The moment the three sorcerers expanded their domains, Hiroshi immediately noticed that both of his opponents had barriers while his own domain was an open barrier. This crucial difference meant that, despite being included within both of his opponents' domains, Hiroshi would likely emerge victorious in this three-way duel.
An open domain interacts differently in such a scenario. A domain expansion brings one's innate domain into reality, and when Takako Uro and Ryu Ishigori expanded theirs, their aim was to defeat Hiroshi's as quickly as possible. However, with both domains being closed barrier types, and Hiroshi's being open, his had a natural advantage unless faced with someone like Gojo Satoru.
As the tripartite domain expansion battle began, there was a brief stalemate before Hiroshi's domain began pushing back. The barriers of both Takako and Ryu's domains were breached, leading to their destruction from the outside. Takako and Ryu were then subjected to Hiroshi's sure-hit effect.
"My win," Hiroshi declared, watching his opponents become bruised and broken.
Takako Uro and Ryu Ishigori immediately saved themselves by invoking a defensive technique.
"Secret Technique: Hollow Wicker Basket!" Both sorcerers stood in place as a barrier of weaved straws formed around them.
Hiroshi stood in front of them. "Ah! The boomer's simple domain," he remarked, circling around them.
Takako and Ryu, although black and blue with fractured and broken bones, finally had a chance to look around. They realized the impossible: they could see the outside world, and behind Hiroshi was a massive tree.
"An open barrier domain? That's impossible!" Takako Uro exclaimed. As a sorcerer from the Heian era, she had seen Ryomen Sukuna himself use an open barrier domain to obliterate the 5 Void Generals and her own Sun Moon Star squad, of which she was the only survivor.
"Nothing's impossible, exhibitionist," Hiroshi replied, turning to Ryu. "And as a sorcerer from the Edo period, I was expecting you to have something better than a Hollow Wicker Basket."
"This meal's really hard to chew," Ryu said.
"Well, it was fun while it lasted," Hiroshi said, separating into three. The real Hiroshi stepped back as his clones stood in front of his foes. "Any last words?" Hiroshi asked.
"Damn, it's always the Senju," Takako Uro said, frustrated.
"It was a great buffet. Too bad it's done," Ryu said calmly.
Both sorcerers knew that the Hollow Wicker Basket could defend them from Hiroshi's sure-hit effect for a while, but when Hiroshi's clones approached, charging Cero on their fingertips, they were stuck between two choices: let go of their Hollow Wicker Basket to defend themselves and be struck by the sure-hit effect, or take the Cero head-on. Either way, they would die.
Thus, Takako Uro let go of her Hollow Wicker Basket and attempted to flee but was hit by both the Sure-hit effect and the Cero, while Ryu stood there and welcomed it. Both sorcerers were gone in the blink of an eye, disintegrated by the Cero released by Hiroshi's clones.
As Hiroshi finished off his opponents, he sent them off to the Cursed Realm.
Disoriented by the sudden shift, both sorcerers found themselves in an unfamiliar landscape with Hiroshi already standing in front of them, his back framed by a setting sun.
"Where's this?" Ryu asked, confused.
"The Cursed Realm, the afterlife," Hiroshi turned to face them. "Whatever you want to call it."
"You're dead too?" Ryu asked.
"No, the premise to gain access to this realm is to have an excellent understanding and mastery over your own soul," Hiroshi explained.
"I see, so I wasn't actually there yet..." Ryu said thoughtfully. "In each period, there are sorcerers who stood at the peak of sorcery. In your case, during the Edo period, there was you and Hajime Kashimo, the Thunder God," Hiroshi continued. "I'm quite surprised you haven't fought him and targeted us instead."
"We didn't get the chance to meet in that lifetime. All I heard were rumors about some sorcerer who harnessed lightning," Ryu replied.
Takako Uro looked directly at Hiroshi. "I've seen it all before and had the chance to talk to your ancestor once," she said.
