71-75

Chapter 71: Journey to the Land of Snow in Search of a Divine Artifact   

On his way back, Kazama was so engrossed in studying the technique to fuse divine artifacts that he lagged behind the messengers from Kumogakure. Naturally, he had no idea that his clan had received rewards from the Third Hokage and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire because of his deeds.   

Truth be told, Kazama never cared much for gold or treasures. What he craved were techniques and weapons that could boost his strength.   

“Susanoo!”   

After thoroughly researching, Kazama found a secluded spot and unleashed his Perfect Susanoo. He successfully fused the Kusanagi Sword and Samehada into his Susanoo. Instantly, the massively enlarged Kusanagi Sword and Samehada appeared in the other two hands of his Susanoo.   

As their size grew, the power of these weapons scaled up proportionally while retaining their original abilities. The Kusanagi Sword could extend infinitely, and Samehada could absorb an opponent’s chakra.   

Seeing his Perfect Susanoo become even more formidable, Kazama burst into hearty laughter.   

“Now my Perfect Susanoo wields four weapons! Just two more, and my three-headed, six-armed Susanoo will be fully armed!”   

According to the book Kazama had, the Land of Snow hid a divine artifact called the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror. Like the Yata Mirror, it could deflect all attacks in the world.   

Without hesitation, Kazama decided to head to the Land of Snow right after returning to Konoha.   

“What?! Kakashi and the others went to the Land of Snow?”   

As soon as he reached the outskirts of Konohagakure, Kazama heard the report from his subordinate, Zabuza, and others.   

“Yes, we heard it’s an escort mission. They left for the Land of Snow about three days ago. We didn’t dare follow them, fearing we’d expose our tracks,” Zabuza replied.   

“Well done,” Kazama said approvingly.   

It dawned on him—Naruto and the others were escorting the Land of Snow’s princess, Kazahana Koyuki, which explained their trip. Since their destination aligned with his, Kazama wasted no time and set off for the Land of Snow.   

After all, he was part of Team 7 too. Plus, he could seize the chance to absorb the Ice Release abilities of the Land of Snow’s big boss, Kazahana Doto.   

“You brats from Konoha dare act cocky in front of us Snow ninja?!”   

At that moment, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were being overwhelmed, pushed back by Doto’s underlings in the Land of Snow. Kakashi was tied up, held back by another Snow ninja, Fubuki Rangiku, unable to come to their aid.   

Naruto’s trump card, the Nine-Tails’ chakra, had been sealed by the chakra armor developed by Doto. Team 7 was locked in a desperate struggle.   

“A bunch of Genin daring to defy the ruler of the Land of Snow? You’re in over your heads!”   

“Pfft! Kazahana Koyuki is the true heir to the Land of Snow, not your usurping lord!”   

Though Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were being beaten back, they refused to yield.   

“You little punks, still talking big when death’s knocking? Fine, I’ll send you to the afterlife!”   

The three Snow ninja fighting Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura unleashed their ultimate techniques.   

“Is this the end? If only Kazama-kun were here, maybe…”   

Sakura closed her eyes in despair.   

“Water Release: Water Severing Wave!”   

“What?!”   

Hearing that familiar voice, Sakura’s heart soared. Her white knight had finally arrived, riding on a cloud of seven colors to save her. 

Chapter 72: Taking Down Four Snow Country Ninjas in One Second   

As Kazama’s Suiton (Water Release) surged forward, the three arrogant Yuki no Kuni (Snow Country) ninjas who had been boasting moments ago were instantly sliced in half. Their bodies were reduced to nothing, incinerated by the strange fire infused within the water technique.   

“Kazama-kun!”   

Sakura, now safe, threw her arms around Kazama in relief.   

Thankfully, Kazama had strong self-control. If it were anyone else, they might’ve lost it and ended up with a whole clan of descendants right then and there.   

“Sakura, calm down a bit!”   

Kazama quickly pushed her away, knowing he’d be in trouble otherwise.   

“Kazama! I knew you’d show up!”   

Naruto, grinning ear to ear, ran toward Kazama.   

“Sorry, everyone, I was a bit late. But you know, heroes always make a grand entrance!”   

“Hmph! Always showing off!”   

Sasuke, as usual, wore his signature scowl, acting unimpressed.   

But deep down? He was in absolute awe of Kazama. Those three ninjas had been giving him a hard time for ages, and Kazama took them out with a single move. Even Sasuke couldn’t deny that kind of skill.   

“You bastard! Who the hell are you?”   

Rōga Nadare, locked in a fierce battle with Kakashi, was stunned to see his three subordinates fall to this sudden newcomer, Kazama.   

“Your opponent is me! Raikiri (Lightning Cutter)!”   

Kakashi seized the moment of distraction, launching a deadly strike at Rōga.   

“Get lost!”   

