Over the past month, Gojo Satoru cleared away all Jujutsu World missions, focusing single-mindedly on self-improvement.
Because he had Tengen's backing, even the Jujutsu Higher-Ups didn't dare to order him around during this period. One could even say they had a guilty conscience themselves.
Well, ever since the news spread that Mahito could fight Gojo Satoru to a draw, the Jujutsu Higher-Ups were quite shaken. If Tengen hadn't personally stepped in to calm things down, a large number of jujutsu traitors might have already submitted their resumes to Mahito.
But even with Tengen personally intervening, it was still unknown how many people's hearts now lay with Mahito.
Immortality and resurrection—these two ultimate techniques were indeed too powerful. Almost any aging Jujutsu Sorcerer would feel their resolve waver.
Gojo Satoru suspected that even if he truly defeated Mahito, as long as he didn't kill him on the spot, those people would use every possible argument to convince him to leave this hidden danger alive.
Because in the history of the Jujutsu World, Mahito was the only one capable of bringing people back from the dead and granting immortality.
Even worse, the King of Curses' reputation in the Jujutsu World was actually quite good!
It made it very difficult for people to form a firm determination to oppose him.
Gojo Satoru was certain that if he and Tengen truly lost in the future and Mahito truly reigned over the sorcery world, the Jujutsu World wouldn't react.
They might even be secretly ecstatic in their hearts.
Damn it!
Mahito didn't play the sinister and ruthless game of Curses; instead, he played the benevolent King's Path, supplemented by the resurrection and immortality he promised.
This lethality was just too damn high!
Tengen nodded slightly.
"Then I can rest easy."
Gojo Satoru sensed something different and asked with a frown,
"What's going on? Why do I feel like your tone is strange?"
"Do you remember what I just said? The King of Curses' next plan must involve the Star Corridor."
"Isn't that obvious? If the Star Corridor isn't breached, Mahito's actions will always be restricted. You are the master of the Star Corridor after all, and with Yuta Okkotsu guarding it, it's impossible for anyone to pose a threat to the great Japanese barrier."
"No, it's possible now."
Tengen said indifferently,
"I need to go abroad."
Gojo Satoru almost doubted his ears.
"What the hell? You're going abroad? What happens to the great Japanese barrier? You're not saying you'll rely on Yuta, are you?"
Yuta Okkotsu now also possessed the Immortal Technique and could serve as the maintainer and host of the great Japanese barrier.
However, Yuta Okkotsu was currently only a second-year high school student; although his frontal combat power was extremely strong, his level of knowledge was not high.
Using him as a temporary fix was fine, but if he were truly put to work, who knows what chaos might ensue.
"The American diplomatic ambassador personally came to the door, inviting me to the United States to create an American Great Barrier for the purpose of Cursed Energy circulation within the U.S. mainland."
Tengen said solemnly,
"I cannot refuse. Even for the balance between the Jujutsu World and human society, I must go."
"Refuse them, damn it!"
Gojo Satoru roared out without a second thought.
"This is obviously a trap set by Mahito and those bastards, isn't it? They know a frontal assault on the Star Corridor is impossible, so they're specifically luring you out. If you really go to America, it'll be easy for them whether they concentrate their forces to assault the Star Corridor or ambush you on American soil."
"If Ui Ui were here, I could cover both sides, but Ui Ui ran away with his sister! I can't split into two people to stay in the Star Corridor and go to America to guard you. Don't joke with me, refuse them!"
Ui Ui's Instant Movement could cross national borders. If Ui Ui were still around, Gojo Satoru might actually be able to go back and forth between both ends.
But ever since Mei Mei betrayed Mahito for the sake of the Jujutsu World, she realized she absolutely could not appear before Mahito at this stage.
Thus, she made a clean getaway.
Because Ui Ui possessed global-range Instant Movement, unless Mei Mei came out herself, no one could possibly find her.
Naturally, Ui Ui couldn't be counted on either.
"This is for the greater good," Tengen said solemnly.
"Greater good my ass!"
Gojo Satoru laughed out of anger.
"The true greater good is you not falling into Mahito's hands! Have you imagined how terrifying the current Mahito would be if he also held your Immortal Technique?"
"The American ambassador warned the Japanese government that if they don't hand me over, they will start a war."
Tengen said calmly,
"I cannot ignore that possibility."
"Let America try to start a war then."
Gojo Satoru sneered.
Gojo Satoru felt a ruthless streak in his heart.
The current situation was different from before; this was a war of races!
Gojo Satoru swore that if America dared to cause trouble at this critical juncture, he would personally kill all U.S. troops stationed in Japan and personally go to America to twist the President's head off and throw it onto the Statue of Liberty.
He dared to think it, and he dared to do it!
"And then during the war, the King of Curses picks you off one by one?"
Tengen asked.
"Are you confident in facing the King of Curses head-on? Can Yuki Tsukumo do it? Can Yuta Okkotsu do it? Or can you still look after the Star Corridor while you're in action? What if they assault the Star Corridor while you're off fighting America?"
Yuki Tsukumo and Yuta Okkotsu, who were called by name, both remained silent.
