Realizing their techniques were effortlessly countered by Sawa Gojo's trio, Kamo Atsushi and his group were stunned.
"Impossible! My move took down a Grade 2 cursed spirit!"
"The Jade Hound got swallowed instantly—what kind of monstrous cursed spirit is that?"
"Damn it! They're too strong!"
The trio exchanged glances, barely holding back laughter.
"Hey, you guys, those aren't the Zenin and Kamo clans' inherited techniques, are they?"
Atsushi exploded. "What? Bastard! Don't insult our Kamo clan's technique—it's our pride!"
"Blood Manipulation: Blood Star Barrage!"
The two Zenin clansmen were equally enraged.
"The Zenin clan's honor won't be tarnished! Ten Shadows Technique: Divine Rabbit!"
Like madmen, the four unleashed a torrent of attacks at the trio.
Satoru Gojo rolled his eyes. "What's this nonsense? Family pride? Get a grip!"
"Technique Reversal…"
"Satoru, hold up!"
Sawa stopped Satoru, pointing at the four.
"Look!"
Satoru and Suguru Geto looked up.
The Kamo duo, after using their "Fake Blood Manipulation," visibly withered—cheeks sunken, eyes hollow, looking utterly drained.
The Zenin duo stood dazed, eyes vacant, as if their brains had fried.
Thanks to the Six Eyes' keen observation, Sawa and Satoru, along with Suguru's superhuman perception, spotted the issue instantly.
The Kamo duo's so-called Blood Manipulation used cursed energy to force bone marrow to produce blood—a technique that burned through their lifespan!
The Zenin duo's "Ten Shadows" summoned mutated, weakened shikigami, with backlash so severe it was unnatural.
Techniques are driven by the brain, but theirs were turning to mush!
"These aren't inherited techniques—they're suicide techniques!"
Sawa's face hardened. "Stop them now!"
Suguru waved a hand. "Rainbow Dragon!"
With a tail swipe, Rainbow Dragon sent the four flying, forcibly halting their techniques.
Suguru held back, wary of killing the already half-dead quartet.
Gasping on the ground, Atsushi gave a bitter smile as the trio approached. "You're as strong as the rumors… no, stronger!"
Sawa ignored the flattery, snapping, "Do you realize those techniques are killing you?
That's not the Kamo clan's Blood Manipulation, and your Ten Shadows is off. Who taught you this?"
Before Sawa finished, the four, despite their weakness, tried to stand, collapsing repeatedly.
Still, they glared at the trio with murderous intensity.
"Don't insult our clan's techniques! They're our family's honor!"
"You're nuts!"
Unable to fathom their logic, the trio knocked them out with a few punches, eliminating them.
Not far along, they ran into more Zenin and Kamo clansmen.
"Blood Manipulation: Piercing Blood!"
"Ten Shadows Technique: Great Serpent!"
These clansmen, as if under orders, unleashed techniques recklessly, nearly dying on the spot.
Sawa flicked a hand, deflecting their attacks effortlessly.
Like before, mentioning "Fake Blood Manipulation" and "Fake Ten Shadows" set them off, yowling about "family honor" like cats with stepped-on tails.
Even dense Satoru caught on.
"The Zenin and Kamo clans developed watered-down versions of their techniques and are using these people as test subjects!"
Sawa's words darkened Satoru and Suguru's faces.
"Creating such monstrous techniques and experimenting on live humans? Have those old geezers lost their minds?" Satoru fumed.
"Probably because the Zenin and Kamo clans saw the Gojo clan produce two Six Eyes users while they've got no heirs, so they're trying shortcuts," Suguru mused.
"Forcing people to use unstable, watered-down versions? Those lunatics!"
Meeting more clansmen, Satoru didn't wait—teleporting forward, he floored them with two punches.
Binding their limbs, he crouched, patiently explaining the techniques' dangers.
A Zenin clansman sneered. "We know. We volunteered. If the experiments succeed, our clans can mass-produce technique users, no more waiting for rare heirs!"
"Our sacrifice matters—it's for our clan's honor. We die with purpose!"
Their eyes burned with fanaticism.
"You…"
Satoru's anger flared. They didn't value their own lives!
Suguru patted Satoru's shoulder. "Satoru, don't bother persuading them."
Satoru tilted his head. "Huh? That's not like you! Don't you always talk about saving the weak?"
Sawa sneered. "Satoru, look closely. These guys were brainwashed by those old geezers long ago."
"And if I'm right, they're branch family members—disposable failed experiments!"
Satoru fell silent, his eyes cold behind his sunglasses.
Suguru gazed skyward, sighing deeply.
"What a filthy world."
"Let's go!"
Satoru stood abruptly.
"Where?"
"To find that Grade 2 cursed spirit, kill it, win the competition, and get the hell home!"
Satoru shrugged. "I'm done with this dump!"
Sawa and Suguru exchanged a glance, following with wry smiles.
"Hey, hey, hey~ Looks like our young master Satoru's pissed!"
"Shut up, jerk!"
"By the way, do the great families pull this crap often?"
"Jerk! Don't drag the Gojo clan into everything!"
"Then when you're clan head, clean up the Gojo clan!"
"Huh? You're the eldest—clan head's your job!"
"No way! Not a chance!"
"Eldest son inherits—that's tradition. The elders would love you as clan head, hahaha!"
"Zip it! Let's fight—loser takes clan head!"
"If neither of you wants it, how about me?"
"Scram!" ×2