Naruto: Escape From Konoha

Chapter 206: 202: Treasure

Two chapters

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The moment the gate exploded, the Yuki nins inside the castle immediately realized the situation and recognized they were facing an enemy attack. After a moment of initial panic, they regained their composure. Their confidence emanating from the Chakra armor they wore—an armor-type ninja tool meticulously developed by the Land Of Snow over the years.

This armor, once worn, generated a chakra shield capable of defending against any physical attack. Additionally, it absorbed the enemy's chakra, providing it to the armor user. It could even spread its wings, enabling the user to fly freely in the sky. Against ninjas of equivalent level or even stronger opponents, they had a considerable advantage with their chakra armor.

So, after realizing the enemy's invasion, the Yuki nins immediately headed to where the gate exploded. There, they intended to showcase the might of their chakra armor to the invading forces.

Shiraishi, however, had no intention of avoiding these Yuki ninjas. Prior to the attack, he had already assessed the ninjas' capabilities, acknowledging that while the Chakra armor posed a challenge, it was primarily effective against ordinary ninjas. As his group advanced on the snow-covered path, a large number of Yuki ninjas wearing the Chakra armor approached from a distance.

Seeing Shiraishi's group, the Yuki nins were confounded by the sheer number of enemies clad in black robes. Unable to find out their country of origin, the two leaders sensed an ominous premonition, they had to prepare for an imminent intense battle.

One of the leaders of the Yuki ninjas signaled an immediate attack. Their chakra armor expelled white cold air as the figures swiftly glided on the snow, rushing towards Shiraishi and the others with remarkable speed, leaving a trail of snowflakes in their wake.

The ninjas behind Shiraishi and Ayane didn't hesitate to engage the group of Yuki ninjas.

Even though the Yuki nins wore the so-called chakra armor, their threat level was surprisingly low. Shiraishi had gathered information indicating that the Genin Yuki nins had poor functions in their Chakra armor.

"Let's go." Shiraishi took the lead to clear the path. Intercepting the Yuki ninjas was just the prelude; the next step was to locate Doto.

Seeing the aftermath of the exploded gate, Asama no longer doubted the ninjas' strength.

Indeed, in the confrontation with the Yuki ninjas, the Land Of Demons' ninja forces decisively gained the upper hand. Despite the Chakra armor worn by the Yuki ninjas, their limited means of dealing with the enemy and rigid attack style made it easy for Shiraishi's forces to anticipate their movements.

Shiraishi's ninja troops were proficient in ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu, and they cooperated seamlessly, showcasing flexibility, intelligence, and advantageous tactics.

"Fire Release- Fireball Jutsu!"

A huge fireball collided with the chakra armor's shield, erupting in a burst of flames.

Consistent with the information gathered, the Genin-level Yuki ninja's Chakra armor proved inadequate. It was capable of ignoring only light ninja weapons such as kunai and shuriken but powerless against powerful fire release jutsus.

A taijutsu ninja advanced forward, a powerful chakra instantly surged from their body. They shattered the core gemstone on the Chakra armor, executed a rotation, and delivered a roundhouse kick to the Yuki ninja's chest.

The Yuki ninja flew backward, skidding on the snow before stopping, unconscious.

The taijutsu ninja held back, stil looking for the next opportunity to strike. Ninjutsu and genjutsu ninjas interfered on the sidelines, creating openings for the taijutsu ninja. The Yuki ninjas found themselves struggling against this coordinated attack.

While some Yuki ninjas could exploit the weather changes in the Land for ice release jutsus, they either lacked the power to pose a threat or were thwarted by counterattacks.

Every move by the Yuki ninjas fell under the surveillance of Sensory nins in the attacking force. Detecting abnormal changes in their chakra, the sensory nins notified the nearby ninjutsu ninjas to use other Jutsus to neutralize the ice release.

If it weren't for the fact that this was the first real combat experience for these ninjas, their cooperation revealed some flaws. Yet, Shiraishi considered this actual combat "examination" as a passing grade.

For recruits, it wasn't bad. There were still many opportunities ahead of them for further refinement, so there was no need to rush.

Standing in front of the castle palace gate, a shadow emerged beneath the white stone, transforming into a solid shadow blade. It extended through the door crack, with a subtle click the inner lock yielded to the shadow dancer's action.

The gate to the palace opened without anyone stepping forward opening it. It was eas dark inside, only the candlelight illuminated the way.

"Ice release · Moby Dick!"

The moment the door was opened, a cold and chilling sound spread through the air.

From the dark, a huge white giant whale, sculpted from hard ice, emerged from the cold ground. Its immense pressure could crush a human body into a meatloaf.

The power of this ninjutsu surpassed the capabilities of the Yuki ninjas outside.

