Within Yuji Itadori's body—inside Sukuna's Innate Domain.
"Heh... hehe..."
"Hahahahaha!"
The scarlet lake reflected the throne built of skulls. Sukuna sat upon it with legs crossed, his unbridled laughter echoing through the space.
Interesting. Truly interesting.
A full eight consecutive Black Flashes.
Ryomen Sukuna had witnessed the entire process—Yuji Itadori going from being suppressed by that Special Grade curse to beating it within an inch of its life.
In truth, Sukuna hadn't thought much of the boy from the start. It was only his second day of enrollment. Even if he was a rare genius in the jujutsu world, what could he realistically accomplish? His lack of combat experience and the massive gap in raw power between him and the Special Grade should have guaranteed his defeat.
But the result was the complete opposite of his prediction.
"This kid... it's as if he was born for jujutsu."
"It's clearly his first battle, yet he held his ground against a Special Grade. Reaching the level of a Special Grade sorcerer himself is only a matter of time."
"Things are getting interesting."
Sukuna's mouth split into a wicked grin.
He only respected the strong—individuals on his level. The moment he'd incarnated, he'd acquired all of Yuji Itadori's memories. Originally, he'd dismissed the boy as nothing more than an overly compassionate, submissive brat.
When Yuji had actively entered his Innate Domain to speak with him, Sukuna still thought so. That was why he hadn't given the boy an ounce of respect.
But now, everything had changed.
"Let me see just how many surprises you can bring me, Yuji Itadori."
"Fascinate me."
With the final Black Flash unleashed, the Special Grade cursed spirit's face caved in beneath Yuji's fist.
"Blergh—!"
Covered in wounds from the relentless assault, the curse's consciousness flickered. It stumbled backward, footing unsteady, looking as though it would collapse at any moment.
"..."
When Yuji was young, he'd always believed he carried some kind of "mission." So he'd strived to become stronger, learned to save others—whether they were good or bad. To fulfill his grandfather's and Nanami's dying wishes, he'd always lived for other people.
Later, through his battles with Sukuna, he came to understand something. Grasping a so-called "mission" and completing it wasn't the essence of living. He'd always pursued a "proper death," treating himself as a "cog." But dying for a mission couldn't be considered "proper" at all.
Life didn't have that many missions. Every minute, every second of simply being alive—that was where meaning lay. He didn't have to force himself to save others or fulfill his grandfather's dying wish.
It just so happened that what his grandfather hoped he would do was exactly what Yuji Itadori wanted to do anyway.
When he saw that mother and son reunite outside the detention center—because of him—Yuji felt genuine happiness from the bottom of his heart.
So even after being reborn, even thinking about things from his own perspective, he still chose to walk the same path.
He chose to save others because he didn't want the people around him to die.
Yuji Itadori's mindset was different from his naive past self. He was still that kind-hearted boy—but now, he also considered his own feelings.
"Pfft... Guh..."
The fear of death flooded the Special Grade's remaining consciousness like a tidal wave.
I don't want to die... I don't want to die...
So scary... I'm so scared...
"GUH-EH-EH-EH—!"
The cursed spirit began to wail, making its final desperate struggle. A torrent of golden cursed energy erupted, sweeping outward in all directions. The remaining chairs, shattered rubble, even the load-bearing pillars—all of it was blown away like paper. The entire building groaned under the strain.
"Piercing Blood."
Blood compressed to its absolute limit formed an arrow shape and shot forward. Before the curse could complete its final resistance, the high-velocity projectile pierced straight through its skull.
The surging golden cursed energy coating the creature's body was snuffed out like a candle. In the next instant, the curse collapsed to its knees, consciousness completely extinguished.
"My cursed energy reserves are low, so I can only use that attack once or twice. Perfect as a finisher, though."
Yuji walked slowly toward the fallen Special Grade. He reached into the small hole in its chest and pulled out Sukuna's finger.
As the cursed spirit crumbled to ash and vanished from the world, the Curtain overhead and the incomplete Domain both disintegrated. The surrounding scenery reverted to the familiar juvenile detention center.
Yuji looked up. Then he put the finger into his mouth.
Gulp.
That makes three.
Feeling Sukuna's violent cursed energy churn within his body, Yuji Itadori turned and walked away.
On a rooftop five hundred meters from the juvenile detention center.
"Seriously? He won?"
Because Yuji had deployed a Curtain during the battle, Kenjaku hadn't witnessed the eight consecutive Black Flashes. But the result alone—single-handedly subjugating a Special Grade curse—was enough to leave him stunned.
"What an incredible growth rate. Is this really something a freshman who just started learning jujutsu can pull off?"
Beyond shock, Kenjaku's first reaction was suspicion.
This doesn't add up. The talent Yuji Itadori is displaying is borderline unbelievable.
According to the memories of this body—the one called Suguru Geto—even Satoru Gojo hadn't been this absurd.
More importantly, his plan was in shambles.
The original script called for Yuji Itadori to die here, then sign a Binding Vow with Sukuna. After that, Sukuna would use the Vow to find an opportunity to escape Yuji's body.
But looking at the situation now...
Kenjaku recalled what Mahito had said earlier, back in Dagon's Domain.
"Don't worry, Geto. When the time is right, I'll personally go meet Sukuna's vessel."
"I'll toy with Yuji Itadori until he has no choice but to sign a Binding Vow that benefits us. Look forward to my performance."
Kenjaku felt a faint stir of worry.
But he wasn't worried about Yuji Itadori.
Mahito was the most critical piece in his plan. What concerned him was the very real possibility that Mahito might just get beaten to death.