Maki Zenin sank into depression.
Was there something wrong with her technique?
Obviously not. Originally, Yuji Itadori's physical abilities barely met the standard of a Grade 2 sorcerer—casually throwing a softball thirty meters and finishing a fifty-meter dash in three seconds flat.
Now, having fully synchronized with this body, Yuji had layered precise cursed energy manipulation on top of that foundation. With sixty-eight years of accumulated experience, his efficiency in utilizing cursed energy had long reached Special Grade levels. He could squeeze maximum damage out of every last drop.
If Yuji were in peak condition and landing consecutive Black Flashes, he'd be knocking on the door of Grade 1.
There was no way Maki could beat him.
But from her perspective, Yuji Itadori was just a newly enrolled freshman. For someone who'd trained relentlessly for years to prove her worth to her clan, meeting him felt like a bolt from the blue.
What the hell? Are all first-years talented freaks now? First there's that genius who enrolled as a Grade 2 sorcerer, and now this monster who can flatten me in two punches.
Maki felt like crying but had no tears left.
"Why are your combat skills so polished?" She got to her feet, her tone demanding answers.
"Uh..."
Seeing Maki approach, Yuji took a step back, instinctively raising his hands. His brain scrambled for a suitable excuse.
Could he say it was the result of sixty-eight years of practice?
"I—I hired a martial arts coach in my first year of high school! Trained specifically!"
"Then why is your cursed energy manipulation so smooth? That's clearly not something a first-year should be capable of."
Although Maki couldn't see cursed energy directly, her glasses were a cursed tool that let her perceive its flow clearly.
"I... don't know either..."
"You... you..."
Maki's breathing grew ragged. She tossed the broken wooden sword onto the grass like she was venting her frustration.
"I'm done training!"
She'd wanted to spar with her junior to build rapport. Instead, she'd gotten completely demolished. Her pride couldn't take it.
She dropped onto the gray stone steps nearby, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and chugged the whole thing. Even after draining it, she still wasn't satisfied.
"So it's really your first day?"
"That's right." Yuji nodded.
"Then how did you learn to infuse cursed energy into a wooden sword?"
"I... went by feel?" Yuji scratched his cheek awkwardly.
He played dumb to every question.
"You don't know anything!"
Maki's chest heaved. She was clearly on the verge of choking on her own rage.
"I really don't know." Yuji looked genuinely innocent.
"You... you!"
Maki was fuming.
Hard work surpassing talent? What a joke.
At that moment, Yuji had a flash of inspiration. He smacked his fist into his palm. "Oh, right! My mother was a jujutsu sorcerer, so she taught me this stuff since I was little..."
"Get out of here. I don't believe you."
Maki shut down completely and turned to leave.
"Eh? Wait! It's true, Zenin-senpai—believe me!" Yuji called after her.
"..."
But Maki just kept walking, clearly unwilling to spend another second in his presence. His words received no response.
Maki Zenin was completely questioning her life choices.
Watching his senior disappear without a trace, Yuji had no choice but to let it go.
"Sigh—"
He let out a long breath.
I'm just a hardworking athlete, okay?
Yuji sat down on the steps by the edge of the track. After the afternoon's training, his exercise quota for the day was met. What remained was practicing his innate technique.
Whoosh—
He raised his hand, and a small scarlet orb quickly gathered above his palm.
Blood Manipulation: Convergence.
After consuming the second Sukuna finger, his cursed energy reserves had increased. Still limited, but Blood Manipulation didn't require much energy, so it was enough for now.
Several of Sukuna's fingers were supposedly stored within Jujutsu High, but when Yuji asked Satoru Gojo if he could eat more, he'd been rejected with the excuse: "We don't know how many fingers you can handle yet." Yuji had argued his case, but it was no use.
If he wanted more fingers, he'd have to go find them himself.
Blood Manipulation was an extremely balanced technique—effective at both close and long range. For Yuji, who originally could only throw punches, its existence was a massive upgrade.
For long-range attacks, he had Piercing Blood—a projectile technique that could reach the speed of sound at maximum output.
For mid-range, he had Supernova—a technique created by his eldest brother Choso that scattered blood like a shotgun blast.
