December 24 – Tokyo, Shinjuku
The afterglow of the setting sun was blocked by a pitch-black barrier.
Thousands of cursed spirits slowly advanced from the other side of the barrier—filling the sky and covering the ground.
"Be careful not to damage public facilities! If you find any remaining civilians, get them out of the barrier immediately!"
Masamichi Yaga shouted loudly as he instructed the sorcerers of Jujutsu High.
Just as Satoru Gojo was beginning to feel that something was strange—since the usually flamboyant Suguru Geto had yet to show himself—an unexpected figure walked up behind him.
"Oh? Isn't this the former head of the Zenin family, old man Naobito Zenin?"
"What do you want with me?"
Naobito held a sake gourd in his hand, his expression souring.
This brat was as irritating as ever.
Not bothering with pleasantries, Naobito went straight to the point.
"Zenin Toji's son. It's time you returned him to us."
"He carries the blood of the Zenin family. And back then, Toji accepted a transfer of ten billion yen from us."
Stroking his silver mustache, Naobito continued seriously:
"If you hadn't been acting so willfully all this time, we would have taken that child back long ago."
"Tch… troublesome old man."
Gojo muttered softly, his brows knitting slightly.
Megumi Fushiguro—the son that Toji Fushiguro entrusted to Gojo before his death.
When they first met, Megumi had still been a first-year elementary school student.
Now, only a few months remained before he would graduate middle school and enroll at Jujutsu High.
A few years ago, Gojo had already contacted Naobito, offering ten billion yen to buy back Megumi's guardianship…
But he was refused.
Forcibly keeping Megumi—Gojo knew from the beginning that he had no real justification.
Still, he hadn't expected the Zenin family to come demanding him at a time like this.
"Old man, name your price. How much will it take for you to leave that kid alone?"
The wealthy Gojo raised an eyebrow.
"Megumi's my student now. That hellhole of a household you've got isn't somewhere he should go."
"Besides, hasn't your family head already awakened the Ten Shadows Technique?"
"Having one is already enough. Don't be greedy."
Hearing the veiled warning in Gojo's words, Naobito's voice turned colder.
"Brat from the Gojo family. This isn't something you can resolve by throwing a tantrum."
"For the stability of the jujutsu world—and for that child's life—it would be best if you handed him over."
"The stability of the jujutsu world?"
"Ha?!"
Gojo let out a scoff.
"What, old man? Are you threatening me?"
"It's not a threat. I'm simply stating the consequences of your stubbornness."
Naobito's expression was stern.
"Toji's son has awakened the Ten Shadows Technique as well. That surprised me."
"But that alone isn't the reason the Zenin family insists he return. A mere Ten Shadows user could never compare to our current head."
"I don't actually value that child very highly. The only reason I'm insisting…"
"…is because this is an order from the family head."
So it's him…
Gojo recalled the fake smile of that man and clicked his tongue.
This irritating old man was truly arrogant—dismissing Megumi's talent as a sorcerer without even meeting him.
Just as Gojo was about to reply, his gaze suddenly shifted toward the distant sky.
"He really likes making an entrance."
—CRACK!
Thunder exploded across the sky.
Rip!
Wings spread wide enough to cover an entire steel skyscraper, lightning flashing violently around them as if tearing apart the night sky.
Just as Gojo said.
The moment he appeared, Zenin Mirai standing atop the shikigami Nue, immediately drew everyone's attention.
A white beret.
A tight white short-sleeved shirt.
Standing at the edge of the barrier was the foreign sorcerer with dark skin reminiscent of an African—
Miguel.
After confirming the presence of Gojo and Mirai, Miguel stepped outside the barrier.
In a single second he sent a prewritten text message—then immediately stepped back into the battlefield.
"So those are the ones Geto said to watch out for… Zenin Mirai and Satoru Gojo."
Miguel tightened his grip on the Special Grade Cursed Tool: Black Rope, rolling his neck in preparation for battle.
"Show-offs, just like Geto…"
Watching Mirai sitting on the edge of a skyscraper rooftop, Gojo murmured softly.
"Brat from the Gojo family, think carefully about Toji's son!"
Seeing Mirai appear, Naobito's expression became even more serious.
"The family head didn't say what would happen if you refused…"
"But I'm certain. Absolutely certain!"
Looking directly at Gojo, Naobito's tone grew urgent.
"He will definitely take action against the Gojo family. Against that child!"
"Worse—he might even directly attack you… or even Jujutsu High itself!"
"At any cost. Even if it means sacrificing every Zenin sorcerer."
Based on Naobito's decade of understanding of Mirai, this was exactly how things would unfold if Gojo refused.
The reason Naobito was so anxious was because he didn't want the Zenin clan to go insane alongside Mirai over something like this.
But disobeying Mirai's orders…
Before they even had the chance to fight the Gojo clan, the Zenin family would likely be destroyed by Mirai himself first.
Through the Six Eyes, Gojo could see it clearly.
Naobito's expression behind the bandages, the slight tension in his body, the momentary instability of his cursed energy—
Everything the Six Eyes showed Gojo indicated one thing:
Naobito was not exaggerating.
"Troublesome."
It wasn't that Gojo feared Mirai coming after him.
But if this matter caused the entire Zenin clan to go berserk, it really would destabilize the jujutsu world.
Just like how Gojo had always been dissatisfied with the higher-ups of Jujutsu society—yet still refrained from acting.
Megumi's situation was far more troublesome than the thousands of cursed spirits in front of them.
The main issue was simple:
Gojo didn't have the moral high ground here.
"Gojo-sensei!"
Assistant supervisor Kiyotaka Ijichi came running over.
"About the investigation you asked me to do regarding Okkotsu…"
Meanwhile — Jujutsu High Classroom
Maki Zenin, Yuta Okkotsu, and White Zetsu.
While White Zetsu enthusiastically lectured about advanced techniques for picking up girls, one listened with speechless disbelief while the other blushed.
Suddenly, the darkness descending from the sky startled both of them.
"A curtain?"
"White Zetsu, stay here. Okkotsu and I will check it out!"
Maki stood up with a serious expression, grabbing her spear as she headed out.
"Wait for me, Maki-senpai!"
Yuta hurried after her, face slightly red.
"So it's finally happening…"
White Zetsu leaned back with his legs crossed on the desk, gazing out the window.
This was the perfect observation spot he had chosen yesterday.
"Just like Mirai said."
Watching Maki run downstairs, White Zetsu smirked.
"Already feel sorry for little Maki… three… two seconds should be enough."
Shinjuku — Inside the Barrier
So this is the 'buffet' Mirai was talking about.
Looking down at the battlefield where sorcerers and cursed spirits slaughtered each other, Mirai's eyes were cold.
Beside him, the opened Kamui space on his shoulder continuously absorbed the cursed energy dispersing within the barrier.
With the battlefield sealed by the barrier—
Whether it was the death of cursed spirits…
Or the death of sorcerers…
Glancing at Gojo being held back by the foreign sorcerer, and at Mei Mei fighting cursed spirits nearby, Mirai grinned.
All of it would become nourishment.
Fuel to advance his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Fuel to evolve the Gedo Statue.
"Time's about up."
"I'll take one last bite… and then withdraw."
At this moment, ten minutes had passed since Gojo sent Panda and Toge Inumaki away.