Chapter 89: Rebellion, Ice Release? This Is the Real Bloodline Limit! (BONUS)

To ensure the smooth expansion of the Shimura clan in the future, and to avoid getting chopped in his sleep, this hot spring strategy was clearly no longer viable.

Yami carried the dazed Izumi back to the room and talked until his mouth was dry, finally convincing her that the whole thing was a setup to awaken her Sharingan, and he hadn't actually gotten impatient with her.

"But…" Izumi had calmed down a bit, but still looked wronged. "But you kissed Yugao, and Yugao kissed you too…"

Smack.

Yami decisively kissed her on the lips. "I kissed you too. Is that okay?"

"Then… Izumi muttered shyly, "Is the thing she said about the bed… true?"

"Uh…" Yami nodded, "That part's real. I'm used to sleeping with a pillow."

Izumi's eyes dulled again, and her Sharingan reappeared.

Yami broke out in a cold sweat and quickly hugged her tightly with a bit of chakra strength. "Izumi, let's get engaged when we get back."

"Huh?"

The girl's reason returned.

"Engaged? Really?"

"Yes. We're childhood sweethearts. It's normal to get engaged now, right? Izumi doesn't want to marry someone else and have babies, does she?"

Although this would certainly make Danzō furious and lead to at least a dozen arguments, it was just a matter of time.

Being favored as he was, Yami knew that no matter how displeased the old man was, he'd eventually accept reality.

A blush bloomed on Izumi's cheeks, and her Sharingan started spinning into circles.

"Have babies…"

The hatchet crisis was defused. That night, Izumi was too shy to speak and clung to Yami tightly, letting him be her pillow the whole night.

Thankfully, Izumi wasn't as noisy as Karin and slept soundly.

The next day, Izumi became extremely clingy. She stopped playing with Koyuki and followed Yami around all day.

Her attitude toward Yugao hadn't changed.

What Izumi feared most wasn't sharing Yami, but being abandoned by him.

Now that she'd received his promise of engagement, her worries vanished.

After understanding her true feelings, Yami was relieved.

At least she wasn't fully yandere. Otherwise, things would be much harder to manage.

After not seeing her friend for a day, Koyuki came looking for her.

So Yami's job became babysitting the two girls, taking them out every day to build snowmen and have snowball fights.

He also noticed that there were shinobi monitoring the area. He knew who was behind it.

But for now, he had no intention of alerting the enemy. He'd settle the score all at once later.

As for Dotō, having received intel, he began to look down on Yami more and more.

Spending all day playing with kids, how dangerous could he really be? He didn't seem like any threat to Dotō's rebellion.

Soon, it was Koyuki's birthday.

All of Kazahana City was newly decorated, filled with beautiful ornaments. To allow the public to offer their blessings to Princess Koyuki, Sōsetsu arranged several free banquets throughout the city for a grand celebration.

Yami, Yugao, and Izumi were invited to the palace alongside the Land of Snow's ministers to attend the banquet.

Koyuki, dressed in an ornate gown, walked down the red carpet guided by attendants. The ministers showered her with praise, making the little girl a bit shy.

In contrast, Sōsetsu wore a constant smile, clearly in a very good mood.

"Koyuki, happy birthday."

He hung a finely crafted hexagonal crystal pendant around her neck and said warmly, "Keep it safe. It's the treasure of the Land of Snow and the key to your wish."

"Wish?" The little princess's eyes sparkled. "Koyuki understands. I'll keep it safe!"

"Good girl."

Kazahana Sōsetsu smiled and nodded.

The officials each presented their carefully prepared gifts. Izumi gave a small round fan with the Uchiha clan's emblem.

Yugao presented a wooden sculpture carved with swordsmanship, in Koyuki's likeness.

Koyuki loved both gifts.

After thanking them, she turned to Yami expectantly and asked softly, "Yami-kun... your gift?"

"I didn't prepare one," Yami said plainly.

