"Is there any recent information on Snow Country?" Obito asked calmly.

That's right. His eyes were on the Land of Snow.

A quiet little frozen country tucked near the edge of the map. Covered in snow year-round, minimal defenses, barely on anyone's radar.

Translation: easy pickings.

And more importantly, in the movie version, that place had some wild tech.

Industrial-grade chakra armor, trains, generators...shit that didn't belong in a feudal ninja era.

Obito wasn't gonna let that go to waste.

Now was the time to take it.

"Land of snow?" After hearing Obito's question, White Zetsu was slightly stunned.

"Funny thing...your old teammate, idiot Kakashi, was just there."

Obito's eyebrow twitched.

"You had me tracking him, remember? He went on a mission to the Land of Snow. Civil war broke out, the Daimyo got iced by his own brother, and Kakashi ran off with the Daimyo's daughter."

"And guess what...she's the same chick you asked me to find." White Zetsu said with a weird smile.

"That was, what... two months ago?"

"Do you need me to investigate it in detail?"

After hearing White Zetsu's words, Obito was a little surprised.

Such a coincidence?

"Where is Koyuki Kazahana now?"

White Zetsu scratched his head. "No clue. Kakashi left her with a film crew and dipped. I didn't follow up."

Obito resisted the urge to facepalm.

"Find her as soon as possible. She will be useful to me."

"Aye aye, Captain..."

White Zetsu gave an exaggerated salute, spun dramatically, and sank into the ground.

Obito's face twitched.

"...We're not in One Piece, dammit."

He let out a long, helpless sigh.

This was his fault. One lazy day, while messing around, he'd jokingly told Zetsu to call him Captain Obito.

And Zetsu...being the chaotic gremlin he was, never let it go.

After Zetsu left, Obito took out a scroll and threw all the corpses of the Terumi clan from the scroll into the Devouring Coffin.

In this way, as the sun rose and set, half a day passed.

At dusk, several cargo ships slowly sailed into the port of the South Island.

Subsequently, hundreds of men, women, and children disembarked one after another and stopped at the port, looking a little lost...led by a father and daughter.

"Patriarch, where are we going now?"

Someone in the crowd asked.

"Wait," Terumi Jun replied, looking like he had no idea either.

He was just as confused about the future of his clan as the rest.

They had no way out.

Either stay in the Mist Hidden Village and get exterminated... or follow the masked man, heading toward an uncertain future.

As for the third option? What's the difference between that and choosing to stay?

As long as they dared to take the opportunity to escape, he believed both the Mist Hidden Village and the masked man would come for them.

So, they had no choice but to follow the masked man.

"Father, do you think he's really the man from the legend?"

Terumi Mei asked in a low voice.

Ever since she heard the name from the masked man, her heart had been... complicated.

A bit dazed, and weirdly enough relieved.

Dazed because, well, Madara Uchiha is supposed to be dead.

And the masked guy doesn't feel like an old man.

But relieved because... if the one who crushed her so easily, shattered her pride like a twig, was actually that Madara...

It's easier to accept.

Hell, that's kind of a compliment.

So yeah, she kinda hoped he was Madara Uchiha.

"Yes." Terumi Jun replied.

This answer made Terumi Mei slightly stunned.

"Look. Whether he is or isn't doesn't matter. If he says he's Madara... he's Madara."

Terumi Jun's tone was patient...dad-mode engaged.

After all, she was going to work under that masked man from now on.

As for the identity of the masked man Madara Uchiha?

Terumi Jun was more suspicious than convinced. But honestly, he didn't care.

Right now, only that masked man could keep their clan alive.

So who he really was meant jack shit to them.

What mattered...

Was how their clan would survive and grow under that man's shadow.

"...I see," Terumi Mei murmured, eyes thoughtful.

Then...

"Huh~"

At that moment, a petite figure suddenly appeared in front of the group, instantly grabbing everyone's attention.

"Are you... It's you!"

They saw the one who arrived had long purple hair.

That delicate face still very youthful...

A purple ninja blade strapped to her back.

Terumi Mei recognized her instantly.

The girl in front of her was the one who massacred them that night.

At this moment, she wasn't even wearing a mask.

The immaturity of her features made Terumi Jun's eyes widen.

This...

This girl was even younger than his own daughter.

And yet this little demon was the one who wiped out the elites of their clan?!

Terumi Mei looked stunned.

Terumi Jun beside her was also shaken.

On the way, her father had already told her everything that happened.

So she recognized the girl too. No doubt.

Looking at this brat...this girl even younger than her, Terumi Mei felt more than surprise.

She felt unconvinced.

She felt like life was slapping her in the face with a child's hand.

After all, most of their elites died at her hands.

Meanwhile, at the harbor, Yugao pursed her lips.

Sure enough...

That scoundrel did abduct the girl.

"I was told to give you a message," she said casually.

"Speak."

Terumi Jun stepped forward.

"He told you to rest for a bit. He's preparing your new settlement now, and you need to be ready to go at any time."

After saying that, Yugao turned around, clearly wanting to leave ASAP.

She could feel the brown-haired girl's hostility like heat rays on her back.

"Wait!"

Terumi Jun hurriedly called out.

"What else?" Yugao asked, face blank.

"... Can you tell us where the new settlement is, so we can prepare accordingly?"

After a pause, Yugao responded with a flat:

"Snow Country."

Then turned around and walked off the harbor.

"Land of Snow..."

Hearing that name, Terumi Jun paused.

Seeing this, Terumi Mei asked:

"Father, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just surprised."

Terumi Jun shook his head.

Whatever surprised him, Terumi Mei didn't press.

"Alright, let's hurry and stock up. Get some thick winter clothes too."

"The Lord told us to rest, but that means we'll be moving again soon."

With that, Terumi Jun began organizing the group to prepare.

---

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