Chapter 364: I’ll Give You Courage (Patreon)

“Don’t talk nonsense,” the director scolded his assistant quietly. “The Fifth Hokage personally guaranteed him. He’s Konoha’s strongest ninja. With him protecting us, nothing can go wrong. Don’t speak carelessly again.”

Night gradually fell. The starry sky shone brilliantly above the sea.

Goku stepped out of his cabin and saw a lone figure standing on deck. He smiled faintly.

“You seem rather reluctant about this journey.”

“Don’t talk to me,” Yukie snapped, turning to glare at him before looking away. “I can’t stand you.”

Goku chuckled and sat down nearby, gazing at the night sky.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

Her shoulders trembled slightly, but she huffed.

“Who said I’m scared? And who asked for your protection?”

“That’s good, then,” Goku replied casually. “This trip will be… exciting.”

He stood up. “It’s late. You should head back to your cabin. Wouldn’t want any ghosts wandering around.”

“Who are you trying to scare?” she muttered.

But when a sudden cold gust of wind howled across the deck, she shivered despite herself. Glancing at the dark ocean, unease crept into her heart.

“Idiot… trying to frighten me…” she grumbled, tightening her coat before retreating to her cabin.

Meanwhile, Goku returned to his room and found Hinata already asleep. With a mischievous grin, he stripped down to his shorts and slipped under the blanket.

“G-Goku…” Hinata startled awake, her face instantly flushing crimson.

“Sleep,” he said lazily, wrapping his arms around her.

---

Early the next morning, Goku was awakened by a commotion.

He opened his eyes and looked at Hinata, still curled shyly in his arms.

“I’ve held you all night already. No need to be embarrassed. Let’s see what’s going on.”

After dressing, they stepped outside.

The deck was crowded.

“What’s all the noise?” Goku asked.

“Our path is blocked!” someone replied nervously.

Ignoring the chatter, Goku walked to the bow of the ship. Ahead, snow-covered mountains stretched endlessly across the horizon.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“Now this is interesting.”

“Goku..?” Hinata asked.

“Be careful. Our enemies are about to appear.”

She nodded seriously.

---

The ship docked. Filming resumed almost immediately.

But before the scene could continue—

Boom!

A thunderous explosion startled everyone.

“What was that?!”

A man emerged from swirling snow and smoke, arms folded confidently.

“Welcome to the Land of Snow.”

Another figure—a woman—appeared atop a jagged icy spire.

“Welcome back, Princess Koyuki. Did you bring the Hexagonal Crystal?”

A third man, a large and imposing figure, rose from the snow nearby and sneered at Goku and Hinata.

“Only two Konoha ninja? And one of them is just a little girl? Are you underestimating us?”

Sandayu’s face paled.

“Don’t want to die? Get back on the ship,” Goku said calmly to the crew.

Then he turned to Hinata.

“Protect the bystanders. I’ll handle them.”

“Yes!”

“You plan to face the three of us alone?” the leader mocked.

Before he could finish speaking, one of them—Fubuki—launched himself toward Yukie.

“Princess!” Sandayu cried out.

But—

Slash!

Blood sprayed across the snow.

Goku had vanished.

He reappeared in front of the attacker, his hand already piercing straight through the man’s chakra armor and out his back.

The man collapsed lifelessly.

“I said I’d handle you,” Goku smiled at the remaining two. “Please don’t ignore me.”

A chill ran through their bodies.

“Who… are you?”

The leader, Rōga Nadare, stared at Goku with deep caution. Their comrade had been killed instantly. The pressure was overwhelming.

Behind Goku, Yukie trembled. Memories resurfaced—fear clawing at her heart.

“Afraid?” Goku asked gently, withdrawing his hand as the body fell into the snow.

She didn’t answer.

“Fubuki, attack together!” Nadare shouted.

“Ice Style: Swallow Blizzard!”

Countless ice swallows shot forward like arrows.

“Ice Style: Rampaging Tiger!”

A massive ice tiger roared across the battlefield.

“Pathetic techniques.”

An invisible ripple spread from Goku’s body.

The ice attacks dissolved instantly.

“So strong…” Nadare whispered in shock.

“Princess! Please return to the ship!” Sandayu urged desperately.

“No! I won’t go to the Land of Snow! I’d rather die!” Yukie collapsed, clutching her head. Childhood trauma overwhelmed her.

Goku looked at her calmly.

“What are you afraid of? I told you—I’ll protect you.”

His calm voice eased the terror in her heart.

“These pests?” he said lightly. “I can erase them at will.”

He raised his hand.

“Fubuki—run!” Nadare shouted in panic.

Fubuki spread her chakra armor’s wings and took flight, grabbing Nadare as they tried to escape.

“Run?” Goku’s lips curved slightly.

He clenched his hand.

Boom!

The two exploded midair.

Blood rained down upon the snow.

“It’s over,” Goku said softly, gently patting Yukie’s head.

She stared at him in disbelief.

The crew stood frozen.

“This… this is real ninja combat?”

The director, clutching a camera, shouted excitedly, “Forget the script! This is cinema!”

Sandayu trembled.

“Nadare… dead? Just like that?”

Yukie stared blankly.

“They’re… gone?”

“no biggie,” Goku replied casually.

---

Snow began to fall heavily.

Later, everyone gathered inside the ship’s main hall.

Sandayu bowed deeply to Goku.

“Thank you. Truly. I must confess—we hid something from you. Yukie’s stage name is Yukie Fujikaze. Her real name is Kazahana Koyuki—the rightful princess of the Land of Snow.”

“I already knew,” Goku said calmly.

He turned to Koyuki.

“So, Princess—will you return? If you wish, I’ll help you reclaim everything.”

Sandayu looked at her with hope.

But Koyuki’s expression remained distant.

“Return? For what? I may still be alive, but my heart died long ago. My tears dried up back then. The Land of Snow… means nothing to me anymore.”