Traveling with the Yokai

Qi didn't care about Fire Fly's situation.

Besides resolving Oboro's chakra shortage, Qi had more important matters to deal with. Fire Fly's problem was child's play in comparison.

These past few days, Qi had been on a lucky streak, with one good thing after another happening to him.

But that was also the result of Qi choosing the right path and working hard toward his goals.

Heaven gives you an equal opportunity for every trial it puts you through. If you think things are hard, it may be because you keep passively accepting those trials without ever noticing or seizing the opportunities they offer.

Qi felt that the Third Hokage's targeting him was a trial Heaven had sent his way.

It was because of the Third Hokage's targeting that Qi had resolved to increase his strength. That, in turn, had led him to discover the correct way to use the Sharingan. That was his opportunity.

Oboro's successful awakening, followed by the chain reaction it set off, had brought Qi two pieces of good news at once.

Back when Qi had staged his "deification campaign" to confirm his theory about the Sharingan, he had introduced mythological stories to the people around him.

Mysterious and fantastical tales always spread far and wide.

In a world without mythology, the myths of Japan naturally spread at great speed. That inevitably led to tales of yokai.

Izanagi and Izanami had also confirmed that the Sharingan didn't need to be a Mangekyo to draw on the power of the gods. Ordinary eyes could do it, too.

There were always lucky people in the world. Sometimes, though, all they lacked was the key they needed.

Qi looked at the two ordinary Uchiha Clan Chunin before him, then thought of how useless he was, and felt helpless.

I really don't have the protagonist's luck. I'm neither talented nor lucky.

These two were extra beneficiaries of the connection between Mangekyo awakening and the divine.

"Tell me, what's going on with you two?"

Johnny Uchiha, who came from the Iga Style, held his battle blade horizontally in front of him.

[Johnny Uchiha, Ninjutsu B, Taijutsu B+, Genjutsu C]

"My lord, this is my sword, Dojigiri Yasutsuna. A warrior of old once used it to slay the demon Shuten-doji. I used to stroke the blade day and night, imagining that one day I'd become a hero who could slay demons, too. Then I was granted the power of Shuten's Six Paths."

Qi nodded. Shuten-doji was also known as Rokudomaru. This great yokai was counted among the Eight Million Gods, so it made sense that he could grant people powers like the orthodox deities. And it was no surprise that Johnny could use the ability with only a Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

After all, Shuten-doji wasn't an orthodox god, just a great yokai. He was much like the fox spirits worshiped by shamans.

Qi just didn't know whether this ocular technique was unique or could be learned by others. He also didn't know what it did or how powerful it was.

"How powerful is it?"

At his lord's question, Johnny scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.

"It doesn't seem all that powerful. It's a combination jutsu that lets me spew out a huge cloud of alcohol mist. If I ignite it with Fire Release, it can cause widespread damage. The damage itself isn't high, but anyone covered in the mist stays affected for a long time, and it can spread over a pretty big area."

"How big?" Qi pressed.

"Big enough to burn down the Uchiha Clan compound in Konoha!"

Johnny's expression was firm, as if he'd wanted to do just that for a long time.

Qi nodded, wondering what kind of people he had under him. Why were they always thinking about burning down their own home?

Was it because Qi's departure had turned everyone against the Uchiha Clan?

He wasn't sure. He'd have to wait and see. That certainly hadn't been his intention.

Qi turned to Joseph Uchiha.

"What about you? What did you awaken?"

[Joseph Uchiha, Ninjutsu C, Taijutsu A-, Genjutsu C]

Joseph looked cool as he sniffed and answered Qi.

"My companion blade is Kogarasumaru. According to legend, a black bird flew in carrying a sword and landed before the emperor. After announcing that it was a messenger from Ise Grand Shrine, it flew away, leaving the sword behind. That bird was Yatagarasu, and the sword came to be known as Kogarasumaru."

Qi found this subordinate annoying. That was a story he himself had told, and Joseph was repeating it to him like it was fact.

The tale about this fake sword was something Qi had stretched to make it sell for a better price. Why was Joseph taking it so seriously and using it to fool him?

Did they even realize that he was the one who'd made up the story? Maybe the source had been forgotten because he hadn't been the one to pass it on directly.

"You don't need to tell me all that. Just tell me what you awakened."

Joseph nodded, still looking cool. He was wearing sunglasses indoors in broad daylight.

"My ability is called Tengu-Killer."

Qi thought it over and decided it made sense. Daitengu—the vengeful spirit of Emperor Sutoku—had been killed by the warrior Taira no Kiyomori, who wielded Kogarasumaru. It was only natural for Joseph, who was so devoted to Kogarasumaru, to awaken Daitengu's power.

