Chapter 92 They've arrived
Chapter 92 They've arrived
Leading his troops on a swift march, traversing most of Asagiri Island and crossing the sea, Yura led the Kirigakure ninja to land on Yukikaze Island at dawn.
Unlike the main island Asagiri Island, Yukikaze Island is entirely a world of ice and snow. This is not a naturally formed maritime climate, but rather the result of generations of the Yuki clan who have inhabited the island.
This world, where everything is frozen and covered in ice and snow, has extremely low temperatures. It is a natural battlefield where the Snow Clan holds an absolute advantage, and it has a huge suppressive effect on Water Release techniques. Ordinary Water Release ninjas find it difficult to release Water Release techniques, and the conditions for releasing Water Release techniques are even more demanding than in a waterless place.
Jieluo looked down at the water droplets in her hand that had just been released and frozen into ice cubes.
Given these harsh conditions, it's clear how frustrating it was for Huan Yue, whose main fighting style is water-based.
There was a reason why the Yuki clan was later wiped out by Kirigakure.
In mid-air, Jieluo looked up and saw large clouds of white mist exhaling from the mouths and noses of the Kirigakure ninjas as they landed. Many of the ninjas had not prepared any warm clothing, and in order to resist the cold, their chakra consumption was increasing invisibly. Looking at the ninjas who were all wearing standard sandals, Jieluo's eyelids twitched slightly, and she curled up her delicate little feet.
Jieluo couldn't feel the cold; her body temperature was already low enough, as low as a dead person's, and she couldn't even exhale a breath of warm air.
Ninjas wearing sandals was somewhat of a necessity, as they were usually very active and sweated a lot, especially during battles, and keeping their feet covered for extended periods could easily lead to foot ulcers.
Ordinary human troops would have suffered non-combat casualties long ago in this environment. Only ninjas could withstand the harsh combat conditions for a while, but they couldn't hold out for long. A quick victory was necessary, and a long-term garrison was impossible; the village didn't have the spare money.
After the troops completed their landing from the sea, small squads of scout ninja were sent out to conduct reconnaissance within the main force.
They returned shortly afterward to report, and a Jonin reported the results to Yura.
At the secluded edge of the cliffside forest, the Jonin leaped onto the cliff face and, below Yura, said in a deep voice, "Lady Oni-hime, is this the same as last time..."
"As expected, the Snow Clan hasn't sent out sentries or engaged troops; they're waiting for us to penetrate deeper."
"Is that so?" Jie Luo smiled faintly, her senses quietly locking onto the frozen cliff in front of her.
Within the thick ice, a snow ninja, completely wrapped in thick clothing, was nervously surveying the Hidden Mist troops. After seemingly taking stock of their numbers and combat strength, he silently withdrew from the ice.
Blood follows the limit, ice escapes.
Last time, when Hozuki Gengetsu attacked the Snow Clan, there was a big problem: he couldn't find the Snow Clan's true stronghold, forcing the Snow Clan to fight head-on. The Snow Clan's elusive attacks were too much for them to bear, and the main force couldn't fight for long in this harsh environment, so they had to retreat in defeat.
The Hidden Mist Village has a huge weakness in sensory perception, lacking powerful, top-tier sensory ninjas.
Jieluo turned his head and looked in one direction, where a huge cluster of negative emotional reactions was gathered, conservatively estimated to be around 40,000 to 50,000 people.
This long-standing independent ninja clan, similar to the Uzumaki clan, has a large number of subordinate civilians and its own members are numerous, capable of forming a ninja war force of thousands. Unlike the Kaguya clan, or rather, if the Kaguya clan were given more time to develop and recuperate, it could also form a similar scale.
Having confirmed the location, Yura said to the Jonin, "All troops, move out!"
Set off?
The Jonin was taken aback. He had participated in the last operation against the Yuki Clan. Shouldn't he have sent people to search for traces of the Yuki Clan first?
