Nadare Rōga's eyes widened, and he suddenly felt a chill.
He could not tell whether it came from the cold air produced by Ice Release or the dread spreading through his heart, but his body had already begun to tremble uncontrollably.
As a ninja from the Land of Snow, he could use Ice Release within its borders.
But that was merely "pseudo-Ice Release," performed by combining Wind Release and Water Release with the help of the local environment. It was a home-field advantage enjoyed by the Land of Snow's ninja.
The boy's situation was entirely different. Creating ice crystals in a hot environment was undoubtedly the power of a kekkei genkai.
Moreover, he had already developed that kekkei genkai to a considerable degree.
"Beautiful, isn't it...?" Zou Hyuga smiled faintly. "He's my attendant. He'll be accompanying me on this journey."
Suppressing his shock, Nadare Rōga took a deep breath. "Where are we going?"
"The Land of Snow. Your homeland, more or less."
"Why are you going to the Land of Snow? What do you intend to do once you're there? What are you plotting?"
Hearing their destination, Nadare Rōga frowned. Even setting aside the man's unfathomable strength, that boy alone, with his mastery of Ice Release, would be a major problem once he reached the Land of Snow.
Zou Hyuga took the Crystal Pendant from inside his clothes and dangled it in front of Nadare Rōga.
At the sight of the Crystal Pendant, Nadare Rōga's expression grew grave. Rather than reaching out to snatch it, he began considering the Land of Snow's future.
Whatever reason a man this powerful had for going to the Land of Snow, he certainly meant no good.
And with the Land of Snow's pitiful strength, he would be free to do whatever he pleased.
"What?