Chapter 20: Itadori Yuji
Itadori Yuji plummeted from the sky like a meteor, his head spinning, pounding with pain. The sensation felt like his skull was being split in two...
A sharp, slicing gust swept through the air as Zenin Kyūjō shot forward, catching Yuji's body just before he could crash into the ground. With gentle precision, Kyūjō lowered him to safety.
"You alright, Itadori-kun?" Kyūjō asked calmly, eyes scanning his condition.
At the same time, he pressed his palm lightly against Yuji's chest, activating Reverse Cursed Technique. Warmth surged through Yuji's body, soothing his pain and stitching his strength back together.
Yuji blinked, then bounced lightly on his feet to steady himself. When he looked up, awe sparkled in his eyes.
"Zenin-senpai... that was amazing! You totally crushed Sukuna like he was nothing...!"
Before Yuji could finish, a strange mouth formed on his cheek—a grotesque manifestation of Ryomen Sukuna's consciousness.
"Hmph... White-haired brat... Don't get cocky. One day, I'll rip you apart."
And just like that, Sukuna's presence faded, slipping back into slumber within Yuji's body.
— — —
Yuji chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
But Kyūjō wasn't bothered by Sukuna's threat in the slightest. Instead, he stepped closer and patted Yuji's shoulder with quiet warmth.
"You've done well, Itadori-kun. You're strong... not just in power, but in will. Most people your age would have broken under pressure. But you? You've come this far... That's something to be proud of."
"Keep going, kid. I'll be watching. And when you're ready, I'll help you get even stronger."
Yuji froze. His lips trembled slightly, and a faint mist clouded his vision.
This was... the first time someone had truly acknowledged him.
No one knew how much he had endured. His only family—his grandfather—was gone. And now, he was part of a world filled with Curses and sorcerers, where death lingered at every turn.
Even worse, he'd become the host to the most terrifying Curse in history—Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses.
Yet just a short while ago, he was just a normal high schooler. Nothing special.
Now, his entire purpose was to collect every one of Sukuna's fingers... to serve as the vessel until the day Sukuna was destroyed.
And when that day came... he, too, would disappear.
If this life was going to burn out so young—then let it burn brightly.
My name is Itadori Yuji. Fighting evil is my passion. Standing for what's right is my creed. Helping others... that's why I exist!
— — —
July 2018
The defeat of Suguru Geto had brought only fleeting peace to the world of jujutsu.
In recent weeks, the number of Cursed Spirit mutations had surged unnaturally. Behind the scenes, a shadow was creeping across the world... silent, unseen by even the strongest sorcerers.
Zenin Kyūjō, Satoru Gojo, and the entire second-year team were constantly deployed around the world for large-scale Cursed Spirit extermination.
Meanwhile, just like in the original tale, the first-year trio had been sent on a mission by the higher-ups to investigate a school where a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit had reportedly appeared.
From there... events unfolded as we know them.
Itadori and the others were completely outmatched by the enemy: Special Grade Cursed Spirit – Cursed Womb: Death Painting.
In a desperate attempt to save Fushiguro Megumi and Kugisaki Nobara, Yuji fought the monster alone.
His body broke. He was dying.
And in that moment—Sukuna awoke.
Naturally, the King of Curses had no intention of saving anyone for free.
After annihilating the Death Painting Cursed Spirit with ease, Sukuna vanished... and went looking for Megumi, who had just escaped.
From that moment forward, a series of major events was set into motion.
— — —
Autopsy Room – Tokyo Jujutsu High
Itadori's body now lay still and cold, lifeless. Naked beneath a white sheet, his form rested atop a steel slab in the center of the mortuary.
Ijichi, the assistant supervisor of Tokyo Jujutsu High, stood with a heavy expression, eyes lowered in guilt.
"When faced with a Special Grade, there were only two choices... run, or die. I warned them not to engage."
Gojo's voice suddenly cut in, sharp and quiet.
"They sent them on purpose, didn't they?"
Ijichi flinched. "What do you mean, Gojo-sensei?"
