Dance of the Larch

Before Karatachi Yagura became the Fourth Mizukage, Kirigakure had two great clans whose status was comparable to the Uchiha and Hyuga clans of Konoha: the Kaguya Clan, which possessed the Shikotsumyaku, and the Yuki Clan, which possessed the Ice Style Kekkei Genkai.

I obtained Kimimaro of the Shikotsumyaku, while Uchiha Houka obtained Haku, who possesses the Ice Style Kekkei Genkai...

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and thought to himself, Could he and I be fated enemies?

As he pondered, Haku had already thrown the ice storm in his hand.

Whoosh, whoosh...

The instant the ice storm left Haku's hand, it rapidly expanded against the wind, carrying an extreme chill as it abruptly descended over Orochimaru's head.

Snakes were cold-blooded creatures, and the arrival of the ice storm immediately made Orochimaru uncomfortable.

He gave a soft snort, quickly formed Hand Seals, and spat out a blazing pillar of fire.

The fire pillar shot skyward and instantly entwined itself around the ice storm. Its terrifying heat directly dissipated the cold within the storm.

Ice Style was naturally terrifying, but Haku was still too young. His strength was not yet enough to bring out Ice Style's full power, and his opponent was one of the legendary Sannin. Even an ordinary Fire Release ninjutsu was not something Haku's Ice Style could withstand.

The ice storm in the sky gradually shrank beneath the blazing pillar before finally vanishing into thin air.

The fire pillar, however, retained its remaining force and charged toward Haku like a fiery tornado.

Haku's expression turned solemn as he condensed a massive Snow Eagle. The eagle soared into the sky and plunged headfirst into the fiery tornado before exploding with a thunderous boom.

A wave of white, icy energy spread through the fiery tornado like ripples, tearing it in half.

"Interesting." Orochimaru's