Chapter 159: The Power of the Needle
"Again... Koshino saved me?"
In that life-and-death moment, Might Guy's mind was filled with regret!
If it weren't for the desire to shake off the label of "incompetence," Might Guy wouldn't have followed Genma Shiranui and Ebisu to pursue Kuriarare Kushimaru.
Then Genma Shiranui and Ebisu wouldn't have been severely injured by Kuriarare Kushimaru!
Similarly, because of the same "incompetence" label, Might Guy recklessly pursued Kuriarare Kushimaru, almost losing his life in the process.
So, aside from regretting the pursuit of Kuriarare Kushimaru, Might Guy had no other thoughts in that critical moment.
However, when Koshino appeared and saved Might Guy once again, his feelings were a jumble of emotions, even he couldn't understand what he felt.
Was it the joy of being rescued?
Was it the hope of a second chance from the heavens?
Neither!
Seeing Koshino standing proudly before him, Might Guy felt even more regret for not training harder.
But when Koshino used the Air Blade: Crescent Slash to forcibly block Kuriarare Kushimaru's deadly attack, he wasn't in the mood to consider Might Guy's internal struggles.
Just as Koshino had anticipated, despite Kuriarare Kushimaru being severely injured by Chōza Akimichi, with dozens of bones broken under the Akimichi Clan's secret technique, the Multi-Size Technique, Koshino chose to ignore Kuriarare Kushimaru's injuries as long as he stood before him, a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Sure enough, just as Koshino used the Air Blade: Crescent Slash to block Kuriarare Kushimaru's long sword, the Needle, Kuriarare Kushimaru's arrogant, cold smile appeared, and he swung the Needle, severely wounding Might Guy standing behind Koshino!
"Again, it's you, little Anbu brat!"
"Interesting! Truly interesting!"
"Brat, do you think you can block my Needle?"
"Daydreaming!"
"The brat behind you will die just the same!"
"Whoosh!"
Kuriarare Kushimaru's arrogant, cold laughter echoed in Koshino's ears, but Koshino didn't feel it was a laugh born of confidence!
From the moment Kuriarare Kushimaru clashed with the other Konoha ninjas, Koshino had been silently observing Kuriarare Kushimaru's combat style.
At that time, Koshino noticed that Kuriarare Kushimaru was a very distinctive individual, as every time he killed a Konoha ninja, his arrogant, cold laughter would echo across the battlefield between Konoha and the Mist.
Over time, Koshino realized that Kuriarare Kushimaru was using his laughter to cover something up!
At this moment, standing before Kuriarare Kushimaru, using the Wind Sensory Technique passed down by Namikaze Minato, combined with the extreme second-stage breakthrough of wind chakra nature transformation, Koshino could not only clearly sense Kuriarare Kushimaru's every move but also vaguely perceive what Kuriarare Kushimaru was hiding beneath his arrogant laughter!
That was the use of the Needle!
Almost the moment Kuriarare Kushimaru finished speaking, there was a "whoosh" sound from the Needle!
And that "whoosh" sound might be imperceptible to others.
After all, with Kuriarare Kushimaru's laughter echoing around, who could hear such a subtle sound?
But Koshino was different!
Wind Sensory is the perception of wind!
Even with laughter echoing around, Koshino couldn't hear that "whoosh" sound with his ears.
But with that "whoosh," Koshino sensed the change in the surrounding "wind," which then transformed into wind perception, and then into Koshino's Wind Sensory, allowing him to immediately discover that as Kuriarare Kushimaru laughed, he was using another deadly move with the Needle!
That was the Needle's unique deadly move!
A nearly invisible steel wire!
In the original storyline, there was a detailed explanation of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, which Koshino naturally understood.
Just like the Decapitating Carving Knife can absorb others' blood to restore itself, and the Samehada can devour others' chakra to provide the user with endless chakra.
Kuriarare Kushimaru's Needle is characterized by piercing and stitching!
Faced with the Long Sword, Sewing Needle, Koshino, who knew the original storyline, understood that dealing with its wielder required more than just caution against its terrifying thrusting ability. One also had to be constantly wary of the nearly invisible steel wire trailing behind it!
