The Gojo Clan Head seized the rare opportunity and quickly said to Satoru Gojo,
"Satoru, why don't you move around a bit? Sitting too long isn't good for you."
The young Gojo nodded, stepped into the field, and looked straight at Naoya Zenin.
Seeing Satoru Gojo standing opposite him, Naoya Zenin instinctively took a step back. Soft laughter rippled through the crowd. Embarrassed and furious, he lunged at Satoru Gojo.
'Even if you're Satoru Gojo, once I touch you, you'll have to move exactly the way I decide!'
Naoya Zenin was unbelievably fast, his movements carrying a strange sense of lag, as if the scene were advancing frame by frame.
But when his strike reached Satoru Gojo, his hand stopped dead in midair. No matter how much strength he poured into it, he couldn't press any farther, as though an invisible barrier stood in front of him.
Limitless Technique:
By interfering with matter at the atomic level, it governs space itself, bringing the abstract paradox of "Achilles never catching the tortoise" into reality. It requires extraordinarily precise control of cursed energy and must be used in conjunction with the [Six Eyes].
Its applications include:
Bringing infinity into reality to form the untouchable [Force of Stasis]
Strengthening negative energy through the Limitless Technique to generate attraction: [Blue]
Infusing the positive energy created by the Reverse Cursed Technique into the Limitless Technique to produce repulsion: [Red]
And the imaginary energy [Purple], born from the collision of [Blue] and [Red].
Watching Naoya Zenin strain helplessly against the [Force of Stasis], Satoru Gojo regarded him with calm indifference.
"Is that all?"
That utterly flat tone made Naoya Zenin grit his teeth. He lashed out with a flurry of punches and kicks, all of them stopped short, blocked outside the [Force of Stasis].
Satoru Gojo shook his head.
"Blue."
A blue vortex formed in his palm. A powerful pull dragged Naoya Zenin straight toward him, and with his other hand, Satoru Gojo punched him away.
Naoya Zenin crashed to the ground, now proudly sporting two swollen black eyes.
Satoru Gojo didn't spare him another glance. He raised a finger and pointed toward Akira Zenin, who was watching from the edge of the field.
"You."
Following Satoru Gojo's gesture, Naobito Zenin spotted Akira Zenin, who had disappeared earlier, finally reappearing. He let out a relieved breath.
At least if it was him, the loss wouldn't look too ugly.
Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Akira Zenin scratched his head, completely confused.
"Me?"
Satoru Gojo nodded.
Akira Zenin hurriedly shook his head.
"No way. I'm too weak, and fighting is exhausting. Let's just end this early and go home to rest."
Satoru Gojo pointed to his own eyes.
"Nothing can be hidden from my sight. Don't try to fool me. Spar with me, and the banquet will end right away."
Akira Zenin shook his head again.
"I refuse."
This made Naobito Zenin anxious. If word spread, once everyone's techniques were out in the open, people would think the Zenin Clan's Ten Shadows heir was afraid of the Gojo Clan's Six Eyes.
Naobito Zenin urgently communicated with Akira Zenin through their eyes.
[Go fight. When we get home, you can sleep as much as you want. No one will bother you for three days.]
Akira Zenin replied.
[Too short. Seven days.]
Naobito Zenin: [Deal!]
Naoya Zenin, helped back to his seat by attendants, stared blankly at the two of them exchanging looks.
Akira Zenin stepped forward to the center and took his place in the arena.
"I've thought it over. I guess we should spar a bit. Just so we're clear, I'm really not good at fighting."
Ever since attending the Ten Shadows theory master's lectures as a child, he had come to a conclusion. Throughout history, Ten Shadows users focused on developing their shikigami's combat capabilities, pouring cursed energy into strengthening them while personally deepening their understanding of "shadows."
Every Ten Shadows user had pinned their hopes on that final, untamable Mahoraga.
But when he summoned Max Elephant and directly expanded it with cursed energy until it was as large as a small mountain, the sight of Max Elephant's pained expression made him realize the truth.
His cursed energy had already reached the limit his shikigami could withstand. It wasn't that he lacked power. It was the Ten Shadows shikigami themselves that were restricting his output.
After witnessing that out-of-spec Max Elephant, the theory master stopped seeking out Akira Zenin for instruction.
And so, once the inherited teachings proved useless to him, Akira Zenin began exploring the various possibilities and applications of the Ten Shadows on his own.
To use the [Ten Shadows Technique], three components are required:
Forming the complete hand seals. The shadow projected by the hands. The shikigami's name.
But what if the full ritual wasn't performed?
If the incantation was only chanted silently in one's mind, the shikigami would be unable to find a shadow to anchor itself to for manifestation. In that case, the shikigami would directly attach itself to the user.
That way, the user could wield the shikigami's techniques directly, and even develop them further.
Akira Zenin looked at the white-haired figure in front of him, focused his mind, and silently chanted.
'Nue!'
Lightning erupted in an instant, making the onlookers flinch as the surrounding atmosphere grew heavy and oppressive. A shadowy owl formed from lightning seemed to wrap around Akira Zenin before vanishing in a flash.
Crackling electricity coiled around Akira Zenin's hands as he bent his knees and adjusted his stance.
"Most of my techniques only exist in theory. I've never actually used them before."
"So… I'm kind of sensitive. If it doesn't work out, don't make fun of me, okay?"
Hearing such childlike words, the surrounding spectators burst into laughter.
The Gojo Clan Head, however, looked somewhat surprised.
'Lightning techniques on this scale… when did the Zenin Clan bring in a bloodline like that?'
But when he noticed that Naobito Zenin wore the same stunned expression, his own face took on a subtle, complicated look.
Satoru Gojo narrowed his eyes as he looked at Akira Zenin, then glanced at the oblivious crowd around them.
'A bunch of idiots. Do they really think this hedgehog-head just released a technique? He's wrapped the entire arena in his cursed energy. Everyone here is already inside it, which is why no one noticed. What an absurd amount of cursed energy.'
The corner of Satoru Gojo's mouth lifted unconsciously.
'His technique involves shadows and shikigami, and with this level of complexity… it has to be the Zenin Clan's [Ten Shadows Technique].
'I've always wondered how the Zenin Clan Head four hundred years ago managed to kill the Six Eyes with nothing but an untamed final shikigami. So that's how it was.'
'This world is finally starting to get interesting.'
Seeing Satoru Gojo grow serious, Akira Zenin suddenly felt a mischievous urge. Using lightning-wrapped cursed energy, he formed a "Peashooter"-like mask over his face, then let out a soft puff as he fired a solid sphere of lightning forward.
As expected, the explosion occurred outside the [Force of Stasis].
Within the Kamo Clan's group, a woman wearing a hat to conceal the stitched seam across her head watched the scene with mild curiosity.
'Lightning, huh…'
'It's acceptable, but still completely lacking in charm. Just to be safe, I'll keep him in the plan.'
After finishing her assessment, the woman nodded. While everyone's attention remained fixed on the spar, she turned around and quietly left the Gojo Clan estate.
Satoru Gojo spoke calmly,
"I imagine the techniques you've envisioned aren't limited to this kind of fooling around, are they?"