17 The Battle Of The Strongest 2
As Hiroshi and Satoru's domains clashed for the second time, Hiroshi noticed that Satoru Gojo's domain was, in fact, getting better refinement-wise. This translated to Unlimited Void shrinking less and less as the fight went on. "What a genius, Satoru," Hiroshi praised, marveling at the fact that his best friend was actually making changes and refining his domain while simultaneously fighting him.
"But I won't make it easy, Satoru!" Hiroshi declared as a multitude of clones separated from him and began fighting Satoru Gojo.
Satoru found himself beset on all sides as he fought hand-to-hand with all four Hiroshis. He began parrying and counterattacking as fast and as best as he could. One Hiroshi threw a low kick, another aimed at Satoru's torso, another was ready with an uppercut, and the last one was preparing to sweep Satoru's other foot. Satoru realized all this in a split second as he weaved through the attack.
Throughout the fight, his thought process raced. "Hiroshi's clones are in sync. When one is preparing to attack, another is going to restrain, and the rest are going to chain. What can I expect from someone who likes jumping?" Satoru thought as he evaded the coordinated assaults, accepting the kick to the torso to create distance. Satoru looked at Hiroshi eye to eye, and in that split second, Hiroshi realized what he was going to do next.
"You suicidal bastard," Hiroshi smirked, addressing Satoru. Satoru Gojo dropped his domain and used Domain Amplification as he sprinted towards Hiroshi.
Domain Amplification works the same as a simple domain; it can negate the sure-hit effects within a domain expansion, but the user cannot use their cursed techniques. However, it offers much more protection than a simple domain, as a simple domain can be obliterated by an excellent domain expansion like what Hiroshi has. Thus, Satoru Gojo opted to use Domain Amplification.
A drawback of Domain Amplification is that, although the user can negate the sure-hit effects of the domain expansion, if the opponent increases their cursed energy output, then the opponent can effectively push back on it. But for Satoru Gojo's case, all he needed to do was interrupt Hiroshi's domain by hitting him, ever since he discovered that Hiroshi must keep holding his hands together to continue using domain expansions.
As Satoru Gojo weaved through all the obstacles Hiroshi Senju created, the moment he reached Hiroshi, a clone separated from him in an attempt to stop Satoru. However, Satoru adeptly kicked the clone towards Hiroshi, creating a blunder on Hiroshi's side as he was interrupted and his domain dissipated.
Standing opposite each other, the atmosphere was charged, and on the ship, the old men engaged in a variety of word exchanges.
"Hah! I told you, Old Man Senju, my son will win this. Look! Look, you old fogey, your nephew was on the ground!" Takumi Gojo exclaimed, unable to contain his pride.
"Yeah yeah, It was luck," Hiroto Senju nonchalantly retorted, internally puzzled by how his nephew lost the second Domain Expansion clash.
Naobito Zenin and Chisuke Kamo observed the fight with keen interest, each lost in their thoughts.
"That Gojo kid is actually quite resourceful with a disadvantaged domain; he still managed to win," Naobito mused, impressed by Satoru's ingenuity.
"The ceiling of power in the sorcerer world..." Chisuke Kamo reflected, his mind on the lackluster performance of his own son, Noritoshi Kamo. The disparity in abilities between his son and the likes of Senju Hiroshi and Satoru Gojo, not to mention Suguru Geto, weighed heavily on him. The fact that the Gojo and Senju clans already had such formidable inheritors, setting a new ceiling of power, irritated him greatly.
----------------
"Woah, Satoru won that one," Shoko Ieiri exclaimed, surprised by the outcome.
"Satoru won this clash...are they equal, or is there something I have yet to see?" Suguru Geto pondered, intrigued by the unfolding events.
----------------
Hiroshi stood up, dispelling his clone. "I reckon you're just going to keep at it like that in order to deal with my domain," he said to Satoru, a hint of respect in his voice.
Satoru replied with the biggest smirk on his face, ready for the next phase of their confrontation.
"Well then, throwing hands it is," Hiroshi smirked back, but inwardly he wondered, "I did max out my domain refinement...but is it truly maxed? Satoru could move within without keeping up the pose of his fingers to fight in his domain. I feel like I can still do more."
The two squared up once again, the air between them crackling with anticipation.
"When did you learn Domain Amplification?" Hiroshi asked, curious.
