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Chapter 82: The Strength of Kyoto and the "Strongest" Mirage
By the time the sleek black sedan pulled back into the sprawling Siomiya House estate, Kaguya Shinomiya had already meticulously dissected the girl sitting across from her.
She had learned that Sannowa Kasumi was an open book, particularly when it came to her idol. When Kaguya had asked who the pinnacle of the Jujutsu World was, Kasumi had spent the better part of twenty minutes gushing about Gojo Satoru.
"Gojo Satoru... a teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High, special-grade, the 'Strongest'... it aligns perfectly with the Mysterious Person's diary," Kaguya mused internally. However, her estimation of this 'Strongest' title took a slight hit when she recalled the diary's cryptic spoiler: in the future, this man would be sliced in two by Ryomen Sukuna.
"So, what truly separates Kyoto Jujutsu High from Tokyo?" Kaguya asked, her voice like silk. "Are the resources and philosophies vastly different?"
Kasumi's face flushed a deep crimson. She suddenly realized her blunder. She was the official envoy meant to recruit Kaguya to Kyoto, yet she had spent the entire trip advertising for the rival school in Tokyo. If the Kyoto higher-ups found out, they might claw back her travel expenses.
"W-well!" Kasumi stammered, trying to pivot. "Kyoto has tradition! We have... a larger campus! Better subsidies!"
But Kasumi was a terrible liar. Her confidence wavered as she admitted that, with the recent resurgence of the supernatural, Tokyo had produced far more special-grade sorcerers. She tried to maintain a brave face, claiming Kyoto would "wash away last year's shame" in the upcoming inter-school exchange.
Kaguya had already heard the story: a first-year named Yuta Okkotsu had single-handedly decimated the entire Kyoto team.
"Vengeance sounds... difficult, doesn't it?" Kaguya said dryly.
"I-I heard he lost his special-grade curse!" Kasumi squeaked. "He shouldn't be as invincible this year, right?"
Kaguya stopped pressing. She feared the girl might actually have a mental breakdown if she heard any more cold truths. In her mind, the choice was clear: she would visit Tokyo High to see the "Strongest" for herself before making a decision. Besides, she still had a commission to become the Shuchiin student council president. She wasn't about to let a school transfer trigger a 'Commission Failed' notification.
Inside the reception room of the Siomiya House, Kasumi quickly met Shitamachi Kamubo. Despite being a second-rate Exorcist, Kamubo's decades of "faking it until she made it" allowed her to build an instant rapport with the young Kyoto student.
While Kasumi was distracted by the highest-quality wagashi she had ever tasted, Kaguya and Kamubo slipped out to talk.
"Young Lady Kaguya, that katana of hers is the real deal," Kamubo whispered with a trace of envy. "A genuine Cursed Tool. And she practices the New Shadow Style."
Kaguya's brow furrowed. "Is it the Yagyu branch?"
"The Yagyu version is for mortals," Kamubo explained. "The true New Shadow Style requires spiritual energy to unlock its real lethality. It's a powerhouse in the hidden world."
Kaguya's interest piqued. A style with a low entry threshold but a high ceiling? That sounded perfect for her resources. However, Kamubo warned her about the "Binding Vow"—the supernatural contract required to learn the style's secrets.
Kaguya remained confident. With the wealth of the Shinomiya family, I can surely buy my way out of any contract, she thought. She remembered the Demon Slayer Corps mentioned in the diary, but since that organization seemed to have vanished a century ago, the New Shadow Style was her best bet for swordsmanship.
"Shen Mu," Kaguya said, addressing Kamubo with newfound respect. "I'll be counting on you to watch the estate while I'm away. If any vengeful spirits appear, you are my first line of defense."
The reassurances left the old exorcist beaming, but Kaguya's mind was already in the chat group. She shared her experience and asked if anyone was interested in joining her.
The group was silent for thirty seconds before Umaru tagged Yotsuya Miko.
Miko: "Can I really go? To a place that can fix... these eyes?"
The excitement in Miko's reply was palpable. Between her own terrifying visions and her friend Hana's tendency to attract high-level curses, Miko was desperate for a permanent solution. If Jujutsu High could teach her to fight back, she wouldn't have to live in fear.
Kaguya: "I'm scouting both schools. If you want to come, I'll have Hayasaka pick you up."
But then, Rikka Takanashi chimed in, wanting to join the "Dark Reunion" at Jujutsu High. Instantly, the group saw Rikka post a string of question marks followed by a Danger Warning. The diary had deducted one reading point from her as a penalty for even considering it.
In a restaurant across town, Ruri Gokou (Black Cat) watched the warning with a frown. She turned to Yukino Yukinoshita, who was sitting opposite her.
"It's because of the Ripple," Yukino analyzed, her eyes sharp. "We've been practicing Ripple Breathing for a month. With our reading points, we have the strength of people who have trained for years. If we all enter the Jujutsu world together, we'll stick out like a sore thumb."
Ruri nodded. A month ago, she was frail; now she could outrun varsity athletes.
"Just by breathing, we've gained extraordinary power," Yukino continued. "If those high-ranking officials find out there's a way for anyone to become extraordinary without an Innate Technique, they won't welcome us. They'll kidnap us to dissect the secret of the Ripple. The Jujutsu world isn't a fairy tale; it's a nest of vipers."
Ruri shrugged, a look of disdain on her face. "Those Kage officials sound like garbage. At least the Mysterious Person has been helpful, even if he likes to air our dirty laundry."
The girls sat in silence, realizing that while the Mysterious Person was a shadowy enigma, he had never tried to "own" them or their power. In the cold world of sorcerers, that was the rarest kindness of all.