Rōga Nadare kicked Kakashi to the ground with a single blow.   

While Kakashi was undoubtedly stronger, Rōga’s chakra-absorbing armor gave him the edge. Kakashi, notorious for his low chakra reserves, was at a clear disadvantage.   

“Hey, kid, I’m talking to you! Who are you, daring to kill my men?”   

Rōga Nadare strode toward Kazama, his voice dripping with menace.   

“Sanada Kazama, Kakashi’s student, member of Team 7!”   

“Haha! So you’re that loser Kakashi’s student? That makes you a lowly genin, huh? Is Konoha so desperate they keep sending genin on missions? Pathetic!”   

“Genin or not, I’ll still wipe the floor with you!”   

Seeing Rōga kick his teacher and idol Kakashi to the ground ignited a burning resolve in Kazama. This guy was as good as dead.   

“Haha! You’re killing me! You genin brats are all talk! Even your teacher Kakashi can’t beat me, and you, his useless student, think you can take me out? Please, don’t make me laugh!”   

“Kazama-kun, be careful! This guy’s way stronger than those three, and his armor can absorb chakra. He’s dangerous!”   

Sakura’s warning came from behind, but Kazama simply raised his index finger toward Rōga Nadare.   

“What’s that, kid? You think you can beat me in a minute?”   

“Not a minute. One second.”   

“You little—!”   

Furious at being underestimated, Rōga Nadare roared and unleashed his trump card, aiming to crush Kazama in one blow.   

“Hyōton (Ice Release)!”   

“Suiton: Suidanha (Water Severing Wave)!”   

“Haha, you idiot! My Hyōton counters your Suiton! You’re done—”   

But before Rōga could finish gloating, Kazama’s water jet blasted through his Hyōton defense like it was nothing. The attack didn’t stop there—it pierced straight through Rōga’s armor and his body in one devastating strike.   

“How… how is this possible? Why didn’t my Hyōton stop your Suiton?”   

Rōga Nadare couldn’t believe it. He’d really been taken down in just one second.   

“My jutsu? Nothing can counter it.”   

As Kazama’s words echoed, Rōga Nadare’s body was consumed by the strange fire within the Suiton, reduced to ash.   

“Hyōton: Kokuryū Bōfūsetsu (Black Dragon Blizzard)!”   

At that moment, a massive black dragon formed of ice and frost roared toward Kazama, ready to strike. 

Chapter 73: The Whereabouts of the Divine Artifact Gyokukyo Ice Mirror  

Ding! Successfully absorbed Ice Release: Black Dragon Blizzard. Congratulations, Host, for obtaining Ice Release: Twin Dragon Blizzard!  

Ding! Absorb ten more ninjutsu, and you’ll unlock the eleventh Strange Flame, Kurei Chika Fire. This flame can transform into a giant turtle covered in sharp, fiery spikes to aid the Host in battle!  

“Looks like this Kurei Chika Fire works like a summoning beast. Not bad, not bad!”  

Sure, Kazama’s previous Beast Spirit Flame could also take the form of various animals, but they were always too small, no different from ordinary wild beasts. At first, Kazama thought that was pretty impressive, but as his power grew, he naturally started craving stronger flame-based summoning beasts. This Kurei Chika Fire perfectly fit the bill.  

Having gained the Ice Release, Kazama smirked coldly at the one who’d just attacked him—none other than the usurping lord of the Land of Snow, Kazahana Doto.  

“You little punk, you can actually absorb my ninjutsu?”  

Doto had been certain his sneak attack would take Kazama down easily, but he never imagined it wouldn’t even scratch him.  

“Give it up, Kazahana Doto. The treasure of the Land of Snow you’re after? It’s nothing but a pipe dream!”  

Familiar with the Naruto manga, Kazama knew Doto’s treasure hunt was a fool’s errand.  

“Shut up! Who do you think you are, you little brat? Blaming me for not finding the treasure? If I can’t have the Land of Snow’s treasure, I’ll take you all down with me! Ice Release: Frost Giant!”  

In his madness, Doto unleashed his ultimate secret technique. A hundred-meter-tall frost giant took shape, its sheer presence enough to make Kakashi and the others tremble.  

But to Kazama, this so-called frost giant was all flash and no substance.  

“Amaterasu!”  

With his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan activated, Kazama unleashed a blaze of Amaterasu’s black flames, rivaling the frost giant in intensity. Against an enemy like this, he didn’t even bother using his Strange Flames. Amaterasu alone was more than enough to crush Doto’s frost giant.  

The searing heat of the black flames melted most of the giant before it could even approach, causing it to collapse in a heap and trigger an avalanche around them.  

“Kakashi-sensei, get Naruto and the others out of here!”  

Kazama had intentionally caused the avalanche. It gave him the perfect chance to whisk Doto away unnoticed, where he could use his strongest genjutsu, Betsu Tensei, to force Doto to reveal the location of the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror.  

