Chapter 60: Multiple Choice
"Did I really kill a Mist Village Jonin with my own hands? Am I dreaming?"
The death of Mist Village Jonin Hozuki Shoji left Kurenai Yuhi and Tatami feeling as if they were in a dream, unable to snap back to reality for a long time.
At the same time, Koshino was also lost in thought as he stared at the bodies of the Mist Village shinobi around him.
Due to his long tenure in the Konoha medical corps, it was only after the first clash with the Mist Village shinobi that Koshino realized their current enemy was indeed the Mist Village!
With this understanding and his knowledge of the original storyline, Koshino finally grasped the source of his ominous premonition.
"Could it be... No wonder I've always had a bad feeling. It turns out that ominous premonition was coming from the people around me!"
"Kakashi, you might not realize it yet, but this battle means more to you than just losing a comrade. It signifies the true 'darkening' of the person who threatens our teacher's life!"
Koshino thought to himself with a bitter smile.
Fortunately, his face was hidden behind an ANBU mask, so Kurenai and Tatami couldn't see that bitter smile.
Otherwise, Kurenai and Tatami might have thought that Koshino was dissatisfied with their performance.
Of course, the bitter smile on Koshino's face wasn't about Kurenai or Tatami, but about Kakashi and his mentor, the Fourth Hokage.
Others might not understand the future impact of this battle between Konoha and the Mist Village.
But as a transmigrator familiar with the original storyline, how could Koshino not understand? Naturally, he did!
Moreover, Koshino not only understood, but he also knew the true nature of the secret mission Kakashi was undertaking!
Among the battles of the Third Great Ninja War, the one that left the deepest impression on Koshino, aside from the Kannabi Bridge battle where Kakashi obtained the Sharingan, was this very battle between Konoha and the Mist Village!
In essence, this war between Konoha and the Mist Village was entirely orchestrated by the mastermind, Madara!
Months ago, Koshino had received intelligence from Shikaku, Choza, and others, learning that the Fourth Hokage had already sent Rin to infiltrate the Mist Village. The plan was for Rin to become the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails, Isobu, to further weaken the Mist Village's power, rendering them unable to sustain the ongoing Third Great Ninja War.
However, how could the scheming Fourth Hokage have known that sending Rin to the Mist Village was a blunder? Because, during the Kannabi Bridge battle, Uchiha Obito, who was presumed dead, was actually alive and had become Madara's target!
When Madara deemed the time ripe, he, hidden within the Mist Village and controlling the Mizukage, ordered the Mist Village to split their forces. One group would engage Konoha's main forces, while the other would take Rin, the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails, to Konoha to unleash the power of the Three-Tails and suppress Konoha's strength.
Based on the original storyline, Koshino knew that Madara's plan was both a failure and a success!
The reason being, during the secret mission, Kakashi successfully "killed" Rin, the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails. However, witnessing Kakashi kill Rin was the catalyst that drove Uchiha Obito to fully "darken," transforming into the masked man and taking Madara's place as the hidden boss!
Chapter 60: Multiple Choice
With a successor successfully secured, Madara's plan was not considered a failure.
On the contrary, even though Konoha Village emerged victorious in the clash with the Mist Ninja, it laid the groundwork for the future Nine-Tails incident and the fall of the Fourth Hokage!
"Just imagine, just a hypothetical!"
"If I could have saved Rin from Kakashi's hands, would Obito not have 'turned dark'? After all, being Hokage was his dream!"
"And if Obito didn't 'turn dark', then there wouldn't be a possibility of Minato-sensei's death. From the original storyline, it seems Madara should be at the end of his rope by now, right? Moreover, with Obito not 'turning dark', even if we wanted to find the aging Madara, there should be a way, right?"
"Hmm!"
"As long as we can complete the breakout mission, it's necessary to discuss the possibility of this with Minato-sensei."
"But before that, I must deal with you!"
Thinking silently to himself, Koshino looked at the still-dazed Kurenai and Tatami, shaking his head in disappointment.
Perhaps in the future, Kurenai and Tatami could become excellent ninjas, but right now, they were still too immature.
Just like earlier, if it weren't for Koshino's timely intervention, using the Nara clan's secret techniques, especially the miraculous effect of the Shadow Doppelganger, to successfully deal with the Mist Ninja in front of them, Kurenai and Tatami would have been overwhelmed by just that Mist Ninja Jonin. The two of them would more likely have met a tragic end at the hands of that Mist Ninja Jonin.
Moreover, not to mention their previous performance, just their current behavior was hard for Koshino to accept.
Particularly when Koshino walked up to Kurenai and Tatami, seeing them still in a daze, he cleared his throat lightly. When Kurenai and Tatami met Koshino's cold gaze, they shivered first, then heard Koshino say in a cold voice, "As ninjas, do you not even have the resolve to carry out missions? Tatami, I'm not even talking about Kurenai, but you, having been in the Anbu, do you not even know how to handle something as simple as dealing with corpses?"
"Ah! Shadow, I'm really sorry! I'll handle it right away!"
Hearing Koshino's reprimand, Tatami scratched his head awkwardly and hurried to deal with the Mist Ninja's corpse.
Then, when Koshino's gaze fell on Kurenai, a blush appeared on her fair cheeks, and she quickly apologized, "Shadow, I'm really sorry, Tatami and I were careless."
"You've overlooked more than just a little. Be more attentive in the future!"
"Yes, Captain!"
After giving Kurenai a slight reminder, Koshino believed that with this lesson, Kurenai, who would become a Jonin in the original story, would surely remember.
So, when Kurenai and Tatami went to deal with the Mist Ninja's corpses, Koshino, who hadn't yet dispelled the Shadow Doppelganger, slowly sat beside the Mist Ninja Jonin, Guiding Zenzou, and with a cold gaze, stared at the lifeless Guiding Zenzou, sneering, "I say, does the Mist Ninja's training include lessons on playing dead? Each of you Mist Ninjas is so good at playing dead, no wonder you can never surpass us from Konoha Village."
"Besides, it would have been better if you had really died just now."
"If you had truly died, I wouldn't have to face such a difficult choice!"
As Koshino spoke, Guiding Zenzou, who had just lost all signs of life, slowly opened his rolled-back eyes!
But Guiding Zenzou's sudden revival only caused a slight surprise for Tatami and Kurenai nearby!
Read 200 advanced chapters at:
[email protected]/ChakraMaster