The tension in the air was almost suffocating as Ryuga stood across from Mitsuki, sweat rolling down his face. The moment she had activated Moon Release, everything changed. The battlefield itself seemed to shift under the presence of her chakra, as if the moonlight had bent reality to her will. The audience, already stunned by the intense match so far, erupted into murmurs of disbelief.
Even the Kage's seating area stirred with discussion.
"What is this technique?" the Kazekage murmured, his eyes narrowing. "This is beyond a Kekkei Genkai…"
Minato, arms folded, remained silent but focused. He had anticipated Mitsuki's strength, but even he had not expected her to possess something of this magnitude.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, adjusted his hat. "A Kekkei Tōta… If that's true, this girl's power rivals the greatest shinobi of our time."
On the battlefield, Ryuga gritted his teeth as he struggled against the invisible weight pressing down on him. Gravity Suppression—Mitsuki's Moon Release technique—made every step feel like moving through deep water. His body screamed at him to stop, but his will refused to yield.
Mitsuki's voice carried across the battlefield, gentle yet firm.
"Ryuga… you should give up now. If you continue like this, it'll only end badly for you."
Ryuga clenched his fists. His pride refused to allow him to surrender. Even after pushing himself to his limits, he was still overwhelmed. His eyes instinctively darted to the stands, searching for his father—the legendary Fourth Hokage.
Minato gave the slightest nod, a wordless encouragement.
Ryuga's heart pounded. His father believed in him. He couldn't let this end here.
He took a slow, deep breath, calming his thoughts. The pressure around him hadn't lessened, but his mind sharpened. The ice chakra within him surged, intertwining with his breathing. The cold air around him began to flow like an aura, swirling in an unnatural rhythm. The ground beneath him frosted over, a thin layer of ice spreading out in a radius around him.
Mitsuki's golden eyes widened slightly.
'He's doing it…' she thought, a small smile forming on her lips.
Ryuga whispered the words in his heart.
"Frost Drive."
A blast of icy chakra erupted from his body, shattering the oppressive gravity surrounding him. The audience gasped as a sharp, chilling wind swept through the stadium.
Ryuga vanished.
A moment later, he appeared right in front of Mitsuki, faster than ever before. His movements were precise and fluid, his reflexes heightened by the Frost Drive state.
He attacked.
His Ice Dragon's Claw shot toward Mitsuki, aiming for a decisive blow. But Mitsuki was ready. With a smooth sidestep, she dodged, countering with a rapid palm strike. Ryuga barely managed to block, sliding back on the icy ground.
His speed had increased dramatically—but he was still struggling.
Mitsuki tested him further, her gravitational force fluctuating unpredictably. Ryuga had no choice but to keep moving, constantly adjusting to her shifting battlefield.
He knew he had only one chance.
Summoning all of his remaining chakra, he poured it into his strongest attack.
"Ice Release: Ice Dragon's Roar!!"
A massive blast of freezing wind and jagged ice erupted from his mouth, a raging storm of destruction hurtling toward Mitsuki.
The crowd fell silent.
Even the Kages leaned forward in their seats.
But Mitsuki did not move.
Instead, she raised a single hand and formed a crescent mirror of light in front of her.
"Moon Release: Silver Moon Reflection."
The Ice Dragon's Roar collided with the mirror—and reflected back at Ryuga with twice the intensity.
BOOM!!!
The explosion of ice and wind sent shockwaves through the stadium. When the mist cleared, Ryuga was still standing. Barely. His body was covered in frost, his breath ragged.
Mitsuki smiled softly.
"…You're still conscious? That's amazing, Ryuga."
But he couldn't move anymore. His legs gave out.
Ryuga collapsed.
Mitsuki caught him before he hit the ground. The audience erupted into cheers, awed by the intense battle.
As she gently lifted him onto the medical stretcher, she whispered into his ear.
"…Sorry, Ryuga. But I hope you learn something from this."
She turned to face the crowd, her voice carrying across the stadium.
"For those wondering—Moon Release is a Kekkei Tōta."
A wave of shock ran through the audience. The Kages exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.
Meanwhile, Minato watched silently, his expression unreadable.
As Ryuga was carried off, the last thing he heard was the sound of Mitsuki's gentle laughter and the deafening cheers of the crowd.