An Icebound Return, the Empress Ascends
The sea breeze is still howling.
In the short time it takes to burn half an incense stick, accompanied by a muffled loud bang, the massive, purplish-black carriage shook violently.
Before the carriage door opened, the tall figure draped in a black Hokage Haori had already reclined back onto the white animal-skin couch.
Naruto hair was slightly ruffled by the sea breeze. He tugged at his collar with one hand, a hint of listless resentment flashing in his eyes.
"A pointless lure. Those few trash on the surface of the sea don't even have a complete Kekkei Genkai, yet they dare to make such a commotion."
Naruto chuckled and casually tossed aside a piece of his blood-stained, tattered Forehead Protector.
Tayuya and obediently handed over a handkerchief.
Naruto wiped his hands, his deep gaze peering through the car window at the increasingly thick fog ahead.
"The real problem was actually right there on the right path."
The carriage crossed the sea bridge and officially entered the heart of the Water Country.
The terrain ahead gradually narrows, revealing a canyon surrounded by mountains on two sides.
The further you go in, the thicker the fog becomes.
The fog was unnatural, carrying obvious Chakra fluctuations; it was cold and viscous, like a giant net threatening to completely engulf the ostentatious carriage passing through the city.
Even the four northern horses pulling the cart sensed the murderous intent, snorting restlessly, their hooves sounding out of place in the empty canyon.
"Call out--"
A barely perceptible gust of wind swept past the underside of the carriage.
On the steep cliffs on both sides of the canyon, dozens of Old Bloody Mist Faction rebels, wearing scratched Forehead Protector, clung to the slippery moss like geckos.
The rebel captain, leading the group, formed a hand Hand Seals, his eyes, hidden behind the mist, revealing a mocking and cruel gaze.
He looked down at the magnificent carriage below, a cold smile creeping across his face.
The intelligence report stated that the Fifth Hokage of Hidden Leaf accepted Terumi Mei's request for assistance and dispatched a top-tier combatant.
The Old Bloody Mist Faction deployed two full squadrons of elite troops here for this ambush.
He thought he might run into the famous "Copy Ninja" Kakashi, or the legendary Legendary Sannin Jiraiya.
The scouts reported back that all that arrived was a dilapidated carriage that was completely unprepared, and inside sat a blond kid who hadn't even grown his first hair yet.
This grand manner, like a high-ranking official on a tour, clearly indicates he's a young master from some prestigious family, sent out to gain experience and prestige.
"Hidden Leaf really has no one left. They even dare to send such a reckless fool to the Water Country to die."
The captain made a hand gesture, and dozens of rebel soldiers around him simultaneously drew their Kunai, their Chakra circulating wildly within their bodies.
"As long as we kill them, cut off Terumi Mei's external support, and strip this carriage of all its gold and silver treasures, we can go straight to the main city and force the emperor to abdicate!"
Inside the train carriage.
The murderous aura penetrated the wooden board as if it were a tangible substance, and the temperature plummeted.
Tayuya's Tayuya instincts were instantly activated.
She knelt on the animal hide, drew her Kunai from her waist, her muscles tense, ready to burst through the roof of the carriage to fight.
A large, hot hand suddenly pressed down on her thigh.
The astonishing heat from her palm spread throughout her body through her black stockings, Tayuya Chakra to shudder and nearly lose control of her chakra.
She turned her head in surprise, meeting Naruto's calm, unwavering blue eyes.
What's the rush?
Naruto casually patted her thigh twice. "If I let a flute player like you go and fight them hand-to-hand, people would think Hidden Leaf can't even afford a decent bodyguard."
Tayuya's cheeks flushed red, and she instinctively put away her weapon and obediently retreated to her original position.
The image of being tamed at the hotel a couple of days ago flashed through his mind involuntarily, and he blurted out, "Got it, bro. I'll take off my stockings when we get to the main city. These things are so tight they're uncomfortable, and they're not good for fighting."
Naruto ignored the lewd words and turned his head to look at Haku, who had been kneeling quietly beside him.
From the moment they entered the canyon, Bai's breathing became somewhat rapid.
The damp, cold air of this land, and the pervasive scent of Water Release Chakra, were tearing at the nightmares buried deep in her heart.
