Chapter 24: Celestial Phenomena Descend

"It's over."

The Toad Mouth Bind technique slowly faded, and Jiraiya stepped out from within.

Behind him, the three swordsmen collapsed on the ground—Raiga Kurosuki and Jūzō Biwa were already dead.

Fuguki Suikazan, however, still clung to life. A massive, spiraling wound tore through his abdomen, and at its center glowed a Five Elements Seal.

"Lord Jiraiya!"

Shibi Aburame hurried over.

"Bring the bodies and the swords back," Jiraiya ordered gravely. "Fuguki Suikazan was the Mist's head of intelligence. I've sealed his chakra—take him back for interrogation."

"Yes, Lord Jiraiya."

"What about Fugaku?"

"Lord Fugaku went after Mizunotsuki Yoru," Shibi reported. "He headed southeast. My kikaichū were tracking them, but they were destroyed mid-way. The two of them have likely already engaged."

"He went alone?"

Jiraiya frowned. He didn't doubt Uchiha Fugaku—as clan head, Fugaku was formidable, and old bloodlines like the Uchiha always held hidden jutsu and secret techniques. That's why Jiraiya had sent him to deal with the swordsmen in the first place.

Still, solo pursuit was dangerous—especially against someone as unpredictable as that boy.

"Hmm?!"

Both men suddenly looked up.

Where just moments ago the sky had been clear and bright, now dark clouds surged overhead, thunder rumbled, and a suffocating pressure filled the air.

A strong gust of wind blew through—and then, without warning, a torrential downpour began.

"This...!"

Both Jiraiya and Shibi were stunned. This didn't make sense.

This wasn't the Land of Rain. They were deep within the Land of Fire, in a region known for its scenic beauty, warm climate, and consistently sunny weather. This part of the country was a favorite among travelers, not a place where violent storms ever formed naturally.

How could the skies turn from cloudless sun to black stormclouds in a matter of seconds?

"Something's wrong..."

"Wait! Lord Jiraiya—that's the direction where Fugaku went!" Shibi suddenly exclaimed.

Jiraiya's expression darkened. He stared at the sky filled with lightning and thunder, his face grim.

A phenomenon of this scale wasn't something ordinary shinobi could cause. Not even most forbidden jutsu could manipulate the weather like this.

Unless—

Senjutsu.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

With a hand seal, Jiraiya formed a clone.

"Shibi, go with my clone. Return with the swords and Fuguki. I'm going after Fugaku."

"Understood, Lord Jiraiya."

Shibi nodded, sealing away the three blades and the bodies of Raiga and Jūzō. Then, using his insect swarm, he lifted the unconscious Fuguki.

The two Jiraiyas exchanged glances. The clone and Shibi turned toward the Leaf encampment, while the real Jiraiya raced off toward the battlefield.

At the same time—

As Susanoo's second form solidified, the sky grew black. Rain fell in sheets.

The rain resembled curtains of beads, hanging from heaven to earth. Icy winds howled. Within the glowing blue armor of Susanoo, Uchiha Fugaku felt a bitter chill crawl up his spine. His Sharingan narrowed.

Across from him, Mizunotsuki Yoru—who had appeared to be on the verge of collapse—now radiated an immense surge of power. His chakra had multiplied several times over.

Most striking of all was—

The sword.

Yes.

Hyōrinmaru had changed. Fugaku's three-tomoe Sharingan caught the details clearly: what had been a plain katana now bore a crescent-shaped chain at the end of the hilt.

And along the blade's edge—ice crystals glistened.

…Ice?

"Thousand Birds Ice Pillar!"

Yoru slashed Hyōrinmaru, unleashing a rapid barrage of shimmering ice bullets at Susanoo.

Susanoo swung its great blade, smashing the icy projectiles. But Fugaku's pupils narrowed sharply.

"Ice Release…"

"Our intelligence never indicated you possessed a kekkei genkai. Did you awaken it under pressure—or were you hiding it?" Fugaku's voice was steady. "No matter. This level of Ice Release won't change anything. Before the power of the Uchiha's divine eye, your clan's techniques are nothing but illusions."

"Oh?" Yoru's tone remained flat.

In the grand narrative of the shinobi world—crafted by the Sage of Six Paths—the Uchiha Clan truly did stand above the Yuki Clan.

The Sharingan, whether in base performance or evolutionary potential, was a superior kekkei genkai compared to Ice Release.

But—

This isn't Ice Release.

"Ice Dragon's Roar!"

As Susanoo's blade came down, Yoru stood his ground. He swung Hyōrinmaru, and from its blade surged a roaring ice dragon, crashing head-on into Susanoo's strike.

Fugaku's eyes sharpened. He increased his chakra output, intending to cut straight through.

But a moment later—his eyes widened in disbelief.

BOOM!!

As he had predicted, Susanoo's strike shattered the dragon. Shards of icy debris exploded outward.

But then—those scattered shards suddenly expanded.

Frost spread in all directions. Ice crystals linked together rapidly, forming a solid layer of ice across Susanoo's surface.

Susanoo's movements slowed.

"Wait—is that mist?!"

Fugaku scowled. Something wasn't right.

He glanced upward—then back at Yoru.

The boy now held his sword high to the storming sky. Frigid energy surged upward. Then—

The weather shifted again.

The rain falling onto Susanoo began freezing on contact, layer after layer. Within seconds, thick ice encased its limbs, joints, and armor.

The temperature plummeted.

In the blink of an eye, what had started as a thin frost grew into solid, interconnected ice formations, encasing the entire Susanoo.

Completely frozen.

"He's manipulating the atmosphere itself?!"

This was no ordinary chakra control. This was power on a celestial scale.

How could a shinobi—especially one so young—hold the ability to command the sky itself?

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