"Naruto: Ice God"Chapter 148: Sage Art: Ice Release: Grand Burial Formation of Dissipating Ice Clouds
The Third Mizukage, who ruled Kirigakure, was an old man now.
Having once followed the First Mizukage to attend the very first Five Kage Summit, he had long lost the vigor of his younger days. At this moment, he was nothing more than an aged man with perpetually squinted eyes.
He sat in the chair reserved only for the Mizukage, his narrow eyes carefully studying the scroll in his hands.
Beside the Third Mizukage, Genshi—who appeared to be roughly the same age—stroked his bald head, his gaze constantly fixed on a silver-haired youth in the room.
"Sunagakure has agreed to our demands."
Setting the scroll on the table, Genshi's trusted aide Ao stepped forward, respectfully picked up the scroll, and handed it to Genshi.
Unlike Konoha, elders in Kirigakure wielded authority equal to that of the Kage.
Therefore, although Ao's actions might seem improper, the Third Mizukage didn't take issue with him.
"So they want us to do the dirty work? That's Pakura of the Scorch Release—the one who took countless of our shinobi."
After seeing Rasa's attempt to have his cake and eat it too, Genshi chuckled with amusement.
"But since they're willing to lure her over with false pretenses, if we ambush her, we shouldn't suffer significant losses."
The Mizukage was optimistic about this operation.
As everyone knew, shinobi were inherently fragile beings.
Dust Release might look impressive and kill whoever it targeted, but a well-placed kunai could still kill any ninja.
In the Mizukage's long life experience, only two people were immune to kunai.
One was Uchiha Madara, who possessed the legendary Susanoo—the ultimate defensive technique.
The other was Senju Hashirama, whose monstrous vitality meant that even a hundred kunai wouldn't be much of a problem, let alone one.
Oh, he'd heard that Hashirama had once attempted suicide with a kunai and was stopped.
Tsk tsk, who was the fool who actually believed a single kunai could kill that man?
"What's your opinion?"
Emerging from his reminiscence, the Mizukage looked at the silver-haired youth before him with an expressionless face.
"We should end our conflicts with the mainland hidden villages as quickly as possible and focus our efforts on recovery."
The youth spoke at a measured pace, his tone neither servile nor arrogant.
"Well said, Yagura."
The Mizukage nodded approvingly at Yagura and assigned him the task: "You'll handle this matter."
Normally, this sort of thing should have been given to Suikazan Fuguki.
But that fool had died on Land of Fire soil without even leaving a complete corpse behind.
Even Samehada had been captured by Konoha.
No, not just Samehada—also the Thunder Swords and the Executioner's Blade.
Even the Three-Tails had—
What was supposed to be a simple raid had ended up hurting their own side the most.
Iwagakure had struck left and right, attacking both Kumogakure and Konoha, then emerged completely unscathed.
Kumogakure had attacked Sunagakure and been repelled, attacked Iwagakure and lost a Kage in an ambush, attacked Konoha with no progress to this day—and the newly appointed Fourth Raikage was still stubbornly choosing to continue his death match with Konoha.
Sunagakure had lost their historically strongest Kazekage, been beaten by Kumogakure, but suffered no substantial losses and was now quietly licking their wounds.
Only Kirigakure had lost the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, massive numbers of shinobi, and even a Tailed Beast—though they dared not speak of the latter.
Damn Konoha.
Everything else could be managed, but the Tailed Beast situation was truly beyond his control.
All the Kirigakure shinobi who had carried out the mission were dead, so the Mizukage had no idea whether the Tailed Beast had been sealed or killed.
If it was the former, that would be troublesome—it would mean the already terrifyingly powerful Konoha had gained new assistance.
If it was the latter, that would be manageable—at worst, they could camp at the Three-Tails' resurrection site for a few years and subdue it the moment it revived.
"Sunagakure doesn't know their place. They should consider—if even we couldn't gain any advantage, where do they get the confidence to succeed?"
As a standard old-school leader of the shinobi world, the Mizukage could see right through Rasa's intentions as if they were completely transparent.
Wasn't he just trying to join Kumogakure in attacking Konoha?
If even mighty Iwagakure couldn't accomplish such a feat, how could Sunagakure?
If there had been even the slightest possibility, would that fence-sitter Ōnoki have agreed so readily to unconditional peace?
"After this matter is concluded, send a letter to Konoha. If they're willing to return the captured ninja swords, we're prepared to sign a peace treaty with them."
The loss of the Tailed Beast must never be made public—this involved village prestige and a host of other issues.
"I agree."
Genshi nodded.
...
To eliminate Pakura, Kirigakure deployed fifty shinobi.
Lying in ambush in the narrow canyon area, they quietly awaited Pakura's arrival.
At the entrance to the canyon, Pakura successfully encountered the Kirigakure shinobi who had come to meet her.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
A kunai pierced her back, and the attacker's words made her realize she had been betrayed by her village's leadership.
If everything proceeded smoothly, the Kirigakure shinobi could eliminate Scorch Release Pakura with zero casualties.
But an uninvited guest had arrived in the canyon area.
Unable to stomach Shikkotsu Forest's signature "cuisine," Feng Bai ignored the slug's desperate attempts to make him stay and resolutely chose to venture outside for some decent food.
He then arrived at the location where the Kirigakure shinobi had set their ambush.
This area wasn't far from Shikkotsu Forest, and even the pervasive mist was identical to that place.
The sounds of battle attracted Feng Bai's attention, making him notice the fierce combat taking place in the canyon.
"A narrow canyon—this is indeed a perfect place for an ambush. One can't just casually enter such a place."
After commenting on the strategic terrain, driven by curiosity, Feng Bai stealthily infiltrated the battle area.
Having been ambushed earlier, Pakura's combat effectiveness had clearly declined significantly. The fireballs she created with Scorch Release couldn't protect all her vital points, and kunai kept penetrating her defenses.
"Tsk tsk, that back—what a waste not to use it for cupping therapy. Sunagakure, is it?"
Seeing the forehead protector she wore and considering the Kirigakure shinobi attacking her, even with Feng Bai's intelligence, he could somewhat recall the source of this scenario.
"The betrayed Scorch Release shinobi—Pakura, that should be her name."
Just as Feng Bai was recalling Pakura's name, the battle nearby was also approaching its conclusion.
No longer able to condense fireballs, Pakura's vision began to blur.
[Am I going to die here? Rasa, you—]
"Release that woman and let me handle this!"
The youth's voice rang out. After weighing the pros and cons, Feng Bai decided to intervene and save this person.
If she could be useful to him, that would naturally be best. If she couldn't be used—
Then he'd force her to serve him!
"Who goes there?!"
The Kirigakure shinobi were caught completely off guard by the sudden voice, then saw that the previously damp ground was now spreading with layers of ice.
Forcibly pulling their feet free from where they'd been frozen to the ice surface, before they could determine the attacker's identity, they heard Feng Bai's voice echoing throughout the canyon:
"Sage Art: Ice Release: Grand Burial Formation of Dissipating Ice Clouds!"
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