Chapter 276: Mercenary Tao under Kotoamatsukami
"Mr. Mercenary Tao, you must be joking. Miss Providence said you possess the destiny to help me, we..."
Minoru Hiranaka spoke halfway, but couldn't continue. A finger was pressed against his throat. Sparks flickered on the finger, causing Minoru Hiranaka's throat muscles to spasm, rendering him unable to speak.
Hana Hiranaka subconsciously stepped forward but stopped.
Kaito Shirogane retracted his finger, his eyes filled with mocking amusement. He wagged his finger, correcting Minoru Hiranaka:
"My destiny is merely to protect you from dying. As for those things you pursue, they have nothing to do with me."
After completing the special trial of [Wild Lightning], Kaito Shirogane had also clarified the key to the Virtue Card mission.
Protect Minoru Hiranaka from dying. Due to the choices of Providence and Minoru Hiranaka, this mission actually made Minoru Hiranaka the primary target of the World Will's attacks.
Although Providence's actions currently made her the highest priority target, giving Kaito Shirogane some time, eventually, once she was killed or fled this world, the plot characters' hatred would shift to Minoru Hiranaka.
Therefore, the mission [Descent of the Golden Order] was naturally bound to Mercenary Tao, who had to protect Minoru Hiranaka's survival.
But after knowing that the Planetary Will also didn't want the Otsutsuki clan to appear, Kaito Shirogane realized that in this world, he was the one holding the power to sway the situation.
Whether it was the Planetary Will, the Sage of Six Paths, or the Greater Will, these entities had to rely on the hands of plot characters and Reincarnators to influence the world's direction.
But he didn't need to. Power always remained in Kaito Shirogane's hands.
Watching Minoru Hiranaka's changing expression, probably still thinking about how to get Mercenary Tao to help him.
Kaito Shirogane said straightforwardly:
"Give up, Minoru Hiranaka. None of your plans will come to fruition."
His tone was calm, as if making a declaration.
Hana Hiranaka, however, breathed a sigh of relief. She clearly knew Mercenary Tao was an incredibly terrifying and violent guy, but at this moment, only Mercenary Tao's plan made her feel at ease.
She secretly rejoiced that her husband's ambition was stopped.
Uchiha Shisui lowered his head, his heart beating faster and faster. Just as he was about to make that choice, he suddenly heard laughter.
"Heh, Shisui, have you decided?"
"Are you going to use that one-time [Kotoamatsukami] on me?"
Uchiha Shisui looked up and saw that the crazy and powerful man now seemed to have a trace of wind and thunder aura on him. Just standing there, he felt electric arcs occasionally flashing across the other's hair and skin.
Uchiha Shisui nodded, his eyes revealing the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He didn't think about why Mercenary Tao knew he possessed the ability of [Kotoamatsukami]. That was meaningless. He didn't try to hide or deny it either.
A cruel smile appeared on the corner of Kaito Shirogane's mouth. His expression showed no worry about being subjected to the strongest genjutsu, [Kotoamatsukami].
On the contrary, his expression clearly showed that everything was under his control.
"Aren't you going to try to resist, Mr. Mercenary Tao?"
Uchiha Shisui seemed relaxed, but he had long prepared for the worst.
Kaito Shirogane smiled wantonly, his hands behind his back, showing no intention of activating [Setsuna] to attempt an instant kill on Uchiha Shisui.
He heard very clearly that there were at least seven Shadow Clones of Uchiha Shisui hiding nearby. Combined with Uchiha Shisui's strange Body Flicker Technique, Uchiha Shisui had a considerable chance to release [Kotoamatsukami] during battle.
Moreover, there was no need for him to dodge.
He deliberately kept Minoru Hiranaka and Hana Hiranaka by his side and didn't mention some negative aspects of the [Golden Order] and the [Greater Will], waiting for Uchiha Shisui to return.
To thoroughly dominate this world, Kaito Shirogane had considered countermeasures for all abilities that might affect him.
The hardest to grasp and counter, besides Uchiha Obito's dual Kamui in his complete state after reclaiming Kakashi's Sharingan, was naturally Uchiha Shisui's[Kotoamatsukami].
