Even though Orochimaru taught the breathing style, Kakashi didn't see him as his role model.
Kakashi was quick-witted. After figuring out how the breathing style worked, he realized he couldn't become a ninja like Orochimaru.
Their basic abilities in Chakra and physical strength were too different, and Orochimaru's broad and powerful fighting style didn't suit him.
Minato's fighting style, which focused on quick kills and rapid retreats, was much more like his own.
Because of this, Kakashi changed the original breathing style and developed a more fitting 'Lightning Breathing' based on the characteristics of Lightning Release.
Compared to Chidori and Raikiri, this new style was faster, more deadly, and had stronger bursts of power.
However, it lacked the ability to attack a wide area.
This attempt was a departure from his usual training, risking his life.
Facing the giant ice shield in front of him, Kakashi met the gaze of his own reflection in the short sword. His pupils suddenly shrank to pinpricks, and his Chakra surged wildly.
He intended to use this sword to break through the enemy's ice shell.
Crack crack…
Suddenly, the air distorted, and a sound of shattering metal rang out.
Kakashi stared at his right hand in shock. The short sword twisted, broke, and shattered under an unseen force, leaving only the hilt.
Before he could turn his head, a fragment grazed his brow, leaving a red mark. Blood slowly trickled down from the corner of his eye.
Yet, instead of dejection, a deep confusion washed over his face. Just moments before, strange information had suddenly appeared in his mind.
With his life on the line and no room for hesitation, Kakashi looked up at the ice shield before him and whispered, "Kamui!"
The three tomoe in his left Sharingan's eye had somehow connected, forming a shuriken pattern.
As Kakashi activated it, a sinister crimson light suddenly burst forth.
At the same time, on the side of the white ice shield, a huge, distorted vortex appeared out of nowhere. It easily tore through the thick ice layer and swallowed it into an unknown space.
"Is this really the Mangekyo Sharingan? How? When did I..."
Having personally experienced this strange eye technique, Kakashi's mind raced with endless questions. But now was clearly not the time to ponder such things.
"Kamui!"
"Kamui!"
...
Kakashi, without regard for the cost, repeatedly used his Mangekyo eye technique. Blood flowed from the corner of his left eye, along the existing red mark, and a tear of blood streamed down.
While the price was steep, the effect was quite impressive. The spatial distortion tore through the ice almost instantly, leaving no time for repairs.
Before long, one side of the ice shield was torn to shreds, revealing holes of various sizes.
"Kids, take down that white-haired ninja."
From within the ice surface, the Snow clan leader, Mizunaki Akashi, poked his head out, his face a little pale. "Don't bother with those two lackeys..."
Before he finished speaking, he felt a sense of danger and quickly submerged back into the ice, moving his position.
In the very next moment, the distorted space spread to this area, destroying large swathes of ice.
"A shame, he escaped?"
Seeing that the ice shield wasn't collapsing on a large scale, Kakashi knew the user of the Ninjutsu was still present, though hiding somewhere.
But with the ice shield in such a state, it could no longer stop Jinsuke and the others.
Kakashi dodged an attack from a rogue ninja of Kirigakure. From the corner of his eye, he saw a hazy red light appear from the newly formed ice layer, and the next moment, it pierced through, trailing a long fiery tail.
Before the three Ice Release ninja could repair the holes, a strong gust of wind followed, blowing away the evaporated steam mixed with mist.
The next moment, nine Konoha Ninja flashed out from the melted ice cave.
"Ice Release: Senbon Barrage!"
With a loud shout, countless ice needles shot out from the ice wall, precisely targeting them as they escaped their prison.
However, almost at the same time, someone jumped behind the ninja squad and slammed their hand on the ground. "Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"
A thick stone wall, carved with images of the eight ninja dogs, rose up, blocking the barrage of ice needles.
The discernment of the Mangekyo Sharingan was extraordinary. Although it couldn't block Chakra interference to pinpoint the exact location of the three Ice Release ninja, it could easily notice the abnormal Chakra flow on the outer wall of the ice shield.
However, Ice Release Ninjutsu was also formidable, far more powerful than ordinary Ninjutsu.
Under the continuous assault, the stone wall crumbled, its thickness constantly worn down, as if it would be completely shattered at any moment.
But with Kakashi buying them time, the others reacted. Two ninja skilled in Earth Release also used Ninjutsu to help reinforce the stone wall.
With their assistance, Kakashi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The moment he looked up, the strange pattern in his Sharingan was noticed.
Uchiha Jinsuke exclaimed, "Mangekyo Sharingan? You..."
Seeing the 'forbidden eyes' he so longed for on an outsider without Uchiha blood shocked Jinsuke no less than when he first gained his Blood Wheel Eye.
But the confusion in his mind was immediately resolved. It made sense that the resistance had suddenly lessened before; Kakashi must have used some kind of power.
"We'll worry about this later... let's just get out of here first."
Kakashi wiped the blood from his face and pulled down his forehead protector, covering his Mangekyo left eye.
His mood was also unsettled. Using a unique Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha clan in front of a Uchiha made him feel somewhat guilty.
More than that, there was a deep sense of worry.
Just having one Sharingan had already caused considerable controversy in the village. Now, this eye was far more precious. Would the Uchiha tolerate this?
Kakashi didn't crave the power of the Sharingan. The Uchiha's traditional Kekkei Genkai might not fully suit his fighting style. But this was a memento from a dear friend. He carried this eye to see the world his friend couldn't.
"Indeed, now is not the time to dwell on these things."
Uchiha Jinsuke nodded slightly. Under his command, the eight Konoha Ninja dispersed to support their comrades who were being held back by the enemy ninja.
Fortunately, Kakashi broke through the defenses fast enough. Although the enemy had superior numbers, they only managed to inflict some injuries on them and didn't pose a fatal threat.
"So, you really managed to escape."
Snow clan leader Mizunaki Akashi emerged from the ice, confident that Kakashi could no longer use that strange Ninjutsu.
His scarred face showed a fierce glint, and his eyes flashed coldly as he silently watched the battle outside the ice shield. He suddenly sneered.
"If you lot had just fled after escaping this prison, I might have let you go. But to leave not a single one behind, are you looking down on us too much?"
The Snow clan ninja were skilled warriors, but their actions in this operation were somewhat cautious.
After all, it had only been a little over a year since they moved to the Land of Iron from Kirigakure. Reckless fighting would only lead the clan into an abyss.
Therefore, he hadn't acted from within the ice shield, and he had even considered letting the three Konoha ninja escape.
However, with so many members of the Snow clan deployed, coming back with no gains would be a disgrace to the clan's name. It would be hard to speak with arrogance to the Akatsuki organization and Kusagakure ninja in the future.
Mizunaki Akashi's accusation that the Konoha ninja underestimated them was more of a reprimand for not following the rules, implying they were forcing him to fight to the death.
Uchiha Jinsuke stood with Kakashi, constantly wary of the three Ice Release ninja. Hearing their words, he couldn't help but mock, "Aren't you just a bunch of traitors who fled in disgrace from the Land of Water? What right do you have to demand respect?"
Mizunaki Akashi ignored the brash youngsters and said, "Zetsu, bring out your clones. We can't stop them on our own."
Even if they could stop them, they would likely suffer heavy losses, a price the Snow clan leader did not want to pay.
"I'm just eyes and a mouth. I don't want to be a fighter for now."
White Zetsu poked its head out from a snow-covered tree, shivered, and chuckled strangely. "But it doesn't seem necessary."
Shortly after its words, sounds of rushing wind came from all directions. Before long, nearly thirty figures surrounded the entire battlefield.
The Konoha ninja's expressions changed slightly, and they withdrew from their fights with the enemy. The Snow clan ninja stopped their pursuit, confident of victory.
Kakashi scanned the surroundings, his gaze briefly pausing on Kakuzu, then moving to the group of ninja behind him.
Among them were the Taketori clan from Kirigakure, with their square faces, wide ears, and cinnabar-marked eyebrows. The others, judging by their headbands and clothing, were ninja from the Land of Hot Water village.
The Land of Hot Water village, regardless of its strength or the quality of its ninja, was usually overlooked by the ninja villages of the great nations. Yet, at this moment, it was the last straw that tipped the scales.
Kakashi's heart sank to his stomach. Faced with such a force today, he feared they were doomed.
"Kakashi, what is your Mangekyo Sharingan's eye technique?"