Satoru smirked, "By watching you," gesturing to his eyes, indicating his ability to learn and adapt swiftly.
Hearing this, Hiroshi was reminded that the person in front of him, Gojo Satoru, possesses a remarkable ability to learn anything if he truly puts his mind to it, reinforcing the idea that their duel was far from over and that the limits they knew could still be surpassed.
As they engaged in their intense battle, Satoru Gojo's thoughts raced, grappling with the realization of his dwindling cursed energy. "My cursed energy took a deep dive..." The strain was evident, a result of Hiroshi Senju's domain attacks that not only inflicted physical damage but also sapped cursed energy. Satoru understood the strategic trade-off: Hiroshi's stationary stance was a necessity for such power, allowing him to conjure numerous clones and instant structures. Yet, Hiroshi hadn't summoned his most powerful constructs like the Wood Dragon, nor had he fought with multiple clones as he was known to. "What is he holding back for?" Satoru pondered, observing Hiroshi's confident smirk.
Hiroshi, seizing the initiative, launched an attack, drawing Satoru into a fierce close-quarters battle. As their arms parried and countered, Satoru contemplated using his cursed techniques, but Hiroshi's use of Domain Amplification rendered them almost ineffective. The mystery of Hiroshi's resilience lingered in Satoru's mind. "Is it his cursed energy output, his manipulation of it, or both?" Satoru wondered, eager to test his hypothesis.
In a critical moment, as Satoru swung a hard left, Hiroshi deftly maneuvered out of its path. Seizing the opening, Hiroshi executed an uppercut. Time seemed to decelerate for Hiroshi in that instant, his senses heightened as if the cursed energy within him was responding to an unspoken command. As his fist connected with Satoru, a spark of black energy erupted.
"Black Flash!" Hiroshi's fist, enveloped in the telltale black energy, struck Satoru with devastating force.
The impact of the Black Flash, a technique that significantly amplifies the power of a hit by aligning cursed energy within a 0.000001-second window, marked a pivotal moment in their duel. This technique, known for its difficulty and the immense concentration required to execute, underscored Hiroshi's profound mastery over his cursed energy. The fact that Hiroshi was able to perform such a feat spontaneously, in the heat of battle against a formidable opponent like Satoru Gojo, spoke volumes about his capabilities and hinted at the depths of his potential yet to be unveiled.
Struck by Hiroshi's devastating Black Flash, Satoru felt the impact reverberate through his body, a shockwave of pain that left him reeling. Blood seeped from his lips as he struggled to regain his composure, his senses momentarily overwhelmed by the intensity of the blow.
Before he could fully recover, another strike came hurtling towards him. Hiroshi's right hook landed with punishing force, driving Satoru to the ground with a resounding thud. As he lay there, dazed and disoriented, Satoru fought to shake off the effects of the relentless assault, his mind racing to formulate a counter-strategy.
On the ship, amidst the tension-filled atmosphere, Hiroto Senju wasted no time in gloating over Satoru's predicament. "Gojo, what can you say now? A Black Flash! Your son is on the ground now," he taunted, relishing the opportunity to mock his rival.
Takumi Gojo, though visibly unsettled by his son's plight, remained composed in the face of Hiroto's provocation. "Hiroto, do not count my son out just yet," he retorted, his voice betraying a steadfast belief in Satoru's abilities and resilience.
Meanwhile, Chisuke Kamo, intrigued by the rare display of the Black Flash, sought to engage Naobito Zenin in conversation. "Old Man Zenin, when was the last time you hit a Black Flash?" he inquired, prompting Naobito to reflect on his own experiences.
"Thirty years ago, against a Special Grade Cursed Spirit," Naobito replied, his tone tinged with reminiscence. "And now, I have still yet to hit another."
Chisuke Kamo, sharing in the exchange, disclosed his own encounter with the elusive technique. "Mine was fifteen years ago," he added, his gaze shifting between Hiroto Senju and Takumi Gojo, who continued to argue over their sons' prowess.
"Black Flash?" Suguru scrutinized Hiroshi closely. "So that's what it looks like. When will I actually be able to hit one?"
"Black Flash?" Shoko was momentarily puzzled. Despite being a sorcerer, witnessing the ongoing battle caused her to question her understanding of sorcery altogether.
"Think of it as a critical hit," Suguru explained, shedding light on the concept. "Hiroshi hit Satoru so hard that it aligned cursed energy within a 0.000001-second window, significantly amplifying the power of the blow and leaving Satoru briefly unconscious or reeling from the impact, as he was knocked to the ground."