In previous encounters with Kuriarare Kushimaru, the two Mist Jonin who begged for mercy, along with Uchiha Shisui who suffered a genjutsu backlash, were injured by the steel wire behind the Long Sword, Sewing Needle!
At that moment, using wind perception to "hear" a sudden "whoosh" sound, Koshino's heart tightened, ready to protect Might Guy.
However, just as Koshino's gaze fell on Might Guy, the hidden killing move of the Long Sword, Sewing Needle had already struck Might Guy!
Fortunately, Koshino's Air Blade: Crescent Slash had previously blocked Kuriarare Kushimaru's Long Sword, Sewing Needle.
Otherwise, with Kuriarare Kushimaru's sudden attack, Might Guy wouldn't have just suffered a severe leg injury; his life would have been in Kuriarare Kushimaru's hands!
Yet again, seeing his comrade injured in front of him—especially when that comrade was the first to form a bond with him, Might Guy—how could Koshino not be furious?
So, when Might Guy's blood stained Kuriarare Kushimaru's Long Sword, Sewing Needle, Kuriarare Kushimaru clearly saw the emotion of anger in Koshino's eyes!
"Hehehe!"
"Angry, are you~? The angrier, the better!"
"Only when you're angry can I seize the opportunity to kill you!"
"Little Konohq brat!"
Clearly, Kuriarare Kushimaru didn't care about the anger in Koshino's eyes.
In fact, Kuriarare Kushimaru believed that Koshino, like ordinary people, would lose his rationality the angrier he got, ultimately leading to his downfall due to impulsiveness!
But is Koshino really someone who easily loses his rationality?
The answer is obviously no!
Even when facing Jūzō Biwa and Fuguki Suikazan, Koshino didn't lose his composure, let alone when facing Kuriarare Kushimaru?
Therefore, the anger burning in Koshino's eyes could not possibly lead to his own demise!
The raging fire of anger could only lead to one outcome!
And that is the demise of Kuriarare Kushimaru!
"Shadow Sewing!"
As the fire of anger ignited in Koshino's eyes, his hands swiftly formed seals, completing the Shadow Sewing technique in the blink of an eye!
Moreover, this time, when Koshino used Shadow Sewing, he controlled the shadow beneath Kuriarare Kushimaru, sending it flying to strike heavily at Kuriarare Kushimaru's chest!
Isn't the Nara clan's Shadow Sewing only supposed to control one's own shadow for attack variations?
How could Koshino control Kuriarare Kushimaru's shadow as a means of attack?
Undoubtedly, the ability of Shadow Sewing to achieve this transformation in Koshino's hands was thanks to Koshino's mental energy reaching a half-step "qualitative" change!
With Koshino practicing the Uzumaki clan's secret techniques, especially after his mental energy underwent several breakthroughs, achieving a half-step "qualitative" change, Koshino discovered that Shadow Sewing underwent a miraculous transformation under this change, allowing him to control others' shadows for attack!
It was precisely because Kuriarare Kushimaru never expected Koshino's Shadow Sewing to control his shadow and attack, that he was caught off guard and struck by Shadow Sewing!
The shadow shot up, hitting Kuriarare Kushimaru's chest!
With his chest severely injured, combined with previous injuries from Choza, Kuriarare Kushimaru felt unbearable pain in his chest, gritting his teeth as he staggered back a few steps!
On the other hand, how could Koshino miss this rare opportunity?
Kuriarare Kushimaru, unable to control his body, staggered backward, presenting the perfect chance to finish him off!
So, valuing the opportunity before him, Koshino didn't form any more seals but prepared to use the Gale Style secret technique, willing to expend his chakra to kill Kuriarare Kushimaru. Just as the blue chakra glow shone from Koshino's palm, with the Gale Style secret technique ready, as Koshino was about to step forward to kill Kuriarare Kushimaru, a strange pain surged through his arm, causing Koshino's pupils to slightly constrict!
Immediately after, Kuriarare Kushimaru in front of Koshino not only regained his footing in an instant!
But at the moment he steadied himself, the Long Sword, Sewing Needle in Kuriarare Kushimaru's hand suddenly floated in the air!
"Brat, you're dead!"
"Long Sword Ninja Art!"
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