Shiraishi raised his head watching the approaching giant white whale with a calm expression. The weightless black shadow blade looked like a flash, moving towards the whale's head, no sign of stopping.

The Yuki ninja who released this ninjutsu, with ice-blue hair, - Roga, Doto's capable subordinate. When he saw the weird black shadow extending from the body of his enemy, Roga swiftly turned and fled without hesitation. His intuition warned him of extreme danger if he continued staying there.. His intuition was right. Before taking a few steps, the shadow blade silently pierced through the back of his head without any sound.

Roga's consciousness fell into the darkness, as his body staggered a few steps forward before collapsing motionless on the ground, breathless.

The battle ended without suspense. For Shiraishi, this was a battle that could barely be considered a warm-up. The formidable chakra armor was useless against Shadow dancer's blade. Asama and Koyuki, however, saw it differently. Witnessing the death of Roga, the second most powerful ninja in the Land of Snow was unreal.

"Let's go." Shiraishi said, but Koyuki felt strange. She seem to have underestimated her 'father.'

"Truly amazing... Ninjas are incredible existence." Asama marveled. If such a powerful ninja protected the Land of Snow, it may not necessarily bring them harm. The only problem was hiding the ninja's identity from being revealed, a regrettable aspect in Asama's eyes.

However, nothing was perfect in the world . Several times, tin order to gain something, one must sacrifice another.

What Shiraishi would bring to the Land of Snow remained uncertain for Asama. After all, he had already committed to follow his new master until death.

....

"After so long, can't even a group of rats be dealt with?" Doto who had woke up due to the commotion, expressed annoyance at the persistent disturbances. Getting of the bed, he wore a specially crafted Chakra armor, mostly black with blue-painted joints, adding to his imposing figure. He picked up a black coat by the side putting it on, he stepped into the corridor.

Initially, he wanted the guards at the gate to call for Roga to ask why it was taking so long too deal.with the rats, Doto found the corridor strangely silent, absent of any guards. The only sounds were his breathing and the distant echoes of intense fighting. However, what made him felt weird was there was no ninja in the corridor. It was so quiet only the sound of his own breathing could be heard.

Confused, he wondered where everyone had gone. If not for the ongoing battle outside, he might have suspected everyone in thr castle was dead and himself the sole survivor.

"It seems the intruder is no ordinary enemy. I would like to see who dares to disrupt my castle." Doto sneered. He had been suppressing dissent in the country for some time. After a series of purges, there were fewer people who opposed him. He would be able to control the country soon.

The intruders attacking the castle tonight were likely remnants of those unwilling to surrenderto.him, and they're likely going for a final confrontation. Were they truly naive enough to believe they could thwart his plans? Their understanding of ninja power remains narrow and one-sided. He was going to make them understand one thing - Hes the sole ruler of the Land Of Snow.

Walking along the palace corridor toward the exit, Doto grew tired of the noises outside. Disposing of the rebels quickly would allow him have a peaceful sleep, his sole thought at the moment.

As he walked, a slender black shadow quietly emerged from a corner's darkness, silently tailing the imposing figure.

With diminishing distance, the black shadow accelerated, and a solid shadow blade emerged from the ground.

Suddenly, Doto turned around and jumped back, his arms covered in chakra armor crossed defensively.

The shadow blade flickered past him. Doto felt a sharp pain in his arm, he was surprised to find a clean cut on the chakra armor, blood seeping from the wound. He froze. He never expected he would get injured while wearing the chakra armor. Confusedly, he subconsciously looked at the corner shadow where the attack came from.

Four people walked out quietly, and the shadow retracted into one of their body.

"Doto!! accused for kiling Sosetsu-sama and usurping the throne, your end has come. Surrender, and maybe you can survive." Asama announced the charges against Doto. Killing his elder brother and stealing the Daimyo title.

"Hmph!" Doto snorted coldly, disdaining from making any explanations. He looked past Asama, focusing more on his niece with a pleased glint in his eyes. "Koyuki-chan, remember you're uncle's good niece, are you so eager to give the hexagonal crystal to me?" He spoke naturally with friendliness.

"Doto, I don't have an uncle who kills their own family. If you confess and plead guilty now, i might spare you from death." Koyuki replied, despite her reservations about Doto.

"You're making uncle sad, Koyuki-chan. It appears not seeing you for a few months has turned you into a disobedient child. Uncle is truly sad." Doto sighed, then he focused his gase on her, more precisely the hexagonal crystal hanging from her neck.

The key to unlocking the hidden treasure.

Originally Doto prepared to retrieve the crystal under Konoha's protection, his plans were unexpectedly expedited by Koyuki's return. This fortuitous event meant he will be unlocking the country's treasures sooner, investing more in chakra armor research, forming an invincible army, annexing neighboring nations, and ascending to the status of the five major countries. Thinking about the dreams he had for so many years were about to be realized. He couldn't help but feel elated.

