42 - Kirito's explanation...

Land of Snow...

Lord's Castle...

After being escorted by the guards of the Snow Lord, Kakashi and Kirito were led to a separate room from the one occupied by the people from the Fire Temple.

As Kirito entered their room, he complained, "Senpai, I thought you told me that we were going to the spring festival in the Land of Snow. However, when I look around, the whole land is covered in snow and there are dried up trees. Where is your spring?"

"Well, that's exactly what I heard too, and that's precisely why I came to this place in the first place," Kakashi said with a frustrated tone. After all, who would come to a damned land covered in snow all year? But no, the Hokage told him that there would be spring this year in the Land of Snow, which really piqued his interest and led him here.

"Are you trying to tell me that our real mission is to uncover the secret behind the sudden change in the spring?" Kirito asked with confusion. If that were the case, it could explain why the Hokage sent them to this faraway land.

"Now, why would you think that?" Kakashi suddenly had an epiphany upon hearing Kirito's question.

"You see, the first clue is that we are from Konoha, and our village is very far away from the Land of Snow, which is very far away from the Fire Country," Kirito said, adopting a thoughtful stance.

"That doesn't prove anything like that..." Kakashi said with a serious face.

"That's what I thought, but if you look closely, you'll find a hidden message in the mission details," Kirito explained. After he finished explaining, he asked, "Don't tell me you didn't understand that, senpai?" with an amused expression.

"Of course, I knew that. I just wanted to know what you think," Kakashi said with a serious tone while thinking, 'Did Lord 3rd really mean for me to find the secret? But I still don't understand what this kid wanted to explain and his reasoning...'

After pondering until then, he thought to himself, 'Well, while we are here, we might as well try to find it and get it over with.'

[Later, when Kakashi returns to the village, he will discover that he wasn't wrong. Instead, Kirito is overthinking things for no reason.]

"Anyway, senpai, are you planning to buy something from the market?" Kirito asked, as he wanted to buy something for his friends and especially for his brother.

"We are free to buy anything, but it will be with our own money and only when we are not busily guarding the castle," Kakashi said with a nod, considering the question.

"I understand, senpai," Kirito said and went to a corner of the room to meditate, aligning his mind and body to sense his surroundings without looking.

The next morning...

Very early in the morning, a guard came to the door of the room where Kakashi and Kirito were and knocked to get their attention.

"Do you need us for anything?" Kakashi asked upon opening the door.

"Lord Sosetsu has summoned you," the castle guard replied, waiting for Kakashi's response.

"Alright, let's go," Kakashi said, and Kirito followed right behind him.

...

Currently, Sosetsu is sitting alone in his room, awaiting the arrival of Kakashi and Kirito.

As the guard sought permission, Sosetsu calmly said, "Allow them to enter."

After Kakashi and Kirito entered the room, Sosetsu glanced at the guard, who remained in the room, and said seriously, "You may leave us."

"Yes, Lord Sosetsu?"

With only the three of them left in the room, Sosetsu began, "I've heard a lot about you, Kakashi, and your Sharingan. However, when I requested aid from your village, I didn't expect them to send you here."

"Well, you see, Lord Sosetsu, the Fire Lord also made a request, and our Hokage wanted to strengthen the relationship between Konoha and the Land of Snow, so he personally sent me," Kakashi explained with a chuckle.

"Then you must convey my gratitude to your Hokage," Sosetsu said with a smile, then turned his gaze toward the young man behind Kakashi, the same one Sosetsu's daughter had teased the previous day. With a smile, he inquired, "And who might you be, young man?"

"My name is Kirito Uzumaki, sir," Kirito replied, his tone devoid of excess emotion but respectful.

"Do you believe yourself capable of the task, young Kirito?" Sosetsu didn't seem bothered by Kirito's lack of formality and asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"While I can't guarantee protecting this entire castle, I can assure you that if tasked with saving a single person, I am confident in my abilities," Kirito answered with a serious demeanor.

Sosetsu appeared to find Kirito's response unexpected, and he turned to Kakashi with a smile, asking, "What do you make of this, Mr. Kakashi?"

"Well, you see, Lord Sosetsu, even though the kid isn't that old, I would say he might excel in protecting someone from an enemy attack as long as his focus is solely on saving and not fighting back," Kakashi responded, displaying full confidence in his tone.

"If you have such confidence in him, then I'd like to put it to the test," Sosetsu stated while looking at Kakashi. He then shifted his attention to Kirito and continued, "Alright, young man, if you're as confident as you claim, I shall assign you to guard my daughter, Koyuki Kazahana."

"What about guarding the castle?" Kirito asked, his confusion evident in response to Sosetsu's unexpected proposition.

"There are numerous others responsible for that. You need not concern yourself with it," Sosetsu replied seriously, addressing Kirito. He then turned to Kakashi once again and emphasized, "Mr. Kakashi, please remember, my daughter's safety is our top priority. If we come under attack and I'm unable to make it, ensure you take my daughter to a safe place."

"Understood," Kakashi affirmed with a nod. After all, a shinobi carries out the client's wishes as long as the payment is sufficient.

"Very well, you may go now and rest until my guards come to summon you for your duty of protecting my daughter," Sosetsu instructed as the duo left the room with a nod.

Once they had departed, a middle-aged man entered the room from the rear entrance and spoke with a concerned tone, "Are you certain about entrusting the Princess to such a young boy, Lord Sosetsu?"

"I'm certain, Sandayu, and you'd likely have made the same decision had you seen the trust in the eyes of that Copy Ninja Kakashi when he spoke of the boy," Sosetsu replied with a serious tone.

"If that's your decision, my lord," Sandayu acknowledged neutrally. He then adopted a serious expression and inquired, "What are your thoughts on the monks from the temple?"

"For now, let them guard the castle," Sosetsu concluded.

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