The lake surface froze in an instant—ice spreading outward in a visible wave until the entire water basin had turned solid.
Kuji and Ringo didn't react; to them, this was normal.
But the Kumogakure shinobi were stunned.
"The lake… froze?"
"How did he do that?"
"Is that the Mizukage's ability?"
"That's Ice Release—the Yuki Clan's kekkei genkai!"
Hearing their shock, Kuji let out a disdainful snort.
Making such a fuss over this little trick? Lord Shigure's abilities were far from simple.
If this alone amazed them, their jaws would soon be on the ground.
Even the Fourth Raikage looked at Shigure with genuine surprise.
"What astonishing power."
He had intended to use the lake to his advantage—but he had momentarily forgotten that Shigure possessed Ice Release.
Of course he did.
With the surname Yuki, his lineage was obvious.
"Shall we begin?" Shigure asked, impatience slipping into his voice.
Sensing Shigure's eagerness, the Raikage raised a hand, removed his jacket, and tossed it aside.
"Very well. But before we start… how do we decide the winner?"
Shigure smiled.
"Simple. We fight until one side surrenders."
Surrender?
For two Kage, that was more than defeat—it was disgrace.
Losing meant surrendering not only maritime territory but the pride of an entire village.
The Raikage's facial muscles twitched. No one had ever provoked him like this.
Shigure was the first.
"Fine," he growled. "I'll play along."
Buzz.
Chakra surged violently from the Raikage's body, the pressure cracking and sinking the ice beneath his feet.
Facing the Fourth Raikage—whose aura rose like a thunderstorm—Shigure showed no sign of concern. He took one slow step forward.
And then, without warning, accelerated into a run.
But his speed didn't appear impressive. In fact, it looked almost… ordinary.
Yet something about that run felt unnatural, unsettling.
Shigure's fist shot forward, aiming directly at the Raikage.
A fistfight?
Everyone watching immediately realized the provocation.
To challenge the Fourth Raikage—a man renowned for overwhelming physical power—in close combat, and with bare fists at that…
"Is he mocking Lord Fourth Raikage?"
"He's insane! Lord Raikage will crush him instantly!"
Shigure, clearly a swordsman given the blade on his back, had abandoned his weapon to engage in taijutsu. An insult, pure and simple.
When Shigure reached him, the Raikage gathered his strength and threw his own punch to meet Shigure's.
The fists collided.
And the seemingly simple clash detonated into a violent shockwave.
BOOM!!
Veins bulged on the Raikage's forehead as his eyes widened, a flicker of disbelief flashing across his face.
The force traveling through his arm shocked him.
How is this brat this strong!?
It shouldn't have been possible.
Shigure's raw physical strength was on par with his own.
The Fourth Raikage could scarcely accept it.
"You're built like a mountain," Shigure said, tone bored. "Is that really all the Raikage's strength amounts to?"
The Raikage—already unsettled—erupted in fury.
He stomped down, releasing explosive power.
Crack!—BOOM!
Shigure's body was blasted backward, sent flying across the frozen lake.
Shigure spun twice in the air before landing firmly on the ice.
He nodded, satisfied.
"This force is about right."
Since the Raikage had increased his power, Shigure decided to respond in kind.
Boil Release: Matchless Monstrous Strength.
Hiss—!!
Steam burst from Shigure's body, white vapor curling around him as he launched forward again.
This time, his speed was vastly greater.
Compared to earlier, he seemed like an entirely different person.
The Kumogakure shinobi were stunned.
"So fast!"
Crash!
With both his speed and strength heightened, Shigure's airborne kick slammed into the Raikage's arm.
The collision detonated a violent rush of air, fracturing the surrounding ice in an instant.
Landing lightly, Shigure nodded in approval.
"Not bad. You actually blocked it."
The steam dissipated from his body as his chakra surged.
The Raikage, still absorbing the force of that kick, was genuinely shocked by Shigure's sudden explosion of power.
But Shigure was already moving again.
This time, light flared faintly across his body.
With Light Release accelerating him, his speed reached its absolute peak.
An instant.
A single blink.
Shigure was already in front of the Raikage, his fist cutting upward toward the man's jaw.
Thump!
His uppercut connected cleanly—
—but at the same time, the Raikage's counterpunch hammered into Shigure's chest.
Both attacks landed simultaneously.
The Raikage was blasted skyward, flying dozens of meters before crashing down onto the ice far away.
Shigure slid backward across the ice, a tight pressure spreading across his chest.
But with the protection of Shikotsumyaku, a blow of that level couldn't harm him.
Steadying himself, he exhaled.
"He's really tough… I didn't expect this. Has the Fourth Raikage refined his body to this level?"
This time, Shigure's expression held genuine admiration.
In the distance, the Raikage struggled to his feet, jaw throbbing with pain. For a brief moment, darkness clouded his vision.
What a ridiculous brat…
To unleash that kind of power in an instant… just what Ninjutsu was that?
While he tried to comprehend it, the sharp sound of steel rang across the frozen lake.
The Kumogakure shinobi tensed.
Shigure had drawn his sword.
"This guy… is he getting serious now?"
"Just now he fought Lord Raikage with a style he's not even specialized in—and he didn't lose."
"If he uses his sword…!"
Shigure swung.
The blade sang as it cut through the air—
—and a massive crescent-shaped slash wave erupted forward.
Whoosh—!!
The slash tore through the ice in a clean arc.
The Raikage dodged at the last moment—
—but behind the slash wave, Shigure's silhouette appeared.
The Kumogakure shinobi collectively froze.
When did he—?!
They had focused so intently on the attack that none of them noticed Shigure hiding in its wake.
Shigure's sword flashed horizontally, slicing toward the Raikage's neck.
His drawing speed was so fast, there was no time to evade.
The Raikage's eyes widened, heart hammering, staring at the blade as it closed in on him.
Damn it—!!
...
TN:
🔟 Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)