Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 232 Ice Release: Ice Age

"I remember you set a timeframe of seven years, right? Three years... that's quite early, isn't it? I've been underestimated."

With a final soft hum, a thick tail lashed out, moving swiftly like a white afterimage.

Aokiji's body was enveloped in rising steam, instantly activating its steam armor. It leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the attack. In mid-air, it saw the thick tail cleave out a huge, deep crater, creating a hollow space.

His heels landed, creating ripples on the water. Aokiji steadied himself, realizing that if he had been hit, the consequences would have been dire…

"It seems your successful development of the Boil Release bloodline limit has made you quite arrogant. But don't forget who you owe your current success to."

The five-tailed beast stared fiercely at the steam billowing from Aokiji's body, while the water on the ground surged and rippled with its anger, like waves.

"Yes, I understand perfectly well." Aokiji said seriously, "If it were in the past, I might have waited a few more years out of caution, but now, I've decided to take the risk."

"For that little girl?"

"good."

"Hmph, what a boring relationship."

"The battlefield is fraught with danger; a single misstep can lead to disaster. To protect my beloved, I must become stronger than everyone else." Aokiji met the Five-Tails' fierce gaze and said earnestly, "For that, relying on your power is indispensable. Little Five..."

Finally, Aokiji shook his head, denying the previous form of address, and solemnly said, "King Mu."

The change in address signifies a different attitude. Aokiji is no longer joking; Gotae senses Aokiji's true feelings at this moment.

"They're good with words, but I wonder how they'll fare when it comes to real combat..."

Once the Five-Tails' massive chakra erupts, it is extraordinary. Normally, a slight mobilization of its chakra would cause water to surge like a tidal wave, but this time, with the eruption of its chakra, five water columns formed around it, just like its five tails.

Faced with the formidable Five-Tails, Aokiji's lips curled into a smile, a hint of excitement in his eyes: "You are indeed strong, but that's precisely why it's necessary, isn't it?"

After three years of dedicated training, I can finally unleash my full potential today.

Aokiji formed hand seals, channeling his chakra and preparing to unleash it. As the hand seals were completed, he aimed at the Five-Tails' head as it charged forward and unleashed a massive, blazing fireball.

It was the signature ninjutsu of the Uchiha clan—Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

This level of ninjutsu would be ineffective against Tailed Beasts, let alone Tailed Beasts, which are natural disasters. Even against ordinary ninjas, it would probably be of little use.

The Five-Tails' mere Fireball Technique would make it seem like a low-class tailed beast if it even glanced at it.

So when faced with a massive fireball aimed directly at its face, it chose to take the fireball head-on, defeating it in one fell swoop and then closing in.

So fast!

Suddenly, the blue pheasant's pupils contracted sharply, reflecting the giant beast's white silhouette.

No matter how many times he watches it, it's hard to imagine that such a huge body could move so fast; even he can't react to it...

Weird.

Aokiji, who was sent flying by the Five-Tails' headbutt, revealed a smug smile as he dissolved into liquid.

"Click-clack click-clack..."

Before the Five-Tails could even rejoice at its successful attack, it suddenly discovered that its entire body was bound by chains of ice.

"What time is this...?"

Following the direction of the ice lock, Wuwei was surprised to find a young man standing not far to the right, his hands forming a hand seal.

"Just now, when you were dismissing the Great Fireball Technique with disdain~~"

Aokiji's voice carried a hint of flirtation.

Aokiji knew better than anyone the true extent of the power of the Great Fireball Technique. To think that such a technique could have even the slightest effect on the Five-Tails was nothing short of a pipe dream.

So when he used the big fire ball technique, he did not rush to inflict damage from the beginning. Instead, he used this technique to block the Five-Tails' vision and instantly used the water body. The main body then used the water escape ninjutsu to sneak into the water and circle around. Behind him, he used Ice Escape and Ice Chain.

This kind of timing is so precise that not a second more or less is acceptable; it can only be achieved through the Sharingan's insightful perception.

Even though its entire body was bound by chains of ice, the Five-Tails remained unfazed, channeling its immense, unfathomable chakra, intending to shatter the ice chains in one fell swoop: "You think you can... with just this level of ninjutsu..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Five-Tails suddenly realized that these chains were not simply made with Ice Release; they also had a sealing effect.

Wuwei's blue eyes were filled with surprise.

The effect of this sealing technique seemed familiar; the Five-Tails could only be felt within the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"That ninjutsu is pretty good, isn't it..."

Blue chakra surged from Aokiji's body, coalescing into his own form, which was noticeably more transparent than his original body, connecting to his body and floating behind him.

"I see. You wanted to directly seize my chakra this way, didn't you? In that case, in a sense, I have indeed lost..."

"But to think you can bind her with just this is too naive. Your sealing technique is far inferior to that woman's." The Five-Tails moved its lips, uttering a neutral voice, mercilessly stating: "At best, it's just a fake created with Ice Release."

The above is not meant to be sarcastic, but rather to reflect the facts revealed by reality.

"I already know this without you telling me..."

Aokiji had seriously considered how to deal with a large creature like the Five-Tails.

Limited by his own chakra, he couldn't unleash Rasengans like Naruto, who could fire countless Rasengans like an infinite power source without needing chakra, with immense force that sent bricks flying and completely stunned the tailed beasts.

If Aokiji wants to defeat a tailed beast, he can only do so by catching it off guard. The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be.

"Well……"

The five-tailed beast's expression was as "stern" as the name suggests, and it exhaled a white cloud of air that rose, dissipated, and finally dissolved into the air.

A massive amount of ice-attribute chakra formed a cold current that flowed into the body along the chains of ice, causing the body temperature to gradually drop, and even the surface of the body began to condense ice and snow that was whiter than the color of fur.

Aokiji and the Five-Tails faced each other from afar. In preparation for his next move, he took a deep breath and even used more force in his hand seals to boost the chakra within his body.

"Haaah—!"

With a low, guttural groan, Aokiji's veins bulged, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. After a long pause, he roared:

"Ice Release: Ice Age!"

Crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle!

In an instant, frost covered the Five-Tails' body, hands and feet, tail, and even spread to every limb and bone, making it look like a huge ice sculpture.

After using this move, Aokiji was panting heavily, sweat beaded on his forehead, and a stream of heat flowed from his nasal cavity, running down his nasal groove and into his lips.

My tongue licked it unintentionally, and the warm liquid melted on the tip of my tongue, carrying a slightly fishy smell. It was the taste of blood, my own blood.

To freeze a creature of the Tailed Beast level, Aokiji dared not hold back at all, using up almost all of his chakra in one go.

But when he saw the huge ice sculpture in front of him, Aokiji felt that it was all worth it.

(End of this chapter)