Chapter 35 — Exterminate Tokyo Jujutsu High
"Kill Sukuna's vessel. Kill Yuji Itadori."
Inside a reception room at Tokyo Jujutsu High, Yoshinobu Gakuganji lowered his brows and delivered the order in a cold, decisive voice.
…Sukuna… vessel… Yuji Itadori…
Ren turned the words over in his mind, his expression tightening.
This had just become troublesome.
He had thought this would be an ordinary exchange event—a competitive but routine interschool match.
He had not expected to be dragged into an assassination plot.
When he enrolled at Jujutsu High, it was to understand his own technique, to develop his strength, to exorcise curses.
No one had mentioned that sorcerers would be required to eliminate other humans.
"That is no longer a human," Gakuganji continued, his voice edged with unmistakable killing intent.
Not human?
At the school gates, when the pink-haired boy named Yuji Itadori had leapt out of that box, Ren had immediately sensed the shift in atmosphere.
Utahime-sensei had stiffened.
And Gakuganji—
The principal's aura had turned razor-sharp in an instant. It wasn't subtle hostility. It was pure, unfiltered murderous intent.
In fact, it felt more severe than when Ren had nearly beaten Aoi Todo to death.
But what Ren hadn't realized then was that the situation was even worse than it appeared.
Gakuganji's "killing intent" wasn't metaphorical.
He truly intended to eliminate Itadori.
From what Ren had just learned, Itadori was the vessel of the curse known as Ryomen Sukuna.
Sukuna—the King of Curses.
A figure who had terrorized the golden age of jujutsu a thousand years ago. The strongest sorcerer of that era.
It was said that countless sorcerers had united to challenge him—and all had failed.
He was not only powerful, but monstrously cruel. A butcher who took pleasure in slaughtering women and children.
If such a curse were to fully revive within Itadori—
It would spell catastrophe for the modern world.
According to prior reports, Itadori had supposedly died over a month ago during a curse exorcism incident. The matter had been considered resolved.
Yet now, in broad daylight—at the exchange event, no less—he had appeared alive and well right before Gakuganji's eyes.
Which was why, the moment Kyoto's group had settled in, Gakuganji convened an emergency meeting.
The theme of the meeting was simple:
The objective of the exchange event was to be changed.
Victory no longer mattered.
The new mission was—
"At all costs, eliminate Yuji Itadori."
Ren sat in silence as Yoshinobu Gakuganji repeatedly emphasized the catastrophic threat sleeping within Itadori… the absolute necessity of killing him… and the uncompromising declaration that this mission must succeed, no matter the cost.
When the old man finally finished and shuffled out of the room, Ren let out a yawn, stretched lazily, and began walking toward the door as well.
"Ren!"
A sharp voice stopped him cold.
"Where are you going? The meeting isn't over."
Ren turned and looked at the speaker—
Noritoshi Kamo.
Eyes closed. Expression severe.
Ren couldn't help but think the man was impressive. Hearing someone leave was nothing special—but identifying who it was by footsteps alone?
That was rare.
"Oh? It's not over?" Ren scratched his head innocently. "Is there something left to discuss?"
"The operational plan to kill Yuji Itadori."
"I don't see what there is to discuss," Ren replied casually.
"You're being arrogant," Kamo said, brows tightening.
"I've heard of what you've done. Yes—defeating Aoi Todo as a second-year proves your strength."
"But if that success has made you blind, then you are gravely mistaken."
"Tokyo also has formidable sorcerers. If we underestimate them—if we fail to devise a precise strategy and instead foolishly believe one person can defeat them all—then we are doomed to fail."
"No," Ren said calmly after watching Kamo speak for a moment. "You misunderstand."
"I have no intention of defeating all of them alone."
He paused.
"What I mean is—there's no need for me to act at all."
"What?" Kamo's expression darkened instantly. "This is Principal Gakuganji's direct order!"
"If the old man likes the order that much, he can carry it out himself," Ren said flatly.
"Yuji Itadori—"
"Yeah, yeah. I know," Ren waved dismissively. "He houses Ryomen Sukuna. Sukuna threatens the entire jujutsu world. I've heard it enough to grow calluses in my ears."
He flicked his hand casually.
"It's fine. Since Itadori is such a massive threat, let's trust Tokyo Jujutsu High."
"What?!" The entire room turned toward him in shock.
"What's the issue?" Ren asked mildly.
"Tokyo is our sister school, isn't it?"
"The sorcerers there share the same mission as us—protecting the balance of the jujutsu world, eliminating threats to humanity."
"If that's the case, they won't ignore the danger posed by Itadori and Sukuna."
He tilted his head slightly.
"If Itadori is their student, then this is their internal matter. Internal matters are best handled internally. If they fail, then outsiders can intervene."
"I'm not in the habit of barging into someone else's household affairs from the outset."
"Foolish!" Kamo snapped. "Tokyo High—they—"
"They won't kill Itadori, will they?" Ren narrowed his eyes.
"Whatever their reasons, it doesn't matter."
"If that's the case…"
A faint smile curved his lips.
"They're harboring Yuji Itadori. They're complicit in enabling Sukuna's return."
Silence fell.
"In that case, I propose—"
"If we're going to act…"
"We don't just kill Yuji Itadori."
"We treat everyone at Tokyo Jujutsu High as accomplices to a world-level crime."
"And execute them all."
"Ren!" Mai Zen'in, Kasumi Miwa, and Momo Nishimiya all changed expressions at once. "What are you saying?!"
Kamo's lips pressed thin, face turning iron-gray.
"Think carefully about my proposal," Ren said as he pushed the door open and stepped out, his voice light—almost amused.
"Senior Kamo."
"If you want me to move…"
"That's my only condition."
…
(Special thanks to Rexmoly)