Ever since Kento Nanami returned to Jujutsu High yesterday at noon, he'd submitted his recommendation to the higher-ups for Yuji Itadori to become a Grade 1 sorcerer.
Through Satoru Gojo's behind-the-scenes maneuvering—combined with Yuji's astonishing performance—his Grade 1 certification was issued early the next morning.
"But... that Yuji Itadori is a Grade 1 sorcerer..."
Kasumi Miwa sweatdropped slightly.
"The task of killing Yuji Itadori will be handled by Naoya Zenin. The rest of you simply need to provide support from the sidelines."
The Kyoto school principal stroked his beard and spoke slowly.
"But..."
"Boring."
A burly, muscular man stood from his chair, directly interrupting the discussion.
"Old man, did you call us here this early for this boring crap?"
Aoi Todo rose, then walked straight to the door and placed his hand on the sliding panel.
"I'm leaving."
"Todo, come back here. This is the principal's order."
"..."
BANG—!
Aoi Todo raised his leg and kicked the wooden door open. The panel groaned under the force and collapsed into the corridor.
"Order me again and see if I don't kill you."
"Little Takada-chan's livestream is starting soon. I have to go watch."
"Don't notify me of these boring meetings in the future. I have nothing to say to you boring people with no interest in women."
Aoi Todo left without looking back.
"Play your strategies and schemes by yourselves."
"Boring."
Meanwhile, the Tokyo school was also holding a meeting.
The second-years and first-years gathered together, forming a circle and discussing animatedly.
Tokyo school first-year: Yuji Itadori. Grade 1 sorcerer. Innate technique: Blood Manipulation.
Tokyo school first-year: Megumi Fushiguro. Grade 2 sorcerer (questionable). Innate technique: Ten Shadows Technique.
Tokyo school first-year: Nobara Kugisaki. Grade 3 sorcerer. Innate technique: Straw Doll Technique.
Tokyo school first-year: Junpei Yoshino. Grade 4 sorcerer. Innate technique: Shikigami—Moon Dregs.
Second-year: Maki Zenin. Grade 4 sorcerer. Heavenly Restriction constitution.
Second-year: Panda. Grade 2 sorcerer. Cursed Corpse.
Second-year: Toge Inumaki. Semi-Grade 1 sorcerer. Innate technique: Cursed Speech.
The above was the participant list. In addition, the Tokyo school also had a Special Grade 1 sorcerer sent by the Gojo Clan for support.
"Fushiguro, you look like you didn't sleep well?"
Maki glanced at the dark circles under Megumi's eyes.
"I didn't..."
Megumi gave Yuji a meaningful look. Yuji quickly made an apologetic gesture.
"The rules are simple. The school has released a large number of Grade 2 and Grade 1 curses in the forest. Whoever exorcises more Grade 1 curses before sunset wins the exchange event. Everyone understand?"
Maki explained. Everyone nodded.
"Although we have two extra people this year, let's stick to the original battle plan."
Panda suggested.
Maki looked at Yuji. "Itadori, I didn't expect you to get promoted to Grade 1 so quickly."
"Just looking at sorcerer grades, we were undoubtedly a tier weaker than the Kyoto school. They have two Grade 1 sorcerers including Naoya Zenin, plus two Semi-Grade 1s. Fortunately we have you, so the gap should be fifty-fifty now."
"I don't want to lose. We're counting on you this time."
Yuji shook his head. "No need to thank me. I've disliked that guy Naoya Zenin for a while now."
"Yesterday, he tried to bully Junpei. Fortunately I stopped him in time."
"I want to beat him to a pulp too. So I'm not just helping you—I'm helping myself."
Hearing this, Maki chuckled. "Alright then. Thanks for the help."
"However..."
Her tone turned serious.
"There's a troublesome guy at the Kyoto school named Aoi Todo. Third-year. Grade 1 sorcerer. No doubt he's a monster like you. Besides you, the rest of us together might not be able to handle him."
