Toji is a physical monster.
His senses, reflexes, and strength have all reached a terrifying level due to his Heavenly Restriction.
The chances of catching someone like him off guard were practically close to zero.
That is, of course, unless a very specific condition is met.
And that moment came right as Toji managed to stab Satori in the neck.
Still, Naoya was not confident enough to sever or stab his head, considering how Toji could possibly tilt it and avoid the move due to his inhuman reflexes.
So he went for the next best thing.
The heart.
And he... succeeded.
*Pierce*
Toji looked down at the blade lodged through his chest and glanced back.
"Zenin, eh?"
He recognized Naoya.
The Zenin brat with the Ten Shadows technique.
A friend of this Gojo girl — he had expected him to come help her.
But what he couldn't understand
Was how this brat had approached him at such an insanely fast speed.
Ten Shadows couldn't accomplish such a feat.
A fierce smile appeared on Toji's face as he grabbed the cursed blade with his bare hands, preventing Naoya from moving it.
Just piercing his heart was not enough to kill him.
He moved his leg to to kick Naoya.
But alas,
The result was already determined.
When Toji grabbed the blade, Naoya had touched his back.
The one-second pause rule of his technique was applied, freezing Toji in place.
And at the same time —
Projection Sorcery.
Naoya's figure blurred. The cursed tool in his hand arrived from 24 different angles, turning Toji's body into a bloody mess.
"That... shitty geezer's technique....."
Toji muttered in a broken voice.
He tried to sever Satori's neck in his last moment, only to find that Naoya had split his entire arm off.
*Thud*
In a powerless motion, Toji fell down on the ground.
*Slash*
Naoya's sword arrived and cleanly severed his neck from his body.
And that was it.
In a matter of seconds, Toji Fushiguro died.
This was the result of his planning and a lack of information on Toji's part.
Naoya held Satori by her shoulders and summoned his Round Deer while looking at the Inverted Spear of Heaven stabbed in her neck.
Before he could take it out and help her, Satori suddenly grabbed the spear's handle and pulled it out on her own.
Then, under his shocked eyes, her neck wound started healing at a crazy rate.
Reverse Cursed Technique.
She had learned it.
The Toji effect was real after all.
Having been saved from mortal danger, Satori ignored the blood covering her and stared at Naoya with narrowed eyes.
Naoya understood what she meant, so he lowered his head and said,
"I'm sorry."
"You used me as bait."
It was obvious.
Anyone with a working brain would notice.
"Yes...."
Naoya agreed in a small tone, not daring to look at her.
He could have dropped Mahoraga on Toji.
He could have intervened a little faster as well.
But he didn't.
He was guilty — he wanted Satori to suffer from Toji's attack and become a powerhouse like the Gojo from the series.
When he saw her stabbed through the neck,
He came to a terrifying realization.
What if Satori was unable to recover like Satoru did?
What if she.... really died?
"I'm sorry."
Filled with guilt, he could only repeat his words like an idiot.
Just then,
Satori's voice reached his ears.
"Raise your head."
Naoya unconsciously followed.
And as soon as he did —
Bam
A very strong punch landed straight on his face, sending him flying back.
'Damn, what a strong punch.....'
As he got up, he was about to say something, only to be met with another punch to the face.
Now, lying on the ground, Naoya started doubting his life for a moment.
Satori, on the other hand, walked up to him, sat on his stomach, and looked straight into his eyes.
"What do you think?"
Naoya saw her raise another punch and quickly said,
"I think I deserved that one."
Satori paused, then put down her hand.
"At least you are self-aware....." she muttered, then got up from his stomach and offered him a hand.
Naoya took it and got back up on his feet.
At the same time, a light fist landed on his chest.
"Remember, you owe me a big one, understand?"
Satori declared as she raised her hand and stretched his cheeks.
"Yes....."
"Hmph, good."
She let go of him and started walking toward Jujutsu High.
Naoya followed behind her, looking at the Inverted Spear of Heaven in her hands.
.... so what were the chances she was going to let him have it?
Naoya contemplated deeply in his mind, then decided to stay silent and not court death.
After they walked away, an arm reached out from the shadows, grabbed Toji's cursed spirit used to store his weapons, and pulled it inside.
As Naoya and Satori were walking, she suddenly asked him,
"That was another technique, wasn't it?"
Naoya glanced at her and answered,
"Yes, it's Projection Sorcery."
"Hmm, so you were hiding another cursed technique this whole time?"
She turned her head and stared at him with a scrutinizing gaze.
Naoya turned his head away and replied,
"Hiding your strength helps in battle."
"Tsk, you overthinking idiot....."
