Pssh... Pssh...
After the light gradually faded, strange noises came from underground, as if some massive machine was slowly starting up.
As the hissing of steam grew louder, the temperature around them rose.
Rengoku closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He could sense huge amounts of natural energy constantly gathering toward him.
'It's time to notify Orochimaru.'
["Orochimaru, I've found the place I mentioned before, the one with abundant natural energy."]
["Have Minato bring you over. It's also a good opportunity to place Sasuke's seal."]
Using his dojutsu, Rengoku contacted Orochimaru, who was far away in Konoha.
Hearing that Rengoku had found the place so quickly, Orochimaru immediately set aside what he was doing.
He made a short call to Minato, who was in the Hokage's office.
The next moment, Minato brought Orochimaru with Flying Thunder God, crossing thousands of miles in an instant to the Land of Snow.
The temperature around the Ice Wall had already risen considerably, and large amounts of solid ice were melting.
They turned into flowing streams that ran off into the distance, while the frozen ground, locked beneath ice for years, rapidly thawed.
Koyuki Kazahana stared blankly at everything before her and murmured, "It's so warm... What exactly is this?"
The sudden appearance of Minato and Orochimaru startled her.
After all, she'd never seen an ability that could make people appear out of thin air.
But Orochimaru's next words immediately drew her attention.
After only a few glances, amazement appeared in his eyes.
"Such an enormous geothermal generator?"
"A geothermal generator?", Koyuki repeated under her breath, and a flash of realization crossed her mind.
At that moment, the rainbow above the Ice Wall grew brighter and brighter.
Mist also began rising everywhere.
Accompanied by a series of dull crack... crack... crack... sounds, the ice covering the Ice Wall broke away and crashed to the ground.
The already magnificent ice wall immediately revealed an even more dazzling sight.
The inside wasn't an ordinary ice wall at all, but a special crystal panel.
At a glance, it was obvious that it was designed to collect energy.
All twelve Ice Walls transformed into Rainbow Crystal Walls.
It was hard to imagine that a backward country like the Land of Snow had once possessed the ability to build such enormous artificial crystal walls.
It seemed the energy had finally accumulated enough.
All the Rainbow Crystal Walls suddenly released huge amounts of natural energy.
"Hehehehe... Hahahahaha..."
"Subarashii! Subarashii!"
Orochimaru's face was filled with excitement as he stuck out his tongue and licked his face.
"To think there's such dense natural energy here!"
Minato also knew Sage Art, and even he looked impressed. The natural energy here was practically no different from that of the Three Great Sage Regions.
Then something even more astonishing happened.
A gigantic rainbow stretched across the sky above Rengoku and the others.
Green grass began growing rapidly across the thawed earth, sprouting and flourishing.
It even bloomed with little flowers.
The patch of green spread outward at incredible speed from the center of the Rainbow Crystal Walls.
Everyone was deeply shocked by this scene that looked like a miracle.
Then a gentle male voice suddenly echoed from the horizon.
["You have to believe in the future. If you do, spring will surely come."]
Above the center of the Rainbow Crystal Walls, the image of a little girl appeared.
["Koyuki, what do you want to do after spring arrives?"]
From the conversation, everyone realized the little girl was Koyuki Kazahana.
But this Koyuki was still very young, only four or five years old.
The little Koyuki answered in her childish voice, ["Koyuki wants to become a princess."]
["Hm?"], The man's voice carried a warm smile, ["What kind of princess?"]
Little Koyuki tilted her head, thought seriously for a moment, and answered, ["A gentle, strong princess who brings justice."]
As she spoke, she swayed her head from side to side, looking incredibly adorable.
Seeing this scene, Koyuki stood frozen.
"I... said something like that... back then?"
["Hahaha... That's a very difficult goal..."]
["But if you treat your dream as your faith and pursue it without giving up, then your dream will surely come true."]
At that moment, the image of a middle-aged man wearing glasses appeared.
From the way he placed the key to this place around young Koyuki's neck, it was clear he was her father, the previous ruler of the Land of Snow, Kazahana Sosetsu.
She had never expected to see her father again.
Koyuki's eyes gradually turned red, filling with tears.
In the recording, Kazahana Sosetsu gently said, ["Do you see? Standing here is a beautiful princess..."]
Only then did Koyuki's hot tears finally pour down.
["But Koyuki is troubled by one thing, because she has another dream."]
["And what is that other dream?"]
["To be an actress..."]
["Hahaha..."]
Hearing her father's hearty laughter, an involuntary smile appeared on Koyuki's face as well.
Standing nearby, Rengoku explained, "Your father always wanted the people of the Land of Snow to live good lives."
"This geothermal generator is the greatest treasure he left for you."
Koyuki was deeply moved, but also puzzled.
"How... do you know all this?"
Rengoku shook his head without answering. Instead, he pointed at Minato beside him.
"Do you know who he is?"
Koyuki turned and saw Minato's blond hair.
"Ah... the Fourth Hokage?"
She cried out in surprise, unable to hide the shock in her eyes.
Five years ago, Minato's resurrection and return as the leader of Konoha had caused a huge sensation.
Afterward, thanks to Konoha's reforms, the Land of Fire's commercial development had advanced rapidly.
The Land of Fire's television station had even interviewed Minato.
Naturally, Koyuki recognized such a famous figure.
Moreover, Minato was wearing the Hokage robe, with the words Fourth Hokage clearly embroidered on it.
Then that meant the person before her...
Disbelief and astonishment filled Koyuki's eyes.
Rengoku gestured at their surroundings, "This place is perfect for our training."
Koyuki immediately understood what he meant, "Of course, sir. From now on, this area will belong to Konoha."
Rengoku nodded in satisfaction.
"I'll have Minato send a squad of jonin here. If anyone tries to stop you from taking the throne, just eliminate them."
"The geothermal system will warm the regions around here. The Land of Snow will become better from now on."
"Yes. Thank you very much, sir."
Koyuki had already vaguely guessed his identity.
Since Rengoku didn't say it outright, she didn't ask.
Instead, she quickly walked over to Asama Shiro and whispered a few words to him.
Asama Shiro took a wallet from his clothes.
Koyuki pulled out one of the banknotes inside. It was a Konoha note issued several years earlier.
By now, Konoha's various advanced electrical appliances were being sold throughout the ninja world.
Naturally, Konoha currency had also entered circulation.
Koyuki carefully looked at the portrait printed on the banknote, and a look of sudden understanding flashed across her eyes.