The "Me" That Couldn't Be Destroyed

What?!

Senju Kyogawa was suddenly flung into the air by the Gate. Before he could land or react, that "Senju Kyogawa" swung a Nichirin Sword wreathed in flames toward him.

"Senju Kyogawa" gripped the sword with both hands and slashed forward, sending out a circular wave of fire.

The oncoming flames were reflected in Senju Kyogawa's red pupils. Clearly, there was no way for him to dodge while he was still in midair.

The instant the fiery slash was about to hit him, Senju Kyogawa moved.

He quickly aimed both hands at the ground and blasted out a burst of flame. The flames erupted, and Senju Kyogawa used their upward force to propel himself into the air, dodging "Senju Kyogawa's" attack.

The circular fiery slash collided with Senju Kyogawa's flames, producing a cannon-like boom. In an instant, rubble flew everywhere, and dust and smoke filled the tunnel.

Senju Kyogawa curled up, covering his head tightly with both arms to protect himself from the explosion.

The moment he landed, he swiftly straightened up and darted toward the corner where he'd been before.

Senju Kyogawa let out a slight sigh of relief. This time, he really had to thank Senju Butsuma for putting him through such brutal training.

If Senju Butsuma hadn't trained his stamina and body control, he would never have been able to dodge that attack.

The tunnel flashed brightly, then quickly darkened again.

The tunnel had been badly damaged. Smoke and dust now filled the place, making it extremely difficult to see.

What's more, without Senju Kyogawa's flames to light the way, the tunnel was pitch-black. He couldn't make out a thing.

Senju Kyogawa leaned his back slightly against the wall, gripping his Nichirin Sword. He tilted his head and kept his breathing quiet.

After learning Total Concentration Constant Breathing, Senju Kyogawa's breaths had become exceptionally long. To fully absorb the energy he drew into his lungs, he could often hold a breath for over a minute before exhaling the murky air that had circulated through his lungs several times.

So Senju Kyogawa didn't need to hold his breath deliberately. He only had to breathe quietly and slowly to stay well hidden.

Even in the pitch-black darkness, it would be difficult to detect him.

[What should I do?] Senju Kyogawa wondered.

He hadn't expected that "Senju Kyogawa" to act against all reason. It was supposed to be a reflection of him, making the same movements as the original. Why had it suddenly attacked him of its own accord?

Was it because Senju Kyogawa had touched the Gate?

Could he leave only by destroying "Senju Kyogawa"?

Would that "Senju Kyogawa" keep attacking him?

Since he couldn't get out directly, he had no choice but to fight.

For now, though, Senju Kyogawa decided to stay put and see how that "Senju Kyogawa" would react.

Suddenly, Senju Kyogawa's heart began to pound, and a sense of unease rose within him.

His instincts screamed, Danger, danger, danger. He had to move.

Senju Kyogawa trusted his sense of danger and dodged to the side without hesitation.

Sure enough, the next second, a loud "BOOM" rang out. The place where Senju Kyogawa had been hiding was now a pile of rubble.

"Senju Kyogawa" had made its intentions clear through its actions: even though it was fake, it would attack him.

[Well, no need to hesitate now. I've got no choice but to fight him.] Senju Kyogawa thought helplessly.

What concerned Senju Kyogawa more right now wasn't whether to fight, but whether the "Senju Kyogawa" across from him had copied all his abilities. If it had, how was he supposed to win?

Senju Kyogawa looked up and saw that "Senju Kyogawa" was surrounded by flames, just like Senju Kyogawa had been at the beginning.

All right, now "Senju Kyogawa" had revealed the exact same flame ability and Sun Breathing: First Form: Waltz as Senju Kyogawa.

It had even copied his Nichirin Sword and Ugly Monster.

It seemed that whatever Senju Kyogawa could do, the "Senju Kyogawa" across from him could do too. How was he supposed to fight that?

Senju Kyogawa was baffled. Senju Kyogawa fell into deep thought.

"Hey, brother over there, how about we put down our Nichirin Swords and talk this out? Violence isn't going to solve anything. If you don't want me to leave, just say so. Don't just attack me out of nowhere..." Senju Kyogawa said helplessly, trying to reason with this "Senju Kyogawa."

Senju Kyogawa tried to reason with it, hoping to make peace.

"Senju Kyogawa" picked up its sword and ignored him.

Seeing that the "Senju Kyogawa" across from him hadn't listened to a word he'd said and was still raising its Nichirin Sword as if to strike, Senju Kyogawa quickly picked up his own Nichirin Sword and took the initiative, using Sun Breathing: First Form: Waltz to seize control of the fight.

The end result was still a battle between the real Senju Kyogawa and the fake, but at least he'd learned that "Senju Kyogawa" had no consciousness of its own. It was nothing but a perfect reflection.

Wouldn't it be much easier to fight a mindless dummy?

No, actually, it wasn't easy at all.

"Pant, pant, pant..."

After a few exchanges, Senju Kyogawa was already feeling exhausted from spending so much chakra and stamina for so long. But the "Senju Kyogawa" across from him was like a machine, showing no sign of fatigue and possessing an endless supply of strength.

Senju Kyogawa was in a bind. He had no idea how to destroy the other version of himself...