow... has begun."
The shattered ice plains of the Snow Country shimmered with the luster of new life under the sunlight, as if silently gestating a long promise about spring.
Alright, the Snow Country arc is officially over. Two days and four updates a day is too much. I'll resume the normal three updates a day for now, and then resume four updates a day once I've rested enough.
No matter what, please support this book! Your support is what motivates me to keep writing!
Love you all (。?ω?。)ノ?
Chapter 172 Obito's Vigilance
Amegakure Village is shrouded in leaden-gray clouds and drizzling cold rain all year round.
The towering, twisted steel pipes resemble the skeleton of a giant beast.
White smoke from industrial waste billows in the humid air.
Deep within an abandoned factory, it is isolated from the noise and prying eyes of the outside world.
The space was slightly distorted, like the surface of water tossed with a pebble.
A figure wearing an orange spiral mask, revealing only a scarlet right eye, appeared silently in front of the dusty control panel.
His black robe blended seamlessly into the shadows; he was none other than Uchiha Obito, who was using the alias "Tobi".
"I'm back. It's so cold in the Land of Snow."
A strange, grating sound suddenly rang out.
The ground softened like mud, and a creature resembling a pitcher plant, with its left half white and right half pitch black, appeared—Jue.
It slowly "grew" out of the cement floor, covered with tiny ice crystals, and quickly melted in the warm indoor environment.
Obito didn't turn around. The crimson Sharingan beneath his mask twitched slightly, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the cold metal edge of the control panel.
"How's the situation? What about that strange vibration?"