Seeing this, Itadori Kaori raised her lips slightly and didn't resist. "Looks like someone finally caught Ryomen Sukuna's attention."
She began to inject cursed energy into the finger, resonating with the power sealed within. This was part of their old agreement. They had first met in this manner long ago.
Suddenly.
Darkness engulfed everything. Itadori Kaori, Itadori Yuji, the wind chimes, the courtyard, all disappeared into the void.
By the time Kaori regained her senses, she was standing in a strange place.
The space around her was dark, streaked with deep, blood-red hues.
But she quickly found her target.
Not far ahead, atop a mountain of bones, sat Ryomen Sukuna, resting his face in his palm with a mocking smile.
"So, this is the twisted brat you mentioned?"
This wasn't the first time Kaori had communicated with Sukuna over the past nine years. She had grown used to his eerie realm and his temperament.
Kaori gave a slight smile. "Sukuna, I told you before to be wary of Gojo Satoshi."
"Heh. I listened. I made sure he couldn't use his Zanpakutō. But I still lost to that guy."
Sukuna narrowed his eyes. His face suddenly turned vicious, and he sneered, "Didn't you say he didn't know any techniques? Is he really bound by Heavenly Restriction?"
"He is," Kaori replied with a bitter expression.
"And nine years ago, he really didn't know that strange Kidō. He must have developed it during his sleep."
Sukuna was silent for a while before speaking again, his voice deep and grim. "I made sure to suppress his Zanpakutō, but I still lost. I spent a lot of time studying that seal. Shoko, Gojo Satoshi is interesting. I haven't wanted to kill someone this badly in a long time."
Kaori continued, her voice calm.
"That's why I said it. Gojo Satoshi is the biggest obstacle to the plan. As long as he's around, it won't progress smoothly."
Sukuna sneered at her. "Don't worry. I'll kill him. One finger is just one-twentieth of my full strength. He didn't really beat me."
Kaori opened her mouth as if to speak but said nothing.
During the nine years Satoshi was in a coma, she had told Sukuna about him multiple times. She had warned him repeatedly, especially about his two terrifying Zanpakutō.
But Sukuna had dismissed those warnings, acting as though he was the only king in the world.
If he had taken it seriously from the start, he might have had a chance. But by the time he realized it, Satoshi had given him no chance to fight back.
…
Sukuna seemed to notice her gloomy expression and, annoyed, waved her away with a flick of his hand.
Kaori vanished from the domain.
Left alone, Sukuna plucked a skull from the bone pile and stood atop the hill of remains. His eyes narrowed as a grin formed.
"Gojo Satoshi… such a worthy opponent."
This wasn't the first time Kaori had brought up this topic, and at the time, he had indeed looked down on it.
After all, he was Ryomen Sukuna.
But he hadn't acted carelessly. He had memorized Satoshi's appearance, prepared a domain to restrain him, and sealed his Zanpakutō.
When he first saw Gojo Satoru, he was momentarily confused. But with a pulse of cursed energy, he correctly identified the real Satoshi.
He had laid everything out perfectly. And yet, Satoshi still crushed him.
That wasn't just Zanpakutō. He had something else—some strange, powerful technique. And his body… wasn't normal either.
Sukuna exhaled and sneered.
"Next time, I'll definitely kill you, Gojo Satoshi."
…
Kyoto Jujutsu High, Principal's Office.
The office was simple—just a few desks, chairs, and a couple of potted plants. Principal Gakuganji sat straight in his chair, eyes fixed on his phone.
He was also interested in Gojo Satoshi's current status.
As two violent organizations under the Jujutsu Headquarters, it wasn't rare for them to share data.
"Judging by the time, it should be arriving soon." Gakuganji furrowed his brow and closed his eyes.
Soon, his phone vibrated.
His eyes snapped open. It was a secure line, an encrypted message from the Department of Jujutsu.
An email.
He tapped it open and saw that it was indeed the full report from Tokyo Jujutsu High's entrance exam, complete with video attachments.
A rare smile appeared on the old man's face.
He wasted no time opening the video, and Satoshi's battle unfolded on the screen.
"It really is Gojo Satoshi." Gakuganji narrowed his eyes, unable to hide his intrigue.
But as he watched, his expression changed slightly.
"He didn't use his Zanpakutō… only relied on a technique called Kidō. Not as powerful as his full-strength Zanpakutō from nine years ago, but still formidable..."
He closed his eyes again, lost in thought.
Did he really not use his Zanpakutō? Was it sealed, or had it lost its effect? The answer is still unclear.
But one thing is certain—Gojo Satoshi's greatest threat is still his Zanpakutō.
He shook his head, rubbing his temples.
"We still don't know the condition of his Zanpakutō? What a headache. Whatever the Kyoto Sister School Goodwill Event is around the corner..."
Just as he finished speaking, he called Sekiguchi Seiji, principal of the Tokyo branch.
[Make sure Gojo Satoshi attends the exchange event.]
…
Tokyo Jujutsu High, Plaza.
Everyone had now finished watching the exorcism footage in full.
They finally let out a collective breath.
This time, the event was truly over.
Though they couldn't fully analyze the formula behind Satoshi's technique, they at least understood its effect.
Clearly, Satoshi had grown in strength over the past nine years.
His physical ability had become far more formidable. And that new technique—its functions of sealing and destruction—was clearly deadly.
Powerful. Absolutely.
But still, compared to the overwhelming might of his Zanpakutō from nine years ago, it was inferior.
This fact gave them some sense of relief.
After all, many others had also improved greatly during the past nine years.
If Gojo Satoshi truly could no longer use his Zanpakutō, that alone was a huge reassurance.
Zenin Ogi frowned and rubbed his chin, regret thick on his face.
"Naobito, sealing a Zanpakutō isn't that easy. I think Satoshi really can't use his Zanpakutō anymore. Otherwise, he would've used it long ago."
(To be continued.)