Natsuki's gaze settled on the three Snow shinobi standing at the front of the group, two n and one woman.
Although they were younger than their counterparts in the original story, he still recognized them at a glance.
Their unusual hair colors made them especially easy to identify.
Blue, purple, and pink.
They were the Snow shinobi trio: Rōga Nadare, Fubuki Kakuyoku, and Mizore Fuyukuma.
The three of them were also studying Natsuki and his companions.
They should have attacked imdiately, but the sight of Yahiko and the other two children made them hesitate.
A young man had brought three children to storm their compound. No matter how they looked at it, sothing did not add up.
"We belong to an organization called Akatsuki," Natsuki said with a smile. "I've co to invite you to join us."
"Akatsuki? Never heard of it!"
Mizore sneered.
"And you expect us to join? What a joke."
"You owe us an explanation," Rōga said, narrowing his eyes.
The mont he learned that Natsuki belonged to so obscure organization, his confidence returned.
An organization with no reputation could not possibly possess much power.
As for Natsuki and the others injuring his n, Rōga assud they were simply ignorant fools who had no idea what kind of enemy they had provoked.
"Kazahana Dotō is not a man worth following," Natsuki said calmly.
"You work for the daimyō?"
Rōga paused, unable to keep himself from asking.
"You could say that." Natsuki nodded.
"Brat, go back and tell the daimyō that we will never betray Lord Dotō!" Fubuki said mockingly.
"It seems I'll have to convince you by force."
Having achieved his purpose, Natsuki saw no reason to continue talking.
The entire exchange had been for the benefit of Yahiko and the others.
They were still young. They needed a reason before they could bring themselves to fight.
However, the darkness of the shinobi world could not be avoided forever.
Once they were older, they would inevitably encounter it for themselves. He could teach them about it when the ti ca.
"You've got a death wish!"
Mizore imdiately shouted, "Kill them!"
The Snow shinobi rapidly ford hand seals.
The ground trembled as their chakra seized the surrounding ice and snow, sending it surging toward Natsuki and the others.
Before the wave could reach them, Rōga slamd his hands together.
A gigantic whale burst from the raging blizzard and soared into the air.
It was the sa technique he had used against Kakashi in the original story: Ice Release: One-Horned White Whale.
Faced with the overwhelming snowstorm, Yahiko and the others paled slightly.
With their current strength, there was no chance they could stop it.
Then thunder erupted.
The three children instinctively looked up and saw dense thunderclouds gathering overhead.
"Watch out!" Rōga shouted.
Thunderclouds should not have appeared in the Land of Snow, where snow fell throughout the year.
There was only one possible explanation.
They had been created by Lightning Release.
Yet Rōga had never seen a Lightning Release technique with such terrifying power. An intense sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
A mont later, that fear beca reality.
The sky flared with blinding light. The lightning was as brilliant as a flash bomb, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
Then a torrent of lightning crashed down from the heavens.
The giant whale took the full force of the attack.
Countless bolts struck it at once, shattering it instantly.
The lightning then tore through the Snow shinobi's remaining techniques.
Their seemingly unstoppable blizzard was crushed, scattering fragnts of ice in every direction.
Even after destroying the storm, the lightning had not fully dispersed. Arcs of electricity streaked through the air and raced toward the Snow shinobi.
"Defend!"
Rōga's expression changed dramatically as he shouted the order.
Mizore and Fubuki, who had been so arrogant monts earlier, no longer dared to speak. They imdiately began forming hand seals.
"Ice Release: Ice Pillars!"
Mizore planted both hands on the ground.
The earth shook as ice and snow gathered together, forming three enormous pillars.
"Ice Release: Swallow Snowstorm!"
Fubuki swept both hands forward.
A vast amount of snow and ice transford into shuriken and shot toward the incoming lightning.
Rōga manipulated the remaining snow, sending it surging forward like a tidal wave.
Explosions thundered across the battlefield.
Through the combined efforts of the three, the lightning finally dissipated.
Yet none of them felt the slightest relief.
They stared at Natsuki in shock and confusion.
Where had such a powerful Lightning Release user co from?
"So strong!" Yahiko exclaid.
Konan and Nagato were equally stunned.
They had always known that Natsuki was powerful, but they had never understood the true extent of his strength.
After all, they had never seen him fight other shinobi before.
Now, after witnessing that terrifying Lightning Release technique, they finally had so idea of what he was capable of.
More importantly, they had always believed that Natsuki specialized in swordsmanship, taijutsu, and Water Release.
