I became Hokage in Tokyo

Chapters 412 and 413: The Time of Encountering Demons

Kyoto Prefecture, August 15th, late afternoon.

"Huffing and puffing!"

A formation of helicopters loaded with artillery shells moved between buildings, and wheeled armored vehicles brazenly passed through barricades, creating a somber and tense atmosphere.

The rain is coming and the wind is all over the building.

In Sanskrit, "Ullambana" means "hanging upside down," and "bowl" is a bowl for holding food. The Ullambana Festival is a day to offer food to hungry ghosts and relieve their hunger.

The Obon festival is a national holiday in Japan that is as important as New Year's Day.

Especially after the miraculous appearance of Taishan Fujun three years ago, the Japanese government has held Taishan Fujun Festivals around the time of Obon, which are unprecedented in scale.

Kyoto during the Obon festival should be as bustling and lively as the Gion Festival, but now the streets are deserted, and all the lights in the residential buildings are off. This metropolis with a population of over one million is like a ghost town.

Apart from the heavily armed Self-Defense Force soldiers, there wasn't a single living person to be seen.

"Check again to make sure there are no problems with the layout of the defensive lines and firing positions."

At the command post on the outskirts of Kyoto, the overall commander of this operation, Goki Suketo of the Supernatural Special Brigade, addressed his subordinates with a stern, square face.

After the Asakusa Incident, the all-powerful Lord Taishan descended the curtain of severing the connection between heaven and earth. Although no major extraordinary event like a Kage-level powerhouse descending to the mortal realm occurred, the Japanese government, mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace, spared no expense in drawing elite troops from across the country to create a rapidly deployable, targeted elite force.

The quality of soldiers is more important than their quantity. The special brigade has less than 5,000 men, consisting of ten regiments, each with 300 to 500 men.

They were all well-equipped, well-trained, and in high spirits.

The special brigade has trained and cooperated with the Supernatural Police Department on multiple occasions to jointly eliminate monster type A.

Based on live-fire exercises and digital war simulations with the Supernatural Police Department, on the main battlefield, a squadron can easily defeat the twelve generals below A-rank, and in a head-on fight, they can even overwhelm the so-called number one superhuman on Earth, the Uchiha Chief.

Although this was based on favorable conditions such as the Twelve Divine Generals' extraordinary abilities being made public, their willingness to fight, and the open and uncomplicated terrain, it also indirectly proves that the special brigade's combat power should not be underestimated.

Today, in response to the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) initiated by Abe no Seimei, the Ministry of Defense deployed six regiments, totaling 3,000 personnel, from a special brigade, along with ten times that number of regular Ground Self-Defense Force troops, to the area surrounding Kyoto.

More than one-fifth of Japan's ground armed forces are concentrated here.

After receiving a detailed reply from his subordinates, Goki-suke, still not entirely at ease, confirmed it again and again:

"How many of the Twelve Divine Generals have arrived? Has Captain Uchiha arrived yet?"

Nine of the twelve divine generals have arrived.

How many times do I have to ask?

The subordinate inwardly complained, but quickly replied aloud:

"Department Chief Uchiha has been stationed at Yasaka Shrine, located at the center of the Demon Gate Line, since 7 a.m.

"Tsk."

The Five Ghosts Assisted General clicked his tongue in a blatant manner, clearly still resentful that the Twelve Divine Generals had not launched a full-scale attack.

After all, outside of Kyoto, especially Tokyo at this sensitive time, the Twelve Divine Generals also need to be protected, so it is only natural that they cannot all come out.

"Isn't Shinbara, the abbot of Senso-ji Temple and third on the Human Ranking, the second-ranked of the Twelve Divine Generals, here?"

Wu Gui Zhu Jiang Bu frowned as he looked at the list of the twelve divine generals who had arrived.

Shinbara is the most mysterious of the Twelve Divine Generals, and he is also the head priest of Shinsenso-ji Temple, which enshrines Taizan Fujun. Abe no Seimei also worshipped Taizan Fujun, so he would definitely be of great use in crucial occasions like the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons).

Unexpectedly, Tokyo was still keeping things under wraps and refused to let Kanbara take the lead.

What are they thinking?

Don't they know that the safety of Kyoto today determines the future fate of Japan?

However, when Gokisuke heard the news about the Uchiha Sage Sect, his expression softened slightly.

As the leader of the special brigade, he was also an old friend of Chief Uchiha of the Supernatural Police Department.

Wu Gui Zhu Jiang Bu Shen knew that the strength of the Uchiha Sage Sect was unfathomable; his strength alone was equivalent to ten divine generals and surpassed a thousand troops.

