"The purpose of the team battle is to foster teamwork. Doesn't e-sports require exactly that?"
"Require it, yes..."
Cold sweat broke out on Nobara's face.
"Then there you go!"
Satoru Gojo waved his hand dismissively, directly interrupting Nobara's words.
"Furthermore, games can also foster camaraderie among you. Fighting and killing hurts harmony. It's decided then!"
"..."
"Ah, I've played quite a few games, so I'm decent at them. How about I act as the captain later?"
Junpei volunteered.
"But I haven't really touched games since I was little."
Nobara rubbed her chin, pondering.
"Me neither. I'm a cursed corpse—even holding a mouse is difficult."
Panda chimed in.
"Salmon."
Inumaki followed suit.
As for Megumi and Maki, it goes without saying. The former lost his father when he was young, and his stepmother left soon after. Raised only by his sister, naturally he hadn't touched many computers. The latter grew up in a feudal clan and naturally had no access to video games.
In other words, among the Tokyo school members, only Yuji had some understanding of games. However...
Yuji recalled the scene from late that night a few days ago—
"You're so fucking trash! You stinking brat!"
"A guy who can solo a Special Grade curse getting killed by a chicken four times in a row. I can't watch this anymore."
Sukuna was completely fuming.
"Give me control of the body. Let me play!"
It seemed Yuji's gaming skills weren't that great either.
"Well, not only the Tokyo school, but the Kyoto school guys haven't touched games either—so this is absolutely fair for both sides."
Although the Tokyo school side was a bunch of misfits.
The Kyoto school side was pretty much the same. The only one who might have played video games, Aoi Todo, didn't come because of his injuries.
"Follow me. I'll show you around the place first. Your teacher has already prepared dedicated equipment for you."
"...Alright. Let's go."
Mai Zenin shook her head. Although it was a bit sudden, what Satoru Gojo said did make some sense. Momo Nishimiya looked helpless. Mechamaru and Noritoshi Kamo were silent. Kasumi Miwa followed nervously behind the group.
Do your best, me! I definitely can't hold everyone back this time!
Kasumi thought to herself.
The venue Satoru Gojo provided was a large private room, symmetrically arranged with two rows of e-sports desks and chairs in the center. The group approached and began familiarizing themselves with the equipment under Satoru Gojo's guidance.
Although they hadn't touched many video games, they had at least used computers before.
Because Panda couldn't hold a mouse and couldn't fit into the narrow chairs—and Toge Inumaki had difficulty communicating—only the remaining Tokyo school members could participate.
On the Kyoto school's side, only five people came. So Mai Zenin, Kasumi Miwa, Noritoshi Kamo, Mechamaru, and Momo Nishimiya participated.
"By the way, Yuji—you can't let Sukuna out this time."
Before the start, Satoru Gojo specifically sought out Yuji and told him.
"Ah?"
"Oh my, after all, you play games regularly, so you're already much stronger than those guys from the Kyoto school. Megumi said Sukuna's gaming skills seem pretty good. If we let Sukuna play too, it would be too much like cheating."
"So—for the sake of fairness."
"...Alright."
While everyone was getting familiar with the venue and equipment, Yuji stood in front of the sink, looking at himself in the mirror.
The internet cafe's restroom wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy. The white tiles gleamed slightly under the warm yellow light. The boy stared at himself for a while, then took out a Sukuna finger from his pocket.
Completely brownish-black, with blackened nails. It looked like a specimen cut from a thousand-year-old corpse.
He had found this earlier at the exchange event grounds. It seemed to have dropped from that cursed spirit named Jogo.
"..."
He didn't expect to get some loot drops from fighting. This Jogo's drop rate was really high.
However, Yuji also realized the purpose of these two Special Grade curses coming to Jujutsu High.
They came to steal Sukuna's fingers and the Death Paintings, right?
In his past life, Yuji was still a hothead. Although he could guess that Kenjaku must have sneaked into Jujutsu High and done something, he didn't know the exact time.
During the exchange event back then, he was solely focused on beating up Hanami, and Satoru Gojo cleaned up the mess later. As for the invasion of the storehouse, it was discussed in a meeting between Satoru Gojo and the higher-ups. Due to pride, the higher-ups never let the students know the cause and effect of this incident.
However.
That old fox Kenjaku probably wants me to collect all twenty fingers as soon as possible.
After all, Sukuna's complete resurrection brings him nothing but benefits.
Kenjaku's side inherently intended to feed all the fingers to him. Moreover, this way, his eldest brother Choso and his other two brothers could also return to his side.
Although the process was wrong, the result was actually good.
