Kaito turned his head sharply, forming hand seals in rapid succession as chakra surged from his body.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A massive, blazing fire dragon erupted from his mouth. The intense heat alone evaporated the incoming ice darts before they could even touch it.
Still brimming with destructive force, the fire dragon surged toward Tsurugi Fubuki in the distance.
Everywhere it passed, the flames melted large swathes of surrounding icebergs, steam hissing through the frozen air.
"Avalanche… is he already dead?"
Tsurugi Fubuki stared ahead in horror. She had just arrived at the scene, and what greeted her was the lifeless body of Langya Avalanche.
Of the three of them, Langya had been the strongest. Yet now, he lay defeated—so quickly, so easily.
This enemy… was far beyond their level.
Just then, Fubuki felt the temperature rising sharply.
She looked up, panic flooding her face as the fire dragon loomed closer.
Quickly, she formed hand seals. "Ice Style: Ice Prison Technique!"
Massive icicles surged up from the ground, forming a barrier to halt the oncoming flames. With a snap, the chakra armor's wings on her back spread open and launched her into the air.
She wasn't going to fight. She needed to escape and report this to Kazahana Doto. This man… was on a completely different level.
As for her teammates, she left them behind without a second thought.
"Running so soon?" a calm voice echoed ahead of her. "Wouldn't it be better to stay behind and keep your companions company?"
Tsurugi Fubuki's eyes went wide as the young man suddenly appeared before her in midair.
She looked down, confirming she was airborne and very much awake. "You… how are you flying?!"
"Only the weak question the impossible. An ant can't shake a tree," Kaito said coldly.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished again, fists clenched tightly as chakra surged into them.
Whoosh!
The air shimmered from the sheer speed of his movement, his afterimages dispersing in the sunlight.
Kaito reappeared directly in front of Fubuki and smashed his fist into the gem embedded in her chakra armor.
Crack!
The gem shattered instantly under the force of the punch, and a violent shockwave sent Fubuki hurtling downward like a falling meteor.
Boom!
The impact thundered through the ice field as she slammed into the ground, ice fragments flying in every direction.
A deep crater formed on the frozen surface.
Kaito floated down slowly as Fubuki lay at the bottom of the crater, her face bloodied and her body trembling in defeat. Resentment and fear filled her eyes.
He stared down at her and said flatly, "Didn't you know? You always take out the leader first."
Then, in a crackle of lightning, he vanished from sight.
---
Meanwhile, Winter Bear Haido charged toward the ship where Yukie Fujikaze was staying.
After all, she was the mission's target. As long as they captured her, their objective would be complete.
The fate of his teammates didn't concern him. Victory was all that mattered.
"They're almost within reach!" Haido grinned as the ship came into view. "Just a little closer!"
"Princess Yukie, I won't let them touch you—not while I still draw breath!" Asama Santarou stood at the ship's edge, brandishing a blade. Determination blazed in his eyes, as though he had already accepted death.
"A lowly civilian dares to block me? You're asking for death!" Haido snarled, swinging his fist.
BOOM!
The impact rang out like thunder.
But Haido's expression twisted in disbelief as he recognized the figure now standing before him.
"Him?! Why is he here?!"
A moment later, pain exploded from his arm, then spread throughout his entire body.
An overwhelming force collided with him. His chakra armor cracked and shattered under the impact.
CRASH!
Blood spurted from his body as he was sent flying like a ragdoll, smashing through multiple icebergs.
He hit the ground with a sickening crunch. Spiderweb cracks spread across the ice from the point of impact.
BOOM! BOOM!
Icebergs collapsed all around them, shaking the earth like an avalanche had been unleashed.
It was like the end of the world.
Kaito extended his electromagnetic field once more. After confirming the disappearance of all hostile chakra signatures, he calmly said, "It's done."
"Y-Yes! Thank you! Thank you, Kaito-san!" Asama Santarou stammered, overwhelmed.
He no longer doubted Kaito's power. He now understood that the Fifth Hokage had not just sent a random ninja.
As one of the leaders of the Snow Country's resistance against Kazahana Doto, he knew how strong Doto's men were.
But all three had been taken down by Kaito in moments.
This wasn't ordinary strength. This was overwhelming power.
For the first time, Asama Santarou felt hope. Perhaps this young shinobi truly had the strength to take down Kazahana Doto.
The others aboard the ship stared in stunned silence. A mix of awe and fear washed over them.
"So this… is the power of a ninja?" someone muttered.
Even Yukie Fujikaze's expression changed. Her eyes stayed fixed on Kaito.
This boy… is that strong?
---
Due to the destruction caused by the battle, the area was no longer suitable for filming. The ship adjusted course and headed for the mainland.
Throughout the trip, Asama Santarou treated Kaito with the utmost respect, and so did the rest of the crew.
After witnessing his strength firsthand, they dared not do otherwise.
When they finally made landfall, night had already fallen. The crew settled down to rest and prepare food.
Before heading off to contact the resistance forces, Asama Santarou spoke to Kaito, asking him to continue protecting Yukie.
---
Night fell.
The stars shimmered like scattered pearls across the night sky, casting a gentle glow over the snowy landscape.
Yukie sat alone by a quiet stream, bundled in a thick coat. Her face was pale, her body trembling slightly, tears silently welling in her eyes.
Under the starlight, she looked fragile and vulnerable—completely alone.
Kaito stood some distance away, silently keeping watch.
His electromagnetic field remained active, covering the surrounding area.
If anyone approached, he'd know immediately.
As for Yukie's tears or feelings—he didn't care.
His only duty was to protect her life.
Whether she cried or despaired had nothing to do with him.
So long as she stayed alive, that was enough.
---
┌(・.・)┘♪
Send Powerstones...,