The town was quiet, deceptively so. A chill wind rustled through the abandoned streets as Yuji, Takeru, Megumi, and Nobara stepped carefully, cursed energy tingling in the air. Gojo had briefly stopped by to give them instructions, but otherwise left them on this mission to test their coordination—and push their limits.
Takeru's glowing Six Eyes scanned the streets ahead, reading subtle shifts in cursed energy. "This isn't ordinary," he murmured. "Someone's been feeding a curse… deliberately."
Yuji tightened his grip on his weapon, nodding. "Yeah… the murders—they don't make sense. Whoever did this knows what they're doing."
Nobara's hammer rattled in her hands. "Well, let's make sure they regret it."
Megumi frowned, his fingers brushing over a small shikigami talisman. "Stay alert. These curses aren't just powerful—they're strategic. Expect the unexpected."
The squad split to cover more ground. Yuji, Takeru, and Nobara followed a trail of strange decays in the streets and alleys, while Megumi approached an old warehouse where the finger bearer curse had been spotted.
Suddenly, a chilling shriek pierced the night. From the shadows, Eso and Kechizu emerged—the twin Death Painting brothers, their eyes gleaming with malice.
"You shouldn't have come here," Eso hissed, blood dripping unnaturally from his fingertips. Kechizu mirrored him, a sadistic grin curling his lips.
Takeru stepped forward, glowing eyes narrowing. "We're not leaving until you're stopped."
The 3-on-2 Fight:
The brothers' Rot Technique erupted instantly, streams of decaying blood snaking toward Yuji, Takeru, and Nobara. The air reeked of iron and rot.
Yuji and Takeru were hit—but instead of weakening them, the infection allowed them to intuitively study the technique. Their cursed energy flowed in harmony, counteracting the decay. Nobara observed the brothers' patterns, noting the deep bond between them.
"You two… you care for each other too much," Nobara muttered under her breath, smirking. "That's your weakness."
The three coordinated attacks, using their strengths. Takeru's precise cursed energy strikes disrupted the brothers' rhythm, Yuji's raw power pressed their advantage, and Nobara's Straw Doll Technique set up the final blow.
With a precise, brutal strike, Nobara's doll pierced Eso, and the brothers collapsed, dying with a final glance at each other—their love for one another intact, leaving Yuji and Takeru shaken.
Takeru whispered softly, "Even in death… their bond… it's… strong."
Yuji nodded, a mix of sadness and determination in his eyes. "We'll save as many as we can, like Wasuke said… even if it's just one at a time."
Megumi vs. the Finger Bearer Curse:
Meanwhile, Megumi confronted the special-grade finger bearer in the warehouse, smaller curses scuttling around like shadows. He unleashed a creative combination of shikigami: Divine Dogs to flank, Nue to intercept attacks, and shadow chains to trap the main curse.
He moved strategically, keeping civilians and surroundings in mind, displaying the growth that Takeru and Yuji had noticed over past missions. With one final surge, Megumi exorcised the curse completely, the Sukuna finger within safely retrieved.
As the dust settled, he muttered to himself: "…Save as many as I can… no matter what."
Aftermath:
The town lay quiet once more. Yuji, Takeru, and Nobara stood together, tired and bloodied, but wiser. The emotional weight of Eso and Kechizu's bond lingered, showing that even enemies could have humanity.
Takeru glanced at Yuji, a faint glow in his Six Eyes. "Family… blood… bonds. It changes how we fight, how we survive. We have to remember that."
Yuji nodded, fists tightening. "Yeah. And we'll get stronger. Together."
Megumi emerged from the warehouse, finger in hand. "Let's go back. We need to report this, and… prepare for what's coming next."
Sukuna stirred faintly, voice tense and low. "Hmph… so the humans are learning… they understand each other… this… could be troublesome."
The team left the town, their bonds stronger, their resolve harder, and the looming shadow of Mahito, Pseudo-Geto, and the other fingers growing darker than ever.