At the heart of the Snow Country, the Rainbow Crystal Wall shimmered as ice and snow rapidly melted away. The once-frozen landscape revealed golden soil and fresh green grass. Water vapor rising from the thawing ground refracted light, creating a breathtaking rainbow across the sky.
Spring had come to the Snow Country.
People across the land—citizens, travelers, and even the film director—paused in shock. Naruto and Sasuke, who had been mid-battle, stood frozen, staring at the transformation.
"This is… unbelievable!" the director shouted, his voice trembling with excitement.
A moment of stunned silence passed before pure joy erupted. The people of the Snow Country cheered, danced, and celebrated like never before. A land that had known only cold was now alive with warmth and color.
Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a glance, then smiled and lowered their fists. Their battle was over.
Sakura, however, looked down in dismay. The snowman she had just finished building was melting right before her eyes. She sat on the damp ground, sighing.
Koyuki stood amidst the joy, tears welling in her eyes. Droplets fell onto the thawing earth beneath her feet.
Sakiya and Nanako watched, their mouths agape.
"Wow… this is incredible! The creation of human ingenuity!" Sakiya marveled.
Nanako nodded vigorously. "Yeah!"
At that moment, the Rainbow Crystal Wall flickered, projecting an image—a vision of the past.
Koyuki's father appeared, holding a young Koyuki in his arms. They stood together, gazing upon the frozen land.
"Koyuki, you must always believe in the future," he said gently. "Because if you do, spring will surely come."
Little Koyuki beamed up at him.
"When spring comes, I want to be a princess! A kind, just, and wonderful princess!"
Her father chuckled, warmth in his eyes. "That's a difficult dream."
He knelt down, fastening a necklace around her small neck. "But if you hold onto your dream and pursue it with all your heart, one day it will come true."
The vision faded, but Koyuki remained frozen in place, tears streaming down her face.
She clutched her necklace, staring at the space where her father's image had been.
"Father… I will make it happen."
---
The greatest treasure of the Snow Country had finally been revealed—not gold or jewels, but something far more valuable. The land itself had been transformed, bringing warmth and life to a place that had known only ice and snow.
Everyone was satisfied with the outcome of their journey.
At the Dock
As the group prepared to depart, they took in the breathtaking sight of the newly changed Snow Country. The icy landscape had softened, the air felt different, and the future looked bright.
Naruto grinned. "Guess I'll have to go even farther next time I want to play in the snow."
Koyuki chuckled. "You're always welcome here. Thank you for everything."
But as with all adventures, the time for farewells had come.
"We'll definitely visit again!" Ino said with a teasing smile. "You won't turn us away, will you?"
Koyuki laughed. "Of course not! Next time, I'll prepare a grand banquet, and I'll even cover your travel expenses."
"Wow, Koyuki, you're amazing!" Nanako cheered.
Sakiya crossed her arms, trying to act aloof. "The power of the spring barrier in the Snow Country was truly impressive. This just proves that wisdom is power—and that power can change the world in an instant. I'll have to come back to experience it again."
With that, they said their final goodbyes and boarded the ship.
From the shore, Koyuki , along with a group of guards, watched as their friends sailed away.
Sakiya leaned against the railing, gazing at the icebergs in the distance. "This trip turned out better than I expected."
Nanako nestled against her sister's side and nodded. "It really was."
Ino, watching Koyuki grow smaller in the distance, smiled.
"A truly unforgettable journey."
---
Koyuki watched as the ship disappeared over the horizon. Taking a deep breath, she steadied her emotions before turning to look at her homeland—now both familiar and new. The Snow Country had truly entered spring, with lush greenery spreading across the land.
With a gentle smile, she whispered, "Welcome to spring, Snow Country."
---
The journey to the Snow Country had come to a perfect end.
Everyone returned to Konoha feeling fulfilled. The ninja world had entered an era of unprecedented peace, where development and diplomacy had become the new focus.
Clashes between ninjas were now rare, occurring only when dealing with rogue shinobi. The United Nations had structured the ninja system to prevent unnecessary conflict, shifting competition toward mission efficiency and service.
However, peace was always relative. Rivalries between nations persisted, and now a new kind of competition had begun—an arms race.
Naruto and his friends had barely settled back into life in Konoha when they received big news.
The First World Ninja League Exam was about to begin.
This was the first exam of its kind, a joint initiative by the five great nations. It was designed to standardize the ninja ranking system under the League and was open to every country that had joined.
It was set to be the largest ninja exam in history.
And the first host? Konoha.
---
As soon as Team Seven returned, Kakashi wasted no time in delivering the news.
The four of them sat together at Ichiraku Ramen—Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and their ever-calm sensei.
Naruto had just taken a bite when he froze, eyes wide.
"WHAT?! A WORLD NINJA LEAGUE EXAM?!" He nearly jumped out of his seat. "Just hearing the name, you know it's going to be incredible! And it's the first one ever!"
Kakashi picked up a bite of ramen, nodded, and ate it at his usual unhurried pace. "Mm. It should be quite the event. They say the number of participants will be several times higher than previous exams."
"Several times?!" Sakura's eyes widened in surprise.
Sasuke, on the other hand, smirked as he lifted his chopsticks. "Interesting."
Taking a bite, he mused, "Maybe I'll run into some familiar faces."
As he continued eating, Kakashi looked at them with an amused yet slightly concerned expression.
"You three… It feels like you're just going there to bully people."
Then, as if realizing something, he suddenly stopped and stared at his bowl of ramen.
"…Wait. They wouldn't send her to participate, would they?"
The thought made him shudder.
After all, Naruto's previous Chunin Exam had been interrupted by Orochimaru's invasion, leaving most participants without a proper promotion. With everything that had happened in Konoha since then, the exams hadn't been held again.
"If she enters…" Kakashi muttered to himself.
"…That would really be unfair."