Kato Dan
Thankfully, his Senju lineage and considerable chakra reserves allowed his minor wounds to heal completely. The major wounds have stopped bleeding and are gradually recovering.
However, Aizen remains displeased. With a swift slash, he shattered Kosa's nascent soul, eradicating any remaining spiritual energy from her body.
He intended to collect Kosa's remains and depart, seeking solace for his wounded spirit.
But just as he was about to begin, he sensed a large group of Sunagakure shinobi rapidly approaching the battleground. This group consisted mostly of Chunin, Jonin, with a few elite Jonin.
Aizen's eyes narrowed, and he decided to leave immediately. He didn't even bother retrieving the unconscious Rasa from ground.
After all, Kosa was dead, her soul and spiritual energy utterly destroyed. Rasa had been unconscious throughout the entire ordeal, unaware of Kosa's arrival.
Aizen wasn't concerned about Rasa revealing his secrets, nor did he want to risk being surrounded by elite shinobi to kill him.
Besides, dealing with the mouse was a higher priority.
Utilizing the lingering essence of his opponent's soul, Aizen silently replenished his own energy. With a swift step, he hastened towards the hidden location of the figure lurking in the shadows.
Just as he departed, the elite Sunagakure shinobi arrived at the scene. They were stunned by the aftermath of the battle and discovered the lifeless form of Kosa, the Scorch Style expert, lying in a pool of blood.
"Lady Kosa!"
The shinobi rushed forward in shock, checking her condition. After confirming her demise, their expressions turned grim.
"Lady Kosa is one of the strongest ninja in our village, second only to a few others! Who in Konohagakure possesses the power to defeat and kill her?" A young shinobi trembled as he spoke.
"Indeed, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, are currently engaged in a battle. Based on our prior intelligence, there should be no one in Konoha capable of matching Lady Kosa!" Another shinobi added, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Furthermore, with Lady Kosa's speed and flight abilities, even if she were surrounded by a large Konoha force, she could easily escape. How is it possible."
The shinobi at the scene murmured amongst themselves, unable to comprehend how such a powerful figure could perish so inexplicably.
Anxiety began to spread among them. Kosa had been a crucial element in their plan to capture the Second Division. Her death was not merely the loss of a strong ninja but a direct threat to the success of their entire operation.
"Enough, silence!"
A highly respected elite Jonin commanded, his deep voice cutting through the fear and confusion.
His words had an immediate effect. The scene fell silent, all eyes turning towards him.
The elite Jonin drew a deep breath and declared, "Although Lady Kosa's death was unexpected, this battle is crucial to the future of Sunagakure and our overall war effort! Whether we can continue to fight Konoha depends on this battle! Therefore, we must win this war at all costs! No matter what obstacles we face, we can only press forward!"
This impassioned speech invigorated the Sunagakure shinobi, reigniting the flames of battle in their eyes.
Witnessing this renewed determination, the elite Jonin sighed in relief. He then announced, "With Lady Kosa gone, I will temporarily assume command of this operation. Are there any objections?"
All the shinobi shook their heads in agreement.
"Lord Keith, we've discovered Rasa unconscious underground here!" Two Chunin scouts reported to the Jonin.
"What?!"
The recently calmed shinobi were once again thrown into disarray.
Meanwhile, in a hidden cave nearby, a figure who had just recovered his soul was equally shocked. This tall, handsome man in his twenties wore the traditional green Konoha flak jacket and had long, sky-blue hair.
"That Aizen kid is incredibly powerful! To think he killed Kosa of the Scorch Style head-on, it's simply astonishing!"
The handsome man's face still held an expression of disbelief as he recalled the battle he had witnessed. Kosa's Scorch Style jutsu was infamous among Konoha shinobi, who had been at war with Sunagakure for years. She was as renowned as Senju Ryuken.
Yet, she had been slain by Aizen, a young Konoha ninja who was only twelve or thirteen years old. Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would have dismissed anyone who told him this as delusional.
"Also, I recall Tsunade mentioning a deep animosity between Aizen and Ryuken. Could Ryuken's death in the Land of Sky Battle be Aizen's doing?"
The handsome man's thoughts turned to another matter. No one had suspected Aizen initially because his known strength didn't seem sufficient to kill Ryuken. However, the power Aizen had just displayed made it plausible that he could have secretly killed Ryuken and blamed it on missing-nin.
"Regardless of whether Aizen truly killed Ryuken, the fact that he concealed such immense power suggests he is far from ordinary! I must inform Tsunade immediately and let her decide how to proceed."
The handsome man's eyes gleamed with determination. He rose to leave the cave.
But just as he did, a chilling voice, like a demonic whisper from hell, echoed in his ears.
"I was wondering who it was... It turns out it's the pretty boy who leeches off my sensei, Kato Dan.