"Think of it as the Zone for athletes, or Flow, where a Black Flash allows the sorcerer to enter that specific zone," Masamichi Yaga chimed in. "But not everyone can achieve a Black Flash."
"Did you ever hit a Black Flash, Sensei?" Shoko inquired.
"It was a long time ago, back when I was younger," Masamichi Yaga reminisced. "You can see how difficult it is to achieve."
--------------
As Satoru regained his bearings, he noticed Hiroshi about to stomp on him. Reacting swiftly, Satoru dodged the impending strike. However, when Hiroshi's foot made contact with the ground where Satoru had been moments before, the earth cracked and caved in within a radius of fifty meters.
"He's doing it unconsciously," Satoru remarked, analyzing Hiroshi's actions. "I need to avoid his attacks for the time being."
Satoru recognized that Hiroshi had entered the Zone, where all his strikes would be executed with a utilization rate of 120%. But amidst the chaos of battle, Satoru found himself questioning his own actions. "When did I start running? When did I begin to fear being struck?" he pondered.
Satoru realized that he needed to regain his focus and composure, despite the overwhelming pressure of the battle. With a deep breath, he steadied himself and prepared to face Hiroshi once again.
Engaging Hiroshi in close quarters combat, Satoru knew that every blow would inflict intense pain. However, he understood the importance of breaking free from his mental barriers. He couldn't defeat Hiroshi with a defeatist mindset. Despite Hiroshi's cursed energy output being elevated to 120%, Satoru knew he had to believe in his own capabilities and strengths.
"Hiroshi's hand-to-hand combat skills are unmatched. He's the hardest hitter I've ever faced," Satoru thought to himself as he exchanged blows with Hiroshi. Each of Hiroshi's strikes packed enough force to shatter concrete and steel like small explosions. With Hiroshi's current power level, the impact of his attacks was even more devastating.
During their exchange, Hiroshi landed a powerful blow to Satoru's gut. However, Satoru seized the opportunity and unleashed a point-blank "Reversal: Red" technique directly into Hiroshi's face.
The force of their clash sent both fighters flying in opposite directions. Hiroshi recovered first, his face scarred but swiftly regenerating. Satoru, utilizing his Six Eyes, observed Hiroshi's remarkable natural healing factor in awe. "What a monster! He's not even using reversed cursed technique—just his natural healing," Satoru muttered, impressed yet wary.
Sensing Satoru's surprise, Hiroshi smirked. "You finally noticed, huh? I can keep this up all day," he taunted.
Hiroshi was momentarily knocked out of his heightened state by the impact of Satoru's "Red" technique.
"Let's take this up a notch," Hiroshi declared, tapping his foot on the ground.
The earth rumbled as a massive Eastern Wood Dragon emerged, with Hiroshi perched atop its head.
"Shinboku no Jumon: Wood Dragon Jutsu."
But Hiroshi wasn't finished yet. In the same moment, five more wooden dragons emerged from the ground, albeit smaller in size.
"The warm-up is over," Hiroshi announced confidently.
"Were we just warming up?" Satoru asked, dumbfounded. However, as he witnessed Hiroshi summoning the wooden constructs, he realized that Hiroshi had indeed been holding back. Each escalating move by Hiroshi signaled an increase in the intensity of their battle, leaving Satoru to brace himself for what was to come.
Back on the ship,
Shoko, who was watching Satoru and Hiroshi's fight, realized something.
"What if Satoru didn't have his Limitless?" Shoko blurted out.
"Then Satoru would lose," Suguru stated directly. "The main reason why Hiroshi couldn't hurt Satoru is because Satoru has his Limitless, which keeps Hiroshi's attacks that aren't Domain Amplification or Domain Expansions at bay. Honestly, seeing Hiroshi bend nature to his will, I don't see anyone surviving a round against him," Suguru expressed his opinion on the fight. Both are his best friends, but he is clear about one thing: without Limitless, Satoru will immediately lose.
------------
Hiroshi stood on the main head of the wooden dragons, looking down on Satoru. "Shinboku no Jumon: Multi Wood Clone Jutsu," he declared. Six clones separated from Hiroshi and landed on the six lesser wooden dragons.
