I became Hokage in Tokyo

Chapters 361 & 362: Eight Gates Formation

"Madman Kai, before we start fighting, I have something to ask you."

Zabuza Momochi gave up correcting Guy for calling him by the wrong name. He pointed to his temple with his right index finger and said:

"When you were summoned to this city, you should have been taught the basic common sense of the human world and the rules of this death game, just like me."

How much do you know about this deadly game?

"The only thing that can summon us dead from the underworld to the mortal realm is that technique, right?" Akai pondered for a moment before slowly saying.

"The Sacrifice to the Lord of Mount Tai".

Zabuza Momochi and Guy spoke in unison.

Having regained some strength, Kurogane Kouzo barely managed to get up from the ground, sat down, and gasped for breath.

But upon hearing the words "Taishan Fujun Sacrifice," I couldn't help but widen my eyes.

"The Lord of Mount Tai...a sacrifice?"

Three years after the Asakusa Incident, Taizan Fukun's fame soared, his influence spread globally, and he was officially recognized by the Japanese government as a guardian deity of the nation.

Taishan Fujun was restored to his status as the national high priest deity, which had been abolished during the Meiji Restoration, and even surpassed it.

Because the Lord of Mount Tai is associated with the three deities Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Yama, the Obon Festival (Zhongyuan Festival) in Japan has become a grand ceremony for worshipping the Lord of Mount Tai since the fifth year of Reiwa (1625).

Every year at this time, the Japanese government holds a grand Taishan Fujun Festival, attracting delegations from all over the world to attend.

The revised Japanese textbooks naturally give extensive coverage to the miracles of Taishan Fujun.

His connection with him was so profound that Abe no Seimei, who was said to be able to perform the Taishan Fujun Festival, became even more famous, and even young children knew him well.

"Is this really the Taishan Fujun Ritual? This is a supreme secret technique that can bring the dead back to life, but our current state is neither that of a soul nor a living person, but rather a different, mysterious state."

Zabuza Momochi raised his hand and made a few loose clenching motions.

"But it's too weak, it doesn't even have one-tenth of the strength it had in life, and it's also controlled by these brats, so it can only fight through their bodies."

Zabuza Momochi glanced at Noro, who immediately lowered his head respectfully, not daring to meet his gaze.

Then, Zabuza Momochi looked at Guy with a cold, murderous gaze.

"According to the contract, as long as you kill other competitors who are also dead, you can truly be brought back to life!"

Kurogane, who was only affected by the commotion, felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave and was almost unable to move.

What a terrifying murderous aura!

Even a naive and inexperienced person like myself knows that this strange man named Zabuza is definitely a ruthless and vicious killer.

"Speaking of which, don't you think this Mount Tai Lord's ritual is too suspicious? Even if only one person is left, can they really be brought back to life?"

Akai spread his hands, shook his head, and said:

"If we fight amongst ourselves like this, we'll only be playing right into the hands of the mastermind behind it all."

"What you said makes some sense, but I still want to take this opportunity to kill you, otherwise you'll be a problem once you recover."

Zabuza Momochi sneered, his entire body began to become intangible, and he burrowed into Noro's body.

The next second, Noro's face turned as cold as a demon, and black energy surged and rolled around his body.

"Tch, since my executioner's sword isn't in my possession, I'll have to make do with this broken knife."

The voice of Zabuza Momochi came from Noro's mouth.

He opened his sword pouch, took out a meter-long katana, drew it from its sheath, and the blade gleamed coldly, already sharpened.

"Become my stepping stone, Kai."

"Young man, could you lend me your body?" Akai asked, turning his head to the side.

"Go ahead, Mr. Kai!" Kurogane Kouzo replied without hesitation.

Noro's current state is similar to that of a possessed spirit, and he is filled with murderous intent. At this point, only Mr. Kai can save his life.

"Mr. Kai, please be very careful!"

There is a high wall separating the unarmed from the armed.

Based on Kozo Kurogane's fighting experience, the danger level of an opponent wielding a weapon instantly increases by several orders of magnitude.

Even skilled fighters have been stabbed to death by thugs with knives.

"I see!"

