Doto Kazahana sat on his grand iron throne, his sharp features illuminated by the eerie blue light of the frozen castle. His eyes glinted with annoyance as Nadre, Fubuki, and Mizore stood before him, their heads bowed. The tension in the air was thick enough to carve with a blade.
"You failed," Doto said coldly, his voice like the crunch of ice underfoot. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest of his throne. "Explain."
Fubuki, her face pale with unease, spoke first, her voice trembling slightly. "It's not as simple as it seems, Lord Doto. The princess was being protected—by the Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake."
Doto's eyes narrowed sharply. "Kakashi…" he muttered, his voice dripping with contempt. "After all these years, he's still alive and meddling? He was with the princess, you say?" His lips curled in disdain. "Tsk. Of course."
Mizore chimed in, his voice quieter but tinged with frustration. "That wasn't the real issue, Lord Doto. Kakashi is formidable, yes, but… there was someone else."
Doto leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Someone else?"
Nadre nodded, her fists clenched. "A girl. Strange, creepy even. She looked no older than thirteen."
"A child?" Doto asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice laced with incredulity.
"Yes," Fubuki said. "But not just any child. She had bob-cut white hair, a frilly black dress under her winter overcoat, and glowing sapphire eyes. She moved unnaturally, like a machine."
Doto's expression darkened, and his tapping fingers froze mid-motion. "The White Flash of the Leaf," he said, his voice a low growl. "Naruto Uzumaki."
Mizore blinked, startled. "You've heard of her, my lord?"
Doto's gaze turned icy as he leaned back in his throne. "Of course, I have. The girl who singlehandedly defeated Orochimaru and saved her pathetic village. She's a legend in the making, they say. And, to my knowledge, she's never lost a fight." He clenched his fist. "A Jounin in her teens. A child prodigy… and a problem."
Fubuki swallowed hard. "Then… what do we do, Lord Doto? Do we focus on Kakashi and his genin team?"
Doto's lips twisted into a cruel smirk. "Kakashi and his team are one thing. I trust you'll deal with them accordingly."
Nadre hesitated. "And the girl?"
Doto's eyes gleamed with a malicious light. "The girl requires a different solution." He rose from his throne, the room's cold air seeming to chill even further with his movement. "I anticipated complications. That's why I've already hired someone."
The room fell into a tense silence. Mizore exchanged a confused glance with Nadre and Fubuki. "Someone… else?"
"Yes," Doto said, his voice smooth and assured. "A mercenary."
Before they could ask further, a shadow shifted at the edge of the room. The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed in the frozen chamber. From the darkness emerged a tall figure cloaked in black, red clouds embroidered on the fabric. The cloak shifted slightly, revealing a metallic tail curling ominously behind him. His face was concealed beneath a hood, but the faint glint of a scorpion-like mask caught the dim light.
The figure stopped a few paces away from Doto, the cold air seemingly growing heavier with his presence. His voice was deep, deliberate, and carried a sinister edge.
"Dealing with the doll…" the figure said, his scorpion-like tail curling lazily behind him, "that will be my job."
"Sasori," Doto said, a cruel grin forming on his lips. "I trust you'll handle her."
Sasori, hidden beneath his mask, tilted his head slightly. "A puppet made of wood and silicone," he murmured. "Fascinating. A masterpiece in its own right. But no doll can outperform its master." His metallic tail twitched, the faint sound of grinding gears filling the room.
Fubuki shuddered. "You're sure he can—"
"Enough," Doto snapped, cutting her off. "Sasori of the Red Sand is the best. He'll take care of this… nuisance."
Sasori turned, the sound of his mechanical tail clicking softly as he began to retreat into the shadows. "She'll make a fine addition to my collection," he said, his voice fading as the darkness swallowed him whole.