บท 122: Arata Yuki's Triumph Over Kumogakure's Might

In another quarter of Kirigakure, Arata Yuki led his forces amidst a landscape transformed into a wintry battlefield. The area was nearly entirely blanketed in ice, a testament to the Yuki clan's mastery of Ice Release techniques.

However, despite the strategic advantage this provided, the Yuki clan faced overwhelming odds. Kirigakure's forces vastly outnumbered them, and the intense combat had inflicted heavy casualties on Arata's clansmen, stirring a deep indignation within him.

As the battle raged, Arata caught sight of a distant but intense skirmish—the unmistakable figures of Hikari Hyuga and the Third Mizukage locked in combat. The sight of the Mizukage being pushed back by Hikari was a spark of hope amidst the desperate struggle.

Inspired by this turn of events, Arata saw an opportunity to motivate his weary troops and invigorate their spirits with the possibility of a significant victory.

"That's the Mizukage there, you see it? The Third Mizukage!", Arata yelled, pointing towards the distant fight on a hill in the distance, ensuring his voice carried over the clamor of battle.

"Hikari Hyuga managed to push him so far. It means we all have to win this time and finally change this rotten village!"

His words echoed across the icy fields, resonating with the tired but resolute warriors of the Yuki clan. "Fight harder, fight harder! Our victory is in sight!" he shouted, his tone infused with fierce determination.

His message was clear: the struggle they endured was not just for survival but for a transformative victory that could reshape their futures.

Emboldened by Arata's rallying cry, the Yuki clansmen renewed their efforts. The ice around them seemed to thrum with renewed energy as they channeled their resolve into their techniques, fighting with a reinvigorated spirit.

After Arata's words reinvigorated the Yuki clansmen, the battlefield surged with a new wave of Ice Release techniques. The elite warriors of the Yuki clan unleashed a barrage of their basic yet potent abilities.

Ice spears and needles shot through the air with lethal precision, targeting the advancing Kirigakure forces, while massive walls of ice sprang up to shield the Yuki fighters from counterattacks.

The icy projectiles embedded themselves into the ground and enemy shields, creating a jagged landscape of frozen hazards that impeded the enemy's movements.

Meanwhile, Arata himself contributed significantly to the strategic offensive. He conjured a series of Ice Release Shadow Clones, a ninjutsu that multiplied his presence on the battlefield and added a deadly layer to their combat strategy.

These clones, imbued with ice chakra, moved swiftly through the ranks of his troops, charging into the fray.

Each clone was a ticking time bomb of frost, designed to freeze anything upon contact. As the clones engaged the enemy and were destroyed in combat, they exploded into bursts of intense cold, freezing nearby Kirigakure shinobi and turning them into statues of ice.

This tactic caused chaos and hesitation among the enemy ranks, as the fear of triggering these frozen traps made them think twice before striking down the advancing clones.

As the Yuki clan pressed their advantage, the forces of Kirigakure were pushed into a defensive posture.

However, this shift was short-lived as the newly arrived reinforcements from Kumogakure, led by a skilled shinobi named Toroi, were finally ready to execute their counter-strategy.

Utilizing the humid and misty climate of the area, they prepared a tactical surprise that would tilt the battlefield in their favor.

Under Toroi's command, the Kumogakure shinobi combined their Water and Lightning Release expertise to create the "Electrified Mist Jutsu."

This technique involved generating a dense, electrified mist that enveloped the area where the Yuki clan forces were concentrated.

The mist, saturated with electrical energy, turned into a deadly trap. As it spread, the air itself became a conductor of electricity, creating a hazardous environment for anyone caught within it.

When the Yuki clansmen, engaged in their offensive, encountered the mist, they found themselves suddenly besieged by electric shocks.

The shocks were not merely painful but debilitating, paralyzing some and disorienting others, and were even deadly for the lesser experienced fighters in large numbers.

The ability to move was compromised, and utilizing chakra became risky, as each attempt could trigger further electrocution.

This jutsu was not only offensive but also served defensive purposes. It effectively halted the Yuki clan's advance, protected the retreats of Kirigakure's shinobi, and trapped the enemy within a zone where moving forward or escaping carried the risk of intense electrocution.