Satori lightly punched his arm, then fell silent.
Remembering the scene from before, how Naoya stabbed Toji with such a serious look on his face, one she had never seen before, made her smile unconsciously.
'He looked kind of cool...'
On the way, they met Suguri, Riko, and her maid, who were returning back.
Satori quickly approached Riko and asked her with a smile,
"So you decided not to go through with the merge?"
"Hm, I want to see more of the world....." Riko nodded with an embarrassed look on her face.
Satori looked at the tear marks on her face and lightly patted her head.
"It's all right, don't worry! We'll handle everything!"
Riko smiled, then looked curiously and suspiciously at Naoya.
"Naoya, you're here?" Suguri took a step forward and touched his reddened cheek.
"Did you get hurt? Was it that person from before?....."
Her voice turned cold.
Both of her friends were harmed by that man.
She wanted to kill him.
"It's alright, he's dead."
Naoya replied with a smile, easing Suguri's worry.
In this world, Megumi Fushiguro did not awaken his cursed technique.
He was born as a normal person, so Naoya tasked Phantom to look after his cousin.
With Satori and Naoya taking action, the plan to make Riko into Tengen's Vessel was cancelled.
Especially since Tengen also supported Riko's decision.
Surprisingly, Riko decided to quit her school and join Jujutsu High to become a sorcerer.
She seemed to be affected by the several assassination attempts made on her life, and at the same time, she had grown close to Suguri and Satori due to all of them being women.
But still, even though the plan for Riko assimilating with Tengen was cancelled, the Time Vessel Association, who worship Tengen, never stopped trying to get rid of her by any means necessary.
----
One day.
Naoya waved his hand and threw several stones straight toward Satori.
But before they could hit her, they were blocked by an invisible wall, unable to move forward.
"Has it finally become an active technique?" Naoya asked, seeing the result.
"Yes, now I am able to continuously use Infinity, healing any damage done to my brain by using Reverse Cursed Technique....."
"Oh? It seems you're finally becoming the strongest, huh?"
"Of course! I'm Satori Gojo after all!" Satori declared with her usual confident smile.
Suguri sat on the side with Shoko, looking at the two of them in silence.
'Satori and Naoya..... they've both become the strongest...'
She let out a conflicted sigh, then relaxed a little.
'They are amazing.'
Unlike the original, the current Suguri didn't have to face so many cursed spirits alone, as Naoya shared the majority of the burden.
Plus, with the incident with Toji now changed, she didn't have a negative outlook on things and was a lot more positive, knowing her two friends were more than capable of protecting Japan from cursed spirits.
Just then, as she was daydreaming, she forgot to notice Satori pulling Naoya away to the side.
"What is it, Satori?" Naoya asked in confusion.
Satori secretly glanced at the dazed Suguri, then turned to Naoya and said,
"Are you free tonight? Let's go to dinner."
Naoya blinked, then repeated,
"Dinner?"
"Yes, I have found a nice place. The food is really good too, you'll love it..." She quickly said and made a 'v' sign with her fingers.
Naoya suddenly fell silent.
Satori quickly urged him with her eyes, as if asking, 'What the hell are you even waiting for?'
Naoya lightly tapped her head, then said with a calm look on his face,
"I have some work to do tonight, so I can't come."
'Naoya Zenin! A lazy ass like you has work?? You think I'm a fool?!?!' Satori mentally shouted in her mind.
She couldn't understand why this idiot, who was usually so flirtatious, suddenly became dense at important times!
Suppressing her urge to hit him, she released a breath and said with trembling lips,
"....Okay, how about tomorrow?"
"That will depend on you."
"?..."
"If tomorrow you want to go to dinner with me, then I'll come."
"....what?"
Satori tilted her head in confusion.
'What the hell is he talking about?'
'Is he agreeing or not?'
Naoya lightly pinched Satori's nose, then walked back.
Satori kept staring at his back in confusion.
'What the hell is wrong with him?'
Were they going on a date or not?
Next day.
Satori received her answer.
----
To Satori Gojo,
Effective immediately.
Naoya Zenin has been designated a Special Grade hostile.
Verified crimes:
1) Destruction of the Zenin Clan.
2) Massacre of a village with civilians.
3) Complete annihilation of the Time Vessel Association.
Due to your status as the strongest active sorcerer, Headquarters has selected you to resolve this matter. You are to locate and subdue Naoya Zenin at once. If capture proves impossible, you are authorized to eliminate him without further consultation.
This order is absolute. Personal considerations will not be entertained.
— Jujutsu High Council
----
Staring at the letter,
Satori could only let out a stupidified voice.
"Huh?"