"Hey boy, what on earth is going on?"
Third Raikage looked at the white-haired Hyuga brat in front of him, his voice was like muffled thunder, and even though it was separated by a layer of ice, it was clearly transmitted to the outside world.
Just as Ning Xue was about to explain, Sasuke not far away had already exited Curse Mark Second State and slowly walked over from the shadows.
"The bastard who controls your body has already explained it - Impure World Reincarnation, a forbidden technique that can revive the dead."
Third Raikage's gaze fell on Sasuke and his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Uchiha's?"
He then turned to look at Ning Xue, his eyes becoming a little subtle.
"Although I don't know how Hyuga Clan became Kekkei Genkai from Ice Release, but you should all be from Konoha, right?"
He said, raising his hand and pointing at the two of them.
"Since you all belong to Konoha, you should also know how to remove this technique."
"Tell me quickly, otherwise, I will shatter this layer of ice and let the bastard outside who controls my body at will control me and kill you two."
Hearing this naked threat, Ning Xue felt speechless.
What kind of negotiation is this? The person being held hostage turns around and threatens to rescue the hostage?
Sasuke spoke first, with his usual sarcastic tone.
"What qualifications does a dead guy have to negotiate terms with us? If you are willing to be a puppet at the mercy of others for the rest of your life, then give it a try."
With that said, he turned on Mangekyō Sharingan again and looked directly at the figure in the ice without fear.
"Hmph, arrogant brat."
Third Raikage looked at Sasuke, but the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, as if he was smiling or sighing.
Then he raised his hand, and lightning condensed in his palm, as if he was really ready to break the ice.
When the two saw this, they instantly prepared for battle. Ning Xue even raised his hands and quickly reinforced the ice while shouting to stop.
"Wait a minute!"
However, in the next second, Third Raikage made an action that was completely beyond their expectations.
The lightning on his palm suddenly surged, and then he suddenly changed direction and struck hard at the lightning-shaped scar on his chest.
"Pfft--!"
The hand knife instantly penetrated the chest, and scraps of paper fell from the edge of the wound.
There was no blood, no screams of pain, only the will that surged in those eyes, like a blazing fire.
The two looked at his behavior in surprise.
Ning Xue frowned, with confusion in his voice.
"What are you doing?"
"I am Third Raikage of Kumogakure, not a puppet to be manipulated by others."
Third Raikage's voice was low and firm, and his body had begun to disintegrate from the wound, with debris scattered like pieces of paper.
"I feel... as long as my will is strong enough, I can break free from that bastard's control."
He raised the arm that penetrated his chest, his eyes swept over Ning Xue, and finally landed on Sasuke.
"Boy, your arrogant tone is very similar to someone else. So I will let you go for now."
He paused, and his voice became thicker and more solemn.
"And you're right, I'm not a puppet - I'm Third Raikage."
As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of dazzling white light suddenly erupted from his body.
That ray of light bloomed from the inside out, making the interior of Ice Prison brightly illuminated.
The body composed of Impure World Reincarnation began to disintegrate rapidly in the light, and a translucent soul outline slowly rose from the body, drifted into the night sky, like rising smoke, and finally dissipated under the moonlight.
After a while, only scattered scraps of paper and the sacrificial body that had been restored to its original shape were left inside Ice Prison.
An ordinary ninja who has lost his life long ago.
The two stood outside Ice Prison, watching the scene in front of them, and were silent for a long time.
"What the hell..." Ning Xue whispered, with deep helplessness and exhaustion in his tone.
Sasuke did not respond, but that expression was full of similar complex emotions.
At this moment, a probing voice sounded from not far away.
"Uh... are you okay?"
The two of them turned their heads at the same time and saw Suigetsu leaning half out from behind a big tree with an embarrassed look on his face, still holding Kubikiribōchō in his hand, but he had obviously been watching the whole battle and only appeared at the last moment.
Ning Xue looked at his "I'm done" look and was silent for a moment. Finally, he just sighed and waved to Suigetsu.
"Give us a hand."
(This chapter can be regarded as a transition. Well, I feel like I haven't handled this section of Impure World Reincarnation well, mainly because I don't know how to pull it off. I feel like I'll probably be stuck for a while later because I don't know how to write it. There are also Sage Mode and Mōryō that have been added to the comment area by immortals. I'll add today's chapter after I think about it.)