"What does the ability do?"

Joseph had been so evasive because he was worried Qi would ask about the ability. It was a bit uncomfortable.

Especially for those in high positions. And now he was facing Lord Qi, to whom he had pledged his loyalty. He didn't want Qi to misunderstand, but since his lord kept pressing him, he couldn't very well hide it.

"It lets me overcome those above me. The higher their status and the greater their strength compared to mine, the more powerful I become against them."

Qi was pleasantly surprised. That was a good ability.

Before Daitengu died, he had bitten through his tongue and used his blood to write a curse: "This sutra will make me Japan's great demon king. From this day forth, the people shall become lords, and the lords shall become people. There will be no peace!" That gave the ability to overcome those above you a certain legitimacy.

It was practically a weapon that let the underdog beat the favorite.

The more undeserving someone was of their position, the stronger the effect.

For example, if someone wasn't very strong but held a high position, wouldn't Joseph be unstoppable against him?

"Have you tested it?"

Seeing that Lord Qi wasn't put off by his ability, Joseph relaxed.

"Yes. I fought Lord Tenshen and lost, but I managed to hold out for a while."

Qi nodded in approval.

Even Sasuke couldn't fight a Mangekyo user with a Two-Tomoe Sharingan unless his opponent went easy on him.

That was already impressive.

No, it was downright powerful.

Without this ability, Joseph wouldn't even have been worth Tenshen drawing his sword for. Now, though, he could hold his own against him for a while.

If he ran into that fake demigod Hanzo of the Salamander, wouldn't he cut him down with one stroke?

No, Joseph needed to be strengthened further.

Qi would put the two of them on gate duty in a bit. If the greater the difference in status, position, and strength, the more powerful the ability, then...

He'd give Joseph a low-ranking post with great benefits. Maybe that would work wonders.

The two men were still flaunting their abilities to Lord Qi, unaware that their fate—demotion with a pay raise—had already been decided.

Well, Johnny was getting the short end of the stick, but what could you do? They were brothers.

One would handle one-on-one fights at the gate, the other would take on groups.

Not bad!

Seeing Lord Qi merely nod, the two men decided not to waste this chance to meet with him. They had to show off a little more.

"My lord, the ocular technique isn't very powerful, but that doesn't matter. What matters is this. Look."

Qi was surprised. You call that not powerful? What, could you two overthrow Heaven itself? But he had clearly underestimated them.

The two of them gathered their strength, and armor enveloped their bodies.

Qi was stunned.

"Majestic Attire Susanoo?"

That was right. The two looked as if they had summoned Susanoo, only on a smaller scale.

If Susanoo was a giant robot, the two of them were wearing exoskeleton armor.

"No, my lord. This is called Fear Armor. It's nowhere near as strong as Lord Tenshen's Susanoo. But it still boosts our physical abilities. At the very least, ordinary blades and kunai can't hurt us while we're wearing it. Only ninjutsu can injure us, and even then, the damage is greatly reduced."

Qi's eyes lit up. Coach, teach me this!

This was incredible. Not everyone had the chance to awaken a Mangekyo, but if even Chunin could use this, couldn't it be made available to everyone?

His subordinates would all reach Chunin rank sooner or later. By then, with Oboro no longer running short on chakra, she could silence the enemy while his people charged in wearing Fear Armor. Wouldn't that be a massacre?

The thought made his mouth water.

"Can everyone use it? Is it like Susanoo, a jutsu that can be learned by anyone with a Mangekyo?"

"Not everyone. But anyone who's obtained a mythological treasure linked to a yokai has awakened something. Even those who haven't mastered it are only one step away. It won't be long before they can use it completely."

Qi was at a loss. He knew those treasures for what they were. He had made them himself as counterfeits to boost their commercial value. How could they have such an effect?

It wasn't scientific.

But it was definitely supernatural.

Since it benefited him, there was no point dwelling on it. Qi continued asking questions.

"How many people like this are there?"

"Since the two of us awakened our abilities, everyone's been using the points they saved up over the past two years to trade for weapons with Koga. Most of the Chunin can use them now."

Hearing this, Qi excitedly smacked his fist into his palm.

A Chunin with a powerful jutsu and the ability to strengthen himself in battle was basically a Special Jōnin, wasn't he?

Dozens of Special Jōnin, all pretty tough, plus twenty elite Jōnin.

And they were all growing stronger fast. If he ever went on a rampage, who wouldn't be afraid?

Just who else could compare?

With a lineup like this, even Madara would probably be wary if Qi went all out against him.

Three giant robots leading over a hundred armored fighters—if they couldn't kill you, they'd scare you to death.