As the mastery levels of Azure Flame and Thunderstrike simultaneously reached their peak, the two Supreme Dark-Red cards were generated.
To Shiraishi's surprise, their elemental affinity shifted toward Ice Style.
Though categorized as Ice Style, the original properties of the Blue Flame and Thunderstrike remained intact. The fusion of lightning and ice birthed Freezing Volt.
The previous golden current transformed into a sleek silver electricity; while the core destructive effects of the original Thunderstrike were preserved, it now possessed the added trait of a Freezing Beam.
As for the Azure Flame, it evolved into Extreme Cold Flame—a unique nature transformation that contained the paradoxical traits of both absolute zero and incinerating heat.
While the fundamental characteristics remained, the addition of the "Ice" attribute significantly enriched Shiraishi's tactical repertoire.
"Lord Kazekage, you've been distracted long enough. It's time for this old man to take the stage."
Onoki's voice cut through the air. The elderly Tsuchikage drifted upward, suspended by his flight technique, as stones from the battered peak began to levitate around him in a silent, menacing orbit.
Shadows Over the Land of Vegetables
Meanwhile, at the Ninja Academy in the Land of Vegetables, located in the heart of the island nation, development had been proceeding smoothly since the master swordsman Souji joined the Sand's cause. However, Morimoto Ryoji, the primary administrator, was currently nursing a massive headache.
A cluster of islands to the south of the main territory had recently been plagued by grotesque monsters attacking local fishermen.
The Sand ninjas stationed there had responded quickly, but upon slaying the beasts, they made a disturbing discovery: the corpses slowly reverted into human forms.
"It's a mysterious power similar to Natural Energy that is infecting ordinary humans," Ryoji noted grimly.
Anyone invaded by this energy would lose their sanity and mutate into a monster, causing widespread panic.
Even among the first wave of Sand investigators, several had succumbed to the corruption and transformed.
The infection had spread from the southern islets to parts of the main island, putting Ryoji and Souji on high alert.
"Natural energy doesn't usually invade humans at random," Souji remarked. "This energy is localized and predatory, forcibly rewriting the consciousness and biology of its hosts."
Staff from the Sand's Intelligence Department were at a loss. With the Kazekage occupied at the Summit, the responsibility fell onto the veteran Ebizo. After analyzing the data, Ebizo's face paled. "This mutated natural energy... It's likely being generated by a specific ninja tool."
"A tool?"
"Some time ago, the Kazekage visited Hozuki Castle. During his stay, the prison was attacked by a mysterious force, and the Box of Ultimate Bliss—a relic of the Sage of the Six Paths—went missing."
Ryoji made the connection instantly. "Could the Box be the source of this power?"
"According to the Kazekage's reports, the Box has the power to warp reality and consume souls. But why has it appeared here, in the Land of Vegetables?"
Ebizo couldn't find a lead, but the situation was critical. The Land of Vegetables was the cornerstone of Shiraishi's long-term maritime strategy. "Evacuate the residents first. We must quarantine the energy before it spreads further."
The Woman in the Mist
As the Sand struggled to respond, Uchiha Obito stood on a cliff overlooking the sea, his voice laced with mockery. "Targeting the Sand at a time like this... aren't you afraid of the Fifth Kazekage's wrath?"
A mysterious female figure materialized on the water's surface. "I am only targeting one village. You are targeting the strategic core of all five Great Nations. What right do you have to judge me?"
Obito stroked his chin. "And why did you intentionally leave clues for Arakawa Arashi during the Summit?"
At the mention of Arashi, the woman's expression remained cold. "Because I want to see him fall into the abyss."
Heh, women... Obito yawned. "Morimoto Ryoji over in the Land of Vegetables is an old acquaintance of yours, isn't he? His father's death was connected to you as well."
The woman, wearing a Hidden Sand forehead protector, felt the warmth of the sun and let out a cruel smile. "Yes. Morimoto Muren's son... I didn't expect him to grow up so well."
Years ago, to protect a secret, this woman had engineered the sacrifice of Ryoji's father. At the time, the head of the Yamaji family, Yamaji Jushin, had sensed something foul about the mission and abandoned it. With Jushin's passing and the Sand's total control over the Land of Vegetables following the Third War, the secret had been buried—until now.
The Hydrification Technique of the Hozuki clan was her next target. Her alliance with the masked man was one of mutual convenience, with the Box of Ultimate Bliss serving as their common ground.
The Living Fossil vs. The New Era
Back at the Land of Iron, Shiraishi and Onoki were locked in a tense standoff.
Onoki was the grandson of the First Tsuchikage, Ishikawa. He had been raised under the strict tutelage of the First and Second Tsuchikages. He carried the "Will of Stone"—the unyielding, immovable resolve of the Hidden Stone.
The Second Tsuchikage, Mu, had taught him the Particle Style (Dust Release)—a Bloodline Totality that combined Wind, Fire, and Earth.
Onoki had fought alongside his master since the founding of the Hidden Stone, even surviving a direct confrontation with Uchiha Madara in his youth. As the longest-serving Kage, he was a living fossil of the ninja world.
Shiraishi would not underestimate him for a second.
Onoki's body drifted higher. "Let this old man see if the Kazekage can truly suppress the heroes of this era and become the Strongest Kage."
As he spoke, a sharp, oppressive aura erupted from the old man.
"I accept your challenge!"
With a thunderous crack, Shiraishi also rose into the air. His unique Gravity Manipulation (Psychokinesis) was activated, covering the entire battlefield in a massive field of Psychic energy—transforming the arena into Shiraishi's personal domain of calculation.
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