For close combat, he had Flowing Red Scale—which let him manipulate his body temperature, pulse, and even red blood cells to achieve a state similar to doping.
Beyond that, blood could freely change its shape and hardness under his control. Hardened blood could coat his skin directly, forming an "armor" effect that drastically enhanced both offense and defense.
Normally, Blood Manipulation users needed to carry blood bags or use their own blood to fight. But Yuji, like his eldest brother Choso, possessed a special constitution that let him convert cursed energy directly into blood.
To train his abilities, Yuji headed to the school's shooting range and began practicing Blood Manipulation's various techniques.
While Yuji was training, Sukuna sat atop his hill of corpses within the Innate Domain, chin resting on his fist, expression confused.
Strange...
Isn't this brat's progress a bit too fast?
If Yuji's ability to prevent him from taking over had been shocking, then the talent on display now was downright baffling. This guy had only awakened his technique and cursed energy using one of Sukuna's fingers yesterday. Yet in less than a day, he'd transformed from a strong athlete into a borderline Grade 1 sorcerer.
Swallowing Sukuna's finger meant accepting his incarnation. During that process, Sukuna had gained access to all of Yuji Itadori's memories—so he could confirm the boy had genuinely only encountered jujutsu starting yesterday.
Is his growth rate on rocket fuel?
I thought he was Naruto Uzumaki. Turns out he's Ichigo Kurosaki.
His efficiency in utilizing cursed energy is almost catching up to mine... Interesting.
Born in the Heian Era—where the strong ruled and the weak were prey—Ryomen Sukuna only acknowledged those powerful enough to rival him.
It seems this brat isn't completely useless aside from his kindness and empty head. He's far stronger than that trash named Megumi Fushiguro.
Yuji Itadori. I rejoice in your strength.
Sukuna found himself unexpectedly curious. He wanted to see just how far this boy could grow.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in Tokyo.
The setting sun cast golden light across an empty beach. Waves lapped gently against the shore.
A black-haired man wearing a kasaya stood with his arms crossed, stitch marks visible across his forehead. He gazed silently at the sparkling sea.
Beside him was a beach chair. Lying on it was a blue-haired young man with cross-shaped stitch marks on his face.
Or rather—a Special Grade cursed spirit.
"According to the intel from Mechamaru, Sukuna's vessel has been performing far beyond my initial expectations. Things are getting interesting."
Kenjaku spoke, his tone faintly playful.
Not bad. After all, he is the child I gave birth to. Displaying such overwhelming talent is only natural.
Mahito lay back on the beach chair, arms behind his head. He tilted his head, revealing a smile full of curiosity—and a hint of malice.
"Oh? That pink-haired brat? Did he do something fun?"
"Fun? More than fun. He not only perfectly suppressed Sukuna's consciousness but can actively draw upon Sukuna's cursed energy to cast Dismantle—exorcising a Grade 2 cursed spirit with it."
"On his first day of enrollment, in a pure hand-to-hand spar, he easily defeated Maki Zenin despite her Heavenly Restriction constitution. He's already mastered Blood Manipulation under Satoru Gojo's guidance... Remarkable."
Even Kenjaku, who had lived for a thousand years, was surprised by Yuji's performance.
"Ehhh—? That strong?"
Mahito dragged out the words dramatically.
"Suppressing Sukuna? And able to use his power?"
"In short, his displayed talent is rarely seen—perhaps once in a millennium."
"Geto, you always praise my talent. You say I have the most growth potential among us four curses." Mahito's interest sharpened. "So in your opinion—who's more talented? Me or this Yuji Itadori?"
"Evenly matched? Maybe he's stronger. Maybe you are. Who knows."
Kenjaku waved dismissively.
"Then let me go play." Mahito raised his arms, holding up two index fingers. Under the effect of Idle Transfiguration, one finger transformed into his own likeness while the other became Yuji Itadori—the two facing off against each other. "I want to meet Sukuna's vessel personally. Prove to you that I'm stronger than him."
Kids. Watch me handle Yuji.
Kenjaku's lips curled into a disdainful smile.
"Wait until Satoru Gojo isn't around—or until the time is right. You'll get your chance to meet him."