After all, Kazama’s main reason for coming to the Land of Snow was to find that divine artifact.  

It didn’t take long for Kazama to drag the chakra-drained Doto to a secluded spot.  

“I’ve got questions for you.”  

“Save it! You think just because you spared me, I’ll do whatever you want? A punk like you has no right to question me. Go eat dirt!”  

Though Doto was on his last legs, his sharp tongue hadn’t dulled one bit.  

“Hmph. In the past, I might’ve been helpless against you. But things are different now. When I say kneel, you will kneel!”  

“Betsu Tensei!”  

Once hit with Betsu Tensei, no one could resist the caster’s commands—not even Kazahana Doto.  

“Tell me where the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror is hidden.”  

“It’s thirty thousand meters beneath the Land of Snow’s royal palace.”  

“If you knew that, why didn’t you go get the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror yourself? Why waste all that effort chasing other treasures?”  

Kazama had assumed Doto only had a vague idea about the mirror, but to his surprise, the man knew its exact location. Knowing that and still not pursuing it? That puzzled Kazama greatly. 

Chapter 74: The Search for the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror Begins  

“For countless generations, the rulers of Yuki no Kuni (Snow Country) have coveted the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror. But with the country’s limited strength and the impenetrable icy terrain below, no one has ever managed to break through the 30,000-meter-thick layer of frozen rock.”  

“So that’s how it is. It’s not that they didn’t want it—they just didn’t have the skill to get it. In that case, I’ll gladly take it!”  

With that thought, Kazama immediately ordered Fubuki Kakuyoku to strip and jump into the icy lake, ensuring his demise. After all, Fubuki Kakuyoku had killed the previous king of Yuki no Kuni, a crime of the highest order.  

Letting him take one final swim in the freezing waters was Kazama’s twisted form of mercy.  

“With my strange fire, a mere 30,000-meter ice layer is nothing. Even 300,000 meters wouldn’t be a problem. But the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror is directly beneath the Yuki no Kuni palace. What am I supposed to do? I can’t just destroy the palace, can I?”  

As Kazama pondered a way to achieve his goal without causing a scene, Naruto came running up, panting heavily.  

“Hey, Kazama, what’re you doing out here? Where’s Fubuki Kakuyoku?”  

“Oh, Fubuki Kakuyoku’s already dead. I was just making sure he didn’t escape.”  

Even to Naruto, Kazama couldn’t reveal his true intentions. Everyone’s got their secrets, after all.  

“The Yuki no Kuni palace is old and falling apart. It got wrecked even more by that avalanche earlier, so they’re rebuilding it now. Let’s go help!”  

“What?!”  

Kazama’s heart leaped at Naruto’s words. If the palace had collapsed, this was his golden opportunity to dig into the ground under the guise of repairs and claim the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror.  

Without hesitation, Kazama followed Naruto to the nearby Yuki no Kuni palace.  

The palace was an absolute mess.  

Seeing the gloomy faces of everyone inside, Kazama had to suppress a laugh. It wasn’t exactly appropriate, but the palace’s collapse was his ticket to tunneling underground and finding the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror.  

“Sigh… we want to help, but we’re just not enough,” Kakashi said with a heavy sigh as Kazama arrived.  

Apparently, Yuki no Kuni’s unique geography made things tricky. They’d brought in master builders to reconstruct the palace, but they were severely short on manpower. Kakashi and the others alone couldn’t make a dent.  

“Fuka Koyuki! This palace is the symbol of Yuki no Kuni! If the ninjas you hired can’t rebuild it, you’re not fit to be our king!”  

“Exactly!”  

Several Yuki no Kuni ministers began berating Fuka Koyuki, the princess. Their deep-seated belief that a woman couldn’t rule fueled their desire to use this crisis to block her ascension to the throne.  

“No problem! You just need more hands, right? Check out my Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)!”  

Naruto jumped in, ready to help rebuild with his clones. But after his earlier battle with the Yuki no Kuni rebels, his chakra hadn’t fully recovered. He managed a few clones before they all vanished.  

“Hmph! I knew you ninjas were useless. Can’t even keep a clone up? Pathetic!”  

One of the ministers sneered at Naruto.  

“How many people do you need to rebuild this palace?”  

Kazama wasn’t about to let anyone disrespect Naruto. Plus, he’d already decided to use the palace repairs as cover to dig for the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror.  

“At least a thousand!”  

“I’ll give you ten thousand. Don’t underestimate us ninjas.”  

“Haha, you’re killing me!”  

The minister and his entourage burst into laughter at Kazama’s words.  

“What are you, kid, some kind of idiot? This place is buried in snow, not a bird in sight. If you can find ten thousand people to rebuild this palace, I’ll eat dung right now!”  

