95
Instead of blood, turquoise flames seeped from Kosa's wounds. Aizen's expression hardened at the sight.
"Inferno Style: Exploding Flame Clone!"
The clone pulsed with turquoise light, and a massive explosion followed. At such close range, Aizen had no time to react.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
In a desperate attempt to defend himself, Aizen reinforced his body and channeled all his remaining chakra into a hasty retreat. But it was too late.
Bang!
Aizen's body was thrown back, landing hard on the ground. He struggled to his feet, clutching his numerous wounds as blood oozed out. This marked the first time he had been injured since arriving in the Shinobi world.
Aizen's chakra was nearly depleted. His Reiatsu, Eight Inner Gates, and Earth-Style Wall had all been dispelled. He appeared utterly defenseless.
Victory seemed to be within reach.
Kosa, cloaked in darkness, emerged, her gaze fixed on the vulnerable Aizen, her murderous intent palpable.
Eerie laughter echoed from Kosa's throat as she approached Aizen, her eyes gleaming with predatory amusement. She observed him silently refining chakra, a futile effort given his dire circumstances.
"To be in such a desperate situation yet remain so composed, even prepared to fight to the death. Your mentality and courage are truly impressive," Kosa acknowledged, a hint of admiration in her voice.
Despite her deep-seated hatred, Kosa couldn't deny Aizen's resilience and extraordinary talent. He had the potential to become a formidable force, perhaps even rivaling the legendary Minato Namikaze.
"Unfortunately, your talent is too dangerous, even surpassing Konoha's Yellow Flash. Today, I cannot allow you to live." Kosa declared, preparing to deliver the final blow.
Her own condition was precarious, with less than 20% chakra remaining and severe injuries from her earlier self-inflicted explosion. The arrival of Konoha reinforcements would spell trouble.
Suppressing her premature victory, Kosa summoned a turquoise wind blade, ready to end Aizen's life.
However, instead of fear, Aizen met her with a disdainful smirk. This unexpected reaction unsettled Kosa, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
But there was no doubt, the Aizen before her was the real one.
Moreover, his condition was utterly weakened, leaving him with no ability to resist! As long as the Aizen before her was killed, it wouldn't matter if her premonition was true or not!
With this thought, the murderous intent in Kosa's eyes intensified, and she quickened her pace.
Puff!
The sound of flesh tearing echoed through the air, but it wasn't Aizen who cried out. Kosa stared down in disbelief at the blade protruding from her chest.
"This... how is this possible?!" Despair, doubt, and unwillingness swirled in her eyes.
Her hand, mere inches from Aizen, lost its grip on the turquoise wind blade, which began to dissipate.
Gritting her teeth, Kosa mustered her remaining strength, attempting to close the distance between her palm and Aizen. But she could only manage to twitch her fingers, the gap between them an insurmountable chasm.
"You only knew I created a Shadow Clone, its true purpose to ambush you from the shadows.
But you never realized that after forcing Rasa out, I had already taken your life. Did you truly believe a mere Rasa warranted the use of both my Kyōka Suigetsu and Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō?
Kyōka Suigetsu, one of my secret techniques, allows me to control all five senses, a complete hypnosis.
When you first broke my Bakudō, I had already created a Shadow Clone, disguising it as a roadside weed using this technique.
As for your Exploding Flame Clone trap, my sensory abilities detected it from the very beginning.
In your own words, 'Don't you think I didn't see it?!'" Aizen explained with a mocking tone, his words dripping with irony.
The Shadow Clone that had pierced Kosa's heart dissolved into smoke, its chakra returning to Aizen. His energy surged, quickly replenishing a tenth of his chakra.
Kosa collapsed to the ground, her gaze filled with a mix of emotions as she looked at Aizen.
"So, your previous Shadow Clone was a decoy, and your real body was the bait. After I fell for your trick, you retreated to your Shadow Clone's hiding spot. When I emerged to kill you, the clone became your hidden assassin." Kosa murmured, piecing together Aizen's strategy.
"Precisely! To lure a formidable opponent like you, I had to use myself as bait." Aizen adjusted his glasses, a cold glint flashing in their lenses.
"You are... a terrifying person." Kosa uttered her final words, her gaze fixed on Aizen as if to etch his image into her soul.
With that, her head fell to the side, her life extinguished. The Suna kunoichi, Kosa, had fallen at Aizen's hands.
As Kosa's life faded, a faint spiritual fluctuation vanished hundreds of meters away. Aizen, sensing this subtle shift with his Reiatsu, allowed a sinister smirk to curl upon his lips.