The news that Satoru Gojo had "nullified" Sasuke's Curse Mark had spread through elite jōnin circles like wildfire.
Kakashi Hatake, sitting at a dango stand, watched Gojo, who, with his new blindfold covering his eyes, devoured one skewer after another with his usual carefree enthusiasm.
"So... the blindfold," Kakashi said, his eye visible as he examined Gojo's new appearance. "I thought the glasses were just a whim."
Gojo shrugged, the blindfold making him look even more enigmatic. "Oh, this is purely strategic. My eyes are too powerful. Too much information, too many admirers. Besides, it adds an extra touch of mystery, don't you think? It increases the 'cool factor.'"
Kakashi sighed. No matter how serious he tried to be, Gojo always disarmed him with his absurd logic. "The Hokage is... perplexed. And you're not the only one. What you did to Sasuke's mark..."
"A favor," Gojo interrupted, his tone nonchalant. "That thing was disgusting. How come you, being the 'copy ninja' and all, couldn't get rid of it? Doesn't your Sharingan give you X-ray vision for curses?"
Kakashi remained silent. Gojo, sensing no chakra, asked awkward questions without understanding the context. It was frustrating.
"Some things go beyond chakra, Gojo-san. Even for the Sharingan."
"Uh, excuses," Gojo muttered, wiping his lips. "You should come to my world. I'd teach you a thing or two about being truly useful."
Just then, a whirlwind of bright green approached the dango stand. It was Might Guy, the Thick-Browed Jōnin, followed by his students: the ever-passionate Rock Lee, the pragmatic Tenten, and the stoic and talented Neji Hyūga.
"KAKASHI, MY ETERNAL RIVAL!" Guy shouted, striking a "Good Youth" pose.
"I sensed a powerful aura of boredom from you! Must be the lack of exercise!"
Gojo blinked, though his blindfold covered his eyes. He could feel Guy's vibrant, almost cartoonish energy.
"Hey, Guy-sensei!" exclaimed Naruto, who was passing by with Sakura and Sasuke.
"Meet Gojo-san! He's the guy who can do amazing things!"
Guy noticed Gojo, his gaze intense. "Interesting! A new presence in Konoha! I feel the fire of youth in your spirit, even though your outfit is a little... peculiar!"
"And yours is... green," Gojo replied with a slight smile. "And those eyebrows... wow, you're like a character in a comedy show!"
Rock Lee, always the first to defend his sensei, eagerly stepped forward.
"How dare you insult Guy-sensei's youthful attire! I, Rock Lee, will challenge you to a taijutsu duel to prove the power of hard work!"
Tenten brought a hand to her face. "Lee, don't be so impulsive."
Neji, his Byakugan activated for a second, studied Gojo. His pearly eyes, normally capable of seeing chakra flow and tenketsu points, could discern nothing of the sorcerer. Gojo was a perfect void in his vision, an anomaly that defied his understanding.
"My Byakugan can't see his chakra," Neji murmured, surprised.
Gojo smiled behind the blindfold. "Oh! So you're the boy with the weird eyes? Interesting. You're like a toy version of my Six Eyes."
Guy laughed, his voice echoing. "So you're not a chakra user! That makes your aura even more intriguing! A challenge to the mind and body!"
"Challenge, you say," Gojo stood up, his presence suddenly more imposing. "Hmm, do you have any taijutsu skills worth watching? Because if you're just going to jump and punch, it's going to be a little boring."
Rock Lee, burning with the passion of youth, activated his Training Weights. "I'll show you the power of taijutsu!"
"Lee, wait," Guy tried to say, sensing something immensely powerful in Gojo, despite his lack of chakra.
But it was too late. Lee charged, a green blur, throwing a series of swift, powerful punches. Each blow was executed with astonishing precision and speed that could barely be followed.
Gojo didn't move. The blindfold covered his eyes, but his Six Eyes were active. He saw Lee's every movement, every muscle, every flow of energy. When Lee's fist was about to connect with his face, he stopped. It wasn't a block, it wasn't a dodge. It was Limitless. The space between Gojo and Lee's fist had expanded infinitely, stopping the blow before it reached its destination.
Rock Lee, with all his strength, couldn't move his fist another millimeter. He froze in midair, his eyes round with exertion and surprise.
"My, my," Gojo said, his tone almost playful. "You're fast, kid. And you've got a lot of stamina. But your concept of 'hitting' needs some fine-tuning. You should buy something from my shop. Perhaps a 'manual of punches that really land.'"
Guy, Kakashi, Tenten, Neji, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke watched in complete silence. There was no explosion, no flashy jutsus, just the impossibility of the scene. Rock Lee, the taijutsu prodigy, immobilized by something invisible and incomprehensible.
Gojo snapped his fingers, and Lee's fist was released. The young genin fell to his knees, exhausted and completely dumbfounded.
"Interesting! Very interesting!" Guy exclaimed, a bead of sweat running down his temple, but with an even bigger smile. "You're a worthy challenge! Perhaps even a challenge to the true power of youth!"
Gojo smiled. This team, at least, was a little more fun than the rest. "Perhaps. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get some more dango. This little warm-up made me a little hungry."
As Gojo walked away, leaving the Team Guy ninjas and Kakashi in a state of stunned awe, one thing became clear: Gojo Satoru's presence in Konoha was not only changing the geopolitical landscape, but also the very concept of what was possible in the ninja world. And all under the watchful, if hidden, gaze of his Six Eyes.