"Report! The camp holding ordinary Kyoto citizens and illegal intruders is already full. What should we do?"

"Damn it, a bunch of reckless fools."

Wu Gui Zhu Jiang Bu couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

The truth eventually came out. Half a month has passed since the cabinet officially announced that Kyoto was very likely to have a parade of one hundred demons during the Obon festival. As expected, it caused a huge uproar throughout Japan and even the world.

The already panicked people of Kyoto suddenly launched a frenzy of fleeing the city, seeking refuge in the countryside or with relatives and friends outside of Kyoto Prefecture.

For the remaining Kyoto residents who lack money or ability to evacuate, the Japanese government has also formulated a temporary evacuation plan.

Hotels, campsites, and even long-abandoned villages in various cities and prefectures surrounding Kyoto Prefecture, as long as they had at least the minimum level of public infrastructure, were all requisitioned to resettle Kyoto residents.

It took a tremendous amount of effort to evacuate more than two million residents of Kyoto before the Obon festival.

However, among the more than two million residents, there are bound to be some who are reluctant to leave, or who simply do not believe the Japanese government's lies and hide at home with the lights off, playing hide-and-seek with them, leaving the authorities helpless.

There are also those who are oblivious to their own danger, such as reporters who want to make a big news story, live streamers who seek fortune in danger, or delusional teenagers who think they are the chosen ones and that their chance to become extraordinary is in Kyoto, and they go against the tide and sneak into Kyoto.

The Self-Defense Forces have arrested hundreds of such fools in recent days.

Even so, many people with maxed-out stealth skills have already broken through the defenses, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, their whereabouts unknown.

"They brought this upon themselves, so let them go. If they want to die, let them die."

Wu Gui Zhu Jiang Bu snorted coldly and said expressionlessly.

Tonight, Kyoto is exceptionally dangerous. There is the terrifying prospect of a hundred demons roaming at night, and in the worst-case scenario, the Self-Defense Forces might even bombard the area. Since anyone dares to linger, they should bear the consequences themselves.

"If there are any foreigners among those detained, release them first. The remaining Japanese will be locked up for a few days to teach them a lesson."

Wu Gui Zhu Jiang Bu seemed to remember something and gave instructions to his subordinates.

The world's attention is now focused on Kyoto.

Today, the military observer groups gathered outside Kyoto Prefecture from the five major powers and dozens of other countries number over three hundred.

The upcoming Night Parade of One Hundred Demons in Kyoto is an unprecedented event in the three years since the beginning of the Jedi Tenchu ​​arc, and the severity of the situation could very well escalate to the level of the Extraordinary Battle in Sapporo.

Countries around the world immediately expressed their close attention and sent diplomatic notes, hoping to send observer missions.

Japan, naturally, couldn't withstand the combined pressure from so many countries and had no choice but to swallow its pride and accept it.

Since so many foreign military observer groups have already been allowed to stay, it would be rather unseemly if a diplomatic dispute arose due to the detention of foreign citizens.

After dealing with some trivial matters, Gokisuke returned to the command room and studied the urban planning map of Kyoto Prefecture with a group of staff officers.

Not only are there modern maps of Kyoto on the table, but also old maps of Heian-kyo from the Heian period, Kamakura period, and Tokugawa Shogunate period.

"As expected. According to Professor Nagayama's deduction, the starting point of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is most likely at Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, the Demon Gate."

Goki no Sukefusa's expression hardened, and he drew a circle around Mount Hiei in the northeast direction of the ancient map of Heian-kyo.

The other staff officers also showed expressions of deep agreement.

According to the feng shui theory of Yin and Yang, the Ghost Gate is the entrance for demons, ghosts, and monsters to enter Kyoto, and the Ghost Gate Line is their inevitable path. Abe no Seimei's deliberate destruction of six famous ancient temples on the Ghost Gate Line indirectly confirms this claim.

Experts from the Paranormal Police Department unanimously believe that the starting point of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is either Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei or Shimizu Hachiman-gu Shrine on Mount Uguimon.

The Supernatural Police Department and the Self-Defense Forces have deployed defenses along the Ghost Gate line, layer by layer.

Mount Hiei, in particular, is under close surveillance.

Not only were artillery positions set up in the surrounding area, but more than a dozen large bombers supported by the United States were also on standby at a nearby military base.

If any monsters show even a hint on Mount Hiei, a single command will unleash a barrage of fire, recreating the spectacular scene of Oda Nobunaga burning Mount Hiei.

The prepared artillery shells are powerful enough to flatten even the top of Mount Hiei.

Anyway, Mount Hiei is located in the suburbs of Kyoto, so it doesn't matter if there's a huge commotion. If it were in the city, it would be too restrictive.

