(Hey guys... sorry for being on hold for very, very long, but now I think the story is back)
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Tsunade stood amidst the twilight, her gaze fixed on the radiant burst of light that illuminated the expansive sky like a thousand stars colliding in a brilliant cosmic dance. Yet, even as she basked in that moment of beauty, a shroud of darkness began to creep in around her.
"They did it..." A warm smile broke across Tsunade's face, brimming with hope as she pondered whether the newfound power coursing through her veins could aid Kyo and the others in their righteous battle.
"They certainly did," Shizune echoed, her eyes twinkling with excitement as Tonton, the ever-adorable pig, let out a cheerful squeak, oblivious to the weight of the moment. "Do you think you can harness it?"
Tsunade turned her gaze to her devoted apprentice, curiosity etched across her features. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Shizune spoke earnestly, her brow furrowing slightly, "you've become stronger than ever before. Does that place you on the same level as the girls?"
With a contemplative look, Tsunade nodded, the realization settling within her. "Yeah, I think you're right." Gently, she conjured a swirling Ki ball in her palm, vibrant energy crackling with potential. "This power transcends anything I ever imagined." She allowed the Ki ball to dissipate, scattering its shimmering essence into the ether.
A sense of wonder filled Shizune as she mused aloud, "No one truly understood Ki, except for Nakamura's long-lost clan. It wasn't until Kyo-san revealed the truth that we were introduced to this extraordinary force. And now, Konoha's very first Ki user stands before us."
"And our first Ki user is also the last of the Uchiha line," Jiraiya remarked, perched casually by the window, an enigmatic smile playing on her lips.
Tsunade and Shizune exchanged glances, surprise flickering in their eyes as they absorbed the words of the legendary toad sage.
"But his DNA has transformed; he is no longer an Uchiha. He has become wholly Saiyan in this new existence," Orochimaru added, her expression thoughtful, fingers tapping gently against her chin as she contemplated the implications.
"True," Tsunade sighed, her heart swelling with affection, "but at the end of the day, he remains our Kenshi." Her smile radiated warmth, hinting at deep-seated pride and unwavering loyalty as she reflected on the man who bridged worlds with his courage.
---
The world dissolved into a blur of light and colour, reality bending and twisting as Kyo's Instant Transmission whisked them away from the devastated battlefield. In the blink of an eye, the freezing winds and scorched earth of the frozen wasteland were replaced by the warm, opulent interior of the royal castle's grand hall.
The sudden shift in environment left several of the guards stationed inside stumbling backward in shock, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons before recognizing the familiar faces of their queen and her heroic guests.
"W-What in the—?!" one guard sputtered, his eyes wide as saucers.
"They just... appeared out of nowhere!" another whispered, his voice a mixture of awe and disbelief.
Koyuki, still clinging to Kyo's left arm, took a moment to steady herself. The sensation of teleportation was unlike anything she'd ever experienced—one moment standing amidst the ruins of battle, the next safely within her own castle walls. Her heart raced, though whether from the lingering adrenaline of the fight or the proximity to the handsome Saiyan beside her, she couldn't quite say.
"That... that was incredible," Koyuki breathed, her eyes sparkling with wonder as she looked up at Kyo. "You can travel across such distances in an instant?"
Kyo scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a habit that made him look endearingly boyish despite the godlike power he'd just displayed. "Yeah, it's called Instant Transmission. Pretty handy for getting around, though it can be a bit disorienting the first time."
"Disorienting is an understatement, Kyo-kun," Sakura mumbled from where she was still wrapped around his back, her face slightly green. "I think my stomach is still back at the battlefield..."
Naruko, pressed against Kyo's front, suddenly perked up. "Speaking of stomachs—FOOD! Your Majesty, you promised us a feast, remember?" The blonde's eyes gleamed with unmistakable hunger, her earlier exhaustion seemingly forgotten in the face of her legendary appetite.
Satsuki, maintaining her dignified grip on Kyo's right arm, allowed herself a small, amused smile. "Some things never change. We just fought a Legendary Super Saiyan, and all you can think about is food?"
"Hey! Fighting makes me hungry, dattebayo!" Naruko protested, puffing out her cheeks in that adorable way that made Kyo's heart skip a beat.
Kakane, still holding Kyo's left shoulder, chuckled softly behind her mask. "To be fair, I'm rather famished myself. That battle took more out of us than I'd like to admit."
"Same here," Zangya purred from Kyo's right shoulder, her exotic beauty drawing curious stares from the castle guards. "I could eat a whole planet right about now~"
Koyuki's expression shifted from wonder to immediate concern, her royal training kicking in. She released Kyo's arm—reluctantly, if the slight hesitation was any indication—and turned to her attendants with commanding authority.
