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Midorima had pinpointed the crux of the problem.
Ninjas weren't afraid of death—they were afraid of dying meaninglessly.
For shinobi like Kakashi and Asuma, who were considered invaluable even in Konoha, losing their lives in the Land of Snow would be a terrible waste.
Kakashi understood the gravity of the situation. "What should we do?"
"I'd like to know that too," Midorima shook his head. "We have our own mission… Who would come here without a reason, right? So, naturally, our mission takes priority. Of course, if our objectives overlap, we can cooperate. But I hope you'll ask Sōsetsu for more details."
Kakashi fell silent, while Kurenai and Asuma shared his somber mood.
They had underestimated this mission before arriving.
Even among S-rank missions, the difficulty varied greatly.
Just then, Sōsetsu slid the door open and reentered, seating himself calmly. His gaze swept across the six of them.
"My apologies. I overheard your conversation outside. It was my oversight to put you in such a difficult position." With that, Sōsetsu withdrew a scroll from his sleeve, unrolling it and laying it flat on the floor.
It was a city map of the Land of Snow's capital. Sōsetsu's residence was located at the highest point of the entire city.
"Dotō Kazahana and I are brothers. On his deathbed, my father not only passed the throne to me but also entrusted me with a treasure, calling it the most precious thing in the entire Land of Snow. He said that when this treasure was unveiled, the entire nation would pale in comparison."
"Is this treasure what Dotō is so desperate to obtain?" Kakashi asked.
Sōsetsu nodded slightly.
"What kind of treasure could drive someone to such obsession?" Mei Terumi inquired.
Kurenai nodded in agreement.
The more valuable the treasure, the more it piqued people's curiosity.
"So, what exactly is the treasure Dotō is after?" Asuma pressed impatiently.
Sōsetsu shook his head.
"Even now, you still refuse to tell us?! Or do you not even know what the treasure is?" Asuma grew agitated.
"It's not that he won't say. He's afraid no one will believe him if he does." Midorima, having seen the anime, knew exactly what the Land of Snow's treasure was.
"Why?" Mei Terumi asked.
"Because the things we take for granted are often the most precious—like water and air. They seem insignificant, even unnoticeable in daily life, only because everyone has them. But once they're gone… everyone will realize their true value. The same must hold for the Land of Snow, right?" Midorima countered.
Sōsetsu stared at him, stunned. It took him over ten seconds to respond: "How did you know?"
Midorima raised a finger, smiling. "Lots of movies have this theme… But… such a reason won't convince Dotō, will it?"
If it were Midorima, he wouldn't accept such an answer either.
"True," Sōsetsu admitted.
"You're speaking in riddles—what exactly is this treasure?" Asuma scratched his head in frustration.
"In a country perpetually buried in snow, what could be more precious than spring?" Midorima retorted. "The so-called treasure of the Land of Snow must be a "tool" that can create spring—or a way to make spring arrive."
"You even know that?!" Sōsetsu exclaimed in shock.
"I've seen a similar movie," Midorima answered honestly.
Except that movie was called Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow.
"Correct." Sōsetsu confirmed Midorima's words. "For the Land of Snow, the so-called treasure is a geothermal generator—and it's still incomplete. Do you think Dotō would believe that?"
Kakashi rubbed his forehead. This was a real problem.
If Dotō had believed it, things wouldn't have escalated to this point.
"How many troops do you have under your command?" Kakashi asked.
"Are you saying… conflict is inevitable?" Sōsetsu frowned deeply.
"That girl earlier was your daughter, right?" Midorima interjected.
"Yes."
At the mention of Koyuki, a rare warmth flickered across Sōsetsu's face.
"Have you considered what would happen to her even if she escaped? Do you think Dotō would ever let her go?" Midorima pressed.
All color drained from Sōsetsu's face.
"This isn't about whether you're willing to act—it's about what you must do," Midorima said firmly.
Mei Terumi nodded. She understood that Konoha's mission might intersect with theirs, and Sōsetsu would play a decisive role in the events to come.
Zabuza remained silent, but his eyes kept darting toward Kakashi—especially when Kakashi gave Midorima a thumbs-up, which only deepened his displeasure.
Midorima rolled his eyes.
Their mission was to hunt rogue ninjas, but with just the three of them, how could they possibly take down so many defectors?
The best solution was to involve the Land of Snow's military forces—let them handle the weaker rogue ninjas while the three of them dealt with the stronger ones.
No matter what, they had to pull Sōsetsu's troops into this.
"I understand," Sōsetsu said solemnly.
In truth, in terms of sheer numbers, Sōsetsu's forces weren't at a disadvantage. With loyal retainers like Sandayū Asama, his side was far from weak.
In the anime, the reason Dotō had crushed them was twofold: first, Sōsetsu had failed to anticipate Doto's actions, and second, the advanced ninja tools used by the Snow ninjas—led by Nadare Roga—had played a critical role.
Of course, Midorima couldn't explain the scientific tools to the others. They'd have to adapt once those weapons were unveiled.
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As Sōsetsu, Midorima, Kakashi, and the others strategized, Dotō stormed back into his underground chamber, furious. In his rage, he swept the maps off the table.
Nadare Roga entered and picked up the scattered papers. "My lord, there's no need for anger."
"No need? This was your so-called 50% success rate? If I hadn't arrived in time, you'd have been surrounded by Sōsetsu's men!" Doto snarled, jabbing a finger at Roga.
"My lord, didn't this also reveal Sōsetsu's hand? Six ninjas—hardly a threat. Meanwhile, our trump cards remain hidden," Roga countered.
"So what? I want the treasure!" Doto snapped.
"My lord, the treasure is still within reach—don't worry. As a precaution, I've sent Fubuki Kakuyoku and Mizore Fuyukuma to handle something. Once they succeed, victory will be assured. The throne and the treasure will be yours." Roga leaned in and whispered the plan into Doto's ear.
Slowly, Doto's furious expression twisted into a grin.