Observing what was happening, Satoru nervously exclaimed, "Oi Oi Oi, you can do that?" as he saw each Hiroshi clone imbuing a portion of the wooden dragons with Domain Amplification.
"Here's a question, Satoru," Hiroshi smirked. "Do you want all these clones to use Domain Amplification?"
"By the use of a Binding Vow, I can force my clones to imbue Domain Amplification on the wooden dragons, but in exchange, the clones will be destroyed in the process. The duration is one minute before the clones are destroyed," Hiroshi thought.
Hiroshi then commanded, "Get him!" as the six wood dragons began to dive and attack Satoru Gojo.
Satoru could be seen weaving through the attacks and jumping for his life. If he were hit at least once, he would be forced to use Reversed Cursed Technique to heal himself, putting himself in a more passive state.
Dodging the sixth wooden dragon, Satoru observed something from the clones on top of the dragons. "Are they cracking?" Continuing his observation, he realized that the Domain Amplification on the wooden dragons was slowly receding.
It had been approximately 40 seconds since Hiroshi used the Binding Vow.
Seeing it all happen in real-time, Hiroshi was thinking, "My theory works. The Binding Vow forcibly embedding the Domain Amplifications to the wooden constructs can happen, and only if the clones die. Now, the next on the agenda: the moment we have another Domain Clash, Satoru's Unlimited Void will more or less be equal to mine, if not slightly less, but the suppression will no longer be there. Sealing techniques will be next, then one last method I have to try... Sage Mode," Hiroshi concluded.
"I gotta hand it to The Honored One, he is doing things that are impossible for a normal sorcerer," Hiroshi thought, realizing that Satoru Gojo was catching up fast Domain Expansion-wise.
"But after all is said and done, I will still be the strongest," Hiroshi thought with confidence.
The moment Domain Amplification disappeared, Hiroshi canceled the six Wooden Dragons, as they had served their purpose.
"Why not use Genjutsu?" Satoru asked.
"You can regain control immediately; it's no use," Hiroshi stated bluntly. As he said this, chains began appearing from behind him and slithered towards Satoru like vipers.
Satoru began to dodge. "Maximum Output: Blue!" he exclaimed, using his technique to clear out all the chains. Or so he thought. A chain burrowed underground and ensnared the space between Satoru's feet, barely reaching an inch to Satoru's ankle.
Seeing this, Hiroshi nodded. "Sealing Jutsu won't work if it can't make contact..." Hiroshi thought. "There is still the Gate of the Great God I have yet to try," he continued.
As Hiroshi contemplated his next move, his hand-to-hand combat with Satoru never stopped. Hiroshi parried a punch from Satoru and then hit him hard in the gut. Despite Satoru's resilience, it only took a moment for Hiroshi to hit him with a front palm, sending Satoru flying back and hitting the sand.
----------------
Back on the ship,
"It's back to hand-to-hand combat," Naobito commented.
"Perhaps they are waiting, or is it because your nephew does not have the courage to open his domain again after losing?" Takumi Gojo provoked Hiroto.
"Afraid? My nephew? That's the biggest joke I've heard today, Gojo. If anything, it's your son who's afraid. Look at him; he got hit by a black flash and almost died," Hiroto fired back.
Chisuke and Naobito watched the old men arguing over whose son was who.
"Zenin," Chisuke asked.
"Hmm?" Naobito replied.
"I heard that the Gojo Kid, K*lled Toji Zenin," Chisuke asked.
"A man who does not have Cursed Energy is irrelevant to this conversation. He even sold his son to me," Naobito thought for a moment and realized if Toji is dead, then what will happen to their deal.
----------------
Satoru and Hiroshi continued exchanging blows, with Hiroshi no-selling the majority of Satoru's attacks like they were nothing.
Satoru was beginning to show fatigue, his breath getting heavy.
It had been approximately 9 hours since they began fighting, and the toll was heavy on Satoru, especially against a stamina monster like Hiroshi.
Satoru was moving automatically, his fists moving, his stance strong.
And just like that, he realized Hiroshi was not planning to dodge, as his fist was located near his abdomen, not enough force to even hurt Hiroshi... or so he thought.
Satoru executed a one-inch punch, and it sparked black!
"Black Flash!" A clean hit against Senju Hiroshi!
When Hiroshi got hit, his only thought was, "Fuck."
A/N: How did I do?
A/N: What if Sukuna is actually the Main Character?
A/N: What if Gojo Comes Back?
