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As Yuta exorcised the Special Grade curse, the entire innate domain collapsed.
The juvenile detention centre returned to its normal appearance.
After Yuji and Nobara dealt with the remaining curses and regrouped with Yuta and Megumi, the group searched for any surviving civilians.
Unfortunately, the remaining victims were no luckier than the first one.
It was officially declared that there were no survivors.
With that, the mission finally came to an end.
Yuta went ahead to report the mission details to Ichiji, while Yuji and Megumi collected whatever remains they could recover to return them to the victims' families.
Even though the mission was technically a success, a heavy atmosphere lingered around Yuji and Megumi.
-----
The next day, Naoya Zenin and Satoru Gojo were summoned to an isolated compound managed by Jujutsu Headquarters.
"You really are thorough with your proposals."
Gojo commented lazily.
"Of course, someone has to use logic to save everyone's assess. Safety doesn't come with emotional talk."
The Sukuna finger retrieved during yesterday's mission had been transported to this isolated facility according to Naoya's proposal.
There were still many people who were opposed to letting Sukuna's vessel roam free and wanted to have him executed immediately.
However, even among them, many agreed with Naoya's proposal about using the vessel to the best of its capacity to get rid of as many fingers as possible, and the thorough process that was being followed for this also sat well with many of them.
They might hate the self-serving great clans and their special grades all they want, but there was no denying that every one of those geezers had faith in Satoru's and Naoya's strengths.
Satoru's unilateral push for delaying the execution might have made them try to make the vessel die some way or another, but Naoya's thorough planning and his warning about the fingers getting stronger and stronger with each passing day and powering up the curses made them hold back their reservations and trust the strength of the Special Grades.
After a long time, in a while, the Jujutsu world had many Special Grades assets at hand, and even among special grades, this generation produced some unique and unbelievable monsters. They might be delusional, but they wanted to believe that now, of all times, they could finally get rid of the fingers for good.
Naoya and Satoru sat on the ground and waited for Yuji, who had just entered the highly sealed warehouse in the middle of nowhere, to come out without any signs of Sukuna in control.
Naturally, they came without informing Yuji and, subsequently, Sukuna, to make sure that they don't alert Sukuna, who might try to trick them into believing that he can't take over Yuji after getting stronger.
"Just trust in the kid," Satoru grumbled.
"I trust you. I trust Yuji. I don't trust that Heian era monster. Sue me for being cautious, but that's just how I am."
Naoya looked at the phone screen.
On it was a live feed from a CCTV camera showing them what was happening inside the warehouse.
There were around a dozen sorcerers, ranging from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Each was watching carefully at Yuji.
Many were prepared to attack, while the remaining were prepared to run away as well. Even they didn't know that two special-grade sorcerers were waiting outside to keep things in check.
"You tsundere~ Just say that you care for the cute and lovely me~" Satoru teased and leaned his head on Naoya's shoulder to watch the live feed as well.
"Yes, yes, I am a tsundere."
Naoya didn't bother to argue with Satoru; he wasn't in the mood for it right now, when things could just go down the worst path possible.
Yuji looked around nervously. He could feel the stares of the people around him and even the terrified looks they were giving him.
He gulped and picked up the finger before popping it inside his mouth. {A/N: Just saying, but similar to the throat goat Geto, our boy Yuji can take in thin short ones(or long depending on how big Sukuna's fingers are) down his throat too. Maybe Kenjaku has a thing for men with good throating capabilities.}
The sorcerers around them got tense as Yuji grabbed his throat.
Still, a moment later, he stuck out his tongue, complaining about the grossness of the whole process.
There were no physical or CE changes within the boy, and this made the sorcerers sigh.
Outside, Naoya and even Satoru, who was holding his breath for a while, sighed in relief.
Hearing him sigh, Naoya looked at him.
Satoru immediately looked away and pretended to be whistling.
"...My Tsundere Satoru~ You were worried~"
Naoya teased the white-haired special grade, making Satoru flinch and snap at Naoya.
-----
The next day, when Naoya, who was visiting Tokyo Jujutsu High to check in on Maki and Megumi, was on his way back to Kyoto but was stopped by Megumi.
"What is it?"
The two stood in a quiet area away from the others.
"Nii-san...I lost one of my shikigami in my last fight."
Megumi's face fell as he relayed the news and looked down.
Naoya stood silently and waited for Megumi to calm down a bit.
"Was that a death that could have been avoided?"
Naoya asked calmly.
Megumi heard the question and thought clearly.
If he had focused on the surroundings more instead of bickering with Itadori, then he could have noticed the curse heading towards the white dog shikigami.
Megumi didn't say anything and simply gave a nod.
Naoya didn't say anything; he simply took a step forward and slapped Megumi.
It wasn't a full force slap, but it was strong enough to make Megumi's cheek redden and swell a bit.
"Then there are many things that need to be done. First, summon all your shikigami out."
