Naruto Shadow Mage

With crimson blood flowing down his arm, Yoroi closed his eyes tight during the battle against Hozuki Mangetsu.

Had Yoroi really gone mad?

Was he truly ready to give up and die by Mangetsu's blade?

Of course not!

Yoroi closed his eyes because he saw through the essence of the Hidden Mist Jutsu!

The Hidden Mist Jutsu was a low-level ninjutsu.

When ordinary Mist Ninjas used it, the effect was just to create a dense mist that obscured vision. Only experts like Hozuki Mangetsu and the original rogue Mist Ninja Zabuza Momochi could fully exploit the potential of the Hidden Mist Jutsu, producing mist far denser than that created by average ninjas.

When combined with the terrifying Silent Killing technique, the Hidden Mist Jutsu's full power was revealed.

But what if there was no Silent Killing technique?

To put it plainly, the Hidden Mist Jutsu was just a low-level ninjutsu that obscured vision and disrupted sensory perception!

In the previous battle against Mangetsu, Yoroi had been affected by the Silent Killing technique, constantly worrying about how to avoid Mangetsu's next attack.

What should he do when he couldn't see his surroundings?

From which direction would Mangetsu's next attack come?

These anxious thoughts cluttered Yoroi's mind, dividing his focus. So, when Yoroi realized the essence of the Hidden Mist Jutsu, he closed his eyes, concentrating on the Fourth Hokage's wind-sensing technique to perceive his surroundings, aiming to break Mangetsu's Hidden Mist Jutsu this way!

At that moment, Yoroi's thoughts were simple:

"If I can't see, then I won't look!"

"Instead of using my eyes and filling my mind with fear, I'll close my eyes and forget the fear!"

"I'll use my heart to sense my surroundings!"

"I refuse to believe I can't break a Silent Killing technique and a simple Hidden Mist Jutsu with the Fourth Hokage's secret technique!"

"Snap!"

As he thought this, closing his eyes effectively blocked out the fear and nullified Mangetsu's psychological attack.

Because the true essence of combining the Hidden Mist Jutsu with the Silent Killing technique was the psychological pressure it imposed.

Just as Yoroi had previously pondered, one couldn't focus on sensing their surroundings in a state of distraction. Often, sensory-type ninjas, though capable of detecting the Silent Killing user's movements, failed to utilize their sensory skills due to psychological pressure, ultimately dying at the hands of the Silent Killing user.

When Yoroi closed his eyes, he felt the "wind" gathering, and his sensory range expanded!

The Fourth Hokage's secret sensing technique was now perfectly utilized by Yoroi the moment he closed his eyes.

However, while Yoroi closed his eyes, the hidden Mangetsu smirked coldly!

"So, you're focusing your attention!"

"Do you think focusing will break my Silent Killing technique?"

"Don't underestimate the Mist's secret techniques! And never underestimate me, Hozuki Mangetsu!"

"Die!"

"Whoosh!"

With sounds coming from all directions, even Kakashi would be unable to pinpoint Mangetsu's position by sound alone!

Closing his eyes and focusing was not enough to break the Hidden Mist Jutsu. So why would Mangetsu feel pressured?

As soon as Mangetsu's voice echoed, his figure vanished into the mist once more.

In the next instant, as Mangetsu approached Yoroi, a cold smile spread across his face!

Holding his blade as he practiced daily.

Without hesitation, as soon as Yoroi focused his spirit, Mangetsu slashed down!

"Slash!"

Blood spattered once more, and another gash appeared on Yoroi's chest, though he barely avoided a fatal blow.

Seeing Yoroi barely evading, Mangetsu's smile widened.

With just one more strike, Mangetsu felt assured of his victory.

However, Mangetsu failed to notice that despite the numerous new wounds, the severity of Yoroi's injuries was gradually lessening.

Initially, deep enough to reach the bone, the cuts were now only superficial, gradually reducing in severity.

In other words.

Unbeknownst to Mangetsu, Yoroi was steadily improving!

As he progressed, Yoroi suddenly entered a state of profound understanding!

"That's the wind!"

"I can feel the wind! And it's getting stronger!"

"Wind is moving on the left!"

"Wind is moving on the right!"

"That's the essence of the Fourth Hokage's sensing technique! That's the truth of 'wind'!"

"Boom!"

In this state of enlightenment, Yoroi's chakra flow suddenly accelerated, something Mangetsu didn't notice.

Then, with Mangetsu's face still holding a faint smile, ready to use the Silent Killing technique to end Yoroi's life, there was a sudden "snap!"

Standing still, Yoroi abruptly dodged Mangetsu's blade in the nick of time!

A faint smile now appeared on Yoroi's face. Mangetsu heard Yoroi's murmured words close to his ear:

"Hozuki Mangetsu, your next attack will come from behind, won't it?"

"What?!"

Hearing Yoroi's calm voice, Mangetsu's pupils contracted!

How could he predict my attack?

How did he see through my Silent Killing technique?

Mangetsu's mind was filled with chaotic thoughts for a moment, failing to realize Yoroi's "warning." Instinctively, he attacked from behind Yoroi.

Yoroi, at that precise moment, gripped a kunai tightly!

With chakra coating the sharp kunai, under Yoroi's calm smile, a spurt of blood splashed onto the ground!

However, this time, it wasn't Yoroi's blood but Mangetsu's!

Even with Mangetsu's timely use of the Hozuki clan's "Hydration Technique," Yoroi's kunai still left a deep gash on Mangetsu's arm!

The appearance of the wound wasn't the most shocking aspect for Mangetsu!

What truly stunned Mangetsu was Yoroi's first successful strike and the calm words that followed as he disappeared:

"Hozuki Mangetsu, I've seen through your attack patterns!"

"Prepare for your fate!"

"Whoosh!"

With those words, an invisible pressure enveloped Mangetsu, momentarily freezing the renowned Mist Jonin!

As Mangetsu stood stunned, Yoroi remained composed!

Under Yoroi's calm demeanor, the wind chakra nature transformation was fully realized on his kunai!

"The feeling of breaking through is incredible!"

"Wind chakra nature transformation"

"Complete!"