Chapter 42: Flame Release • Kagutsuchi • Amaterasu Sword
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The three attacks hit simultaneously, creating large craters in the snow. Three figures quickly emerged from the snow-covered ground. Sasuke glanced over at them.
One was thin, another was fat, and the third was a female. All three wore forehead protectors bearing the symbol of the Land of Snow.
Sasuke didn't hesitate. He charged at the fat man, Mizore Fuyukuma, his Kusanagi sword crackling with lightning chakra as he slashed at him. However, the man's armor flashed with a blue light, blocking the sword.
Kakashi warned, "Sasuke, that's chakra armor, unique to the Land of Snow. It can absorb chakra and enhance its defense!"
Sasuke smirked coldly. "Absorb chakra? Let's see how much it can handle!" His Sharingan morphed into the Mangekyō, and he focused his gaze.
"Amaterasu!"
Black flames instantly engulfed Mizore Fuyukuma, who was caught off guard. "No way… starting with such a powerful jutsu?"
Though confused, Mizore quickly realized the Amaterasu flames were searing through his chakra armor. In mere moments, the armor shattered with a sharp crack, and the black flames consumed his body, reducing him to ashes.
Despite his quick defeat, Mizore Fuyukuma was one of the three most formidable Snow ninja in the Land of Snow.
Meanwhile, Kakashi faced Roga Nadare, and Naruto squared off against Fubuki Kakuyoku.
The director, witnessing the intense battles, was ecstatic. "Start filming! This is perfect material for the movie!"
The remaining two Snow ninja were disheartened by Sasuke's swift victory over Mizore, but Sasuke showed no intention of aiding his comrades.
Naruto, however, struggled against Fubuki Kakuyoku. Tied up by her chakra-infused threads, Naruto was lifted into the air, unable to free himself.
Hinata, watching in alarm, shouted, "Sasuke, go save Naruto!"
But Sasuke remained calm. "If we follow Naruto, we'll find the enemy's base directly. And don't worry—Naruto has the Nine-Tails inside him. He won't die."
Though many feared the Nine-Tails, Naruto had often relied on its power to turn the tide of battle.
On the other side of the battlefield, Roga Nadare taunted Kakashi. "Are you still that useless ninja who only knows how to run away?"
Kakashi ignored the insult, forming hand seals quickly. "Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
With the sea at his back, Kakashi's water-style jutsu drew power from the surrounding water, summoning a massive water dragon that surged towards Roga Nadare.
Roga responded just as swiftly. "Ice Style: Tiger Devouring Ice Dragon!" The ice transformed into a ferocious tiger, which shattered the water dragon with its fangs before continuing its charge towards Kakashi.
Reacting quickly, Kakashi slammed his hands to the ground. "Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!" A barrier of earth rose up, bearing the image of a dog's head, to block the ice tiger.
But Roga Nadare wasn't finished. "Ice Style: One-Horned White Whale!" he shouted, forming another seal. The seawater morphed into a giant ice whale, which leaped into the air, crashing down towards Kakashi and the ship.
Kakashi countered by summoning his own giant water whale. The two creatures collided, sending massive waves crashing into the sea.
Sasuke, meanwhile, locked eyes with Roga Nadare. His body crackled with electricity as he activated his Lightning Chakra Mode. "Flame Release: Kagutsuchi!" Sasuke's Kusanagi sword ignited with the black flames of Amaterasu, and he became a streak of lightning as he dashed forward.
The Amaterasu-coated Kusanagi sword pierced through Roga Nadare's chakra armor with ease, severing his head in a single stroke.
Kakashi's eyes widened as he witnessed the sight. The body of Roga Nadare, a powerful opponent, lay in two burning halves, consumed by Amaterasu's flames. Kakashi had considered him a formidable enemy, but Sasuke had defeated him with a single move.
Kakashi couldn't help but think about Sasuke's potential. "He's only ten years old," Kakashi thought, awestruck. "And his strength has already surpassed mine. It's terrifying…"
Kakashi's thoughts drifted to the Uchiha clan's history. If the clan had rebelled and been exterminated as planned by Danzo, the Uchiha would have protected Sasuke at all costs. In a few years, Sasuke could have surpassed even Madara Uchiha.
But Konoha wouldn't have had a Senju Hashirama to balance that power.
Kakashi felt a sense of relief, knowing that the Uchiha clan had reached a balance with Konoha. He even entertained a bold thought: "If the Uchiha clan were to gain more power, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing. If one of them became Hokage, Konoha wouldn't be seen as weak anymore."
At that moment, Kakashi turned to Sasuke. "Sasuke, let's go save Naruto."
Just then, Koyuki Kazahana, who had been watching the battle, spoke up. "Wait. I'm the princess of the Land of Snow!" She removed the hexagonal necklace from around her neck, revealing her true identity.
Kakashi nodded, acknowledging her claim.
Koyuki pointed to the railway tracks that ran through the snow. "Follow these tracks. They lead directly to Doto Kazahana's fortress."
The Land of Snow had developed railways long ago, owing to its distance from the mainland and its relative peace. Although Konoha could build railways, its central location on the continent meant it had to remain vigilant against threats from other nations.
Following Koyuki's guidance, Sasuke and the others arrived at a large, ominous palace. This was the place where Doto Kazahana resided—a once-bright castle now shrouded in darkness, transformed by Doto's malevolent rule.
Koyuki clenched her fists, feeling a deep sense of resentment. She glanced at Sasuke, her eyes filled with hope.
Inside the palace, Doto Kazahana addressed Fubuki Kakuyoku coldly. "So, you're the only one who returned alive?"
Fubuki, sweating nervously, nodded. Doto raised his hand, intending to strike her down in anger, but hesitated. If he killed her, he would be left without any subordinates.
Instead, Doto attached a "chakra lock" to Naruto, a device that parasitically absorbed the wearer's chakra and couldn't be removed. Naruto felt his strength drain away and collapsed to the floor, unable to access his chakra.
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