The forest clearing had become something between a training ground and a temporary peace treaty.
Cursed energy still lingered in the air, but it wasn't chaotic anymore.
More like… contained tension.
Takeru stood casually with his hands in his pockets.
Then looked straight at Geto.
"…Hey Geto."
A pause.
"I will NEVER EVER call you Bro-to again if you let me spar with you for an hour."
Silence.
Geto blinked once.
"…That's your offer?"
Takeru nodded immediately.
"Strongest negotiation technique. Trust me."
Yuji immediately leaned toward Megumi.
"…That is not how negotiations work."
Megumi didn't even look up.
"…I'm tired."
Across the clearing—
Older Gojo was staring at Takeru with the expression of someone watching a predictable disaster unfold in real time.
Satoru Gojo
"…He's doing it again," he muttered.
Younger Gojo tilted his head.
"Doing what?"
Older Gojo sighed.
"…Trying to measure strength through emotional blackmail and chaos."
"…That sounds fun."
"It is not."
Geto crossed his arms, clearly thinking.
Then glanced at Gojo.
Gojo didn't say anything.
Just gave the smallest shrug.
A do what you want kind of shrug.
That was enough confirmation.
Geto looked back at Takeru.
"…One hour."
Takeru immediately grinned.
"Pleasure doing business."
Hakari leaned toward Kirara.
"…This is about to get destructive."
Kirara nodded.
"…Yes."
Sukuna watched from a distance, amused.
"…Finally," he muttered. "…Something worth watching."
Tiny Yuji grabbed Tiny Takeru's sleeve.
"…Is sparring dangerous?"
Tiny Takeru nodded seriously.
"…Extremely educational."
Geto stepped forward into the clearing, rolling his shoulders slightly.
"…Try not to break anything important."
Takeru cracked his neck.
"No promises."
A pause.
Then—
both of them disappeared forward at the same time.
The air snapped.
A shockwave rolled through the trees instantly.
Yuji flinched.
Megumi braced.
Even Hakari stopped smiling.
And then—
it began.
Not a fight.
Not a spar.
Something closer to two disasters testing how reality holds together.
Each collision sent ripples through the forest floor.
Each movement warped the air.
Each exchange felt like the world itself was struggling to keep up.
Gojo watched silently.
Older Gojo spoke quietly without taking his eyes off it.
"…He's trying to understand himself again."
Younger Gojo frowned.
"Is that bad?"
Older Gojo paused.
Then answered honestly.
"…It depends how much of the world survives it."
Sukuna smirked faintly.
"…Good."
Tiny Yuji looked up at Tiny Takeru.
"…He looks happy."
Tiny Takeru nodded.
"…That's usually when it gets worse."
The forest shook again as another impact echoed through it.
And for the next hour—
nobody spoke much.
Just watched.
Waiting to see what would break first.