Yuki Yuki gazed at the unfamiliar older boy before her.
Her face was full of bewilderment.
Why was he being so kind to her!?
She had no memory of such a powerful elder in her family.
He had actually managed to get her out while Kirigakure's elite Anbu were hunting them down.
He was at least a Jonin, perhaps even an elite Jonin.
Six other members of her clan had escaped alongside them: three men and three women.
Yuki was the least conspicuous girl among them.
She was the weakest, only a Genin.
The others were either Chunin or Jonin.
They all held high positions in the clan.
"You're impressive. What's your name? How come I've never seen you in the clan before?"
A handsome young man with features similar to the clan head spoke with an air of arrogance.
Even as they fled for their lives, he still carried the haughty attitude of a high-ranking member of the family.
His face wore a faintly superior expression.
"Master Ling, are you all right?"
A Yuki Jonin respectfully approached the young man and bowed. He glanced at the unfamiliar Yuki clan member and demanded coldly, "The young master asked you a question. Answer him already!"
"Ling, this lord saved our lives. How can you treat him like that!?"
"He's the clan head's youngest son and the future heir! How dare you act so insolently!?"
Another clan member couldn't help speaking up.
They had only just broken through the encirclement, and the group was already having trouble. He had a bad feeling about this, worried that the mysterious strongman would suddenly leave them behind.
There was no way they could escape the Anbu's pursuit on their own!
"Silence!"
Ao didn't indulge the young master Yuki Ling. He slapped him to the ground.
Using the possession ability of the Spirit Transformation Technique, he had taken over the body of a Yuki clan member and infiltrated the clan for about half a month. He had finally figured out how their Kekkei Genkai awakened.
His real body remained in a hidden location, under Yinqian's protection.
While undercover, he had spotted two promising candidates and kept an eye on them. During this attack, he had brought them out.
One was named Yuki Yuki. She was a girl with an ordinary face, very pale skin, and a thin frame. She looked malnourished.
She was a low-ranking member of the Yuki family, and both her parents had died in the Jonin-level Bloody Mist Trial.
The Yuki Clan had no fallback measures like the Uchiha. Orphans like Yuki lived miserable lives.
At twelve years old, she looked no older than seven or eight.
The other was named Yuki Kyō—the young man who had just spoken. He seemed like someone who didn't belong in this world, but he didn't seem to have any memories of Naruto.
His soul was extremely unusual, somewhat like Ao's. The strength of his soul was twice that of an ordinary person's.
He was simply a little precocious. Could he have been reborn or transported from another world?
If Ao hadn't come here, the boy would probably have died in the turmoil.
Ao hadn't made up his mind about him yet, so he kept him close.
As for the other four Yuki clan members, they had merely escaped by following at Ao's heels. Even if he killed them right then, it wouldn't matter.
"Stop! Disrespecting your superiors is a capital offense—"
The Yuki Jonin was so deeply conditioned to obey that, when he saw Yuki Ling humiliated, he immediately drew his sword, paying no heed to their current predicament.
"You really are idiots. No wonder the Yuki Clan was wiped out so easily. With clan members like you, it's no surprise."
Ao hadn't expected anyone could be so foolish.
An Ice Crystal Spike formed in his palm and instantly became Myriad Needle Ice Crystals. They pierced the man all over, leaving him bloody and mangled as he collapsed to the ground.
"Ice Release really is useful. If I could merge it into my own body, my strength would probably increase quite a bit."
Ao murmured to himself. His sudden outburst left the Yuki clan members rooted to the spot.
Only Yuki Kyō's eyes flickered. He lowered his head, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint smile.
Ao looked straight at him, as though he could see right through him.
In his Sage Soul state,
his perception was greatly enhanced.
His spirit body wouldn't weaken much from being worn down. He could even keep strengthening his soul, absorbing and storing more Natural Energy. As long as his physical body remained unharmed, he could stay alive in this state indefinitely.
This state was essentially the same as the White Snake Sage's form. As Natural Energy was absorbed, it gradually took on certain individual characteristics.
The White Snake Sage was brutal and arrogant, with the cold-blooded nature of a snake. So the Power of the Sage Soul she refined displayed those traits.
Ao's soul was fundamentally different.
He was devoted to truth, intensely rational and practical, and enjoyed exploring the unknown. Based on these traits of his soul,
what he manifested were the qualities of deconstruction, tracing things to their origin, and seeing through them.
When using Senjutsu Chakra, he could easily decipher the fundamental rules of an object or energy.
He could observe the key pathways by which they formed.
He could uncover hidden details.
Thus, after his Sage Soul took over the body of a Yuki clan member, he easily deciphered the secrets of Ice Release through the Senjutsu Chakra he synthesized.
From what Ao had learned during this time, the theoretical core of Ice Release was said to be the combination of Wind Release and Water Release Chakra natures.
In reality, the two types of Chakra were combined in a three-to-one ratio as they underwent nature transformation, forming a special arrangement.
The result was Ice Release Chakra. When wielded with a specific set of Hand Seals, it became an Ice Release technique.
The Hand Seals were much like those used for Water Release.
But the resulting techniques were far more powerful than Water Release.
The Yuki clan members simply didn't have much Chakra—only a little more than an ordinary ninja.
They didn't have much of an advantage in combat.
However, when fighting Kirigakure Ninja, their Ice Release was highly effective against Water Release.
That was why most of Kirigakure's ninja were deeply wary of the Yuki family.
Although Ao had already figured out how this Kekkei Genkai was created,
actually reproducing it would still be very difficult.
His real body was compatible only with Fire, Lightning, and Earth. It was basically impossible for him to create an Ice Release Kekkei Genkai from nothing.
Members of the Yuki Clan, however, were born with the right physical constitution. They could easily combine the two types of Chakra inside their bodies to form entirely new Ice Release Chakra.
That allowed them to use Ice Release without any hindrance.
This was somewhat like Senju Hashirama's Wood Release. Both were abilities naturally built into the cells of the body.
They were powers passed down through blood and genes.
Ao realized that further research—and transplanting Ice Release into another body—would require an in-depth analysis at the genetic level.
That would require more advanced technology.
Orochimaru's temporary lab could identify unusual genes, but it still couldn't isolate the crucial ones.
But they weren't far off.
The separation process itself wasn't difficult; they just needed the right equipment.
For example, a Low-temperature Centrifuge, a PCR Gene Amplifier, and so on.
People in this world didn't value biotechnology. The nobles only cared about indulgence, and did little to advance technological change.
The technology wasn't there yet.
But with Chakra, a supernatural power unique to this world, achieving this goal wouldn't be difficult.
At least, Ao believed he could build a few decent machines by hand if he had to.
After completing his mission in Kirigakure,
he planned to set up a laboratory and begin researching Kekkei Genkai, creating a perfect vessel for his soul.
"The pursuers are here already?"
Ao looked back in surprise.
A frost-white marking appeared at the corner of his eye.
It was a sign of Sage Mode, appearing when he pushed his Senjutsu Chakra to its limit.
Ice Release Sage Chakra rapidly formed within his body, replenishing what he had lost.
"Stay right there!"
The newcomer was a Kirigakure Ninja who looked like a child, barely over four feet tall.
He had a baby face and seemed completely harmless.
But every Yuki clan member who noticed him was struck by the boy's chilling murderous intent.
They stood frozen in place, not daring to move.
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