"You heard our guests! Prepare the grand banquet hall immediately!" The Queen's voice rang clear and strong throughout the hall. "Tonight, we celebrate not just victory, but the heroes who saved our entire kingdom from annihilation!"
The servants and guards, shaking off their initial shock, immediately sprang into action with practiced efficiency.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Right away, Your Majesty!"
As the castle staff scattered to carry out their orders, Koyuki turned back to the exhausted team with a warm, grateful smile that softened her regal features. "Please, allow my attendants to show you to the guest chambers. You can freshen up and rest before the feast."
"Rest sounds amazing," Sakura sighed, finally releasing her hold on Kyo and stretching her arms above her head. The motion drew attention to just how much she'd grown—both in power and in other, more noticeable ways that made several guards quickly avert their eyes.
"I call first bath!" Naruko declared, jumping away from Kyo with renewed energy.
"Like hell you do, dobe," Satsuki countered coolly, though there was a competitive fire in her dark eyes. "I'm covered in dirt and sweat. I'm going first."
"Oh no, you're not, teme!"
"Would you two stop acting like children for five minutes?" Sakura interjected with exasperation, though a fond smile tugged at her lips.
Kyo watched the familiar bickering with a mixture of amusement and affection. These girls—these incredible, powerful, beautiful women—had just helped him defeat a monster that could have destroyed entire worlds. And now they were arguing about bath privileges like academy students.
He loved every second of it.
"How about the royal baths?" Koyuki offered, her gentle voice cutting through the squabble. "They're large enough for all of you to bathe comfortably... together, if you wish."
The three girls froze, turning to look at the Queen with varying expressions of surprise and interest.
"Together?" Naruko repeated, her blue eyes widening.
Koyuki nodded, a slight blush dusting her pale cheeks. "The royal baths are quite spacious. It's traditional in the Land of Snow for... close companions to bathe together. It promotes bonding and trust."
Zangya's lips curved into a knowing smirk as she sidled up beside the flustered queen. "Oh, I like how you think, Your Majesty~ Very forward-thinking~"
"I-I didn't mean anything inappropriate!" Koyuki stammered, her blush deepening. "It's simply our custom!"
Kakane's visible eye crinkled with amusement. "Of course, Your Majesty. We understand completely."
"Well, Kyo-kun?" Naruko turned to face him with a mischievous grin that immediately set off alarm bells in his head. "Want to join us? I'm sure the royal baths are big enough~"
Kyo's face turned bright red. "W-WHAT?! No! I'll just... I'll wait for my turn! You girls go ahead!"
"Aww, but Kyo-kun~" Zangya cooed, draping herself over his shoulder. "We're all consenting adults here. And after that battle, don't you want to... relax?"
"Zangya!" Kyo's voice cracked slightly, his Saiyan composure completely shattered by the suggestive alien woman.
Satsuki's eyes narrowed dangerously, a possessive edge creeping into her voice. "Zangya, stop teasing him. We're guests in Her Majesty's castle. Let's not scandalize the entire royal guard."
As if on cue, several of the younger guards were indeed standing with their mouths agape, faces flushed as they tried—and failed—not to imagine the scenario being discussed.
"R-Right this way, honored guests!" An older, more composed attendant stepped forward, clearly trying to salvage the situation before it devolved further. "The royal baths have been prepared!"
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Thirty minutes later, Kyo found himself alone in a luxurious guest chamber, finally able to breathe without five beautiful women attached to various parts of his body. He collapsed onto the impossibly soft bed with a heavy sigh, staring up at the ornate ceiling.
"Today was insane," he muttered to himself, replaying the battle in his mind. Garly—the Legendary Super Saiyan—had been even more powerful than he'd feared. If they hadn't worked together perfectly, if even one person had hesitated...
He shook his head, dispelling the dark thoughts. They'd won. That's what mattered.
A soft knock at the door pulled him from his musings.
"Come in," Kyo called out, sitting up.
The door opened to reveal one of the castle attendants, a young woman with kind eyes and a respectful bow. "Lord Uchiha, Her Majesty requests your presence in the strategy room. She wishes to discuss something in private before the feast."
Kyo raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright, lead the way."
---
The strategy room was smaller and more intimate than the grand halls, with a large table covered in maps and documents. Koyuki stood by the window, gazing out at the snow-covered landscape, her silhouette backlit by the setting sun.
"Your Majesty, you wanted to see me?" Kyo asked as the attendant quietly closed the door behind him.
Koyuki turned, and Kyo was struck by how different she looked in this softer light—not the commanding queen, but simply a woman who had just witnessed the near-destruction of everything she held dear.
"Kyo-san," she began, her voice quieter than before. "I... I needed to speak with you. Alone."
