'The Yuki Clan, domain...'
"Heh!"
Ryuji chuckled lightly, not taking it seriously.
Although domains sounded intimidating, they were only intimidating.
This was the Shinobi World, not some fantasy world. There were no settings where one was invincible within a domain or that only domains could oppose domains.
In fact, there were many Ninjutsu in the Shinobi World that had domains.
The Gentle Fist's Eight Trigrams domain, Ibiki's torture chamber... these were all domain-type existences.
But the Gentle Fist's Eight Trigrams domain was just a measure in the practitioner's mind, indicating everything within the domain was within their attack range, without substantial effects.
And Ibiki's torture chamber was more like a subspace illusionary domain, creating psychological pressure for interrogation.
Aside from that, it had no other use; simple brute force could break it.
As for the Yuki Clan...
Although Haku's Ice Release shown in the original work was indeed troublesome, it was only troublesome, not unbeatable.
In the original work, after the Third Shinobi World War, Kekkei Genkai users in the Land of Water were purged. The Yuki Clan didn't escape this fate either; its members could only live under assumed names.
If the Yuki Clan were truly that powerful, they wouldn't have ended up like that.
...
Seeing Ryuji's indifferent expression, the Third Mizukage understood his thoughts, deeply exhaled, and sighed. "It seems you won't retreat either. Then let's communicate with Ninjutsu!"
"That's how it should have been from the start!"
Jinin, holding an axe-blade in one hand and a large hammer in the other, looked excited.
Kushimaru, carrying the long needle-like sword over his shoulder, right foot on a corpse, eager for action.
Fuguki, Jinpachi, the wielder of Hiramekarei, Juzo, and the two Jinchuriki also showed varying degrees of excitement and cruelty.
Only Yagura and Raiga remained expressionless.
Kirigakure's top experts were almost all gathered here. They didn't believe they would lose, even if the enemy had immortal and indestructible puppets.
"It seems a fight is unavoidable."
The reactions of the Kirigakure's group already indicated their stance. Ryuji felt regretful.
He sighed. "I really wanted a peaceful resolution, but you insist on using force to solve problems. Indeed, Jiraiya's ideals only exist in fictional fantasies."
"No, it's you, holding such naive fantasies…"
"…who are naive!"
The words following came from behind the two, accompanied by endless cold. Piercing chill erupted, freezing this entire space into ice.
The mechanical bird and the two standing on it, Ryuji and Aka, were frozen within, then fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
The broken ice crystals mingled with puppet and human limb fragments, appearing strangely beautiful.
"Mizukage-sama's move is still invincible as ever!"
Everyone glanced at the ice clone standing in place, a crack on its cheek revealing ice inside, then looked at the Third Mizukage, who suddenly appeared on the mechanical bird and then jumped to the ground as it fell, all sighing in admiration.
Praised by his subordinates, the Third Mizukage remained calm, appearing unaffected.
"Clearly possessing a flying weapon of mass destruction, already standing invincible, yet they take unnecessary risks. Making such a decision only shows they are second-rate Shinobi. Defeating second-rate Shinobi isn't something to be proud of."
The Yuki Clan had a very buggy secret technique.
That is the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
They could use smooth ice surfaces formed by Chakra as mirrors, moving at light speed through reflection.
Moreover, this was a Ninjutsu effect, not physical movement.
During movement, their bodies transformed into a semi-physical existence, the process silent, and they could merge into the mirror surface.
The Third Mizukage's Ice Release could transform his entire body into ice.
Utilizing this trait, he combined Body Replacement and Clone Technique to develop a Ninjutsu: momentarily splitting off an ice clone while transforming his entire body into ice, while the original body relied on the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals' properties for light-speed reflection.
When facing an enemy, he first used the Snow Domain to lower surrounding temperature and obstruct the enemy's vision.
Then, he formed an ice mirror behind the enemy.
Since the temperature was already lowered by the Snow Domain, as long as the ice mirror creation process was careful, it could be done silently, preventing the enemy from detecting it.
Finally, he transformed his body into ice, then used the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals to reflect into the ice mirror behind the enemy for a sneak attack.
Because it was light-speed movement, with heavy snow obstructing vision, and leaving an identical ice clone in the original spot, if the enemy lacked prior relevant intelligence, they basically couldn't notice the Third Mizukage's subtle actions.
This was a first-encounter kill tactic created by combining his own traits, truly worthy of being the Mizukage, one of the 'Strongest Five' in the Shinobi World.
But, the prerequisite was that the enemy lacked relevant intelligence.
And Ryuji had it.
Bang bang bang!!!
Just as the Kirigakure group prepared to issue further orders to eliminate the enemy, the shattered remains of the mechanical bird, Ryuji, and Aka transformed into knight puppet wreckage amidst thick white smoke.
—Body Replacement Technique!
"How is this possible!?"
Knowing how powerful this set of tactics was, the Kirigakure's group widened their eyes, faces filled with disbelief. Even the Third Mizukage himself showed astonishment.
Whoosh...
A sharp whistling came through the air.
Everyone looked toward the sound. The mechanical bird spread its wings, tearing through the air at high speed, crashing into the Third Mizukage in the blink of an eye.
Bang!
With a loud sound, shattered ice crystals scattered everywhere.
The Third Mizukage's upper body was directly smashed to pieces.
"Hoo hoo hoo..."
Strong winds howled.
The lower half of the Third Mizukage's body emitted immense suction, drawing the cold air currents, reforming a complete body.
"Tch, a secret technique similar to the Dance of the Shikigami?"
Ryuji crouched on the mechanical bird, looking back at this scene, couldn't help but feel troubled.
Although the Five Kage weren't as troublesome as Nagato or Madara's super-Kage-level power, each was a pinnacle Kage-level existence with their own specialties. Dealing with them wasn't that easy.
"Try melting it with fire; see if it works!"
Aka suggested.
"It's useless!"
The Third Mizukage's voice came from in front of the mechanical bird.
The two looked up to see an ice mirror appearing in the air about ten meters ahead. The Third Mizukage's body was reflected inside, his upper body already leaning out, right hand still in a hand seal.
The moment the two looked over, the Third Mizukage used his Ninjutsu.
[Ice Release: Wind-Driven Snow!]
He slightly parted his thin lips, spitting out a freezing, bone-chilling wind and snow current from his mouth, forming a massive scale that engulfed the mechanical bird, freezing it into an ice block in an instant.