Ice and Gold's Absolute Defense

The howl, like that of a feline beast, whipped up a foul wind and surged forth from the depths of the tunnel at the end of the suspension bridge, carrying with it a tangible, violent Lightning Release.

"Boom!"

The earth trembled violently once more, and the railway tracks emitted a mournful cry as if on the verge of collapse.

At the tunnel entrance, a heavy Lightning Ore train, twice the size of the previous one, burst through the darkness, crackling with eerie blue lightning, like a roaring thunder beast, and began to crush the suspension bridge.

Three pale-faced figures were bound to the front of the vehicle. They were the other three border merchants who had been kidnapped.

The bottom of the train carriages was covered with countless Lightning Explosion Tag that were already glowing with a blinding white light.

"There's another one!" Karin exclaimed from behind. Mind's Eye of the Kagura pounded violently. "This one has extremely high purity Lightning Ore, and the Explosive Tag has entered an irreversible countdown. They're going to blow up the tunnel completely!"

"Damn it, retreat!" Kakashi Hand Seals.

"Retreat?"

Naruto stood in the middle of the suspension bridge, one hand in his pocket, facing the howling wind and lightning, a cold, sharp smile playing on his lips.

"On my territory Naruto Uzumaki's territory, it's not up to anyone else to close the door."

He withdrew his right hand.

There were no Hand Seals, and no energy was being gathered.

From the palm of his hand, a terrifying chill far exceeding all reason suddenly erupted. This was the S-rank Kekkei Genkai inherited from Bai and perfectly fused and optimized through Yang Release — Extreme Cold Ice Release.

"Snap--!"

Naruto pressed one hand against the bridge surface.

The extremely deep blue ice, like a living thing, flowed upstream against the current with the rain and rails at a speed that defies the laws of physics, and instantly collided head-on with the speeding Lightning Ore.

The ice gripped the high-speed friction of the wheels, emitting a chilling screech. The extreme cold not only froze the physical form but also, with the domineering power of Yang Release, forcibly severed the Lightning Release Chakra circuit at the bottom of the carriage.

The white light from the Explosive Tag was forcibly dimmed.

However, the vehicle's inertia was too great; its tens of thousands of tons of dead weight carved deep furrows in the ice, still pushing the glacier closer to Naruto.

"Don't just stand there!"

A delicate shout rang out from the cliff above.

Samui had already leaped down at some point. Her icy blue eyes were fixed on the frozen, slowed minecart, and she drew her sword mid-air.

"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel!"

Samui moved with lightning speed, his blade whipping up a violent vacuum wind blade that precisely sliced into the front of the vehicle, instantly severing the heavy iron chains binding the three merchants.

"Karui, get them!" Samui shouted sharply.

"Okay, okay, stop nagging!"

Karui, the red-haired female ninja, leaped out like a mother leopard, using her legs to brace against the icy cliff face, and grabbed a civilian with one hand. The remaining civilian was quickly pulled back by Sasuke using Chakra Threads.

At the same time, Omoi crushed the lollipop in his mouth, his palm crackling with lightning, and slammed it hard onto the load-bearing axle of the minecart.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Flow Ground!"

The high-voltage current instantly destroyed the internal transmission structure of the axle. The mine cart emitted a piercing cracking sound and, less than five meters from Naruto, finally tilted to the right and crashed heavily onto the outside of the cliff.

"Crack--Boom!"

The core of the Lightning Ore, which had been suppressed by the Ice Release technique, broke through the critical point the moment the carriage tumbled and disintegrated.

A blinding blue-white burst of lightning exploded in mid-air.

The violent shockwave, carrying sharp pebbles and broken rails, swept indiscriminately across the bridge like a hail of bullets.

Samui had barely landed when her strength was exhausted. She looked back at the deadly falling rocks and instinctively spread her arms to shield Karui and Omoi.

The expected tearing sensation did not occur.

"Splash--!"

The ear-piercing sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the canyon.

Nine dazzling golden Chakra Chains burst forth from his body, like nine raging golden dragons, weaving together in mid-air to form an Absolute Defense array with no blind spots, Naruto.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Tons of falling rocks and Lightning Release shockwaves slammed into the golden chains, only to be deflected and shattered by the domineering Yang Release, turning into dust that filled the sky.

