"Is this… Shigure's Ice Release?!"
This was clearly more than just manipulating ice and snow. Shigure's chakra had caused the ambient temperature to drop even further. The very air was freezing, particles crystallizing midair. The growing frost on the ground told the whole story.
But such a large-scale freeze should've drained an enormous amount of chakra.
Yet Shigure stood there, calm and composed—as if his chakra reserves were barely touched.
Of course. His chakra was far beyond that of an ordinary Genin.
Bang!
Suddenly, the thick ice encasing Rōga Nadare shattered. He stumbled out, panting heavily. His entire body trembled from the intense cold—every limb stiff, sluggish, and half-numb.
Worse still, he looked down at the chakra armor embedded in his chest. A long crack had formed across it.
The freezing had overloaded the device. His chakra reserves were almost entirely depleted.
Defeated… by a Genin from Konoha?
A kid not even half my age?
"Naruto, Sasuke! Finish them off!" Shigure called, noticing Nadare trying to regain movement. If he could break free thanks to the chakra armor, the others might too. Better to end it now.
Naruto grinned. "Got it! I've got just the move for this!"
He summoned several Shadow Clones, gathering swirling chakra into his palm. The growing energy made the wind whip around him.
Sasuke glanced over, intrigued. "Is that your ultimate jutsu?"
In the past, he might have felt envy. But not anymore.
"Sharingan—activate."
With his crimson eyes glowing, Sasuke began forming seals. Lightning sparked from his hands.
"Chidori!"
Electric chakra surged, the high-pitched screech of a thousand birds echoing.
In perfect sync, the two launched forward.
Rasengan and Chidori.
Boom—!!
Zzzttzztt!!
A thunderous crash followed. Their jutsu struck Fubuki and Dōkō simultaneously.
Shigure's ice crystals shattered from the impact. A second explosion erupted, sending debris flying. The chakra armor on both Snow Ninja cracked apart—failing under the immense force.
They collapsed. Unconscious.
Seeing his comrades downed, Rōga Nadare turned in panic. He tried to flee.
I just need to survive. As long as I'm alive, there's still hope…
But the moment he moved—
Shigure appeared behind him.
Zangetsu, his blade, gleamed coldly as it rested against Nadare's throat.
"Trying to run…?"
"There's no escape."
His words were calm, his gaze icy.
Frost radiated from the blade's edge, seeping into Nadare's skin. This wasn't like the ice from earlier—this time, it was internal.
The freezing started at the neck… and rapidly spread across his body.
In seconds, Rōga Nadare was frozen solid, turned into a sculpture of ice.
Shigure slowly sheathed Zangetsu.
Only then did Kakashi approach.
He looked at the three Genin before him—Shigure, Naruto, Sasuke—and nodded.
Despite their ranks, their abilities now surpassed the standard for Genin.
Naruto's raw power and versatility in combat exceeded expectations. Sasuke's control over Chidori and Sharingan placed him near Chūnin, if not already beyond.
And then there was Shigure.
His unique Ice Release, a custom-developed kekkei genkai, was unlike anything Kakashi had seen. That instant freeze… it wasn't just a jutsu—it was a field effect, a domain.
Any enemy within range… was in danger.
The chakra cost was high—but Shigure's reserves could handle it.
"Excellent," Kakashi said, rare praise in his tone. "You're already fighting like true shinobi."
Naruto beamed. "Of course! I'm gonna be Hokage one day!"
As the boys exchanged smiles, a figure slowly approached.
It was Princess Koyuki Kazahana—known now simply as Fūn.
She had watched the entire battle from afar, stunned. Three enemies she had always seen as unstoppable were brought down easily by these young ninja from Konoha.
So… this is the power of the Hidden Leaf?
They weren't just different—they were on another level entirely.
"Xiaoxue, you…" her attendant murmured, noticing the distant look in her eyes.
But before he could say more, she walked past him and toward the team.
Everyone turned as she approached.
Instead of speaking, she stepped right up to the frozen Nadare and looked him over.
"…Is he dead?" she asked flatly.
Shigure blinked. "Not yet. He could be revived… with enough heat."
"Oh."
Without a word, Koyuki raised her fist and slammed it into Nadare's frozen body.
Crack—!!
The ice fractured on impact and Nadare shattered into countless shards, collapsing onto the snow like broken glass.
Kakashi glanced at her quietly.
Her attendant rushed over. "Xiaoxue, are you… alright?"
Her mood had shifted sharply, but no one could quite place why.
Later, as the crew finished packing and prepared to return to the ship, Naruto, Sasuke, and Shigure were already resting.
Kakashi approached Koyuki, who sat alone, gazing at a distant iceberg.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah."
He turned to leave, but she called out—
"…Can you teach me ninjutsu?"
Kakashi paused.
"…You want to become a shinobi?"
"You can't even mold chakra yet," he replied gently. "Not everyone's cut out to be a ninja. It's not just about willpower—it takes talent."
"Really…?" she whispered, disappointed.
Her eyes drifted to Shigure, leaning against the ship, quietly practicing Nature Transformation.
"…His name's Moonlight Shigure, right?"
"Yeah," Kakashi said. "What about him?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing… I just wish I could have power like his."
Shigure's power? Ice Release?
Kakashi gave a small smile. "Even if you're a ninja, you can't just learn that."
"Why not?"
"Shigure's Ice Release is a Kekkei Genkai — a Bloodline Limit."
"Bloodline Limit?" Princess Koyuki blinked in confusion.
"Yeah," Kakashi nodded. "To put it simply, it's a unique ability passed down through one's lineage. It's tied to the user's blood. Unless you're born with it, learning it through normal training is virtually impossible."
He held up a gloved hand and added, "The odds of mastering a Kekkei Genkai without being born into it? Probably one in a billion."
Koyuki was momentarily speechless. "Blood...lines…"
...
TN:
Shigure ❄️:"Let it go... Let it go... I am one with the wind and sky..."
...
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