Ice Release

Wind-type chakra did indeed contain something similar to both wind- and water-type chakra.

When the two types of chakra fused, certain changes occurred, altering their properties to some degree.

For Su Yu to obtain Ice Release chakra, he had to fuse the two types of chakra precisely and make them change at the same time.

In other words, acquiring the Kekkei Genkai of Ice Release required two steps: first, getting the chakra ratio right; second, changing the nature of the chakra.

Neither step was any less difficult than training in an S-rank jutsu.

Even though he had already mastered Wind Release Chakra Mode, he still had to conduct his experiments gradually.

If there was too much wind-type chakra, he couldn't form Ice Release chakra.

If there was too much water-type chakra, the temperature wouldn't be low enough to form Ice Release chakra.

The ratio of the two types of chakra had to be just right for him to condense Ice Release chakra.

The other requirement was to change the nature of the water-type chakra, which he could accomplish by training in water-style jutsu.

Ordinary water-style jutsu naturally couldn't achieve this.

An S-rank water-style jutsu was just right.

Su Yu chose Water Dragon Bullet Technique for his upgrade.

The inspiration for this upgraded jutsu actually came from Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.

If he threw a Rasenshuriken into the water, it would create a massive whirlpool. If a water dragon then burst straight out of that whirlpool, its destructive power would increase severalfold.

Of course, this would also make the jutsu highly situational.

Unless Su Yu's chakra reserves were vast enough for him to summon an entire lake.

Su Yu named this new S-rank water-style jutsu Water Dragon Wild Dance. It combined Wind Style: Rasenshuriken with Water Dragon Bullet Technique.

It sounded like a simple combination jutsu, but it was extremely difficult to pull off.

Summoning a water dragon from within a whirlpool required precise control over water-type chakra—about as much control as the Rasenshuriken demanded.

A few days later.

The craftsmen Su Yu had hired from the Land of Fire completed his ice cellar.

The temperature inside was extremely low, like a giant refrigerator.

Su Yu hadn't built the ice cellar to store things that needed to be kept frozen, but to train.

By studying Yuki Haku's ice kunai, he had worked out the ratio of water- and wind-type chakra, but something was still missing.

Thinking of the environment in the Snow Hidden Village, he had a sudden idea and hired craftsmen from the Land of Fire to build this ice cellar.

Su Yu walked into the ice cellar, lay down on the floor, and felt the cold around him.

He stayed like that for half a day.

When Uzuki Yugao came to bring him food, she couldn't help worrying.

But because she trusted Su Yu, she didn't disturb him.

Night fell.

Su Yu still hadn't left the ice cellar.

He didn't rush to fuse the chakra. Instead, he quietly felt the chill of the ice and imagined how it formed.

For several days in a row.

Uzuki Yugao came to check on Su Yu every day.

If not for his steady breathing, she would have examined him herself.

An ordinary person would probably have struggled to stay in there for even a day.

Yet Su Yu had been in there for days, seemingly intent on making it his home.

Uzuki Yugao had no idea what he was thinking, so all she could do was visit him every day.

Just like that, half a month passed.

That night.

Uzuki Yugao came to bring him food as usual. The moment she opened the door, she realized the ice cellar had grown even colder.

She looked closely and her eyes widened.

Su Yu had stretched out a hand, and an ice sculpture had formed in front of him.

There was no doubt about it: this was Ice Release!

Uzuki Yugao knew that Yuki Haku existed.

But wasn't that a Kekkei Genkai?

She said nothing. Walking into the ice cellar, she watched Su Yu slowly form the ice sculpture.

Half an hour later.

"What do you think?" Su Yu turned to look at Uzuki Yugao.

The ice sculpture was of Uzuki Yugao herself.

"Su Yu, is this... Ice Release?" Uzuki Yugao asked, voicing the question on her mind.

"This isn't true Ice Release yet. I used the environment in the ice cellar to condense Ice Release chakra. It'll take more time before I can truly master Ice Release." Su Yu shook his head.

"Master Ice Release for real?! Do you mean it's possible to acquire a Kekkei Genkai after birth?" Uzuki Yugao could hardly believe it.

"Of course. Every ninja can do it. They just never thought to try." Su Yu nodded.

Uzuki Yugao opened her mouth, then closed it again.

This completely overturned her understanding of Kekkei Genkai.

"Fusing two different types of chakra can create a new type. But you have to get the fusion ratio right and control the changes in both types of chakra precisely before you can create something new. In theory, you could even fuse three types of chakra. If you fused five, the result would be unimaginable." Su Yu explained his idea.

"..." Uzuki Yugao.

The moment she heard him talk about the fusion ratio and the changes in both types of chakra, she understood how difficult it would be.

Normally, mastering a single chakra nature was enough to develop an S-rank jutsu. Kakashi had mastered the nature transformation of lightning-type chakra and developed Lightning Blade.

What Su Yu was describing was on an entirely different level.

Even the Third Hokage, a professor of jutsu, had never considered anything like this.

"Come on. I don't need to stay here anymore. My research into Kekkei Genkai can move on to the next stage." Su Yu picked up his dinner and spoke to Uzuki Yugao.

"What about this statue?" Uzuki Yugao was reluctant to destroy Su Yu's work.

"Let's store some drinks in here. And remember to take a photo to commemorate it." Su Yu smiled.

"Okay." Uzuki Yugao nodded.

The two of them returned to the room aboveground.

With Uzuki Yugao watching, Su Yu finished the dinner she had prepared.

Then he took out a scroll.

"I'm going away tomorrow. There's some money stored in here. You must have spent most of the money I gave you to buy Explosive Tags, right?"

"These are the Explosive Tags I bought." Uzuki Yugao took Su Yu's scroll and handed him another one.

"While I'm away, just look after Karin Uzumaki. If anything happens, you can go to the village and find Yuki Haku. I've already told him about it." Su Yu accepted the scroll and spoke softly.

"I understand. Don't worry, I'm a Special Jonin of Konoha." Uzuki Yugao smiled lightly.

"I want to get out for a walk. Would you come with me?" Su Yu glanced outside.

"Mm." Uzuki Yugao nodded.

Su Yu stood up and held out his hand to her.

Uzuki Yugao blushed, but still placed her small hand in his.

The two of them made their way to the seaside.

The night breeze swept over them as Su Yu gazed at the calm sea before him.

The sea was just like the current situation: none of the various factions would make a move.

There were at least two years before the Shippuden story began.

Two years would be enough time for him to grow stronger and complete all the tasks he had planned.