Tokyo Jujutsu High, located in the deep mountains on the outskirts of Tokyo, was shrouded in layers of barriers.
Ancient torii gates, weathered stone steps, and the faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the air.
Here was the cradle of jujutsu sorcerers—and their grave.
As Yoru followed Satoru Gojo into this centuries-old school, a strange sense of familiarity welled up within him.
Perhaps due to the influence of the Yoriichi Tsugikuni template, he felt a natural affinity for buildings steeped in ancient charm.
"Hey, Satoru."
"You just brought back some kid from out of nowhere like that?"
Just as they reached the school building, a burly middle-aged man wearing sunglasses blocked their path.
Masamichi Yaga.
The principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High and Satoru Gojo's former homeroom teacher.
Right now, he was scrutinizing Yoru with an evaluating gaze.
"No cursed energy."
"His physical fitness is decent, but it's still within the realm of an ordinary person."
Yaga's brow furrowed deep into a frown.
"Satoru, the high school isn't a charity."
Satoru Gojo tucked his hands into his pockets and leaned toward Yaga with a grin.
"Don't be so serious, Principal Yaga."
"This kid has a lot of potential."
"Potential?"
Yaga gave a cold snort and waved his hand.
"Then let's see just how much potential he really has."
Before his voice even faded.
Several dolls that had been lying quietly at Yaga's feet suddenly sprang to life.
Cursed Corpses! Artificial bodies infused with cursed energy.
Though they looked like cute plush toys, each one possessed enough power to tear an adult man apart.
"Go."
At Yaga's command.
Three Cursed Corpses lunged simultaneously, pouncing at Yoru from three different directions with the whistling sound of wind.
They were incredibly fast!
An ordinary person wouldn't even have time to react before being pinned to the ground and pummeled.
Yaga didn't actually intend to hurt Yoru; he just wanted to give him a taste of what he was getting into and make him back down.
However, in the next second, Yaga's eyes widened behind his sunglasses.
Without drawing his blade, or even making any unnecessary movements.
Yoru simply shifted his body, his footwork becoming eerie and agile, as if he were dancing.
The claws of the first Cursed Corpse grazed the edge of his clothes.
He gave the flying kick of the second Cursed Corpse a gentle push, sending it crashing into the third.
In a single exchange.
The three aggressive Cursed Corpses were left in a tangled mess, while Yoru, at the center of the storm, hadn't even messed up his hair.
Not a single leaf touched him as he passed through.
"This is..."
Yaga was stunned.
This movement technique showed no ripple of cursed energy; it was the pure pinnacle of physical skill and technique.
'Kagura Dance.'
Yoru murmured under his breath.
Even with only 1% synchronization, the Hinokami Kagura he had unlocked was essentially the prototype of the Transparent World.
In Yoru's eyes right now, the movements of these Cursed Corpses were full of openings.
They were too slow. Compared to that Special Grade Cursed Spirit, these Cursed Corpses looked like they were moving in slow motion.
"Should I continue?"
Yoru stopped and looked at Masamichi Yaga with a calm gaze.
In those dark red pupils, there was no trace of fear, nor the arrogance of youth—only serenity.
Yaga waved his hand, and the restless Cursed Corpses instantly froze, obediently returning to his feet.
"Nice moves."
"But in the world of jujutsu sorcerers, you can't survive just by dodging."
Yaga stepped forward, looking down at Yoru. The pressure belonging to a Grade 1 Sorcerer was released without reservation.
"Tell me, boy, why do you fight?"
"Is it for the pursuit of power? Or for so-called justice?"
"If it's for some half-baked reason like that, you'll die a miserable death."
Being a sorcerer was a profession that walked hand-in-hand with death.
Every day, one had to face twisted human nature and terrifying curses.
Without a firm conviction, one would quickly break or turn into a madman.
Satoru Gojo leaned against a pillar nearby, watching the scene with interest, with no intention of interfering.
He also wanted to hear what kind of answer this interesting boy would give.
Yoru fell silent for a moment.
He thought back to the desperate couple he had met in the abandoned building that night, and the security guard who had been devoured by the monster.
He thought of the characters from the original story who should have had bright futures but died tragic deaths at the hands of cursed spirits.
Riko Amanai, Yu Haibara, Kento Nanami, Nobara Kugisaki...
Vivid faces flashed through his mind one by one.
Yoru looked up, staring directly into Yaga's oppressive eyes.
His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear.
"I just want to sever those spirals of grief that shouldn't exist."
"This world has already had too many regrets."
"If I have the power to change it, then why wouldn't I?"
Simple, pure, and perhaps even a bit naive.
But combined with Yoru's crystal-clear eyes, these words produced a power that struck the soul.
That was the conviction of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
It was also Yoru's determination as a transmigrator to make up for those regrets.
Masamichi Yaga was stunned. In his many years of teaching, he had heard countless reasons.
Some for money, some for fame, some for their clan.
But this was the first time he had seen one so purely dedicated to protection and change.
Though this boy had no cursed energy, his soul was more brilliant than that of any sorcerer.
After a long silence, Yaga suddenly let out a laugh, though it was a bit stiff.
"You pass."
"Put your luggage away and go get your school uniform."
With that, he turned and left, his back appearing slightly more relaxed than before.
"Satoru, don't let him die."
"Of course!"
Satoru Gojo walked over with a grin and draped an arm around Yoru's shoulder.
"What'd I tell you? A real diamond in the rough, right?"
"Principal Yaga is actually a total tsundere. I bet he's secretly thrilled right now."
Yoru sighed helplessly. It seemed his days ahead wouldn't be boring.
Satoru Gojo pulled a file from his pocket and tossed it into a nearby trash can... no, a filing cabinet.
It was labeled "First Year."
"Welcome to the team, Yoru-kun."
"By the way, among your classmates, there's already a vessel and a genius scheduled to join."
"And now, we've added a monster."
Satoru Gojo patted Yoru's back with a mischievous grin.
"Jujutsu High is going to be very lively this year."
Meanwhile, at the Zenin clan in Kyoto.
A short-haired girl who was wiping a cursed tool suddenly sneezed.
"Who's talking behind my back?"