"Everyone, fall back and protect Lady Koyuki!" Kakashi ordered decisively upon spotting Roga Nadare.
Furen, Naruto, and the rest of Team 7 immediately stood guard around Koyuki Kazahana.
On another peak, a graceful figure appeared—one of the Snow Ninjas, a female named Crane Wing Fuyuzora.
"We've been waiting for you, Princess Koyuki," Fuyuzora said.
Kakashi, while keeping an eye on Roga Nadare and Fuyuzora, suddenly turned his gaze to a nearby snow pile. A moment later, a massive figure rose from the snow—it was another Snow Ninja, Winter Bear Fuyuzora.
"As expected of Kakashi, it seems we can't hide anymore," Winter Bear Fuyuzora, having been discovered, stopped concealing himself.
"Fuyuzora, Fuyuzora—go bring Princess Koyuki back," Roga Nadare, as the leader, ordered before leaping toward Kakashi. "It's been a while, Kakashi. This time, you won't run away like last time, will you?"
Without wasting words, Kakashi charged at Roga Nadare, engaging him in taijutsu as their battle ascended toward the top of the ice mountain.
While Kakashi and Roga Nadare were fighting, Fuyuzora and Fuyuzora charged toward Koyuki, who was being protected by Team 7.
"Tch," Sasuke clicked his tongue, flipping out dozens of kunai and hurling them at the towering Fuyuzora.
Fuyuzora, riding a snowboard across the snow, didn't even bother dodging. The kunai clanged against his armor and bounced off without leaving a scratch.
Seeing this, both Sasuke and Naruto frowned—the enemy's armor was proving difficult to deal with. Just as they prepared to attack again, Furen created two shadow clones. One clone picked up Koyuki and retreated to the ship, while the other clone and the original Furen charged toward Fuyuzora and Fuyuzora.
"Protect my shadow clone and make sure Lady Koyuki returns safely to the ship," Furen ordered Naruto and Sasuke.
Though unwilling, both Naruto and Sasuke knew that Furen's strength far surpassed theirs, so they reluctantly followed his instructions.
As Fuyuzora rushed toward him, her elegant form spun gracefully while she quickly formed hand signs. "Ice Release: Swallow Blizzard!" she chanted.
In an instant, a storm of ice swallows rained down on Furen like a torrent.
Furen swiftly dodged the initial attack, but the ice swallows suddenly curved back, homing in on him as if tracking his every move.
Unfazed by the incoming attack, Furen formed hand signs. "Water Body Flicker."
In the blink of an eye, Furen disappeared, reappearing behind Fuyuzora.
"Ice Prison Technique!" Panicked by Furen's sudden proximity, Fuyuzora hurriedly performed another jutsu.
Several ice walls rose from the ground, blocking Furen's advance and launching a counterattack at the same time.
Meanwhile, Furen's shadow clone confronted the massive Winter Bear Fuyuzora. Just as the clone was about to use the Super Strength: Sakura Strike, it suddenly felt a powerful force emanating from Fuyuzora's hand device. The clone was momentarily delayed and was knocked back by Fuyuzora's attack.
From a distance, Kakashi, who was fighting Roga Nadare, had been watching the situation. Seeing Furen struggle, he quickly called out, "Furen, be careful of their chakra armor! Their armor amplifies their chakra and strengthens their jutsu! Most ninjutsu and genjutsu are useless against them!"
"Hmph, my chakra armor can even create a defensive barrier around my body," Fuyuzora boasted to Furen's shadow clone. "It also neutralizes your chakra attacks. So, have you decided how you want to die?"
Furen's shadow clone took a few steps back, giving Fuyuzora a look as if he were a fool.
"Are you... afraid of death?" Furen asked coldly.
Winter Bear Fuyuzora was stunned for a moment before pounding on his chakra armor with a smirk. "Come on then, if you think you can kill me!"
Furen stopped speaking. After assessing how much chakra he had left, his shadow clone activated Water Body Flicker, rapidly moving across the ice!
Winter Bear Fuyuzora blinked in surprise. By the time he reacted, Furen had already appeared in front of him, just barely giving him enough time to raise his fist to block.
"You were acting quite arrogant earlier," Furen said calmly, seeing that Winter Bear Fuyuzora was using both hands to block a punch that Furen had thrown with just one.
After saying this, Furen raised his left hand and delivered a powerful punch straight to Winter Bear Fuyuzora's chest.
Sakura Strike!
Furen's punch hit Winter Bear Fuyuzora's chest like a sledgehammer, sending him flying through the air like paper. Blood spurted from his mouth, staining the ice beneath him red.
Roga Nadare and Fuyuzora widened their eyes in shock as they looked at the fallen Winter Bear Fuyuzora. A gaping hole in his chest left nothing but empty space—they could see straight through his body to the other side.
With one punch, Furen's shadow clone had killed Winter Bear Fuyuzora!
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A/N:
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