"Strike first! Let those monsters taste the iron fist of modern military technology!"

Facing his subordinates, the Five Ghosts Assistant General waved his arm and said fiercely:

"You must be mentally prepared to treat the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons as a war!"

-

A guard post in Shimogyo Ward, south of Kyoto City.

"Jinxi, you've changed your watch again?"

A young member of the Ground Self-Defense Force from a special brigade looked enviously at his comrade returning from patrol, who was wearing two brand-new gold watches on his left wrist.

"I found it."

"My companion said with a grin."

A strange look appeared in the young soldier's eyes.

Finding a gold watch on the street? Where can you find such good luck?

"Everyone who sees it gets a share."

His companion's eyes lit up, and he took a watch off his wrist and shoved it into the young man's hand.

He weighed it in his hand, and a knowing smile immediately appeared on his face.

"How about it? Want to go scavenging some stuff with me sometime?"

His companion patted his bulging trouser pockets and said.

The two million residents of Kyoto Prefecture were evacuated in a hurry, leaving behind empty buildings, but many valuable things were left behind. Anyone who dared to loot them could make a fortune.

"Let's forget about it."

The young Self-Defense Force member looked on with longing for a while, but ultimately shook his head.

It wasn't because he felt guilty, but simply because he was afraid something might happen to him.

When he first heard that he was to be transferred to Kyoto, where a parade of a hundred demons was about to take place, the young man refused. However, the reward offered by his superiors was too tempting to resist, and he eventually took the risk and participated in this special mission.

However, as soon as he arrived in Kyoto, he immediately regretted it and did not dare to take advantage of the patrol to plunder property like his companions.

"Imanishi, aren't you really afraid? Those demons and monsters..."

The young Self-Defense Force member looked around before lowering his voice and speaking.

"Ha, no matter what era it is, a poor person is more terrifying than a demon."

His companion pulled out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and said with a grin:

"Besides, we've seen monsters before on missions. A burst of bullets can easily shred them to pieces."

"But, but I heard it's a parade of a hundred demons this time," the young man stammered, still feeling uneasy.

His comrade's cigarette glowed and faded as he quickly smoked most of it. He exhaled a satisfied smoke ring, patted the young soldier on the shoulder, and said:

"Before the operation, the captain said that the starting point of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei. We are far from the Demon Gate Line here, so it's very safe."

"But, but..."

The young self-defense members hesitated and began to quietly recite the names of deities such as Amitabha Buddha and the Lord of Mount Tai.

"Oh."

The Self-Defense Force member named Imanishi ignored the coward, finished his cigarette in one last breath, spat the butt on the ground, and casually crushed it with his foot.

"Praying to gods and Buddhas is less effective than using bullets."

He squeezed the cold assault rifle in his hand, and suddenly felt a sense of security.

If he hadn't been heavily in debt from loan sharks, why would he have joined a special brigade of the Self-Defense Forces?

Fortunately, the salaries for special tour groups are extremely generous.

Imanishi not only participated in numerous extermination operations against monsters, but he even encountered the so-called Twelve Divine Generals.

In his view, even superhumans are nothing more than mortals, who can be killed with a single bullet.

Instead of worrying about the rise and fall of nations or extraordinary times, it's better to enjoy life while you can and make as much money as you can.

A horse won't get fat without night grass, and a person won't get rich without unexpected wealth.

From the very first day he was stationed in Kyoto, Imanishi had been thinking about how to make money.

"It's exactly six o'clock. It's summer, so why is it getting dark so quickly?"

As he was contemplating the unexpected gains from his trip to Kyoto, he suddenly frowned, glanced at the gold watch he had stolen by picking the lock, and then looked up and peered around.

"Could it be that the time for encountering the demon has arrived?"

The young man spoke timidly, his face somewhat pale.

In Japanese folklore, the twilight hour before nightfall is the dividing line between the human world and the underworld, and it is also the time when demons, ghosts, and monsters are most likely to appear.

In the special location of Heian-kyo, the ancient city of demons, during the special festival of Obon, and with the rumors they had heard, the atmosphere of terror had been completely created. Anyone with even a little imagination could easily make some connection with it and feel a chill down their spine.

"Even if there are any demons or monsters, I'll give them a bullet." Imai continued to boast and brag.

Suddenly, thick smoke rose from the end of the street in front of the outpost.

A series of strange cries, some human, some wild, and some bird-like, rose and fell in succession.

"Hehehe."

"Coo, coo—"

"Hahaha!!"

There were ghostly figures everywhere, as if countless demons and monsters were laughing and playing in groups.

The two of them were instantly dumbfounded.

(End of this chapter)