With the initial excitement of the gate meeting settled, Yuta Okkotsu quickly found a rhythm with his new peers. Under the guidance of Souma Gojo and the others, the freshmen moved into the heart of Jujutsu High to complete their official registration and grade assignments.
The roster was a testament to the influence of the "Strongest Trio."
Nanako Hasaba was registered as a Grade 2 sorcerer. Her Innate Technique, "Focus Photography," allowed her to use her phone camera as a medium to freeze any target within the frame for one second: a brief but potentially lethal window, balanced by a one-minute cooldown. Her sister, Mimiko Hasaba, also held a Grade 2 rank. Her "Looming Dolls" technique allowed her to control flying dolls, using the connecting threads for binding and strangulation. To bolster her lethality, Suguru Geto had personally traveled to South Africa to acquire a specialized cursed tool for her: the Black Rope.
Then there was Toshihisa Negi, another Grade 2. His "Explosive Fireflies" technique produced swarms of glowing insects that could detonate with devastating force. While Suguru's three foster children were not at the absolute peak of the generation, their talent was undeniable.
The lineage of the Inumaki clan was represented by Toge, a Grade 2 Cursed Speech user whose words carried the weight of destiny. Because of the danger his voice posed to allies, he remained restricted to the safe vocabulary of sushi ingredients. Beside him was Panda, another Grade 2, though his official file was strangely sparse: a likely attempt by the higher-ups to obscure the true nature of his existence.
However, the next two evaluations brought a sudden shift in the room's mood.
Maki Zenin: Grade 4.
The file listed her as a Cursed Tool user with almost zero cursed energy, requiring specialized glasses just to perceive spirits. Suguru Geto looked at the document with a frown of disbelief. From Maki's stance, her controlled breathing, and the calluses on her hands, it was clear her martial arts had reached a level of absolute mastery. For a girl her age to achieve such physical perfection was nothing short of miraculous.
"Grade 4?" Suguru muttered. "That's ridiculous."
Satoru Gojo made a gagging sound, his face twisting in disgust. "Those old fossils in the higher-ups are as pedantic and nauseating as ever. They're trying to stifle her because of her name."
Maki, however, showed no disappointment. She had expected this. Whether she was truly a "Grade 4" would be decided on the battlefield, where facts spoke louder than bureaucratic ink.
"And finally..." Satoru turned to Yuta Okkotsu, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach.
Yuta scratched the back of his head, looking bashful as he handed over his student ID. The group crowded around, and a collective gasp filled the room.
"Special... Special Grade?!"
Looking at the unassuming, polite boy, the other students felt their reality tilt. Megumi Fushiguro turned to look at a soul-crushed Satoru.
This is the guy you want me to beat in a year? his expression seemed to ask.
Meanwhile, a world away.
Warm sunlight spilled over a pristine white beach. The view was a tranquil paradise of endless blue sky and crystal-clear water. On a lounge chair, a woman in a bikini enjoyed a sunbath behind dark sunglasses, though a prominent, jagged stitch mark across her forehead ruined the idyllic picture.
Nearby sat a motley crew: a one-eyed cursed spirit with a chimney-like head, a red octopus-like entity, and a pale, handsome man covered in surgical stitches. Suddenly, the air warped, and two figures stepped out of the shimmering heat.
"Yo! Hanami and Uraume are back," the woman with the stitched forehead said, sitting up. She offered a smile that was kind on the surface but hollow underneath. This was Kaori Itadori's body, currently inhabited by an ancient sorcerer known as Kenjaku.
Jogo, the one-eyed spirit, took a long drag from a pipe. "Hanami, what's the situation?"
Hanami shook their head. "The spirit beneath Yasohachi Bridge has been exorcised. Yorozu is gone. In all likelihood, she is dead."
Kenjaku's brow knit together. "Do we know who did it?"
"No. The opponent was experienced. They erased all traces of the battle. Nothing remains."
"Dammit!" Jogo's volcanic head began to vent steam in a fit of rage. "Not only did we lose Yorozu as an asset, but we lost another of Sukuna's fingers!"
Uraume let out a cold, displeased huff. "That crazy woman... her absence is of no consequence."
A thousand years ago, Yorozu had made the mistake of professing her love to Sukuna and declaring she would replace Uraume as his attendant. Uraume had never forgotten the insult. If Kenjaku hadn't insisted that Yorozu would be a useful tool, Uraume would have been happy to freeze the woman solid personally.
Kenjaku fell into a deep silence. Scenes from a millennium of waiting played through her mind. She had spent centuries in the shadows, meticulously preparing for this moment, only for a bolt from the blue to strike.
The Gojo family had produced another Six Eyes. And this time, it was twins.
Initially, Kenjaku hadn't been overly concerned. The "Curse of Twins" usually ensured that one would be a failure. Past experience suggested that even if she failed to assassinate a Six Eyes user, fate would simply birth another to oppose her. It was an annoying cycle, but one she understood.
She had chosen to ignore the twins, focusing instead on the grueling task of collecting Sukuna's fingers. But reality had dealt her a staggering blow. Neither twin was a failure. In fact, they had grown into anomalies that defied all logic.
The older twin, Souma Gojo, was the true problem. Several times, Kenjaku had attempted to observe him through her most clandestine methods, only to nearly be detected and killed. He was an apex predator. To make matters worse, a "Cursed Spirit Manipulation" user had appeared alongside them, possessing a strength that was equally nonsensical.
The pressure was becoming immense. For the first time in a thousand years, Kenjaku felt like the matchmaking system of destiny was rigged against her.
She had been forced to play her hidden cards early, unsealing certain incarnated sorcerers to bolster her ranks. Uraume and Yorozu were chosen for their absolute loyalty to Sukuna. But Yorozu had been snuffed out mere minutes after manifesting.
I just summoned a teammate, and they died before leaving the fountain, Kenjaku thought bitterly. What kind of amateur play is this?
She rubbed her temples, a rare sense of anxiety gnawing at her. She felt as though a pair of eyes was watching her every move, waiting to obstruct her at every turn. That feeling was strongest whenever her thoughts drifted to Souma Gojo.
"Hey! Why are you just sitting there?" Jogo snarled, his face contorted. "What is this 'Vessel' for Sukuna you keep talking about? When do we start?"
Jogo was the strongest of the disaster spirits, and easily the most impatient. Kenjaku glanced at him, a flicker of disdain in her eyes. Just a curse. You really think you're important?
She forced a shallow smile. "Since you're so eager, let's begin."
Despite her wariness of the Gojo twins and the Cursed Spirit Manipulator, Kenjaku was not one to stagnate.
"My moles within the High School have provided intelligence. One of Sukuna's fingers is currently being transported. It will be temporarily held at..."
Read The Full Story at P@treon: P@treon .com/zefyrus