Chapter 167: Tengen: Use Cursed Spirit Manipulation on Me! (Patreon)

"You're going to see Lord Tengen?"

Fushiguro Megumi froze for a moment, then blurted out in surprise:

"Wait a second. Lord Tengen has lived in seclusion in the deepest part of the Tombs of the Star all this time. Apart from the Jujutsu High principals of each generation and a few specific people, they basically never see visitors, right?"

"Why do you suddenly want to meet them?"

"The reason's simple, really~"

Faced with everyone's puzzled stares, Uchiha Ayato answered with a careless shrug:

"I'm just curious. That's all."

"Curious...?"

Fushiguro Megumi muttered under his breath.

"What else?"

Looking at the group, who were still wound far too tight after last night, Uchiha Ayato tilted his head:

"So much has happened. Teacher Gojo got sealed, all of Tokyo is in chaos..."

"And the guy every Jujutsu Sorcerer worships like a god has been hiding underground without so much as a peep. Isn't that a little irresponsible?"

"Besides, I'd like to see with my own eyes what someone who's lived over a thousand years actually looks like."

Just then, a mature woman's voice, laced with amusement, drifted over from the shade of the trees at the edge of the training ground:

"If you're only going to see Tengen out of curiosity, you'll probably be very disappointed."

As the voice sounded, a woman in a sleek, form-fitting top and loose trousers strolled out of the shadows, unhurried.

She had a striking mane of long blonde hair and a tall, alluring figure, and every move she made carried a wild, easy confidence.

Yuki Tsukumo.

At a time like this, the Special Grade Sorcerer who usually appeared and vanished like a dragon in the clouds had finally shown herself.

"Well, well. Hey there, handsome."

Yuki Tsukumo stopped a few steps from the group, one hand on her hip, her eyes fixed squarely on Uchiha Ayato's face. She asked with open interest:

"Nice to meet you. What kind of woman do you like?"

Uchiha Ayato: "?"

His gaze lingered on her for a moment, and a strange sense of déjà vu crept over him.

Aoi Todo had asked him this very same question the first time they met.

Even asked a second time, Uchiha Ayato's answer hadn't changed:

"I like petite, cute girls."

"They're usually gentle and obedient, and they don't ask weird questions like this."

Uncle Ayato's fetish route will hold firm for a hundred years!

"By the way..."

Uchiha Ayato's gaze on Yuki Tsukumo turned a little sharp:

"Auntie, who are you?"

Hearing that, the smile on Yuki Tsukumo's face stiffened.

She seemed unable to believe her ears. She raised a hand and pointed back at the tip of her own nose:

"A-Auntie?"

"Kid, are you talking about me?"

"Who else?"

Uchiha Ayato nodded, perfectly honest about it:

"A woman's old once she's past XX. Someone like you could already claim a booth at a museum."

"Any other questions?"

"If you're only here to run some boring street survey, then don't get in my way."

With that, he turned to leave.

Meanwhile, inside the sealed space, the Nine-Tails, who had been secretly watching the outside world, felt a chill run down her spine at those words.

She instinctively took two steps back and hugged her small body tightly with both arms.

No wonder...

No wonder this guy turned her into this form. He was a repeat offender!

"Hold on."

Yuki Tsukumo lowered her hand, suppressed the vein twitching at her forehead, and spoke to Uchiha Ayato's back:

"Setting aside that deeply alarming taste of yours..."

"You've taken control of the Zenin Clan, one of the Three Great Families. Do you really not know who I am?"

Uchiha Ayato stopped walking.

"I know."

He didn't turn around, only glanced back slightly over his shoulder and said offhandedly:

"Yuki Tsukumo, right?"

"Just like me, someone who carries the Special Grade title and never does anything of substance."

"No, wait."

Uchiha Ayato suddenly changed course:

"Come to think of it, I did put in a bit of effort."

"You're far worse than I am."

Yuki Tsukumo: ...

Yuki Tsukumo fell silent for a moment, then rubbed her temples helplessly and sighed:

"I should've just kept that question to myself."

"Uchiha-kun, the truth is, I wanted to do something last night too."

"It's just that the wall of fire you released kept me outside."

"As for the fighting afterward..."

