The train, amidst the Kazahana Dōtō and snow, disappeared into the blizzard, leaving behind only the devastation on the icy plains, the terrified civilians, and more than twenty elite Snow Ninja with cold eyes, clad in Chakra Armor, blocking the way like statues.
Clearly, although the leader has temporarily left, he has left behind an order to "clean up" the area.
Kakashi glanced around, quickly thinking. Most of the people were injured and terrified; he had to get them to a relatively safe place as soon as possible.
But these Snow Ninjas were an obstacle he couldn't avoid. He glanced at Shira, whose face was slightly pale, clearly indicating that her amazing defensive move had taken a toll, but she still seemed to have some strength left.
"We must act swiftly and decisively, preventing them from getting bogged down and also avoiding the explosions that could attract more enemies."
Kakashi spoke quickly and calmly, " Shira Jonin, over there?"
Shira nodded slightly, suppressing the churning breath in her chest. "No problem. Shūji, Ishikawa, Maki, work with the Konoha team to finish this quickly."
"Note that the objective is not complete annihilation, but breakthrough, creating an opening, and leading the civilians away first. Also..."
His gaze swept over the shimmering Chakra Armor on the snow ninja's body. "Try to preserve the armor's integrity, especially the energy and joint connections. Maki, use Sealing Jutsu to store it properly; it could be very useful to the village."
"Understood!" the three Sunagakure members responded in unison, their eyes lighting up Maki, in particular, immediately pulled out several specially made sealing talismans with absorption and binding effects from the scroll.
"Then..." Kakashi's gaze sharpened, "Make your move!"
Before he finished speaking, his figure had vanished from his spot, disappearing between several snow ninjas on the left. His Kunai, precisely stabbing towards the gaps in the armor joints and the connection points of the visual sensors.
" Sharingan - Windmill Technique, Third Sword!" Kakashi's kunai, thrown after Kakashi's Kunai, arrived first, tripping two people instantly with the help of the steel wire, disrupting their formation.
" Sasuke, Sakura, on the right!"
"Hmph, you don't need to tell me!" Sasuke finished Hand Seals, " Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!" Blazing fire lines snaked along the ground like serpents, instantly melting a large area of ice in front of him, creating a slippery and steamy zone that interfered with the Snow Ninja's foothold and line of sight.
At the same time, Sasuke moved like lightning, his Sharingan capturing the momentary weakness in the armor's energy flow. The Fūma Shuriken in his hand whistled out, aiming straight for the back of a Snow Ninja's knee—a joint that is usually easily accessible and may be relatively vulnerable to attack.
On Sunagakure's side, Shūji was the first to launch an attack.
Instead of using a wide-range Ninjutsu, he held three Shuriken in each hand, unleashing a " Wind Release: Sand Shuriken!"
The six Shuriken in his hand flew out and instantly split in two, then in four, transforming into twenty-four illusory and indistinguishable cold lights. These lights precisely targeted the different Snow Ninja's faceplates, wrists, ankles, and other parts that might affect their movement and senses, harassing them.
At the same time, he kept moving, channeling wind-attribute Chakra into his legs, increasing his speed dramatically, like a nimble fox in the snow, circling around to the flank of the enemy formation.
Ishikawa crouched down, pressing his hands to the cold snow, his eyes closed, his senses fully engaged.
"Third from the left front, energy fluctuations at the chest of the armor have an interval of 0.3 seconds! Fifth from the right rear, the hydraulic joint of the right leg is making an abnormal sound!"
He rapidly reported the subtle weaknesses he had sensed, providing precise guidance to his comrades. At the same time, several small spheres slid from his sleeve and were forcefully thrown. The spheres exploded upon impact, releasing large plumes of pungent, colored smoke and special powder that interfered with Chakra sensing, further disrupting the battlefield.
Shira did not immediately join the battle. He took a deep breath, and the slightly disordered energy in his body caused by the " Rotation Barrier " quickly calmed down under the rhythm of the Sage Mode Wind Xun Breathing Method.
