Chapter 155: Allies at the Gate
A figure in the Village Hidden in the Mist that could send shivers down the spine of most Mist ninja! However, if you only consider the original storyline, Kushimaru Kuriarare seems more like a minor character.
After all, aside from briefly appearing in the Fourth Great Ninja War and being captured by the Allied Shinobi Forces, he doesn't have any notable achievements in the original plot.
But in the Third Great Ninja War that Koshino experienced, the name Kushimaru Kuriarare carries a different weight!
As a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and one of the most ruthless among them!
Even among the elite Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kushimaru Kuriarare is known as part of the "Ruthless Duo," indicating that his strength is among the best of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, not just a minor character as the original plot suggests! Moreover, with the long sword, Nuibari, in hand, Kushimaru Kuriarare's assassination skills are not to be underestimated!
He was able to use the long sword, Nuibari, to kill two Mist Jonin who were about to become prisoners of the Blade Squad under Koshino's wind perception!
And he managed to severely injure Uchiha Shisui, a member of the Blade Squad, who was suffering from a genjutsu backlash, right under Koshino's nose!
With such a formidable enemy appearing, Koshino's expression was extremely serious. Carrying the heavily burdened Uchiha Shisui, his mind was filled with thoughts of defeating Kushimaru Kuriarare and returning to the Konoha camp!
Indeed.
Kushimaru Kuriarare is very strong, but so what?
Not long ago, Koshino's Blade Squad was also targeted by members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Biwa Jūzō and Fuguki Suikazan!
Even when Kakashi and "Fierce" lost their combat abilities, a much weaker Koshino managed to break through the ambush of Biwa Jūzō and Fuguki Suikazan with Uchiha Shisui, Kakashi, and "Fierce."
Now, even though Koshino and Uchiha Shisui are not in the best condition, facing Kushimaru Kuriarare alone, if Koshino doesn't have the resolve to defeat him, then all his recent training would have been in vain!
"Although Shisui and I just fought over twenty Mist ninjas and are not in great shape, and Shisui was injured in Kushimaru Kuriarare's sneak attack."
"But isn't our current situation better than when we were ambushed by Biwa Jūzō and Fuguki Suikazan?"
"Moreover, with all the training I've done recently, my strength is not what it used to be!"
"Just a mere Kushimaru Kuriarare, as long as I perform normally, breaking through is not a problem at all!"
"I might even be able to defeat Kushimaru Kuriarare in battle and exceed Uncle Shikaku's mission expectations!"
Analyzing the situation in front of him, Koshino clenched his fists, overcoming his previous mental barriers, ready to face the so-called "Ruthless" Mist ninja, Kushimaru Kuriarare!
Moreover, it was because Kushimaru Kuriarare appeared that Koshino realized that the one hindering Konoha from taking the third line of defense of the Mist was this "Ruthless" Kushimaru Kuriarare!
Therefore, in Koshino's mind, Kushimaru Kuriarare relied on the help of many Mist ninjas to repel Konoha's assault on the third line of defense. Now, with no other Mist ninjas around Kushimaru Kuriarare, if Koshino could defeat him, it would clear the path for Konoha!
If Kushimaru Kuriarare were to fall, and Konoha still couldn't take the third line of defense and advance to the Mist's main camp, it would be a failure of Konoha's commander, Shikaku!
And if Koshino exceeded his mission and Kushimaru Kuriarare truly fell, allowing Konoha to breach the Mist's main camp, wouldn't rescuing Rin become an easy task?
If Rin could be rescued, wouldn't it prevent Obito Uchiha's "dark transformation"?
With his mind filled with the benefits of defeating Kushimaru Kuriarare, if Koshino didn't act, it wouldn't be in his character!
Despite carrying the heavily burdened Uchiha Shisui, which made it challenging to defeat Kushimaru Kuriarare, Koshino thought of Kushimaru Kuriarare's life as the key to changing the fates of Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Rin.
Without hesitation, he used the Fourth Hokage's "Acceleration" technique. As soon as he activated it, Koshino didn't hesitate to expend chakra, launching a deadly attack right in front of Kushimaru Kuriarare!
"Wind Body Flicker!"
"Gale Style! Air Blade!"
"Crescent Slash!"