The effectiveness of the Electrified Mist Jutsu lay in its strategic combination of the mist's obscuring properties and the lightning's lethality, turning the environment itself into a weapon.

The integration of Water Release to create or enhance the existing mist and Lightning Release to infuse it with electrical energy was a testament to the skill and coordination of the Kumogakure shinobi.

This tactical move forced the Yuki clan to reconsider their strategies and find new ways to counter the electrified barrier that now hindered their previously unstoppable advance.

Seeing the devastating effect of the Electrified Mist Jutsu and the dire predicament of his clansmen, Arata's frustration and anger boiled over.

The sight of Yuki clansmen trapped and vulnerable, with Kirigakure shinobi moving in for the kill, was too much to bear.

His expression hardened with resolve, his eyes narrowing with lethal intent as he spotted the Kumogakure shinobi still actively sustaining the electric mist.

Without hesitation, Arata leaped into action, his movements swift and decisive. He targeted the group of Kumogakure shinobi responsible for the electrified barrier, knowing that neutralizing them was critical to breaking the deadly trap ensnaring his clan.

Arata unleashed one of his most powerful techniques as he approached his targets, Ice Release: Hundred Flying Ice Daggers. This advanced version of the Ice Release: Thousand Flying Ice Needles was far more deadly and precise.

He rapidly shaped water into several dozen sharp, thick ice daggers, freezing them in mid-air. With a flick of his wrist and a focused burst of chakra, the daggers converged on the Kumogakure shinobi from multiple directions.

The ice daggers sliced through the air with deadly accuracy, attempting to skewer the targets with such force and precision that survival was impossible. Each dagger was aimed at incapacitating and neutralizing the target immediately.

However, in the next second, just as Arata's attack seemed destined to succeed, a formidable counter challenged his efforts.

From the ranks of the Kumogakure shinobi, a powerful voice rang out, "Not so fast." Dodai, the second-in-command of the Kumogakure forces here, stepped forward to intervene.

"Think you can break through? Not while I'm here!", Dodai, known for his mastery of the Lava Release kekkei genkai, swiftly acted to protect his fellow shinobi.

Combining both fire and earth-natured chakra, he summoned his unique ability to create an extremely durable, rubber-like substance.

This material was not only resistant to physical impacts but also possessed remarkable properties that made it an ideal defense against a variety of jutsu.

With swift, practiced movements, Dodai shaped the rubber-like substance into a massive wall that rose in front of the oncoming ice daggers.

The wall's bouncy and absorbent nature caught and neutralized the momentum of the ice daggers, effectively stopping them in their tracks.

The daggers, designed for penetration and damage, were thwarted by the rubber's resilience. Their lethal points were harmlessly embedded in the thick, elastic barrier.

Not stopping there, Dodai manipulated additional rubber to form large balls, which he hurled towards the Yuki clan fighters.

These balls served as crafty distractions, bouncing unpredictably and forcing Arata's fighters to divide their attention.

Some tried to dodge the cumbersome projectiles, while others attempted to destroy them, only to find their efforts wasting valuable chakra on the resilient material.

This all contributed to further casualties among their ranks in such a relatively short period.

However, as the battle escalated with Dodai's intervention and Arata was just about to focus his attention on him, Toroi, the first in command of the Kumogakure forces, didn't allow him that. He also took his turn to strike and exploit this opportunity, now targeting Arata and his troubled Yuki clansmen.

Known for his tactical acumen and unique weaponry, Toroi was ready to deploy his formidable arsenal.

Toroi wielded several distinctive square-shaped shuriken, varying in size and designed for maximum damage.

These shuriken were typically sealed within a scroll for convenience and rapid deployment. In the heat of battle, Toroi cleverly held the scroll between his teeth, freeing both hands for combat maneuvers and allowing for a swift and relentless attack.

To maximize the impact of his assault, Toroi used a technique involving threading a substantial number of these shuriken along a length of rope.

This setup enabled him to launch a devastating barrage of shuriken with a single swing, creating a deadly rain of metal that was difficult to anticipate and nearly impossible to evade fully.

Adding to the lethality of his attack, Toroi utilized his signature, legendary Magnet Release kekkei genkai. As the shuriken made contact with any surface or were near their targets, he magnetized them.

