Naruto Shadow Mage

"How disappointing!"

"The Kakashi in the original story had such a good personality, but now he's just a petty guy who likes to pick fights."

"Moreover..."

Facing Kakashi's provocation, Koshino remained calm on the surface but inwardly sneered:

"Besides, it's not up to you, Kakashi, to decide whether I'm qualified to receive training from the Fourth Hokage!"

"Who do you think you are?"

Thinking this, Koshino couldn't let Kakashi show off in front of him. So, when Kakashi beckoned him with a finger, Koshino locked eyes with him and said directly, "Alright, please give me your guidance, senior!"

"Let's be clear: if I win by chance, you must take me to see our teacher!"

"Because you honestly don't have the right to teach me!"

"Arrogant!"

As soon as Koshino finished speaking, Kakashi's visible black eye narrowed slightly. Chakra erupted from his feet, and he instantly appeared in front of Koshino!

Kakashi's strength was undeniable. To be recognized as a Jonin during wartime and even create an S-rank jutsu like the Chidori, anyone who dismissed him would be ridiculed by Koshino himself!

Especially after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, where he received an eye from Obito Uchiha, Kakashi's strength had peaked.

Charging directly at Koshino, Kakashi's speed and timing were impeccable, causing Koshino to be inwardly alarmed.

But at this point, Kakashi's display was only enough to surprise Koshino!

Taking advantage of the moment before Kakashi got within ten meters of him, knowing that Kakashi's taijutsu could defeat Might Guy, Koshino would be foolish to engage in a physical confrontation.

So, just as Kakashi took his next step, Koshino crouched in the grass and formed hand signs with both hands!

"Shadow Sewing!"

A black shadow gathered at Koshino's feet, and with a whistling sound, it shot towards Kakashi.

If Kakashi were an ordinary Genin or even a typical Chunin, Koshino's Shadow Sewing might have secured an instant victory.

But under Kakashi's hawk-like gaze, the black shadow of the Shadow Sewing shot towards him, and Kakashi, with half his face hidden behind a mask, sneered.

"A child's trick, what use is it?"

"Koshino Nara!"

"You've lost!"

Unexpectedly, facing Koshino's Shadow Sewing, Kakashi didn't attempt to dodge. Instead, he charged straight at it.

And just as Koshino thought his Shadow Sewing would at least trouble Kakashi, a sudden crackling sound erupted!

A bolt of lightning wrapped around Kakashi's right hand, and with a simple downward motion, it completely dispelled Koshino's Shadow Sewing. Moreover, at that moment, Koshino noticed Kakashi's speed had increased, and with a swift movement, Kakashi's fist landed heavily on Koshino's chest!

"I need to be more serious!"

"Boom!"

Kakashi's fist struck Koshino's chest, followed by a loud "boom!"

Using the Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Substitution Jutsu in quick succession, Koshino's extraordinary speed of casting jutsu even made Kakashi pause.

"An impressive Substitution Jutsu and such fast hand signs!"

"Wait!"

"He didn't seem to form hand signs just now? Could it be the legendary no-hand signs?"

At this point, not only was Kakashi astonished, but even the Fourth Hokage, if present, would have been equally dumbfounded to see Koshino casting jutsu without hand signs!

But did Koshino really cast jutsu without hand signs?

Could he use the Shadow Clone Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu without forming hand signs?

Of course not!

During his training, Koshino worked on forming hand signs to become as fast as the original story's Itachi Uchiha, whose hand signs were too quick for even Kakashi's Sharingan to follow.

Unfortunately, Koshino's efforts in this area only led to a slight improvement in his speed for the jutsu he had already mastered. So, casting jutsu without hand signs was beyond his capability. The reason Kakashi didn't see Koshino forming hand signs was that Koshino didn't need to!

The reason Koshino could use the Shadow Clone Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu without forming hand signs was due to his newly mastered secret technique!

The Shadow Clone Technique!

Last night, when Koshino mastered the new secret technique, he referred to it as a godly skill, and here's why:

While grasping the subtleties of the Shadow Clone Technique, Koshino realized that when he used it, his shadow could transform into a perfect clone of himself. Moreover, when Koshino didn't control the clone to separate from his body, he could use the clone to form hand signs, allowing him to cast jutsu corresponding to the hand signs formed by the clone!

In a sense, Koshino could indeed cast jutsu without hand signs!

During intense combat, few could continuously monitor Koshino's shadow, and no one could imagine that his shadow could help him form hand signs!

Thus, in the previous exchange, Koshino narrowly avoided Kakashi's attack thanks to his new secret technique.

Without the Shadow Clone Technique, Koshino would have likely fallen to Kakashi in that round.

However, even though he didn't lose immediately, Koshino realized the gap between himself and Jonin.

Kakashi Hatake was indeed a genius!

In the first exchange, Kakashi's prowess in taijutsu and ninjutsu was beyond Koshino's imagination. Frankly, even if Kakashi relied solely on taijutsu, Koshino's chances of victory were slim, given Kakashi's speed and strength were on another level.

In such a situation, maintaining a stalemate was a victory for Koshino.

Defeating Kakashi was out of the question.

But the more challenging the goal, the more Koshino wanted to achieve it!

When he saw Kakashi's astonished look, Koshino smiled faintly while wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"The more insurmountable the challenge, the more interesting it is to climb, isn't it?"

"Kakashi, since you didn't disappoint me, I won't disappoint you either! Moreover..."

"Your weakness was exposed in our previous exchange!"