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Kakashi lay stiffly on the bed like a dead fish.
He had maintained this state ever since Sandayū mentioned storming the royal palace.
He was pondering why his intuition was always so accurate.
This time, he didn't ask whether to continue the mission. There was no need to ask. These two would definitely not be scared off. If they didn't retreat, Sakura wouldn't retreat either. Asking would be pointless.
After spending so much time together, Kakashi could see that one person was manageable, but as long as the two of them were together, forget about one Dotō Kazahana, even if it was…
Even if it was jack squat.
If he weren't completely paralyzed, Kakashi would have wanted to slap himself. Why do you spend so much time on useless thoughts?
"Naruto, help me get the book from my ninja tool pouch."
Kakashi decided not to think about anything anymore and read a book to distract himself.
"Okay." Naruto took out a copy of Make-Out Paradise from Kakashi's ninja tool pouch.
"Help me turn to page 27, put it by the bed, thanks."
"Okay." Naruto turned to page 27 and glanced at it.
He still held a certain curiosity for this legendary masterpiece from the Naruto world.
After a glance, Naruto muttered to himself, "He reached his hand into the water, and in the hazy mist, her faintly visible delicate body trembled…"
"Stop reading!" Kakashi hurriedly stopped Naruto.
Naruto's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present had keen hearing; they all heard it clearly.
Naruto obediently placed the book by Kakashi's pillow.
[Kakashi, you made me suffer public humiliation by my wife once, today I'll let you taste it too!]
Sakura looked at Sasuke with eyes full of spring*, then her expression changed, and she said righteously, "I never thought Teacher Kakashi would read this kind of book."
She had already guessed the book's content, and she had also guessed where the man's hand reached.
[I really want to try it with Sasuke.]
Inner Sakura fantasized, then looked down and started pounding the wall again.
Sasuke's expression didn't change. He remembered that when he inserted his electrified blade into that ice-style using woman earlier, she had also trembled.
[Could it be that the man in the book uses Lightning Release?]
Several people had their own thoughts, all vastly different.
Only Kakashi felt like he was lying on a bed of needles.
Naruto then placed a mirror next to the book; it was too strenuous for Kakashi to read it lying flat.
It didn't matter that the words were reversed; he had the Sharingan. Never mind reversed, even if the word order was wrong, it wouldn't affect him.
Anyway, Kakashi couldn't turn off his Sharingan, and reading didn't consume much chakra, so it was a good use of it.
As for turning the pages, he'd have to blow on them. Naruto couldn't help with that.
"Well, Teacher Kakashi, you read then. We'll be going." After setting everything up, Naruto prepared to go train.
"Mm, pay attention to Koyuki Kazahana's safety," Kakashi reminded him. He was afraid these three would get too absorbed in training and forget the mission objective.
"Mm."
Naruto opened the door and left.
Neither side mentioned Naruto replenishing Kakashi's chakra.
It wasn't because Naruto remembered those little notes; everyone treated those as just fooling around.
Kakashi knew what Naruto remembered. Did he take it seriously? No, Naruto certainly didn't take it seriously either.
As for whether Kushina took it seriously, who knew?
The main reason they didn't mention replenishing chakra was that Naruto didn't want to be bitten, and Kakashi didn't want to take off his mask, so both sides tacitly avoided the topic.
The ship sailed normally. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura took turns watching over Koyuki Kazahana.
This was Naruto's suggestion: during the day, Naruto and Sasuke would watch while training; at night, Sakura would sleep with Koyuki Kazahana.
Naruto really couldn't guess who the mole was. The only thing he could be sure of was that the mole was an ordinary person, not a ninja.
The day before the fleet docked, Hatake Fifty-Fifty finally made a full recovery and could walk upright.
Actually, Kakashi could have walked the next day, but he would have needed to use crutches or lean against a wall.
Early in the morning, at the docks, the four-person team waited for Koyuki Kazahana to disembark.
