Woooooooooo… ooo… Father…
The illusion in the sky ended with the hearty, booming laughter of Kazahana Sōsetsu.
In reality, hearing her father's voice and seeing his smile again, six-year-old Koyuki Kazahana finally broke.
She cried.
Not the quiet, repressed tears she'd held back for years. She wailed...full, ugly sobbing for the first time since she met Obito.
Yugao and Terumi Mei both softened, pity glinting in their eyes.
Obito, meanwhile, grabbed the collar of the broken Doto Kazahana, lifted him like a sack of trash, and threw him down in front of Koyuki.
"Well… here's the clown. Want to do it yourself, or…?"
"U-Uuhh… Oni-san…"
Koyuki didn't even look at Doto. She threw herself straight into Obito's chest, her tiny arms gripping his cloak, burying her face as she cried in muffled sobs.
"…"
Obito went silent for a moment.
Then he sighed and gently patted her trembling back.
"In that case… I've got a better idea."
His scarlet Sharingan spun as he glanced down at Doto, locking eyes with him.
The man's will crumbled instantly.
Moments later, under Obito's genjutsu, Doto found himself kneeling at the tombstone of Kazahana Sōsetsu.
There, with tears in his eyes and trembling hands, he obeyed the illusion's whisper.
In front of everyone present, Doto Kazahana committed suicide before his brother's grave.
"Koyuki," Obito said softly, his voice carrying like a warm knife in the frozen air,
"your nightmare… is over."
"Uh-huh…"
Koyuki sniffled, her little hand clinging to Obito's, while the other wiped away the last of her tears. She nodded.
Two days later, the Terumi clan's fleet finally reached the Land of Snow.
After learning of Obito's arrangements, Terumi Jun was practically glowing with joy.
Under Obito's orders, Terumi Mei and Yugao led the forces to subjugate Snow Village.
Anyone who resisted… disappeared.
As for Obito himself, he personally moved to bring the research team under his control.
The process couldn't have been smoother.
In Snow Village, the authority of Princess Koyuki's name, combined with overwhelming military force meant there wasn't even a proper rebellion.
Meanwhile, under Obito's twin approach of funding and fear, the researchers quickly became very cooperative.
By the end, Obito had taken everything:
Doto's fortress, his hidden assets, his scientists, and his entire legacy.
"Solved?"
In the fortress, Obito stood in front of a wide window, looking down at the bustling reconstruction of Snow Village.
"Yes, Captain."
White Zetsu emerged from the wall, grinning.
"Well… all those hidden samurai fifty in total, including the old man are gone."
He tilted his head.
"As for Nadare Roga, he wasn't in the Land of Snow. Went out looking for Koyuki Kazahana."
"Took a while to track him down, but… well, Tobi pulled up, and the job's done."
"Good."
Obito nodded slowly, a satisfied smile crossing his face.
"So where's Tobi now?" Obito asked after sorting things out.
"Well… he said he saw someone interesting and wanted to follow them, so I let him be."
White Zetsu hesitated, his expression twitching like he was holding in a guilty secret.
Obito raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.
"Hooo? Interesting, huh? And who exactly might that be?"
"Uhhh… well…" White Zetsu scratched his cheek, then blurted,
"They were both male… walking into a… you know… that kind of hotel."
He silently apologized to Tobi in his heart.
Sure enough, Obito's expression froze. His whole body stiffened.
"…"
Then, his Sharingan eyes started glowing even redder than usual.
"WHITE ZETSU. GET TOBI'S ASS OUT OF THERE RIGHT NOW! BEFORE SOMETHING IRREVERSIBLE HAPPENS!"
Obito said loudly, like he was commanding a life-or-death battlefield mission.
"Aye aye, Captain!"
White Zetsu saluted, then instantly sank into the floor, vanishing to save Tobi from… himself.
Obito pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled slowly, trying to calm his rising panic.
"Shitty Tobi… if that idiot turns gay…"
He muttered darkly.
"I'm throwing his ass straight into the Devouring Coffin, no hesitation."
---
After the death of Kazahana Sōsetsu, he left behind a group of old ministers, diehard loyalists who had served him for decades.
Of course, Koyuki Kazahana could have easily taken control of them. They were the kind of people who would have pledged absolute loyalty to her just because she was Sōsetsu's daughter.
But that was exactly the problem.
These men would never allow someone like Obito to manipulate the country from the shadows.
So Obito simply ordered White Zetsu to get rid of them. Quietly. Permanently.
There was no point keeping around a bunch of sentimental relics who couldn't even use chakra.
And for White Zetsu, cleaning up a few samurai without chakra was child's play.
After clearing out the loyalists, Obito returned briefly to the Land of Water.
He brought Karin's mother and daughter, along with Haku, back to the Land of Snow.
He also relocated the important equipment from Base 2, transferring everything over to his new stronghold.
---
A week later, the capital of the Land of Snow was alive with celebration.
Today was the coronation of Koyuki Kazahana.
Dressed in luxurious ceremonial robes, Koyuki Kazahana walked step by step toward the Daimyo Castle, escorted by several Terumi clan ninjas.
Behind her marched the army of the Land of Snow.
On both sides of the road, officials and civilians watched.
Kazahana Sōsetsu's rule had been popular, and his daughter ascending the throne was something most could accept, if not out of love, then out of fear.
Especially when she arrived backed by a squad of dangerous-looking shinobi.
---
At last, Koyuki climbed the castle tower and stood on the highest attic, overlooking the capital.
Fireworks exploded in the night sky, and the people cheered.
By evening, the coronation banquet was over, and Koyuki finally returned to the top floor of the castle tower.
---
When she entered her room, she saw Obito casually sitting and reading a scroll.
Her eyes lit up.
She dismissed her maid and ran straight into his arms.
"Oni-san!"
Obito set down the scroll and caught her easily.
"From now on," he said with a small smile,
"you are the rightful ruler of the Land of Snow. How do you feel?"
"I feel… so tired…"
Koyuki pouted, leaning against his chest.
"Heh. Today is your succession ceremony. You won't be this busy every day."
Obito's voice was calm and almost amused.
"Uh-huh…"
She nodded softly and rested in his arms, finally able to enjoy a moment of peace.
Her thoughts drifted back to her father.
Father… I'm sorry. But I've decided to give up on being the Ideal Princess… and the actress I once dreamed of becoming.
You said dreams should be treated as faith.
Then this man… the one who avenged you and protected me… he will be my new faith.
---
Koyuki slowly raised her head, staring up at Obito's masked face.
"Na… Oni-san, can Koyuki see what you really look like?"
Obito paused, slightly stunned by her sudden request.
She gazed up with wide, hopeful eyes.
Then Obito chuckled softly and flicked her forehead.
"Not yet. But you'll see soon enough. It won't be long."
"Hmph…"
She covered her forehead with a little pout.
"But… I still don't even know who you are, Oni-san…"
Obito was silent for a moment.
Then, in a low, calm voice, he said:
"You can call me… Madara."
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