This allowed him to manipulate a powerful magnetic field beyond the initial impact point.

Any other metallic objects—or subsequent shuriken thrown into the fray—were also pulled toward the magnetized spots, chaining attacks together and increasing the area of effect.

This strategic use of Magnet Release turned the battlefield into an even more perilous zone, for the Yuki, where the simple act of carrying a weapon could make one a magnet for further attacks.

As the battle raged on, the toll on the Yuki clan became increasingly severe, particularly after the devastating effects of the magnetic and rubber-like attacks orchestrated by Dodai and Toroi in a very short period of time.

Arata watched, after freezing all of the incoming attacks toward himself next, with a heart heavy with despair, as more of his clansmen fell or were incapacitated, their numbers dwindling under the relentless assault.

Arata surveyed the battlefield, his face a mask of resolve tinged with grief. His eyes reflected the pain of each loss.

Despite the overwhelming situation, his voice rang clear and strong, carrying both command and a deep, resonant fury as he addressed his remaining fighters and his adversaries:

"To all Yuki warriors, listen to me!", Arata shouted, his pained voice cutting through the chaos resolutely and loudly, "We are facing a cunning and brutal enemy, but we will not yield!",

"Encase all of your metallic weapons with your Ice Release so hard as to make them completely useless, and rely only on your ninjutsu from now on.",

"Regroup and focus—use tactics that bypass their traps. We fight not just for victory but for survival and the honor of our fallen!",

Meanwhile, Toroi and Dodai, now observing the effectiveness of their tactics, from their vantage point, could see the disarray among the Yuki clan and the heavy toll their strategies had exacted.

"Well, they say hope freezes last. But in this case, it seems their tactics froze first! Let's keep the pressure; it looks like our little diversion is chilling their spirits as well as their bodies."

"Indeed, Toroi. It's almost sad. You'd think with all that ice, they'd have figured out something cooler than just throwing themselves at us."

In response to the mocking taunts from Toroi and Dodai, a great, chilling change overtook Arata. The atmosphere around him tensed as if the very air was bracing itself.

His chakra surged visibly, and a raw, powerful, icy, chilling aura emanated from him, signaling a near-breaking point fueled by rising anger and a fierce protective instinct for his clan.

As his Kekkei Genkai seemed to pulsate, ready to break free from its chains, Arata's voice cut through the noise of the battlefield, cold and unforgiving:

"There will not be one Kumogakure shinobi escaping alive today, and that obviously includes you two. Kumogakure will regret this interference, helping this cursed Mizukage in a war that does not concern you.",

Then, without giving them time to react or reply, Arata unleashed one of his most formidable jutsus. Gathering his chakra, he molded it with precision and intent, crafting an enormous, menacing dragon made entirely of flowing ice.

The Ice Release: Ice Dragon Bullet, a testament to his mastery and the depth of his fury, roared to life, its crystalline form glinting dangerously.

With a forceful motion, Arata propelled the ice dragon towards Toroi and Dodai while riding on top of it. The dragon moved with incredible speed and ferocity, its body twisting and writhing as it bore down on the two Kumogakure shinobi.

As Arata's formidable Ice Dragon Bullet surged toward them, Toroi and Dodai reacted with swift precision, each utilizing their unique abilities to escape the massive icy onslaught.

However, upon impact on the nearby hill and mauling a dozen of Kumogakure's shinobi on its trajectory, who weren't so lucky as their commanders, the dragon didn't just break passively; instead, it started actively exploding into a cascade of icy shards, the severe cold and sharp ice designed to pierce everything in its vicinity.

Although some were deflected or absorbed, many broke through, maintaining their lethal trajectory. This killed many nearby Kumogakure shinobi on the scene, although Dodai and Toroi dodged it all once again successfully, thanks to their mastery.

Amidst this chaos, Arata, who had been riding atop the ice dragon, now found himself propelled forward, closer than ever to his two main targets.

He seized the opportunity and quickly initiated another powerful jutsu, Ice Release: Ice Golem. From the frost and mist of the exploded dragon, a large humanoid construct of ice formed around Arata.

The towering and formidable golem featured limbs that could transform into razor-sharp ice blades and claws at Arata's command.

