Tokyo, Shinjuku. Star Religious Group Headquarters.
Zenin Mirai sat on the throne, listening to White Zetsu's report.
"The Head of the Kamo Family..." Mirai nodded slightly.
He wasn't surprised. The Kamo clan was a pawn he was ready to discard. But giving up thousands of years of resources so easily... Kenjaku was ruthless.
"So, we're just going to leave it at that?" Zetsu muttered unhappily. "The Kamo clan sold us out! And my poor Caterpillar is still at the College!"
"Stop complaining," Mirai said calmly. "I haven't blamed you for the wiretap yet."
"The short-term memory loss was a fatal flaw. We'll abandon that body at the College."
"It's all that old monster's fault!" A murderous glint flashed in Zetsu's eyes. "I want to kill Kenjaku!"
"Not yet," Mirai glanced at him. "If you want to vent... take Number One to the Kamo Estate."
"Bring back the Cursed Objects and intel. Leave no survivors."
Zetsu rolled up his sleeves, revealing his biceps. "Don't worry! With Number One, there's no chance of failure!"
...
"Speaking of which," Zetsu changed the subject. "Gojo Satoru isn't that strong. Why did you value him so much?"
"Gojo Satoru isn't weak," Mirai corrected him softly. "He just underestimated me. He was too arrogant."
"If he had regarded me as an opponent of Sukuna's caliber, he wouldn't have lost the exchange."
"He lacked tension. Otherwise... the moment his Domain shattered, he should have used Reverse Cursed Technique to heal his Cursed Technique burnout."
(A feat Gojo only learns later, in the Shinjuku Showdown).
"He wasn't serious," Mirai sighed. "He fought me like he was playing a game."
"If he fought with the intent to kill... he would have forced me to use more trump cards."
Mirai looked at Zetsu seriously.
"Do not provoke him, Zetsu. I can suppress Gojo Satoru... but I'm not sure if you can survive him."
"Anyway," Mirai asked. "How is the mission?"
Zetsu grinned. He pulled out a sealed medical container.
Inside were Cursed Wombs: Death Paintings #4 through #9.
...
Jujutsu High. Student Lounge.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Maki and Mai sat in silence, radiating an aura of "Don't come near me."
The betrayal of Mirai (their brother/teacher) and White Zetsu (their companion) hurt them deeply.
"Hey! Everyone's here!"
White Zetsu (in Haruta's body) walked in, waving casually.
"Zetsu?!" Yuji and Nobara jumped up. "You're still here?"
"Gojo-sensei didn't exorcise you?"
"It's just a minor matter of destroying the world," Zetsu plopped down next to Yuji. "What's the big deal?"
"DESTROY THE WORLD?!" Yuji screamed.
"Just kidding," Zetsu grinned.
"Gojo-sensei?" Megumi looked at their teacher.
Gojo spread his hands. "Can't be helped. This isn't the real White Zetsu. Killing this body won't do anything. His soul just jumps to another one."
"That's right!" Zetsu stretched his neck arrogantly. "You can't kill Master Zetsu!"
"Anyway," Gojo looked at the Cursed Spirit. "He's harmless enough to keep as a mascot."
"Oh right," Gojo's eyes narrowed behind his blindfold.
"White Zetsu. Yuji is your 'Little Brother', right?"
"Aren't you going to tell us about his background?"
In the wiretapped audio, Mirai and Zetsu had mentioned Yuji's lineage briefly.
"Lineage?" Yuji pointed to himself, bewildered.
"Tsk." Zetsu stroked his chin, pretending to think.
He looked at Gojo.
"How about a trade? Information... for my Caterpillar."
Gojo nodded. "Deal. It only has useless Cursed Tools inside anyway."
Zetsu grinned. He patted Yuji on the shoulder.
"Listen up, Pink-haired Gorilla. This is explosive."
"Your Mother... is the Leader of the Special Grade Cursed Spirits."
Silence filled the room.
"Whether it was the Volcano (Jogo) or the Patch-Face (Mahito)..."
"They are all pawns prepared by your Mother."
"The group that raided the warehouse today? Also led by your Mother."
"Are you serious?" Gojo's voice dropped an octave.
"I'm not as cunning as you humans," Zetsu shrugged. "My intel is absolute. If you don't believe me, we can make a Binding Vow."
"My... Mother?" Yuji stared blankly.
He remembered his Grandfather, Wasuke. He had vague memories of his father, Jin.
But his mother? Nothing.
"Yuji..." Nobara whispered, horrified.
Suddenly, a memory flashed in Yuji's mind. A repressed memory.
Afternoon. A wooden cabin.
Grandpa's gloomy face warning his father...
His father's doting gaze...
And a woman...
With stitches across her forehead.
....
.....
.....
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