The sounds of agony echoed through the streets of the Land of Snow's capital.
Not only the citizens who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, but even Utaha and the other two, who had been with Makoto for three months, now looked at the Yukigakure's Ninjas being devoured by the black flames with expressions of shock.
Nadare and his subordinates rolled frantically on the ground. Some desperately used Water Release Ninjutsu to pour water on themselves, but the moment those water currents touched the black flames, they passed right through as if hitting a mirage, having no effect whatsoever.
The Yukigakure's Ninjas could only watch helplessly as their bodies were slowly consumed by those eerie black flames.
"Who said these flames can't kill people?"
Makoto watched the Yukigakure's Ninjas wailing in pain on the ground, a malicious smile curling at the corner of his lips.
"Th-that... Makoto-sensei."
Megumi's voice came from beside him. Makoto turned and saw her holding out a handkerchief.
He took the handkerchief and casually wiped away the blood tears streaming from his right eye.
It was this action of looking up that allowed the three girls to finally see the full appearance of his eyes—
A crimson base color, eerie black patterns.
What kind of eyes were those?!
"Who are you—"
A furious roar interrupted their thoughts.
Everyone looked up and saw a burly middle-aged man rushing out from the depths of the palace.
The Chakra Armor on his body was clearly of a different grade from that of Nadare's group… thicker, more refined, obviously not on the same level.
The citizens who had been daring enough to watch the spectacle, upon seeing this man, screamed and scattered in an instant.
Kazahana Doto.
The current Daimyo who ruled the Land of Snow with bloody methods.
And the strongest person in the Land of Snow.
He looked at his subordinates who were still wailing and struggling on the ground, his entire body trembling.
To be precise, he wasn't concerned about the lives of these subordinates, but about the Chakra Armor that was being burned away by the black flames on their bodies.
Forging Chakra Armor required a special mineral called [Rainbow Crystal].
This material was only produced in the Land of Snow and was extremely rare… this was also the main reason why he had killed his brother and usurped the throne back then.
"Did you do this?!"
Doto glared at Makoto, gnashing his teeth.
Makoto couldn't even be bothered to waste words. He reached into his ninja tool pouch, pulled out a kunai, and casually threw it.
Doto laughed in rage, 'An attack of this level?'
He swung his arm covered by his Chakra Armor and knocked the kunai away.
The automatic barrier of the Chakra Armor meant that such thrown weapons couldn't even break its defense.
But in that instant—
Makoto, who had been dozens of meters away, suddenly appeared beside him, his left hand calmly catching the very kunai that had just been knocked away.
"Impossible?!"
Doto's pupils contracted sharply.
Makoto didn't give him time to react. The Rasengan he had already formed in his right hand slammed into him with full force.
Boom—
A violent explosion rang out, and smoke billowed.
In the distance, Megumi and the other two watched with wide, incredulous eyes.
'Too fast.'
'Was this a Jonin-level battle? Our eyes couldn't even keep up with the movements.'
A staggering figure stumbled backward out of the smoke.
It was Doto.
His originally immaculate slicked-back hair was now disheveled, falling across his forehead. Over forty percent of his reinforced Chakra Armor was shattered, and the exposed parts were covered in cracks.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Makoto strolled slowly out of the smoke, "The Ninjas of this country are just trash who rely on that armor."
Megumi and the others nodded thoughtfully.
"Who sent you? I'll pay, ten times as much!"
Doto's voice was already starting to sound weak. He himself had Jonin-level strength, but that one exchange just now was enough for him to recognize reality… he couldn't beat this young man in front of him.
Makoto's expression didn't change as he continued walking toward him.
Seeing this reaction, Doto knew there was no room for negotiation. He gritted his teeth and rapidly formed hand seals—
"Ice Release: Twin Dragon Blizzard!"
Boom!
Two ice dragons, carrying blizzards with them, burst out from the surrounding ice layers and roared as they pounced on Makoto.
This was Doto's strongest Ninjutsu.
The blizzard stirred up by the two ice dragons forced Utaha and the other two to retreat repeatedly.
They watched as the sky-darkening ice dragons lunged toward Makoto, their faces turning pale.
"Makoto!" Megumi couldn't help but cry out.
Seeing this, a triumphant smile finally appeared on Doto's face.
'In such a blizzard, can you still throw your kunai over here?'
Although he hadn't fully understood the principle behind Makoto's instantaneous movement earlier, he was still a Jonin and had vaguely guessed that it was related to that kunai.
But now, in such strong winds, even if he threw his kunai, it would be blown off course.
'Don't expect the same trick to work on me, Kazahana Doto, a second time.'
However—
Makoto closed his right eye.
Instead, he aimed his left eye at Doto.
Boom!
The two ice dragons crashed down, completely engulfing the spot where Makoto had been standing just moments ago.
The violent Ice Release energy exploded, blooming into a giant ice flower in the middle of the street.
To be precise, it wasn't true Ice Release.
The Land of Snow didn't have the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai like Kirigakure's Yuki Clan did.
They used Wind Release, combined with the icy, snowy environment of the Land of Snow, to forcibly create the effect of 'Ice Release'.
"Hahahaha!"
Doto laughed loudly.
In the distance, the faces of Megumi and the other two were deathly pale.
Utaha gritted her teeth, pulled a kunai from her tool pouch, and prepared to rush forward to support.
In that instant—
"Why are you so happy?"
The sudden voice came from behind Doto like the death knell of hell.
Doto's pupils contracted sharply, and he whipped his head around.
What came into view was a pitch-black kunai.
Swish—
A head separated from its neck.
Before it could hit the ground, a hand caught it firmly.
Under the incredulous gazes of Utaha and the other two, Makoto weighed the head in his hand, casually took out a storage scroll, and sealed it inside.
Then he leisurely walked back to his three students and clapped his hands.
"Alright, let's go back."
Several seconds passed before the three finally snapped out of it.
Utaha let out a long breath, then raised her hand and punched Makoto in the chest.
"You scared me to death... You did that on purpose, didn't you? You waited until just before you were about to be hit to make your move!"
Makoto smiled exaggeratedly: "Huh? You caught me?"
Utaha gave him an annoyed roll of her eyes, "The pretentious male leads in novels all like to do that, especially in front of female characters."
Makoto casually ruffled her hair: "As expected of a light novel author, you really know a lot."
"Makoto-sensei."
Megumi asked, "How did you do that just now? That wasn't the Flying Thunder God Technique, was it?"
Even Ran, who had been trying to keep her distance from Makoto these past few days, couldn't help showing a look of curiosity.
Makoto, while operating the Reincarnation System in his mind to turn off the item usage, answered with a smile:
"Left eye: Shinatsuhiko. Right eye: Amaterasu."
"These are the abilities of my Mangekyo Sharingan."