NOVEL WEB Chapter 62: CHAPTER 62
Kazahana Koyuki paused for a moment, then offered a gentle smile. "I didn't expect anyone here to recognize me. Yes, I'm an actress."
To everyone's surprise, Karin excitedly pulled out a small notebook. "Can I get your autograph? I've watched all your movies—I'm a big fan!"
Her unexpected reaction caught the others off guard.
Kimimaro, ever composed, hadn't known Karin had any interest in cinema, much less that she could recognize Kazahana Koyuki's civilian persona. After all, Koyuki had adopted a low profile in recent years, especially after officially ascending as the Daimyō of the Land of Snow (now renamed the Land of Spring).
As for Haruna and Kiku, their lives revolved around diplomatic and political affairs. In their world, entertainers held little significance. Film stars weren't people they would spare much attention for.
Hanabi, still young, simply stared in confusion. She didn't recognize Koyuki at all.
Koyuki signed the autograph with practiced ease and a soft smile. Realizing her identity had been exposed, it was no longer possible to pretend she was a local. "I'm here on a private vacation," she explained casually. "The children here are so full of life—I've been wandering around the area these past few days to relax."
Haruna's interest waned upon learning that Koyuki was an actress. She withdrew from the conversation and simply watched from the side as Karin animatedly chatted with the famous figure.
But the exchange didn't last long. After all, Kazahana Koyuki was not just a celebrity—she was a Daimyō. She couldn't linger with a group of passing travelers for too long. Politely excusing herself, she departed with her attendants.
Once Koyuki was gone, Karin reluctantly stored away her autograph and photo, then nudged Kimimaro. "She's so beautiful. Aren't you even a little tempted to get to know her better?"
Kimimaro replied without hesitation, "You're here, and she's not more beautiful than you."
Karin's grin widened. "Sweet talker!" It was exactly what she wanted to hear.
Standing nearby, Haruna blinked in confusion. "Wait… isn't he your boyfriend? And you're encouraging him to talk to other women?"
"You don't understand," Karin said, shifting into a lecturing tone. She had long since developed an ulterior motive regarding Haruna. "As a woman, you need to be confident. Never cling to a man too tightly. That's how you keep his attention."
She continued spinning her own twisted logic, hoping to reshape Haruna's understanding of relationships. Karin had already decided—Haruna was someone who needed to stay close to Kimimaro, and this was her way of laying the groundwork.
Haruna listened blankly, overwhelmed by the logic, but then quickly remembered her original intent. She turned to Kimimaro. "So? What do you think? You saw it too. Even though this area is a slum, the people seem to be living decent lives."
"Really? Want to come with me and visit one of the homes? Let's take a closer look."
"Of course. What's there to be afraid of?"
By now, Kazahana Koyuki and her escort had vanished down the street, and the crowd had grown. Kimimaro led Haruna to the house of one of the couples who had spoken with Koyuki earlier.
They didn't go in. There was no need—they could clearly hear voices from outside the door.
"…She won't be coming again tomorrow, will she?"
"I heard this is the last day. Thank goodness. I'm exhausted."
"I don't know who she is exactly, but she's clearly important. The officials have been breathing down our necks every day because of her."
"Keep your voice down! Say too much, and you'll disappear into a cell—or worse."
"What's there to be afraid of? We're already dirt poor. Getting locked up might mean regular meals. And dying? Life's so hard, dying wouldn't be much worse."
"Enough. Go tell the kids to hide those candies—they're for birthdays, not every day. And take off those clothes. Those are our best, and you shouldn't keep wearing them."
"They'll just get ruined from washing. What's wrong with these rich people? Washing clothes daily… Isn't it enough if they're not naked?"
"Quit whining. Let me fold these up properly…"
Kimimaro pulled Haruna away from the house. The two walked in silence for a while.
"I think you understand now—without even stepping inside."
Haruna frowned. "How did you know what we saw earlier wasn't real?"
"I guessed," Kimimaro said simply. "That woman—Koyuki—isn't just a celebrity. She's a Daimyō. Officials always make a show of things when important people come to 'inspect the people's lives.' You're not a ninja, so you didn't sense it, but there were plenty of hidden guards watching her."
He paused, then added, "Even if we had gone inside, it would've looked clean and tidy. But that's all arranged for show."
"…I thought the Land of Snow was doing well."
"Relatively, sure. And this is a port city. People may be poor, but they can still eat and have spare clothes. That's already above average for a lot of places. If you ever visit mountain villages or areas torn by war, you'll see what real hardship looks like."
"…If I get the chance, I want to go."
Kimimaro nodded to himself. If she really means that… she'll learn something important.
Even in his past life—one with far more advanced infrastructure—poverty persisted. True structural change took immense effort. What they had seen today was only economic disparity. Haruna hadn't yet seen what systemic oppression looked like.
Giving her time to reflect, Kimimaro left her side and approached Karin and Hanabi.
Quietly, he asked, "Can you two pick up any trace of that woman from earlier—Fubuki?"
Karin immediately became alert. "I was just joking with you—are you actually interested in that movie star?"
Kimimaro gave her a sidelong glance. "What are you thinking? If she were just a celebrity, I wouldn't care. But do you really believe she's just some ordinary actress? You noticed the hidden guards, right?"
"Oh, right!" Karin clapped a hand to her forehead. "I got so excited about the autograph I forgot. You're saying… her identity is more than it seems?"
Kimimaro gave a faint smile. "Tell me, do you know the name of the current Daimyō of the Land of Snow?"
"Of course I do. We've been here for days. It's the former princess, Kazahana Koyuki. Supposedly a great beauty... Wait—don't tell me...?"
"Exactly," Kimimaro said, calm but certain. "It's her."
Karin's eyes lit up, her fighting spirit flaring. "So Kazahana Koyuki is Fubuki! This just keeps getting better. Kimimaro, the Land of Snow could actually be a solid strategic base. If we can build a relationship with her—"
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Kimimaro cut her off. "For now, I just want to observe her more closely. Something about the situation in the Land of Snow feels... off."
Karin gave a knowing smirk. "Relax. I'm not going to get jealous over someone who could help us. Besides, I'm younger than her."
"Exactly! We're young and strong!" Hanabi chimed in with a confident puff of her chest.
Karin flinched slightly, having momentarily forgotten Hanabi was the youngest among them. She sighed inwardly, feeling a tiny sting of competition. Why did she have to be here?
"You two go find her again," Kimimaro ordered.
"Got it!" they chorused.
Kimimaro, meanwhile, hadn't seriously considered trying to win over Kazahana Koyuki—not yet.
He paused, thinking. Didn't she like Naruto back then...?
But no—that was a misconception. He realized his impression came from old internet chatter in his past life, where fans often projected their fantasies onto Naruto. In truth, Koyuki was around ten years older than Naruto and viewed him more like a younger brother.
That kiss on the cheek... the autograph wishing him to become Hokage… In hindsight, it wasn't romantic at all. It had felt more like a gesture of encouragement—from an older sister to a boy chasing his dreams.
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