Gojo leaned back in his chair, brushing a hand through his hair.
"A mission like that—facing a Special Grade while tasked with rescuing five unknown civilians—and the ones they send... are first-years?"
"I'm the one who blocked Itadori's execution, got it delayed indefinitely. The higher-ups hated that. But they didn't dare come after me directly. So, they waited for a moment when I wasn't around... and then arranged for him to die."
"And as for the other two students? Whether they lived or died... I doubt the old bastards even cared."
Ijichi's voice trembled. "T-That's not it! When the mission was approved, the presence of a Special Grade hadn't been confirmed yet...!"
"Tch. Too much trouble figuring out who's behind this..." Gojo muttered, gaze dropping into shadow. "Maybe I'll just wipe out the whole damn council."
Just then, the door swung open.
A woman stepped inside, her presence calm and clinical. She wore a crisp white lab coat, hands tucked into her hip pockets. Her long reddish-brown hair framed an elegant, intelligent face.
— — —
"I didn't think you'd get emotional, Gojo Satoru. Seems you really did care about this kid."
Her voice was even and cool—Shoko Ieiri had arrived.
"Thank you for coming, Ieiri-san," Ijichi said, bowing respectfully.
Gojo exhaled. "He was my student, Shoko."
Shoko shook her head softly. "Then don't take it out on Ijichi. He's stuck in the middle between you and those fossils."
She walked up to the slab and pulled back the white sheet.
"So this is Sukuna's vessel, huh? Gojo... can I take him apart however I like?"
Gojo closed his eyes, voice low.
"Do what you want. But make it worth it. He's still..."
A sudden gust of wind swept through the room, stirring the air like a silent storm.
And just like that—Zenin Kyūjō had arrived, his figure now standing in the morgue, eyes fixed on the body of Itadori Yuji.
— — —
Zenin Kyūjō's cold gaze pierced into Ijichi as he spoke in a low, flat voice.
"So... Itadori was killed. By those decrepit elders on the Jujutsu High council?"
Ijichi froze. His lips parted, unsure how to respond.
Before he could say a word, Shoko Ieiri stepped forward, placing herself between him and Kyūjō.
"You must be Zenin Kyūjō—the newly appointed Special Grade sorcerer from Tokyo Jujutsu High, correct?"
"The truth behind Itadori Yuji's death... Sukuna's vessel... it's not as simple as it looks."
"Yes, it's true the higher-ups wanted him dead—to prevent Sukuna's revival at any cost. And sure, personal interests were involved, as always. But at the core of it, it wasn't just hatred or revenge. They believed they were protecting the world."
"Still... I can't deny the outcome was cruel. Especially for someone like Itadori."
Shoko locked eyes with Kyūjō.
"That's why I ask—please, consider this from a wider perspective. Don't be reckless. The jujutsu world—"
But Kyūjō didn't stay to listen.
He turned away mid-sentence and walked out without another word, ignoring her entirely.
He'd already heard enough.
The council... those self-serving relics in the executive board... he'd never trusted them to begin with. All they cared about was status, bloodlines, and their little power games. They never once thought about the future of jujutsu society.
They were just like those stubborn advisors from the Hidden Leaf in the ninja world—useless deadweights getting in the way.
And now, they'd crossed the line.
They'd manipulated a mission just to eliminate a junior he personally respected—Itadori Yuji.
Today, Kyūjō would no longer hold back.
If the only way to bring justice was to wipe out the elders... then so be it.
Let the world burn if it must.
Whether the world falls into chaos or not didn't matter to him anymore.
The earth will keep turning regardless of who disappears. No one is truly irreplaceable—not even Gojo Satoru. Not even himself.
No Gojo Satoru? Then let a "Satoru Kujō" rise up.
No Zenin Kyūjō? Someone else—"Zenin Lee" maybe—would eventually fill the void.
But those rotten parasites in the council?
They were nothing. They were no one.
So many people in this world had the power to change everything... yet chained themselves to meaningless rules.
But Kyūjō was done pretending.
If the jujutsu world was really so fragile that it would crumble without a few wrinkled elders... then let it crumble.
