Chapter 35: Jutsu Without Seals?
"In the original story, Kakashi had such a good personality. How did he become such a petty guy now?"
"Moreover..."
Facing Kakashi's provocation, Koshino remained outwardly calm, but inwardly, he was sneering:
"Moreover, whether I am qualified to receive the Fourth Hokage's guidance is not for you, Kakashi, to decide!"
"Who do you think you are?"
Thinking this to himself, Koshino couldn't just let Kakashi show off in front of him.
So, when Kakashi beckoned to Koshino with his finger, Koshino stared directly at him and replied, "Alright, then please, senior, guide me well!"
"Let's make it clear, if by chance I win, you must take me to see the teacher!"
"Because you truly have no right to teach me!"
"Arrogant!"
As soon as Koshino finished speaking, Kakashi's visible black pupil narrowed slightly, and with a burst of chakra at his feet, he instantly attacked Koshino!
There was no doubt about Kakashi's strength.
To earn the title of Jonin during the war and to create the S-rank jutsu, Chidori, anyone who called Kakashi a fool at the end of the Third Great Ninja War would be met with a mocking gaze from Koshino!
Especially after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, when he received a Sharingan from Obito Uchiha, Kakashi's strength had reached a peak at this stage.
Charging straight towards Koshino, whether it was the timing of his chakra burst or his ghost-like speed, it honestly made Koshino's heart skip a beat.
However, Kakashi's current performance was only enough to startle Koshino!
Taking advantage of the moment when Kakashi was still more than ten meters away, knowing that Kakashi's taijutsu could defeat Guy, Koshino knew that competing in taijutsu with Kakashi was suicide!
So, just as Kakashi took his next step, Koshino suddenly crouched in the grass, hands forming seals directly!
"Shadow Sewing Jutsu!"
"Whoosh!"
At this stage, the only secret technique Koshino could use to repel Kakashi was probably the Shadow Sewing Jutsu!
The shadows underfoot suddenly gathered together, and with a sharp sound, they rushed towards Kakashi.
If Koshino's opponent wasn't Kakashi but an ordinary Genin or Chunin, then Koshino's Shadow Sewing Jutsu might have secured a direct victory.
But under Kakashi's hawk-like gaze, as the black shadow of the Shadow Sewing Jutsu rushed towards him, Kakashi, half of his face hidden under a mask, sneered!
"Childish tricks, what use are they?"
"Nara Koshino!"
"You've lost!"
"Snap!"
It's hard to imagine, but facing Koshino's Shadow Sewing Jutsu, Kakashi not only didn't attempt to dodge but charged straight into it.
Moreover, just when Koshino thought his Shadow Sewing Technique might at least cause Kakashi some trouble, there was a sudden "zzzz" sound!
A flash of lightning enveloped Kakashi's right hand, and with just a gentle motion, it completely dismantled Koshino's Shadow Sewing Technique.
Almost the moment that lightning appeared, Koshino suddenly felt that Kakashi's speed had increased by several notches compared to before.
In a flash, Kakashi's fist landed heavily on Koshino's chest!
"Time to get more serious!"
"Boom!"
Kakashi's fist struck Koshino's chest, followed by a loud "boom"!
Shadow Clone Technique, Substitution Jutsu, used in succession.
Koshino's astonishing speed in casting these techniques even made Kakashi pause for a moment.
"What an incredible Substitution Jutsu, and such fast hand signs!"
"Wait!"
"He didn't seem to use any hand signs just now? Could it be the legendary hand sign-less technique?"
At this point, not only was Kakashi shocked, but even the Fourth Hokage would be dumbfounded if he knew Koshino could perform jutsu without hand signs!
But did Koshino really not use any hand signs? Could he really use the Shadow Clone Technique and Substitution Jutsu without them?
Absolutely not!
When Koshino was training, practicing hand signs was also part of his regimen, aiming to reach a speed akin to Itachi from the original series, so fast that even Kakashi's Sharingan couldn't keep up.
Unfortunately, Koshino's ultimate achievement in hand sign training was merely improving his speed in performing secret and ninjutsu techniques.
Therefore, performing jutsu without hand signs was entirely beyond Koshino's capabilities.
The real reason Kakashi didn't see Koshino using hand signs was that Koshino didn't use any!
As for how Koshino could use the Shadow Clone Technique followed by the Substitution Jutsu without hand signs, it was because of a new secret technique he had mastered!
The Shadow Clone Technique!
Last night, when Koshino had just mastered this new secret technique, he called it a divine skill.
Why? Because when Koshino understood the intricacies of the Shadow Clone Technique, he realized that his shadow could form an identical clone of himself.
Moreover, as long as Koshino didn't control the shadow clone to separate from his body, he could use the shadow clone to perform hand signs, allowing Koshino to execute the corresponding jutsu once the shadow clone completed the hand signs!
In a sense, Koshino could indeed perform jutsu without hand signs!
After all, in the heat of battle, few could keep an eye on Koshino's shadow, and others couldn't even imagine that his shadow could help him perform hand signs!
So, in the previous exchange, Koshino managed to narrowly avoid Kakashi's attack, thanks to his new secret technique.
Without the Shadow Clone Technique, Koshino might have been defeated by Kakashi in that exchange.
But now, even though he hadn't been defeated by Kakashi, Koshino realized the gap between him and a Jonin.
Kakashi Hatake, truly a genius! In their first exchange, Kakashi's prowess in taijutsu and ninjutsu was beyond Koshino's imagination.
To be frank, even if Kakashi only used taijutsu, Koshino's chances of victory were just thirty percent. Kakashi's speed and strength seemed to be on another level entirely.
In such circumstances, for Koshino, maintaining a draw was a victory.
How could he possibly defeat Kakashi? Yet, the more unattainable the goal, the more Koshino wanted to achieve it!
Especially when he met Kakashi's eyes filled with surprise and doubt, Koshino wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and flashed a faint smile.
"The more insurmountable the mountain, the more interesting it is to climb, isn't it?"
"Kakashi, since you haven't disappointed me, I, Nara Koshino, won't disappoint you! Moreover..."