Chapter 30: Ice and Fire, Borrowing and Lending(Bonus Chapter)
"This is… a Bloodline Limit?!"
In the Valley of Thunder, Liumu and the others watched as the three Konoha ninja not far away were frozen solid by an Ice Release technique. They recognized the caster's ability almost instantly.
Ice Release was an ability formed by the fusion of Wind and Water nature chakra. Unlike the Uchiha clan's Sharingan in Konoha, which was a dōjutsu, Ice Release was a Kekkei Genkai—a bloodline limit. Most Kekkei Genkai were innate, impossible to acquire through learning or copying. Those who possessed such abilities were undeniably powerful shinobi.
As villages vied for tailed beasts, those with more diverse bloodlines naturally gained greater combat power.
Seeing Ice Release, the first person that popped into Liumu's mind was the Ice Release user who appeared alongside Zabuza—Haku. If he hadn't read the official information before, he might have always mistaken Haku for a girl.
"They're leaving!"
Mizukage stared at the white-haired girl who had released the Ice Release, speaking in a low voice.
Liumu nodded. He then jumped down from the tree, landing directly in front of the three Kirigakure ninja.
"Hold it right there!"
Liumu stood before them, pointing to the ice sculpture beside him. "Since you've already taken their scroll, why not release them too?"
With Kakashi and Mizukage's abilities, they couldn't undo the Ice Release. Prolonged freezing would threaten the three lives. Moreover, forcefully shattering the ice could crush their bodies along with it.
Though Liumu could use Taotie's Gluttony to absorb the Ice Release chakra directly, he chose not to.
Approaching the Kiri trio, Liumu finally got a clear look at them. All three kunoichi were quite beautiful. Among them, the white-haired girl's face made Liumu pause for a moment.
She appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen, with a red hairpin in her hair. Her waterfall-like white hair and a pristine, snow-like white dress gave her the air of a shrine maiden. Her features, paired with light blue eyes and waist-length hair casually draped over her shoulders, created a harmonious, ethereal impression.
"Are you here to steal our scroll too?" one of the Kiri ninja asked Liumu.
Liumu shook his head. "No. Mine is also a Heaven Scroll. Stealing yours would be pointless."
"Then get out of the way!"
Faced with their rebuke, Liumu didn't budge. "You took their scroll because they were weaker. I have nothing to say about that. But my point stands: release them."
"And if we don't?"
The white-haired girl's snow-like eyes opened slightly. Though she hadn't spoken until now, Liumu saw no vitality in her gaze—it was like a dust-covered ice sculpture, devoid of emotion.
Liumu raised a hand. "Then I'll have to resort to force."
"Wait."
Just as the Kiri ninja prepared to fight, the white-haired girl spoke. Under Liumu's gaze, she extended her jade-like arms. With a flutter of her hands and a soft whisper of "Release" from her vermilion lips, the ice sculpture beside her melted instantly.
Liumu looked at her, puzzled. The white-haired girl then pulled down the white veil over her head, covering her face once more. Her rejection was clear, so Liumu didn't press further.
After thanking her, he brushed past the group.
...
"How are they?"
Liumu rejoined Kakashi and Mizukage, looking at the three shinobi on the ground.
"Not in immediate danger, but their bodies are still frozen," Kakashi replied. He gathered dry branches from nearby trees, built a stone ring, and Liumu used a small Fire Release: Fireball to ignite the wood, providing warmth.
"So your Fire Release really is just for starting fires," Mizukage joked with a laugh, helping Kakashi rub the frozen limbs of the three.
"What do you mean? My Fire Release can not only light fires, but also… ignite a girl's heart!"
Mizukage: "…"
"Tsk, shameless! Where did a kid your age learn such blush-inducing lines?"
Liumu chuckled. "My teacher is Jiraiya."
Speaking of Jiraiya, Liumu turned to Kakashi. "By the way, I remember you like reading, right? I happen to have a few of Master Jiraiya's… excellent works. I'll lend them to you later."
"Lord Jiraiya's works?" Kakashi immediately agreed. "Okay. Thank you, Liumu."
"Don't mention it. We're comrades. Good things must be shared." Liumu raised an eyebrow with a sly grin, then glanced at Mizukage.
"Why are you looking at me?" Mizukage said, a mix of confusion and indignation. "Why invite Kakashi and not me? I also really want to read Lord Jiraiya's books."
"You… better forget it." Liumu scratched his head awkwardly. "Read them in five or six years. That'll be more appropriate."
"Why?"
Mizukage was puzzled. "Hey! Why are you leaving? You haven't said why I have to wait five or six years!"
...
There were nearly a hundred participants in the Chunin Exams, forming over thirty teams. Though departure times were staggered, Liumu's team hadn't encountered others along their route.
Nearly three days passed in a blink. However, they still hadn't obtained an Earth Scroll, so they couldn't report to the assembly point yet.
"Do you think that Ice Release kunoichi has already assembled?"
On the trail before the finish line, Liumu's team lay in ambush behind a boulder, waiting for prey. As they waited, Mizukage kept pestering Liumu with questions about the Ice Release girl.
Women, regardless of age, possessed a sense of rivalry. Facing a figure like the Ice Release girl, a deep-seated urge to compare arose within her.
"Probably," Kakashi said. "Among the teams in this exam, their strength is undoubtedly top-tier."
Kakashi's own strength wasn't lacking. He and Liumu were hailed as prodigies who made history at the Academy. But if he faced that Ice Release user, could he maintain his "genius" title?
Perhaps…
Kakashi glanced at Liumu, who lay leisurely on a rock with a blade of grass in his mouth.
"Perhaps he could."
"Someone's coming."
At that moment, Mizukage's sensory detection picked up a slight fluctuation. She immediately alerted the others.
Hearing this, Liumu spat out the grass, got up, and lazily stretched. He said to Kakashi and Mizukage, "Let's go. Time to rob the rich to help the… well, ourselves."
(End of Chapter)
✨If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/TofuChan
💕Patreon members get early access to chapters, bonus content, and voting power on future ideas.💕
Every bit of support helps me write more and faster. Thank you so much for reading! 🥰
✨✨ I'll release an extra chapter for every 5 reviews! ✨✨🥳🥳 For every 50 power stones! 🥳🥳
Lets hit the goal of 60 Patreon Members now for 5 Extra Chapters 💕