Chapter 172: Deadly Spores
"Get up!"
Utilizing the unique properties of the Time-Space Rasengan, Koshino skillfully deployed four fingertip Rasengans. They successfully struck Jinin Akebino and Munashi Jinpachi, causing severe damage to the arms wielding the Blunt Sword-Kabutowari and the Explosive Blade-Shibuki. As Jinin and Jinpachi were still reeling from the terrifying power of the combined Time-Space Rasengan, Koshino swiftly formed hand seals, instantly manipulating their shadows to shoot upwards!
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
If the four fingertip Rasengans, combined with the Time-Space Rasengan's properties, hadn't successfully injured Jinin and Jinpachi, then Koshino's subsequent use of the Shadow Sewing Technique would have been ineffective. After all, as members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, even Koshino's mutated Shadow Sewing Technique would struggle to harm them easily.
However, in the previous second, just after being hit by the combined Time-Space Rasengan, Jinin and Jinpachi found themselves in a vulnerable moment. Koshino seized this perfect opportunity to unleash the Nara Clan's secret technique, the Shadow Sewing Technique!
With two resounding "boom" Jinin and Jinpachi were struck by the shadows and crashed heavily to the ground! It was undoubtedly an excellent chance for a decisive strike!
If Koshino were facing Jinin and Jinpachi alone, he could have taken advantage of their fall to at least eliminate one of them! Unfortunately, Jūzō and Raiga were still lurking nearby, ready to pounce.
Just as Koshino severely injured Jinin and Jinpachi, Jūzō realized the situation was dire. He quickly initiated a Water Release technique to prevent Koshino from further attacking Jinin and Jinpachi. "Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
With rapid hand seals, Jūzō Biwa executed a common Water Release technique just as Jinin and Jinpachi hit the ground.
Water Release: Water Prison Technique!
In the hands of an ordinary ninja, the Water Prison Technique might be an offensive jutsu. In the original storyline, Kakashi first fell victim to Zabuza's Water Prison Technique.
However, in Jūzō's hands, the Water Prison Technique became a defensive jutsu, combining offense and confinement! As Koshino prepared to use the secret techniques of the Gale Style to eliminate one of them, Jūzō's hands moved swiftly, enveloping them with the Water Prison Technique. Both Jinin and Jinpachi were trapped within the water prison, effectively protecting them.
During the confrontation with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Koshino had already discovered a rule.
The opportunity to eliminate a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen often comes only once.
If the chance of success is less than fifty percent, insisting on the attack might lead to falling into their trap! Especially when using Wind Perception, Koshino noticed the dense lightning chakra surrounding him. Instinctively, he used the Wind Body Flicker Technique.
And it was just in time!
Because just as Koshino used the Wind Body Flicker Technique, Kurosuki Raiga's Lightning Release jutsu, executed with the Thunder Swords-Kiba, struck precisely where Koshino had been standing!
"Lightning Release: Lightning Fang!"
"Boom!"
Utilizing the unique properties of the Thunder Swords, Raiga channeled chakra into the sky, summoning lightning to strike Koshino. This was the Lightning Release jutsu previously unleashed by Raiga, known as Lightning Release: Lightning Fang!
The power of Lightning Release jutsu is not to be underestimated.
When Koshino witnessed the casual release of a Lightning Release jutsu by Raiga, in terms of sheer destructive power, Koshino realized that among the jutsu and secret techniques he had mastered, perhaps only the secret techniques of the Swift Style could compare to the might of Lightning Release.
Unfortunately, as Koshino had previously speculated, even though Lightning Release jutsu is incredibly powerful, if it can't hit its target, no matter how strong it is, it's useless! Just like when Kakashi first created the S-rank jutsu Chidori, without the Sharingan he "inherited" from Obito Uchiha, Kakashi's use of Chidori was formidable, but without the enhanced vision of the Sharingan, he couldn't ensure the accuracy of Chidori, indirectly weakening its effectiveness.
Therefore, when Koshino used the Wind Instantaneous Body Technique to successfully evade Raiga's Lightning Release: Lightning Fang, his gaze slowly fell on the remaining five members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist before him. He especially noted the severely injured Jinin Akebino, Jūzō Biwa, and the one using the Great Sword Samehada to slowly heal his injuries, Fuguki Suikazan. Confidently, he thought to himself:
"The characteristics of the Time-Space Rasengan are truly formidable. Whether or not it's a branch of time-space ninjutsu, it seems like a must-have killer move for me!"
"With the sometimes reliable Time-Space Rasengan, Fuguki, Jinin and Jūzō have all been injured by my hands!"
"Moreover, without having fully mastered the Time-Space Rasengan, it seems that Jūzō Biwa and Raiga pose much less of a threat to me now!"
"Now, with about forty percent of my chakra remaining, if I can activate the terrifying properties of the Time-Space Rasengan a few more times..."
"If the activation rate of the Time-Space Rasengan's properties increases, perhaps the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, except for Fuguki with the Great Sword-Samehada, will all fall by my hand!"
Thinking this, Koshino couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of adding a significant achievement to his already impressive record with the terrifying properties of the Time-Space Rasengan.
Who are they? They are the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
Defeating even one of them is a worthy accomplishment! If he could eliminate the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wouldn't that further prove his strength?
Wouldn't it further prove that his efforts were not in vain? Wouldn't it further validate his progress?
So, just as Koshino used the Wind Instantaneous Body Technique to dodge Raiga's sneak attack, he took a deep breath and prepared to use the Shadow Communication Technique to mentally inform Guy and the others to retreat as soon as the situation allowed.
On one hand, Koshino feared that the ensuing fierce battle might not guarantee their safety. On the other hand, he had a bit of a selfish motive: to eliminate more members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, he couldn't afford to continue protecting the burdensome Guy, Genma and Ebisu.
Upon receiving Koshino's notification, Guy and the others naturally had no other thoughts. After all, Koshino had truly gone above and beyond to protect them.
In the village of Konoha, few would risk such danger to rescue them.
Subsequently, in the mental communication, Guy and the others responded to Koshino, preparing to temporarily withdraw from the battlefield at the next opportunity. Knowing that Guy and the others were about to retreat, Koshino felt his entire body become invigorated.
As the Wind Instantaneous Body Technique concluded, Koshino happened to appear beside Kuriarare Kushimaru, kicking the Longsword: Nuibari lying next to Kushimaru's body, intending to use the kicked sword to apply some pressure on Raiga.
However!
Just as Koshino's toe made contact with the Longsword: Nuibari, something unexpected happened!
Almost instantly, a milky white parasitic entity extended from the direction of the Longsword: Nuibari, directly attaching itself to Koshino's body!
When the milky white parasitic entity completely enveloped Koshino, binding him in place, he suddenly realized that these parasitic entities were secretly devouring the limited chakra within his body!
"Spore Technique?"
"This is bad!"
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