Chapter 61: Rescue
"I already know," Gojo Satoru said calmly to Kamihara Hajime, leaning back in his chair. He looked up at the bright lamp hanging from the ceiling. "A mission that's at least Grade 1, and very likely to involve a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, yet they send first-year students to rescue 'survivors.' Heh, are the intentions of those old geezers no longer hidden?"
Kamihara Hajime toyed with an ornament on the table, his expression unreadable. "It's clearly their dissatisfaction with you forcibly protecting Yuji Itadori, Teacher. If I hadn't arrived relatively quickly, the three of them would have inevitably suffered casualties. With bad luck, they might have been wiped out."
"I really want to kill all those old orange peels."
Hearing Gojo Satoru's words, Kamihara Hajime chuckled and echoed him, "Alright, alright, I'll hand you the knife, Teacher. Who can stop us if we team up?"
Gojo Satoru sighed. "You brat, if killing them could solve the problem, I'd be enough on my own. The problem isn't those harmful insects, but this tree."
Gojo Satoru crossed his arms and leaned forward slightly. "Only when its rotten roots are completely removed can we clean up those pests. Otherwise, the harsh environment will continuously give birth to other pests. And these things cannot be done by me alone, which is why I need you all—you, Yuta Okkotsu, Kinji Hakari, Megumi Fushiguro, and Yuji Itadori. You all have this talent, especially you, Genichi."
"Is Senior Hakari still suspended? His personality… Oh, and Yuta Okkotsu, is his mission outside not over yet?"
Gojo Satoru spread his hands. "The Black Rope I asked him to find has been elusive, so I plan to go there myself sometime soon. This is also what I wanted to tell you today. For now, I don't have time to bother those old orange peels, but before I leave, I'll warn them. After that, I'll need you to take care of things."
Kamihara Hajime nodded in agreement. "Alright, if anyone tries such tricks again, let them face those Curses."
The following days were indeed much calmer. The missions Fushiguro and the others took were within normal bounds, while Yuji Itadori began learning basic Jujutsu knowledge under Gojo Satoru's tutelage. Occasionally, he would spar with Megumi Fushiguro or the second-years to refine his combat skills.
Yuji Itadori's physical talent is simply absurd, but unlike Maki, who has a Heavenly Restriction, he seems to be naturally born this way without any Restriction. Aside from not having a Technique, he's truly a prodigy!
That last sentence was spoken by Maki. Having sparred with Yuji Itadori at Jujutsu High, she was very satisfied with this resilient opponent. In her words: he's resilient, has good stamina, recovers quickly, and even minor injuries heal almost completely on their own without Reverse Cursed Technique.
Moreover, Yuji Itadori's learning ability in combat was also very fast. He possessed a beast-like keenness, often quickly absorbing experience from being hit in battle and transforming it into his own offense. Therefore, Maki also had to be fully focused. He was simply the perfect "sandbag"!
Days passed like this for a while until Gojo Satoru, after dealing with various chaotic matters, was being driven by Ieiri on a deserted road when he sensed an unusual aura.
"Stop the car, you can go back now."
Ieiri, feeling uneasy and thinking it was some kind of test, finally left Gojo Satoru behind when the latter started to show impatience. As Ieiri's car became a faint shadow in the distance, a figure suddenly descended from the sky, smashing the road behind Gojo Satoru to pieces.
The splashing gravel stopped in mid-air as they approached Gojo Satoru. He turned around and saw a powerful volcano-headed Cursed Spirit at the center of the shattered ground. It was clearly coming for him, but recalling his memories, he had no impression of this Cursed Spirit. He then asked strangely, "Who are you?"
Jogo said nothing, grinning as he raised a finger. A bulging, volcano-shaped object appeared on the mountain side near Gojo Satoru. Then, as he activated his Technique, that half-human-sized volcano suddenly spewed an extremely hot column of fire, instantly engulfing a large area around Gojo Satoru.
The terrifying stream of fire came and went quickly. After the fire column vanished, only slowly flowing lava remained on the ground, melted and scorched.
"Is that all? It's nothing special."
Jogo showed a look of 'that's all there is to it', but a voice from the lingering thick smoke reminded him he was celebrating too soon: "Who are you calling nothing special?"
Gojo Satoru's unharmed figure emerged from the dissipating smoke; even a small circle of ground beneath his feet showed no sign of damage. Jogo's smile faded, but he still taunted, "What? Did I hurt your ego? To be called the strongest is truly ignorant. Let me see what the strongest, praised by a bunch of weaklings, can really do?"
Gojo Satoru waved his hand dismissively. "No, no, I'm just a tiny bit stronger than you." He pinched his index finger and thumb together, leaving a small gap.
Jogo's smile widened on his face. A strange insect suddenly flew out from the top of his head, followed by a swarm of them. These insects rushed towards Gojo Satoru at a speed so fast they blurred, but they all stopped at a certain distance outside his body.
