Cross Ice Flower!

Hyōrinmaru, one of the most top-tier Zanpakuto in the world of Shinigami, was hailed as the strongest ice-and-snow-type Zanpakuto!

Compared to Ryūjin Jakka, which commanded flames, and Kyōka Suigetsu, which controlled the five senses, Hyōrinmaru possessed the most domineering—and most formidable—fundamental ability.

Heavenly Phenomenon Descends!

Everything in the sky would fall under its control!

Thus, even though Yoru had only released the Shikai of this strongest ice-and-snow-type Zanpakuto, it still possessed the ability to dominate the battlefield.

Layers of ice crystals completely froze the massive Susanoo. Standing atop an ice pillar, Yoru appeared before Uchiha Fugaku in an instant.

"Vacuum Ice Blade!"

The gleaming blade tip pointed directly at Uchiha Fugaku within the Susanoo. The vacuum ice blade slammed against Susanoo's ribcage defense, and the tremendous impact left crack after crack across its surface.

"Crack, crack..."

The cracks spread. Uchiha Fugaku's pupils contracted, and the Mangekyo in his eyes spun wildly.

"Susanoo is true Divine Power. Do you think a few ice shards like this can bring down Susanoo?!"

"What a joke!"

An enormous amount of Dojutsu Power poured forth wildly. Bloody tears slid from Fugaku's eyes as the Susanoo frozen within the ice began to struggle, the ice covering its surface suddenly shattering.

Yet Yoru's expression did not change in the slightest.

Hyōrinmaru in his hand swung continuously. Layer upon layer of ice condensed, and every direction traced by its blade became a frozen zone.

Boom!!

Susanoo violently broke free of the ice, but in the next instant, even more layers of ice condensed atop one another.

Only then did Fugaku realize that six unusual ice nodes had appeared around him at some point.

The six ice nodes reflected one another, and the cold they released froze Susanoo once more!

"Six Garments Ice Purification Array."

Yoru's figure instantly appeared before Fugaku, and Hyōrinmaru swung down.

Layers of ice spikes suddenly emerged beneath Fugaku's feet. An ice dragon tore through the air, and Fugaku's face changed drastically. He could only force himself away from the area occupied by Susanoo to evade the ice dragon's attack.

"How is this possible..."

"Didn't you notice it yourself? Your Susanoo may combine offense and defense, but the space around your feet isn't covered by Susanoo."

Holding Hyōrinmaru, Yoru leaped forward, his long blade slashing down through the air.

"Ice Dragon Swirling Tail!"

A pale ice dragon broke free from the blade tip and flew forth. It coiled and danced through the air before plunging down with immense force, its icy chill causing the surrounding temperature to plummet.

In the original story, both Sasuke's and Madara's Susanoo had been successfully countered by Gaara's sand. Yoru was now making use of that same technique.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"

Fugaku formed hand seals and spewed forth a massive fire dragon. The ice dragon collided with it.

But immediately afterward, Fugaku discovered in shock that the pale ice was beginning to spread across the fire dragon.

It was actually trying to freeze the flames themselves!

The blazing Great Fire Dragon roared, but it was swiftly extinguished by the ice. The storm clouds overhead grew increasingly dense, dark clouds pressing down as though they would crush the city. The falling rain had now turned into hail, which pelted down without end.

Heavenly Phenomenon Descends!

"Damn it, that's impossible!"

The immense pressure Yoru brought was truly becoming too much for Uchiha Fugaku to bear.

It wasn't as if he had never fought members of the Yuki Clan before, but their Hyoton had never reached such a level!

The Hyoton this man wielded could not only freeze Susanoo, but even affect the weather itself.

As far as Fugaku remembered, only one person had ever been capable of such power.

That was the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!

According to the Uchiha Clan's secret records, the First Hokage Hashirama Senju's Wood Release could create an entire forest in an instant and effortlessly alter the terrain. His terrifying combat power was such that even their ancestor's Susanoo could not stand against him.

How similar was that to the scene before him?

Fugaku looked toward the ice before him. With Fugaku no longer supplying Chakra, the frozen Susanoo had already dissipated, yet the enormous block of ice had not vanished. Instead, it grew ever more solid, forming a gigantic Cross Ice Flower.

Layer after layer of ice spread outward, nearly filling the entire Uchiha Fire Formation.

Left with no choice, Fugaku personally dispelled the barrier that had been meant to restrain Yuki Yoru.

Boom!!

The roaring ice dragon blasted forth once more, its bone-chilling aura carrying endless frost.

Fugaku was forced to use the Body Flicker Technique. His blood-red Mangekyo spun continuously, and as he unleashed a Great Fireball to intercept the ice dragon, an inexplicable power began brewing within it.

Shisui's Three-Tomoe Sharingan also spun within Yoru's eyes, observing Fugaku's every move.

The moment he noticed the Dojutsu Power and Yin-nature Chakra gathering in his eyes, Yoru slightly lowered his body.

But as if he had sensed something, Yoru's brows suddenly furrowed. Without the slightest hesitation, he brought Hyōrinmaru down in a straight slash toward Fugaku.

"Rampart Ice Formation!"

The blade light flashed, and everything in its path was frozen solid.

In the blink of an eye, ice that froze all things surged forth like a tidal wave, forming layer upon layer of icy barriers between Fugaku and Yoru.

"Farewell, Lord Fugaku. I'll keep the news that you possess those eyes safe."

Yoru's figure vanished into the ice, leaving only his lingering voice echoing beside Fugaku's ears.

"As the price of our transaction, this eye of Uchiha Shisui belongs to me from now on."

"You damned bastard!"

Fugaku smashed his fist into the ice before him, sending countless shards flying. But in the next moment, as though he had sensed something as well, the Mangekyo in his eyes vanished instantly, reverting to the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He casually wiped away the blood at the corner of his eye.

The next moment, the sound of rushing wind came from behind him, and Jiraiya's figure abruptly appeared beside Fugaku.

"Fugaku!"

"Lord Jiraiya."

Fugaku spoke in a low voice, his face returning to its eternally stern expression. Yet his trembling hand revealed the turmoil in his heart.

"My apologies, Lord Jiraiya. I failed to capture him. Shisui's eye was taken by him as well."

Jiraiya looked at the Chakra around Fugaku, which had yet to settle, then noticed the surrounding world, nearly entirely encased in ice.

The dark clouds still hung overhead. Dim light fell upon the icy, snow-covered landscape, making it seem especially barren and desolate. In particular, the enormous Cross Ice Flower standing upon the earth drove this legendary ninja, one of the Sannin, into silence.

"What exactly... happened?"

Jiraiya spoke slowly, though he already had a guess in his heart.

Yuki Yoru. A world frozen over.

"Is this the power of that fellow's Bloodline Limit?"