Chapter 95: Blood Mist (Part 2)
"Shisui and Takeshi are probably the most experienced in the Blade Squad, aren't they?"
"But... but it seems like their confidence has made them lose the caution they had at the start!"
After taking down the six Mist Jonin earlier, Koshino watched as Uchiha Shisui and the others barely checked before assuming those six Mist Jonin were dead.
This filled him with an odd feeling, especially when Kakashi and Takeshi were handling the Mist Jonin's bodies, causing him to secretly frown.
Even though he wasn't aware of the Mist Jonin's "revival" behind them, Koshino focused on Shisui and Takeshi leading the way, hoping to reunite with their Konoha comrades and complete the mission quickly.
He felt that their small success had made them a bit overconfident.
Not to mention the importance of resting and maintaining peak condition, which Shisui, as the captain, didn't handle very well.
They had just finished a battle with six Mist Jonin. Although none of the Blade Squad members were injured, they still needed to recover their stamina and chakra, right?
They couldn't rush on in a fatigued state just to complete the mission quickly, could they?
Even though Shisui and Takeshi seemed fine and were enthusiastically leading the way, Koshino and Kakashi, having consumed a lot of chakra earlier, felt tired while traveling.
Koshino even found it challenging to use the Fourth Hokage's "acceleration" technique!
Undoubtedly, Koshino's fatigue was due to excessive chakra consumption.
Koshino's overall strength was at the Jonin level, but his chakra reserves were only comparable to an average Chunin.
In such a situation, using many of the Nara Clan's secret techniques to assist Shisui, Kakashi, and others in battle, Koshino needed to recover his chakra well after each fight to keep up with the Blade Squad's pace.
Moreover, it wasn't just Koshino feeling fatigued due to insufficient chakra.
In the original storyline, Kakashi, who also had chakra issues, was already covered in sweat from exhaustion on his forehead and back, even though he was still holding on.
If not for his pride and dignity, Kakashi, who looked like he had been pulled from the water, would have long collapsed from exhaustion.
So, noticing Shisui and Takeshi's unusual mental state, Koshino couldn't care about his "junior" status in the Blade Squad anymore.
With a sudden burst of chakra under his feet, he accelerated and appeared in front of Shisui and "Fierce".
Frowning, he fixed a serious gaze on Shisui and didn't point to Kakashi but to himself, saying directly,
"Swift, even if we're about to reunite with our comrades, shouldn't we take a break? Honestly, right now, forget about fighting; even traveling is a burden for me."
"In my opinion, we should adjust our state before meeting our comrades!"
"And to be blunt, if an enemy suddenly attacks, our prolonged fatigue could lead to all of us dying at the hands of the Mist Shinobi!"
"Shadow, watch your words!"
Before Shisui could respond, "Fierce" reprimanded, "Swift is our captain, and during a mission, saying things that could lower morale, especially in such a critical time, could get you punished!
Besides, Swift surely has his reasons, and you have no right to defy him!"
"Get back in line. This time, Swift and I will pretend we didn't hear anything, but there better not be a next time, understood?"
Clearly, the stern reprimand from "Fierce" wasn't meant to truly punish Koshino, but rather to serve as a warning.
Uchiha Shisui, a member of the Blade Squad along with "Fierce," wasn't just a superior officer. Through numerous encounters with the Mist Ninja, they had forged a deep bond.
Given this strong connection, even if Koshino said something offensive, neither Uchiha Shisui nor "Fierce" would take it to heart.
"Fierce's" intention was obviously to give Koshino a wake-up call, helping him better understand Anbu rules and avoid making mistakes with others that could lead to severe punishment.
However, despite recognizing "Fierce's" good intentions, Koshino stubbornly kept his gaze fixed on Uchiha Shisui, waiting for his command as soon as "Fierce" finished speaking.
Uchiha Shisui, naturally, wasn't a difficult person to deal with.
Especially after noticing the decline in Koshino and Kakashi's condition, an apologetic look appeared in his eyes.
He quickly turned to Koshino and Kakashi, saying, "Shadow, Lightning, I'm sorry. I was a bit too eager."
"I hope you understand that being the captain of the Blade Squad is both an honor and a responsibility. Under the pressure of responsibility, there are things I can't ignore, even if I want to."
"Shadow, thank you for the wake-up call. And of course, you should also thank Fierce."
"Alright, we have at most half a day's journey left to complete the first phase of our mission."
"So let's listen to Shadow and take a good rest now!"
With that, Uchiha Shisui and "Fierce" both stepped forward with smiles, giving Koshino a hearty pat on the shoulder.
The previous tension dissolved within the Blade Squad with the shared smiles of Uchiha Shisui, "Fierce," and Koshino.
Especially after Uchiha Shisui ordered a rest, Koshino felt his relationship with Kakashi had eased further.
After all, Koshino's bold advice was more beneficial to Kakashi than to himself.
With Koshino's consideration for Kakashi, even if Kakashi was arrogant and difficult to approach, he had to change his attitude towards Koshino.
In fact, after the rest, when Koshino and the others resumed their journey, Kakashi walked alongside Koshino and even said "thank you" to him.
Of course.
These little things didn't bother Koshino much, as they were trivial matters. As long as the mission could be completed safely and without casualties, Koshino was willing to step up, even if it meant risking his life.
Once Koshino and the others were fully rested, and even Kakashi had regained his peak strength, the Blade Squad's pace noticeably quickened.
In the slightly relaxed atmosphere, Koshino secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the Blade Squad was in great shape and should be able to handle any unexpected situations.
But who would have thought, just as Koshino's Blade Squad reached the meeting point designated by the Fourth Hokage, a sudden cold wind swept through, causing Koshino's pupils to narrow slightly.
As Koshino and the others moved step by step towards the meeting cave under the chill of the wind, an ominous feeling filled Koshino's mind, almost making him cry out instinctively!
"Swift, be careful!"