Kazahana Dōtō Wanted to Take Everyone Down with Him

"Brother Lin Cheng! They're catching up!"

Kimimaro glanced behind them and spoke quietly.

"Don't worry about them! Once we get inside, watch out for yourself! We'll meet on the top floor of the castle!"

Lin Cheng completely ignored Kakashi and Kazahana Koyuki behind them and gave Kimimaro a serious warning.

"Mm. Got it, Brother Lin Cheng!"

Feeling Lin Cheng's concern, Kimimaro nodded happily.

"Good! We're landing!"

They pulled their wings sharply downward and dove straight toward the castle ahead.

"Enemy attack!!"

Seeing someone descend from the sky, the Snow Ninja on patrol immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.

In an instant, the castle, which had just quieted down, erupted into commotion again!

"Ice Release! Swallow Snowstorm!"

Before they even landed, a flock of snow swallows flew ahead of Lin Cheng and Kimimaro, taking out the Snow Ninja on patrol first!

"Stay safe! Meet at the highest point in the middle!"

"Mm."

After landing, the two quickly split up and charged in through the entrances on either side of the castle wall.

With a perfect leap off his left foot, Lin Cheng stepped on the neck of a Snow Ninja rushing toward him, snapping it outright.

He formed ice needles with his right hand and flung out a volley of senbon, taking down several more Snow Ninja charging at him.

Lin Cheng cut down anyone who stood in his way, punching through the Snow Ninja blockade inside the castle in one go.

Seeing Kimimaro appear on the other side almost at the exact same time, Lin Cheng immediately gave him an encouraging thumbs-up!

Kimimaro was overjoyed by Lin Cheng's praise!

"Brother Lin Cheng! I'll take him out!"

Energized, Kimimaro charged straight at Kazahana Dōtō, who had just risen from his throne.

"Little Kimimaro! Be careful!"

Seeing Kimimaro act so recklessly, Lin Cheng's heart lurched. He immediately attacked Kazahana Dōtō, whose abilities were still unknown to him.

"Ice Release! Dragon-Breaking Fierce Tiger!"

"Ice Release! Black Dragon Blizzard!"

Ignoring Kimimaro, who was about to reach him, Kazahana Dōtō changed the direction of the jutsu he had intended to use against Kimimaro and aimed it at Lin Cheng instead.

The black dragon of wind and snow smashed through Lin Cheng's Dragon-Breaking Fierce Tiger and continued straight toward him.

"Brother Lin Cheng!"

Seeing this, Kimimaro, who had been charging at Kazahana Dōtō, stopped in alarm.

"Brat! You can't do anything for anyone else right now! Worry about yourself!"

Relying on the Chakra Armor he was wearing, Kazahana Dōtō raised a hand and swung at Kimimaro!

"Hmph!"

With a muffled grunt, the distracted Kimimaro was sent flying by Kazahana Dōtō's blow.

"You dare bully my little brother? I'll show you my fury! Lin's Explosive Slam!"

The same scene played out again. Lin Cheng used the Body Flicker Technique to close in, seized his chance, and turned Kazahana Dōtō into a human punching bag!

He slammed him over and over until he heard the Chakra Armor on Kazahana Dōtō crack.

Only then did Lin Cheng let go, hurling him into the wall.

"Bang!"

Kazahana Dōtō slid down the wall. A moment later, the motionless Kazahana Dōtō stirred.

"Cough! Cough!"

As he looked at the blood he had coughed up, boundless madness filled Kazahana Dōtō's eyes!

"Then we'll all die together! Ice Release! Twin Dragon Blizzard!"

Before anyone could stop him, two black dragons of wind and snow—identical to the ones from before—surged toward the top of the castle!

In an instant, the castle's roof shattered.

Countless chunks of rubble rained down from above, crashing toward them without any pattern!

By sheer coincidence, Kakashi and Kazahana Koyuki, who had been following Lin Cheng and Kimimaro, had just made it inside too.