First mission Part 8

While Katsuo was fighting, villain Shikamaru was with his three subordinates in a building away from the main confrontation.

He was observing it through cameras placed by his subordinates.

He watched as Katsuo, which he simply knew as the red-eyed guy, started his cold berserk fighting mode.

(AN: berserk-like behavior while still possessing reason.)

Any wounds that were inflicted on him were only "superficial" and healed in a few seconds and each meaningless wound was traded with one of his subordinates.

Villain Shikamaru was a little confused and upset.

The first time they met, Katsuo didn't seem that overwhelming and he only retreated due to receiving a future image of his teammates lying broken on the floor and four figures towering over them.

It seemed that Katsuo had hidden his power back then and now, he was an unknown variable that was breaking apart his plan.

"What do you think I should do, Ite?"

Ite, an average-looking Japanese, was one of his most trusted subordinates.

Not only because of his impeccable CE-imbued bullets marksmanship but also for his incredible intuition.

It was him that found out that they were being observed by the Panda and the red-eyed guy before and discreetly signaled him about it, which made him alert the others.

(AN: Ite is the marksman, for those that didn't understand and the red-eyed guy is Katsuo)

Ite, who was feeling a vague sense of danger for a while, was looking at Katsuo, who was relentlessly fighting and said.

"Young master, I feel that he's still holding back but I can't pinpoint why. Maybe because of his personality, or it's a binding vow, or he's just biding time. I'm not sure."

(AN: All the above, XD)

Villain Shikamaru looked pensive and Ite continued.

"If the mirror wasn't so important, I would recommend a retreat until we had a better grasp of his abilities and weakness'. But because it is, our best option right now would be using our numerical advantage while we still can and swarm the building, with the objective of securing the mirror and his bonder."

Shikamaru hesitated a little. He thought that, while Katsuo was there the strategy had little chance of success, it will also increase casualties, and if he had too many casualties without results, it could affect his standing in the organization

Ite continued as if he knew what his master was thinking,

"Young Master, you don't need to worry about the casualties, if you look closely, you will see that nobody is dead, only temporarily disabled. That red-eyed berserker isn't resolute enough to bloody his hands, so even if we don't get the mirror, the young master also won't be very affected, however, you can also destroy the mirror so that no side gets out victorious."

Shikamaru accepted Ite's analysis and mentally commanded after grabbing Kokoro, the telepathic woman, who in turn activated her innate technique [Thought Web].

"Everyone, swarm the building and secure the mirror and the bonder by whatever means necessary, if you can't, destroy it. Two guys stay behind to help the injured retreat"

Ite, who was still feeling the vague but strong sense of danger, advised his master.

"We can't do anything more here, young master, I suggest we retreat and wait for the good news."

Shikamaru agreed. Because of the restrictions of his innate technique, [Message from the Future], the result that he will get now is the final one and their combat power won't make much of a difference, so the best option is to retreat to safety.

(AN: Put here if you think you have better name for his innate technique)

Back to Katsuo.

He completed his seventh takedown when almost every one of them dispersed and started making a run for the building.

Based on their sudden change of stratagem, they probably received an order, similar to when Villain Shikamaru and his associates suddenly retreated while he fought against them.

Katsuo wasn't sure if his plan was still working but after thinking about all their actions until now, Katsuo could conclude some things about their situation and Shikamaru's technique.

First, it probably didn't show him the future where he succeeded in what he wanted but one where it showed how his present actions would affect the future.

His actions to change the future that he saw can introduce new variables that also change that future.

'My changes to the plan being a prime example of it.'

Lastly, the previous conclusions implicated that his technique had certain restrictions that prevent him from peeking at the future every time he wanted because if not, Katsuo's plan wouldn't have worked at all.

'Or it might be because that Shikamaru was careless, which I don't believe, but in case I'm wrong, let's take them all down.'

Katsuo took the chance that they gave him by exposing their backs to him and tried to disable some of the sorcerers, but clearly, they had enough experience to not be caught like that.

Five of them targeted him and shot talismans, ropes, and a spiked iron chain towards him.

They seemed to have some expertise in restraining tactics, but to him, it was all parlor tricks.

He grabbed the chain, not caring about the pain that was dulled by PE, and pulled it out of its wielder hands.

He used it as a whip to destroy the talismans and, not fearing the ropes that ensnared him, stomped heavily on the floor, creating a blast of shrapnel that injured the five sorcerers in different amounts and damaged the ropes.

Then he lunged at the empty-handed and injured sorcerers and in one movie-like combo that sent them all to their happy place.

Katsuo heard sounds of fighting inside the building.

He went in there and saw Toge doing his best to dodge the attacks of a dozen sorcerers who seemed to be targeting the black mirror that was subtly showing.

Katsuo estimated that enough time had passed for the "real" team to arrive at the base so he yelled at Toge.

"They probably already reached Gojo-sensei. It's safe to go all out!"

Then, he heard Toge's voice distorted by the CE infused in it.

"SLEEP!"

Katsuo saw everyone but the burly sorcerer, who supported himself against the wall, fall on the floor at once.

After seeing this, his respect for Toge's power went up quite a bit, after all, even though his technique was very suitable to take care of a group of weaklings, seeing him do it in real-life hits different than seeing it in the anime.

He approached the burly sorcerer who didn't give up his third-rate villain goon lines until the end.

"I w-will be a-avenged!"

Katsuo speechlessly stopped behind him and slapped the back of his head to knock him out and watched as he hit the floor like a sack of potatoes.

Back to the villains.

Shikamaru didn't even left the building when he was warned by Kokoro.

"Young Master, the assault team suddenly lost their consciousness almost at the same time. The last image transmitted was a teenager with small stature and grey hair"

Shikamaru was silent for a moment before he started running with his people trailing behind him.

"What's wrong, Young Master."

"Is it possible that our opponent saw through my technique?"

Kokoro answered.

"That's improbable, why?"

"That person you just described was supposed to be in the team that first left the building."

"Hmm, could they be twins?"

Shikamaru looked at the silent Ite, who noticed that his opinion was needed and gave the one his guts pointed to.

"... I believe they found out your technique, Young Master."

They continued running in silence and Shikamaru's eyes gradually turned colder.

"I underestimated the enemy, it won't happen again and next time we will use mercenaries, they might only obey money but they bring results, on the contrary of our assault team."

Said Shikamaru, the last part being full of contempt.

"Master, the five-member team that you sent out after the first three individuals were taken out, the culprit was ... Gojo Satoru."

Hearing this, their adrenaline spiked and they started running faster.

They had no idea he was in the city, if they knew, they would have never stepped foot in it or its surroundings

At the same time, villain Shikamaru was also more relaxed, because he could peacefully report his failure to the organization, knowing that he now had a good excuse for it.