Under the influence of the special chakra tool and the Land of Snow's frigid climate, Dotō Kazahana's Ice Release was indeed formidable—its sheer scale rivaled or even surpassed typical A-rank jutsu.
But his opponent wasn't a mere foot soldier—he was a true boss. Kisame Hoshigaki showed no mercy. With Samehada having absorbed an enormous surge of chakra, Kisame focused that energy and unleashed his signature move:
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Instead of freezing it instantly with his One-Horned White Whale technique, the tsunami-like torrent unleashed was catastrophic. Dotō's mocking smirk transformed into shock and disbelief at the sheer volume and ferocity.
A towering tidal wave erupted from Kisame's mouth, instantly engulfing everything around it.
Ordinarily, Ice Release would freeze and nullify Water Release, but when the volume of water is massive enough, ice can't keep up—it simply melts away.
Dotō's One-Horned White Whale felt insignificant in the face of that torrent of waterike an entire lake. It was swallowed by the water in an instant, slowly dissolving within it.
Dotō Kazahana and his Snow Ninja were swept away by the onslaught.
In mere seconds, a lake formed where none existed.
"This..."
"Is this even possible for a human!?"
Koyuki Kazahana and Sandayu Asama, who had been utterly desperate moments before, were now completely stunned, held by Ayako Mizunai and Dentaro. They hadn't blinked for a long time, utterly disbelieving the "miracle" before their eyes.
Tears ran down Sandayu's face as he clung to Dentaro, trembling:
"There's hope. Hope at last... thank you all!"
He turned to Ayako:
"Kirigakure's lord, kill Dotō Kazahana now! When we reclaim the throne, we'll pay more than a million ryō—two million... no, three million ryō!"
Ayako calmed him:
"Let's hold off. First, let Lord Kisame finish this."
The massive volume of water washed away all the ice and cold. Dotō Kazahana's face was filled with terror as he frantically swam away from the water.
He couldn't win. It was simply impossible to win.
Facing such a monster, there was no way to win!
Seeing Dotō Kazahana desperately swim for the shore, the remaining Snow Ninja—scattered and disoriented—began fleeing in panic.
A savage gleam lit Kisame Hoshigaki's eyes as he twisted his fingers into a precise series of hand seals.
"None of you are getting away today!"
With that, he unleashed:
"Water Release: Five Feeding Sharks!"
Five chakra sharks burst forth, tearing through the water and into the fleeing Snow Ninja. Within moments, the blood-red tide stained the lake.
Sandayu Asama and Koyuki Kazahana's faces both turned pale at this sight, but they continued to stare intently at everything unfolding before them.
"How can I not escape? How can I!"
The deaths of the Snow Ninja trailing behind him sent waves of panic through Dōtō Kazahana's mind. The once‑fearsome usurper of the Land of Snow's throne now thrashed through the water like a desperate stray dog, utterly terrified.
Unfortunately, no matter how much he swam, he could never escape the water's surface. The range of this Water Release seemed boundless, causing despair.
"No… this can't be happening…"
The bloodthirsty, life-taking sharks surged in with terrifying speed.
Dōtō Kazahana didn't even have time to scream. Before he could utter another word, the beasts tore into him—ripping his body apart and dragging him under. His life was snuffed out in an instant.
Koyuki Kazahana and Sandayu Asama were frozen, unable to respond. The man who had loomed over them like an invincible demon was gone—defeated in under a few minutes.
"It's over... just like that?" Koyuki whispered, eyes fixated on Dotō's lifeless body in Kisame's hands.
Sandayu, ready for a desperate escape with Koyuki, found himself stunned. "We… we just asked for help—and he's gone already?"
Is this the power of Kirigakure, the village that defeated Konoha?
"Lord Fourth once told me that we could help you reclaim the position of country ruler and restore your nation," Kisame said, dropping Dotō Kazahana's body before them: "But there's no such thing as a free lunch. You must pay the corresponding price."
"We can add more money! Five million ryō, no, ten million ryō!"
Sandayu Asama said hastily.
Ten million ryō—Land of Snow's absolute limit, and it'd probably have to be paid in installments. If Princess Koyuki regained the throne, she'd need funds to stabilize the nation, win over the people, and rebuild.
"We are willing to pay ten million ryō. We implore the distinguished ninja of Kirigakure to…"
"You want Land of Snow for yourselves too, don't you?!" Koyuki's sudden outburst made the three Kirigakure ninja's eyes narrow sharply. Even Sandayu's face turned ashen, horror flickering in his gaze.
My princess—what are you doing?!
That terrifying ninjutsu, like a natural disaster, was a power we couldn't possibly contend with! At this moment, instead of clinging to their power, you're provoking them? Isn't this just asking for trouble?!
"My lords, Koyuki is still young, her words are innocent, so..."
Kisame looked at Koyuki, unphased:
"Land of Snow is barren—cold, remote, without people, resources, or future. Even if Kirigakure took it free, Lord Fourth wouldn't bother to govern it."
He fixed them with a stern stare:
"I simply ask that you state your price clearly. Otherwise, if after the mission you fail to provide something of equivalent value and we have to take it ourselves, it will seriously damage the future cooperation between our two nations."
Sandayu gulped:
"Yes, yes, yes, Lord, your words are absolutely correct! We will certainly provide the proper mission compensation: ten million ryō! At least ten million ryō!"
But Koyuki interrupted:
"Sandayu, we don't even have ten million ryō."
"The national treasury has—"
"No, it doesn't. When Father entrusted me to you all, I witnessed the state of the treasury myself. Forget about ten million ryō—even one million ryō is beyond our means."
Oh, you're unbelievable—truly unbelievable!
Sandayu Asama's face crumpled in despair.
He was fully aware of Snow Country's dire state—but that made securing Kirigakure's aid even more urgent, even if it meant stretching the truth.
With that backing, reclaiming the throne first and repaying the debt later was smart. Her impulsive words, however, were sabotaging everything.
"Is that so?" Kisame said coolly, a faint smile curling at the edge of his mouth. "I respect your honesty—but I won't go against Lord Fourth's orders. You may inherit your country, but Kirigakure will claim what it deserves."
...
"What a truly magnificent spectacle!"
Within the Land of Snow, at the Rainbow Glacier.
Yuki Yoru, clad in the Fourth Mizukage's haori, arrived here through the power of Reverse Summoning. He surveyed his surroundings, his gaze finally settling on the ice walls that shimmered with iridescent light under the faint glow. He remarked with a hint of awe: "I never thought the Land of Snow could create such a unique wonder!"
The Rainbow Glacier wasn't just ordinary ice. It was a valley, nestled between three snowy mountain ranges.
The winding mountain bodies had been polished into six colossal rectangular ice walls, each a hundred meters high, forming a perfect hexagon.
The ice walls were smooth and pristine, standing like crystalline mirrors amidst the snow-capped peaks, catching the subtle light and refracting it into a spectrum of colors.
At the very heart of these six ice walls lay an expansive, flat hexagonal altar carved from ice. Within the altar stood a small, elegant pavilion, its roof adorned with glazed tiles, its edges curving up into six delicate points that mirrored the surrounding ice walls. Inside the pavilion was a stone platform with a distinctive keyhole.
"Lord Fourth, according to the legends of the Land of Snow's royal family, the secret treasure of the Land of Snow lies beneath this Rainbow Glacier!"
Kisame Hoshigaki, with Samehada strapped to his back, murmured: "The previous ruler of the Land of Snow poured vast resources into constructing this place. That was also one of Dotō Kazahana's reasons for his usurpation. He believed a massive treasure, or perhaps a secret power capable of conquering the Shinobi Nations, was hidden here!"
"Conquering the Shinobi Nations might be an exaggeration, but there's indeed a vast reservoir of energy beneath this ground."
Yoru gazed at the patterns on the altar. In the original tale, beneath this Rainbow Glacier lay a massive geothermal generator.
Once activated, it could melt the decades-long winter that had gripped the Land of Snow in a mere blink. It was Sōmon Kazahana's life's work—but it held no meaning to Yoru.
His true target was the energy source that powered it.
"Seal off the area. The operation may get loud."
"Understood, Lord Fourth!"
Kisame Hoshigaki expertly wove hand seals, unleashing the Hiding in Mist Jutsu. At the same time, he infused the mist with an enormous amount of chakra, ensuring that not even sound could escape.
