"Special Grade pending?"
Inside the principal's office at Jujutsu High.
Masamichi Yaga stared at the mission report in his hands, his brow furrowed so deeply that his stern expression looked like it could crush a fly.
"Satoru, are you messing around again?"
"Even though Yoru performed exceptionally well this time—one could even say he handled that mutated cursed womb alone—according to the final revised report from Window..."
"Because that cursed womb hadn't fully incubated, it can only be considered a Semi-Special Grade at most. It wasn't a true Special Grade."
"Promoting a first-year student directly to Special Grade is unprecedented in the history of the jujutsu world."
"Even a kid like Okkotsu was only ranked Special Grade because of Rika's presence."
Principal Yaga set the report down, looking helplessly at the white-haired man sitting opposite him, who had his legs crossed and was stealing his snacks.
"What's the big deal?"
Satoru Gojo spoke with his mouth full, chewing on a Kikufuku.
"You saw the field investigation report, didn't you?"
"Even if it was just a Semi-Special Grade, it was exorcised in an instant."
"Furthermore, a very peculiar power remains at the wound sites. It didn't just completely destroy the curse's regenerative abilities; it even purified the residual energy entirely."
Gojo held up a finger and wagged it.
"That kind of power... even my Limitless felt a slight threat from it."
"He's still green, but that potential is definitely Special Grade level."
"And more importantly..."
The smile on Gojo's lips faded slightly, a cold glint flashing in his azure eyes.
"Those rotten oranges have been getting more and more restless lately."
"Since they want to play, I'll give them a massive surprise."
"A monster they have absolutely no hope of controlling."
Masamichi Yaga fell silent. He understood Gojo's meaning.
The conservative faction among the higher-ups always maintained a policy of elimination regarding uncontrollable powers.
If Yoru were just an ordinary Grade 2 or Grade 1, he might have been able to grow in peace.
But if he were a Special Grade, it meant he would be thrust directly into the eye of the storm.
"Are you planning to use him as bait?"
Yaga asked in a heavy voice.
"No, no, no, how could I?"
Gojo waved it off, smiling like a fox.
"I just want to see if those rotten geezers will be blinded when they're forced to look at the sun."
...
Meanwhile, at Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Inside a dim washitsu, a wrinkled old man with a long beard sat kneeling on a tatami mat, holding a photograph.
The photo showed Yoru's back as he stood amidst the ruins after the Roppongi mission, clutching that broken blade.
"Zero cursed energy... yet capable of slaying a Special Grade..."
Yoshinobu Gakuganji, the principal of the Kyoto school and one of the representative figures of the conservative faction.
At this moment, his gaze was terrifyingly sinister.
"A second coming of Toji Fushiguro? No... he seems even more bizarre than that Sorcerer Killer."
"An uncontrollable variable like this cannot be allowed to remain."
Especially with Satoru Gojo becoming increasingly arrogant lately. If he were to cultivate another Special Grade ally...
Then those old-timers might truly end up in their graves.
"Principal."
A respectful voice came from outside the door.
"The representative from the Kamo family has arrived."
"Send him in."
Gakuganji put the photo down, a murderous intent flashing in his clouded eyes.
"Also, pass down an order."
"During the upcoming Sister School Goodwill Event..."
"I want to see this brat named Yoru disappear completely."
"Since he's an anomaly, let him die at the hands of a cursed spirit like an accident."
...
Tokyo Jujutsu High, Boys' Dormitory.
Entirely unaware that he had been targeted by the big shots, Yoru was currently covered in sweat...
Helping Nobara Kugisaki move her luggage.
"Hey! Put that down gently! Those are my new clothes!"
"And that box! There's skincare in there! It's expensive!"
Nobara was barking orders like a foreman, keeping Yoru, Yuji, and Megumi running in circles.
"I say... why are we the ones helping you move?"
Yuji panted, lugging a massive cardboard box.
"Huh? This is what it means for boys to be gentlemen!"
Nobara stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Besides, Yoru-kun stole all the spotlight during the mission earlier. What's wrong with putting in a little muscle now?"
Yoru smiled helplessly as he set the last box down.
Despite the complaining, their relationship had clearly grown much closer after surviving that life-or-death mission together.
The sense of distance that originally existed had vanished into thin air after fighting side-by-side.
"Alright! To celebrate everyone making it back alive, sushi is on me tonight!"
Satoru Gojo suddenly poked his head in through the window, startling everyone.
"Hell yeah! Long live Gojo-sensei!"
Yuji was the first to cheer.
Even the usually stoic Megumi Fushiguro had a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
However, just as Yoru was about to follow the others.
[DING!]
A crisp system notification suddenly rang out in his mind.
[DETECTION OF INTENSE MALICE TARGETED AT THE HOST!]
[SOURCE: KYOTO FACTION (CONSERVATIVE HIGHER-UPS)]
[EMERGENCY MISSION TRIGGERED: BREAKING THE DEADLOCK!]
[MISSION DESCRIPTION: THE HIGHER-UPS HAVE SET A DEADLY TRAP, INTENDING TO USE A SPECIAL GRADE CURSED SPIRIT TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK. PLEASE CRUSH THIS CONSPIRACY, SLAY THE SPECIAL GRADE CURSED SPIRIT, AND ENSURE EVERYONE SURVIVES.]
[MISSION REWARD: YORIICHI TSUGIKUNI SYNCHRONIZATION +5%, UNLOCK RANDOM BREATHING STYLE BRANCH.]
Yoru's footsteps paused slightly.
He looked at the red text on the system panel, his originally gentle gaze gradually turning cold.
'Malice, huh...'
He looked down at the pitch-black katana at his waist, which faintly emitted a scorching aura.
[SPECIAL GRADE CURSED TOOL: SHIRANUI].
This was something Satoru Gojo had just managed to squeeze out of the higher-ups on his behalf, using the "Special Grade Exorcism Reward" as an excuse.
Although it was nominally just "authorized usage rights," it was a genuine Special Grade Cursed Tool nonetheless.
A bloodthirsty smile, one that was completely out of character for Yoriichi Tsugikuni's usually serene face, slowly curled onto his lips.
'Perfect.'
'With a new blade in hand, I was just worrying about not having a whetstone.'
'I'll use you all to baptize this blade.'