Three hours later, the meeting ended.
"Nanami, stay. Principal Yaga, stay. All the students, stay," Gojo Satoru said finally. "The rest of you are dismissed!"
Although Gojo Satoru had named seven people, Tengen and Yuki Tsukumo remained.
The others filed out of the secret barrier through the barrier gate created by Tengen.
Only after the others had left did Gojo Satoru slump into his chair, his solemn expression turning into one of relaxation.
He let out a long breath.
"Ah, so tiring. I didn't expect holding a meeting to be so exhausting. Why do I remember my meetings being so relaxed before?"
"That's because you didn't care about the meeting content at all," Yuki Tsukumo said, sitting in her chair with her hands casually crossed, propping up her cheek with the back of her hand as she teased. "Now you know the pressure, right? How does it feel to be the savior, Satoru?"
"Don't mention it, I'm practically being crushed to death by the pressure," Gojo Satoru laughed heartily.
"As long as I hear your laughter, the pressure disappears," Kento Nanami said coldly. "And then? What's the reason for asking us to stay?"
Kento Nanami was a tall but not particularly burly man. He was dressed in a formal suit and wore strange glasses.
Among all the Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers, Kento Nanami belonged to the top tier.
His Cursed Technique was very suitable as a base for Black Flash; in fact, he was the record holder for consecutive Black Flash hits.
He was very good at overcoming stronger opponents because his Cursed Technique could cause massive damage in a single strike.
He had the same flaw as all non-Special Grade Sorcerers: a massive imbalance in skills.
His defense was poor, his mobility was poor, his general jujutsu was mediocre, and he only knew the most basic Barrier Techniques.
But in terms of attack power alone, he could even pose a threat to or kill a Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
In the original work, the first Jujutsu Sorcerer the original Mahito encountered was him, and Mahito was almost killed by him.
If it weren't for the fact that Idle Transfiguration's regenerative power was truly incredible, Kento Nanami really could have killed Mahito then.
"First is Miyuki. In a moment, you'll come with me, and I'll personally train you," Gojo Satoru said nonchalantly. "In these two months, I'm going to train you into a genuine Special Grade Sorcerer... No refusals!"
"Huh?" Miyuki pointed at herself with a face full of disbelief. "M-me? I'm just a novice who hasn't even been enrolled for half a year."
"Don't underestimate yourself," Gojo Satoru said seriously. "Mahito isn't the type to be petty. Although you're just a work of his jest, the talent for sorcery he gave you is indeed rare in the world. Whether it's the flow of Cursed Energy, the amount of Cursed Energy, the cursed energy core, or Cursed Energy manipulation, your talent in Cursed Energy is second only to Yuta's. Even if Yuta had lost Rika back then, he could have jumped from Grade 4 to Special Grade within half a year. You can too."
But I'm a real spy! Why does Teacher Gojo trust me so much?!
Miyuki nodded with a mournful face.
However, Gojo Satoru seemed to be that kind of person. He wouldn't guard against Miyuki at all.
Didn't he also never guard against Itadori Yuji in the original work, even though Itadori Yuji was the vessel of the strongest King of Curses in history, Ryomen Sukuna?
And now, the importance of Miyuki's talent was once again highlighted.
Gojo Satoru had no reason to give up on her.
If it weren't for the fact that the upper limits of Inumaki Toge, Panda, and Kugisaki Nobara really couldn't be raised, Gojo Satoru would have loved to have those three students participate in this secret meeting too!
Miyuki... this time, she had truly, solidly entered Gojo Satoru's inner circle.
"As for Maki, follow Tengen in a bit. Tengen will sever the twin connection between you and Mai Zen'in," Gojo Satoru turned to Maki Zen'in. "That way, our side will also have a Heavenly Restriction. At least Toji Fushiguro won't be able to attack our fragile members at will."
Aside from Gojo Satoru, no one present dared to say they could defend against a Heavenly Restriction user 24 hours a day.
Anyone could judge how much of an improvement it would be to add a Heavenly Restriction to their side.
This was precisely why Maki Zen'in was asked to stay.
Tengen nodded.
"There are still two months until the end of October. This is enough time for me to sever the connection between the twins and let Maki Zen'in familiarize herself with the physical performance of the Heavenly Restriction. I'll take charge of Maki Zen'in for the next two months."
"Please guide me, Lord Tengen."
Maki Zen'in bowed slightly to Tengen.
Tengen nodded slightly.
"Todo, go with Tsukumo," Gojo Satoru laughed. "Tsukumo, this is the disciple you're so proud of. Don't let him end up unable to even defeat a first-generation Intelligent Cursed Spirit when the time comes."
Yuki Tsukumo said proudly,
"Do you think the disciple I've chosen would be such a mediocre talent?"
Aoi Todo was a robust and tall man. His eyes had fierce scars, and his face was full of flesh. Just looking at him made one realize his strength.
He had his long hair neatly groomed and tied behind his head in a bun like a spider lily.
Among the students of Kyoto Jujutsu High, he was the undisputed strongest, and he had never been satisfied with his current strength.