Neither Yuki Tsukumo nor Yuta Okkotsu could truly withstand Mahito's offensive.
After a month of closed-door training with Gojo Satoru, the two of them truly knew how powerful Gojo Satoru was, and even a Gojo Satoru this powerful could only barely fight Mahito to a draw.
...Ah, this...
Me, fighting Mahito?
For real?
"Tsukumo!"
Gojo Satoru began calling names.
"Didn't you say you were only one step behind compared to Mahito? If America really starts a war and I go to fight them, how about you guard Tengen?"
Yuki Tsukumo sighed.
"Don't joke, Satoru. Haven't you seen Mahito's speed of progress with your own eyes? I could indeed fight Mahito before, but that was then. Now Mahito has left me far behind. Unless I have the resolve to destroy everything, including the Earth, I cannot be Mahito's opponent."
"Or would you rather the Earth be destroyed than have Mahito rule the world?"
Gojo Satoru fell silent; he really couldn't bring himself to say those words.
After experiencing that battle, Gojo Satoru also understood why Kinji Hakari and Yuki Tsukumo both believed from the bottom of their hearts that if the world were ruled by Mahito, it might actually become better.
If Mahito were a traditional manifestation of a Curse, Gojo Satoru could still judge that it would be better to destroy the Earth than be ruled by him, but now he truly couldn't say it.
Because compared to the destruction of humanity, it really was better to hand the world over to Mahito's rule.
Damn it!
You bastard, Mahito, why do you have to be so righteous?!
Tengen said solemnly,
"This is my dereliction of duty. I didn't expect the King of Curses to actually mobilize external forces. When America enters the field, whether you admit it or not, I will inevitably fall into the hands of the King of Curses. This is an open scheme. What we must do is not avoid this possibility, but find a way to survive within it as much as possible."
Gojo Satoru exhaled.
"Wait a moment, I'll give Kinji a call."
"What do you want to do?"
Gojo Satoru said seriously,
"I want to have a serious talk with Mahito... I want to know what he's really thinking! You are the host of the great Japanese barrier; even if you leave for a moment, it's a huge blow to the barrier. Don't mention Yuta to me—I admit Yuta's potential is limitless, but he can't realize that potential yet! You are still very important; I won't allow anything to happen to you."
Yuta Okkotsu, who had recovered nearby, didn't feel offended by the reprimand at all; instead, he had a look of total agreement.
He knew his own limits; he really couldn't handle Tengen's job!
"You think Mahito will talk to you?" Tengen asked.
"He will."
Gojo Satoru said confidently.
"If it's Mahito, he definitely will."
Tengen looked at Gojo Satoru blankly, then suddenly smiled with relief.
"Very good, Gojo Satoru." She smiled and said, "You have truly become an outstanding Living God. I believe that from now on, as long as you are in the Jujutsu World, no one can break the balance of the Jujutsu World—neither Ryomen Sukuna nor the King of Curses."
Gojo Satoru was a bit embarrassed. He couldn't stand this kind of blessing from elders. He was always the towering giant, always the one praising others; when was it ever someone else's turn to praise him? But Tengen's seniority was too high; even someone as arrogant as Gojo Satoru had to accept such praise.
"I know I'm perfect," Gojo Satoru said uncomfortably, "but there's no need to keep emphasizing it."
"Five hundred years ago, the Gojo Family also produced a Living God with the Six Eyes and Limitless. Do you know what happened to him?" Tengen asked.
Gojo Satoru wondered how the conversation had shifted while thinking, "I remember he died along with the user of the Zenin Family's Ten Shadows Technique, right?"
"If he could have sat down and talked honestly with the Zenin Family like you, that wouldn't have happened," Tengen said calmly. "The combination of the Six Eyes and Limitless indeed touches the world's extreme values, but the user of this power is a genuine human. He also had human flaws. It's not that one can do whatever they want just because they have the strength. Your ancestor didn't understand this; he only wanted to be invincible, so he challenged the Zenin Family and paid the price. But you... now you truly understand."
Gojo Satoru was lost in thought.
In fact, Gojo Satoru had almost fallen into the same situation as his ancestor. He was too arrogant, believing he was invincible and could never lose. In the original work, he held that same mindset until his death, and he indeed died because of his own arrogance.
But the battle with Mahito thoroughly woke him up, letting him know he wasn't invincible and that it was possible for him to be killed in a direct confrontation. If Tengen hadn't interrupted the duel at the critical moment, he might have really been killed by Mahito.
He was truly awake now.
Tengen opened the Hollow Wicker Basket Barrier.
"Even though I know your talk with the King of Curses is meaningless, I am still willing to pause for this conversation. I will withstand the pressure to prevent America from influencing your decision. I will wait for your discussion with the King of Curses to end."
Gojo Satoru suddenly felt a heavy pressure fall on his back, making his always straight spine bend slightly.
At this moment, Gojo Satoru strongly felt that the fate of Japan was in his hands. If he made one wrong judgment, Japan would likely face massive destruction.
He took a deep breath and straightened his back again, but this time, he carried the fate of Japan on his shoulders.
Gojo Satoru said solemnly, "Yeah, leave it to me."
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