"Oh? Was he headstrong and often impulsive?" Hiroshi asked, knowing how Hashirama acted.
"He was indeed as you said, but he didn't have the drive to conquer the entirety of the sorcerer world like you. He was satisfied with Heian-Kyo. This begs the question, Senju. You stand at the precipice of this era just like your ancestor did. I asked him the same question, but he simply said, 'Because it is right.' So, I want you to answer me as the current patriarch of the Senju," Uro said.
"Oh? Fire away," Hiroshi said.
"Why do you fight?" she asked.
Hiroshi smirked. "Because I want to change the status quo, build a legacy befitting my clan's name and history, and defend the current world from being plunged into chaos. Simply put, I am the strongest, and because of this, it is my responsibility to keep things from going out of hand."
"Sounds like that one non-sorcerer, Oda Nobunaga. You're planning to rule Japan as a sorcerer?" Ryu asked.
"Why not? The strong must govern, no?" Hiroshi said, watching his former opponents fade away.
---
### A Few Months Ago
**September**
Kenjaku had managed to gain the attention of the United States regarding sorcerers.
As he sat alongside the officials and in front of the President of the U.S., he began his presentation.
"Negative emotions, stress—these energies constantly leak out in small quantities from the Japanese. When that energy accumulates, it becomes cursed spirits, ghosts, or monsters. Then there are the humans who control cursed energy and perform supernatural feats; we call them Jujutsu sorcerers," Yuta explained calmly under the gaze of the U.S. officials.
"This phenomenon exists exclusively among the Japanese. Of course, there are exceptions. Cursed spirits are usually invisible to the naked eye—" Yuta was interrupted.
"We know what cursed energy is and what curses are, and we know what Jujutsu sorcerers are. If this is all you can offer, Mr. Okkotsu, then you are simply wasting our time," Cyrus Vail, the U.S. Secretary for the Department of Energy, said.
"Not at all, Mr. Vail. What if I told you that Japan has been monopolizing this energy for their own use?" Yuta said.
"That's impossible. It was stated by the Japanese government and by our own experts that these curses or ghosts are of unknown origin and are quite easily eliminated by firearms," one of the officials said.
"That's what the Senju Clan wants you to believe," Yuta replied.
"Senju...that billion-dollar conglomerate?" The President, asked.
As Yuta finished his presentation, the U.S. officials were left in stunned silence. The power of the Jujutsu sorcerers, especially those at the pinnacle like Hiroshi Senju and Satoru Gojo, was something they had never truly comprehended before.
"I will be showing you footage recorded by the Senju Clan. This was dubbed the 'Battle of the Strongest.' Please, ladies and gentlemen, put on the specialized lenses," Kenjaku said.
As the officials in the White House donned their glasses, they were immediately taken aback by the sight of Rika, Yuta's cursed spirit, standing beside him.
"Judging by your expressions, you've seen the cursed spirit behind me. Let's begin," Yuta said as the tape began rolling.
The scene opened with an aerial view of an island. Two opposing beams collided, resulting in an explosion reminiscent of a nuclear blast. Massive, hideous gates began rising, followed by forests engulfing the island.
"What the hell? Those two are moving nuclear warheads," Gary K. Johnson, Lieutenant General, said in disbelief.
"Who are those fighting? And why?" Cyrus Vail asked.
"For the title of the strongest," Yuta replied.
"So, a battle of whose ego is bigger?" Cyrus remarked.
"More than that. It was a statement to the sorcerer world that the ceiling of power had been established. The one in black is the God of Sorcerers, Senju Hiroshi, and the other is the Honored One, Gojo Satoru," Yuta explained.
"God of Sorcerers? Quite a grandiose title for a man. A bullet is all it would take," Gary K. Johnson said skeptically.
"I assure you, Mr. Johnson, he is no mere man. These sorcerers are what we call Special Grades," Yuta clarified.