Yuji opened his mouth, then put the finger in and swallowed it.
Gulp.
The next second, violent cursed energy exploded within his body. But before anyone outside the restroom could notice, this cursed energy was suppressed by Yuji and then completely absorbed by Ryomen Sukuna. The pitch-black cursed marks had barely appeared before vanishing instantly.
The fifth one.
With one finger down, his total cursed energy increased slightly.
Although Yuji had quickly risen to a Grade 1 sorcerer relying on his past life experience, he still had a long way to go before reaching Special Grade and defeating Kenjaku.
After all, he had only been seasoned for five days.
For Kenjaku—who wanted to initiate the Shibuya Incident to seal Satoru Gojo—there was still a lot of preparatory work to do. So the upcoming time was left for him to continue training and becoming stronger.
Yuji didn't have the Shrine technique etched into him yet, but that didn't matter.
After the exchange event, he planned to further develop Blood Manipulation.
In his past life, he was too strong. So strong he had no opponents. In the end, he only researched a fully automatic guided Piercing Blood to clear out grunts. Theoretically, the versatility of Blood Manipulation was the highest among the Big Three Families' techniques.
Effective at both long and close range. The blood could transform into various shapes.
Most importantly, his current precision in cursed energy manipulation had reached an extremely terrifying level.
Give him a few more days to practice, and he couldn't even imagine how tricky Blood Manipulation would become.
Yuji nodded at the mirror, then turned and pushed open the restroom door.
At the same time, Nobara's shout came faintly from the hallway: "Itadori! Are you done yet! The match is about to start!"
"Coming, coming."
Yuji replied, quickening his pace toward the private room.
However, just as he walked out of the restroom—before he could take two steps—he heard a deafening roar from the internet cafe entrance.
"Brother—!"
BANG!
The door was pushed open forcefully. Yuji turned his head in surprise and saw a figure standing at the doorway, back to the light.
White bandages wrapped around his entire face, leaving only his eyes and mouth exposed. His left arm was in a sling across his chest. He looked like a mummy that had escaped from an Egyptian pyramid.
"Todo?!" Yuji widened his eyes.
"How could you guys not include me in such an important team battle!"
"Don't forget—I'm the best friend who swore to fight side by side with you!"
Aoi Todo said as he walked quickly toward Yuji. However, his mummy-like appearance made Yuji subconsciously take two steps back.
Whoa, you scared me!
"...Todo, why are you here? Weren't you badly injured?"
"A mere flesh wound—nothing to worry about!"
Aoi Todo stepped forward quickly and placed his right hand on Yuji's shoulder.
"The doctor said I need to rest for a week, but that's for ordinary people! I am Aoi Todo! A Grade 1 sorcerer! Your best friend!"
"Let alone playing a team battle—even if you asked me to fight a Special Grade curse right now, I'd still do it!"
"..."
The corners of Yuji's mouth twitched slightly.
He felt that in Aoi Todo's current state, let alone fighting a Special Grade curse, even walking was a struggle.
"Todo, your arm..."
"Just a decoration!"
"Then the bandages on your body..."
"Absolutely no problem!"
"..."
Just as Yuji felt speechless, Satoru Gojo's voice came from behind him.
"Yo, Todo?"
Satoru Gojo leaned against the door of the private room, asking in confusion.
"Why are you here? Weren't you lying in the infirmary?"
"A mere flesh wound—not worth mentioning! Gojo-san, please let me participate in the match! I want to fight side by side with my brother!"
Aoi Todo shook his head forcefully.
"Ah? But your injuries..."
"No problem!"
Aoi Todo interrupted him decisively.
"Even with only one hand left, I can take on ten!"
"..."
Satoru Gojo was silent for a moment, then smiled helplessly.
"Alright. Since you put it that way, we'll add you."
"But you have to ask your teammates if they agree first."
"No need to ask!"
Aoi Todo waved his hand dismissively.
"I am Aoi Todo, a Grade 1 sorcerer. From today onward, I am the captain of the Kyoto school team!"
"Anyone with objections—step forward!"
"..."
The private room went quiet for a moment. No one stepped forward to object.
Clearly, with Aoi Todo's interpersonal skills comparable to an overripe banana, no one dared to pay him any mind anymore.
"Very good!"
Aoi Todo nodded in satisfaction, then strode toward the private room.
"..."
Leaving only Yuji and Satoru Gojo standing dumbfounded in the wind.
Meanwhile, in a ward at the Tokyo City Central Hospital.
Lying on the hospital bed was a thin, black-haired man with graying temples. He was covered in IV tubes, surrounded by various medical machines. A cursed spirit and a man in a kasaya stood on either side of him.