The villagers who chased after her, cursing her as a monster and smashing her house with hoes, and the murderous aura lurking on both sides of the canyon now overlap across time.
Naruto raised his hand and lifted his smooth, white chin.
"Fear?"
Naruto's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a powerful, awe-inspiring force in the empty carriage.
Bai bit her lower lip, gently shook her head, and stubbornly suppressed the tears welling up in her eyes. "No. As long as I'm by your side, I'm not afraid of anywhere."
Naruto smiled.
That smile exuded absolute dominance and an unquestionable authority.
"Alright then."
Naruto released his grip and pointed to the thick white fog outside the car door.
"Listen up, Bai. You are not a remnant, nor a monster. You are a woman of the Uzumaki Clan. Go, push open that door, and let these country bumpkins from the Water Country recognize their ancestors."
"Let them see what the most prestigious Kekkei Genkai on this land really looks like."
The last trace of hesitation in Byakugan was completely ignited by those words.
She stood up, the hem of her moon-white kimono brushing against the animal skin carpet, and on her pure and beautiful face, an extreme coldness that she only showed when facing enemies appeared.
That was the awe-inspiring presence of an ice and snow assassin.
At the same moment, outside the canyon, the rebel captain's hand swung down suddenly!
"Do it!"
Boom--!
Dozens of rebels simultaneously completed their Hand Seals, Chakra erupted.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The thick fog surrounding them was forcibly drawn away at that moment, and the water on both sides of the canyon shot up into the sky as if it were alive.
Dozens of thick, powerful water dragons opened their ferocious maws and roared deafeningly as they slammed into the purplish-black carriage from all directions!
A combined Water Release of this scale is enough to level a small hilltop in an instant.
The rebel captain had even prematurely revealed a triumphant grin.
Just as the water was about to engulf the carriage, the purplish-black carriage door was kicked open.
A tall, stunningly beautiful black-haired girl in a kimono suddenly appeared out of thin air.
Facing the swarm of water dragons powerful enough to tear steel apart, Bai's face showed no sign of panic.
She Hand Seals with one hand, moving so fast that it left afterimages. A terrifyingly cold Chakra containing the Pure Yang Release energy exploded from her body without reservation!
"Ice Release: Demonic Ice Mirrors!"
Click!
A crisp, clear sound of solidification echoed through the canyon.
The boiling water vapor in the air seemed to freeze time the moment it came into contact with this extremely cold Chakra.
Huge, dazzlingly reflective ice mirrors rose from the ground, forming a massive hemispherical Absolute Defense fortress centered on the carriage!
Rumble!
Dozens of roaring water dragons crashed violently against the ice mirror.
However, the anticipated scene of the carriage being smashed to pieces did not occur.
"Click-click-click--!"
The originally raging water was forcibly frozen in reverse by an unreasonable extreme cold the moment it touched the surface of the ice mirror!
The chill spread along the head of the water dragon, sealing off the entire dragon at a visible speed.
Less than three seconds.
Dozens of menacing Water Dragon Bullet transformed into enormous, crystal-clear ice sculptures in mid-air.
Along with the waterfalls flowing down the canyon walls and the dripping water droplets, everything was transformed into frozen icicles at that moment.
The entire canyon instantly transformed from a cold, foggy city into Absolute Zero icy inferno.
On the rock face, the rebel ninjas who were preparing to charge were like ducks with their necks choked, their mouths agape, their sinister smiles completely frozen.
The cold air traveled up from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head.
"What... what the hell is that..." a rebel's voice trembled as the Kunai in his hand clattered onto the ice.
The rebel captain stared intently at the stunningly beautiful girl standing on the ice mirror, his pupils dilating violently as if he were witnessing the most indescribable horror of his life, and a distorted scream escaped his throat.
"One-handed hand Hand Seals... forcibly freezing an A-rank combined Water Release..."
"This is... Ice Release?! This is impossible! The remnants of the Yuki Clan were all wiped out long ago, how could she be here?!"
Bai stood atop the icy mirror, the cold wind ruffling her long hair.
She looked down at the trembling rebels below, her eyes clear yet cold, her fingers coming together again.
"The lord has said that it's time to establish new rules for this land."