In the original work, he confidently expressed his desire to challenge Yuta Okkotsu.
In fact, although he was among the Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers, his strength was seriously off the charts.
In the final battle of the original work, he was also one of the very few Jujutsu Sorcerers who could engage in close-quarters combat with Ryomen Sukuna.
The spatial displacement within Mahito's Limitless Cursed Technique originated from Todo's technique, Boogie Woogie.
Todo Aoi's expression was as proud as his master Yuki Tsukumo's.
"That Jogo, Mahito's vanguard, I will handle him personally!"
"That's the spirit!" Gojo Satoru clapped.
But he changed his tone.
"But you can't do it right now. You don't even have a Domain Expansion. Facing Jogo will only turn you into a pile of ash."
"I know Simple Domain."
"Jogo's Domain Expansion, Coffin of the Iron Mountain—its temperature rises endlessly. I only stayed in that Domain Expansion for less than a quarter of an hour, and the temperature had already exceeded 6,000 degrees, which is the temperature of the sun's surface. If I'm not mistaken, the final temperature of Coffin of the Iron Mountain can reach the nuclear fusion temperature at the very center of the sun, which is 150 million degrees."
Gojo Satoru smiled and asked,
"Todo, can you withstand that?"
Todo Aoi was speechless.
"Having pride is a good thing. Pride drives the strong forward endlessly. The strong cannot be without pride."
Gojo Satoru's voice suddenly dropped as he said coldly,
"But seeing oneself clearly is also a characteristic of the strong, Todo. Right now, you are far from being Jogo's match... Go train with your master. Before you talk big, improve your strength first! A brat who can't even use Domain Expansion—don't embarrass yourself here!"
Todo Aoi's eyes widened as if he had been punched, staring intently at Gojo Satoru.
Yuki Tsukumo looked at the fuming Todo Aoi with a smile and laughed loudly.
"Not bad, Gojo Satoru. You certainly know how to stimulate my disciple's fighting spirit."
"We are all proud powerhouses, so of course we can't stand this kind of provocation," Gojo Satoru said dismissively. "The goal is right in front of you. I believe Aoi can overcome it. What do you say, Aoi-chan?"
Todo Aoi said coldly,
"I will prove it, not for you, but for the path in my heart. I will achieve Domain Expansion within these two months. I heard you hadn't learned Domain Expansion during your second year of high school? Fine. Starting from here, I will surpass you!"
In his second year of high school, Gojo Satoru really hadn't learned Domain Expansion.
That was because the Gojo Satoru of that time hadn't experienced piercing pain yet. At that time, he was still carefree, thinking he was invincible under heaven. It wasn't until after the mission to protect Riko Amanai that he truly exerted himself. In just one year, he achieved all-weather operation of the Six Eyes combined with the Limitless, and then he quickly learned Domain Expansion.
Another example is Yuta Okkotsu. When he transferred to Jujutsu High, he couldn't use Domain Expansion either. After experiencing the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, he also did his best to improve himself. By his second year of high school, he was already able to use a complete Domain Expansion, and in the original work, he used it in the final battle against Ryomen Sukuna.
Todo, who had never looked at his feet and always challenged strong enemies and himself, felt his fighting spirit burn like never before from the humiliation he received at this moment—he also wanted to have his own Domain Expansion!
"I'm looking forward to it," Gojo Satoru smiled.
Masamichi Yaga sighed inwardly.
Gojo Satoru had truly changed.
Before this, Gojo Satoru would never have learned such provocation or other verbal tactics. For Gojo Satoru, he always led by example and spoke the truth, even flipping the middle finger to the Jujutsu Higher-Ups and openly clamoring for reform.
It's not that tactics are bad—how could any high-ranking person in the world achieve great things through sincerity alone? Even the wisest emperors used political maneuvers and balancing acts.
But the reason for playing this game is that emperors know that if all officials were united, they could sideline the emperor.
However, before this, Gojo Satoru was confident that he could sweep across the entire world by himself; he didn't need to play any balancing games at all.
The fact that he was playing them now only proved one thing:
Gojo Satoru was truly feeling a mountain of pressure.
On the surface, he seemed as usual, but in his words and actions, his inner unease was exposed to those who knew him well.
No, it wasn't even unease—
—He was preparing a way out in case of defeat.
"Megumi."
(T/N: The slander really works, my brain automatically translates 'Megumi' to Potential)
Gojo Satoru continued calling names.
"Present."
Fushiguro Megumi nodded slightly.
"I understand what you mean. Within these two months, I will find a way to complete my Domain Expansion and tame Mahoraga."
During the Yasohachi Bridge Curse incident, he could use an incomplete Domain Expansion.
Incidentally, in the original work, he still hadn't completed his Domain Expansion even by the end. Instead, Itadori Yuji came from behind and finally used a Domain Expansion in the final battle.
"Do you have confidence?"
"Of course I don't," Fushiguro Megumi said calmly. "But even without confidence, I will do it. This is my responsibility. I will be responsible for my sister Tsumiki."
Gojo Satoru clapped loudly.
"Megumi-chan's words get a very high score!"
