Chapter 67: Breakthrough in Battle
Has Koshino really lost his mind?
Is he truly ready to give up resistance and die under the blade of Hozuki Mangetsu?
Of course not!
At this moment, Koshino suddenly closed his eyes because he had seen through the essence of the Hidden Mist Technique! The Hidden Mist Technique is nothing more than a low-level jutsu.
When ordinary Mist Ninja use the Hidden Mist Technique, the effect is merely to create some dense fog that obscures others' vision.
Only masters like Hozuki Mangetsu and Zabuza from the original series, who are proficient in the Hidden Mist Technique, can fully display its effects.
The mist produced by their technique far exceeds that of ordinary ninjas.
When combined with the terrifying Silent Killing Technique, the full power of the Hidden Mist Technique is truly revealed.
But what if the Silent Killing Technique is absent? Simply put, the Hidden Mist Technique is just a low-level jutsu that blocks others' vision and perception!
In the previous battle, Koshino, who was fighting Hozuki Mangetsu, was undoubtedly affected by the Silent Killing Technique.
His mind was preoccupied with how to evade Hozuki Mangetsu's next attack.
What to do when you can't see the surroundings? Where will Hozuki Mangetsu's next attack come from?
Anxious distractions and numerous questions filled Koshino's mind, undoubtedly scattering his focus.
So, when Koshino realized the essence of the Hidden Mist Technique, he closed his eyes and concentrated on using the Fourth Hokage's secret Wind Perception to sense his surroundings,
using this method to break Hozuki Mangetsu's Hidden Mist Technique!
At that moment, Koshino's thoughts were simple! "If I can't see, then I won't look!"
"Instead of observing with my eyes and constantly filling my mind with fear, I'll close my eyes and forget the fear!"
"I'll use my heart to sense the surroundings!"
"I refuse to believe that with the Fourth Hokage's secret technique, I can't break a Silent Killing Technique, a mere Hidden Mist Technique!"
"Snap!"
With a silent resolve, Koshino closed his eyes, effectively blocking out the surrounding fear and directly neutralizing Hozuki Mangetsu's mental assault.
Because the true essence of combining the Hidden Mist Technique with the Silent Killing Technique is to apply psychological pressure on the opponent.
Just as Koshino had thought before, in a state of distraction, a person cannot focus on sensing their surroundings.
Therefore, even some sensory-type ninjas, who can clearly sense the movements of a Silent Killing Technique user,
fail to utilize their sensory skills due to psychological pressure, ultimately dying at the hands of the Silent Killing Technique user.
The moment Koshino closed his eyes, he felt the "wind" gathering bit by bit, and the range of his perception gradually expanded!
The Fourth Hokage's secret perception method was perfectly utilized by Koshino the instant he closed his eyes.
However, while Koshino closed his eyes, Hozuki Mangetsu hidden in the mist let out a cold laugh! "So, it's to concentrate!"
"But do you think concentrating will break my Silent Killing Technique?"
"Don't underestimate the Mist Ninja's secret techniques! And don't underestimate my strength, Hozuki Mangetsu!"
"Prepare to die!"
"Whoosh!"
Sounds came from all directions. Based on the direction of the sounds, even Kakashi wouldn't be able to pinpoint Hozuki Mangetsu's location, let alone Koshino!
Moreover, simply closing his eyes and concentrating isn't using a secret technique to break the Hidden Mist Technique, so why would Hozuki Mangetsu feel pressured?
So immediately after, as Hozuki Mangetsu's voice echoed, his figure once again vanished into the mist.
In the next second, as Hozuki Mangetsu gradually approached Koshino, a cold smile appeared on his lips!
Holding his sword, just like during practice.
Without any hesitation, Hozuki Mangetsu swung his blade the instant Koshino's mind focused!
"Swish!"
Crimson blood appeared again, and another bloody mark was etched on Koshino's chest, narrowly avoiding Hozuki Mangetsu's attack.
At that moment, Koshino's struggle was evident, making Hozuki Mangetsu's smile even more pronounced.
With just one round of attacks, Hozuki Mangetsu realized that Koshino hadn't made any progress at all.
Since there was no progress, then he should die!
Subsequently, under a cruel smile, an onslaught like a torrential downpour began!
With Hozuki Mangetsu clearly speeding up his pace, the Silent Killing Technique was unleashed, and Koshino's body was marked with more and more scars, almost confirming Hozuki Mangetsu's victory.
However, at that time, Hozuki Mangetsu completely failed to notice that under his accelerated attacks, Koshino indeed had more scars on his body.
But the depth of those scars, which could initially reach the bone, gradually turned into flesh wounds, and then into mere surface scratches, slowly reducing the severity of the injuries.
In other words,
Without Hozuki Mangetsu realizing it, Koshino was truly making progress, little by little!
Moreover, as he progressed, Koshino suddenly fell into a profound and mysterious insight!
"That's the wind!"
"I can feel the presence of the wind! And the wind is getting stronger bit by bit!"
"There's a flow of wind on the left!"
"There's another flow of wind on the right!"
No mistake, this is the essence of the Fourth Hokage's secret sensory technique! This is the true meaning of 'wind'!"
"Boom!"
In the midst of this profound insight, suddenly the flow of chakra within Koshino's body accelerated sharply, something even Hozuki Mangetsu didn't notice.
Then, just as Hozuki Mangetsu wore a faint smile and used the Silent Killing Technique once more, preparing to take Koshino's life, there was a sudden "snap" sound!
Koshino, who had been standing there dazed, suddenly dodged the sharp blade of the katana as Hozuki Mangetsu's attack came!
In an instant, a faint smile also appeared on Koshino's face. Then, Hozuki Mangetsu heard Koshino, with his eyes tightly closed, suddenly murmur beside his ear:
"Hozuki Mangetsu, your next attack is going to come from behind, isn't it?"
"What?"
Hearing Koshino's calm voice, Hozuki Mangetsu's pupils suddenly contracted!
How could he predict my attack plan?
How could he see through my Silent Killing Technique?
In an instant, with his pupils slightly constricted, Hozuki Mangetsu's mind was filled with endless distractions, failing to realize Koshino's "reminder," and instinctively launched a surprise attack from behind Koshino.
And Koshino, just as Hozuki Mangetsu's attack came, tightly gripped a kunai in his hand!
Immediately, a thin layer of chakra coated the sharp kunai, and under Koshino's faint smile, another splash of bright red blood fell to the ground!
However, that blood wasn't Koshino's, but Hozuki Mangetsu's!
Even though Hozuki Mangetsu quickly used the "Hydration Technique," a secret technique of the Hozuki clan, Koshino's kunai still managed to carve a deep wound on his arm!
Moreover, the appearance of that wound wasn't even the most terrifying thing for Hozuki Mangetsu!
What shocked Hozuki Mangetsu the most was Koshino injuring him for the first time, and after he disappeared, calmly saying:
"Hozuki Mangetsu, I've seen through all your attack patterns!"
"Prepare to meet your fate!"
"Whoosh!"
As soon as Koshino finished speaking, an invisible aura suddenly enveloped Hozuki Mangetsu, causing the esteemed Mist Village Jonin to momentarily lose focus!
And while Hozuki Mangetsu stood there dazed, Koshino remained so composed!
Moreover, under Koshino's calm demeanor, the ultimate transformation of wind chakra nature was vividly displayed on Koshino's kunai!
"The feeling of breaking through is amazing!"
"Wind chakra nature transformation"