His gaze locked onto a snow ninja who appeared to be the squad leader, whose armor had more intricate patterns. Just as that snow ninja swung his ice blade, scattering Shūji's Shuriken Shadow Clone, and attempted to Hand Seals to unleash Ninjutsu—
Shira moved.
A gentle yet persistent surge of heat gave him the speed he needed. The ice beneath his feet sank slightly, and he shot out like an arrow, his trajectory subtle, deftly dodging the ice spikes fired by another snow ninja.
As she approached the target leader, Shira ducked, sliding past the opponent's icy blade. Her right hand, fingers clenched like a sword, concentrated highly compressed "qi" and silently struck the weak point where the faint energy core of the opponent's breastplate connected to the armor itself!
The timing was absolutely perfect; it was precisely at the exact moment when the opponent had already unleashed their old power but had not yet generated new power, and when the energy flow in their armor was fluctuating periodically due to the Ninjutsu they had just used!
The concentrated "qi" energy contained in the fingertips was like the sharpest awl, piercing through the tiny gap in the defense!
"Puff!"
A soft sound, not the sound of armor shattering, but the sound of the intricate energy conduction runes inside being forcibly broken!
The leader, Xue Ren, froze, the light on his chest armor suddenly dimmed and became disordered, his movements slowed instantly, and he groaned, almost kneeling down.
Shira didn't linger in the fight. She struck and retreated, sliding sideways to avoid the attack from the side. At the same time, her left leg lashed out like a whip, kicking another charging snow ninja hard in the side, sending him flying and knocking down both of them.
"Now!" Maki's voice rang out. She had been lurking on the edge of the battlefield, and now, seizing her opportunity, she formed hand Hand Seals, Chakra into several sealing talismans she had already placed around her. " Sealing Jutsu: Circulating Manipulation Talisman!"
The talismans instantly came to life, shooting out like living white tentacles, precisely wrapping around the leader of the Snow Ninja who had been paralyzed by Shira's touch, as well as two other Snow Ninjas who were in a sorry state and whose armors were temporarily overloaded by Sasuke's Fire Style and ground tremors.
The sealing patterns on the talisman lit up, not only binding their bodies tightly, but also beginning to erode and suppress the Chakra circuits of their armor, causing it to completely shut down.
Maki moved swiftly, approaching quickly. He pulled out several blank scrolls from the scrolls and, with lightning speed, disassembled the key chest armor components and arm armor energy conduction modules from the incapacitated Snow Ninja, sealing them into the scrolls.
Her movements were very professional, clearly indicating she had extensive experience in sealing and storing items.
The battle broke out suddenly and ended just as quickly.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts and targeted attacks of the Konoha and Sunagakure forces, the twenty-odd Snow Ninja, despite their superior equipment, were no match for elite Jonin like Kakashi and Shira Jonin individual strength. Furthermore, the weaknesses in their armor systems were exploited, and their coordination was disrupted by various harassing and control Ninjutsu. As a result, they were quickly wiped out and rendered incapable of fighting.
Seeing the situation was dire, the remaining few tried to retreat and report back, but were stopped by Shūji and Ishikawa using ranged ninja tools and traps. Sasuke then finished them off with several precise Fire Style, forcing them to retreat. In the end, they fled in panic into the snowstorm.
Kakashi did not order a pursuit. "Clean up the battlefield, take the wounded, and leave immediately!"
He glanced at the several bulging sealing scrolls in Maki's hand, but didn't ask any further questions.
Led by Sandayu and several less seriously injured "patriots," the group helped the wounded civilians up and quickly left the blood-stained ice field, heading towards the originally planned secret supply point.
It was an abandoned mine pit located in a leeward valley, covered by thick snow. The interior space was not small, and although it was simple and cold, it was enough to take shelter for a while.