As the strongest genjutsu capable of completely changing a person's thoughts, its activation conditions were very covert. Even the person under the jutsu wouldn't realize they were affected.
Against such a killer move, Kaito Shirogane had thought of many countermeasures, including finding an opportunity to kill Uchiha Shisui, but in the end, he found a better plan.
The power of Kotoamatsukami lay in modifying others' thoughts. But if even the result the opponent wanted to modify could be guided by himself, then this jutsu wouldn't have much impact on him at all.
Minoru Hiranaka and Hana Hiranaka also sensed the strange atmosphere. Just as Uchiha Itachi wanted to speak, Uchiha Shisui had already closed his eyes.
Blood flowed from the corners of his eyes.
"Shisui, you..."
Uchiha Shisui clutched his head. While casting Kotoamatsukami on Mercenary Tao, he was also affected by the opponent's special ability. Just as recorded in the clan's intelligence, casting genjutsu on Mercenary Tao would result in a strong mental attack.
His mind seemed to be shrouded in intense killing intent. This mental state was completely different from Uchiha Shisui's usual thinking, causing him to feel dizzy under the conflict.
Uchiha Itachi didn't expect Mercenary Tao not to resist at all, nor did he expect Shisui to activate the ability in an instant. He supported Shisui and looked at Mercenary Tao.
[You have been affected by the Genjutsu: Kotoamatsukami]
Kaito Shirogane frowned, thinking about his changes, but apart from this space notification, he didn't detect anything.
Clap, clap, clap clap clap...
Kaito Shirogane clapped his hands. The effect and ability of [Kotoamatsukami] greatly exceeded his expectations.
"Worthy of being the strongest genjutsu, Uchiha Shisui. Truly an excellent jutsu. I can't find any trace of myself being affected by it."
Uchiha Shisui clutched his head, somewhat nervous. He didn't expect that after being hit by [Kotoamatsukami], this Mercenary Tao could actually realize he was under the jutsu.
Human thinking is the most strange and subtle thing. There are too many things you take for granted and never think about why.
Kotoamatsukami changed this kind of thing. Uchiha Shisui looked forward to peace forged by [Non-killing]. The future without death shown by the Golden Order was exactly what he expected.
Therefore, he modified Mercenary Tao's thinking to make him support and help the Golden Order's descent, allowing the Age of the Erdtree to appear.
"Let's go. Since we want the Age of the Erdtree to appear, that tree cannot be destroyed now."
Kaito Shirogane didn't realize the shift in his own attitude. At this moment, he only felt that completing the special event [Descent of the Golden Order] would also allow him to achieve the [Ultimate Benevolence] special trial.
It counted as a pretty good choice.
Minoru Hiranaka and Hana Hiranaka looked at the greatly changed attitude of Mercenary Tao. Their thoughts differed, but in this team, no one had the ability to disobey Mercenary Tao.
The two could only follow behind Mercenary Tao.
The corners of Kaito Shirogane's mouth curled up, his face still wearing a composed smile.
Kotoamatsukami would not erase the memory of the person under the jutsu. Therefore, he knew very well that having his thinking modified by [Kotoamatsukami] was also part of his plan.
Moreover, this plan was going very smoothly now.
He felt no awkward discomfort from having his thinking secretly modified. As a guy who could calmly throw away control of his body for tens of thousands of wraiths to fight over...
At this moment, he was also like "controlling" his body to play a novel role-playing game.
"The Golden Order can completely dominate life force and blessings. To catalyze a Golden Erdtree with a large enough range of influence, enough life force must be absorbed."
"In this world, there are no better targets than the Tailed Beasts and those [Sages]."
"Uchiha Shisui, we have to continue capturing Tailed Beasts and taking down Sages..."
Uchiha Shisui was stunned. He found that although Mercenary Tao's action goal had indeed changed to helping him and Minoru Hiranaka bring about the Age of the Erdtree, his behavior was inexplicably not much different from before.
Still chasing those powerful individuals.
Tailed Beasts, Sages...
He had heard legends of Sages. It was said that there were some special secret realms in this world where Sages lived and could teach Senjutsu.
To make the Age of the Erdtree descend, must such existences fall...
(End of Chapter)
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 2 extra chapters
Every 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter