Naruto Shadow Mage - Chapter 45
“Bait?”
After his near-death experience, Koshino’s sensory abilities had inexplicably enhanced, allowing him to sense the enemy ninja who had suddenly appeared behind him.
However, what truly stunned Koshino, even causing his pupils to dilate slightly, was not that the ninja had infiltrated the Land of Fire but the words he spoke.
When the ninja accused Koshino of being bait, Koshino found himself almost believing it.
Given Kakashi’s cold demeanor and strict adherence to Anbu rules, Koshino’s heart sank the moment those words were uttered.
Instinctively, Koshino felt a surge of anger towards Kakashi, thinking, “Kakashi, even if we don’t get along, you wouldn’t use me as bait, right?”
But that resentful thought quickly faded.
Calming down, Koshino realized it was likely a psychological ploy to unsettle him. Regaining his composure, he sneered and said, “Trying to probe a kid with words? Seems like you’re lacking confidence. Understandable, facing a Leaf Village ninja would make anyone feel inferior!”
“Next…”
“Let me show you true brutality!”
“Whoosh!”
“Whoosh!”
“Whoosh!”
As soon as Koshino finished speaking, several shurikens flew swiftly towards the enemy ninja.
The enemy ninja hadn’t anticipated such tactical skill from a Leaf Village kid.
So, as the shurikens curved towards him, he had to block them with his kunai hastily. Before he could entirely fend off the shurikens, Koshino’s slender figure appeared right in front of him!
“A Mist ninja?”
“Judging by your chakra level, you seem to be a Chunin.”
“Take this! Leaf Whirlwind!”
“Clang!”
With the sound of metal clashing, Koshino’s shurikens had barely fallen when he leaped into the air, delivering a Leaf Whirlwind aimed at the Mist Chunin’s head.
Koshino calculated that this Leaf Whirlwind would force the enemy back, allowing him to use Shadow Possession Jutsu to restrain him. But to his surprise, the Mist Chunin didn’t even try to dodge!
In his first life-or-death battle against a foreign ninja, the Mist Chunin taught Koshino the stark difference between sparring and actual combat!
“Bang!”
Even though Koshino’s Leaf Whirlwind, without weights, could snap a small tree, the Mist Chunin took the full brunt of it, risking a concussion for a chance to counterattack.
In a real fight, the Mist Chunin, already at a disadvantage, found it worthwhile to take a non-fatal injury to kill his opponent.
Just as Koshino planned his next move, the Mist Chunin’s desperate gambit shattered his strategy!
He literally took Koshino’s Leaf Whirlwind head-on, with the sound of bones cracking.
But cracked bones didn’t matter—the Mist Chunin wasn’t dead yet!
Under the setting sun, Koshino saw the bloodied, grinning Mist Chunin and hesitated.
His momentary hesitation was understandable—sparring rarely involved such high stakes.
The Mist Chunin, however, was willing to suffer severe injuries to kill Koshino quickly.
Noticing Koshino’s moment of hesitation, the Mist Chunin’s eyes gleamed with contempt. He grinned maniacally, releasing his chakra in a burst.
In the next instant, with a loud “bang,” the Mist Chunin grabbed Koshino’s throat, slamming him to the ground.
As Koshino hit the ground, the Mist Chunin pressed a sharp kunai to his throat. His eyes had a wild, triumphant gleam as he sneered, “Hahaha! An inexperienced kid, your first mission, right?”
“So young and already in the Anbu—you must be a genius from the Leaf Village?”
“Pity, geniuses often die young on their first mission!”
“But don’t worry, I’ll keep your head as a trophy! When I fight your clan elders, your head will be a special asset!”
As he finished, the Mist Chunin’s eyes blazed with killing intent, ready to end Koshino’s life.
“Die, genius kid!”
“The one who dies might not be me!”
“Bang!”
Just as the Mist Chunin was about to kill Koshino, he saw Koshino smirk, confusing the seasoned warrior.
In that moment of confusion, a “whoosh” sounded!
Koshino’s shadow surged up, using Shadow Possession Jutsu to immobilize the Mist Chunin.
Thankfully, Koshino had preemptively used Shadow Clone Jutsu, preparing for contingencies.
Grateful for his foresight, Koshino sprang up, driving a kunai into the Mist Chunin’s heart. To ensure his death, Koshino delivered another fatal stab!
With a swift “swish,” the Mist Chunin’s head fell into Koshino’s hands.
“Thank you for the lesson!”
“The first Mist ninja to die by my hand!”
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