High in the sky, Kazahana Dotō flew at top speed.
Behind him, Kiyosuke's body had fully transformed into elemental form—a blazing mass of fire—leaving a brilliant streak of flame across the air.
"How is this possible?! You're a ninja—how can you fly?"
Kazahana Dotō was shocked. He had thought only he could dominate the skies, but now it seemed he wasn't the only one!
No. He couldn't match this man in a fight. He had to get there—fast.
As long as he reached that place, he could claim the secret treasure passed down through the Kazahana family for generations.
It was for this very treasure that he had murdered his own elder brother, seizing his position. But who could have guessed that brat Kazahana Koyuki would take away the key to unlocking it?
Damn it!
He had wasted ten years of his life!
Still, it was fortunate that Kazahana Koyuki had been foolish enough to give the key back to him. That was all he needed.
Dotō pushed his speed to the limit, heading straight for the Kazahana clan's ancestral grounds.
Kiyosuke followed at a leisurely pace, curious to see what tricks this man had up his sleeve, and interested in what would happen next.
...
They arrived in a secluded valley.
Smooth, mirror-like ice walls rose all around its perimeter. In the center stood a small pavilion, and at its heart, a hexagonal stone pedestal.
Kazahana Dotō landed and strode quickly to the pedestal.
In its center was a hexagonal slot. Grinning, he held up a six-sided crystal.
"After all these years of planning, it's finally come to this. Hahaha! The Kazahana clan's secret treasure will at last be mine."
"Oh? Interesting. Let me see what the Kazahana clan's treasure really is," Kiyosuke said as he descended, flames curling around him in an aura of overwhelming power.
"Hmph! Then watch—and see what happens to those who cross me!"
Without another word, Dotō placed the crystal into the slot, twisted it, and pressed down.
Buzz!!
A blinding light burst from the pedestal. A pillar of light shot into the sky, spreading outward in six directions.
From above, the ice walls aligned perfectly with the light's path, forming the shape of a giant snowflake.
One by one, the ice walls lit with rainbow colors.
Kiyosuke's eyes narrowed.
"So that's it… This must be the legend of the Land of Snow."
As the light faded, a faint mist filled the air.
Kiyosuke, ever sensitive to water, noticed that the mist was thick with moisture—and even his elemental form was beginning to feel unstable.
"What is this?"
"Where's the treasure? Where is it?!" Dotō looked around in confusion.
Sshhh!
A strange sound rose, followed by the rush of flowing water.
Steaming hot springs began gushing from nowhere, flooding into the valley to form a river. Ice and snow melted rapidly, exposing the ground beneath, while the mist thickened.
"A geothermal generator?!"
As the current daimyo of the Land of Snow, Kazahana Dotō recognized the device immediately. His face went pale.
"This… This is the Kazahana clan's treasure? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I don't believe it!!!"
This was the great treasure their clan had guarded for generations?
What was the point of such a thing?!
It had no meaning at all!
The Kazahana clan should have been protecting a treasure that could conquer the world—not this!
Then what had all his years of effort been for?!
Was it all for nothing?!
"Hahahaha… So that's how it is. The Land of Snow's brief spring must be the work of this device. The Kazahana clan truly is remarkable—no wonder they could rule this country."
It was obvious that this was no project of just one or two generations. The sheer manpower and resources required were immense; it must have been created long, long ago.
The one who designed and built it was a true genius—someone who had given the frozen Land of Snow a taste of spring, allowing its people to see what it looked like.
A kind soul indeed…
Shame about one of their descendants.
"You think this is funny?! Damn you! Ice Release: Black Dragon Blizzard!"
In a rage, Dotō formed hand seals, amplifying his power with his Chakra Armor.
The untouched snow and ice swirled upward, forming a black, raging tornado. It took the shape of a furious dragon, which roared as it lunged at Kiyosuke.
"A sneak attack? That's not very honorable."
Kiyosuke inhaled deeply. Facing the oncoming black dragon, he showed not the slightest panic. His mouth opened wide, and blazing fire poured forth.
"Flame Jet!"
Boom!
The torrent of fire smashed into the black dragon, shattering it. Kiyosuke quickly dispersed the flames—if he let them burn freely, the geothermal generator might be destroyed, and he had no intention of paying for the ruin of an entire nation's lifeline.
"Die!!!"
With his jutsu ineffective, Dotō charged headlong, fists clenched, and swung hard at Kiyosuke.
Boom!
Kiyosuke caught the punch squarely. The immense force between them shattered the ice beneath their feet, sending water surging upward. They stood on breaking ice, trading blow for blow.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!!!"
As they fought, Dotō roared in disbelief. He couldn't accept that a human could possess such raw power—meeting the full strength of his Chakra Armor head-on without yielding an inch!
"This is humanity, Dotō. Relying on borrowed tools will never take you to the end. The ones who bring down the stars will always be human. You… will never obtain that kind of power!"
With a surge of strength, Kiyosuke threw him back.
"Impossible! The human body has limits! How could you possibly wield this kind of power?! Die! Ice Release: Twin Dragon Blizzard!!!"
Two black dragons rose, clashing in midair before merging into a single swirling black storm.
The pressure was immense as it closed in, but Kiyosuke brought his palms together, sending a pillar of flame skyward. It twisted into a dragon of fire, just as massive, and the two forces clashed—storm and flame tearing at each other in a fierce struggle.
Kiyosuke leapt forward, appearing before Dotō.
"Dotō, your days are over!"
"Shut up! How could I lose?! I am the daimyo of the Land of Snow! The king of this country! I am invincible! There's no way I could lose to the likes of you! Never!!!"
Dotō roared and threw another heavy punch, but Kiyosuke blocked it, driving his own fist into Dotō's face.
The force hurled Dotō into one of the rainbow ice walls.
Boom!
The wall shattered.
"...Oh no. Am I going to have to pay for that?!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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