This was the first ti they had ever seen him use Lightning Release.
The sight broadened their understanding of just how vast the shinobi world truly was.
It had taken the combined efforts of so many Snow shinobi just to block a single attack.
Natsuki smiled.
The True Lightning granted by the Misaka Mikoto Template easily qualified as an S-rank Lightning Release technique.
"You... Who exactly are you?" Rōga asked gravely.
After witnessing such overwhelming power, he no longer dared to underestimate Natsuki simply because Akatsuki was unknown.
"I already told you. I'm from Akatsuki."
Natsuki chuckled.
"Well? Have you changed your minds?"
"Your Lightning Release may be impressive, but it isn't enough to make us kneel!" Fubuki shouted. "Don't underestimate us!"
Rōga remained silent, his gaze fixed on Natsuki.
Fubuki was right. A single Lightning Release technique was not enough to make them switch sides.
More importantly, could soone as young as Natsuki truly perform a second technique of that magnitude?
Rōga doubted he could use such an attack many tis.
And Rōga himself had yet to reveal his full strength.
With their nurical advantage, victory might still be possible.
Having reached that conclusion, Rōga waved his hand.
The Snow shinobi imdiately spread out, forming a semicircle around Natsuki and the others.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan tensed, readying themselves for battle.
"Ice Release: Fierce Tiger Dragon!"
Rōga rapidly ford hand seals.
The ground trembled beneath everyone's feet. Snow and wind surged into the air, condensing into a massive ice dragon.
Although it could not compare to Natsuki's Lightning Release, it was still a formidable technique.
Seeing their leader finally grow serious, Fubuki and the others regained their confidence.
The ice dragon shot forward, moving too quickly for the naked eye to follow.
"Blood Demon Art: Exploding Blood!"
Natsuki opened his hand.
A mass of blood flew from his palm and exploded the instant it struck the ice dragon.
Blood sprayed outward like a fountain.
In the blink of an eye, countless crimson blossoms covered the dragon's body, resembling plum flowers blooming across the ice.
Then scorching flas erupted.
The enormous ice dragon lted in midair. It lasted less than a second before vanishing completely into steam and water.
The Snow shinobi stared blankly at the empty sky.
Rōga's expression darkened further. He could not understand what kind of secret technique Natsuki had used.
Konan's reaction was the exact opposite.
She had never imagined that Exploding Blood could display such terrifying power in Natsuki's hands.
That ant she might one day reach the sa level.
Yahiko stared at the water raining down from the vanished dragon. A strange feeling flickered through his heart, though he could not put it into words.
"All of you, fall back!" Rōga ordered coldly.
He imdiately began forming another series of hand seals.
"Ice Release: Wolf Fang Avalanche!"
Rōga inhaled deeply as chakra gathered rapidly throughout his body.
Then he pressed both hands against the ground.
An enormous amount of chakra surged outward.
A crack split the earth and raced toward the small snow-covered mountain in the distance.
The mountainside collapsed.
Countless tons of snow ca crashing down, forming a massive avalanche.
As the snow thundered forward, it transford into one ice wolf after another.
Yahiko's eyes widened at the terrifying sight.
Nagato and Konan instinctively retreated half a step.
The Snow shinobi, however, erupted in excitent.
"Your Ice Release does have so rit," Natsuki remarked, "even if it can only display its full strength in the Land of Snow."
The truly dangerous part of the technique was not Rōga or his Ice Release.
It was the avalanche created by collapsing the mountain.
Any shinobi with enough chakra could produce a similar result, even without Ice Release.
Of course, Rōga's ability to control snow, or more accurately, his snow-manipulation techniques, greatly reduced the amount of chakra required.
Natsuki could have stopped him before Wolf Fang Avalanche was completed.
In the end, however, he chose not to.
If he crushed Rōga's strongest technique head-on, the Snow shinobi clan would most likely submit without further resistance.
"Lightning Giant!"
Natsuki no longer held back.
Chakra erupted from his body like a raging ocean.
The ground shook violently.
"What's happening?" Rōga asked, looking around in alarm.
The earth split open, and a gigantic humanoid head erged.
Soil and snow churned beneath the influence of Natsuki's chakra, rging with dense iron sand to form an enormous body.
Lightning flashed across its surface.
A giant more than thirty ters tall rose from the ground.
Its colossal fra blocked out the sky, casting a deep shadow over the Snow shinobi.
Yet none of them had the presence of mind to care about the sudden darkness.
They could only stare at the towering Lightning Giant in disbelief.
