Takako Uro’s Cursed Technique allowed her to grasp “emptiness” through “surfaces.”
By warping and shattering space, she could damage her enemies.
At least, that was how it worked before she used Domain Expansion.
Takako Uro’s Cursed Technique, [Sky Manipulation], essentially softened or hardened space, then applied force to that softened or hardened space.
A Domain was a technique a Jujutsu Sorcerer could only use after reaching the peak of understanding their Cursed Technique.
Expanding a Domain granted that technique a guaranteed-hit effect.
The moment Takako Uro realized her Cursed Technique could not deal significant damage to Gen’s body, she changed her strategy.
Originally, [Blue Sky Line] dealt damage by forcing the opponent into a straight fall, then striking them over and over with Thin Ice Breaker so they could not counterattack while falling, quickly defeating them or wearing them down.
But before expanding her Domain, Takako Uro made a Binding Vow.
In exchange for giving up this Domain’s guaranteed-hit effect, she greatly increased her ability to construct her Cursed Technique within the Domain.
“[Thin Ice Breaker]!”
As Gen was observing his surroundings, half the sky above him suddenly shattered.
Along with the collapsing space, a tremendous force slammed down on him.
The force capable of shattering half the sky struck Gen in an instant and drove his body downward.
With the extreme acceleration, Gen felt the space beneath him condense and take shape again and again.
This time, what Takako Uro used to strike space was the force acting on Gen himself.
Gen’s body smashed through hundreds of condensed layers of space in succession.
Takako Uro turned the force striking Gen into the power that shattered space, using his body and that downward acceleration to fire hundreds of Thin Ice Breakers in three seconds.
Then, once more.
“[Thin Ice Breaker]!”
Takako Uro appeared behind Gen again.
As she swung both hands, the space behind Gen violently shattered.
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Gen waved his hand, and the black shadow formed from projected Cursed Energy condensed into a soft black wall between him and Takako Uro.
The force transmitted through Takako Uro’s shattered space slammed into the wall.
As the full impact sank in, the shadow wall trembled like jelly.
“What?”
At the same moment, surprise flashed across Takako Uro’s face.
Innate Techniques could manifest in many different ways, each with its own form.
That was entirely possible.
Lightning, for example, could manifest as extreme acceleration or as emitted lightning.
Takako Uro had also seen people whose techniques had completely different forms of expression, people who could use a single Cursed Technique in two entirely different ways in combat.
Sukuna.
Just as Takako Uro hesitated, the shadow wall between them gradually dispersed as its Cursed Energy drained away.
“You should dodge.”
[Dog·Dismantle]
A third form of expression?
Takako Uro dodged the instant she heard the voice, but the blade that whistled past still cut off her left leg in a flash.
Pain shot through her, and she immediately pulled up space, hiding herself within the blue sky.
“Listen.
I have real business to handle.
I’ll play with you for seven minutes at most.”
Gen beat his wings, flying upward at a speed equal to his fall.
Not even a scratch?
Hidden within space, Takako Uro used Reverse Cursed Technique while keeping her eyes fixed on the hovering Gen.
The moment that man realized this Domain had no guaranteed-hit technique, he had already dismissed Hollow Wicker Basket.
Her information advantage over him had been completely erased, while the information advantage he held over her was far beyond what she had imagined.
Lightning, shadows, and slashes similar to Sukuna’s.
Was it back then?
Among Shikigami users, quite a few could make Binding Vows without summoning their Shikigami, allowing them to use their Shikigami’s moves.
Was he a Shikigami user?
Lightning, flight, shadows, slashes…
And that massive bird that had appeared for only a few seconds, yet was large enough to blot out the sky.
Was it the Ten Shadows Technique?
Could a Ten Shadows Technique user do something like this?
Use Nue’s abilities without summoning Nue?
That sniffing…
was that the Divine Dogs?
And with that enormous amount of Cursed Energy on top of it all…
had the Zenin Clan produced a sorcerer this powerful?
“[Thin Ice Breaker]!”
Once again, the attack capable of shattering most of the sky fell beside Gen.
But before it even landed, Takako Uro was certain.
From the moment she first appeared, Gen’s gaze had never once left her position.
“You can see me?
It isn’t by scent?”
Seeing Gen deflect her attack again as if it were nothing, Takako Uro was now completely certain the person in front of her could “see” her.
“It’s simple, isn’t it?”
Gen looked at the wound Takako Uro had already finished healing.
“When you use Reverse Cursed Technique, your Cursed Energy briefly clashes with the Cursed Energy inside the Domain.
As long as I catch that instant of contradiction, I can lock on to your position.
Well, once I lock on to that tiny incompatibility between you and the Domain, I can figure out exactly where you are.”
“It isn’t anywhere near as easy as you make it sound!”
Gen crossed his arms.
“After all, there’s a difference between people like you and people like me, isn’t there?”
Takako Uro took a deep breath.
“What do you mean?
Is this you looking down on someone like me because you’re from a clan?”
Impatience appeared on Takako Uro’s face, and the turbulence inside the Domain stilled in an instant.
“What are you talking about?”
“Aren’t you using the Ten Shadows Technique?
As the Zenin Clan Head, how could you possibly understand someone like me?”
“Hah…”
“Even my strongest attack can’t break your skin.
Kill me, carve me up, do whatever you want.”
Gen looked at Takako Uro, who stood before him as if ready to die, and his expression nearly slipped.
“Well, normally, a Ten Shadows Technique user would basically be guaranteed to become the Zenin Clan Head.
But I’m the exception to that rule.”
“Hm?”
“I wasn’t born into the Zenin Clan, and I’m not the Zenin Clan Head.
Of course, I don’t want to kill you either.”
“Why?”
“Hah, you mean why I’m not the Zenin Clan Head?
Well…
probably because it sounded like a hassle.
Sure, I’m strong, and I’m a user of the Ten Shadows Technique.
In theory, I really would be the designated choice for Zenin Clan Head.
But by the time I gained this much power, I no longer cared about the Zenin Clan.”
“Even though that authority was right there for the taking?”
Takako Uro looked incredulous.
He clearly had power that placed him above most people, and he had a fitting status too, yet he brushed it all aside with one casual “hassle”?
“I’m an independent sorcerer, after all.
If I barged into the Zenin Clan out of nowhere, I might have to purge the current Clan Head, right?
Then I’d have to bring in new people from my own side.
Besides, when I was making a name for myself, they couldn’t even recognize the Ten Shadows Technique.
I have no desire to go back and lead a bunch of blind fools like that.
Before I agreed to participate in the Culling Game with Kenjaku, they were still planning how to get rid of the Gojo Clan’s Six Eyes.”
Takako Uro’s unusual eyes swept over Gen.
“…You’re right.
We really are different.”
As the turbulence in the sky gradually calmed, Takako Uro’s Barrier shattered as well.
Gen and Takako Uro slowly descended from midair.
Gen landed on the rooftop, his eyes sweeping over Takako Uro before he silently looked up at the sky.
“So you really are an exhibitionist, aren’t you?”