"Swish!"
First, using the Fourth Hokage's "Acceleration" technique, Koshino moved so swiftly that Kushimaru Kuriarare's eyes couldn't track his movements.
In the next second, noticing a small detail—Kushimaru Kuriarare's fingers instinctively tightening around the long sword, Nuibari—Koshino, relying on his extensive combat experience, naturally guessed that Kushimaru Kuriarare couldn't clearly perceive his high-speed movements and was slightly nervous.
Then, taking advantage of Kushimaru Kuriarare's moment of tension and loss of composure, Koshino used the Wind Body Flicker Technique, suddenly appearing right in front of Kushimaru Kuriarare!
Moreover, as Koshino's left arm swung down, a crescent-shaped azure wind blade slashed forward!
This was Koshino's deadly move, the Air Blade: Crescent Slash! Back in the battles against the Mist Ninja, Koshino's Air Blade: Crescent Slash had displayed its formidable power!
With the combination of the Wind Body Flicker and the Air Blade: Crescent Slash, even the Mist Ninja Jonin from the "Bloody Mist" era couldn't easily fend off Koshino's fierce attacks.
So at this moment, facing Kushimaru Kuriarare, Koshino didn't hesitate to use this deadly combo, aiming to take down Kushimaru Kuriarare.
Of course.
Koshino knew that Kushimaru Kuriarare was a formidable opponent, and it was unlikely that he could be killed in a single round.
But as long as the Wind Body Flicker and the Air Blade: Crescent Slash could inflict serious damage on Kushimaru Kuriarare, Koshino felt that with his own strength, defeating Kushimaru Kuriarare might not just be a dream, but something that could soon become a reality!
However, the scene that unfolded next was beyond Koshino's expectations!
The Wind Body Flicker and the Air Blade: Crescent Slash, a combo capable of unexpectedly taking down Mist Ninja Jonin!
Who would have thought that in the first exchange with Kushimaru Kuriarare, Koshino would expend chakra to use his deadly move, only to be met with Kushimaru Kuriarare's cold laugh!
"Keh keh keh!"
"I thought someone who could kill a bunch of trash would be slightly stronger than trash!"
"Turns out someone who could kill a bunch of trash is still trash!"
"Break it for me!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
The moment Kushimaru Kuriarare's cold voice echoed in Koshino's ears, it was as if time had frozen there!
And in that split second, Kushimaru Kuriarare used his tightly gripped long sword, Nuibari, to break Koshino's deadly move!
In an instant, Koshino felt time freeze there, and then, using his Wind Perception, he discovered a nearly invisible steel wire suddenly appearing in front of Kushimaru Kuriarare.
And with just that one thin steel wire, Kushimaru Kuriarare controlled it to clash with Koshino's Air Blade: Crescent Slash. Under Koshino's slightly constricted pupils, with just one steel wire, Koshino's unstoppable Air Blade: Crescent Slash was blocked by Kushimaru Kuriarare!
Even more terrifying was that Kushimaru Kuriarare casually broke Koshino's Air Blade: Crescent Slash, consuming just one seemingly transparent steel wire. Immediately after, another steel wire appeared near Koshino's left arm. If Koshino hadn't dodged in time, he might have lost an arm to Kushimaru Kuriarare's bizarre attack!
Fortunately, at close range, Koshino managed to sense Kushimaru Kuriarare's attack pattern using his Wind Perception.
So, with a burst of chakra underfoot, he once again used the Fourth Hokage's "Acceleration" secret technique. Koshino finally managed to save his arm from Kushimaru Kuriarare's strange attack, escaping with just a blood mark on his arm. He perfectly dodged Kushimaru Kuriarare's double deadly move!
Subsequently, while Koshino was both terrified of Kushimaru Kuriarare's formidable strength and using the "Acceleration" secret technique to swiftly evade Kushimaru Kuriarare's fierce attacks, a confident yet cold smile appeared on the face hidden beneath Koshino's Anbu mask!
Because, after the first exchange with Kushimaru Kuriarare, Koshino's Wind Perception detected the arrival of reinforcements from the Leaf Village!
"Kushimaru Kuriarare, even if I can't take you down alone, it's a pity that my reinforcements have arrived!"
"You..."
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