Seeing the people below frantically running toward the ship, Rouga Nadare sneered and quickly formed hand seals.
"Ice Release: Wolf Fang Avalanche!"
In an instant, the ice and snow on the glacier collapsed, and the shattered snow transformed into a dozen massive snow wolves, each over ten meters tall, howling as they charged toward the fleeing crowd.
The speed of the snow wolves was terrifying. They were just moments away from tearing into the panicked people.
Rouga Nadare smirked. "Now, what can you do?"
As the snow wolves ran, they stirred up an icy storm. Faced with this terrifying scene, many people broke down in despair.
"What is this?! We're done for!"
"This is too terrifying!"
Even Koyuki Kazahana was reminded of her childhood memories. Overcome with despair, she collapsed onto the ground, staring blankly at the approaching snow wolves that were about to devour her.
Yoruha, who had remained still this entire time, finally shook his head.
"So this is Ice Release Ninjutsu?"
"Just as I thought, it relies on the surrounding environment rather than being a true Ice Release."
Yoruha clapped his hands together.
"Ice Release: Wolf Fang Avalanche!"
In an instant, more than a dozen enormous snow wolves broke through the ice behind Yoruha, letting out thunderous howls as they charged toward Rouga Nadare's summoned snow wolves.
In that moment, Yoruha completely understood how the Land of Snow's Ice Release worked. Without hesitation, he countered with the same technique.
However, the snow wolves Yoruha created were far larger, towering at several dozen meters—multiple times bigger than those of Rouga Nadare. Their speed was so fast that only their afterimages could be seen, turning into streaks of white light as they shattered Nadare's snow wolves with ease.
Yet, they remained completely unscathed and continued their charge toward Rouga Nadare, Mizore Fuyukuma, and Fubuki Kakuyoku.
The once-mocking expressions of the three quickly turned grim.
"What kind of monster is this guy? How does he also know Ice Release?!"
"And he's using my exact technique… does he have a Sharingan too?!"
Mizore Fuyukuma turned to look at Rouga Nadare, recalling their old battle against Kakashi Hatake.
Rouga Nadare's expression darkened.
"No, this isn't simple replication. Even though it's the same jutsu, his is far stronger than mine."
"Damn it! Who is this guy?!"
The colossal snow wolves crashed into the glacier where the three stood.
The towering glacier, originally several dozen meters high, was instantly reduced to rubble. Ice shards filled the sky, scattering in all directions.
When the technique finally ended, the once-mighty glacier had been leveled into a smooth icy plain.
Koyuki, who had been drowning in despair moments ago, looked at Yoruha's back as he stood protectively before her. The icy wind blew against his cloak, causing it to flutter.
"That feeling of reassurance… it's back."
"He didn't lie to me. He might really be able to keep his promise."
Koyuki snapped out of her daze, looking at the boy who was several years younger than her. And yet, for some reason, she felt safe—safe from the depths of her heart.
The film crew members who had narrowly escaped death finally exhaled in relief.
"We're saved! As expected of a ninja from the Hidden Leaf… he's incredibly strong!"
Asama walked up, gazing at Yoruha's back with a smile.
"Mr. Yoruha is indeed powerful. Just as I expected."
Asama had never seen Yoruha use any other jutsu before, so he wasn't entirely confident in him. But after witnessing Yoruha's display of power, he was now fully convinced—Yoruha truly had the ability to protect Koyuki Kazahana, just as he had promised.
As the jutsu ended, Yoruha's gaze remained calm as he looked toward the three enemy ninjas, who had barely managed to evade the snow wolves' attack.
They looked disheveled—their escape had been far too close for comfort. Yoruha's technique had been absurdly fast, and what shocked them the most was that he hadn't even formed hand seals. He had simply pressed his hands together and instantly unleashed Rouga Nadare's signature technique.
Yet, the power of Yoruha's attack far surpassed Nadare's.
"This guy… is strong. Incredibly strong."
That was the only thought running through their minds.
Rouga Nadare's expression turned grim as he stared at Yoruha.
"Brat, just who are you?! How does Konoha have such a powerful ninja?!"
If Yoruha were in his twenties or thirties, Nadare might have been able to accept it. But this boy looked no older than thirteen or fourteen—just like Kakashi Hatake back then.
Yet, Yoruha's strength far surpassed Kakashi's at that age.
Yoruha met Nadare's gaze and spoke indifferently,
"Who I am? Defeat me first, and maybe I'll tell you."
Nadare's face twisted in anger.
"You little bastard, you're looking for death!"
Yoruha's words were obviously meant to mock him, and Nadare couldn't stand being ridiculed by a child. His fury boiled over.
"If all you can do is copy others' techniques, you won't be able to win."
"Mizore, Fubuki—go capture Princess Koyuki. I'll deal with this kid myself."
Mizore and Fubuki exchanged glances, hesitating slightly. They weren't sure if Nadare could actually handle Yoruha.
But since he had given the order, they had no reason to refuse.
Fubuki smirked and took to the skies, her chakra armor allowing her to fly.
"Princess Koyuki, are you still carrying the hexagonal crystal?"
Hearing this, Koyuki instinctively clutched the crystal hanging around her neck and looked at Yoruha with concern.
"I wanted to see more of your Ice Release techniques… but is it already over?"
Fubuki, soaring in the sky, didn't hear Yoruha's words. She had already formed a series of hand seals.
"Ice Release: Swallow Snow Storm!"
In an instant, dozens of ice swallows shot out from the sky, hurtling toward Koyuki at an incredible speed.
At that very moment, Yoruha still didn't move.
He simply narrowed his eyes slightly.
A thick ice wall instantly rose in front of Koyuki.
The ice swallows struck the wall like a barrage of missiles.
Shards of shattered ice filled the air, but when the storm cleared, the wall remained completely intact—not even a single crack.
Fubuki, still hovering in the sky, was stunned.
"Damn it… this monster didn't even form hand seals!"
"My Swallow Snow Storm should be able to pierce through ice walls—why didn't it work?!"
She couldn't accept it.
The ice wall Yoruha had created was only half a meter thick—normally, her technique should have been able to shatter it with ease.
But somehow, his ice wall had effortlessly blocked her attack, without a single dent.
And the most ridiculous part? Yoruha had done it without making a single movement. He had simply willed the wall into existence.
At the same time, Mizore shot toward Yoruha on his chakra-powered snowboard, rapidly closing in—not on Yoruha, but on the princess behind him.
But in the next instant, Yoruha suddenly turned his head and looked at Mizore.
The moment Mizore met Yoruha's gaze, a shiver ran down his spine.
And in that very second—
A razor-sharp ice spike burst from the frozen ground beneath Mizore.
The spike pierced straight through his chakra armor and impaled his body.
Blood splattered, the crimson liquid dripping down the smooth, mirror-like surface of the ice.
His chakra armor, which was supposed to absorb chakra-based attacks, crackled with sparks from the damage.
A deep, searing pain spread through Mizore's body as his strength began to fade. He looked at Yoruha in disbelief.
"H-How… How is this possible…?"
"His jutsu actually works against my chakra armor…?"
He was in complete shock.
His armor was designed to absorb chakra, making normal jutsu ineffective against him. But Yoruha had effortlessly skewered him with a single Ice Release technique—straight through the heart.
And the most terrifying thing?
Yoruha hadn't even formed a single hand seal.
Hadn't even made a single movement.
He had simply looked at him… and Mizore had died.