Mahito placed his palm on the black-haired man's forehead—
"Idle Transfiguration."
A mass of purple cursed energy rose from the curse's palm. A moment later, he removed his hand.
"Is it done?"
"Yeah."
"Very good. Thanks for your hard work, Mahito."
"It's nothing. I was just wondering..."
Mahito's hoarse and deep voice reached Kenjaku's ears.
"Can this man help us defeat Yuji Itadori?"
"...Maybe?"
Kenjaku spread his hands.
While the two were talking, the man on the bed finally showed some movement.
First was his hair. Starting from the roots, the black faded like an ebbing tide—replaced by a striking shade of blue.
The originally thin body began to expand rapidly. Muscles bulged as if inflated, stretching the hospital gown tight and propping up the blanket high.
The gaunt cheeks became sharply defined. Cheekbones prominent. Jawline sharp as a knife. The originally plain facial features became fierce and flamboyant under this new skeletal structure.
The incarnation was completely finished.
"..."
"This cursed energy...?"
Mahito was startled and subconsciously took a step back.
What a strong oppressive feeling...
Stronger than any Grade 1 sorcerer he had ever seen. Perhaps even rivaling Jogo.
Was this the strongest sorcerer from four hundred years ago—who slaughtered all the strong individuals in Japan—
The Thunder God. Hajime Kashimo?
"..."
Hajime Kashimo opened his blue eyes, groggily catching sight of the unfamiliar hospital ceiling above him.
"Ugh... Ah..."
He gritted his teeth. Veins popped on his forehead. His hands gripped the bedsheets tightly. His face showed a pained expression. A strong wave of dizziness washed over him, causing his vision to black out in waves.
Being suddenly pulled back to reality from a four-hundred-year slumber felt like a drowning person being violently yanked out of the water. His lungs burned as if they were going to explode. His eardrums buzzed. His brain felt like it had been stuffed into a tumbling washing machine.
"This... this is..."
Hajime Kashimo struggled to prop himself up from the bed. The IV tubes on his body were torn loose by his movements. All falling off. He lowered his head, panting heavily.
Kenjaku stood by the bed, arms crossed. A smile of a successful scheme on his lips.
Hajime Kashimo—a powerhouse who made even him retreat four hundred years ago—was now about to join his ranks and become one of his pawns.
This way, his plan would be much easier.
"Hajime Kashimo. You're awake?"
"I fed your cursed object to this human body. He's been lying here for over twenty years. Just now, we completely finished your incarnation."
"How does it feel to live a second life?"
Kenjaku asked.
"Hiss... Ah..."
Hajime Kashimo hadn't recovered from the faintness and pain just now.
He looked up, squinting at Kenjaku. In his grayish-blue eyes, besides pain, there was also vigilance.
"Kenjaku. It's you?"
"It's me."
"You bastard... did you use me to vent your lust?"
Hajime Kashimo asked while panting heavily.
"...?"
Kenjaku's smile froze. A question mark slowly formed over his head.
What do you mean "vent your lust"?
"What did you say?"
The corners of Kenjaku's mouth twitched twice. At the same time, he suddenly felt a gaze fall upon him.
He turned his head. Mahito was standing by the bed, staring straight at him. His eyes carried undisguised disgust.
That gaze seemed to say, "You humans are really perverted—even more perverted than me."
"Did you break our agreement?"
"Huh?"
As soon as these words came out, the muscles on Kenjaku's face instantly twisted together.
What is this guy talking about?
What do you mean "vent your lust"? He made it sound like Kenjaku took him to bed. Even if Kenjaku was perverted—even capable of taking over Yuji's mother's body—he wasn't that perverted!
At the same time, he felt Mahito's gaze become even more disgusted.
"No... I didn't do anything?"
Even Kenjaku—an old fox who had lived for a thousand years—was momentarily stunned by Hajime Kashimo's shocking words.
"Then what the hell is going on here!"
"What did you do to my body?"
Hajime Kashimo's tone became irritable. A flash of killing intent passed through his grayish-blue eyes.
Because he had been on good terms with Kenjaku four hundred years ago, Hajime Kashimo was very aware of Kenjaku's perverted interests and character.
He feared that during his slumber, he had also been put on Kenjaku's experimental table for some unknown secret experiments.
"..."
Kenjaku quickly figured out the possible reason for Hajime Kashimo's anger. He wiped the cold sweat from his face.
"Hajime Kashimo, I didn't do anything to you. The changes in your body are just a normal reaction to incarnation."
"Bullshit!"
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