At that moment, a chilling gaze swept over him, a coldness unlike any other, cutting into the Jonin's skin, making his scalp tingle. He lowered his head and uttered, "Ha!"
The whistle blew, signaling the start of the operation. Without a moment's rest, the ninjas, in their respective groups, led by Lucy in the sky, marched straight ahead in one direction.
On the enemy's position, the Mist Concealment Technique should have been used to hide the movement of the main force, but in this terrible weather, the Mist Concealment Technique was simply impossible to use.
Deep within Yukikaze Island lies a vast castle nestled in a valley. Most striking is the seven-story castle tower at its center, seemingly piercing the sky. Characterized by its Sengoku period features, this fortified military castle stands amidst sprawling white snow. On the streets of the lower town, a tranquil scene unfolds, with people bundled in thick clothing and occasionally, ninjas dressed in what appears to be light clothing speeding by.
Inside the castle tower, the fireplace roared with flames, making it seem less cold compared to the icy landscape outside. However, the well-ventilated tower was occasionally swept by gusts of icy wind.
Having lived in such an unchanging environment for so long, I've long been accustomed to the cold, and can even calmly lean against the window and appreciate the snow scene.
A stunningly beautiful woman in her early twenties, with jet-black hair and dressed in magnificent robes, gazed wistfully at the unchanging snow scene outside the window.
The mistress of this Yukikaze Island, Yukihime.
Many ninja clans have been nobles since the Ninja Clan era. Over the course of a thousand years, many ninja clans have disappeared into the river of history and lost their traditions. The Snow Clan has also reached a point where change is imperative.
In the Warring States period, she could be called a daimyo, but in the era of the Hidden Ninja Village and the present-day Land of Water, amidst the land annexation, most small countries have turned into dust under the blades of the Hidden Mist Village, and her kingdom will inevitably follow in its footsteps under the crushing wheels of time.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
Yukihime knew very well that they were doomed to defeat the massive Kirigakure, but how to lose in a way that wouldn't be too humiliating was another problem.
In just a few years, the situation in the ninja world has changed so rapidly that the once closed-off Yuki clan was caught completely off guard.
"Report!" A Yuki clan ninja flashed to the ground behind Yukihime and said urgently, "Your Highness! Kirigakure has attacked! A ninja force of over a thousand men!"
Without turning around, Yukihime looked at the snowy scenery and said nonchalantly, "Oh, it's that Hozuki guy again?"
"Your Highness! We did not see Hozuki Gengetsu!" the ninja replied.
A new general?
The Land of Water is a very small territory, with only a few people known by name. Intelligence reports that the Earth Spider Clan's En no Kōsha has led his clan to evacuate the Land of Water. The White Lotus Elder, fearing their forbidden techniques, ignored their evacuation.
But no matter who comes, even if it's the old man Bai Lian, Xue Ji doesn't think she needs to take him seriously.
"Let them come, deal with them as usual, and remember, make them back down."
A force of a thousand men is still a small-scale probe, but this snow-covered land, created over generations, is the Snow Clan's greatest source of confidence.
Yuki was confident that they wouldn't last long and would slink back home in disgrace.
"Report!!!" Just then, another ninja landed instantly and shouted urgently, "Your Highness! They're here! They've broken through all the outposts along the way! They're at the city gates!"
What?!
Suddenly standing up, her eyes filled with disbelief, Yuki turned to look at the ninja who had brought the news!
Where are my harassment and decoy troops?!
Where is my natural ice and snow maze defense line?!
Under the control of the Snow Clan, the ice and snow on the entire Snowwind Island are practically alive, and the terrain can change at any time. Once you venture deep into the Snow Clan's territory, you will get lost in the ice and snow, and your life or death will be uncertain.
Why?!
That's too fast!!!
Her face contorted in a series of dramatic changes. Yuki turned her head and looked out the window at the city below. Amidst the swirling snowflakes, the figures of ninjas were faintly visible.
They're here!!!