"A Special Grade Cursed Spirit I haven't seen before, not weak in strength. It's probably much stronger than Sukuna is now, and it can speak human language and communicate, similar to the Cursed Spirit Genichi mentioned before, but not the same one… Is there any connection between them?"
Gojo Satoru, who had separated the insects with Limitless, was pondering these thoughts when he suddenly heard continuous, sharp screeching sounds. These sounds also carried Cursed Energy fluctuations, clearly coming from those insects with sharp, thorn-like mouths.
"Oh?"
The eruption came too quickly. A column of fire rising from the sky once again engulfed Gojo Satoru, but Gojo Satoru, who then appeared in an open space, indicated that this attack had been ineffective.
Gojo Satoru, having dodged the attack, commented with interest, "A two-stage attack with sound and explosion, quite creative…"
Before he finished speaking, an uninvited guest intruded beside him. A raised right hand, carrying a burning flame, struck Gojo Satoru's head, instantly igniting him like gasoline hitting a spark, turning him into a torch.
Jogo, grinning, then struck Gojo Satoru's body with a palm. A more turbulent flame than before roared and consumed the latter. The massive, swirling, condensing stream of flames coiled like a rampaging dragon, incinerating everything within its embrace.
"The same move again? Didn't it not work? You really don't learn!"
Jogo's triumph was interrupted by a voice. Gojo Satoru, dispelling the annoying smoke and emerging from it, looked at Jogo's bewildered expression, a mischievous smile on his lips, and again made the same hand gesture. "Because… between you and me, there is 'Infinity.'"
At Tokyo Jujutsu High, Kamihara Hajime was demonstrating Cursed Energy control techniques to Yuji Itadori when Gojo Satoru suddenly appeared. Gojo Satoru, as if he had encountered something fun, smiled and greeted the two: "Genichi, you're here too. Perfect, I have a real-life teaching material. I plan to take Yuji Itadori to see it. Genichi, you come too."
'Alright, but Jogo, you're going to die.'
Jogo recalled Suguru Geto's words in his mind. So he wasn't bluffing after all. Can such beings exist among mere humans? It seems he can only drag him into his Domain.
Jogo, who had just been knocked back and stood up from the water, found that Gojo Satoru had disappeared. Did he escape? No! How could he escape when he had the advantage?
Before he could think further, Gojo Satoru's figure abruptly appeared on the water surface, and two more figures appeared with him at the same time.
"That's… Sukuna's vessel and that brat named Kamihara Hajime! Are they going to gang up on me?"
The scene instantly transformed into a wild landscape of green mountains and clear waters. Kamihara Hajime complained, "Why did you have to drag me along? Is this the Cursed Spirit? Hey! Do you know a Cursed Spirit with a stitched face?"
The latter half of that was directed at Jogo. Yuji Itadori was still amazed that the three of them were standing on water without falling, while Gojo Satoru was already enthusiastically introducing them to Jogo.
"This is Yuji Itadori, the star of today's lesson. And this is Kamihara Hajime, who's here to observe. Come on, don't mind us, continue your demonstration."
"He's not teaming up with that kid to gang up on me, but using me as a teaching material?" Jogo, stunned, had a stopper on each side of his head where his ears would be. In a surge of anger, streams of fire instantly burst forth, along with continuous eruptions from the top of his head.
"You dare to look down on me? I'll burn you to charcoal and eat you!"
Jogo, who should have chosen to retreat in this situation, was instead enraged by Gojo Satoru's attitude, which was not that of an opponent, but more like an amusing toy. He had come here with half a playful attitude, thinking it didn't matter if he couldn't kill him…
But the disparity between enemy and self, and his pride as a Cursed Spirit, as a new human, was ultimately unacceptable!
"Domain Expansion! Coffin of the Iron Mountain!"
The dense forest and the small pond beneath their feet vanished, replaced by solid, rough, dark brown ground. Even the moonlight above was obscured by layers of stacked rocks. Around the three individuals enveloped by the Domain, numerous pits and crevices were scattered, all filled with swirling lava.
"It's so hot…"
Yuji Itadori saw a rock the size of a small house, with scorching red cracks from which hot lava flowed. The rock was heading straight towards them, which caused his exclamation.
"You even brought me into the Domain, Gojo-sensei. Are you going to give Yuji Itadori a field lesson?" Kamihara Hajime asked boredly, hands in his pockets.
"Bang!"
Gojo Satoru raised his hand in a striking motion, shattering the massive rock into tiny fragments. He casually explained the concept of a Domain to Yuji Itadori, while Kamihara Hajime began to assess the situation within the Domain.
This was a very standard Domain. For that volcano head, the environmental factors provided a perfect boost. In this sealed Domain, his flames could hit the enemy with 100% accuracy. The opponent could only resist head-on with Jujutsu, or…
"Counter with Domain Expansion. When Domains are expanded simultaneously, whoever casts the more refined Technique will dominate the entire field, of course, also depending on compatibility and the amount of Cursed Energy."