“Deal. You said it. Mokuton: Tajū Bunshin (Wood Release: Multiple Clones)!”  

Kazama, with his limitless chakra, could summon clones like it was nothing. Ten thousand Mokuton clones? Easy. A hundred thousand? A million? No sweat.  

Bang! Bang! Bang!  

As an endless stream of Mokuton clones materialized, the mocking minister collapsed in terror.  

He never could’ve imagined Kazama would actually summon ten thousand clones. 

Chapter 75: Obtaining the Divine Artifact Gyokukyo Ice Mirror   

“Ten thousand shadow clones right here! Now it’s time for you to keep your promise and eat dirt!”   

“Naruto!”   

“Here!”   

“Did you drink expired milk today?”   

“Yup!”   

“Feeling like you need a bathroom break?”   

“Totally!”   

“Alright then, take this guy with you!”   

“No, spare me!”   

The minister frantically begged Kazama for mercy, but Kazama wasn’t having it.   

“We ninja keep our word. I said you’d eat dirt, so you’re eating dirt.”   

“Let’s go!”   

Naruto dragged the minister off to who-knows-where, leaving everyone else roaring with laughter.   

While his Mokuton shadow clones got to work, Kazama’s real body slipped away to the ruins during a break. Pointing a single hand downward, he unleashed all ten of his Strange Flames, shooting them into the ice below.   

Fire beats ice, and with Kazama’s Strange Flames, breaking through the frozen layers was a piece of cake. In just a few breaths, he’d blasted down to a depth of thirty thousand meters.   

Kazama then activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. The pitch-black depths had no light, so he needed his dojutsu to sharpen his vision.   

“Found it!”   

Thanks to the immense power of his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, it didn’t take long for Kazama to spot a massive mirror, dozens of meters wide, made entirely of ice.   

Though he’d never seen the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror before, the powerful chakra radiating from this ice mirror convinced Kazama that this was the very artifact he’d been searching for—the one capable of deflecting any attack in the world.   

“This mirror’s huge. Without a technique to convert ninja tools into chakra, there’s no way I could carry it out.”   

As he spoke, Kazama began casting a ninjutsu to fuse the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror. But the moment he completed the fusion, a swarm of mysterious creatures appeared out of nowhere.   

Fangs bared and claws gleaming, they charged at Kazama with ferocious roars. In the utter darkness of the underground, even Kazama felt a chill at their sudden appearance.   

Luckily, his body was now near indestructible. He didn’t even fear attacks from Tailed Beasts, let alone these creatures.   

The horde of beasts seemed mindless. Though they couldn’t harm Kazama in the slightest, they kept coming, their numbers growing endlessly.   

“Judging by the chakra attributes in these creatures, they must be products of the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror. In that case, I’ll use the fused Gyokukyo Ice Mirror to wipe them out—and test its power while I’m at it.”   

With that, Kazama activated his Susanoo. Due to the cramped underground space, he didn’t summon the Perfect Susanoo, instead forming just a skeletal arm wielding the fused Gyokukyo Ice Mirror.   

The moment the mirror appeared, it instantly reflected the attacks of the ice creatures. In mere moments, the relentless swarm was reduced to nothing.   

“Who’d have thought such monsters were lurking deep underground? The Land of Snow’s too weak to handle this—it’s like I’ve done them a favor by clearing out a hidden threat.”   

Kazama then returned to the surface. With the Gyokukyo Ice Mirror in hand, there was no reason to linger in the Land of Snow.   

He summoned another ten thousand Mokuton shadow clones, bringing the total to twenty thousand. In just half a day, they rebuilt the royal palace, leaving the people of the Land of Snow in awe.   

The minister who’d made the bet with Kazama—and lost—saw the army of clones and was instantly reminded of his humiliating promise. He bolted to the nearest bathroom, retching.   

“Now I just need to find the divine artifact of Enbugoku, the Fentian Bow, to complete the six weapons for my Perfect Susanoo!”   

On his way back to Konoha, Kazama pulled out an ancient book detailing divine artifacts and began studying it.   

Legend said the Fentian Bow could unleash heavenly flames to attack enemies, similar to Kazama’s Strange Flames. He figured that if he could infuse his Strange Flames into the Fentian Bow, its power would surpass anything he’d wielded before.   

That made the Fentian Bow a must-have.   

“But Enbugoku was destroyed centuries ago, and not even ruins remain. How am I supposed to find it?”   

Kazama racked his brain, feeling a headache coming on.   

“Wait a second!”   

In the midst of his pondering, a name popped into his head: Orochimaru.   

If Orochimaru could track down an ancient artifact like the Kusanagi Sword, he surely had a way to locate the equally ancient Fentian Bow. Plus, with Kazama’s ultimate genjutsu, Betsu Tensei, he could make Orochimaru obey his every command.   

So, Kazama decided to head back to Konoha and then seek out Orochimaru.