Fushiguro Megumi didn't bother to respond to that.
"Five hundred years ago, there was someone in the Gojo Family just like me now, with the Six Eyes and Limitless. He once had a decisive battle with an ancestor of the Zenin Family. Guess what the outcome was?" Gojo Satoru asked with a smile.
But before Fushiguro Megumi could answer, he gave the answer himself:
"Mutual destruction."
He said,
"The Zenin Family ancestor at that time used Mahoraga to perish together with the Gojo Family ancestor. This shows that Mahoraga's potential is no less than my Six Eyes and Limitless. If you can complete your Domain Expansion and tame Mahoraga within two months, it's certain that you can even intervene in the battlefield between me and Mahito. This is my expectation of you."
Fushiguro Megumi took a deep breath, feeling a huge pressure on his back.
He also knew the truth in Gojo Satoru's words.
He was sure that if he could really tame Mahoraga and perform a complete Domain Expansion, he would have the possibility of standing in that peak battle.
This expectation was so great it made him feel momentarily suffocated.
This was an added layer of pressure.
Fushiguro Megumi was used to escaping, but only this time, he was unwilling to run away.
He said solemnly,
"Even for Tsumiki's sake, I will do it."
"Still no confidence?" Gojo Satoru asked.
"It has nothing to do with confidence."
Fushiguro Megumi steeled himself.
"It's a matter of... I must do it!"
"Good!"
Gojo Satoru nodded vigorously and turned his head to look at Tengen.
"Tengen, it's no problem to leave him to you, right?"
Even though Maki Zen'in had already been assigned, Tengen's expression didn't change at all when faced with Gojo Satoru pushing another person over.
"Leave him to me."
Whether it was guiding a Domain Expansion or instructing on taming Mahoraga, Tengen was well-versed.
This was the confidence of having lived for a thousand years.
The current situation was completely different from the original work.
Tengen was not dead, and Gojo Satoru was not dead.
These two masters of Barrier Techniques dropped everything to teach Fushiguro Megumi with all their might, greatly increasing the possibility of him learning Domain Expansion and taming Mahoraga.
"And then, Yuji-chan."
Gojo Satoru looked at Itadori Yuji.
Itadori Yuji stood up nervously.
"Yes! Is there anything I can do?"
"What do you know about the Sukuna inside you?" Gojo Satoru asked.
Itadori Yuji stood there blankly, looking up and thinking carefully, saying hesitantly,
"He seems to be a very impressive Curse User?"
"Principal Yaga, you've been derelict in your duty," Gojo Satoru teased.
Masamichi Yaga said calmly,
"How long do you think it's been since Itadori enrolled? Much of the school's basic knowledge hasn't been taught yet, let alone the life of someone like Ryomen Sukuna. The fact that he barely knows Ryomen Sukuna is a Curse User rather than a Cursed Spirit already shows he's working hard enough."
Itadori Yuji scratched his pink hair awkwardly.
Unlike the original work, in the early stages, almost all of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers were sent out by Kenjaku, including the ones at the juvenile detention center and Yoshino Junpei's. Even the finger from the Yasohachi Bridge Curse was placed there by Kenjaku.
It can be said that in the early stages, Itadori Yuji's finger consumption was all under Kenjaku's nose.
This forced Itadori Yuji to continuously learn about Ryomen Sukuna, not to mention that Ryomen Sukuna often ignored his will and came out to mock him.
But now it was different.
Because Mahito was there, Kenjaku had no chance to design Itadori Yuji.
Furthermore, Kenjaku realized that Ryomen Sukuna wasn't needed at all; Mahito alone could sweep across the entire era and crush Gojo Satoru.
The Ryomen Sukuna fingers Itadori Yuji had collected so far were only three.
One was the one from when he enrolled, one was the one he was made to swallow before his execution, and one was from the Yasohachi Bridge Curse.
The fingers from the juvenile detention center and Yoshino Junpei weren't there at all.
"Yuji, I believe your potential is not inferior to ours," Gojo Satoru said seriously. "Your body can accommodate Ryomen Sukuna, which means you have potential equal to Ryomen Sukuna. Your future will surely allow you to stand with me... And now, you must accelerate your growth."
Itadori Yuji took a deep breath.
"I understand, Teacher Gojo. Please tell me what you want me to do."
"In these two months, there is only one thing you need to do."
Gojo Satoru curled his lips into a smile.
"Manifest Ryomen Sukuna's Innate Technique for me!"
"Huh—?!"
"A cursed object can affect the body of the incarnated person, causing them to grow the same Innate Technique as the cursed object. There are precedents for this," Gojo Satoru said as a matter of fact. "Principal Yaga, you should be an expert in this field, right?"
Masamichi Yaga was Gojo Satoru's mentor.
He wore black gangster sunglasses, had a burly build, and was dressed in the formal black staff uniform of Jujutsu High.
His face was solemn, like a permafrost glacier that would never change.
His technique was called Cursed Corpse Manipulation, which was a similar type of technique to the Puppet Manipulation used by Kokichi Muta.
Panda among the Tokyo students was his masterpiece.
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