"What makes them so special besides being explosive?" Gary asked.
"They can easily take over a country," Yuta stated.
"Impossible. No country would allow such dangers to take over," the President said.
While Cyrus Vail was deep in thought, Yuta continued, "Not through conquest, Mr. President, but through sheer force and might. Take Senju Hiroshi, for example. He can raise massive forests and use them as weapons. The scale might surprise you. I believe he could make the Sahara Desert bloom within minutes."
"Terraforming capabilities... So, all of this is done through cursed energy? What about the nuclear power plants across Japan?" Cyrus Vail asked.
"Those have already been decommissioned. Beneath those plants are the perfected Cursed Energy Generators," Yuta said, nodding to Uraume, who distributed files to the officials.
Cyrus Vail examined the documents. "So, it's not as efficient as a nuclear power plant, but it's 100% renewable energy at no cost," he said, looking at the President. "We must have Japan cough this up."
"Agreed, for the betterment of the entire race," the President said, though his true motivation was greed and control.
Yuta Okkotsu—Kenjaku had successfully given the U.S. a reason to intervene. However, he failed to realize the extent of the Senju Clan's intelligence network and their surveillance capabilities, particularly through the Anbu.
As Yuta left the U.S., the Anbu went directly into action.
Cyrus Vail's Residence
Cyrus Vail was writing a report on Japan's secret use of renewable energy and the steps to condemn them when the electricity suddenly went out.
He looked up, annoyed and suspicious. Before he could react, shadows flickered around him. The room, once dimly lit by his desk lamp, plunged into darkness.
A voice, calm and authoritative, pierced the silence. "Mr. Vail, it appears you've been meddling in matters beyond your understanding."
Vail reached for his phone, but a swift hand intercepted him, knocking the device away. Another hand clamped over his mouth, preventing any outcry.
"You're coming with us," the voice said. It was an Anbu operative, masked and deadly efficient.
Cyrus struggled briefly, but resistance was futile. The Anbu had been monitoring him closely since the meeting with Yuta. They knew his plans and were prepared to neutralize any threat to the Senju Clan's secrets.
As they whisked him away into the night, the power in his house flickered back on. To any outside observer, it would seem as though nothing had happened.
The Anbu's swift and covert operations were executed flawlessly, targeting key U.S. officials who had been swayed by Kenjaku's presentation. Among the captured were the current President Patrick Mann, Secretary of Energy Cyrus Vail, Lieutenant General Gary K. Johnson, and several other high-ranking officials. As these officials were apprehended, their replacements moved into action seamlessly, continuing the façade of normalcy in the government.
From the moment of their abduction, the Anbu activated a well-orchestrated plan to expose the captured officials. Evidence of their corruption, secret dealings, and vile crimes were systematically disseminated through multiple channels—media outlets, social platforms, and anonymous leaks to investigative journalists. The evidence was irrefutable and damning.
The American public, initially shocked, soon erupted in outrage. The once-stable political landscape was thrown into turmoil as the citizens demanded justice and accountability. Protests surged across major cities, calling for transparency and the resignation of any officials implicated in the scandal.
In the White House, the replacements swiftly assumed their new roles. Acting President Jennifer Reed, previously the Vice President, addressed the nation in a televised speech.
"My fellow Americans," Reed began, her expression somber but determined, "we have uncovered a deep-seated corruption within our highest ranks. Rest assured, we will pursue justice relentlessly. This administration will restore integrity and transparency."
The waters were muddied; nobody realized it was the Senju Clan behind the chaotic events. However, Kenjaku's plan had been set into disarray, ensuring that the Culling Games would not have outside interference.
Back to the Present
Hiroshi, having sent his opponents' souls away and cleared the entire Sendai Colony of adversaries, suddenly heard from Kogane, "90 points have been added, bringing your total to 160 points."
"A player has added a new rule! Rule #9: Players may transfer any number of points between one another."
