~ Support & Read 17 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!
~ If you like the story, please leave a review!
❁❁❁❁
The Kiri Shinobi, who had been charging towards Shin, stopped in their tracks. Even the Third Mizukage halted his advance.
The One-Tail's size was intimidating enough, but this Ice giant was even more so. They were scared.
"I Knew they'd chicken out." Shin wasn't surprised.
"If I were facing that ice monster, I'd be scared too," Kushina said, rolling her eyes.
"Mizukage-sama, what should we do?"
A Kiri Shinobi asked. They had been blinded by rage, but the sight of the Ice giant had brought them back to their senses.
They were hesitant to continue. This giant could crush them with a single step.
"Don't be afraid!! It might just be a bluff! Attack with Ninjutsu!"
The Mizukage quickly formed hand seals, five seals per second.
A water dragon roared towards the Ice giant. The other Kiri Shinobi followed suit, unleashing a barrage of Water Release Jutsu.
The sight was spectacular.
Kushina and Mikoto were nervous, and Konan hid in Shin's arms.
Shin remained calm. He knew his own Jutsu. The Ice giant was made of solid ice, harder than steel. Even S-rank Jutsu would struggle to break through its defenses. And even if it was damaged, it could regenerate, though that would consume Shin's Chakra.
But that didn't matter. He had plenty of Chakra.
The Water Jutsu struck the Ice giant, creating small cracks, but they vanished instantly.
After the barrage ended, the Ice giant was unharmed. It took a step towards the Kiri Shinobi.
The ground trembled under its weight, leaving deep footprints.
Its movements seemed slow due to its size, but it was actually quite fast. Within moments, it reached the Kiri Shinobi.
It raised its massive foot and stomped down. The quick-witted Kiri Shinobi used the Body Flicker Jutsu to dodge, but the slower ones were crushed.
"Damn it! What is that monster?!"
The Mizukage's face was grim. He recognized the One-Tail, but this Ice giant was new.
"Is that really a Jutsu?"
He couldn't believe it.
"Mizukage-sama, watch out! The ground is freezing!"
An elite Jōnin warned him. The Mizukage looked down and saw frost spreading rapidly across the ground.
This was one of the Ice giant's abilities: it could freeze anything that came near it.
Shin could control this effect, though. If he were standing on the Ice giant, he wouldn't be affected.
The Ice giant roared, releasing a wave of icy air, similar to Shin's Ice Age Jutsu.
"Retreat!!!"
The Mizukage used the Body Flicker Jutsu to escape. He didn't even bother with the other Kiri Shinobi.
Some of them, who were further away, managed to escape, but the others were frozen solid.
The Ice giant stomped its foot, shattering the frozen ground and the Kiri Shinobi trapped within.
The Mizukage watched in despair. They had lost almost a thousand Shinobi, including those killed by the Tailed Beast Bomb.
Kirigakure barely had ten thousand Shinobi, most of them Genin. Losing a tenth of their forces was a devastating blow.
This was the greatest loss in Kirigakure's history. And he would be remembered as the most disgraceful Mizukage.
He had lost the Forbidden Scroll and led Kiri to a crushing defeat. The villagers would probably demand his resignation.
He looked at the Ice giant, then turned and fled with the remaining Kiri Shinobi.
"They're retreating?" Mikoto was surprised.
Shin flicked her forehead. "Of course they are. Staying here would be suicide."
"It's all because you're so ridiculously strong," Mikoto grumbled, rubbing her forehead.
...
Shin controlled the One-Tail and headed towards the Konoha forces. He left the Ice giant where it was.
Without his Chakra, it was just a giant ice sculpture.
The Konoha Shinobi were terrified of the One-Tail.
"It must be on our side. Look, the person on its head is wearing a Konoha forehead protector. And it attacked Kiri."
One of the Konoha Jōnin said.
"Why don't you go ask then?" another Jōnin suggested.
The first Jōnin shook his head. No way. That thing could crush him with a single step.
Shin jumped down from the One-Tail's head, carrying Konan.
"Shin, catch me!"
Kushina yelled, then jumped down towards Shin.
Shin instinctively reached out and caught her.
"Shin, don't let me fall!"
Shin looked up and saw Mikoto jumping down as well. He sighed and set Kushina down, then caught Mikoto.
"Why do you always make me catch you? What if I couldn't?" Shin complained.
Mikoto blushed. She didn't want to leave Shin's embrace; it was so comfortable.
Shin coughed and set Mikoto down.
"Let's go. They seem to be welcoming us," Shin said, looking at the Konoha Shinobi.
"They look more like they're about to attack us," Kushina said.
❁❁❁❁
~ 17 Advanced Chapters Now Available on Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)