In the Senju clan territory, the wind was still and the trees whispered.
Scarlet sunlight pierced through the clouds, falling into the ancient courtyard with a warmth so intense it nearly stung.
Even the air seemed dried out, becoming hot and bright.
Kushina Uzumaki was looking up at the dazzling golden pillar in the sky.
She blinked: "The sun... why did it suddenly get so big?"
The Ice Vulpix in her arms let out a "meep" and jumped into her embrace, wrapping its tail around her neck as it desperately released cold air.
Ice crystals gently fell, instantly lowering the surrounding temperature by several degrees.
But the next second.
An even stronger wave of heat surged over.
Kushina pouted: "It's too hot!"
Nearby in the courtyard, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was holding his pipe while visiting Uzumaki Mito.
The elderly Mito carried an aura of tranquility and steadiness, like the final pillar stabilizing an era.
But at this moment, her brows were slightly furrowed.
Hiruzen spoke first:
"Lady Mito... the two Vulpix that have appeared now, one ice and one fire... both seem to possess special abilities?"
Mito gently stroked the flowerpot beside her, her voice calm:
"Yes."
She slowly closed her eyes, recalling the Nine Tails' reaction when it saw Kushina's Ice Vulpix last time.
"Even the Nine Tails has become restless."
The Nine Tails, restless?
Hiruzen was somewhat surprised: "Lady Mito..."
Mito opened her eyes, steady yet concerned: "The Uchiha clan will likely become a new problem again."
Just as the two were conversing.
Boom!
The sky became so bright it was blinding.
This wasn't ordinary sunlight, but a glaring blaze that overwhelmed the entire sky of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Even the moisture in the air instantly evaporated.
Hiruzen's expression changed sharply: "What happened?"
Not long after, several Anbu ninja knelt in the courtyard, bringing intelligence from Nanga Shrine.
They quickly explained the situation regarding the Sunlight Trait and the weather anomaly.
Hiruzen's pipe dropped to the ground.
"...Creating Sun Power."
Hiruzen murmured, flames reflecting in his eyes.
He suddenly thought of something and sharply looked up to meet Uzumaki Mito's gaze.
Almost simultaneously, they both realized:
If the Uchiha's Fire Vulpix awakened Sunlight, then Kushina's Ice Vulpix...
Without another word, both immediately rushed to Kushina's room.
In Kushina's room at that moment, the young girl was sitting cross-legged on the floor, holding her Ice Vulpix motionless.
Because the Sunlight Power was sweeping through the Hidden Leaf, the entire room was as hot as a steamer.
The Ice Vulpix kept panting, the ice crystals on its tail melting and reforming.
Seeing Sarutobi and Mito enter, she muttered quietly:
"The sun is so annoying... my Vulpix is almost melting from the heat..."
Kushina raised her hand, releasing a faint cold air that enveloped the Ice Vulpix in a small chilled domain.
Frost flowers bloomed on the floor, and coolness returned to the room.
Hiruzen watched this, complex emotions swirling in his heart.
"Kushina..."
He asked softly, "Do you... have a similar ability?"
Uzumaki Mito looked at her: "Yes, you should tell Hiruzen everything."
Kushina was taken aback.
Then she blushed and scratched her head:
"Well... it seems... I do have a little."
"My body can instantly lower temperatures, freeze the air... but I'm afraid of freezing everyone, so I don't dare use it casually..."
Hiruzen and Mito exchanged glances.
Uzumaki Mito gently held Kushina's hand. "It's alright, let's test it out."
"Okay."
Kushina listened to Mito more than she did the Hokage.
She took a deep breath and gently stroked the Ice Vulpix in her arms.
"Alright, let's... give it a try too."
Boom!
The Chakra within her suddenly erupted.
Not red, not blue, but compressed to pure silver-white.
Silver ice light spread from her feet like ripples, instantly shooting up into the sky, transforming into a massive ice pillar that pierced the heavens!
The temperature plummeted wildly.
The air froze, moisture turned to frost, even breathing felt sharp and painful.
Above the Senju clan grounds, silver-white cold energy completely took over.
The ground instantly became covered in frost, leaves crystallized, and the wind carried crisp sounds as it blew.
The terrifying low temperature swept out in all directions like a tidal wave!
In an instant, the entire sky above the Hidden Leaf Village underwent a sudden change.
Ninjas looked up one after another, unable to conceal their panic.
Two pillars of light appeared simultaneously in the sky above.
On one side, golden flames soared into the sky from Nanga Shrine.
On the other side, silver chill rose from the Senju clan grounds.
Sunlight and extreme cold.
The two forces opposed each other above the Hidden Leaf Village, tearing through the clouds and reaching straight for the heavens.
The Shinobi World had never witnessed such a scene before.
Someone exclaimed, "The... the sky, why are there two lights?!"
"The Uchiha direction... it's firelight like the sun!"
"The Senju side... why is there suddenly frost?! Is that ninjutsu?!"
Windows along the walls frosted over while simultaneously the floors heated up under the sunlight, the alternating cold and heat distorting the air.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite surprised. "To actually change the Hidden Leaf's weather..."
Uzumaki Mito looked at Kushina's silver chill, then gazed toward the Uchiha direction where sunlight pierced the sky, her expression complex.
The silver chill shot straight up to the heavens like an ice-blue longsword splitting the clouds.
As the cold energy spread, ninjas near the Senju clan grounds were startled by the phenomenon and gradually gathered.
"This is... the Sage Body!"
"...Coming from Kushina?"
Members of the Senju clan appeared around them immediately, filled with confusion, shock, and disbelief.
Compared to the Uchiha clan members, the Senju were more sensitive to Kushina's situation.
Kushina had awakened the Sage Body.
But it was the Ice Release Sage Body!
The Snowfall Trait, in their eyes, was the Sage Body composed of Natural Energy.
"Ice Release Sage Body, an unprecedented situation."
At this moment, the eyes of many Senju clan members suddenly lit up.
Soon after, numerous clans allied with the Senju through marriage also arrived, including the Shimura, Sarutobi, and other veteran clans of the Hidden Leaf.
Everyone gathered around Kushina, both amazed and awed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uzumaki Mito exchanged glances again.
What awakened in the Uchiha clan was likely the Amaterasu Fire Release Sage Body.
On their side was the Snowfall Ability of the Ice Release Sage Body.
These Sage Bodies were similar to Wood Release, with very special physical constitutions.
In Senju clan history, there were records of clan members with various Sage Body characteristics. Although the Ice Release Sage Body was the first of its kind, the Senju clan happened to have complete records of Secret Techniques.
Then Danzo approached, squinting as he observed Kushina's condition, deep in thought.
Through exchanged glances with Hiruzen and Uzumaki Mito, the three basically established the direction for Kushina's future training.
"Kushina... has this kind of power?"
In the distance, Minato Namikaze stepped onto the rooftop, gazing through the sky where sunlight intertwined with biting cold. He saw Kushina standing at the center of a pillar of light.
Her crimson hair fluttered in the wind, and the Vulpix in her arms emitted an icy blue glow.
Silvery frost swirled around her. In that instant, he sensed Kushina's distress and suffering.
Minato's chest tightened abruptly.
Unlike those who craved power, what concerned Minato Namikaze most was Kushina's physical condition.