"A player has added a new rule! Rule #10: Players can leave the game by expending 100 points to invite a substitute into their colony."
"Kogane, add another rule: Players can enter and exit across all colony borders," Hiroshi said.
"Accepted," Kogane replied.
-------------------
Meanwhile, in the Tomb of the Star, Satoru and Suguru relaxed with a game of Mahjong, accompanied by Master Tengen in her youthful form, resembling Amanai Riko but bearing the weight of centuries in her demeanor. The atmosphere inside the tomb was tranquil, softly illuminated by ancient lanterns casting gentle shadows on the smooth tatami walls.
Satoru Gojo reclined comfortably on a traditional tatami mat, a mischievous grin playing on his face as he studied his Mahjong tiles. Across from him, Suguru Geto leaned forward, his sharp eyes darting between his tiles and those discarded by Master Tengen, who sat with an air of quiet wisdom and amusement, sipping delicately from a cup of green tea.
"So, Suguru," Satoru drawled lazily, his fingers lightly drumming on the tatami. "Any plans to stir up trouble while we're on this little break?"
Suguru chuckled darkly, his voice a low rumble. "Always, Satoru. But sometimes, even I enjoy a moment of peace." His gaze flickered briefly to Master Tengen, both of them unable to shake the uncanny resemblance to Amanai Riko.
Master Tengen, the oldest being in the sorcerer world, retained a serene exterior despite sensing disturbances in the barriers she maintained. Her expression briefly shifted from calm to a hint of concern before returning to tranquility as she regarded the two strongest sorcerers of their time.
"My young sorcerers, our guest has arrived," Master Tengen announced, indicating that Kenjaku had breached their barriers.
"Let's go, Suguru. Time to deal with that brain," Satoru said with determination. "This time, he's not slipping away," Suguru replied calmly.
As Yuta Okkotsu breached the walls, he found himself in a room dominated by a single bonsai tree at its center. His attention snapped to the figures before him—both Gojo Satoru and Suguru Geto stood in his path. Yuta hadn't expected both formidable sorcerers to be guarding Tengen simultaneously, a clear sign of Senju Hiroshi's meticulous planning and unpredictable maneuvers. This encounter signaled a major disruption to Kenjaku's carefully laid plans.
"Where's Tengen?" Yuta demanded, his gaze alternating between Satoru and Suguru.
"She's inside, waiting. But you won't get to her without going through us first," Satoru challenged, his eyes gleaming with resolve.
"Kenjaku, you slipped away last time, but there's no escape now. You will return my apprentice's body," Suguru declared firmly, his tone brooking no negotiation.
Kenjaku, undeterred by the confrontation, dispensed with pretenses. "The Culling Game has served its purpose. The preparations for merging all non-sorcerers in Japan have concluded."
"After evolving, Tengen is more cursed spirit than human. Imagine if all non-sorcerers merged with Tengen—a cursed spirit with the energy of a hundred million people, akin to Uzumaki. It's a blank canvas, waiting to be painted. The possibilities are intriguing," Kenjaku mused aloud, his eyes glinting with anticipation.
"What do you hope to achieve with this merger? What drives you to face us, and potentially Hiroshi?" Suguru questioned, his voice steady and probing.
"Fascination. I find it fascinating to witness such an evolution," Kenjaku replied calmly.
"But what if it turns out to be just a massive penis?" Satoru interjected, injecting a moment of levity into the tense atmosphere, prompting a suppressed chuckle from Suguru, though he maintained his serious demeanor.
Kenjaku chuckled in response. "I suppose I'd find that amusing too!"
In an instant, crimson and black streaks surged towards Kenjaku.
"Reversal: Red!"
"Maximum: Uzumaki!"
Satoru and Suguru unleashed their attacks without hesitation.
A/N: There are Rumors that 263 is going to be delayed yet again...
A/N: Has Kishimoto lost his touch?