Koyuki looked disappointed but didn't protest. She just pouted in grievance.

"But I can get one for you right now."

"Huh?" Her eyes brightened again. "What is it?"

Yami didn't reply. Instead, he walked up to Dotō, who was eating alone.

"It's him."

The entire banquet fell silent. Everyone stared at Yami like he was insane.

"Hahaha!"

Asama suddenly laughed, clapping in exaggerated fashion. "Yami Jōnin has quite the sense of humor! That joke was colder than the ice outside!"

Sōsetsu also laughed, prompting the officials to follow suit, and the tense atmosphere relaxed again.

But a moment later, Sōsetsu could no longer laugh.

Yami suddenly attacked Dotō, wrapping his chakra-covered hand around the man's throat.

Before everyone's eyes, Dotō's appearance shifted.

"A Snow Ninja?!"

"This is a fake Lord Dotō?!"

The officials gasped, and Sōsetsu's expression darkened.

"Where's the real Dotō?!"

Today was his niece's birthday, and Dotō had promised to come. But instead, a body double appeared. Sōsetsu's thoughts turned grim.

"Ha! Kazahana Sōsetsu, so what if you see through it now? Snow Ninja Village will reclaim everything we've lost!"

The impostor laughed maniacally. "Lord Dotō and Rōga will avenge me! Konoha shinobi, if you dare—"

Crack!

Before he could finish, Yami snapped his neck.

Suddenly, a disturbance erupted outside the palace. The noise grew louder and louder until a bloodied guard rushed in.

"Daimyō! Dotō and Snow Ninja Village have rebelled! They're storming the city gates! Our forces can't hold them back!"

Events were unfolding far faster than Sōsetsu had anticipated. The banquet hall erupted into chaos.

"Why would Lord Dotō rebel? Why would Snow Ninja Village support him?!"

"We're doomed! What should we do?!"

Even if Snow Ninja Village was tiny, with barely over a hundred ninja, they were still ninja. Ordinary samurai and soldiers couldn't compete.

"Gather all forces in the palace. I'll lead the defense. Yami Jōnin, please take Koyuki and Asama out of Kazahana City and return to the mainland. Asama will double the mission payment."

"Father, I don't want to leave you!" Koyuki realized the gravity of the situation and ran to her father's side, clutching his robe.

"Koyuki, be good," Sōsetsu said gently. "Once this is all over, I'll have Asama bring you back."

"No... no!" Koyuki cried, shaking her head.

At that moment, Yami finished wiping his hands with the handkerchief Izumi handed him and asked casually, "Mr. Daimyō, you're not planning to hire us to quell the rebellion?"

Sōsetsu paused. "But there are hundreds of Snow Ninja. Even if not all show up, there must be at least a few dozen. And my brother Dotō is strong as well."

"Strength isn't the issue," Yami replied. "The question is, how much will you pay?"

Yugao had already drawn her sword. "Please trust in Yami-kun. Even if Snow Ninja deploys every last shinobi, he can wipe them out."

She had full faith in Yami. If he could massacre elites from Kumo like chopping vegetables, these backwater ninja were nothing.

Sōsetsu looked at their confident expressions. They didn't seem like fools. He felt reassured.

"In that case... If the rebellion is quelled, I'll pay ten times the S-rank commission."

"Not enough. I want one more thing — the technology for making Chakra Armor."

"Deal."

Kazahana Sōsetsu nodded. "But if you really can't win, please take Koyuki with you."

"Sure."

The agreement was made quickly, and Yami assigned tasks to Izumi and Yugao.

"Protect the daimyō and Princess Koyuki. Leave the enemies outside to me."

Then Yami ran out of the hall alone.

"You're letting him go alone?!" Kazahana Sōsetsu exclaimed.

Yugao shook her head. "If we go, we'll just get in his way. It's better to stay here and protect you. Where's the best vantage point?"

"This way." Kazahana Sōsetsu led them to the top floor of the palace. Through the windows, they saw flames erupting across the city.