After settling the people in and leaving a few people to take care of them, Kakashi, Shira, and the others gathered deep in the mine.
"The aerial warships abducted the princess in the direction of the Land of Snow's center, the lair of Kazahana Dōtō, a sturdy fortress transformed from a natural iceberg."
Sandayu unfolded a hand-drawn, somewhat rudimentary map, pointing to a fortress that was highlighted on it, his face grave, " Naruto- kun, he..."
"That idiot should be fine for now," Kakashi interrupted him, his tone complex. "Putting aside his other skills, his ability to survive and create trouble is top-notch. Our top priority is to infiltrate that fortress, find them, and bring them out. A frontal assault is impossible; we need to infiltrate."
He looked at Shira: " Shira, Jonin, this infiltration requires a skilled team. I'll bring Sasuke and Sakura; they're more familiar with Naruto and their teamwork is better. You, on your end..."
"I'll go with you, along with Shūji, Maki, Ishikawa."
Without hesitation, Shira, " Ishikawa's perception is crucial in complex environments, Maki's Sealing Jutsu might be useful, Shūji's combat skills need honing. The rest of you stay here to protect the civilians and the base."
Kakashi nodded in agreement; this arrangement was reasonable.
"But the fortress is heavily guarded, and there's that kind of armor..." Sandayu said worriedly.
"That's why it's an infiltration, not a direct assault." Kakashi put away the map. "There's no time to lose, let's set off immediately. Take advantage of the fact that Kazahana Dōtō might think we've already collapsed, and their vigilance might be lax."
Using Ishikawa's senses to evade the patrol, the group changed into relatively intact outer uniforms and armor stripped from the fallen snow ninjas, disguising themselves as a snow ninja squad. Under the cover of the blizzard, they quietly made their way towards the distant iceberg fortress.
The fortress was far more magnificent and imposing than it appeared on the map. Built against a steep iceberg, it seemed to be constructed entirely of a mixture of metal and ice, gleaming with a cold, hard light under the gloomy sky.
The only entrance is a huge aerial platform where small aircraft are constantly entering and exiting; a direct assault would be tantamount to suicide.
But even the strongest fortress has its weaknesses. With Ishikawa's continued sensing, they found an abandoned drainage outlet located on the side and rear of the fortress, near the bottom of the ice cliff.
The metal fence was long rusted, behind which lay a dark, cold passageway filled with a musty smell.
"This is it. The guards inside rotate every fifteen minutes or so. The passageways are complex, but they manage to avoid the main defensive areas," Ishikawa whispered.
Kakashi carefully observed the fence and surroundings with his Sharingan, confirming there were no hidden alarm barriers, and then skillfully pried open the rusted lock with Kunai. The group filed in and disappeared into the darkness.
The fortress's interior was a labyrinth of passageways, with frost clinging to the cold metal walls and dim lighting barely illuminating the way ahead.
Relying on Ishikawa's senses and Kakashi's Sharingan's dynamic vision, they evaded patrolling groups of Snow Ninja like ghosts. When they encountered lone sentries or small patrols that they couldn't avoid, Shira or Kakashi would subdue them with lightning speed, drag them into the shadows, and then Maki would use Sealing Jutsu to temporarily imprison and hide them. Along the way, they managed to disassemble and seal Maki or eight relatively complete sets of Chakra Armor and their components, enriching her scroll inventory.
These are the reference samples that the Sunagakure Puppet Technique Unit has been dreaming of.
As he delved deeper, Ishikawa's senses finally picked up on familiar Chakra fluctuations—one was vibrant and even a bit noisy, while the other was faint and fearful, yet something seemed to be awakening within it.
"Ahead! Turn left, go down two levels! There are two independent Chakra reactions combined, and not many guards around!" Ishikawa pointed out.
The group perked up and quickened their pace. Sure enough, at the end of a relatively secluded passage, there was a heavy metal door. Only two Snow Ninja guards stood at the door, pacing impatiently.