To him, Koyuki's impoliteness was merely a child's tantrum.

"Quit the pretense. I'm just asking you, will you surrender or not?" Koyuki took a deep breath, Doto's hypnotical gentle greetings made her feel disgusted.

"Do you think you can resist me after getting entangled with a group of rebels? It seems the fear given to you before wasn't deep enough. It doesn't matter, I'll have more time to teach you how to respect your elders."

"The ninjas outside have almost been dealt with, if you are still obsessed..."

"Are they your reliance?" Doto cut off Koyuki's words, confidently sweeping towards Shiraishi and Ayane, who remained silent.

"I was careless earlier. I didn't expect someone to able to pierce through my chakra armor. But don't compare me to that group of wastes outside. My power and this special armor, when fully unleashed, even I might feel scared." Doto said asserted, victory gleaming in his eyes. On the black chakra armor, therenwasna terrifying aura fluctuation, accompanied by a powerful burst of chakra materializing from him.

Although such terrifying power required the aid of the special chakra armor, it also proved Doto's strength wasn't that bad. The floor beneath his feet shattered, a robust repelling force field enveloping him. Dark shadows flashed in Doto's eyes as a black dragon phantom faintly coiled around his fist.

The black dragon's phantom, entwined around Doto's fist, causing an incredibly cold air, rapidly lowering the surrounding temperature.

Koyuki and Asama shuddered. For ordinary people like them, facing the level of pressure was indeed daunting.

"Is it Ice Release again? It looks interesting." Ayane chuckled softly.

"Go easy on him. The Chakra armor on him has extremely high research value." Shiraishi turned his head.

"Don't worry, I will control my power and not damage that armor."

After Ayane finished speaking, her figure disappeared from the spot, a black-coated blur tearing through space like lightning, heading straight for Doto.

'So fast!' Doto was startled, astonished by Ayane's speed. This level of speed wasn't typical for ordinary ninjas. However, as long as the ninja controlling the shadow blade refrained from attacking, as someone wearing the special chakra armor he was least afraid of Taijutsu.

Seeing the figure approaching him, Doto casually jumped back, maintaining enough distance to analyze her movements.

This running posture, foot speed, and the trajectory of her palm strike. Doto's quick-thinking brain deduced his enemy's strategy in an instant. The seemingly light palm strikes from his opponent appeared harmless, but the quick movement suggested that all the power concentrated on the her legs and feet. The palm strike was merely a bait.

'Ridiculous! Stupid!'

To Doto, such an obvious provocation was riddled with flaws. He effortlessly saw through the attack at a glance. The shadows in his eyes got darker as he raised his fist.

"I've seen through all your attacks! Freeze before me! -- Ice Release -Black Dragon Blizzard!"

His fist swung, and the black dragon shadow wrapped around his fist flew, enveloped in blood-chilling cold air. A colossal black dragon rushed towards Ayane.

The black dragon opened its massive mouth, spitting out a cold breath freezing the air, intending to swallow Ayane.

"You should be frozen into an ice cube by now, even dead. Really stupid. If you hadn't met me, you might have lived a little longer." Doto sneered. As he finished speaking, a pitch-black figure appeared before him.

Ayane's hat was blown away by the black storm, her long black hair flying. Her pure white pupils stared emotionlessly at Doto, as if she was looking at a dead man.

The black dragon disappeared at some point, turning into a gentle wind that breezed through the corridor, bringing only a refreshing cool air.

Before Doto could react, in his eyes, Ayane's seemingly light and weak palm softly struck the armor on his chest. His body trembled violently, the impact bypassing the outer armor, hitting the inside of his body. His ears buzzed nonstop, brain blank, bloodshot eyes criss-crossing, his body catapulted like a shell, slamming fiercely against the wall at the end of the corridor.

Boom!

Doto's body was covered by the dust and debris.

Ayane walked towards Doto's position, easily removing the massive rubble covering his body. He lay there, still breathing, and if he was treated on time, he might survive. However, his Chakra armor remained unscathed, perfectly preserved.

She grabbed Doto by the back collar, roughly dragging him from the ruins, showing no concern for his current state.

Koyuki sighed inwardly at the sight of the defeated figure. She hadn't thought how to deal with Doto. Just as she was about to speak, Ayane interjected, "By the eay, part of the reason for this guy's rebellion is because of the treasure he believed your father hid here, and the key is the crystal"

"Treasure?" Koyuki was slightly surprised, glancing down at the crystal ornament hanging from her neck. For the crystal Doto had continuously pursued her.

Asama had a blank expression "Well, i haven't heard Sosetsu-sama mention any treasure hidden." As a close servant privy to the affairs, Asama was indeed qualified to make such statements.

