Zou Hyuga vanished in a flash, pressing his palm against the ground.
In an instant, cold spread outward from Zou Hyuga, forming an enormous wall of ice in the path of the iron sand.
The hastily formed ice wall barely withstood the Kazekage Human Puppet's attack, cracks spreading across its surface.
When the wall shattered into ice crystals, they did not scatter, but shot toward Sasori.
Whoosh!
The whistle of ice crystals immediately rang through the forest.
The Human Puppet beside Sasori immediately spewed fire from its mouth. Under the intense heat, the ice crystals rapidly melted, producing clouds of vapor that blurred everything around them.
Yet the veil of vapor could not hinder either combatant.
Behind his mask, Zou Hyuga activated his Byakugan, while Sasori could hardly be treated as an ordinary human. Aside from his eyes, he could also sense positions through chakra.
Outside the spreading mist, Orochimaru stood with his hands behind his back, listening to the clash of blades with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
Both the sudden drop in temperature and the conspicuous ice wall proved that his opponent possessed Ice Release. As far as he knew, only Kirigakure's Yuki Clan could wield that kekkei genkai.
After the unrest in Kirigakure, he and Sasori had traveled to the Land of Water in search of suitable material.
They had found several promising kekkei genkai, but Ice Release was the exception. He had failed to find a youngster with an aptitude for it.
Yet this Ice Release ninja was at least jonin-level. He should not have been so unknown.
Just then, Zou Hyuga rapidly formed hand seals within the mist and shouted in a low voice, "Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Rumble...
As the water crashed against the ground, the area frozen by Ice Release expanded