Hearing that name, Yuji was momentarily stunned. Then the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a knowing smile.
Aoi Todo. Isn't that my best bro?
In his past life, during the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event, he and Todo had fought and become friends. Although that guy's personality was weird and baffling, Yuji knew Aoi Todo was a reliable partner. No need to worry about him.
"Don't worry. Leave Naoya Zenin and Aoi Todo to me."
Yuji cupped his fists, voice confident.
Megumi frowned. "Hey, Itadori. Don't push yourself. The other side has two Grade 1 sorcerers. Naoya Zenin is far beyond an ordinary Grade 1. That guy is the heir to the Zenin Clan head."
"Doesn't matter. Fighting one person is the same as fighting two. Might as well take them both down at once."
Yuji shook his head, tone relaxed.
"Seriously, are all the first-years this arrogant nowadays? Though you do have the capital to be arrogant..." Panda rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Can we trust you? Itadori, the other side has two people."
Nobara looked at him.
"Although I don't know much about the other side, I believe if it's Itadori-kun, he can definitely do it."
Junpei chimed in from the side. Perhaps because Yuji had saved him three times, Junpei always felt a sense of security from him.
"Yeah, that's right." Yuji nodded. "I can do it."
"Sigh, fine. But we have a Special Grade 1 sorcerer from the Gojo Clan on our side. If you can't win, let us know immediately. Once we win the team battle, things will be much easier."
"Of course. I won't push myself."
"Your words sound exactly like you're pushing yourself..." Megumi sweatdropped.
"Don't worry so much."
"Let's move out!"
Outside the barrier of Jujutsu High stretched a dense forest. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the branches and leaves. Three figures stood at the forest's edge, their gazes crossing the overlapping canopy to land on the massive building in the distance.
"Mechamaru and I will open the barrier for you. When the time comes, just sneak in."
Kenjaku, hands in his pockets, explained to the volcano-headed curse and Hanami beside him.
"Jujutsu High's attention is entirely focused on the exchange event right now. Jogo—go to the storehouse and steal Sukuna's fingers and the Death Paintings. Be quick."
"As for Hanami—go to the exchange event site and cause some chaos to create an opportunity for Jogo."
"As for me, I can't leave any residual cursed energy within Jujutsu High's barrier for now. Otherwise it will expose our intelligence to Satoru Gojo."
Kenjaku spread his hands.
"However, a Grade 1 curse user, three Semi-Grade 1 curse users, and five Grade 2 curse users under my command will assist you. That's it. You all understand?"
"There's no need for that."
Jogo grinned, revealing two rows of pitch-black teeth. It cut Kenjaku off directly, voice hoarse and deep.
"I'm enough by myself."
Kenjaku narrowed his eyes. "I advise you to be careful, Jogo."
"I know who's inside Jujutsu High." Jogo's tone was supremely confident. "Satoru Gojo, a bunch of small-fry sorcerers, and that Sukuna vessel."
"I'm not a greenhorn like Mahito, getting beaten into depression by some brat. That will never happen to me."
"..."
Hearing Jogo's inexplicably confident words, Kenjaku stuck out his tongue and shrugged.
I hope you won't complain to me—"You actually asked me to hold off Satoru Gojo for a minute?!"—when I ask you to help seal him in the future.
"Anyway, don't drag out the fight."
"I know. Your nagging is annoying."
Jogo waved dismissively. Its figure, along with Hanami's, immediately vanished from Kenjaku's sight.
"How truly worrisome."
Kenjaku shook his head.
The area for the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event was set within the large forest and a small portion of the Tokyo school grounds.
The Tokyo school students were assigned to the forest. The Kyoto school students were in the campus area.
"Ahem. Alright, alright. Everyone understands the rules, right?"
Yuji looked up. Satoru Gojo's lazy voice broadcasted from the speakers overhead.
