Here they come. All right, kids, line up, line up, line up.

　In the center of the special venue, a glamorous beauty with fluttering green hair stood in the middle of the room.

''Who was that?''
That man is the current head of the Koba Family, one of the Five Great Yin-Yang Clans. He'll be the referee for our tournament.

　The chairperson's sister, Uruina, told me. It's the first time I've heard of the Five Great Yin-Yang Clan, but the Mizukami family and the Hinoyama family must be part of it, in terms of names. I just didn't know it, but I didn't know it was quite a fantasy even today.
　But still, you are a very kind girl to take the trouble to tell me.

''I don't know who you are, but the future of our clan is at stake in this match. I won't allow you to drag me down.
Oh, yes.

　I take it back. He seems to have quite a hard character.

Now, is there a line? Then put this on. Put it on your bare skin properly, just like a poultice. Oh, two sheets for Kiena and Junna.

　As he said this, he handed each of the contestants in the match a piece of paper cut into a human shape. What's this?

This is a 'substitute tag'. This is a 'substitute tag' that covers the injuries suffered by the person wearing it. Wearing it can nullify injuries up to and including those that result in death.

　Oh, what's that? It's awesome, right? So it's just one death nullified. As someone who has died, this is something that I would love to have sold to the public.

However, the head of each of the five families needs to spend a long time pouring his or her spiritual energy into making this product. That's why they are not used except for special ceremonies such as Shinto games.
I see.

　That's why you can't mass produce it, it's so valuable. I guess we can't make it, but I'll learn the magic formula just in case. Hmmm.
　Also, unlike your sister, the chairman is a gentle girl.

"Ha-ha! Is everyone ready? Well, I guess we better get started.

　The two sides line up with the nervousness of the referee's shout.
　A red-haired, cocky-looking young man is staring at the chairman with condescending eyes. I wonder if he's the head of Hinoyama.
　Next to him is a handsome guy in glasses and a suit. It looks like he has a Japanese sword on his hip, scary. If you look closely, the blade is pointing downward. It's not a sword, but a tachi-to. I'm sure you'll find the knowledge of antiques I inherited from my grandfather to be useful here.
　The person beside him is the one who was attacked by a mysterious shikigami and sent to the hospital, is it safe to have a fight now? I mean, he's staring at me like crazy. It's a good idea to have a good time.

It's not a problem for me to say, "Uruka, if you're willing to admit your mistakes, you're allowed to forfeit the game. I don't want to hurt you.
What are you talking about? You guys aren't the ones who attacked the cat god and also made strange accusations. And don't call me Junkanai, Hinoyama-san (........)
Nah!

　Oh! Crushing blow! Hinoyama-san (.........) flinched.
　Maybe that guy has a favor for the chairman. But he's going to do something he doesn't want, and he's going to act cool, and that's going to make people hate him.

"Ha-ha-ha!
'Stop laughing, pneumonia! Hey ref, get on with it!
Hmm. All right, all right. Now, go away for a moment and keep your distance.

　The game field is 50 meters square, so it's pretty big.
　Both fighters line up and take a little distance from each other. The distance to the opponent in front was about 10 meters or so.
　It's too late now, but I'm getting nervous.

''Jutsuji Mona-san~. Warding...

　When the referee said that, the triple glazing outside the game field? It was covered with something like So this is what they call the warding that we hear about! I'll use it sometime.

I'm going to lose my bill, or I'll be thrown out of the hall and be done with it. Let's go!
"Flame, residue, burn, wall, 'flame burning wall'!

　At the same time as the signal to start, a guy called Qi Flame or something like that muttered something while holding a bill. Then the tag burst into flames and a huge ball of flame appeared.

''f*ck it!''

　The ball of fire that appeared was sent flying towards us. All of a sudden!
　But my aim is off and it passes between me and the chairman.

'Surprised... oh!

　However, after it passed, he realized what his opponent wanted.
　The flying flames burned vigorously on the trajectory they passed through, creating a wall of flames. He was completely separated from the water sisters.

''Your opponent is me. Please be gentle with me.''

　Looking ahead, I saw a yin-yang master named Mitsurujo standing there. Was that guy on this side of the wall too?

''Reveal, 'Santo-Sho'!

　Ugh. A purple warrior with two large swords appeared. It was huge, almost three meters long. Is that his shikigami?

''It looks like things have started over there too.

　As I listen, I hear a blast from the other side of the wall.

'Then let me go too,'

　Me and the Water Sisters, separated by a wall of flames, began our respective battles.






◇





"Water... It's not looking good. What are you going to do? This,

　The bleachers in the dome were filled with people from both families. In the midst of all this, a languid, glamorous, beautiful woman was in the special seat reserved for the head of the Mizukami family.

''Koba, or do you not want to be the judge watching over them?
I'm looking at you! I'm the head of The Tree, remember?
That's right.

　Knowing her jutsu, Ryukai agreed with her words.

''More importantly, what are you going to do about it~? This,

　Pointing to the match before him, the head of the Kiniwa family asked again, "What's the problem?

The head of the Kinoniwa family asks again, "That's no problem. I have already contacted the head of the Hinoyama Family. He should be there by the time this match is over.
Oh, my goodness, you're still so shrewd.

　The head of the Kiniwa family is ecstatic at the skill of Ryukai.

''But oh, wouldn't you have been able to contact me earlier?
''You see what I mean. But this match will be an experience for Junkanai and Junna. You'll have to overcome this level of adversity if you're going to entrust the Mizukami family with it.
Hmmm, you're all grown up. But that's not all, is it?

　Long Kai looked at the head of the Kiniwa family with his expression slightly distorted. ''Which one of you is the shrewd one?'' It was meant to be.
　The head of the Mokuiwa family understood this and showed a slightly troubled expression.

''Duh. How could I not care about an Onmyoujutsu master who defeated Kiena-chan and is favored by the Cat God? It's a good thing that I'm playing the role of a referee instead, because I'm doing such a troublesome job for you. I don't want to complain.
'I know, and I appreciate that. More importantly, how is he in your eyes?

　With him, of course, is an enigmatic yin-yang master who raids the Hinoyama family alone and is trusted by the Nekogami. It was Kosuke.

''I didn't feel any spiritual power, at all.
'I knew it. I explored it when we shook hands, and I thought the same thing. I even wondered if he was a shikigami or a demon of some sort.

　Those who do not wear spiritual power on the outside are rare.
　They are born with a low level of spirituality, and the amount of spirituality they produce is at odds with the amount they consume to sustain life. Either that or someone who is capable of advanced psychic manipulation is doing it to hide their abilities.
　However, even among the heads of the five great clans, there were few who were skilled enough to hide their spiritual power on the outside. Long Hai himself, the head of the Waterhouse family, could do it, but even in a state of full concentration, he could only do it for a few minutes.

''I don't understand the point of going to the trouble of hiding your spiritual power to participate in a match~''
In the meantime, we'll have to keep an eye on his fight.
Yeah.

　He still doesn't know that he is being eyed by the two heads of the Five Great Yin-Yang Clan.