*Chapter 25: Cross-Shaped Ice Flower!*

Hyorinmaru, one of the most powerful Zanpakuto in the Bleach world, is hailed as the strongest ice-type sword!

Compared to Ryūjin Jakka, which controls fire, and Kyōka Suigetsu, which manipulates the five senses, Hyorinmaru possesses the most dominant and formidable basic ability.

*Weather Domination!*

Everything in the sky falls under its control!

Thus, even though Yoru had only released the Shikai of this ice-type Zanpakuto, it still possessed the ability to dominate the battlefield.

Layer upon layer of ice crystals completely froze the massive Susanoo. Yoru stood atop an ice pillar and, in an instant, appeared before Uchiha Fugaku.

“Vacuum Ice Blade!”

The shining tip of the sword pointed straight at Uchiha Fugaku, encased within his Susanoo. The vacuum ice blade collided with the Susanoo's rib cage defense, leaving visible cracks on its surface from the massive impact.

*"Crack, crack..."*

The cracks spread, and Fugaku's pupils contracted as his Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly.

“Susanoo is the power of a true god, and you think you can defeat it with mere ice shards?!”

“What a joke!”

A massive amount of ocular power surged forth as blood and tears streamed from Fugaku's eyes. The frozen Susanoo began to struggle as the ice on its surface suddenly shattered.

Yet, Yoru's expression remained unchanged.

He continued to swing Hyorinmaru, layers of ice forming wherever the sword tip passed, turning the area into a frozen zone.

*"Boom!!"*

Susanoo violently broke free from the ice, but in the next moment, even more ice gathered and solidified.

Fugaku then noticed six special ice nodes had appeared around him without him realizing it.

The six ice nodes shimmered in unison, releasing a freezing cold that re-froze Susanoo!

*"Sixfold Ice Purity Formation."*

Yoru’s figure appeared in front of Fugaku in an instant, swinging Hyorinmaru.

Suddenly, layers of ice spikes emerged beneath Fugaku's feet, followed by an ice dragon shooting up from the ground. Fugaku was horrified and had no choice but to forcefully move away from Susanoo’s protective area to avoid the ice dragon's assault.

“How is this possible…”

“Didn’t you notice? Your Susanoo might be able to defend and attack, but the space around your feet isn’t covered by it.”

With Hyorinmaru in hand, Yoru leaped up and swung his blade down from mid-air.

*“Ice Dragon Swirling Tail!”*

A pale ice dragon burst forth from the sword tip, spiraling through the air, carrying immense power as it rushed down. The biting cold caused the temperature around them to plummet dramatically.

In the original story, both Sasuke and Madara's Susanoo were successfully countered by Gaara’s sand, and Yoru had used this same technique.

*“Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Jutsu!”*

Fugaku quickly formed hand seals and spat out a massive fire dragon, which collided with the ice dragon.

But to his shock, Fugaku saw the pale white ice beginning to spread across the fire dragon.

It was actually freezing the flames!

The once-roaring Great Fire Dragon was soon extinguished by the ice, and the clouds above grew denser, with dark clouds pressing down ominously. The falling rain had already turned into hail, continuously crashing down.

*Weather Domination!*

“Damn it, this can't be happening!”

The immense pressure Yoru was exerting was becoming almost unbearable for Uchiha Fugaku.

He had fought members of the Yuki Clan before, but their ice techniques never reached this level!

The ice manipulation this person possessed didn’t just freeze Susanoo—it even influenced the very weather itself.

In Fugaku’s memory, only one person could wield such power.

That person was none other than the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!

According to the Uchiha clan's secret records, the First Hokage's Wood Style could create a forest in an instant and effortlessly reshape the landscape. His terrifying combat abilities were such that even Madara Susanoo could not contend with him.

This scene before him was eerily similar.

Fugaku's gaze fell on the ice before him. Without Fugaku’s chakra, the frozen Susanoo had already dissipated, but the massive block of ice remained, growing more solid and forming a colossal cross-shaped ice flower.

Layer after layer of ice spread out, nearly filling the entire Uchiha Fire Formation.

Left with no choice, Fugaku had to personally dispel the barrier that was meant to confine Yoru.

*"Boom!!"*

The roaring ice dragon crashed forward again, unleashing endless frost.

Fugaku was forced to use his body-flicker technique, his blood-red Mangekyō spinning furiously. As he unleashed another Great Fireball to intercept the ice dragon, an unfamiliar power began to stir within him.

Shisui's Three-Tomoe Sharingan was also spinning within Yoru’s eyes, carefully observing Fugaku’s every move.

The moment Yoru sensed Fugaku’s ocular power and Yin chakra converging, he slightly lowered his stance.

But something triggered his senses, causing Yoru’s brow to furrow sharply. Without hesitation, he swung Hyorinmaru straight at Fugaku.

*“Prismatic Ice Array!”*

The blade flashed, freezing everything in its path.

In the blink of an eye, the freezing ice erupted like a tidal wave, forming layers of ice walls between Fugaku and Yoru.

“Goodbye, Lord Fugaku. I’ll make sure the secret of your eyes remains safe.”

Yoru’s figure disappeared into the ice, leaving only his voice echoing in Fugaku's ears.

“As part of our deal, this Uchiha Shisui’s eye now belongs to me.”

“Damn it, you bastard!”

Fugaku slammed his fist into the ice wall, sending shards of ice flying. But in the next moment, his Mangekyō suddenly vanished, reverting to the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He casually wiped the blood from the corner of his eye.

In that same moment, a sharp sound of wind cutting through the air reached Fugaku, and Jiraiya suddenly appeared beside him.

“Fugaku!”

“Lord Jiraiya.”

Fugaku’s voice was low, his face once again returning to its usual stern expression, though his trembling hands betrayed his inner turmoil.

“Apologies, Lord Jiraiya. I couldn’t capture him, and Shisui’s eye was stolen.”

Jiraiya looked at the chakra still swirling around Fugaku and then surveyed the area, noticing that nearly everything around them had been frozen.

The dark clouds above still lingered, casting a dreary light on the ice-covered world before them. The colossal cross-shaped ice flower standing tall on the ground was especially striking, leaving the legendary Sannin in silent reflection.

“What exactly... happened?”

Jiraiya finally spoke, though he already had a hunch.

Mizu no tsuki Yoru, the frozen world.

“This... is the power of that bloodline limit, isn’t it?”

(End of Chapter)