Seeing Kisame Hoshigaki's prompt action, Yoru nodded in satisfaction. He suddenly lifted his left foot and stomped forcefully downwards.
With a loud crack, the ice beneath them shattered, revealing a massive, dark machine. At its far end glowed a primitive but intricate sealing formula.
"Crude sealing technique—but combined with ninja tech, they've managed to harness this energy... Truly, science builds nations."
Clicking his tongue, Yoru drew a scroll and unsealed a gourd-shaped vessel forged from rare Purple Clay.
Purple Clay was a precious material in the shinobi world, often used to craft sealing vessels strong enough to contain even Tailed Beasts. It had extremely high chakra insulation and, when paired with specialized jutsu, made it nearly impossible to break the seal.
It was costly and rare. Even Kirigakure had limited reserves—but Yoru, as Mizukage, had access to a supply.
"Let's begin…"
"Four Symbols Release!"
The powerful Four Symbols Release forcibly unraveled the crude seal below. In the nature of chakra, stronger chakra always suppresses weaker chakra. Even if the key didn't match the lock, the strength of the Four Symbols Release was enough to force the seal open.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
A fierce wind suddenly kicked up. The air howled, snow was swept into spiraling gusts, and the temperature dropped again.
The black machine rumbled and stirred, but without the original seal in place, it malfunctioned. Loud clanks and cracks echoed from within—it was clearly breaking apart under the surge of uncontrolled chakra.
"Squeal! Squeal! Squeal!!"
Samehada thrashed excitedly on Kisame's back, reacting to the immense chakra.
"Lord Fourth, this...!"
"Don't panic. Keep it under control." Yoru cast a glance at the writhing blade. "Samehada's powerful, but it's still a weapon. Tools exist to serve us—not the other way around."
"I can tell your compatibility with this blade is exceptionally high. Master it well, and you'll be one of our Kirigakure's newest Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"
"Yes, Lord Fourth!"
As Kisame answered excitedly, the blizzard intensified. A massive tornado of snow and wind spun around the altar like a world-ending storm.
The ground quaked. Cracks split the earth like a shattered tortoise shell.
"What immense power! It seems my trip here was truly worth it!"
Feeling the chakra stir violently, Yoru's excitement deepened. In a flash, he appeared beside the ruined geothermal generator. The sealing gourd in his hand pointed directly at the roaring chakra source.
"Absorb!"
With a low command, the gourd's mouth opened, and an immense suction erupted outward. Intricate sealing runes radiated from the mouth of the gourd, wrapping around the entire generator in seconds.
The atmosphere grew heavier. The once-raging chakra, still transforming the landscape, grew even more unstable—but now it was being pulled into the gourd at a steady pace.
"This chakra… Lord Fourth is actually sealing it?!"
Kisame was stunned. The chakra wasn't quite on par with a Tailed Beast, but sealing something of this scale should've been incredibly difficult.
Yet Yoru did it alone—and effortlessly.
"Truly worthy of the Fourth Mizukage…"
Before Kisame's astonished eyes, countless streams of chakra were devoured by the sealing gourd.
The chaos gradually subsided. The tremors ended. Only thick, condensed chakra remained—being steadily consumed by the gourd.
"That should be enough."
"Seal!"
Yoru activated the sealing technique. The gourd's surface glowed with layered runes. With a quiet motion, he inserted a wooden stopper into the gourd's mouth.
The Land of Snow's chakra—successfully secured.
This immense chakra source would serve Kirigakure well—powering their Duel Tower, chakra experiments, or even infrastructure projects.
In short, this acquisition would greatly ease Kirigakure's energy burden as they entered a rapid phase of development.
"Reverse Summoning won't last long. Kisame—take charge of the chakra technology from here." Yoru patted his shoulder. "You're now Kirigakure's Samehada wielder."
"Heh heh heh, thank you, Lord Fourth!"
Kisame grinned widely, rows of shark-like teeth gleaming. "I'll handle everything perfectly!"
"Good. I'll be taking my leave."
Reverse Summoning consumed a tremendous amount of chakra. Even with Kisame as the anchor, it couldn't be sustained for long.
With a puff of smoke, Yoru vanished.
Now formally recognized by Yoru, "Seven Ninja Swordsman – Samehada Wielder, Kisame Hoshigaki" headed into the Land of Snow to regroup with Ayako and Dentaro.
