With Kakashi and Guy in tow, Nara Kazuki finally met their client for this mission:
A seemingly composed man—but the moment their eyes met, Kazuki sensed something else. A flash of unwillingness. Resentment?
What’s he so bitter about...? Kazuki wondered.
He vaguely remembered that the Land of Snow appeared in one of the Naruto movies. The details were hazy. Maybe once they ran into certain characters, something would jog his memory.
"I’ll be counting on the three of you, shinobi-dono," Dotō said humbly.
Kazuki returned a polite smile, though inside he found the man off-putting—like a cold-blooded snake. Smiling on the surface, fangs waiting behind his lips.
Kakashi didn’t say a word. He was buried in a book. Not Icha Icha Paradise, surprisingly, but one of Konoha’s popular novels—a story about an ordinary man rising to become Hokage.
A typical theme in the Hidden Leaf. In a world defined by ninja strength, everyone’s highest aspiration was always the title of Kage.
The group traveled together to the outskirts of the Land of Fire, where they would board a ship to the Land of Snow.
The journey was... energetic. With Guy around, Kazuki got plenty of exercise—more than he wanted, honestly. The man constantly dragged him and Kakashi into training.
After every workout, Dotō would send his attendants to offer hot towels and food, urging them to recover.
They never touched it.
Poisoning during missions wasn’t rare. Konoha had too many cases of shinobi being killed after accepting a meal from their employer. The most infamous case? A jōnin poisoned by a client—an event that became a textbook lesson in shinobi safety.
He wasn’t going out like that.
Once they hit the open sea, Kazuki stayed on guard. The oceans of the shinobi world were vast—and with them came pirates.
He wasn’t sure if they’d run into Kirigakure’s rumored naval units. He just hoped his luck didn’t suck today.
Back during the Gato escort mission, Kazuki had heard whispers: the most dangerous pirates were allegedly supported by Kirigakure. The Mist denied it, of course—claiming any ninja caught working as pirates were rogue shinobi.
Didn’t change how deadly they were.
"Company," Kakashi said, closing his book.
Kazuki stepped beside him and looked up. A large, modified ship was speeding toward them, its deck crowded with figures.
"I’ll handle it," Kazuki muttered, already forming hand seals.
He didn’t know if they were ninja, but it didn’t matter. First strike always wins.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
The jutsu roared through the air, hit its mark—and was followed by screams.
By the time the flames faded, the ship was gone. No sign of survivors.
Kazuki didn’t feel any chakra increase. Guess they weren’t ninja.
"Just pirates," he said, tone flat. Then staggered a bit.
He was getting seasick.
Guy, however, was suffering far worse. He was already slumped against the rail, vomiting overboard. A mess.
Kakashi, meanwhile, was perfectly fine.
"You don’t get seasick?" Kazuki asked, pale-faced.
"Nope," Kakashi replied, calmly channeling lightning through his fingers. "When I trained in Chidori, I vomited enough for a lifetime."
"Ugh... why don’t I puke when I use Front Lotus... but I puke now..." Guy moaned between dry heaves.
His taijutsu involved plenty of spinning and whirling—moves that would make anyone dizzy.
"Maybe... because you’re not using taijutsu now?" Kazuki guessed.
Everyone knew the phenomenon—some people never got carsick while driving, but felt awful as passengers.
Of course, some people got sick just from seeing headlights. That probably needed medical attention.
Kazuki had once read a prescription in a traditional medicine clinic back in his previous life. Might’ve helped. Pity he forgot it.
"You’re right! Kazuki, let’s—blegh!"
Guy didn’t even finish before retching again.
Kazuki stepped away, alarmed.
He had terrifying visions of Guy performing Reverse Lotus while projectile vomiting mid-spin. The ultimate genjutsu–taijutsu–psychological combo. Unblockable.
With a sigh, Kazuki braced himself. There was still a long journey to the Land of Snow—and Guy was going to suffer every wave of it.
By the time the coastline of the Land of Fire vanished behind the misty horizon, Kazuki had mostly adapted to the motion of the sea.
He passed the time examining the cargo Dotō had brought.
Everything was sealed tightly, but the crates were marked. Most were full of minerals. Not surprising—Snow Country was a tiny island nation with limited resources.
"Kazuki-san," Kazahana Dotō appeared beside him.
Kazuki raised a brow. Dotō looked surprised to see him standing there—then quickly smiled.
"Dotō-san, I’ve never been to the Land of Snow. What’s it like?" Kazuki asked with a casual smile. He was still fishing. Any intel would help.
Especially because the name Kazahana was tickling something in the back of his brain. Familiar, but hazy—like smoke you couldn’t grasp.
"The Land of Snow?" Dotō hesitated slightly, then spoke.
To me, it’s a homeland of pain and suffering...
He almost said that aloud—but bit his tongue.
"It’s blanketed in snow all year. The winter scenery is beautiful," he answered with a warm smile.
But his gut told him: this man was far more dangerous than he let on.