Chapter 24: The Spiritual Domain
The moment Kyūjō sensed a strange power attempting to tamper with his five senses and draw his consciousness into an unfamiliar space, he didn't resist. Instead, he became intrigued.
Activating his Infinity Perception System at full capacity, he calmly observed the Genjutsu technique at work.
This illusion technique from the Kurama Clan certainly had a unique structure. But, ironically, it was also critically flawed—at least when used against someone like him.
After all, back in the world of Demon Slayer, he had mastered the sixth sense known as Kenshin Tōmei, or Transparent Heart—the Blade's Eye that Sees Through All. Later, in the world of One Piece, that sixth sense had merged with Kenbunshoku Haki, eventually evolving into the foundation of his Infinity System.
Now, after all three types of Haki had fully integrated within him, his Perception had reached a realm far beyond human.
To think that an illusion targeting only the five senses could actually trap him?
That would've been a joke.
But because Hatake Kyūjō found this unique Genjutsu fascinating, he chose—on purpose—to drop his mental defenses.
He allowed the chakra flow to gently guide his awareness, and surrendered his mind to the illusory world crafted by Kurama Kaeha.
And just like that, he entered the Spiritual Domain.
— — —
Kurama Kaeha stood frozen.
Her entire being—spirit and all—quivered as she stared up at the radiant giant standing before her. The sheer pressure radiating from the golden figure was nothing like what she'd ever felt before. It didn't feel like chakra. It felt… otherworldly.
Her spiritual body trembled uncontrollably, as if it were being crushed by gravity from another dimension.
It took her a long moment just to steady herself and muster the courage to speak.
"W-What are you…?" she stammered. "What kind of being are you that the Genjutsu of my Kurama Clan… doesn't affect you at all?"
The towering figure didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked around the domain with a calm gaze, his glowing eyes scanning the intricate illusion.
Then, with a slight flicker of light, his Infinity Perception activated once more—analyzing, decoding, unraveling the very structure of Kaeha's Genjutsu in real time.
This was a fascinating space.
Within this domain, consciousness could manifest into tangible form. That opened up potential in future battles—especially against enemies that couldn't be defeated through physical destruction alone.
As he continued studying the Genjutsu, Kyūjō's radiant avatar finally lowered its head and met Kaeha's gaze.
With a composed voice, he said:
"'Being' is a rather impolite term… Jōnin of the Kurama Clan."
"Don't worry. I'm not a creature from another world. I'm human. My name is Hatake Kyūjō. I'm your new teammate—and I have no intention of harming you or Konoha."
He paused briefly, then continued with a tone that was firm yet kind.
"What happened today… was merely an accident. An unexpected side effect of your actions."
"I only ask for one thing—please, keep this encounter a secret. Of course, it's just a friendly request. You're free to refuse."
But then, his glowing eyes narrowed.
"…However, should you choose to share this information, you may find the consequences… less than desirable."
He didn't need to elaborate.
Kyūjō said no more after that. He simply stood there—silent, unmoving, emanating calm.
Despite the radiant warmth of his form, there was an undeniable sense of distance between them, as though he existed on a completely different plane.
The power gap was so overwhelming that Kaeha couldn't even bring herself to meet his eyes.
She bowed her head deeply, trembling—not out of fear, but pure instinct.
After a long moment of silence, she slowly nodded.
She wasn't trying to lie. In truth… she couldn't lie to him.
With his Infinity Perception, Kyūjō would instantly see through any falsehoods.
There were many reasons why Kaeha had decided to comply.
But the biggest one?
She had lost control of her own Genjutsu.
She had no idea how to exit this domain. If she remained trapped here for too long, her physical body could slip into a coma—possibly permanently.
In other words… the source of everything was this glowing colossus before her.
The spiritual pressure he gave off alone was more than enough to make her realize that even if he lied to her, there was absolutely nothing she could do to resist.
Nowhere in Konoha—perhaps not even among the Hokage—was there someone who could match this spiritual presence.
So… compliance was her only option.
— — —
Moments later, after Kyūjō had finished analyzing every aspect of the Kurama Genjutsu with his Infinity System, he took a step forward and began experimenting with the domain's control mechanism.
Suddenly—
"Wait! Please don't!"
Kaeha's voice cried out in panic.
Kyūjō blinked and tilted his head slightly. "What is it?"
Her face tensed, as if struggling to find the right words. Then, carefully, she explained,
"If someone who didn't cast the Genjutsu tries to forcibly take control of this space… it can severely damage the mind of the original caster."
"Your presence is overwhelming. If you force it… I might suffer mental backlash and… never recover."
"…I see."
Kyūjō gave a slow, thoughtful nod.
"In that case… how do we get out of here?"
She shook her head. "I'm not sure. Technically, I should still be in control, but… I can't influence anything. I think your presence is suppressing my ability to act."
Understanding the problem, Kyūjō closed his eyes.
He reached deep into the spiritual realm, recalling a technique from the world of One Piece. It was a method similar to Kenbun-Goroshi—Observation Killing. A way to silence one's spiritual pressure and presence to avoid detection.
Suppressing his senses and muting the weight of his consciousness, he turned back to Kaeha.
"Try again," he said softly. "See if you can regain control."
As the crushing pressure around her began to lift, Kaeha visibly relaxed. Her shoulders dropped, and for the first time, she felt like she could breathe again.
She nodded, closing her eyes and focusing all her willpower on the illusion.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes.
"…I've got it. I can move again."
Kyūjō smiled, his glowing figure offering a peaceful expression.
"Jōnin Kurama… would you be willing to teach me more about this technique?"
"Honestly, without the blood of the Kurama Clan, it's difficult to replicate. But I've learned this much… and I want to learn more."
She hesitated.
But after a moment of silence, Kaeha gave a faint nod.
After all… if Kyūjō had already come this far, there was no way she could stop him.
Refusing wouldn't change anything.
So… what was the point in saying no?
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