The silence inside the Kyoto meeting hall was crushing.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The words Principal Gakuganji had spoken still lingered heavily in the air.
Kill Oden.
For several long moments, the students simply stared.
Then Miwa was the first to break.
"W-Wait!"
She stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair.
"We can't do that!"
Her voice echoed nervously through the hall.
Momo frowned deeply.
"Principal Gakuganji..."
Even she looked disturbed.
"Isn't this going too far?"
Mai crossed her arms tightly.
Her expression had darkened considerably.
"Killing another student during the exchange event?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"That sounds insane."
Utahime immediately stepped forward as well.
"Gakuganji-sama, surely there's another—"
"No."
The old principal's voice cut through the room sharply.
Silence returned immediately.
Gakuganji slowly adjusted his glasses.
"The higher ups have already reached their conclusion."
His gaze swept across the students.
"Oden is an extremely dangerous existence."
Todo sat lazily with his chin resting against his fist.
His expression unreadable.
Noritoshi remained silent.
Mechamaru observed quietly through his puppet.
Gakuganji continued calmly.
"The boy possesses one of the most dangerous cursed techniques in recorded history."
"The Chinese Zodiac Technique."
Miwa blinked.
Mai frowned slightly.
Even Momo's expression shifted.
Gakuganji's voice grew heavier.
"The last user of that technique nearly plunged Jujutsu Society into ruin."
He slowly began pacing.
"The Uzumaki Clan once stood among the great powers of sorcery."
"Alongside the Gojo, Kamo and Zenin Clans."
His eyes hardened.
"Their downfall came only after immense bloodshed."
The atmosphere became increasingly grim.
Utahime still looked unconvinced.
"But he's still just a student."
Gakuganji stopped walking.
"No."
His voice sharpened.
"He is a special grade."
That single title changed the mood instantly.
The old principal continued.
"Special grades are not normal sorcerers."
"They are calamities."
His gaze darkened slightly.
"And unlike Satoru Gojo, this one is unstable."
"He sided with Suguru Geto."
"He participated in the Night Parade."
"He fought against Jujutsu High."
The students fell silent again.
Because none of that was false.
Gakuganji lowered his voice.
"If left unchecked, he could become another disaster beyond our control."
Miwa slowly sat back down.
Momo looked conflicted.
Mai clicked her tongue softly.
The situation suddenly felt much heavier than before.
Then Mechamaru finally spoke.
"Even if we accept that..."
His mechanical voice echoed calmly through the hall.
"How exactly are we supposed to kill him?"
That question immediately brought reality crashing back into the discussion.
Noritoshi folded his arms.
"Oden Uzumaki is a special grade."
He glanced toward Todo briefly.
"By rumor alone, his combat ability is monstrous."
Momo nodded grimly.
"And there's also Yuta Okkotsu."
Miwa looked nervous.
"Isn't he special grade too?"
Mai frowned.
"And Satoru Gojo is their teacher."
At the mention of Gojo, even Utahime visibly tensed.
Nobody wanted to imagine Satoru Gojo discovering his students had been targeted for assassination.
Gakuganji remained calm.
"You need not concern yourselves with Satoru Gojo."
His voice carried quiet confidence.
"The higher ups will handle him."
Todo suddenly laughed.
A deep amused laugh.
Everyone looked toward him.
Todo grinned widely.
"You say that so confidently."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"But can any of you actually stop that man?"
Nobody answered.
Because the answer was obvious.
No.
Gakuganji ignored the question entirely.
"As for Oden Uzumaki..."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"The higher ups are still determining the optimal method."
"But there will be a way."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Special grades are dangerous."
A pause.
"But they are not unkillable."
Silence followed once more.
Then suddenly—
Todo stood up.
The massive sorcerer stretched casually before turning toward the exit.
Utahime blinked.
"Todo?"
He began walking away lazily.
Noritoshi frowned.
"Where are you going?"
Todo shrugged.
"I've heard enough."
Noritoshi's expression hardened slightly.
"Todo."
"You should listen to Principal Gakuganji."
Todo stopped walking.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
A terrifying pressure rolled off him for the briefest moment.
He slowly looked over his shoulder.
His grin remained.
But his eyes did not smile.
"If you try ordering me around..."
The cursed energy in the room trembled slightly.
"...I'll kill you."
Silence.
Noritoshi immediately stopped speaking.
Even Momo stiffened slightly.
Todo turned away again casually.
"Whether I kill Oden Uzumaki or not..."
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"...depends entirely on how I feel that day."
Then he walked out of the hall.
The heavy doors shut behind him.
BOOM.
And for some reason
That sound felt like the beginning of something terrible.
---
The doors to the higher ups' chamber slowly creaked open.
Elegant footsteps echoed across the wooden floor.
Mei Mei entered leisurely, her heels clicking softly with each step.
Her long silver hair swayed behind her gracefully.