"Just how strong is Natsuki-sensei?" Yahiko asked, swallowing hard.
Nagato and Konan did not answer.
They were too stunned to speak.
The Lightning Giant moved.
Compared to its overwhelming size, the approaching avalanche no longer seed nearly as terrifying.
The snow-covered mountain itself was barely taller than the giant.
It raised both arms.
Dust and iron sand ground against one another inside its body, generating a vast amount of electricity.
Lightning surged outward.
Every ice wolf it touched was instantly crushed.
The Lightning Giant stepped forward and swung both fists.
Its enormous hands smashed into the snowy mountain, splitting it apart in an instant.
Just like that, the avalanche Rōga had created ca to a halt.
The Snow shinobi fell completely silent.
Natsuki had defeated them beyond any doubt.
Although Rōga had been the one directly confronting him, Mizore, Fubuki, and the others all understood that the entire clan had lost.
The three leaders looked at Natsuki, fear creeping into their expressions.
Two consecutive Lightning Release techniques of such terrifying scale had left them shaken to the core.
Their Ice Release relied heavily on the surrounding environnt to achieve this level of power.
Natsuki's Lightning Release had required no external assistance whatsoever.
The difference between them was obvious.
"Natsuki-sensei must be one of the strongest people in the entire shinobi world!" Yahiko said excitedly.
Konan nodded.
"His Lightning Release is already this powerful," Nagato said, admiration shining in his eyes. "I wonder how strong his swordsmanship, taijutsu, and Water Release are."
"Exactly."
The thought that they would have the opportunity to learn from him filled Yahiko with both gratitude and anticipation.
At that mont, the Lightning Giant moved again.
It turned around, returned to Natsuki's side, and stopped behind him.
"What will the Snow shinobi clan choose?" Natsuki asked with a smile.
Although his expression was friendly, the towering Lightning Giant behind him made the Snow shinobi's knees feel weak.
"We are willing to join Akatsuki!" Rōga answered without hesitation.
At this point, refusing would an death.
Besides, could Kazahana Dotō possibly compare to Natsuki?
Obviously not.
Dotō was, at best, around Rōga's level. Compared to Natsuki, the difference was staggering.
His only real advantage was his status as the younger brother of Kazahana Sōsetsu, the daimyō of the Land of Snow. That connection had granted him considerable influence and authority.
But that influence would not last much longer.
Natsuki had already claid to be acting on behalf of Kazahana Sōsetsu.
"Very good."
Natsuki nodded in satisfaction.
Then he began to consider his next move.
His purpose in coming here involved both the Land of Snow and Kazahana Koyuki.
However, Koyuki was still very young. Even if he transford her into a demon, she would have difficulty controlling the Snow shinobi.
The best solution would be to transform one of the Snow shinobi instead.
That person could temporarily oversee the Land of Snow and manage the Daybreak Company's local branch.
Of course, Natsuki had no intention of making that person one of the Twelve Kizuki, so he would not grant them much of his blood.
He only needed enough control to ensure their obedience.
After all, Rōga and the others were not particularly talented. Within the Land of Snow, they could be considered jōnin, but outside its borders, they were nothing exceptional.
Natsuki stepped forward and extended his hand.
Rōga and the others instinctively backed away.
"Stand still if you want to live."
At Natsuki's command, a drop of blood flew toward Rōga.
Rōga imdiately sensed that sothing was wrong, but he did not dare resist. He could only watch as the drop of blood sank into his forehead.
A mont later, he felt his physical strength increase, though only slightly.
Then a flood of information poured into his mind.
Once he understood what had happened, he felt as though he had been struck by lightning.
He now understood the true purpose of Natsuki's blood, and his face twisted involuntarily.
But it was already too late.
The transformation was complete.
He had beco Natsuki's puppet, and his life was no longer his own.
The only way to escape Natsuki's control was through death.
Yet Rōga neither dared nor wished to die.
He lowered his head and accepted his fate.
Natsuki snapped his fingers.
The Lightning Giant collapsed with a thunderous crash and quickly dispersed.
"Let's continue this conversation inside," Natsuki said, lowering his hand.
"Please, follow ."
Rōga raised one arm and spoke with complete respect.
Mizore, Fubuki, and the others noticed nothing unusual about his behavior.
After all, it was only natural to show humility before soone as powerful as Natsuki.
In truth, however, Rōga's submission ca from the knowledge that his life and death were no longer under his control.
