Although he was well aware of the difference in power between himself and Uraume, Choso still believed in his own potential. He was convinced that if he continued to grow, he could surpass her one day.
Despite just having lost, the battle made one thing clear, Uraume wasn't as untouchable as he had imagined.
"I know what you're thinking. You're not satisfied, right? But let me tell you... that fight with Uraume? It probably didn't mean a thing."
"You want to become stronger?"
"Then return to Shikoku. I have something for you."
"Of course, if you're willing to follow Uraume's lead, hand over your initiative, and become her subordinate... then don't bother coming."
"Hehe..."
With that, Itadori Kaori hung up.
Beep, beep, beep—
Hearing the dial tone, Choso's face darkened. A pungent smell of blood spread across the room.
Mocked and provoked, his Cursed Energy surged violently, breaking through the frost sealed into his wounds. His regeneration began to accelerate.
The Time Vessel Association Leader who had been standing silently to the side was horrified. The man in front of him—wasn't he a creature that had already existed during the Meiji era?
And the doll-headed girl from earlier... was from a thousand years ago?
Wasn't this beyond comprehension?
He had always believed that the key reason the Time Vessel Association worshipped Lord Tengen was her technique of immortality.
Yet the two people he just witnessed—one over a hundred years old, and the other over a thousand—seemed to have cracked that mystery long ago.
Could it be that the secret to eternal life had already been found?
The association leader wanted to ask for more information, but just as he opened his mouth, he met a pair of bloodshot eyes filled with killing intent.
Just being glanced at once sent cold sweat pouring down his back.
What the hell was I thinking? I actually approached him while he's still wounded? Did I forget who this man is? A bounty hunter who kills without hesitation...
"Get lost."
The voice boomed in his ears, heavy with pressure.
The Time Vessel Association Leader trembled, then scrambled out of the room without hesitation, only wanting to get as far from Choso as possible.
As for whose room this was? He couldn't care less.
"Ryoumen Sukuna's subordinate..."
Choso furrowed his brows tightly. Now that he knew Uraume's background, he realized how baseless his earlier pride had been.
But still, he couldn't accept the idea of becoming her subordinate.
He needed freedom. He had to find his brothers.
Among the Nine Phases of the Cursed Womb, eight others still waited for their eldest brother to find them.
I must become stronger.
Only strength will give me the lead.
It's fine if I can't beat Itadori Kaori for now, but there's no way I'll bow to Uraume.
Choso made up his mind. He would put aside his current missions and head to Shikoku to find Itadori Kaori. He had to grow stronger, fast, and reunite with his siblings...
What he didn't know was the price he'd have to pay for power in Shikoku.
Shikoku.
Shoso (Scorched Phase) has been lost. The Nine Phases Diagram is no longer complete.
Was it damaged during storage?
Itadori Kaori lowered her phone, visibly displeased.
The school's internal management was just too lax.
She grumbled about Jujutsu High's incompetence, but in truth, she had benefited greatly from it.
After all, the college never expected anyone to raid the secret archives. The only time it happened before was when the Kamo clan had swapped out artifacts before storing them.
The Nine Phases Diagram is incomplete.
Kaori frowned, turning her attention toward a long object wrapped in layers of talismans.
Seems I'll have to rely on his power again.
...
A month passed in the Kidō Training Class.
Gakuganji Yoshinobu had made several trips to the Gojo clan residence, urging the return of Kyoto Jujutsu High's teachers and students. After all, Yuki was one of Kyoto's core Special Grade sorcerers, and Mei Mei and Utahime were also important assets.
Now, all three had been staying at the Gojo residence for three months, skipping school entirely. Gakuganji was getting anxious.
Though Mei Mei and Utahime had little to gain from attending class, there were still plenty of assignments they were supposed to complete.
"Yuki, your principal's come again to visit Kumaen. Are you really planning to stay at the Gojo estate? You're a Special Grade. It's not right for someone like you to abandon their duty to the Jujutsu world, is it?"
Gojo Satoshi was poring over materials on the Tenshintai, but Yuki wasn't with Mei Mei or Utahime. Instead, she remained glued to Satoshi's side, no one really knowing what she was up to.
"What is there to contribute? There's always someone else who can take the job. 'Special Grade sorcerer'—it's just a title."
"Take you, for example. With your power, you're already at the Special Grade level, aren't you? But the General Directorate still won't recognize it."
Yuki stretched lazily. Even though Gakuganji was currently at the Gojo residence, she had no intention of meeting him.
Why waste time? She'd rather spend it with her boyfriend.
If she met Gakuganji, she'd be dragged back to Kyoto High. That would only widen the gap between her and Satoshi.
"Yuki, those are just your excuses."
Satoshi fiddled with the prototype Tenshintai in his hand and glanced at her helplessly. The former Star Plasma Vessel in front of him should have long since mastered Kidō.
But she always pretended like she hadn't learned a thing.
"Is the incantation for Kidō really that difficult? You can just cast it silently, right? Why waste time pretending?"
(To be continued.)
I just finished a fic I was working on and I'm thinking of starting another soon, so if you have any recs, drop them. Also, it's a new week, don't forget to drop more stones for bonuses xD
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