Ayako and Dentaro—members of Kirigakure's Cypher Division—were already experts at intelligence and data retrieval. By the time Kisame returned, they had fully collected all information related to the Land of Snow's chakra technology.
"All done!" Ayako smiled. "Did you handle your part too, Kisame-senpai?"
"Yeah. Lord Fourth even came himself—and officially entrusted me with Samehada."
"Woah! Woah!!" ×2
"Lord Fourth came? Where? Where!?"
"So you're officially one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen now?! That's amazing!"
Dentaro looked around with excitement. Ayako smiled warmly at Kisame and, with a playful wink, added:
"Then as a celebration… may I treat you to dinner, Kisame-senpai?"
"Wh-What?"
Kisame blinked, stunned by the amber-eyed girl's boldness.
"Me…?"
---
After completing the mission in the Land of Snow, Kisame Hoshigaki's team didn't linger. They left the country immediately.
With Dotō Kazahana dead, Kisame and the others only needed to make a brief appearance alongside Princess Koyuki Kazahana. The remnants of Dotō Kazahana's forces quickly surrendered, and as the rightful heir, Koyuki naturally reclaimed her position as the new Daimyō of the Land of Snow.
However, even Kisame could see it clearly—Koyuki, still young and inexperienced, would struggle to truly govern. The future of the Land of Snow would likely fall into the hands of power-hungry regents, or once again descend into civil strife.
But that wasn't their concern anymore.
Kisame's team moved quickly. Not long after leaving the Land of Snow, the bitter cold began to fade into more temperate climates.
The Land of Snow lay far from the Land of Water. The most direct route back required crossing through the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire, then passing through the Land of Waves to finally reach the Land of Water.
However, to avoid attracting attention from Iwagakure and Konohagakure, and to stay clear of unnecessary conflict, Kisame's group deliberately chose an alternate route—passing through smaller countries like the Land of Demons, the Land of Bears, and the Land of Birds.
Many of these minor nations were still plagued by war and chaos, with rogue ninja roving their borders. But compared to the Five Great Nations, these places posed little threat.
After all, they now had a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen traveling with them.
But what Kisame's team hadn't expected was that shortly after leaving the Land of Demons and stepping into the Land of Swamps—they ran into serious trouble.
BOOM!!
A massive explosion erupted, sending dirt and dust billowing into the sky.
Dentaro staggered back, panting heavily as he shouted, "Damn it! These monsters just won't die!"
Before Kisame's three-man squad stood a group of towering, stone-armored warriors wielding weapons. They were golems—huge, lifeless puppets—but now moved with uncanny speed and coordination, forming ranks and charging like living soldiers.
Ayako and Dentaro struck down several using ninjutsu, but the next moment brought horror: the shattered stone warriors began to reassemble and stand up again.
"They're… immortal?!"
"How's that even possible?!"
"They all have an incredibly peculiar chakra coursing through them. That must be what's causing this. I can use Samehada to drain that power."
He slashed one golem clean in two. The regeneration of that one slowed noticeably.
But it was far too inefficient. There were hundreds—thousands—of these creatures. Taking them down one by one with Samehada was not an option.
Worse, Kisame could feel Samehada's reaction—revulsion. It was resisting the chakra inside those puppets.
"It's disgusting," he muttered. "Samehada doesn't even want to eat it."
"What in the world happened to the Land of Swamps? And what the hell are these things?!"
Another shattered golem reformed before their eyes. Dentaro growled and clenched his fists, brow furrowed.
Since when did such a force exist in the shinobi world?
Could it be some sinister organization, rising up in the aftermath of the war, now exploiting the Great Nations' post-war weakness to launch their own chaos?
"Don't get bogged down fighting these things!" Kisame barked. "Break through and get this info back to the village!"
Completely in the dark about what was happening in the Land of Swamps—and with no data on these strange, immortal puppets—the group didn't dare stay. After tearing through a few more enemies, they began their retreat at full speed.
But what they saw along the way shocked even veterans of the Blood Mist.
Stone puppets—rampaging everywhere.
Not just small villages—even marketplaces and larger towns had been decimated. The death toll was horrifying. The brutality left even these hardened shinobi frowning grimly.
"What the hell has happened to this country…?"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin