Chapter 36: The Disappearing Shadow
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
As a Jonin, Kakashi exposing his own weaknesses while sparring with a four-year-old Koshino—who would believe such a thing?
Even Nara Shikaku, the Fourth Hokage, and others who had high hopes for Koshino might genuinely think Koshino was just joking!
However, whether Koshino was joking or not would soon be revealed in the upcoming clash!
His gaze grew increasingly serious. As Koshino formed seals and cast a jutsu once more, a complete plan suddenly emerged in his mind!
A plan entirely devised to counter Kakashi!
The Shadow Imitation Technique was executed directly.
Even though Koshino's previous seal-less jutsu had momentarily startled Kakashi,
when the shadow beneath Koshino's feet swiftly extended towards Kakashi's, Kakashi merely let out a cold chuckle and leaped to evade Koshino's Shadow Imitation Technique!
"So what if you can perform seal-less jutsu?"
"Nara Koshino, even if you're different from other kids, you're still just a kid!"
"With just a kid's tricks, there's no way you can earn the privilege of being personally taught by Minato-sensei!"
While mocking Koshino's secret technique, in truth, Kakashi had already begun to acknowledge Koshino's strength.
Sometimes, simply comparing others to oneself can lead to a true conclusion.
Kakashi admitted that at four years old, he was nowhere near Koshino's current strength.
So, his words were more about distracting Koshino, hoping to undermine his confidence through alternative means.
In reality, while sparring with Koshino, Kakashi also recognized his own weaknesses, which meant he needed to secure victory quickly.
However, would Koshino lose his composure just because of a few words from Kakashi?
The answer, of course, was no!
Inheriting the excellent genes of the Nara Clan, Koshino, who already possessed the mindset of an adult, became more mature, smarter, and equally more formidable.
Since he had already devised a plan to deal with Kakashi, Koshino couldn't afford to make any mistakes while executing it.
Almost simultaneously, as Kakashi leaped into the air to dodge Koshino's Shadow Imitation Technique, a confident glint reflected in Koshino's eyes!
"Step one, successful!"
"Now onto the second step of the plan!"
Thinking to himself, Koshino didn't hesitate for a moment and used the Shadow Clone Technique to form seals directly!
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Two months of intense training had led to Koshino's all-around improvement.
In terms of chakra reserves, Koshino was no longer the guy who would deplete his chakra after using a few of the Nara Clan's secret techniques.
So, when he used the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, under Kakashi's astonished gaze, Koshino directly created over a dozen shadow clones!
"Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
"It doesn't seem like an ordinary Shadow Clone Jutsu, but rather..."
"Rather, it's the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
As soon as Koshino completed the technique, over a dozen shadow clones appeared amidst the smoke, leaving Kakashi once again stunned.
It was just like when Koshino first mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Although the difference between the Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu seems slight, one is a B-rank ninjutsu, while the other is an A-rank ninjutsu.
The difficulty of casting it is beyond what ordinary people can imagine. No wonder Kakashi looked as if he had eaten something unpleasant after Koshino performed the technique.
However, if Koshino's Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu only left Kakashi shocked...
Then the secret technique that Koshino was about to unleash next was enough to make Kakashi panic!
In an instant, after Koshino finished casting the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, combined with the Nara Clan's secret technique, Kakashi already sensed danger.
At that moment, Kakashi used the regular Shadow Clone Jutsu, instantly creating two shadow clones to address the numerical disadvantage.
But how could Kakashi have imagined that Koshino's trump card wasn't the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Koshino's true trump card was a new secret technique he had just mastered last night!
Shasow Doppelganger Technique!
"Do you think I would underestimate you, Kakashi?"
"A single Shadow Clone Jutsu isn't enough to defeat you! So next, let me show you my new secret technique!"
"Shadow Doppelganger Technique!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
At the moment of casting the Shadow Doppelganger Technique, Koshino felt the chakra within him rapidly depleting, yet the smile on his lips grew even wider.
Moreover, when the shadows beneath Koshino's feet, along with the shadows beneath his shadow clones, all solidified and surrounded Kakashi,
Koshino felt that the new secret technique, the Shadow Doppelganger Technique, was indeed a divine skill. Because the effect of the Shadow Doppelganger Technique wasn't limited to Koshino's main body!
The effective range of the Shadow Doppelganger Technique included Koshino's shadow clones as well!
Over a dozen shadow clones, combined with the Shadow Doppelganger Technique, amounted to more than twenty clones!
Even if Kakashi was formidable, dealing with over twenty of Koshino's clones would require a lot of chakra and physical effort, wouldn't it?
Moreover, the clever move Kakashi used earlier became a blunder once Koshino's Shadow Clone Technique was completed!
Because in the original storyline, Koshino knew that the amount of chakra was a limiting factor for Kakashi's strength.
At this moment, having just obtained the Sharingan from Obito Uchiha not long ago, without the Uchiha Clan's physique and without the methods to limit the Sharingan's consumption as in the original storyline, Kakashi's chakra consumption was terrifying even without using the Sharingan.
And that terrifying consumption was naturally the weakness Koshino discovered in Kakashi!
So, first using the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu to force Kakashi to use shadow clones as well, further depleting Kakashi's strength.
When Kakashi became weakened, Koshino's Shadow Clone Technique made Kakashi's consumption even more severe!
In contrast, Koshino himself, when Kakashi faced physical exhaustion, could quietly recover his strength!
Subsequently, under Koshino's strategy, as the over twenty clones engaged in a chaotic battle with Kakashi and his shadow clones, as Koshino's clones disappeared one by one, Kakashi's shadow clones also "fell" in the battle.
And when all of Koshino's clones vanished, Kakashi looked as if he had been pulled out of the water, his steps unsteady!
However, as a Jonin, Kakashi still believed that Koshino's consumption was also significant, so after dealing with all of Koshino's clones, he prepared to decide the outcome in a single round!
Who would have thought that just as Kakashi was about to burst with chakra, intending to finish off Koshino, he suddenly found himself unable to move!
Quickly, he cast a puzzled gaze at Koshino.
Listening to Koshino's indifferent words slowly reaching him, in that instant, Kakashi finally understood why he had lost!
Give some power stones for extra chapters ;)