Chapter 164: A Hair's Breadth Away
"Even the kids from other villages know our name now. Looks like we're really famous!"
"Hahahaha!"
Suddenly, not only did the wielder of the Twin Swords, Hiramekarei, use its power to reclaim Kuriarare Kushimaru's severed arm, but the Long Sword, Nuibari, also restored the critically injured Kushimaru back to fighting condition.
At that very moment, just as Kushimaru regained his strength, all members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist appeared before Koshino, Might Guy, Genma, and Ebisu. This not only brought a slightly bitter expression to Koshino's face but also left Guy, Genma, and Ebisu looking utterly hopeless.
These were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
Renowned and powerful members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
Earlier, Koshino had struggled to protect Guy, Genma and Ebisu while fighting Kushimaru and the user of Hiramekarei.
Now, with all members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen present, even though Koshino's strength had improved significantly, he had less than a ten percent chance of escaping their pursuit. Let alone Guy, Genma and Ebisu, who were not as strong or experienced as Koshino.
Moreover, when Koshino painstakingly named the seven figures before him, the confident user of Hiramekarei, chuckled as he looked at Koshino. On one hand, he was proud of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's reputation, and on the other, he was reminding his comrades to be wary of this young yet formidable Konoha Anbu.
Be cautious of this young Konoha Anbu who, despite his age, possesses astonishing strength!
However, the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, upon hearing the words of the Twin Swords user, fixed his cold gaze on Koshino.
Especially when he saw Koshino's familiar attire and sensed the aura he despised, the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen smirked coldly and said, "So it's you. I remember you! The shadow from the Blade Squad, right? Back then, you made my clone suffer, and I never got the chance to settle the score with you!"
"Today is truly my lucky day!"
"Not only can I complete all the tasks assigned by Lord Mizukage, but I can also eliminate you, this troublesome brat, as per Lord Mizukage's orders!"
"Heaven is truly favoring me!"
"What? Has Madara, hidden behind the Mist Village, already started silently watching me?"
And who is the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?
Isn't it Jūzō Biwa, who had previously clashed with Koshino?
However, from Jūzō Biwa's words, Koshino confirmed one thing: the Jūzō Biwa he fought and killed before was indeed just a clone. As for the other thing Koshino realized, it made him feel even more chilled facing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Who is Madara?
Who hasn't heard of the great name of Uchiha Madara?
Koshino had always acted under the guise of a Konoha Anbu, using the codename "Shadow" during missions to avoid drawing attention from other ninja villages or Madara, the mastermind behind the scenes.
Yet, despite his efforts to remain low-key, his actions had still caught Madara's attention.
So, as Jūzō's cold voice echoed, the difficulty in Koshino's eyes vanished, replaced by a determined look.
"These Seven Ninja Swordsmen are not only powerful but also masters of assassination!"
"Now that Madara has set his sights on me, even if I hadn't come to rescue Guy and the others, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen would still come to Konoha to eliminate me, this 'threat,' under Madara's schemes! After all, Tsunade's brother, Nawaki, was assassinated by the Mist in Konoha!"
"So, facing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen now, besides finding a way to escape with Might Guy, Genma, and Ebisu, I must find a way to kill one or more members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to reduce the chances of being targeted by Madara and assassinated by them!"
"But..."
Koshino thought silently, his eyes fixed on the seven formidable figures standing before him, a wry smile involuntarily appearing on his face.
"But, even taking down one of them amidst the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist is so challenging."
"Let alone slaying multiple members of their group?"
At this moment, Koshino's thoughts were spot on.
After all, what stood before Koshino was not just a single member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, but the entire group gathered together! Not to mention Jūzō Biwa, the wielder of the Executioner's Blade-Kubikiribōchō, Fuguki Suikazan with the Samehada, and Kushimaru with the Needle Sword-Nuibari. Just dealing with the wielder of the Twin Swords-Hiramekarei, the Blunt Sword-Kabutowari, the Explosive Blade-Shibuki, and the Thunder Sword-Kiba is no easy task!
The wielder of the Twin Swords, whose name was never revealed in the original storyline, was someone Koshino could only deduce from previous encounters to have strength comparable to the other two Twin Sword wielders in the original plot.
Who are the other two Twin Sword wielders? One is Chōjūrō, the bodyguard of the Mizukage Mei Terumī in the original storyline!
The other is Mangetsu Hōzuki, whom Koshino had faced before, but was at his peak in the original storyline!
With strength not inferior to Chōjūrō, the Mizukage's bodyguard, and Mangetsu Hōzuki at his peak, the Twin Swords wielder is certainly not to be underestimated!
As for the Blunt Sword wielder, the Explosive Blade wielder, and the Thunder Sword wielder, their prowess as depicted in the original storyline is something not to be overlooked!
The Blunt Sword-Kabutowari wielder, Jinin Akebino, was known as the most terrifying existence of his generation among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! Just this title alone was enough to make Koshino secretly wary!
And the Explosive Blade wielder, Jinpachi Munashi, who was known alongside Kuriarare Kushimaru as the "Heartless Duo," was a standout among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. In battle, he, like Kuriarare Kushimaru, displayed a cold and ruthless nature, a cruel existence that could casually kill even his own comrades on the battlefield!
Then there's the Thunder Sword wielder, Raiga Kurosuki, who appeared in the original storyline. In the original plot, Raiga was fond of holding funerals for people, and his mastery of Lightning Release techniques was on par with Hatake Kakashi at his peak. Could he be an easy opponent to deal with?
So, as Koshino's gaze narrowed on those seven figures ahead, he was racking his brains, first contemplating an escape plan, and then analyzing the likelihood of successfully escaping and possibly taking down one or two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
But what Koshino never expected was that Jūzō, Fuguki, Kushimaru, and even the Twin Swords wielder, after having faced Koshino, held him in high regard. If this evaluation were placed within the ninja world, it would have cemented Koshino's reputation.
However, in the midst of battle, this evaluation led Jūzō , Fuguki, Kushimaru, and the Twin Swords wielder to the conclusion that Koshino must be dealt with first!
Almost at the moment when Koshino was silently contemplating his escape and the plan to take down members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Jūzō Biwa exchanged a glance with Fuguki Suikazan. Then, along with Kuriarare Kushimaru and the Twin Swords wielder, they vanished from their positions, launching an assault towards Koshino, forcing him into a desperate situation in the first round of confrontation!
Especially with four members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist attacking simultaneously, Koshino, who had engaged in combat with Kuriarare Kushimaru and the Twin Swords wielder one after another, was on the verge of losing his life here. But, precisely at this critical moment, when Koshino's life seemed destined to end here, the wry smile hidden beneath his mask suddenly vanished, transforming into a faint yet confident smile!
"What I needed was the moment you all came to surround and kill me!"
"Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, do you think you're the only ones with a trump card?"
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