Tokyo descended into a waking nightmare.
Mahito, a curse birthed from the collective fear and hatred humans harbored for one another, was currently the youngest of the Disaster Spirits. While his raw power was not yet peak, his potential was boundless. His innate technique, Idle Transfiguration, allowed him to reshape the soul through a mere touch. He could snuff out a life instantly or twist a human into a grotesque, mindless servant—a Transfigured Human.
Only those who could perceive the contours of their own soul and coat it in cursed energy stood a chance. But in a city of millions, such people were as rare as diamonds in the dust.
Mahito tore through the crowds, laughing as he turned commuters into monsters.
Kenjaku and Uraume were equally efficient. Uraume's Ice Fall technique froze entire intersections, causing mass pile-ups and freezing fleeing civilians where they stood. Kenjaku, meanwhile, activated high-level cursed objects that acted as beacons, drawing every stray curse within a fifty-mile radius toward the city center.
The glittering streets of Tokyo were transforming, block by block, into a literal hell on earth.
The Jujutsu higher-ups, however, weren't about to sit idly by while Tengen attempted to rebuild the barrier. They mobilized their elite forces, dividing the available sorcerers into six specialized squads, each led by a seasoned Grade 1.
Squad 1: Led by Naoya Zenin, heir to the Zenin clan, backed by the elite "Hei" unit.Squad 2: Led by Aoi Todo of Kyoto High, featuring Mechamaru, Mai Zenin, Momo Nishimiya, Noritoshi Kamo, and Miwa Kasumi.Squad 3: Led by Kento Nanami, with his longtime partner Yu Haibara and his protege Takuma Ino.Squad 4: Led by Mei Mei, with only her brother Ui Ui as support.Squad 5: Led by Riko Amanai, commanding Nanako, Mimiko, and Toshihisa Negi.
To the confusion of the elders, Souma Gojo had left a specific standing order for a Sixth Squad. It was composed of the Grade 4 Maki Zenin, Semi-Grade 2 Panda, and Semi-Grade 1 Toge Inumaki. Crucially, Souma insisted that Maki Zenin lead the team.
The high council didn't understand why the "Strongest" would put a low-ranked girl in charge, but they conceded, assuming Souma was simply "gilding the lily" for his personal disciples.
Jujutsu High
As the squads mobilized, Atsuya Kusakabe stood alone in the courtyard, having received no assignment. He was just beginning to hope he'd been forgotten when Shoko Ieiri walked toward him, waving a cigarette.
"Shoko-san!" Kusakabe blinked.
"Do you know why you weren't given a squad to lead?" she asked lazily.
Kusakabe scratched his head. "Uh... maybe my skills aren't up to par?"
Shoko sighed. "Souma was right. You really do love to 'clock out' mentally whenever possible."
Kusakabe's eye twitched as he looked away in embarrassment.
"Souma left a message for you," Shoko continued. "For this mission, you are to act alone."
Kusakabe's eyes brightened. Solo work? Perfect for staying out of the way.
"He also said," Shoko added, shattering his dreams, "that you must exorcise at least one Special Grade and ten Grade 1 curses. If you fail, he's docking your salary for the next three months."
"NOOOOOO!" Kusakabe's cry of despair echoed through the empty school.
Elsewhere, others were moving independently.
The Gojo Estate
"Rika, I'm going now. You're safe here in Sensei's home," Yuta Okkotsu said softly.
"Please be careful, Yuta!"
"Don't worry. I'm a Special Grade now. I can protect myself."
Yuta strapped the Dojigiri Yasutsuna to his back. Before he could turn, Rika pulled him into a sudden, fierce kiss.
"Go," she whispered. Yuta nodded, his eyes hardening with resolve as he vanished into the shadows.
Kyoto High Gate
"You two are my prize pupils," Yuki Tsukumo said, leaning against her motorcycle. "Show me what you've learned."
Aoi Todo and Riko Amanai nodded. "Yes, Master!"
Yuki smiled. She hadn't produced a "Special Grade monster" like Souma had, but having two of the strongest Grade 1s in the country was enough for her. "Alright then. I'm off!"
With her shikigami, Garuda, swirling around her, Yuki roared off into the Tokyo night.
The Fushiguro Residence
Toji Fushiguro ruffled Tsumiki's hair.
"Dad! I'm not a kid anymore!" she huffed, though she leaned into the touch.
"Yeah, yeah," Toji replied dismissively.
"Dad... is what you're doing dangerous?" Tsumiki asked, her voice small.
Toji paused, a rare, genuine smile tugging at his lips. "You're overthinking it. It's just a bit of post-dinner exercise. Stay inside. This area is under sorcerer protection; you'll be safe. I'll be back soon."
He stepped out the door and reached into the mouth of his Hidden Inventory curse. He pulled out the Inverted Spear of Heaven and the Soul Liberation Blade, the Chain of a Thousand Miles rattling against his shoulder.
The Sorcerer Killer was back.
"Hello! I'm Yuji Itadori!"
"Megumi Fushiguro."
"And I'm Nobara Kugisaki!"
Kento Nanami looked at the three freshmen who had been abruptly attached to his squad and let out a weary sigh.
"First, introductions," Nanami began in his trademark deadpan. "My name is Kento Nanami. I am a Grade 1 Sorcerer."
"I will treat your addition to my team as a recognition of my professional competence. While it is likely Satoru Gojo simply forced you upon me, I will do my utmost to ensure your safety. I do not deal in empty praise or needless insults. We will follow the facts, maintain discipline, and provide rational critiques. Those are my principles."
Yuji and Nobara blinked, both taking a half-step back from the overwhelming "salaryman" energy. Megumi, however, nodded in approval; he liked the rigor.
Yu Haibara laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Haha! Don't look so scared! Nanami is just like this, he's actually a great guy!"
Yuji and Nobara relaxed instantly. This guy is much easier to talk to!
"Alright! Everyone's here, so let's get to work!" Takuma Ino, Nanami's #1 fan, pulled on his ski mask and punched his palm.
CRACK—!
The ground suddenly buckled. Nanami's hand shot out, grabbing Ino by the collar and yanking him back just as a humanoid curse erupted from the asphalt.
The sheer pressure of the cursed energy made the three freshmen freeze in place.
"A... Special Grade?!" they stammered.
They had barely started, and they were already facing a top-tier threat?
"Haibara!" Nanami called out calmly.
Beside him, Yu Haibara's hands blurred through seals. "Augmentation Technique: Beyond!"
In an instant, Nanami felt his cursed energy reserves swell. Over the years, Haibara had evolved his technique from a simple area-of-effect buff to a targeted, high-output surge.
Nanami blurred forward like a launched bolt. He was in front of the curse before it could even roar.
"Ratio Technique."
The world divided into a 7:3 grid. The curse's structural weakness glowed like a beacon in Nanami's vision. His blunt blade, wrapped in cursed energy, struck with surgical precision.
BOOM!
The Special Grade curse was sheared in half. Its mangled remains hit the ground and began to dissolve into ash.
Nanami sheathed his blade, his expression as composed as if he had just filed a routine report.
Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara stared at the spot where the monster had been, their jaws hanging open.
"So... that is a Grade 1 Sorcerer?"
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