(Pov Satoshi)
The plan was simple: after meeting back up with the others, we met with Yuki and began our careful trip to the Tomb of the Stars, where Tengen was housed. It would be tricky getting there, as the entire area was part of Tengen's barrier, meaning if she wanted us to stay out, we'd stay out.
I doubt she would, though we had warned her earlier about Kenjaku's threat, so this was likely expected. There was one problem left, though: the continued existence of the higher-ups.
Despite the failure of the Zenin in executing me, there was no doubt the reprieve wouldn't last long, not to mention they would still likely target Yaga. Yuta was also still somewhere. I had tried contacting him once things calmed down in Shibuya, but I got nothing. He hadn't come after Yuji, so that was something, but he might have been still considering the fake deal after all.
The entire trip back to the school in Tokyo was stressful, as we had to keep our profile as low as possible despite the presence of multiple Special Grades. Somehow, though, we managed to make it back in one piece with nobody the wiser. Well, the rest of them did. I left them to find the tomb while I took care of more important things.
(Pov 3rd)
In an unassuming building, a few miles from the Tokyo Jujutsu School, was the headquarters of the entire world of Jujutsu. This building was where the higher-ups met representatives of powerful clans dedicated to protecting the people and keeping the world of curses a secret. At least that is what they were meant to be over the years; this had become another corrupt power structure, interested only in preserving its own power.
They viewed any deviation from their standards as a threat to be eliminated immediately, a task they had been unable to accomplish since the awakening of Gojo Satoru. The young Gojo had made his stance on them clear, and with fellow special Grades Geto Suguru and Gojo Satoshi backing him as well, there was nothing the higher-ups could do but wait.
When it was learned that Gojo Satoru had been sealed within the Cursed Object known as the Prison Realm, they felt their chance had finally arrived and immediately ordered the executions of those who stood in their way.
Gojo Satoshi, Geto Suguru, Yaga Masamichi, Okkotsu Yuta, and Itadori Yuji had all come under the scope of the higher-ups for one reason or another. As such, they had to be dealt with quickly. Thus, when they were informed that Okkotsu Yuta had returned to Japan, they immediately sprang into action.
They wanted to force him into a deal to hunt and execute the others in exchange for his own life before killing him themselves. So, instead of immediate hostility, Yuta was escorted to Jujutsu headquarters and sent straight to the meeting room.
The room was almost completely dark, illuminated only by orange lanterns placed behind paper panels. Behind each panel was a key member of the headquarters, hidden from sight, as their identity was kept under the strictest of restrictions.
In another time and world, this strategy might have worked, but they had not counted on one thing: the Zenins' failure to eliminate Gojo Satoshi.
(Pov Yuta)
This was the only way it could be; otherwise, I was taking this risk for nothing. I knew that the higher-ups couldn't be trusted. Just last year, I was the one in their crosshairs because of Rika, and they hadn't warmed up to me at all since.
Yet this was my only chance to protect my friends and teachers. If I could play along, then things would turn out ok I just had to pretend for a bit.
"Okkotsu Yuta, we have decided to give you this one chance at redemption." One of the figures said I couldn't see them through the paper panels. "Kill the vessel of Sukuna, and we shall consider lightening your sentence along with those of Gojo Satoru and Gojo Satoshi."
"I'll accept this task, on one condition: you must make a binding vow to uphold your end of the bargain," I said. It was clear I could never trust these people, but I had some leverage here, at least.
"You dare think to make demands of us, boy! Your insolence knows no bounds." One of the other screens yelled out.
"You're lucky we even offer this much; the danger you pose hasn't gone away." Another screen said.
"You old assholes never change. Do you always think you hold any real power?" A new, much more familiar voice cut in.
"Gojo, you dare show your face here. Have you come to surrender yourself?" One of the voices asked, and when I turned, I saw him. Gojo Satoshi is standing in the entrance, holding a hammer in his right hand. He looked like usual, but I could see from the way his muscles were tensed that he was angry.
Without a word, he suddenly moved, appearing behind the paper wall of the one who had spoken. In one swift swing, the paper was splattered with blood, and a thump was heard as the body fell over.
Before the others could even react, he was already gone, his hammer crushing another higher-up; this time, his body smashed through the paper wall. Where his head had once been remained only a pile of broken bones and pulpy soup.
"Gojo Satoshi! You've crossed the line this time, I shall person-!" The voice was cut off suddenly as Satoshi once again seemed to appear next to the man, his free hand extending and wrapping around the speaker's throat.
"None of you seems to understand the restraint required in keeping you alive," Satoshi said, his voice missing its usual levity. "You all think that your thoughts matter, that you can tell us what to do, but in the end, you're all just pathetic old men clinging to power."
In a sudden twitch, his hand clenched, and a distinct crunching sound was heard before another thump. "You have all proven yourselves useless, and so it is time for things to change permanently." That was the last thing he said before continuing his attack.
By the end, none of the higher-ups had survived, and the world of Jujutsu could breathe freely for the first time in centuries.
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Sorry for the delay, there was work done on the house, and I couldn't focus, but then I honestly lost all will to write. I still want to finish this series, but every chapter has taken me longer to write than the last, so sorry for the delay.