The air stood still after Mahito's obliteration.
Ashes and silence surrounded Itadori.
His fists were still clenched. His heart, however, boiled.
Kenjaku adjusted his sleeves with a casual smirk.
"You seem angry," he said. "Shouldn't you be thanking me? I did what you couldn't."
Yuji took one step forward—
"You're next."
But just then—
"Stop."
A new voice echoed across the rubble.
Itadori paused, recognizing it immediately.
"He's my prey."
Out from the shadows emerged Choso—eyes narrowed, resolve heavy in every step.
"This man… he used me like a pawn," Choso said, stopping beside Itadori.
"He made me fight my own blood. I'll be the one to make him pay."
Yuji looked at him.
For the first time, they stood side by side—not as enemies, but as strange brothers.
Choso gave him a short nod.
"Let me handle this."
Kenjaku smiled.
"Ah, Choso… still clinging to that idea of family?"
"I am family," Choso snapped. "And you took mine."
With that, he charged.
The battle began.
Kenjaku waved a hand, summoning a cascade of cursed spirits around him.
Choso, using Supernova, blasted them all to smoke in one vicious spin.
He leapt forward, using Slicing Exorcism, stabbing his own blood and spraying it as pressurized bullets—raining them toward Kenjaku.
Kenjaku summoned a cursed barrier and deflected the shots, but Choso was already behind him.
WHAM!
A direct hit to Kenjaku's back sent the curse user skidding across the street.
Kenjaku's eyes narrowed.
"Impressive… you've improved."
Choso was panting, blood dripping from his nose.
"This is for Eso. For Kechizu."
Kenjaku raised both hands.
"And this is for nothing in particular."
BOOM!
A cursed shockwave erupted from his core, flinging Choso through a half-collapsed building.
Choso got up, coughing blood.
He charged again. Blow after blow.
Fist, blood, blade—Choso gave everything.
But Kenjaku—he was too refined. Too experienced. Too calm.
And in one crushing motion—
CRACK!
He hit Choso across the jaw, sending him crashing into a pillar.
The older brother of the Death Painting Wombs dropped to his knees, breathless.
Kenjaku walked forward, brushing dust from his shoulder.
"Your bond with Itadori is cute. I wonder how long it'll last."
Choso looked up weakly.
"Even if I die… he'll finish this."
Kenjaku smiled once more, stepping into the shadows.
"Perhaps. But first—he'll need the key."
He turned his head slightly, just before vanishing.
"Soon, I'll reveal how to get it. But trust me… none of you have what it takes."
And like smoke, he disappeared into the night.
Itadori rushed to Choso, catching him before he fell.
"You okay?"
Choso coughed, smirking faintly through the blood.
"Told you… he was mine…"
Yuji nodded quietly.
"Then I'll make sure his end… is ours."