<div>
<div>
Shin and the Third Kazekage faced each other. The other Suna Shinobi formed a circle around them.
<div>
<div>
"Kazekage-sama, do you need assistance?" Chiyo asked.
<div>
<div>
"No." The Kazekage refused. He wasn''t going to gang up on a kid.
<div>
<div>
Chiyo frowned. They couldn''t underestimate this boy. He had injured the Kazekage with a single blow.
<div>
<div>
She felt the Kazekage was being arrogant. This could end badly.
<div>
<div>
"Vacuum Slash!"
<div>
<div>
Shin swung his sword with full force, slicing through the air. A blade of compressed air shot towards the Kazekage.
<div>
<div>
Creating an air blade with a sword was far more difficult than with a punch.
<div>
<div>
The air blade was incredibly fast. The Kazekage''s eyes widened.
<div>
<div>
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!"
<div>
<div>
Iron Sand swirled around the Kazekage, forming an impenetrable sphere.
<div>
<div>
The air blade struck the Iron Sand, sparks flying. It slowly cut through the Iron Sand, but the defense was thick, over thirty centimeters.
<div>
<div>
The air blade managed to penetrate twenty centimeters before dissipating.
<div>
<div>
"Couldn''t break it. Disappointing." Shin sheathed his sword.
<div>
<div>
"But since you like staying in there so much, why don''t you stay there forever?"
<div>
<div>
"Ice Release: Ice Age!"
<div>
<div>
Shin''s hands flew through a series of hand seals, fifteen seals in two seconds. An icy chill emanated from him.
<div>
<div>
Ignoring the Chakra cost, frost spread from his feet, covering the ground in a thick layer of ice.
<div>
<div>
The Iron Sand sphere encasing the Kazekage was instantly frozen. The ice continued to spread outwards.
<div>
<div>
"Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"
<div>
<div>
Chiyo yelled, leading the Suna forces in a hasty retreat. Those further away were fine, but the Shinobi near the front couldn''t escape.
<div>
<div>
The stronger ones managed to flee, but the Chunin were too slow. They were frozen solid, encased in ice. Within moments, a one-kilometer radius was transformed into a world of ice.
<div>
<div>
Hundreds of ice pillars stood frozen in this icy wasteland. They were the Suna Shinobi who hadn''t been able to escape.
<div>
<div>
"Still not as powerful as Kuzan''s Hie Hie no Mi."A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
<div>
<div>
Shin observed his Ice Age Jutsu. He had developed it based on Kuzan''s Devil Fruit ability, but it was still far weaker.
<div>
<div>
Kuzan could freeze dozens of kilometers of ocean with ease.
<div>
<div>
But Shin''s Ice Release was still developing. Perhaps one day, he would surpass Kuzan.
<div>
<div>
Shin wasn''t completely satisfied, but the Suna and Konoha Shinobi were stunned.
<div>
<div>
"That''s Ice Release?! When did he get Ice Release? He didn''t tell me!" Tsunade was indignant.
<div>
<div>
"What incredible power..." Orochimaru''s eyes widened in shock.
<div>
<div>
"Damn that brat!"
<div>
<div>
Chiyo almost fainted, seeing her frozen comrades.
<div>
<div>
"Quick! Save the Kazekage!"
<div>
<div>
Ebizo, Chiyo''s brother, yelled, his eyes filled with worry. The Third Kazekage was trapped in the ice.
<div>
<div>
If they didn''t rescue him soon, he would suffocate.
<div>
<div>
They had to break the ice. If the Kazekage died here, Suna would be in danger.
<div>
<div>
Ebizo charged forward, using Wind Release to attack the ice encasing the Kazekage. But the ice was as hard as steel.
<div>
<div>
Shin watched them calmly. They wouldn''t be able to break it. He wondered if the Kazekage could escape from the inside.
<div>
<div>
The Kazekage had deactivated his Iron Sand defense. He looked at the ice surrounding him, his face pale.
<div>
<div>
He manipulated the Iron Sand, forming various weapons, and attacked the ice from the inside.
<div>
<div>
With attacks from both inside and outside, and with some Shinobi using Fire Release, the ice finally shattered. The Kazekage emerged, gasping for air.
<div>
<div>
The space within the sphere hadn''t been large; the air had been thin.
<div>
<div>
"Retreat!" the Kazekage ordered.
<div>
<div>
He didn''t try to attack Shin. He chose to retreat.
<div>
<div>
The Suna Shinobi wanted to save their frozen comrades, but they knew the chances of survival were slim.
<div>
<div>
"You think you can just retreat? Did you ask me?"
<div>
<div>
Shin charged towards them, his sword flashing. A massive air blade sliced through the ice.
<div>
<div>
"Puppet Technique: Human Puppet!"
<div>
<div>
Chiyo used the Human Puppet Jutsu to defend, and the Third Kazekage used his strongest Iron Sand defense.
<div>
<div>
The other Suna Shinobi also used defensive Jutsu. The sight was spectacular, even more so than when Shin had faced the combined might of Kirigakure.
<div>
<div>
The air blade sliced through ten puppets and broke through the Kazekage''s Iron Sand defense. The air blade was too large, and the Kazekage''s Iron Sand wall wasn''t thick enough.
<div>
<div>
But after breaking through the Iron Sand, the air blade''s power was spent. It was easily blocked by the other Suna Shinobi''s defenses.
<div>
<div>
The Suna forces retreated hastily, abandoning their frozen comrades.
<div>
<div>
The chances of survival for those trapped in the ice were slim. The Kazekage wouldn''t risk further losses to save them.
<div>
<div>
If Shin used another Ice Age Jutsu, the consequences would be dire.
<div>
<div>
Chiyo winced as she retrieved the broken Human Puppet. It was a masterpiece by the previous generation''s Puppet Master, Monzaemon Chikamatsu. It was irreplaceable, and now it was damaged.
<div>
<div>
She didn''t know if she could repair it.
<div>
<div>
As she collected the puppet, she suddenly felt a chill, a sense of danger. She instinctively leaned to the side.
<div>
<div>
A flash of white, and a sword pierced through her body.
<div>
<div>
She had dodged slightly, avoiding a fatal blow. The sword, aimed for her heart, had missed, piercing her side instead.
<div>
<div>
"Too bad."
<div>
<div>
Shin deactivated his Mangekyō Sharingan, disappointed. He had almost killed Chiyo.
<div>
<div>
He had used Yomotsu Hirasaka to open a small, invisible portal and thrust his Kusanagi sword through it.
<div>
<div>
The sword had emerged from another portal near Chiyo, stabbing her from a distance of several hundred meters.
<div>
<div>
This was another application of Yomotsu Hirasaka.
------
Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on!
patr-eon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
- There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available!