Chapter 343: The Battle with Akshia
Outside the Hidden Leaf Village, only thirty percent of the villagers had managed to escape and were now camped just beyond the village outskirts.
"What the hell is going on here?!"
Shikamaru stared at the frozen-over Hidden Leaf Village in disbelief. Ice Release users were already rare in the shinobi world, but for someone to have the power to freeze the entire village? That was unheard of.
In just three short hours, the entire Hidden Leaf Village had been encased in ice—people, animals, everything included.
"Shikamaru, I've figured out what's going on."
Obito, who had just consulted with Shunhi through the chat group, walked over with a grim expression.
"Captain! Does Hydra know what this is about?"
"Yeah. Hydra once recorded a case like this… It's Akshia, the spirit beast of the Ice and Snow Domain—ruler of the Frozen Kingdom. It's swift, elegant, and wherever it goes, everything is frozen solid." Obito's expression turned solemn. "Its emergence once triggered an ice age across the shinobi world, until Hydra eventually captured and sealed it, then had it transported out of the shinobi world using scientific ninja tools..."
"Uncle Shikamaru!" Boruto hurried over, panting. "And Captain—this is intel."
This was information delivered by one of Jiraiya's messenger frogs before he departed.
"So it was S.H.I.E.L.D. behind this..."
After reading the intel Boruto handed over, Shikamaru stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Uncle Shikamaru, this matches exactly what Mitsuki said would happen."
Boruto stared at the pensive Shikamaru.
"Yeah." Shikamaru nodded, then turned to Obito and asked, "Captain, is there any way to resolve this?"
"There's only one option: wrap your body in powerful chakra to protect yourself, then enter the village and kill the spirit beast."
Obito answered.
"In that case, right now, the only one who can enter the village... is Boruto."
Shikamaru turned toward Boruto.
When the village was first frozen over, Boruto had cloaked himself in Nine-Tails Chakra and evacuated as many villagers as he could.
"Leave it to me. I am the Eighth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. Protecting the village is my responsibility."
Boruto pointed to the Eighth Hokage's cloak on his back.
"Calm down, Boruto." Shikamaru grabbed his arm. "Let's inform Naruto first. Wait for him and Sasuke to return before we make any moves."
In the Land of Fire's capital, Naruto received Shikamaru's message and immediately altered course with Sasuke to head back to the Hidden Leaf.
…
"Naruto, Sasuke, you're back."
Using a Thunder Train and pushing his Body Flicker Technique to the limit, Naruto arrived with Sasuke in just one day.
"Shikamaru, what's the situation?"
Naruto looked around and questioned Shikamaru.
"Not good..." Shikamaru replied grimly. "Only thirty percent of the villagers made it out. The rest were frozen along with the village."
Among the frozen were Hinata, Shikadai, Inojin, and Chōchō.
"The only way into the village now is to wrap yourself in extremely strong chakra."
Obito added from the side.
"In that case, the only ones who can enter are Boruto and me."
"And me."
Sasuke, who had been silent until now, spoke up. Sakura had made it out safely, and Sarada was on a mission with Suya, so none of his family had been frozen.
"If I use Susanoo, I should be able to resist the freezing."
"But if you keep using ocular powers non-stop, you won't be able to hold out long, right, Sasuke?"
Naruto looked over at him.
"Yeah."
Sasuke nodded.
"Also, in the chaos of the evacuation, we didn't manage to bring much food. Some people are already starting to go hungry."
Shikamaru added.
"Then we've got no choice but to end this quickly." Naruto turned to Sasuke. "Let's go, Sasuke."
"And me! You idiot old man!"
Boruto suddenly blocked Naruto's path.
"Boruto? This is too dangerous. Leave it to the adults—"
"I'm the Hokage now! You should be the one listening to me!"
"Naruto, just take Boruto with you. Besides, even if you don't, he's just going to sneak in on his own."
Shikamaru offered from behind.
"Mm..." Naruto crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "Alright."
At the village gates, freezing air poured from within. Just standing there made Naruto instinctively shiver.
"So cold."
Naruto activated Sage Fox Mode as he spoke, gradually warming his body.
"Susanoo!"
The purple armor of Susanoo formed around Sasuke.
Nearby, Boruto entered Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
"Everyone, move out!"
Inside the Hidden Leaf Village.
Akshia rested atop the Hokage Residence. As soon as Naruto, Sasuke, and Boruto entered the village, it opened its eyes. Within its domain, no intruder escaped its perception.
Naruto's expression was complicated as he looked over the ice-covered village and its frozen citizens.
"Naruto, hurry up and locate Akshia."
Sasuke urged from the side.
"Got it." Naruto closed his eyes and tapped into his Sage Mode sensory powers to scan the village. "...Found it! At the Hokage Residence!"
At the Hokage Residence.
Akshia stood majestically on the rooftop, glaring down at the intruders.
"INTRUDERS! This is no place for you!"
From Akshia's mouth came a strikingly human—and distinctly female—voice.
"Sasuke, did you hear that? It can talk."
"Idiot..." Sasuke glanced at Naruto. "Even the Summon Beasts from the Three Great Holy Lands can talk. What's so surprising about this one?"
"Oh, right."
Naruto scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly.
"This is the Hidden Leaf Village! You're the intruder here!"
Boruto shouted as he looked up at Akshia.
"Freezing Ray."
A blue beam shot from Akshia's mouth at Boruto, but he dodged in time. Ice crystals spread across the ground where the beam struck.
"So much for talking it out! In that case—" Boruto leaped forward, charging straight at Akshia. "Rasengan!"
"Ice Armor."
A crystalline ice armor formed over Akshia's body, blocking Boruto's attack. It whipped its tail and sent him flying.
"Boruto!"
Naruto dashed over and caught him mid-air.
"Amaterasu!"
As cover, Sasuke unleashed his ocular technique—Amaterasu.
"Ice Shield."
A barrier of ice crystals blocked Akshia from the black flames. "What an absolutely disgusting attack."
Driven by instinctive revulsion, Akshia immediately launched a counterattack at Sasuke.
"Holy Spirit Flash."
Akshia's form vanished, then reappeared right in front of Sasuke.
"Frosttail Smash."
It whipped its tail and sent the Susanoo-armored Sasuke flying. The impact nearly shattered Susanoo's skeletal frame.
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