— — —
Just then, a familiar presence flickered into view.
Gojo Satoru, who had been sitting quietly all this time, suddenly appeared in front of Kyūjō, blocking his path.
He sighed, speaking calmly.
"Kyūjō... You know I'm an annoying guy, right?"
"But do you know why I chose to come back to Jujutsu High? Why I took up teaching again?"
"I have a dream."
He gestured toward the sky as if pointing to the future.
"Up there—at the peak of the jujutsu world—sits a throne made of fools. Some are selfish fools. Some are fools riding on family names. Others are just plain arrogant... and the rest? Just average-grade idiots."
"Our whole system is a rotten basket of spoiled fruit."
"But you see, Kyūjō... even if we kill them all, what happens next?"
"We'll just end up replacing them with a brand-new group of fools."
"Killing the top dogs doesn't solve the root of the problem. It just swaps the surface."
"And more importantly... no one will follow a leader who only knows how to destroy."
"That's why I chose a different path. The path of education."
"I want to raise the next generation—strong, smart, kind-hearted sorcerers who'll change the world with me."
"And when I look at you guys... I know I chose the right path."
"You're all incredible. Especially Hakari from the third years, you from the second year, and Okkotsu Yuta... You three are on a whole different level."
Gojo's voice wavered.
"And honestly... Itadori should've been counted among you."
He clenched his fists. Emotion surged through his words.
But at that moment, Kyūjō's cold expression finally shifted.
His brows furrowed in confusion.
Wait...
Itadori Yuji... came back to life?
No way. He'd just seen the boy die—completely.
Unless... Sukuna brought him back?
And not just revived—every wound on Itadori's body, even the massive hole in his chest, was completely gone.
— — —
"UWAAAAAH!! I'M NAKED!!!"
A loud scream echoed from inside the autopsy room.
Itadori Yuji suddenly jolted upright on the mortuary slab, staring down in horror at his uncovered lower half.
Everyone in the room froze.
The silence was so thick, it was almost comedic.
Seconds ticked by.
Finally, Shoko Ieiri broke the tension with a deadpan sigh.
"Shame... I was looking forward to dissecting the vessel and sealing Sukuna's powers."
Itadori scrambled to grab the white sheet, wrapping it around his waist in a panic.
"U-Um, this is really embarrassing... Uh... who are you, again?"
Gojo Satoru stepped forward, arms wide in welcome, a bright grin lighting up his face.
"Welcome back, Itadori Yuji!"
Everyone snapped out of their daze as Gojo beamed with joy.
Still grinning, he leaned closer and whispered in a playful tone:
"You have no idea, do you? You almost caused a full-scale massacre of the entire Jujutsu High council!"
"If you hadn't woken up when you did... I might've had to stop Zenin Kyūjō-san from going on a rampage."
Kyūjō, hearing that, just chuckled under his breath.
He turned to Gojo and replied coolly,
"Who said I was going to let the council off the hook?"
"Sure, Itadori made it out alive this time. But their actions crossed the line."
"They need to be removed. All of them."
"At the very least... we'll have a few weeks of peace."
And with those words, Zenin Kyūjō vanished from the room—like a ghost dispersing into the wind.
Gojo stayed where he was, watching the open doorway in silence... deep in thought.
— — —
Shoko's gaze shifted, her expression tight.
"Are you really not going to stop him?" she asked sharply.
But Gojo just rolled his eyes lazily.
"Why would I?"
"What Kyūjō wants to do... is something I've wanted for a long time."
"The difference is, unlike me, he has no attachments holding him back. He's not worried about appearances or consequences."
"He just acts on what he believes is right."
"And honestly... I don't think he's wrong."
"So tell me—why should I stop him?"
He looked toward the slab where Itadori sat, now fully wrapped in the sheet.
"If the elders die... so be it."
"There are plenty of people who can take their place."
"And like Kyūjō said, at the very least... maybe we'll get some peace."
Gojo's voice softened.
"Don't worry, Shoko. I trust Kyūjō."
"He won't harm the innocent."
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