Chapter 45: Solo Kill of a Chunin
After experiencing a breakthrough in a life-and-death moment, Koshino's perception inexplicably heightened.
Naturally, he was aware that an enemy ninja had suddenly appeared behind him.
However, when the enemy appeared, what truly shocked Koshino, causing his pupils to contract slightly, wasn't the fact that the opponent had infiltrated the Land of Fire, but rather the words that the enemy spoke.
Because when the enemy mentioned Koshino's role as "bait," Koshino almost believed it!
Given Kakashi's indifferent personality and strict adherence to Anbu rules, Koshino's heart sank the moment the enemy's words fell.
Instinctively, Koshino felt a twinge of anger towards Kakashi, thinking, "Kakashi, even if our relationship is strained, you wouldn't use me as bait, would you?"
However, that unwilling thought was fleeting.
Soon, a calm Koshino realized that it was likely a ploy to shake his resolve.
So, in the instant he regained his composure, Koshino sneered and said, "To face a kid and still need to test with words, it seems you're lacking confidence! After all, in front of a Konoha ninja, who wouldn't be?"
"Next"
"I'll show you true cruelty!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
As soon as Koshino finished speaking, several sharp sounds echoed, followed by a few shuriken rapidly flying towards the enemy ninja.
The enemy ninja clearly didn't expect a kid from Konoha to have such tactical acumen.
So, as the shuriken curved towards him, about to hit, the enemy ninja had no choice but to hastily block with a kunai, thanks to Koshino's excellent projectile skills.
Before the enemy ninja could fully deal with Koshino's shuriken, Koshino's slender figure appeared right in front of him!
"So, you're a ninja from the Hidden Mist Village?"
"Judging by the chakra intensity, you seem to be a Chunin-level ninja."
"Watch my Leaf Whirlwind!"
"Bang!"
With a clattering sound, as the shuriken fell, Koshino leaped into the air and delivered a Leaf Whirlwind kick aimed at the Mist Chunin's head.
However, just as Koshino calculated in his mind, thinking that this Leaf Whirlwind would surely force the opponent back,
allowing him to use the Shadow Imitation Technique to restrain him, what Koshino never expected was that the Mist Chunin had no intention of dodging his Leaf Whirlwind!
In his first life-and-death battle with a ninja from another village, the Mist Chunin demonstrated to Koshino the real difference between a spar and actual combat!
"Bang!"
Koshino's Leaf Whirlwind, without any weights on his body, could easily break a small tree.
Yet, even though the Mist Chunin knew that taking Koshino's Leaf Whirlwind head-on would at least result in a concussion, in a real life-and-death battle, the Mist Chunin had already fallen into a disadvantage.
Moreover, exchanging a non-lethal injury for the death of an enemy ninja was still a very worthwhile trade in the Mist Chunin's eyes.
So, just as Koshino had meticulously planned his next steps in the battle, it was all shattered by the desperate struggle of that Mist ninja Chunin!
He literally used his head to withstand the power of Koshino's Leaf Whirlwind!
When Koshino's ankle struck the head of that Mist ninja Chunin, there was a faint "crack" sound, indicating that the Chunin's skull had slightly fractured!
But what does a fractured skull matter?
Wasn't that Mist ninja Chunin still alive?
Then, under the glow of the setting sun, Koshino looked at the Mist ninja Chunin in front of him, his head covered in blood, grinning menacingly, and was momentarily stunned.
The reason Koshino was stunned for a second was simple.
In a spar, very few people are willing to trade such severe injuries for a chance to counterattack!
In contrast, that Mist ninja Chunin was so determined to kill Koshino in a short time that he didn't even care about the severe head injury.
Especially when he noticed Koshino's momentary daze, the Mist ninja Chunin's eyes flashed with disdain, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips as he suddenly unleashed his chakra!
In the next moment, there was a "boom" sound!
With a burst of chakra, the Mist ninja Chunin lunged forward, grabbing Koshino by the throat and slamming him onto the ground.
As Koshino hit the ground in pain, the Mist ninja Chunin not only held a sharp kunai to Koshino's neck, threatening his life,
but in the instant before he was about to take Koshino's life, his eyes filled with madness as he laughed wildly, "Hahaha! You're just an inexperienced kid, aren't you? This must be your first mission, right?"
"So young and already an Anbu, you must be a genius from the Leaf Village, huh?"
"Too bad, geniuses often end up like this, falling on the battlefield on their first mission!"
"But don't worry, I'll keep your head as a trophy! When I face your family elders, your head will have a special effect!"
As he spoke, the peak of madness in the Mist ninja Chunin's eyes vanished, replaced by intense killing intent!
"Die, you so-called genius brat!"
"Perhaps the one who's going to die isn't me!"
"Boom!"
Just as the Mist ninja Chunin was confidently certain he would kill Koshino, Koshino, lying on the ground, suddenly smirked, causing the experienced Mist ninja Chunin to pause.
In that split second of hesitation, there was a sudden "whoosh"!
Koshino's shadow suddenly rose, using the Shadow Imitation Technique to directly immobilize the Mist ninja Chunin!
Clearly, before engaging with this Mist ninja Chunin, Koshino had already used the Shadow Clone Technique as a precaution.
Moreover, Koshino felt fortunate that he had used the Shadow Clone Technique in advance, otherwise, he might have been the one to die in this encounter.
If the Mist ninja Chunin had noticed Koshino forming seals earlier, Koshino might have been the one to die.
If the Mist ninja Chunin had acted faster to kill Koshino, then he might not have been the one to die!
But in this world, there are no "ifs" or "buts"!
So, when Koshino's shadow clone used the Shadow Imitation Technique to immobilize the Mist ninja Chunin, Koshino sprang up, holding a kunai, and first stabbed it into the Mist ninja Chunin's heart.
To ensure the Mist ninja Chunin wouldn't rise again, Koshino deliberately delivered another stab as the heart shattered!
With a swift "swish," the Mist ninja Chunin's head slowly fell into Koshino's hand!
"Thank you for the lesson!"
Drop some power stones :D