A faint smile rested on her lips.
She glanced around the dimly lit chamber filled with elderly figures before letting out a soft chuckle.
"Well, this is rare."
Her amused gaze swept across the room.
"Usually when people this important call me in, someone is either dead or about to become dead."
No one laughed.
Mei Mei sighed dramatically.
"Tough crowd."
One of the elders finally spoke.
"Mei Mei."
She smiled pleasantly.
"That's my name, yes."
"You are responsible for broadcasting the Sister School Exchange Event."
Mei Mei nodded casually.
"I am."
The elder continued.
"We require you to keep Oden Uzumaki away from the broadcast coverage."
That immediately caught her attention.
Her smile sharpened slightly.
"Oh?"
She crossed one leg over the other elegantly before sitting down without permission.
"And why exactly would you want that?"
Silence lingered briefly.
Mei Mei's eyes narrowed with interest.
"...What are you planning?"
Another elder immediately spoke coldly.
"That is none of your concern."
Mei Mei chuckled softly.
"How scary."
The elder's voice hardened further.
"You are being paid to perform a task."
"Nothing more."
Mei Mei leaned back lazily.
Then her smile widened knowingly.
"Ah."
"I see."
Her eyes gleamed with amusement.
"You want to kill him."
The atmosphere instantly turned colder.
One elder slammed his cane lightly against the floor.
"Watch your tongue."
Mei Mei raised both hands innocently.
"My apologies."
Though judging by her expression, she was not sorry whatsoever.
Another elder spoke firmly.
"You will ensure the broadcast cameras remain focused elsewhere during the event."
"No footage."
"No attention."
"No interference."
Mei Mei tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm."
"So you want the audience distracted while something unfortunate happens."
No one answered.
Which was answer enough.
Mei Mei smiled faintly.
"Well."
"As long as the price is right, I really don't care what happens."
One of the higher ups slid a document across the table.
Mei Mei glanced down at it.
Then her eyebrows rose slightly.
"One hundred million yen?"
The room remained silent.
Mei Mei whistled softly.
"That's quite generous."
The elder spoke calmly.
"Will that be sufficient?"
Mei Mei immediately stood.
"Consider it done."
She tucked the paper into her sleeve elegantly before turning toward the exit.
As she walked away, her smile slowly faded.
Her thoughts turned quieter.
'These idiots.'
The heavy doors shut behind her.
Her heels echoed softly down the corridor.
'Do they seriously think they can kill that boy?'
She remembered Oden's serpent eyes.
His monstrous cursed energy.
The terrifying speed he displayed during their fight.
And most importantly
The moment she almost died.
Her lips curled upward faintly.
'What exactly do they have prepared?'
Back at Tokyo Jujutsu High
The atmosphere was considerably less sinister.
Mostly because Panda was currently stealing snacks from Oden.
"Oi."
Oden immediately smacked Panda's paw away.
"That's mine."
Panda ignored him and stole another rice cracker anyway.
The Tokyo first years sat gathered around a low table inside one of the common rooms.
Sheets of paper covered the surface.
Basic maps.
Team formations.
Potential strategies.
Maki stood near the center, arms folded while attempting to maintain order.
Which was difficult.
Because Oden kept eating the strategy papers.
"Stop eating the notes."
"I was hungry."
"Those were important."
Maki visibly fought the urge to commit violence.
Beside them, Yuta Okkotsu quietly tried reorganizing the remaining papers while Toge Inumaki nodded along silently.
Panda leaned back lazily.
"So."
"Kyoto."
Maki's expression sharpened immediately.
"First things first."
She pointed at the center of the map.
"Someone has to stop Todo."
The room quieted slightly.
Even Panda's expression grew more serious.
Maki continued.
"As long as Todo is loose, every strategy we make goes to hell."
Oden tilted his head.
"...Is this Todo strong?"
Maki stared at him.
"Very."
Oden immediately perked up.
"Then I want to fight him."
Maki sighed.
'Of course he does.'
Panda rubbed the back of his head.
"Honestly, Todo's kind of a monster."
Yuta nodded quietly.
"He's incredibly dangerous in close combat."
Oden looked interested now.
"Good."
Maki pointed between Yuta and Oden.
"We have two special grades anyway."
She shrugged.
"So Todo shouldn't be impossible to handle."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Whether it's Yuta or Oden, one of you needs to keep him occupied."
Yuta glanced toward Oden.
Then smiled slightly.
"If Oden wants to fight him, then I won't interfere."
Oden gave a thumbs-up immediately.
"I claim Todo."
Panda blinked.
"...You make it sound like picking teams in dodgeball."
Oden looked confused.
"Is it not?"
Maki pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Whatever."
She took a deep breath and looked back toward the map.
"Good."
"Now let's move on to the actual strategy."
And unknowingly—
Both Tokyo and Kyoto continued preparing for a conflict far more dangerous than a simple school event.
---
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