A/N: Since you guys have been commenting more, I'm now motivated to write even more chapters of my novel, so I guess I'll spend some time writing until I get bored! 😪
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"Was it really necessary to use a precious finger just to get that information on Sukuna's power?" A short cursed spirit with a volcano for a head asked a man with long black hair and stitch markings across his forehead.
"We can't take any half-measures with this kind of stuff," the man said, looking back at the cursed spirit. A tall spirit with roots filling their eye sockets and a chubby, squid-like cursed spirit followed closely behind them.
"Besides, we got some valuable information."
"Hmph! I hope that's not an excuse," the volcano spirit said, rolling his single eye.
"[Redacted]," the taller spirit said, causing the volcano spirit to grow annoyed.
"You! Shut up! I can't understand a word you're saying, but I can hear the meaning in my head! It's creepy!" he complained as the man leading them entered a shop.
"Welcome! Party of one?" a lady asked as the man smiled politely.
"Yes. Only one."
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"Tell me, was it intentional?" Gojo asked as he sat on a mortuary stretcher, leaning forward.
"What do you mean?" Ijichi asked, nervous just being anywhere near Gojo.
"The enemy—it was a Special Grade. And five rescue targets who weren't even confirmed to be alive yet." Gojo scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat annoyed. "There's no way I'd send some first-years for that kind of mission. I had to pull some strings just to get a stay of execution for Yuji."
"Those crusty higher-ups used the Special Grade to get rid of him in my absence." Gojo began radiating a powerful pressure as he continued. "If any of them had died, it would have been icing on the cake for them, right?"
"But when the mission was planned, there was no indication of a Special Grade," Ijichi said, Gojo's aura making him even more nervous than before.
"What a pain it is, finding this culprit. Maybe I should just kill ALL THE HIGHER-UPS," Gojo said. His Cursed Energy was openly leaking from his body now, nearly shaking the room.
"You're being emotional for once," a woman with dark brown hair and eyes said. Gojo looked up to see Shoko and Megumi enter the room.
"Don't pick on Ijichi too much; he's caught between us and the higher-ups," Shoko said, as Ijichi looked at her like a savior.
"I don't care about his hardships," Gojo joked, pointing at Shoko before turning to Megumi. "So, you patched Megumi up? I'm not good at healing others."
Shoko nodded. "Yeah, he should be fine now."
"What about Itadori and Kugisaki?" Megumi asked, rolling his shoulder.
"Ah, Yuji is somewhere secret right now, and Nobara should be on campus at Jujutsu High. Oh, by the way—due to the third-years being unavailable for the time being, you three will be joining this year's Goodwill Event in their place. Isn't that wonderful!?" Gojo smiled.
'Well, I have been looking forward to getting stronger. Maybe this is a chance to refine my technique even further,' Megumi thought as he nodded at Gojo's words.
"Alright then, you head out and get ready for the Goodwill Event. You have a few weeks to prepare. I have to go do some things and I'll check in on you guys here and there," Gojo said before vanishing from his spot entirely.
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"So, your boss wants to reverse the roles of curses and humans in this world?" Kenjaku asked with a casual smile that never seemed to leave his face.
"Not quite." Jogo tapped the table. "Humans are made of lies. There's always a flip side to the positive emotions they show."
He explained, "But the negative emotions, such as hatred and killing intent... those are pure truths. Us curses, born from such truths, are the PUREST FORM. We're the TRUE HUMANS." Jogo's eye grew bloodshot with passion. "The fake ones should be burned away!"
"But the reality is... you'll be the ones who disappear," Kenjaku summarized. Jogo nodded.
"That's why we're asking for help defeating the jujutsu sorcerers."
"Before this war, you'll need to meet two conditions to win," Kenjaku held up two fingers. "First, immobilize Satoru Gojo and remove him entirely from the fight. And second, make an ally of Ryomen Sukuna and Yuji Itadori."
Jogo was confused. "Didn't Yuji Itadori go missing after that incident at that facility where you used one of Sukuna's fingers?"
Kenjaku chuckled. "Don't worry about that. Knowing Gojo, he probably put the boy in hiding somewhere so another incident like this doesn't happen again."
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"I didn't even kill you, yet you look like you want to kill me," Sukuna smirked, looking down at Yuji who grit his teeth.
"I wonder why! You almost killed Fushiguro and even hurt Gojo-sensei, all while using my body!" Yuji said, annoyed by Sukuna's casual attitude.
"Aren't you forgetting to thank me for healing your hand and arm?" Sukuna sighed, muttering that Yuji was so greedy.
"You immediately tried to kill Megumi after that!"
"Well, anyway, since we seem to be stuck here for the time being, I'll take this time to kick your ass!"
Yuji picked up one of the horned skulls near his feet and chucked it at Sukuna's head. It flew faster than a bullet, passing right through Sukuna's head—only for the Sukuna sitting on the throne to flicker and fade like a ghost.
"Huh?" Yuji grew confused. Beside him, the real Sukuna was already standing, looking in the same direction Yuji was.
"Who were you aiming at, brat?" Sukuna mocked, covering his eyes as if to see further, startling Yuji who hadn't even seen him move.
Out of reflex, Yuji swung a heavy blow at Sukuna, who caught it before punching him through one of the large ribs protruding from the ground, shattering it.
"Augh... that hurt..." Yuji groaned as he held his back, slowly standing up after that blow.
"How boring. If I didn't know you had better potential than everyone else in this era, I'd have killed you right here and reincarnated elsewhere." Sukuna yawned, walking over to Yuji, who raised an eyebrow and shifted into a combat stance.
"Better potential? What do you mean by that?"
'Hmm, if I tell him the truth, would he develop his abilities faster and, by proxy, grant me a greater battle?' Sukuna pondered before getting an idea.
He'd tell Yuji about his technique—although a part of him was annoyed it was, by default, a better version of his very own Shrine. He would change that later.
"Alright, listen up, brat. I'll only say this once. Let's form a contract—a Binding Vow, if you will. I'll let you know exactly what you have the potential for, and in exchange, when the time comes, you won't run away from our final battle. You'll train up all your friends and whatnot, and all of you shall fight me to the death without mercy. I won't run away either; I'll even fight everyone simultaneously if I have to," Sukuna said, drooling at the thought of such a battle. "In fact, I'll even give you a boost in your rate of growth so that I don't need to wait years for that glorious moment."
"Dude, you're acting weird..." Yuji deadpanned, just before a sudden kick sent him flying across the innate domain again in pain.
"So, brat, do we have a deal? It's basically free knowledge on your part, and you can tell your dumb sensei what I've told you so he can give you even better training on top of that."
"Why would you help me? What's in it for an evil person like you?" Yuji questioned as Sukuna stepped on his back, pinning him to the ground.
"Ah, you don't get it. The thrill of battle brings me pleasure unlike anything else. It's a blessing that this world has so many strong people to fight, each with their unique styles and tactics... it's like heaven," Sukuna said, closing his eyes as if speaking the world's ultimate truth.
"Fine. But no funny business," Yuji said, and Sukuna let him stand.
"Remember, brat, a Binding Vow is very punishing should you go back on your word. So don't even think about running from me in the future." Sukuna smiled with malicious intent.
"You're my burden now. I wouldn't let anyone suffer because I ran from my own curse!" Yuji spoke with passion.
They shook on it, invisible chains solidifying the contract as Sukuna felt he was going to make this era much more dangerous for himself.