Buzzz-!
Over a thousand ice blades formed instantly around Haku, hovering in midair, each wreathed in a pale blue chill of senjutsu.
The entire arena seemed to have become a forest of ice blades.
Naruto's pupils contracted sharply as he instinctively sensed a lethal threat.
The stands fell deathly silent.
The Kumogakure representatives shot to their feet, their eyes filled with horror.
This technique... its form, its aura, the way it used natural energy...
It was almost identical to the "Thousand Kills Ice Soaring" Genbu had used in Kumogakure five years ago!
Its scale was merely a little smaller, and its senjutsu a little less pure, but its essence was exactly the same!
"Genbu... really is from Dragon Release Village..."
The Jōnin leading the Kumogakure delegation spoke hoarsely. The last shred of hope in their hearts shattered.
In the arena, Haku thrust both hands forward.
Over a thousand ice blades shot forth at once!
Naruto gritted his teeth and drove his Nine-Tails chakra to its limit. Red chakra burned like flames, forming a thick shield before him.
But senjutsu ice blades could naturally penetrate chakra!
Shhk, shhk, shhk, shhk-!
The ice blades kept breaking through the red shield and piercing Naruto's body!
"Aaargh-!"
Naruto screamed in pain as dozens of wounds instantly appeared across his body, blood streaming from them.
But he did not fall. Instead, he gritted his teeth and formed hand seals again:
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Three shadow clones appeared, forming Rasengans alongside the original!
"Four Rasengans?!" Cries rose from the stands.
The four Narutos charged at Haku from four directions, the Rasengans in their hands emitting a piercing buzz!
Haku's expression remained unchanged. He simply raised his hand slightly.
"Scatter."
The hovering ice blades instantly changed direction, splitting into four streams as though alive,