The battlefield had changed.
No more testing.
No more bait.
No more pretending.
Takeru, both Gojo's, Yuji, and Yuta surrounded Sukuna Number Four.
Takeru looked toward Yuji and Yuta.
"You two take the sides."
Yuji nodded.
"Got it."
Yuta moved immediately.
"And you?"
Takeru looked toward both Gojo's.
"We'll take the other sides."
Sukuna Number Four smiled.
"Surrounding me?"
Takeru grinned.
"Yep."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Let's see how well you handle it."
They moved.
Yuji attacked from the left.
BOOM!
Sukuna blocked.
Yuta came from the right.
CLANG!
His sword met Sukuna's arm.
Sukuna twisted.
SHING!
A slash flew toward Yuta.
Takeru intercepted it.
FWOOM!
Infinity stopped the slash inches away.
Takeru smiled.
"Nice try."
Gojo appeared behind Sukuna.
"Blue."
Sukuna was dragged backward.
The other Gojo attacked from the opposite side.
"Red."
BOOM!
Sukuna was blasted away.
But he recovered almost instantly.
He stepped into a reflection.
"Mirror Step."
Takeru's eyes tracked him.
"Yuji!"
Yuji turned.
Sukuna emerged behind him.
Yuji swung.
BAM!
His fist connected.
Sukuna stumbled.
Yuta followed.
SLASH!
Sukuna barely blocked.
Takeru appeared above them.
"Now!"
BOOM!
His kick sent Sukuna crashing through the street.
The five fighters regrouped.
Sukuna slowly stood.
He wiped blood from his mouth.
"You're coordinating well."
Takeru smiled.
"We've had practice."
Then Takeru looked at one of the Gojo's.
For just a second...
His expression changed.
He walked over.
Leaning close, Takeru whispered something directly into Gojo's ear.
Gojo's eyes widened slightly.
Then he smiled.
"Oh."
Takeru stepped away.
"Ready?"
Gojo nodded.
"Absolutely."
He moved several meters away.
Takeru moved in the opposite direction.
Sukuna Number Four noticed.
"…What are you doing?"
Takeru didn't answer.
He raised one hand.
The space around his palm began warping.
Cursed energy started accumulating.
Gojo raised his hand.
The air around him began collapsing inward.
The pressure increased.
And increased.
And increased.
Gojo's expression became serious.
"Maximum Output... Blue."
The battlefield suddenly groaned.
Buildings began pulling toward him.
Rubble lifted from the ground.
Cars scraped across the pavement.
Even the surrounding air seemed to bend.
Sukuna's eyes widened.
"…Maximum Blue?"
Across from him, Takeru's cursed energy began exploding outward.
Red energy gathered around his hand.
Brilliant.
Violent.
Compressed.
Takeru stared directly at Sukuna.
"Maximum Output."
The red energy grew larger.
"Red."
Sukuna immediately realized what was happening.
Blue on one side.
Red on the other.
Takeru smiled.
"Got you."
Gojo's Blue reached its maximum.
Takeru's Red reached its maximum.
The two techniques pulled and pushed from opposite directions.
Sukuna Number Four stood directly between them.
The entire battlefield began trembling.
Yuji looked at Yuta.
"…Is this what I think it is?"
Yuta stared.
"I think so."
Takeru glanced toward the other Gojo.
Their eyes met.
No words.
They both knew.
Takeru grinned.
"Three…"
Gojo's Blue intensified.
"Two…"
Takeru's Red roared.
"One."
Takeru raised his hand.
"NOW."
The battlefield exploded with cursed energy.