She spread her hands:

"With a clash at that level, I wouldn't even have qualified to take part, would I?"

After explaining, Yuki Tsukumo cleared her throat and steered the conversation back:

"Come to think of it, since you recognized me, why did you ask who I was?"

"Because I did it on purpose, of course."

Uchiha Ayato admitted it without a trace of shame, a wicked smile spreading across his face:

"Who told you to open with such an insulting question, old lady?"

Yuki Tsukumo: "?"

How did she go from Auntie to old lady?!

"All right, enough chitchat."

Uchiha Ayato had no wish to waste more time and raised a hand to cut off whatever complaint Yuki Tsukumo might make.

On her side, Yuki Tsukumo dropped the joking tone and warned him in earnest:

"Let me give you a warning..."

"Tengen hides inside a Barrier. On the path to the Tombs of the Star there are over a thousand doors that keep changing."

"Out of those thousand-odd doors, only one truly leads to the main hall."

"If Tengen doesn't want to see you, those doors will never open for you."

"You may have a hard time reaching your goal."

Hearing the warning, Uchiha Ayato chuckled in disbelief.

"Hard?"

He turned his head toward Yuki Tsukumo, a crimson light flaring in his eyes:

"Are you looking down on me?"

"Before these eyes, no one can hide."

"And there's no puzzle in this world I can't crack."

"Oh, and one more thing..."

Before leaving, Uchiha Ayato left one last warning:

"Don't think last night's business is really over."

He glanced at Itadori Yuji and Fushiguro Megumi:

"The guy who took over Suguru Geto's body said something before he left, didn't he?"

"He started a game called the 'Culling Game.'"

"You'd better not forget about that."

With that, Uchiha Ayato strode off without looking back, heading deeper into the Jujutsu High grounds.

*

Two minutes later.

Uchiha Ayato was already standing in front of the elevator that led straight to the Tombs of the Star.

In the Sharingan's vision, the so-called ever-shifting doors were like a child's clumsy prank, seen through at a glance.

All the effort Uchiha Ayato had to put in was strolling along, following his instincts.

The elevator doors opened and Uchiha Ayato stepped inside.

As the elevator descended, the light around him gradually dimmed, and an ancient, musty air filled the space.

After stepping out, Uchiha Ayato walked down a long corridor lit by faint glimmers on both sides and finally entered a spacious, antique hall.

This was the Tombs of the Star.

The core of every Barrier in Japan.

At the center of the hall stood a being in a loose white robe.

It had an inhuman appearance. Its hairless head was an odd cylindrical shape, and four eyes lined up neatly across its pale skin.

Hearing footsteps, the misshapen figure looked up at Uchiha Ayato.

It regarded him calmly as he entered the hall, then spoke slowly in a hoarse, aged voice:

"You have come."

"One who has transcended cause and fate. One who does not belong to this world."

The moment its words fell, Uchiha Ayato's system reacted immediately:

[Travel Quest: Check in at the secret underground meeting place beneath Naka Shrine. Reward: Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan progress +5%]

[Life Quest: Decipher and restore the contents of the Uchiha Clan stone tablet. Reward: Divine Tree Seed]

Uchiha Ayato: "?"

Why was the Divine Tree Seed showing up already?

Wasn't the pace a little too fast?

Could you at least wait until Uncle Ayato awakens the Rinnegan first?

Where's my Yang Release power?

Then Uchiha Ayato thought it over and realized it made sense.

Only with the ocular power of the Rinnegan could one fully decipher the Uchiha Clan's stone tablet.

So naturally, the reward for this quest wouldn't include the Yang Release power needed to awaken the Rinnegan.

And besides...

Uchiha Ayato looked Tengen up and down.

Funny enough, this guy really does look a lot like a stone tablet.

[Travel Quest: Check in at the secret underground meeting place beneath Naka Shrine]

[Status: Completed]

[Reward issued: Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan progress +5% (currently 80%)]

The system prompt cut off Uchiha Ayato's wandering thoughts. He set aside the tangled musings about divine trees and stone tablets for now and refocused on reality.

"Not of this world?"

Uchiha Ayato looked at Tengen, a lazy smile spreading across his face:

"Worthy of the 'Omniscient Sorcerer,' I suppose."

"Since Lord Tengen can see even that, do you know exactly where I came from?"