Megumi looked at Naoya, who gave an absurd order to him.
What does he want him to do after summoning the shikigami?
Naoya, though, didn't explain further; he simply waited for Megumi to do as he was told.
Megumi stared at Naoya for a bit longer before he did what he was told.
[Divine Dog] [Rabbit Escape] [Toad] [Nue] [Giant Serpent] [Round Deer] [Max Elephant]
All the shikigami currently in his arsenal stood in front of them.
They looked at their summoner and wondered why he called them out, and all gave a cheerful greeting as they noticed Naoya.
Naoya waved back in response and then turned towards Megumi.
"Now, apologise to all these shikigami for being a foolish friend and letting one of their brethren die because of that. I always tell you this. Our shikigami are not just tools for us to use in a fight. They are our friends, family, companions, whatever you feel like. As much as it is their responsibility to aid you in a battle, it is also your responsibility to be a responsible summoner and leader and make sure they don't face unexpected scenarios because of your mistakes."
Naoya chided Megumi in a serious tone.
The only reason why Naoya's teamwork with his shikigami was so great because both the summoner and the shikigami didn't treat each other as just a part of a transaction. There is a bond of trust and companionship between them.
And it is the same ideology that Naoya had taught Megumi from the day he started training him.
If he messes up, then he needs to apologise to his friends.
The words struck Megumi like sharpened knives. Because of how smoothly things were going. He forgot that principle.
He looked at his shikigami and grovelled on the ground.
"I-I apologise. Because of my foolishness, one of us died...I-"
Megumi continued to apologise for a while, and the shikigami sat patiently and saw their summoner.
After Megumi was done saying whatever he had in his heart, he looked up at the shikigami.
The shikigami gave a calm yet friendly response in whatever manner they could.
Megumi looked at them.
He didn't know their language... but he understood they were telling him it was all right.
Naoya looked at Megumi.
"They trust you, Megumi, don't be foolish and break their trust. When on a mission, 100% focus on everything. Had the curse targeted you instead of the shikigami, what would you have done? You didn't even see it coming. Keep that in mind. Okay?"
Megumi simply gave a nod and then sent the shikigami back to his shadows.
"So, anything else you want to talk about?" asked Naoya. Megumi had more to say; he could sense it.
"...I want to get stronger. Because I was weak, I lost a shikigami...what should I do now?"
Megumi looked at Naoya with a determined gaze.
Learning Jujutsu was primarily a solitary practice.
However, Megumi had an advantage in the form of Naoya, who could guide him on his technique. He had also called Toji to ask him about ways to get better, but his father simply told him that more physical training won't take him where he wants to reach. Right now, his growth can only accelerate if he focuses on Jujutsu.
"...First, of all, you need to get your shikigami stronger. Your White Dog died, right? Then you need to take his power and have it undergo [Totality]."
"[Totality]?"
"[Ten Shadows] is not a shallow technique. It is one of the most yearned-after techniques because of how versatile and deep it is. Even though one of your shikigami perished, it didn't leave you for good yet. Like family, it still left you something to take care of you. To help you. A part of the shikigami that dies stays within your shadows, waiting for you to call upon its help once again. The said shikigami cannot come back again, but its power can be combined fully with the other Shikigami."
Megumi heard with rapt attention.
He still had a part of the White Dog within him....he didn't know that, but now that he searched it within him, he could indeed feel it there.
"First master that. [Totality] is your assignment for now. Call me once you can call upon that pow-"
[Divine Dog: Totality]
Megumi made a hand sign, and a giant werewolf-like variant of the wolves stood beside them.
Megumi glanced at the shikigami, and soon a smile started to form on his face.
Naoya looked at the scene.
The boy did seem to have potential....well, he was learning from the best. What can he say?
"Well, since you are done with this lets go with..."
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At the same time, at another location, Yuji Itadori was bowing to Satoru Gojo.
"Gojo-sensei! Please teach me to be the strongest!"
Gojo blinked in confusion(with his blind fold on, btw). Why the sudden begging from Yuji?
"I don't want to be a liability on missions. Please Gojo-sensei. You called yourself the strongest! I too want to be like that! Sukuna, Special Grade curses, I want to keep others safe from any threat possible!"
Yuji declared with a serious look on his face.
"...Hmph, you do have an eye for people. Leave it to me, the strongest!" Gojo declared.
Yuji cheered in excitement at his success on butterin- *cough**cough* getting Satoru to teach him to be a proper sorcerer.
-----
Naoya went back to Kyoto, and later that night, Satoru was on his way to Jujutsu High after dealing with some work.
Currently, he was with Ichiji, who was driving him back, when suddenly he asked him to stop the car and go ahead as soon as he could.
After getting out of the car and seeing it driving away, Satoru turned around.
"Now then, which idiot thought that it was the right time to be playing around?"
As if waiting for that line, an unknown entity jumped upon Satoru, and a second later, Satoru Gojo was engulfed in intense flames.