Below the barrier, there was an unusual silence.

The only sounds were the crisp clinking of chains and the white noise of raindrops hitting the energy shield.

The two groups of people who were just on the verge of drawing their swords are now back to back, protected by the same "umbrella".

Karui stared blankly at the chains shimmering with divine light above him, his mouth agape and the civilian still in his hand. Omoi pulled out a new lollipop and popped it into his mouth, his hand still trembling.

Samui maintained his protective posture, looking up at the blond figure with one hand in his pocket ahead.

Arrogant, protective of their own, and even with a suffocating sense of security.

This was the first time she had a direct experience of what kind of monster the "Hidden Leaf Genin" from the intelligence reports really was. That extremely cold Ice Release, coupled with those indestructible golden chains, completely surpassed her understanding of power.

The rockfall has subsided.

Naruto withdrew the Chakra Chains, and darkness returned to the surroundings.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the three still-shaken Hidden Cloud, finally settling on Samui's face, which was soaked with rain and appeared even more aloof.

"Your movements were quite efficient," Naruto said calmly. "However, I didn't ask for your help."

Samui sheathed her dagger and tucked her soaked blonde hair behind her ear. She looked directly into Naruto's eyes, her gaze less hostile and more filled with a complex mix of fear and approval.

"Regardless of our stance, saving lives is the bottom line," Samui said in a cold voice. "Your defense just now... consider it a favor I owe you."

Karui snorted beside him, turned his face away, and didn't say anything more.

Naruto chuckled lightly, took a step, and brushed past Samui.

"Don't rush to pay me back. First, drag that furious stray cat out of there, kill the thief who stole my blueprints, and then we'll talk about who owes whom."

Samui's gaze sharpened. She certainly understood who "wildcat" referred to.

The massive Chakra that just ignited the Lightning Ore was definitely from the Two-Tails.

"All Hidden Cloud, heed my command!" Samui whirled around and issued the order, "Enter the Black Market Altar. Primary objective: Confirm the Two-Tails' state. Secondary objective... Maintain a non-hostile relationship with the Hidden Leaf team."

Karui and Omoi exchanged a glance, offering no objection. To put on airs in front of this monster was tantamount to suicide.

After passing through the collapsed tunnel, the terrain suddenly opened up.

A massive, hollowed-out underground cavern has appeared. This is the Black Market Altar of Lightning Cloud Gorge.

Torches burning with eerie blue Kakkō were planted all around. On the altar's stone platform, several missing-nin dressed in black robes lay in pools of blood, their deaths gruesome, as if they had been instantly torn apart by sharp claws.

Half a blood-stained Uzumaki seal diagram lay forlornly on the ground.

Beside the blueprints, a woman with long, beige braids was kneeling on the ground.

Her light-colored cloak was completely torn apart, revealing skin covered in black runes. Her eyes lost their human pupils and transformed into two burning demonic flames.

Two materialized blue tails danced wildly behind her, smashing rocks to pieces.

The Jinchūriki the Two-Tails, Yugito Nii.

"This is troublesome." Kakashi's left Sharingan locked onto the target. "Signs of Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, she's out of control."

"It's not just a simple loss of control!" Karin shouted from behind, "There are three special black Receiver Rods inserted into her Chakra channels. Someone in the shadows forcibly activated the Tailed Beast's berserk mode!"

Samui's expression changed drastically.

Someone's setting a trap! They've included the Hidden Cloud missing-nin from Kumogakure, the Hidden Leaf pursuers, and even the Two-Tails Jinchūriki in their scheme.

"Interesting."

Naruto ignored the blueprints on the ground, stepped onto the stairs, and faced the raging demonic energy that was enough to suffocate even an ordinary Jonin.

"You bought my blueprints, and you dare to block my door with a cat?" Naruto cracked his neck, his knuckles popping. "You cowardly coward behind the scenes, are you ready to pay with your life?"

Roar--!

Yugito let out a shrill cat demon shriek, transforming into a streak of blue lightning that hurtled straight at Naruto's face.