Konoha: The Honored One

The audience was momentarily entranced as the scenery around them transformed. Suddenly, they found themselves standing in a vast, fiery expanse filled with molten rivers and volcanic eruptions. The air shimmered with heatwaves, and towering columns of flame roared on either side, giving the impression of being trapped inside the core of a volcano.

The oppressive heat and the vivid lava flows left the crowd in stunned silence.

"What kind of ability is this? Is this kid's bloodline limit?" Onoki, the diminutive yet formidable Tsuchikage, floated effortlessly in the air. His brows furrowed as he scanned the scene. The sheer realism of the domain struck him—this wasn't just an illusion or genjutsu. It felt real.

Chakra signatures were stable. Too stable, in fact, for this to be anything but actual terrain.

"This is beyond a bloodline limit," Onoki muttered to himself, disbelief evident in his voice.

Standing nearby, Akatsuchi, his loyal bodyguard, eyed Gojo warily. "Lord Tsuchikage, be careful. This... enchantment—or whatever it is—feels dangerous."

"Enchantment?" Onoki huffed, crossing his arms. "Boy, you don't know the half of it. This isn't just a trap—it's a crafted reality!"

Meanwhile, Kurenai Yuhi stood with Tsunade, her sharp eyes scanning the volcanic environment. Her mind wandered back to the starless void she had once seen. "This... it's eerily similar," she murmured.

"What is?" Tsunade asked, arching a brow.

"Gojo's last stunt," Kurenai replied, her voice laced with unease.

Amidst the tension, Terumi Mei decided to test the waters—literally. Pulling a kunai from her pouch, she tossed it into the bubbling lava.

Plop.

Within seconds, the metal weapon dissolved, consumed by the molten depths. Mei's lips tightened as she observed the scene.

"Well, it's real, all right," she muttered.

"Of course, it's real," Gojo quipped, grinning as he adjusted his blindfold. "What's the fun in half-measures? Welcome to my domain. Everything here is under my control."

Before anyone could retort, Raikage Ai stepped forward, his body crackling with Lightning Style chakra. His signature armor of electricity surged around him, making him a glowing, intimidating figure.

"Don't spout nonsense, brat. No one can control me," Ai growled, his voice like thunder.

Without warning, he charged, his speed leaving nothing but a blur in his wake. "Heavy Flow Burst!" he roared, aiming a devastating blow at Gojo's smug face.

And yet, just as Raikage's fist was about to connect, his movement ceased entirely. He stood frozen in mid-air, his hulking frame inches from Gojo, as if time itself had abandoned him.

Gojo tilted his head, unfazed. "Really? You're going to punch me? In my domain? Oh, Raikage, you're adorable."

The onlookers gasped, their jaws dropping.

Raikage's face contorted with frustration. "What is this sorcery?! Stop hiding behind your tricks and fight me like a man!"

Gojo's grin widened as he pointed to the frozen Raikage. "See? This is why I'm still single. Too much speed—it scares the ladies."

Before anyone could laugh—or groan—two towering volcanoes erupted from the ground, their molten peaks angling toward both Raikage and Tsuchikage.

Raikage growled, his lightning aura flaring as he darted out of the way, only for the volcanoes to shift and smash into him anyway. The sheer heat scorched his armor, leaving his muscles raw and steaming.

"Ugh, what a pain," Ai muttered, wincing.

"You think you're in pain?" Gojo shot back, sucking on a lollipop he seemingly pulled from thin air. "Try dealing with paperwork. Now that's real suffering."

Even Tsunade had to stifle a chuckle. "Gojo, maybe tone it down a bit? We don't want any, uh, international incidents."

"Tone it down? Tsunade, these guys are kage. They've got thick skins. Well..." Gojo eyed Raikage's charred arms, "...mostly."

Terumi Mei sighed heavily, her patience running thin. "Gojo, do you always have to make everything a joke?"

"Of course," Gojo replied smoothly, leaning casually against an invisible wall. "Life's too short not to laugh, Mei-chan. Also, how's the Lava Style going? Because this..." He gestured at the molten landscape. "...this is lava done right."

Mei clenched her fists, her irritation barely contained.

At that moment, Kurotsuchi launched her own attack. Using her Lava Style, she conjured streams of molten lime that flowed toward Gojo like a deadly cascade.

"Oh, cute. Arts and crafts time!" Gojo remarked, waving his hand as the lime harmlessly suspended itself in mid-air.

Kurotsuchi growled, frustrated. "Stop dodging and fight!"

"Dodging?" Gojo said, feigning hurt. "Sweetheart, I haven't moved an inch. You're just bad at aiming."

Kurotsuchi leaped into the air, her leg swinging in a powerful arc toward Gojo's head. Yet, just as her kick was about to connect, it froze. Her long leg hovered inches from his face, caught in his limitless domain.

Gojo, ever the showman, leaned closer, examining her leg with exaggerated interest. "Hmm... three points for form, two points for effort. Oh! And five points for having great legs. Shame about the footwear, though. Black stockings would've earned you bonus points."

Kurotsuchi's face turned crimson, equal parts anger and embarrassment.

"Gojo!" Tsunade scolded, smacking him lightly on the back of his head.

"What? I'm just being honest!" Gojo replied with an innocent shrug, though the mischievous glint in his eyes said otherwise.

The audience was left speechless. Was this man even taking the fight seriously?