He paused, then switched to a teasing tone:

"Honestly, at first I thought you'd find a way to avoid meeting me."

"I never expected getting in to be so smooth. Not even a decent obstacle."

Tengen shook its head and answered with a helpless air:

"Even if I truly wanted to stop you, it would be wasted effort."

"If you meant to do something to me, or to destroy this Tombs of the Star, I couldn't resist."

"In that case, I might as well be honest with you. It saves a great deal of trouble."

"Besides... I did want to meet you."

Tengen tucked both hands into its sleeves and went on:

"As for where you came from?"

"I do not know."

"You are like the Nine-Tails beast from last night. You both appeared in this world out of nowhere."

"The reason I am certain you do not belong to this world is the power you wield."

It stared intently at Uchiha Ayato, as if trying to see through his flesh to the Chakra flowing within:

"That is not cursed energy at all, is it?"

"The source of cursed energy is the negative emotion overflowing from humans."

"The power you use, however, is a perfect blend of spiritual energy and physical energy."

"It is more stable and comprehensive than cursed energy, and it can accomplish far more astonishing feats."

"Aside from you, the bodies of people in this world cannot withstand forcibly drawing energy from every cell."

"Forcing the attempt would only lead to their collapse."

"And furthermore..."

Tengen's tone grew slightly heavier:

"At some point last night, you briefly absorbed the power of heaven and earth and underwent a change that took my breath away. You dispelled it quickly yourself, though."

Uchiha Ayato sighed, looking thoroughly unimpressed:

"I already know all of that myself. It's not weighty enough for an opening line."

"It seems..."

"The so-called 'Omniscient Sorcerer' doesn't really know everything after all."

Faced with Uchiha Ayato's point-blank mockery, Tengen admitted it plainly:

"That is true."

"'Omniscient' is merely an empty title others made up to place me on an altar."

"After the Star Plasma Vessel's assimilation failed twelve years ago, my existence began to evolve in an uncontrollable direction."

"My 'self' slowly faded, and this land gradually became my new 'self,' letting me sense everything that happens within the Barrier..."

"But there is still a great deal I do not know."

"Is that so? You're pretty modest, then."

Uchiha Ayato shook his head, his gaze turning more serious:

"You said just now..."

"that you wanted to see me?"

"Why?"

Tengen was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly:

"If I said..."

"that I intend to ask you to break Gojo Satoru's seal and get rid of Kenjaku, would you agree?"

"Then I'd advise you to drop that idea right now."

Uchiha Ayato chuckled:

"Don't even think about ordering me around."

"If you want me to do a job, can you afford the price?"

Tengen shook its head where it stood:

"I knew this would be your answer."

"Your position lies neither with the Jujutsu Sorcerers nor with the Curse Users."

"You act only on your own will."

"So my reason for wanting to meet you today is actually quite simple..."

It took a step toward Uchiha Ayato:

"Just as you are curious about me, I am curious about you."

"So I wanted to observe up close a variable that stands outside of cause and effect."

"And another thing..."

"You have already mastered Cursed Spirit Manipulation, correct?"

Uchiha Ayato answered that question with easy confidence:

"Yeah."

"What about it?"

Looking at the utterly indifferent youth, Tengen laid out a proposal that would make any Jujutsu Sorcerer think it had gone mad:

"I want you to use Cursed Spirit Manipulation on me."

"Once you control me, you will be able to command the information and movements across all of Japan through my Barrier."

"Consider it your payment."

Uchiha Ayato: "?"

This time, Uncle Ayato was genuinely surprised.

"Why?"

Uchiha Ayato looked at Tengen, asking with real curiosity:

"You know full well what Cursed Spirit Manipulation is..."

"Once I control you, your life and your will are entirely at my whim."

"Even so, you don't mind?"

Tengen gazed back at him quietly, its voice carrying a deep helplessness:

"If there were any other way, of course I would not wish to come to this."

"Kenjaku's goal is to force me to assimilate with every human in Japan."

"My nature now is very nearly that of a cursed spirit. If he subdues me with Cursed Spirit Manipulation, I will have no chance to resist ever again, and I will be forced to watch his insane plan carried out."

"But if you control me with Cursed Spirit Manipulation first..."

"When the same Cursed Technique clashes against itself, the stronger side always wins in the end."

"Clearly, Kenjaku is no match for you. He cannot wrest control from your hands."

"So this is choosing the lesser of two evils?"

Uchiha Ayato found it a little funny:

"Aren't you afraid that once I control you, I'll turn around and do something even crazier than Kenjaku?"

"After all, since you know I'm from another world, you should know I feel no sense of belonging to this one."

"I am afraid."

Tengen answered frankly, then changed direction:

"But I fear Kenjaku's scheme succeeding far more."

"Besides, I can see that you are not like Kenjaku, a madman who acts on every whim."

"At heart, you are simply an honest man who wants to live his own life well."

"A person willing to pour so much effort and energy into maintaining relationships with many members of the opposite sex, and who invests genuine feeling in them, does not usually harbor shocking goals like destroying the world or changing all of humanity."

"Because such a person is tethered to the ground by his bonds."

Uchiha Ayato...

The old thing really does read people well.

But why does that last line make Uncle Ayato sound like a pack mule?

Is this a sly way of saying Uncle Ayato's tied down by his family?

Still...

This deal really wasn't a loss for him.

"Fine."

Uchiha Ayato nodded at Tengen:

"The deal sounds pretty decent. I'll take it."

Hearing that, Tengen let out a breath of relief.

"Then there is no time to waste."

It slowly closed its eyes and spread both arms, wholly the picture of surrender, ready to be taken:

"Let us begin now."

*

A moment later.

"Hm...?"

A cool, clear voice rang out in the empty hall.

The strange being that had stood before Uchiha Ayato was gone. In its place stood a woman with long white hair and a lovely face.

She wore a loose white kimono, its collar slightly open, revealing a small patch of fair skin and delicate collarbones.

"Ahh..."

Tengen, restored to her original appearance, stretched, then scratched at her messy hair and said in a lazy voice:

"You really never tire of this sort of thing, do you? Good thing I was a woman to begin with."

"Being controlled feels a little strange, but returning to my original form isn't bad. At least I no longer have to keep suppressing myself."

She looked at Uchiha Ayato, her eyes holding a little of the vividness of a "person":

"So, will you make your move on me here?"

"I don't mind. Perhaps I'll discover something new in the process."

"However, since I have no experience, I don't know how to cooperate with you. Just treat me like a doll and do as you please."

With that, Tengen began to undo the sash at her waist.

Uchiha Ayato: What is this woman talking about?

Wasn't Uncle Ayato always the one with the pure, upright persona?

Still, since he was in a good mood, Uchiha Ayato couldn't be bothered to argue with Tengen about his persona.

[Life Quest: Decipher and restore the contents of the Uchiha Clan stone tablet]

[Status: Completed]

[Reward issued: Divine Tree Seed]

*

Inside the sealed space.

"Yikes. Uchiha Ayato is such a pervert!"

Kurama watched the outside world, her small mouth hanging slightly open:

"In his eyes, can anything alive be turned into a woman?"

"And that woman over there is totally shameless too..."

Just then, ripples spread across the water of the sealed space, one after another, and a huge seed covered in eerie patterns dropped onto the surface.

"What is this thing that got shoved into my home?"

The Nine-Tails went over to take a look.

The moment she saw what it was, her pupils shrank into vertical slits and the fur on her tails bristled.

"D-Divine Tree!?"

"Th-th-this..."

"Who put this thing in my place!?"

The Nine-Tails scrambled backward in terror.

How did Uchiha Ayato even have something like this?

At the same time, Tengen, who had been undoing her sash, suddenly stopped, looked up toward the ceiling of the Tombs of the Star, and sighed with a touch of regret:

"It seems there is no chance for experiments today."

"An acquaintance of yours has arrived at Jujutsu High and is up there right now, confronting those children."

"And she is in a rather foul mood. It seems to be because of you."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ayato was taken aback and asked in confusion:

"An acquaintance of mine? Who'd come to a godforsaken place like Jujutsu High?"

"Yorozu."

Tengen answered calmly.

Look closely, everyone. This young man has caught the eye of an old woman from the Heian era. He's in for it now.

Uchiha Ayato: ???

Little Yorozu?

What was she doing here?