Sandayū stood by, hesitating to speak, his expression strange.
"Why isn't she here yet?" Kakashi took out his watch, looked at the time, and muttered to himself.
Naruto's heart skipped a beat. Could she have been snatched by the mole?
Because Kakashi had recovered, Naruto had abandoned his previous arrangements. Kakashi was experienced; no slightest disturbance could escape him.
Sandayū struggled for a long time before finally speaking, "You don't need to wait. I put medicine in the milk I sent to Princess Koyuki last night. She should still be asleep now."
The entire team of four looked utterly dumbfounded.
Sandayū continued to explain, "Princess Koyuki said that day that she would leave as soon as we docked. I had no choice but to resort to this. And since I don't know when the plan will be implemented, I put in a three-day dose. Princess Koyuki probably won't wake up for the next two days."
"How much of a dose?" Kakashi asked, shocked.
"Three days."
Kakashi instantly body-flickered into the ship's cabin.
Naruto was so shocked his apple fell to the ground.
Holy crap, could the mole I've been looking for be Sandayū? You actually did something like administer a three-day dose? Are you trying to kill Koyuki Kazahana?
Naruto also understood why Kakashi ran so fast. If the mission target was poisoned to death by the mission client, he would lose major face.
Throughout the journey, the entire team had been very careful about who approached Koyuki Kazahana, with Sandayū being the exception. Because he was the client, no one considered him. Yet, something like this actually happened.
Kakashi helped Koyuki Kazahana down to the dock. "She's alright, but to be safe, it's better not to force her awake. Sakura, try to see if you can prepare an antidote."
"Okay, I'll do my best." Sakura had only been learning medical ninjutsu for less than two months; she wasn't confident about this.
"You knocked out Koyuki Kazahana, so what about your plan?" Naruto looked at Sandayū as if he were looking at a fool.
"Don't worry, I've already spoken to the director's side. I will arrange for the people who have been gathered. I alone will bear all the consequences," Sandayū said with righteous dignity.
"I'm impressed," Naruto conceded.
There was no way not to be impressed. This man's loyalty was very admirable. He saw that Koyuki Kazahana was afraid, so he knocked her out, and then he would bear everything himself. If the plan succeeded, Koyuki Kazahana would wake up and directly inherit the throne. If the plan failed, Koyuki Kazahana could still leave the Land of Snow under their protection.
But can you please not try so hard to push us into the role of villains?
It was all going fine. At the very least, it could have been a war to overthrow Dotō Kazahana under the banner of restoring legitimate rule. But with this god-tier maneuver of yours, it has forcibly become "holding the Son of Heaven hostage to command the feudal lords."**
And this Son of Heaven is unconscious and was damn near poisoned to death by you.
"Mr. Sandayū, next time it's best to inform us about such things. This puts us in a very passive position," Kakashi said, his tone unfriendly.
However, since Koyuki Kazahana was fine, he didn't plan to pursue it too deeply.
"What about you all, will you continue?" Kakashi asked. He could let it go, but he had to consider the thoughts of his team members.
"Continue," Sasuke said, hands in his pockets. After talking these past few days, he had learned that Dotō Kazahana might be a strong opponent. Sasuke hoped to challenge strong opponents to improve faster.
"Continue." Sakura didn't care about anything else. Since Sasuke said continue, she would follow.
Naruto patted Sandayū, who didn't understand why things had turned out this way.
"Sandayū, does your princess sing well?"
Now, not only Sandayū but the others were also stunned. What did singing have to do with whether the mission continued?
"Yes... yes, she sings well..." Sandayū replied woodenly.
"Then have your princess sing a few songs for me later."
He turned back and patted Kakashi, who was still dazed. "Teacher Kakashi, I'll continue too."
Naruto's idea was simple: you sing for me, I'll help you restore your country.
Restoring a country through singing, wouldn't that be beautiful?