Chapter 96: Blood Mist (Part 2)
"Are you sure you're not joking, Shadow?"
Koshino's exclamation naturally caught the attention of all the members of the Blade Squad.
But if you were to say who in the Blade Squad had the strongest sensory abilities, it would undoubtedly be "Fierce," who was proficient in Earth Release jutsu!
According to Koshino's understanding, the secret technique "Fierce" used for sensing was the Earth Release Sensory Method, secretly passed down by the Third Hokage.
As long as "Fierce's" feet were on the ground, he could sense anyone within a kilometer radius who was also standing on the ground.
Using the Third Hokage's sensory secret, he could not only detect their presence but also vaguely gauge their strength level.
At this moment, when Koshino suddenly exclaimed, "Fierce" was certainly the first to question it!
Because, let alone humans, within a kilometer radius, "Fierce" hadn't sensed a single beast or any living being.
However, given Koshino's previous warning to Uchiha Shisui, even if Koshino was indeed mistaken this time, Uchiha Shisui and "Fierce" would still pay some attention.
So, as they advanced towards the cave ahead to regroup, Uchiha Shisui furrowed his brows and instructed Koshino and "Fierce,"
"Shadow's sensory ability should be the secret technique passed down by the Fourth Hokage, so 'Fierce,' even if you haven't sensed any danger, let's heed Shadow's suggestion."
"Now, Lightning, you accompany me to the rendezvous point to see why no one has come to meet us."
"As for Shadow, you and Fierce stay here. If anything happens to Lightning and me, you two will be our backup!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Listening to Uchiha Shisui's instructions, Koshino secretly breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't help frowning and thinking to himself:
"Could my sensing really be wrong?"
"It can't be!"
"I clearly sensed an unusual presence just now, but it seemed to exist for only a fraction of a second before vanishing!"
"Am I being too sensitive? Or is there really a Mist ninja plot ahead?"
"Hmm, let's wait for Shisui and Kakashi to explore first. After all, Fierce's sensory ability is better than mine, so it's best to follow Shisui's suggestion for now!"
Thinking silently, Koshino's eyes were filled with a heavy expression, gripping a kunai tightly in his hand.
Then, following Uchiha Shisui's orders, he and Kakashi headed towards the cave to see what was going on inside.
Meanwhile, "Fierce," watching Uchiha Shisui and Kakashi's figures gradually disappear into the dark cave, cautiously asked Koshino, "Shadow, what did you sense just now? Why did you say there's an ambush?"
"Just now?"
Recalling the strange feeling from earlier, Koshino took a deep breath and said, "It was the wind. I felt an unusual wind just now!"
"That wind felt very cold, not like an ordinary breeze, but a wind filled with killing intent."
"But that chilling wind only appeared for a brief moment, so even I can't be sure if it truly existed."
"As for now, all I know is..."
Suddenly, Koshino fell silent! Because at that moment, when Koshino used the Fourth Hokage's secret wind perception technique, he discovered that the wind around him had completely stopped moving!
"Fierce, be careful!"
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, the wind around them stopped flowing, which could only mean one thing! There were indeed Mist Ninja ambushing Koshino and his team!
But who would have thought that while Koshino's wind perception was sensitive enough, the Mist Ninja hiding there were equally formidable!
Almost as soon as Koshino spoke, ready to warn "Fierce," a shadowy figure suddenly appeared in front of "Fierce," wielding a weapon that resembled a "giant blade," and directly "smashed" it onto "Fierce" with brute force!
And because "Fierce" trusted the Third Hokage's secret perception method, he was completely unguarded in a situation where he sensed no presence.
Coupled with the sudden attacker's speed, which was beyond both Koshino and "Fierce's" imagination, "Fierce" was immediately struck to the ground by the opponent's assault!
Furthermore, after the shadowy figure disappeared, "Fierce," lying on the ground, uttered words that sent a chill down Koshino's spine! "Shadow, quickly go meet up with Shisui and Kakashi, don't worry about me!"
"My chakra... all of my chakra is gone!"
"What?"
Hearing "Fierce's" words, especially the crucial point about his chakra completely vanishing, two keywords suddenly appeared in Koshino's mind!
The first keyword was the giant blade capable of absorbing others' chakra, known as Samehada!
As for the second, it was a name that no ninja in the world could ignore!
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, also known as the terrifying group of the Seven Swordsmen! "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, it must be them!"
"So all the Mist Ninja we killed before were just bait!"
"The Mist's real target has always been our Blade Squad. They sacrificed countless Mist Ninja lives just to make us drop our guard, and finally become prey for the Seven Swordsmen!"
"No, just like Fierce said, we must quickly regroup with Shisui and Kakashi!"
"After all, each member of the Seven Swordsmen had at least the power to rival Shadow-Level fighters during the Third Great Ninja War!"
In extremely tense and dangerous situations, human behavior often falls into two categories.
The first is losing one's mind, losing the ability to think, and further exposing weaknesses in a chaotic manner!
The other is being pressured by tension and danger, becoming extremely calm, able to handle the crisis at hand with a "big heart"!
And Koshino was undoubtedly the latter! The more tense the atmosphere, the more dangerous the environment, the better he performed, born for great matters!
So, suspecting that the enemy they faced might be a member of the Seven Swordsmen who could single-handedly take on the Blade Squad, Koshino carried the chakra-less "Fierce,"
and with a burst of chakra underfoot, used the Wind Body Flicker Technique to swiftly "flash" into the cave ahead, just a step away from reuniting with Uchiha Shisui and Kakashi.
But if misfortune never comes alone, then the situation Koshino faced fully illustrated the meaning of that phrase!
Because as Koshino, in the pitch-black cave, vaguely saw the figures of Uchiha Shisui and Kakashi ahead, an endless dense fog suddenly filled the cave!
And in that thick mist, the rising hint of blood red made Koshino's heart sink to the bottom! "Ninja Art! Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
"Blade Squad, is it?"