With the Kumogakure shinobi now preoccupied and unable to sustain their Electrified Mist Jutsu, thanks to Arata's onslaught, the battlefield dynamics shifted significantly once again.

The Yuki clan members, relieved of the paralyzing electric threat, found themselves better positioned to combat the Kirigakure shinobi alone.

The tide of the battle began to turn as the remaining Yuki fighters exploited this advantage, pushing back with renewed vigor against their opponents.

Meanwhile, having created a strategic opening with his Ice Golem, Arata capitalized on the distraction among the Kumogakure ranks.

He maneuvered the massive ice construct with deadly precision, using its capabilities to launch razor-sharp ice shards at the enemy.

The golem, a formidable force under Arata's control, tore through the Kumogakure lines, dispatching shinobi after shinobi with its morphing icy appendages.

Realizing the direness of their situation, Dodai and Toroi faced the golem with a mix of determination and frustration.

The rubber-like barriers and magnetic fields they had relied on earlier were now under severe strain as Arata continually adapted his attacks to overcome their defenses.

Being a versatile and relentless adversary, the golem required them to use every bit of their tactical acumen and kekkei genkai abilities.

However, amid the clash, Dodai and Toroi, both top-notch Elite Jonin, began to break down the golem's structure bit by bit.

Dodai reshaped his rubber-like substance into hardened spikes that attempted to pierce the golem's icy exterior, while Toroi intensified his magnetic fields to increase the force of his huge metallic elements to the maximum possible, trying to tear the large icy golem open.

As they fought, Toroi shouted towards Arata, his voice filled with challenge and frustration, "You think this ice monstrosity can end us? Think again, Yuki!"

As the battle reached its peak, Arata sensed the structural integrity of his Ice Golem waning under the relentless attacks from Toroi and Dodai over time.

Realizing that the golem was nearing its end, Arata decided it was time to deploy a technique he had never successfully used in battle before if he wanted to win this fight.

Fueled by the previous strange, silent breakthrough in his kekkei genkai, he channeled a vast reservoir of chakra, preparing for a decisive move.

Just as the golem shattered into countless fragments, and Toroi and Dodai briefly rejoiced at their apparent victory, Arata unleashed his new, formidable jutsu.

From the remnants of the golem's icy structure, a massive tsunami of chakra surged forth, enveloping the area in a bitter cold that hinted at the power about to be unleashed.

"Ice Release: Grand Ice Prison" – this advanced version of the Ice Release: Ice Prison technique was Arata's gambit.

He created a gigantic glacier that rapidly expanded to fill the designated space, capturing everything and everyone caught within its reach.

The glacier was a barrier and a tomb designed to immobilize and preserve whatever it encased. The victims trapped inside remained conscious but utterly unable to move, their bodies slowly succumbing to the creeping frost that threatened to freeze them to death or leave them so brittle that they would shatter upon release and contact.

As the glacier solidified, Arata, with a forceful gesture, shattered large sections of the ice, causing the many nearby trapped Kumogakure shinobi, including Toroi and Dodai, to break apart with it. The sound of cracking ice echoed ominously across the battlefield, marking the end of Kumogakure's command structure in the area.

The effect of Arata's technique was not localized; even Hikari, engaged in his own fierce battle on the other side of the battlefield, sensed the enormous surge of chakra. It was clear that Arata had achieved a monumental breakthrough, pushing past his limits to turn the tide.

Meanwhile, now heavily drained of chakra, Arata did not allow himself to rest. With the main threat neutralized, he continued to employ lesser, but still effective, Ice Release techniques against the remaining Kumogakure forces.

The moral backbone of these forces was broken; they had witnessed their leaders' defeat and the terrifying power of Arata's ice. Their fighting spirit dampened, and they struggled to mount any significant defense.

Determined to clear the field and then assist the remnants of his clan against the Kirigakure shinobi behind him, Arata moved systematically. Each step, each spell he cast, was intending to finish the battle quickly.

As he fought, his mind was also with his clansmen, planning his next moves to support them and ensure that the sacrifices made were not in vain.

The battle for Kirigakure was far from over, but Arata had just delivered a critical blow that would echo through their enemies' ranks and bolster his allies' spirits.