Uchiha Jinsuke asked quietly with a serious expression, "If I create an opportunity, can you kill Kakuzu?"
Facing a desperate situation, he still had no intention of surrendering. If he was going to die, he wanted to take someone suitable with him.
Kakuzu, the strongest bounty hunter, was a good choice. He had heard that Kakuzu had lived long enough, and his aged flesh would surely make a solid coffin lining.
Hearing Uchiha Jinsuke's question, Kakashi hesitated for a moment before replying, "It's a space-time Ninjutsu that can exile enemies to another dimension. If the opponent shows an opening, there's a chance to deal with him."
The information provided by the Mangekyo Sharingan was not entirely clear, only giving him a vague awareness. He deduced the specific effect based on his recent use.
He called it another dimension, but Kakashi didn't know what it was like inside. However, he imagined it was a place of no return.
"Very well, then we will create an opportunity for you."
Uchiha Jinsuke's low voice echoed within a small area. His crimson eyes swept over the Konoha Ninja one by one.
"Taking him down won't be a loss."
The Konoha Ninja present didn't respond verbally, but their expressions were solemn, and their Chakra erupted. There was a sense of shared determination and of fighting with their backs against the wall.
"..."
White Zetsu's clone poked its head out from a tree trunk on the periphery, watched the Konoha Ninja's display, and chuckled in surprise,
"Even now, they're still planning something. Do they really think they can turn this around?"
"Heh, this is a joke."
Amidst the strange laughter, a discordant voice suddenly rang out, "Oh?"
White Zetsu's clone's face froze instantly. Its neck twisted as if it were a rusty screw. It then noticed a pale-faced man standing beside it, who hadn't been there before.
"O-Orochimaru, when did you get here?"
Orochimaru watched the battle unfolding before him, tilted his head slightly as if recalling something, and chuckled. "For a while now. Probably around when those three Ice Release ninja used their Ninjutsu."
Wasn't he there from the beginning?
White Zetsu stared in disbelief and exclaimed, "Impossible, absolutely impossible! How could you possibly evade my senses?"
As a non-human, White Zetsu also had a sense of racial pride, especially in its scouting and sensory abilities. Not even a Sage who controlled natural energy could do this.
Sage Mode only made one more sensitive to perception, able to notice their gaze, not the other way around. It couldn't be completely immune to their senses.
"Is it that difficult? I thought it was quite simple."
Orochimaru held up his index finger, and his aura suddenly changed. His presence became almost nonexistent, like... a piece of wood.
White Zetsu's clone was dumbfounded. This ability was too familiar; it was their own ability.
"How could you..."
White Zetsu suddenly realized that this was not the time for continued questioning. Orochimaru wouldn't necessarily answer all its questions.
It was going to die; it should escape!
But as soon as it had this thought, a large hand gripped its neck forcefully.
"Leaving without saying hello would be rather impolite, wouldn't it?"
Orochimaru yanked White Zetsu out of the tree trunk and chuckled, "Why don't you stay?"
"Cough, cough, cough..."
White Zetsu coughed a few times, a triumphant smile appearing on its face. "Orochimaru, you should have just killed me. Now, your disguise technique has been exposed. Next time, it won't be so easy for you to hide."
"Oh, then you're useless."
Orochimaru's expression didn't change upon hearing this. One hand suddenly exerted force, knocking White Zetsu unconscious.
Turning his gaze to the battle unfolding before him, the enemies showed signs of agitation upon hearing of his arrival. He clasped his hands together and shouted, "Summoning Technique!"
Bang!
A puff of white smoke rose, and Manda's enormous form suddenly occupied the entire battlefield.
"Orochimaru-sama, long time no see. You've gotten weaker, and shorter."
As expected of a great snake that had mastered Senjutsu, Manda's perception was extremely sharp. Its cold snake eyes could instantly see through the true state of Orochimaru's current body.
Orochimaru, holding the unconscious White Zetsu, looked down at Manda and chuckled, "Oh, and so what?"
"It's none of my concern, but the White Snake Sage is very interested in your recent condition." Manda flicked its tongue. "I can't hide anything from that one."
"It doesn't matter, just report truthfully."
Orochimaru said nonchalantly, "Now, help me deal with these enemies."
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