"Then—friendship first, competition second. I declare the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event officially begun!"
The moment his words fell, the seven Tokyo school students dashed into the forest like arrows loosed from bows. The group swept past fallen leaves and intertwined roots, shadows of trees retreating rapidly on both sides.
Yuji took point, clearing the path. The others followed behind.
"Itadori, don't run so fast!" Megumi shouted from behind. "We have to maintain formation!"
Junpei ran at the very back, struggling slightly. His stamina was inherently inferior to the others, and he'd only recently arrived at Jujutsu High—lacking systematic training.
But I absolutely cannot hold Itadori-kun back.
He told himself.
Meanwhile, the Kyoto school students within the campus also set off.
Aoi Todo had not joined the group. Taking his place was the frivolous playboy, Naoya Zenin.
The blonde man walked at the front, pace unhurried, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
"So boring," he muttered. "I'm enough by myself, but they insisted on bringing along all these useless people."
The Kyoto school students walked behind him in silence, most of them intimidated by his presence. Kasumi Miwa walked at the very back, gripping her katana, face filled with nervousness.
"Miwa-san, are you okay?"
Momo Nishimiya looked back with concern.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine..." Kasumi's voice trembled slightly. "Just a bit nervous..."
"Nervous?" Naoya said without looking back, tone dripping with contempt. "It's not like you're being sent to die. You just need to help pick up cursed tools and cheer for me from the back. Heh. What a hypocrite."
"You women are nothing but appendages and tools for men. Honestly, do you really think you can be of any special use?"
Naoya spread his hands, speaking as if stating the obvious.
"..."
Kasumi bit her lip and said nothing.
"Tch."
Naoya snorted, activated Projection Sorcery, and immediately vanished from his spot.
He had a deal with the jujutsu higher-ups. His goal for this trip was to kill Yuji Itadori.
"My Divine Dogs can distinguish the scent of curses. Everyone, let's split into two teams now. One team holds off the Kyoto school students while the other comes with me..."
Before Megumi could finish, the running group simultaneously felt a surging wave of cursed energy.
"Was that... just now?"
A gust of wind swept up the fallen leaves. Everyone present felt violent cursed energy surging from the distance like a tidal wave.
Yuji stopped and raised his hand to halt the others.
"Stop. That guy's coming. Step back."
Megumi, Nobara, and Junpei almost instinctively scattered to the sides. Panda grabbed the back of Junpei's collar and dragged him to a safe distance. Toge pulled up his collar, ready to use Cursed Speech at any moment.
In the next second, a golden figure whistled out from the overlapping shadows of the trees.
Naoya Zenin.
His speed was absurd. Among the Tokyo school students, no one except Yuji could even track his afterimage. He crossed over a thousand meters in the blink of an eye, arriving directly in front of Yuji—
Cursed energy gathered on Naoya's right fist. His fist, accompanied by a sonic boom, smashed straight toward Yuji's face.
Speed is power.
Yuji didn't dodge. Scarlet blood rapidly solidified across his arms. The pink-haired boy raised them, crossing them before his chest.
BANG—!
Naoya, sprinting like a runaway train, slammed his fist onto Yuji's crossed arms. The violent impact sounded like two slabs of steel colliding.
The blood armor shattered under the continuously stacking speed. Yuji's body didn't budge an inch—but the soles of his shoes carved two deep grooves through dirt and fallen leaves, sliding back three or four meters before stopping.
Dust filled the air.
Birds scattered from the forest. Leaves rustled down, spinning through the air.
Naoya retracted his arm, executed a backflip, and landed on a thick branch. Looking down at the pink-haired boy below, he shook his right hand. Knuckles slightly red.
"Oh my. Not a bad reaction."
"I told you, Yuji Itadori. I would come for you first."
"..."
Yuji lowered his arms. Amber eyes stared expressionlessly at Naoya above.
"So this is the extent of a Grade 1 sorcerer."
Are you giving me a massage?
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