Akai's figure overlapped with Kurogane Hui San's, and Kurogane Hui San immediately sensed a burst of scorching energy erupting from his dantian, coursing through his limbs and bones.

The pain in my body, which was originally covered in wounds, has been reduced considerably.

Kurogane Kouzo found himself uncontrollably rising from the ground, assuming an unfamiliar starting stance.

"bring it on."

"Kai, I know you're a master of hand-to-hand combat. Getting close to you like this is really dangerous."

Zabuza Momochi clenched his fists and then raised one hand:

"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"

A wave of mist rose from beneath Zabuza Momochi's feet, and in an instant, it rolled and spread toward the Kobe Bridge.

The fog grew thicker.

It was already late at night, and the thick fog was so dense that it couldn't even penetrate the lights on the Kobe Bridge.

Kurogane Kouzo was startled. The sea fog they had encountered earlier was not naturally formed, but rather created by Zabuza to deceive others.

"Throat, spine, lungs, liver... carotid artery and subclavian vein... kidneys, heart..."

Zabuza Momochi's deep voice, like a ghost's wail, drifted from all directions.

"Eight locations. Which one do you want me to attack? Hehe..."

Kouzo Kurogane's consciousness was like that of a spectator. Although he no longer had control over his body, he was still able to perceive everything in the outside world through his five senses.

The Kobe Bridge was shrouded in a thick white fog, which greatly obstructed visibility.

Suddenly, the katana burst out of the mist and stabbed at Akai from behind at an odd angle.

"Konoha Power Cyclone!"

As if he had anticipated this, Guy unleashed a spinning back kick with astonishing speed and power, sending Zabuza Momochi flying.

It flew backwards into the thick fog, and the sound disappeared instantly, leaving the Kobe Bridge in complete silence.

Just as they were hesitating, a flash of cold light appeared, and a sharp and sinister blade slashed down.

Ah Kai leaped backward with lightning speed, narrowly escaping being cleaved in two.

Even so, Akai had a gash on his right arm, which was covered in blood.

"Their movements are too sluggish! This is all the so-called martial arts expert can do. A kick from them won't even hurt them."

Zabuza Momochi's voice drifted uncertainly in the mist, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, sometimes up, sometimes down.

"But you are a strong person on par with Kakashi, you can't be this weak. It's the brat you possessed who is too weak and is dragging you down too much."

Kurogane Teruzo's heart sank.

Indeed, as a host who was also possessed, his physical condition was vastly different from that bastard Noro's, not to mention that he was currently suffering from debuffs such as hunger, weakness, and pain.

"I'm the one who dragged Mr. Kai down!" Kurogane Kouzo thought guiltily.

Kai remained silent, glanced down, picked up the bandage that Ye Lu had torn off earlier, and wrapped it around the wound on his hand.

"You still want to bandage the wound now? There will be more injuries to come, and there's even less need for a dead person."

Zabuza Momochi, hidden in the mist, launched a sneak attack on Guy's eight vital points from various angles with extreme cunning.

Although Akai often managed to dodge at the last second, he also sustained several wounds.

"It must be quite strenuous for you, kid. Your frail body can't possibly utilize your martial arts skills. I'm different; my vessel is much more suitable than yours."

"I admire youthful passion more than physical strength."

Wiping away the blood droplets from the wound on his cheek, Akai calmly said:

"Although I've met my fair share of jerks, the one you chose, who's completely out of touch with youth, is a rare scumbag."

"Hmph, as long as the tools are handy and easy to use, that's enough."

Zabuza Momochi wandered through the mist, his voice naturally drifting along with it.

"Akai, you always manage to dodge my attacks at the last minute. It seems the Mist Concealment Technique isn't enough to completely block your vision. In that case, how are you going to deal with it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a thick layer of fog descended upon the Kobe Bridge.

If before I could barely see a step away, now it's pitch black.

"Even with the Mist Concealment Technique, this fog is too thick... You still won't be able to see it."

"I am a genius who uses silent killing techniques and can lock onto my target just by sound."

Zabuza Momochi's voice was faint and barely audible in the thick fog until it completely disappeared.

"Next time you see me, it will all be over... Goodbye, Kai..."

An unspeakable silence fell over the Kobe Bridge.