The rebels had broken through the gates. Around fifty ninja advanced with two chakra-powered chariots heading straight for the palace.

Civilians scattered in panic, while one small figure charged alone against the current toward the invading ninja.

Upon seeing Yami, a female Snow Ninja frowned and raised her hand. "Fire!"

Multiple square grids opened on the chariot, launching hundreds of kunai.

Yami formed a seal and slammed his hand into the ground.

Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!

Boom!

Multiple earthen walls rose up with carvings of dream tapirs, looking almost cute.

All the kunai were blocked. Just as the woman was about to give a follow-up order, roaring flames tore through the earth walls and surged forward like a raging sea.

Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!

Ice Shield: Ice Prison Technique!

Panicked, several Snow Ninja quickly formed seals and combined their techniques to defend.

But the intense heat melted their ice barriers rapidly. Steam filled the air. The temperature was unlike anything they had experienced before.

"This isn't good! Our ninjutsu can't hold against this!"

Despite their chakra reserves, the flames devoured ice and snow alike, losing none of their momentum.

Ice Shield: Dragon Crushing Tiger!

Ice Shield: Black Dragon Blizzard!

Nadare Rōga and Dotō leapt to the front, combining their Ice Release techniques to suppress the fire.

But they felt no joy.

Just how strong was this kid?!

"Yami Jōnin!"

As the steam cleared, Dotō shouted, "I know your mission was just to escort Koyuki. This is an internal matter of the Land of Snow, it has nothing to do with you!"

"I'll pay your commission and even offer more. Just leave with your team!"

Yami withdrew his hand seal and sneered. "Weren't you the one who sent spies to monitor us?"

Dotō's expression darkened.

"You noticed long ago?"

"Been waiting for you to gather everyone here," Yami said, catching a snowflake in his hand. "Now I can crush you all at once."

Swish!

Yami vanished and reappeared in the midst of the Snow Ninja at a speed invisible to normal eyes.

Zzt!

Electricity crackled from his body. His Kusanagi blade hummed with lightning as he cut down multiple enemies in a flash. Blood flew.

Then more flew.

Sōsetsu, watching from above, trembled with excitement. He couldn't even track Yami's movements — only the ever-growing pile of fallen Snow Ninja.

"So strong... this is the power of Yami...!"

Yugao shook her head. "This isn't even his full strength. He hasn't used Flying Thunder God or Scorch Release. That fire jutsu was the only technique he's cast."

It might not even count as a warm-up.

"Yami..." Koyuki stood on a small stool, clasping her hands in prayer. "Please suppress the rebellion and come back safely."

"Stop!"

Nadare Rōga watched his forces fall one after another, unable to even scratch Yami, and roared with fury.

Ice Release: Ice Puppet!

Several puppets made of solid ice appeared and rushed at Yami to stall for time. While he broke them apart, Langya completed another jutsu.

Ice Release: One-Horned White Whale!

A massive white whale formed from snow and chakra surged toward Yami.

"This is Ice Release?"

Yami's eyes showed disdain.

Real kekkei genkai were formed by fusing chakra natures within the body. The Snow Country's so-called Ice Release was just weather-based ninjutsu manipulating the environment.

"Let me show you... the real bloodline limit!"

Yami sheathed his sword, conjured several spinning fireballs in his hands, and threw them at the ice whale.

Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!

The burning heat melted the whale instantly.

Nadare Rōga leapt high, activating the chakra armor's power. Purple light surged, absorbing the fire jutsu's energy. The punch canceled the remaining flames, but—

He flinched as the heat seared his hand.

Chakra could be absorbed, but not the heat already created.

"Lord Dotō, this brat's tough! Let's take him down together!"

"Understood."

Dotō shed his luxurious cloak, revealing his own chakra armor. He stepped beside Langya and locked eyes with Yami coldly.

There was no more talking. They'd have to defeat Yami with sheer force.

The two began forming seals at the same time.

(To be continued.)