He stepped closer, concern flickering across his features. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes. No. I..." She took a breath, composing herself. "I wanted to thank you. Properly. Without guards or attendants or your... companions present."
Kyo tilted his head. "You don't need to thank me. We did what anyone would—"
"No." Koyuki's interruption was gentle but firm. "Not anyone. You risked everything—your life, the lives of those precious to you—to save a kingdom you had no obligation to protect. You fought a monster that could have killed you all."
She moved closer, and Kyo could see the moisture gathering in her eyes.
"My father once told me that a queen must always remain strong, must never show weakness. But right now, I'm not speaking as a queen." Her voice trembled slightly. "I'm speaking as a woman who watched six incredible people nearly die to save her home."
Before Kyo could respond, she closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.
"Thank you," she whispered against his chest. "Thank you for saving us. Thank you for being the hero we needed."
Kyo stood frozen for a moment, then slowly, gently, returned the embrace. "You're welcome, Koyuki."
They stood like that for several heartbeats, the only sound the crackling of the fireplace in the corner.
Finally, Koyuki pulled back slightly, looking up at him. Her cheeks were flushed, whether from emotion or something else, Kyo couldn't tell.
"Kyo-san... may I ask you something personal?"
"Sure."
"Your companions—the girls—they're all..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "They all love you, don't they?"
Kyo's expression turned sheepish, a hand reaching up to rub the back of his neck. "Yeah... it's complicated."
"And you love them all?" There was no judgment in her voice, only curiosity.
"I do," Kyo admitted softly. "Every single one of them. I know it's not conventional, but—"
"It's beautiful," Koyuki interrupted, surprising him. "The way they fight for you, the way you protect them... I've never seen such devotion. Such trust." Her eyes softened. "You're very lucky, Kyo-san. And so are they."
"I am," Kyo agreed, a genuine smile crossing his face. "They're my world."
Koyuki smiled, though there was a touch of melancholy in it. "Then I hope... I hope you'll include the Land of Snow in that world. As friends, as allies. We owe you a debt we can never truly repay."
"You don't owe me anything," Kyo said firmly. "But yeah, I'd like that. Friends and allies."
The Queen's smile brightened, the melancholy fading. "Good. Then let's seal this alliance properly—with a feast worthy of legends!"
---
The grand banquet hall had been transformed in record time. Long tables were laden with every delicacy the Land of Snow had to offer—roasted meats, fresh seafood, steaming bowls of ramen, rice dishes, grilled vegetables, and desserts that looked almost too beautiful to eat.
The team sat at the head table alongside Koyuki, all of them now cleaned up and refreshed. The girls had changed into elegant kimonos provided by the castle—Naruko in orange and white, Satsuki in deep blue, Sakura in pink and red, Kakane in silver and black (though she still wore her mask), and Zangya in a striking purple that complemented her hair perfectly.
Kyo himself had been given a formal black haori with the Uchiha symbol embroidered in red on the back, paired with dark hakama. He looked every bit the noble warrior, drawing appreciative glances from several of the female attendants.
"This looks AMAZING!" Naruko's eyes practically sparkled as she surveyed the spread before them. "Can we eat now? Please?"
Koyuki laughed, a genuine, joyful sound. "Please, don't wait for formality. Eat!"
"ITADAKIMASU!" Naruko didn't need to be told twice. She immediately began loading her plate with alarming speed.
"Slow down, dobe, you're going to choke," Satsuki chided, though she too began eating with considerably more grace.
Kyo, his Saiyan appetite fully awakened, wasted no time either. Plate after plate disappeared as he and Naruko fell into an unspoken eating competition, their chopsticks moving at speeds that made the servants' heads spin.
"How... how are they eating so much?" one servant whispered in awe.
"I've lost count of the plates..." another muttered.
Sakura watched the spectacle with fond exasperation. "Every. Single. Time."
Kakane nodded sagely. "At least they're enjoying themselves."
Zangya, meanwhile, was eating with surprising elegance despite keeping pace with Kyo. "This Snow Kingdom food is actually pretty good~ Not quite up to Universe 7 standards, but definitely not bad~"
Koyuki watched the chaotic, joyful scene with a warm smile. This—this was what she'd been fighting to protect. Not just the land or the people, but moments like these. Laughter, companionship, life.
As the feast continued, the atmosphere grew more relaxed. Stories were shared, jokes were told, and for a brief, precious moment, there was no talk of monsters or battles or cosmic threats.
There was only warmth, food, and the bonds of those who had fought together and survived.
And as Kyo looked around at the smiling faces of his companions—his family—he felt a deep sense of contentment settle in his chest.
This was worth fighting for.
This was worth protecting.
No matter what threats lay ahead.
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•To Be Continue•
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