However, the murderous aura surging from all directions caused Goosebumps to rise on Kurogane Kouzo's skin, leaving him completely unaware of where Zabuza Momochi's fatal blow would come from.

Even in the blink of an eye, he could seize the opportunity to kill you.

Fortunately, Mr. Kai is now in control of my body, otherwise I would definitely be lying on the ground, completely at his mercy.

However, the current situation is too dire. Does Mr. Kai really have a way to break this deadlock...?

"Kid, I can hear what you're thinking in this state."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kai..." Kurogane Kouzo quickly apologized.

"But you're right, the situation is not good for us now."

Akai's voice sounded somewhat troubled: "I have a way to find that Zabuza in the fog, but I can't defeat him with those light, airy punches like before."

Kurogane Kouzo's heart skipped a beat: "Mr. Kai, you mean... a finishing move?"

"Yes, I can deliver a fatal blow, but your body might not be able to withstand it. There's a 50% chance you'll die on the spot. Even so, do you still want to use it, boy?"

"Ha, Mr. Kai, we're now fighting for survival. There's a 50/50 chance of winning, so why not use it?"

Although it sounded extremely dangerous, Kouzo Kurogane smiled with relief.

"How could I miss this opportunity to utterly shatter that arrogant bastard Noro's face! Please use me!"

"This is youth! Let's go for it with our blood boiling!"

A silent yet incredibly fast and sharp sword strike came from the front, slashing diagonally towards Akai, aiming to cut him in two.

"puff!"

As if he had foresight, Kai stretched out his left hand and pushed upwards in the blink of an eye, causing the powerful slash to only pierce his left shoulder.

"How is that possible?! In this fog, I am invincible when using my silent killing technique..."

Zabuza Momochi, who had been hidden in the mist, finally appeared, his upper face, visible through the gag, filled with disbelief.

"Since eyes and ears are useless, we can only rely on our noses to track them."

Ah Kai sniffed and said in a deep voice:

"You slashed me several times before, and the smell of blood on the knife can't be hidden from my nose."

"Impossible! My Executioner's Blade can absorb blood... uh..."

Zabuza Momochi suddenly realized that he was not using a guillotine, but an ordinary iron katana.

Sensing impending doom, Zabuza Momochi even dropped his katana and tried to escape.

"The Eight Gates Formation..."

Akai gripped the blade with his left hand, blood gushing out, and crushed the blade in his hand. In an instant, he unleashed an unimaginable burst of speed, rushing towards Zabuza Momochi.

"First door, open it, open it!"

Guy launched a flying kick at Zabuza Momochi's chin, sending him flying into the air.

Then, with a push of his feet, he leaped into the air and moved behind Zabuza Momochi like a shadow.

"hateful……"

Zabuza Momochi, floating in mid-air, coughed up blood and cursed incoherently as he tried to struggle.

"You were defeated by Kakashi on the bridge, weren't you? Now, this Kobe Bridge will be your second burial ground!"

Just then, Guy pulled out the straps binding his arm and swung them around Zabuza Momochi twice. Then he grabbed Zabuza Momochi tightly with both hands and spun around rapidly.

"Lotus Blossom!"

Guy and Zabuza Momochi's bodies spun violently as they crashed onto the Kobe Bridge.

"Bang!"

Zabuza Momochi landed headfirst on the ground, his upper body exploding like a ripe tomato, red and white flesh scattered all over the ground. Even Tsunade couldn't save him.

At the last moment, Kai jumped to the side, kneeling on the ground, panting heavily.

"Normally, opening five or six gates would be a piece of cake for me. But with an untrained body, even just opening the first gate is so painful..."

Opening the Eight Gates releases mental limitations, allowing one to unleash 100% of their physical abilities, consuming excessive energy to boost attack power and speed. It also grants the ability to use the Front Lotus Flower.

"I'm sorry... young man..."

Covered in blood, Kurogane Kouzo coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, blood seeping from his wounds all over his body.

He was exhaling more than he was inhaling, barely breathing, and clearly not going to live.

A black-haired youth stood before the dying Kurogane Kouzo, his Sharingan eyes flashing with a bloody light.

"A draw in the first match? No, it was mutual destruction. Only, they were left with their last breath."

(End of this chapter)