"Then let's get going already. I've been stuck in this freezing snow for so long that my whole body is going numb."
"Haha, alright then, let's go."
Hearing Furina's complaint, Koyuki Kazahana gave a slight smile and then signaled everyone to continue moving.
As for resting due to fatigue? That was all in the past. Originally, they had needed to rest well because they were about to have a decisive battle with Kazahana Doto.
But now that Kazahana Doto had already been defeated, what was there to rest for? With the current level of excitement, they couldn't feel even a hint of tiredness at all.
.....
"This is the treasure that guy was so desperate for? It doesn't look all that impressive."
After attending the banquet and resting for a while longer, the four of them followed Koyuki Kazahana and the manager to the location of the Land of Snow's treasure.
Don't ask why, even though it was Zabuza who wanted to see it, Furina and Kakashi had tagged along too. It was all so mysterious of course Furina wanted to catch a glimpse of the real thing.
Having one extra person didn't hurt, and one more person looking at the treasure wouldn't make a piece of it disappear. So when faced with Furina's request, Koyuki Kazahana agreed very easily.
As for Kakashi, he said it was to protect the princess's safety in case of any danger, but the truth... tsk tsk tsk~
"Don't say it like that, Zabuza. As the saying goes, a true treasure conceals its brilliance. Maybe you'll be shocked in just a moment."
While Furina and Zabuza were bantering back and forth, Koyuki Kazahana had already taken off her necklace and placed it into the slot. Suddenly, a brilliant light burst forth, and for some unknown reason, the surrounding huge stone walls also began emitting a seven-colored glow.
Then... there was no "then." No gold, silver, treasures, or weapons that looked obviously powerful appeared. It was as if the light just now had only been special effects blinding your eyes for a second and then nothing.
"Hm? The temperature's rising?"
Fortunately, it wasn't just special effects. While everyone was puzzled, they suddenly felt the surrounding air temperature seem to increase. And not only that even the snow accumulated on the ground was slowly melting, as if spring had arrived.
"The heat is coming from the ground. A geothermal generator?"
After sensing it for a moment, Furina also realized what the so-called treasure actually was: a geothermal generator. For the Land of Snow, which was in perpetual winter, it was indeed an indispensable treasure.
But...
"Hahahaha, so this is what you meant by the treasure concealing its brilliance? You've really got me there, Furina. I admit this is actually a pretty good treasure, hahahaha."
Hearing that infuriating laughter, Furina didn't even need to look to know it was Zabuza. Damn it, why had she said anything about treasures concealing their brilliance? This wasn't some xianxia novel treasures concealing their brilliance my ass. Now she'd been thoroughly mocked.
She turned her head, and sure enough, that damn Zabuza was still covering his head and laughing up at the sky, laughing in the most obnoxious way possible. It made Furina want to have a one-on-one duel with him right then and there.
"Are you picking a fight? Just laughing and laughing aren't you afraid you'll laugh yourself into oxygen deprivation?"
"What fight? I'm just happy for the people of the Land of Snow that from now on they won't have to face hunger and cold every day. And when I'm happy, I just like to laugh, hahahaha."
"You're getting even more into it, you jerk."
Looking at Zabuza's smug, annoying expression, Furina couldn't be bothered to deal with him anymore. People like him got happier the more attention you gave them. Ignore him, and he'd find it boring and stop on his own.
She turned back to look at the path they had come from. Thanks to the geothermal generator, the snow on the ground had now completely melted.
After shedding its white coat, the place actually had a sense of birds singing and flowers blooming picturesque scenery. If used to develop tourism, it would probably be a great choice.
Now Furina finally understood how Koyuki Kazahana's father had governed the Land of Snow so well before. She had thought it was some super strong guy single-handedly turning the tide in this hell-difficulty perpetual-snow environment. Turns out it was easy mode with a geothermal generator.
Her earlier doubts were finally cleared up. How could such a mighty man who propped up a collapsing regime have been defeated by Kazahana Doto? It had never made sense no matter how she thought about it. Now the truth was out: the geothermal generator was the real MVP.
"Why are you still spacing out? We've seen your Land of Snow's treasure. It's about time for us to head back~"
Her gaze skipped over Zabuza this jinx who wasn't just laughing himself but had also dragged Kakashi into it and kept moving until it landed on Koyuki Kazahana, who was still staring ahead in a daze, lost in thought.
"So this is the treasure you said we absolutely cannot lose, Father. I understand what you meant back then."
Ignoring Furina's hand waving back and forth in front of her eyes, Koyuki Kazahana suddenly spoke a few words to herself as if recalling something. Then her gaze gradually became resolute.
Hm. Watching from the side, Furina was stunned for a moment. She just suddenly started monologuing like that was this triggering a flashback?
Furina felt like if this were an anime or movie, there would definitely be a flashback scene inserted right now. She bet her ahoge on it.
"Alright, let's go. Once we get back, I'll settle everyone's rewards all at once. And from now on, you are all friends of the Land of Snow. You will always be welcome here."
After Furina and the others gradually walked away and disappeared at the edge of the horizon, near where they had just been standing, several white creatures suddenly slowly emerged from the ground.
"Wow, that little girl has gotten even stronger, hehe. But it has nothing to do with me. Let that Tobi guy deal with the headache himself."
If Furina were still there, she would have recognized their identity at a glance: White Zetsu under Obito or rather, under Madara Uchiha.
And this wasn't an ordinary White Zetsu. It was one with individual thoughts a special White Zetsu.
Scattered across the ninja world, they provided unparalleled intelligence advantages. In the original story, Akatsuki's rapid capture of most of the tailed beasts was absolutely thanks to their indispensable contributions.
....
Amegakure
In a cave, a man wearing an orange mask stood motionless, gazing at the endless rain outside. No one knew what he was pondering; he simply had an air of profound mystery.
Only when he sensed movement from behind did the orange-masked man turn around, looking at the black-and-white Venus flytrap slowly rising from the ground.
"Is there something?"
"Hehe, Obito, can't I come find you if there's nothing? That really makes me want to cry. Oh wait, sorry, I don't think I can cry, wuwuwu, now I'm even sadder.
"Cut the crap. Get to the point."