The blizzard made the temperature drop rapidly. Uzumaki Ashina knew something was wrong, and formed Hand Seals.
"Four Red Yang Formation"
Four Shadow Clones formed a barrier around them, blocking the onslaught of the snowstorm.
At last, the temperature stabilized, and Tsunade finally breathed a sigh of relief. She crouched in front of Uzumaki Keimei and formed Hand Seals.
"Medical Ninjutsu: Mystical Palm Technique"
She treated the injured Uzumaki Keimei. Under the effects of the Mystical Palm Technique, he finally woke and looked at the three people before him.
Have I been saved? But we're still surrounded by snow. It looks like they came inside the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals to rescue me.
"Save your chakra. The treatment hasn't affected my ability to move. Minazuki Junhyo will slowly wear us down inside the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals until we run out of chakra."
Orochimaru stared at the barrier before them. It was nearly at its limit, but there was no sign of the storm outside letting up. What an enviable Kekkei Genkai.
"Our only option is to force our way out. Staying here means a slow death. Once I release the barrier, each of you should pick a direction and run. Then we'll break the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals from the outside."
Uzumaki Ashina spoke as he hoisted Uzumaki Keimei onto his back.
After hearing that, Tsunade gathered chakra in her feet and braced herself to sprint. The barrier vanished.
She immediately charged out in the lead, but Minazuki Junhyo appeared in every direction as if he were teleporting.
"Ice Release: Swallow Snowstorm"
Snowflakes filled the sky and transformed into darts, plunging toward their targets. Tsunade channeled chakra to speed up her reflexes as she formed Hand Seals.
"Chakra Scalpel"
She swung her Chakra Scalpel, deflecting the darts she couldn't dodge.
But the instant she deflected one, Minazuki Junhyo would appear in the opening.
"Ice Release: Dragon-Breaking Fierce Tiger"
A chakra-made tiger lunged at her. She could only take the attack or retreat.
Tsunade tried her hardest, but none of it worked. She returned to where she'd started.
Orochimaru had been watching his teammates from the spot where he stood. There was no way through. Then they'd use a huge Summoning beast to carry them out. He formed Hand Seals.
"Summoning Technique: Giant Snake"
A gigantic snake appeared inside the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals. Orochimaru leaped onto its back and charged toward the outside.
Minazuki Junhyo furrowed his brow. If you're going big, so am I. He gathered chakra in his hands and expanded the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals. The ice crystals scattered and rapidly grew.
"Ice Release: One-Horned White Whale"
The blizzard gathered into a white whale, which rammed straight into the giant snake. The snake let out a scream and hurriedly coiled around the whale.
Orochimaru jumped down from the Summoning beast without sparing it a glance, then continued charging toward the outside.
I can't let you escape. Stay right where you are. Minazuki Junhyo flashed between the ice crystals and formed Hand Seals.
"Secret Technique: Ice Rock Hall"
An ice wall appeared in front of Orochimaru. Did we fail after all?
"Get out of my way!"
Behind him, Tsunade gathered chakra.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain"
Her foot came crashing down on the ice wall, smashing a huge hole through it.
Minazuki Junhyo fell into thought. Looks like I can't stop them. He formed Hand Seals with one hand.
"Water Release Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles"
A mass of snow and ice transformed into Senbon, firing at high speed in every direction.
Carrying Uzumaki Keimei on his back, Uzumaki Ashina shouted.
"Don't waste time defending! Run for the outside. I'll deflect the Senbon!"
He formed Hand Seals.
"Sealing Technique: Adamantine Sealing Chains"
Four chains whipped around them, shielding the group from the Thousand Flying Water Needles.
The furrow in Minazuki Junhyo's brow suddenly relaxed. If you want to get out, then go ahead.
Tsunade looked toward the exit, overjoyed. At last, they were out—
But once they had charged through, they found themselves still surrounded by the blizzard. They stared in disbelief.
"Orochimaru, we got out, didn't we? Why are we still in the blizzard?"
Their body temperatures continued to drop. Orochimaru glanced back at Minazuki Junhyo. It seemed the only way to escape this frozen place was to defeat him.
Minazuki Junhyo controlled the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, making them dance all around.
"What beautiful ice crystals. Why are you so desperate to escape?"
A huge chunk of ice flew straight at Tsunade. She frowned, gathered chakra, and punched it.
"Boom!"
The Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals exploded.
"Ice Release Secret Technique: Explosive Shattering Ice Crystals"
Minazuki Junhyo sent more ice crystals flying toward them. Tsunade was caught in the blast.
Uzumaki Ashina was also hit head-on by the shock wave. He gathered chakra in his feet and took the explosion full force, protecting Uzumaki Keimei behind him.
Tsunade was thrown to the ground. The instant the explosion hit, her body had reacted on instinct, and chakra had protected her. Even so, her internal organs were badly injured. She formed Hand Seals.
"Summoning Technique: Katsuyu"
A plump Katsuyu appeared beside Tsunade. Sensing her injuries, Katsuyu hurried over to her.
"Katsuyu Healing Technique"
Katsuyu used Tsunade's own chakra to heal her. Tsunade quickly got back to her feet.
"Damn it." She'd been caught off guard. They were already outside, so surely he couldn't move that fast anymore.
"Strength of a Hundred" She gathered chakra in her thigh and pushed off powerfully, speeding forward.
Minazuki Junhyo hadn't expected his opponent to move so fast. But he formed Hand Seals with one hand.
"Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals"
The ice crystals scattered by the explosion had become movable targets.
Orochimaru knew this was his chance to strike. He formed Hand Seals.
"Many Serpent Formation"
Countless snakes emerged and attacked the scattered ice crystals.
The snakes destroyed a large number of the crystals. Minazuki Junhyo focused on Tsunade, who stood right in the center. He clenched his hands, drawing countless ice crystals toward her, then formed Hand Seals with one hand.
"Ice Release Secret Technique: Explosive Shattering Ice Crystals"
"Boom!" This time, the explosion—
was several times bigger than the last one. Tsunade stood in the center and took the full force of it.
Thick smoke billowed from the blast site. Minazuki Junhyo looked toward the three who remained. As far as he was concerned, Tsunade, who had been hit head-on, was already finished.
As Tsunade endured the explosion, she thought, Grandma Mito, thank you for teaching me. Without you, I might never have seen you again. She formed Hand Seals.
"Yin Seal: Release!"
The chakra stored in the Yin Seal on her forehead was released, and she performed Creation Rebirth.
All the damage to Tsunade's body healed. Taking advantage of the smoke before it cleared, she charged straight at him.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain"
The blow landed squarely on Minazuki Junhyo, but the target shattered piece by piece.
"Ice Substitution"
Minazuki Junhyo flashed to a distant spot. Tsunade's powerful kick struck the ground instead.
"Boom!"
The ground split like a spiderweb as she glared at her distant enemy.
"Damn it." She'd had such a good chance and hadn't managed to seize it.
Minazuki Junhyo was just about to relax.
"Kusanagi Sword: Sky Blade"
Orochimaru controlled the Kusanagi Sword, stabbing it into Minazuki Junhyo's back.
Minazuki Junhyo looked down at the blade protruding from his stomach.
"How could this be? It looks like I've lost."
While setting up the Many Serpent Formation, Orochimaru had already begun clearing the ice crystals around his opponent. He'd left only the one closest to him, hiding the Kusanagi Sword there.
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