Kakashi and Shira exchanged a glance and attacked simultaneously!
Kakashi's Kunai sliced through the air, striking one person precisely on the back of the neck. Shira pounced like a cheetah, and in the instant the other person turned around in surprise, she delivered a chop to the side of his neck. Both of them collapsed limply and were dragged aside.
Kakashi pressed his ear against the door, his Sharingan swirling slightly, then nodded to Shira, indicating it was safe.
Shira grasped the doorknob and tried to turn it; the door wasn't locked. He gently pushed it open a crack—
Inside was a simple cell, but the situation at that moment was somewhat unexpected.
Kazahana Koyuki sat on the ground, her face still wet with tears, but her eyes were no longer a lifeless grayness, but filled with complex emotions—shock, emotion, and a faint but real light.
She clutched the Hexagonal Crystal tightly in her hand.
Naruto Uzumaki stood by the cell door, grimacing and writhing his wrists. The ropes binding him had been broken and tossed aside. His face was bruised, and his orange jacket was torn in several places, but his azure eyes shone with an unquenchable flame and a bright, almost foolish smile as he spoke to Koyuki.
"So, stop looking so gloomy! I mean what I say, I'll definitely take you out! Then together, we'll go and beat that nasty Dotō to a pulp! Let your country be warm again! Trust me!"
Hearing the Gate of Opening, Naruto turned around abruptly. Seeing Kakashi, Shira, and the others standing in the doorway, he was initially stunned, then his face lit up with immense joy. " Kakashi-sensei! Shira! Everyone! You're here!!"
Koyuki also looked up and saw the people outside the door, especially when she saw Shira and Shūji. Her lips moved and she gripped the crystal tightly.
Kakashi glanced around the cell, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath his mask, and slipped inside. "Looks like things are going well here, Naruto."
Shira and the others quickly entered the cell, and Maki gently closed the door behind him.
"Hehe, of course! I'm going to be the Hokage!" Naruto rubbed his nose proudly, then asked eagerly, "How's it outside? Are all the people alright?"
"It's safe for now," Kakashi replied briefly, then looked at Koyuki, "Your Highness, are you alright? Are you able to move?"
With Naruto's help, Koyuki stood up. Although her legs were still a little weak, she nodded, her voice soft but clear. "I can. Naruto told me a lot. I want to go back, to the Rainbow Ice Wall, to find out the true treasure my father left behind."
" Rainbow Ice Wall?" Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
"Yes! Koyuki said there's something powerful left by her father there! It can change this country!" Naruto answered eagerly, full of confidence.
Shira understood. It seemed that the key items and crucial information were all in place. Naruto had indeed successfully awakened the princess's resolve.
"In that case, the goal is clear."
Kakashi decisively said, "We can't stay here any longer. We must leave the fortress immediately and head to the Rainbow Ice Wall. Shira Jonin?"
"Agreed." Shira nodded, looking at Maki. Maki understood, took out several spare winter coats from the scroll, and handed them to Naruto and Koyuki. "Change into these and sneak out."
Everyone quickly got ready. Naruto put on his slightly oversized Snow Ninja uniform, but it still couldn't hide his energy. Koyuki also wrapped herself in a coat and put on a hood to cover her face.
" Ishikawa, plan the fastest evacuation route. Shūji, watch the rear. Maki, be ready to respond to any sudden sealing needs," Shira whispered the instructions.
"Yes!"
Kakashi also looked at Sasuke and Sakura: "Just like when we came, coordinate well, stay quiet, and get away as quickly as possible."
The two teams, along with the princess they had just rescued and Naruto had unexpectedly "joined" the team, like ink drops falling into water, quietly disappeared into the cold, dim shadows of the fortress's passageway, heading towards the exit and towards the legendary " Rainbow Ice Wall " that held the secrets of the Land of Snow's spring, beginning a new round of stealth and advance.
Outside the fortress, the wind and snow continued.