"So…"
Kamihara Hajime had already sensibly reached out and placed his hand on Gojo-sensei's shoulder. Yuji Itadori, still being held by the latter, looked bewildered, while Gojo Satoru had already removed his blindfold, revealing his Six Eyes.
"Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void."
Jogo's Domain was quickly covered and vanished. Unlimited light engulfed everything, and an endless stream of information flooded Jogo's brain. He could perceive everything, yet he lost everything.
Gojo Satoru, having dismissed the Domain, walked over to Jogo, who was unable to move. "I still have things to ask you, so I'll let you live for now."
Gojo Satoru reached out, grabbed Jogo's head, and with a pull, detached it. Stepping on the solitary volcano head, Gojo Satoru asked, "Speak, who sent you? Are your accomplices that stitched-face and a Cursed Spirit like yourself?"
In the distant forest, Suguru Geto gazed at the battlefield, a strange smile on his face. "Why won't you believe my words? What, are you going to save him? Those two are both there, and only Gojo Satoru is fighting alone. But if you want to go, then go. I wonder if you Cursed Spirits have such emotions…"
"I cannot show my face in front of the Jujutsu High people, so I will take my leave. This Cursed Spirit will help you slightly. Whether it succeeds or not is up to fate. If both of you die there, then it would indeed be a bit troublesome," Suguru Geto mused as he walked into the dark forest. A black mist slithered past him, and the Cursed Spirit named Hanami, who was heading towards the battlefield, also disappeared.
The battlefield had quieted down.
Gojo Satoru was maliciously rolling Jogo's remaining head back and forth on the ground, threatening him to extract information, while Kamihara Hajime, bored, was explaining Gojo Satoru's Technique to Yuji Itadori so he could understand why the three of them could stand on water without falling.
And just then, an anomaly occurred!
A strange wooden stake, covered in flowers, descended from the sky, landing on the ground and instantly spreading a large area of various small flowers.
"Here it comes."
Kamihara Hajime, who seemed bored and relaxed, had always been on guard, because his companion would come to save him—the Cursed Spirit who manipulates plants, Hanami.
Time Stop
The blooming flowers froze, including Gojo-sensei, Yuji Itadori, and… a strange figure descending from the sky.
Its eyes were two protruding branches, its left arm was entirely wrapped in cloth, roughly humanoid, and its aura was not weak, also reaching the Special Grade rank. No mistake…
With a kick, he shattered the wooden stake stuck in the ground, sending it flying. Then, within the brief remaining time, Kamihara Hajime took out Totsuka-no-Tsurugi and flashed before Hanami.
Technique released.
Yuji Itadori watched as the unknown object that had suddenly fallen disappeared, and Senior Kamihara Hajime was also gone. Then, his gaze was drawn by a sound, and he turned his head to see Kamihara Hajime severely injuring an unknown Cursed Spirit.
"There really was a companion, and it wasn't that stitched face."
Gojo Satoru looked in surprise at the strange Cursed Spirit, which had one arm severed and its body almost split in two by a gash. It seemed Genichi had used his Technique to stop time just now, breaking that unknown move, and then took the opportunity to severely injure him.
Gojo Satoru whistled happily. "An unexpected gain, very nice."
Just as he was about to try and exorcise Hanami, Kamihara Hajime's vision suddenly went dark. Everything around him disappeared, and the whole world was left with only himself. This familiar scene instantly awakened Kamihara Hajime's memories.
"It's that sneaky guy from last time! That unknown Curse's Domain effect! They're working together."
Kamihara Hajime, currently in the after-effect of stopping time, couldn't immediately break open this Domain, and he had even fallen into the effect of this unknown Technique.
"This sudden drowsiness… Can this Technique force people into sleep?" Kamihara Hajime, struggling to stay conscious, continued to analyze the information. This time, he hadn't expected that unknown Curse and those Cursed Spirits to be working together. It could be said that his past memories had subtly misled him.
After using Time Stop to disrupt that move first, he didn't expect an unknown Domain Expansion to immediately seize that opening…
A few breaths later, the recovered Kamihara Hajime once again clashed the forward and reverse rotation of his Technique, only for a moment before dispelling it. Then the darkness receded, the Domain was forcibly stopped, and Kamihara Hajime also saw Yuji Itadori and a thoughtful Gojo Satoru.
"He got away. I was concerned about you two earlier, so I couldn't expand my Domain immediately. But my 'Purple' should have hit successfully. It's a pity I couldn't exorcise one."
Kamihara Hajime looked at the sight that made Yuji Itadori's eyes and mouth widen: a terrifying gash completely destroyed the pond, then extended into the forest behind, forming a huge wound.
He wasn't particularly surprised. He looked around and said, "Gojo-sensei, I searched the surroundings, but found no trace."
Gojo Satoru had already put his blindfold back on. "My Six Eyes also couldn't find his trace. This Cursed Spirit seems to be closer to the concept of a spirit; its Cursed Energy aura isn't very strong, and it's hard to detect once it enters the forest."
"But we did get some information. We'll have a chance to meet again in the future."
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