Ch.162 True Traditional Art of Area 11

Akira: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

The "everyone else" here includes both allies and enemies.

Satoru Gojo has this kind of "charm" that instantly turns a normal atmosphere and "style" into something completely abnormal.

Things like "itami o kanjiro" or "family bonds" can all take a backseat.

Now is the time for the famous protection master and roaring expert, Akira, to unleash his tirade.

"What kind of hero are you, you piece of crap! Heroes show up at critical moments. At best, you're like a Western cop, and even worse than a Western journalist! Look at what you've protected, dammit!"

"This is a necessary sacrifice," Gojo changed his pose again, mimicking an ancient military strategist. "Every time Ultraman fights a monster, a few buildings and streets get destroyed. I've been very restrained."

"Where did you get this Chen Gong act from? Ultraman's human forms always reflect on their actions, don't they?" Akira rolled his eyes. "What about you?"

"I don't need to reflect. I can just buy the streets I destroy. Didn't you know my English name is Tony?"

A vein popped on Akira's forehead. Is this joker here just to mess things up?

"Funny, my English name is Steve, and my Chinese name is Shi Aimin. Are we about to reenact Avengers: Civil War?"

Hearing it put so bluntly, Gojo realized he'd gone too far and immediately switched his nationality to French.

"I'm just joking. Forgive me, considering I rushed all the way from Hokkaido without a second's delay."

"Hokkaido?"

Akira's expression darkened slightly.

In the world of Japanese jujutsu, three places are particularly special.

The first is Kyoto, the headquarters of the Jujutsu Union. The second is Tokyo, home to many extraordinary beings like Satoru Gojo and Tengen. And the third, less famous in other works, is Hokkaido.

In the jujutsu world, Hokkaido is known as the "Land of Trials," enveloped by a barrier created by the mysterious organization "Jujutsu Ren," which operates on the fringes of the Jujutsu Union. Even Tengen, the master of barrier techniques, finds it difficult to interfere.

Only a place like that could temporarily sever Gojo's connection to Tokyo.

Several days of radio silence, combined with the exhaustion that even his mask couldn't hide... The bait used to lure him away must have been no small matter.

But that's not what needs to be considered right now. The priority is—

"I didn't go as far as you. I was just staying in a rather interesting place, a very well-disguised sealed chamber."

"I see."

Gojo nodded expressionlessly.

At that moment, the higher-ups who had just been relieved of pressure after the meteor crash were once again forced to prostrate themselves.

"I told you, if there's a next time, you'll face the consequences—so, who's dying first?"

That said, the pressure Gojo released was even more intense than Gardevoir's. He didn't even give anyone a chance to speak. In less than a second, someone's bones were already crushed.

Just then, a figure stumbled out of the ruins, shouting in a weak but determined voice:

"Assistant!!!"

Gojo glanced over. "Old man Ijuin? I was wondering why one was missing. Perfect timing, you're joining in too."

With that, he reached out and pulled the old man over, slamming him to the ground.

Despite being tattered and bleeding from multiple wounds, the old man's expression remained calm:

"Not joining in. It's just me. This operation was my own decision. I took advantage of your absence to try and monopolize the mysterious power of the Pokémon—my descendants are useless, and to secure my family's position, I had no choice but to resort to this."

"That's your excuse?"

Even someone as shameless as Gojo couldn't stomach this kind of bandit logic.

To ensure my income doesn't fall below a certain threshold, I have to steal, rob, cheat, and ambush?

"Exactly. I was gambling. If I won, I'd have everything. Since I lost, I'll take responsibility by committing seppuku and apologizing to Akira."

As he spoke, the old man pulled out a tanto from his robe and slashed it across his abdomen.

First horizontally, then after a brief pause, vertically.

This was a literal disembowelment. Blood and intestines slowly spilled out.

More than one person couldn't bear the gruesome scene and turned their heads away.

After completing the act, the already wounded and exhausted body of Ijuin became even more frail. Despite this, he mustered the strength to turn the blade and offer it to Gojo and Akira:

"Which of you will be my second?"

Gojo looked disgusted and glanced at Akira, who remained equally unmoved.

The old man knew they wouldn't oblige and tossed the blade aside.

The role of the second, or *kaishakunin*, is to behead the person committing seppuku after they've cut their stomach. This completes the ritual.

The purpose of this is twofold: first, to reduce the suffering of the person committing seppuku. Disembowelment doesn't kill quickly, and there are historical cases of people surviving after having their intestines spilled out and stuffed back in.

Second, it's a form of respect for the deceased, honoring their courage to face death. Usually, a close friend or relative acts as the second.

Akira and Gojo clearly didn't fit either category, so they naturally refused.

Ijuin understood this and didn't push further. Perhaps it was to maintain his final dignity, or perhaps it was to make the process incomplete, causing himself more pain to emphasize his resolve and tragedy.

Regardless of the reason, one thing remained unavoidable—

"Everything is my own fault. It has nothing to do with anyone else. I hope you two won't harm the innocent."

Gojo's nose and mouth twisted in disgust, as if he'd swallowed a fly.

Akira's expression wasn't as exaggerated, but he felt similarly: "Harm the innocent? You make it sound so simple. Tell me, who's innocent and who's guilty?"

"I've already said, everything is my own fault," the old man repeated.

Akira scoffed. "You think I'd believe that? A scheme this big, involving everyone—do you really expect me to believe it was all your idea? Is that even realistic? When things go well, everyone benefits, but when they go wrong, you take the fall alone? Do you think we're all idiots? If you really don't want to harm the innocent, tell the truth. Name three, four, five, or six accomplices, and I won't harm the innocent."

"It really was my own decision. I can't let others take responsibility for my mistakes." With that, the old man closed his eyes, ready to die. Someone who isn't afraid of death naturally has a tough mouth.

"Then this Jujutsu Union headquarters has no reason to exist. Gardevoir, Darkrai." Akira raised his hand, and his two strongest fighters took off.

"Wait!" Someone shouted to stop them.

Looking over, it was the Kamo clan head's wife—Akira's birth mother.

Akira's eyes turned cold, but she didn't back down. Instead, she quickly walked over and said in a low voice:

"Seppuku is the highest form of taking responsibility and apologizing. According to tradition, you can't pursue further punishment, at least not in the form of indiscriminate killing."