Koyuki nodded in agreement. The hexagonal crystal was a gift left to her by her father. Although he asked her to keep it safe, she never heard of any connection between the hexagonal crystal and the so-called hidden treasure.

Unexpectedly, when Doto, on the verge of dying, heard Koyuki's words, he coughed and spat out blood.

"Don't... don't joke. It's a priceless treasure. How could my information be wrong? Take me there quickly. Anyway, I've been defeated."nDoto recognized his complete failure, and it was very likely that he would be executed publicly in front of the people.

"I've said it all; there is no such treasure." Koyuki responded with displeasure, thinking Doto was delusional.

"Impossible! The treasure is hidden in the Rainbow Ice Wall, and the hexagonal crystal is needed to open the entrance. Koyuki! Take me there, and you can do whatever you want with me." Doto pleaded, his eyes showing a rare sincerity, yearning to witness the great treasure before his death.

Koyuki hesitated but eventually nodded, her expression complex.

Seeing this, Shiraishi was also interested by the Land Of Snow's so-called treasure. Yet, why did Koyuki and Asama firmly deny the existence of treasure, while Doto was convinced otherwise? It was quite strange.

The Rainbow Ice Wall stood as the treasure hidden place etched in the memory of Doto.

Located near Yuki city in an ice lake, several enormous, smooth ice walls rose, covering most of the frozen expanse.

Judging by the craftsmanship, it was undoubtedly a work of art. Within the walls, a small island engraved with mysterious seals emerged. A hexagonal hole in the center awaited a key to activate the mechanism.

Shiraishi sensed something strange when he stepped closer, eyeing Ayane, who was preparing to watch some good show.

Koyuki observed the hexagonal keyhole, hesitating before taking the crystal around her neck and inserting it into the matching hole.

Boom!

"The great treasure... it's coming out..."

The ground trembled, but Doto wasn't panicking. Even before his defeat, he was excited being here. After searching for so many years, seeing the priceless treasure hidden by his brother was fulfilling.

Koyuki and Asama watched in astonishment, they had no idea of the mysterious treasure hidden within the Rainbow Ice Wall.

As the ground quaked, the surrounding ice gradually melted, and waves of hot air emerged.

'Heat flow?' Shiraishi frowned, sensing something was wrong.

A brilliant light beamed down, turning the night as bright as day. The ice and snow surrounding them melted rapidly under the influence of the warming energy.

After the ice and snow melted, the surrounding landscape underwent a drastic transformation. Green grass and vibrant flowers sprouted, and the once frozen lake transformed into a scene resembling spring.

This revolutionary shift in seasons left Shiraishi marveling at the enchanting craftsmanship of the Land Of Snow's craftsmen.

"Treasure... Where's... the treasure?" Doto staggered forward while coughing out blood, his injured body struggling to maintain stability. Greedily, he looked around his surroundings, hoping to discover the treasure he dreamed of. However, no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't see any trace of treasure.

"Where's the treasure? Why is my treasure missing? Did you hide it?" Doto realized something was wrong and swept alll of them with ferocious eyes..

Not disturbed by the questioning from Doto, Ayane admired the beautiful scenery that defied the usual snowy conditions and smiled, saying, "This is the treasure. Is there any more precious treasure than witnessing the spring scenery in the Land Of Snow, where it snows all year round?"

'What... what?" Spring? The treasure was to see the spring scenery? What sort of treasure is this?' Doto surged with disbelief, coughing repeatedly, almost breathless.

"If this is unacceptable, there are things that can barely be called treasures, like heaters that melt the white snow in winter, turning it into a spring." Ayane replied with a smile.

Doto was stunned at this revelation. 'Heater? I spent my entire life killing for a heater?' Unable to contain it any longer, a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth. He fell to the ground, eyes widened, now he was completely dead.

"I told you not to always be so wicked." Shiraishi gave Ayane a wry smile.

With her Byakugan, it became apparent that the so-called Land Of Snow's treasure was likely known to be a heater from the beginning.

"I just wanted him to die with peace of mind, fulfilling his dying wish. How could I have known his mental endurance was so poor? This is none of my business, Shiraishi-kun." Ayane said while maintaining her gentle smile.

In the eyes of Koyuki and Asama, Ayane's smile seemed more like that of a devil, causing shivers to run down their spines.

At this moment, they understood why Ayane had suddenly brought up the treasure in front of Doto – it was to please herself, to witness the funny death of Doto.

"This woman is scary!" Koyuki and Asama thought at the same time.

"Remember, Koyuki. Don't show mercy to those who harm you. Too much compassion may not make them grateful. The correct way to deal with an enemy is to retaliate with an eye for an eye, a determination as ruthless and cold as winter, making sure they never returned again." Ayane advised, walking up to Koyuki and gently stroking her head.

Koyuki nodded repeatedly, acknowledging the wisdom in her mother's words.

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