Yahiko and the other two exchanged glances. Barely containing their excitent, they followed Natsuki into the Snow shinobi clan's residence.
"What did Kazahana Dotō order you to do?" Natsuki asked casually.
"He instructed us to research and manufacture chakra armor," Rōga answered imdiately. "It is a type of armor designed to amplify chakra."
"How far has the research progressed?"
In the original story, Kazahana Dotō, Rōga, and the others had all worn chakra armor when they appeared.
Judging by its performance, however, it had been diocre at best.
"We're roughly ten percent finished," Rōga said after thinking for a mont. "I estimate it will take several more years to complete."
Natsuki fell silent.
When Kazahana Dotō usurped the throne, Kakashi had already joined ANBU.
Kakashi entered ANBU after the Third Shinobi World War, when he was around twelve years old.
At present, however, he was only two or three.
It seed Natsuki could not expect the chakra armor to be completed anyti soon.
"Can you gather evidence that Kazahana Dotō intends to seize the throne?" Natsuki asked after a mont of thought.
"That would be difficult."
Rōga shook his head.
"He has only discussed the plan with us verbally."
Natsuki nodded.
That left only one option.
Genjutsu.
He could place Kazahana Dotō under genjutsu and force him to launch his coup.
Of course, if he wanted Kazahana Sōsetsu to trust them afterward, he would still need to make the proper preparations.
Natsuki turned toward Rōga.
Just as he was about to speak, a line of text appeared before his eyes.
[Yahiko has unlocked Blood Demon Art: Ice Crystals.]
Natsuki raised an eyebrow, pleasantly surprised.
"I figured it out!" Yahiko suddenly shouted.
While watching Rōga's Ice Release techniques earlier, he had felt the beginnings of an insight.
Only now had everything finally fallen into place.
Everyone in the hall turned to look at him.
Yahiko opened his mouth to explain, but when he noticed the many Snow shinobi around him, he scratched his head and quickly fell silent.
[You have awakened the Haku Template.]
The text before Natsuki's eyes changed again.
Haku?
He had assud defeating Rōga and the others would not be enough to trigger a new character template.
Unexpectedly, it had unlocked Haku.
After considering it more carefully, however, the result made sense.
Rōga and the others were not especially powerful. Their ability to reach jōnin-level strength depended almost entirely on the environntal advantages provided by the Land of Snow.
Outside the region, they would likely be no stronger than tokubetsu jōnin.
Haku's own strength was also around the level of a tokubetsu jōnin.
[Na: Haku.]
[Period: Final.]
[World: Naruto.]
[Rank: B.]
[Ability One: One-Handed Hand Seals. Unlocked.]
[Effect: Allows the user to form hand seals with one hand.]
[Ability Two: Water Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death. Locked.]
[Effect: Transforms water into a vast number of senbon and fires them at high speed across a wide area.]
[Unlock Condition: Defeat three Water Release tokubetsu jōnin.]
[Ability Three: Ice Release: Ice Do. Locked.]
[Effect: Creates an ice wall around the user to block incoming attacks.]
[Unlock Condition: Establish Yukigakure.]
[Ability Four: Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals. Locked.]
[Effect: Creates multiple ice mirrors around the target, allowing the user to move between them at extre speed.]
[Unlock Condition: Defeat one Ice Release shinobi.]
For Natsuki, the most valuable parts of the Haku Template were one-handed hand seals and Ice Release.
The ability to form hand seals with one hand would be extrely useful in battle.
As for Ice Release, although Haku had only demonstrated a handful of techniques, Natsuki could develop new ones himself.
He could even draw inspiration from characters such as Aokiji from One Piece or Tōshirō Hitsugaya from Bleach.
Doing so might even unlock their corresponding character templates.
None of the three remaining unlock conditions were especially difficult.
Defeating three Water Release tokubetsu jōnin required little explanation.
The Snow shinobi had never established a proper village because they lacked both numbers and a sufficiently powerful leader. With Natsuki present, neither issue remained a serious obstacle.
The final requirent was slightly more troubleso.
He needed to defeat an Ice Release shinobi.
The only Ice Release user Natsuki knew of was Haku's mother.
The problem was that he had no idea where she lived.
The original story rely stated that Haku and his mother had once lived in a snowy village sowhere in the Land of Water.
Technically, once Natsuki unlocked the third ability, he would gain Ice Release and would no longer need to unlock the fourth.
Still, Haku's mother had suffered a tragic fate.
He could try to find her.
After saving her, he could also recruit her into Akatsuki.
(To be continued.)
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)
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