Chapter 69 — Infinite Potential, the Future High-Rank
"It seems your training's been going pretty well."
Zen'in Shinsuke stepped onto the training field, watching the students sparring and running drills with surprising discipline.
"Sensei! You're here!"
Maki's eyes lit up immediately.
"Mhm," Shinsuke nodded with a faint smile. "Short hair suits you better."
Maki's new look—short hair, no glasses—gave her a sharper, cleaner aura than before. Ever since she'd started cultivating Vital Energy (Aura and Blood Force), she no longer needed her special glasses to see curses.
The benefits of that power weren't limited to physical strength—it sharpened perception, awareness, and focus as well.
"Really? I just thought short hair made fighting easier," Maki said, brushing her bangs back.
"Anyway," Shinsuke said, glancing around the field, "what'd you call me here for?"
He had originally planned to take a break until the joint exchange event, but Maki had insisted he come in person.
"Sensei, there's still about a month and a half until the exchange meet. How about giving us some special training?" she asked, eyes full of anticipation.
Between constant missions, she hadn't had time for her master's direct guidance—and she could feel her progress slowing because of it.
"Maki, you don't need to trouble Sensei," Panda interjected quickly. "Our training's already on track. It'd be better if he focused on guiding the first-years."
"Salmon roe," Inumaki muttered in agreement.
They both looked terrified of the idea of another round of Zen'in-style hell training.
"Sensei's time is precious," Panda added. "We wouldn't want to waste it—"
"Shut it!" Maki roared, veins popping. "You two satisfied with your strength right now?! Don't you want to get stronger?!"
Her glare was so fiery that both Panda and Inumaki stiffened on the spot.
"Oh? Special training, huh."
Shinsuke rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Gojo was busy reinforcing Yuji's fundamentals, catching him up from zero. Meanwhile, the first-years had been left in the second-years' care.
"I think Megumi and Kugisaki are in good hands with you guys. As for you," he said, glancing at the trio, "your fundamentals are already solid. What you need now is steady progress. I don't really have much more to teach."
"Aww…" Maki's shoulders slumped, disappointment written all over her face.
Shinsuke chuckled. "Maki, it's not that I don't want to teach you. You've already entered the Eight Gates path—after that, there's no shortcut. Just hard, patient training."
"Oh right," he added, "how's your progress these past few months?"
Maki's mood instantly flipped, her eyes brightening. "Sensei~! After all this time, I've only managed to open the second gate. How long before I can be like you?"
"The second gate, huh… wait, what?" Shinsuke blinked, looking stunned. "You've already opened the second gate?"
She nodded eagerly. "Yeah! But lately, my progress feels a lot slower. What's going on, Sensei?"
Maki had been pushing herself far beyond normal limits—wearing weighted gear even on missions, training every spare moment, relentlessly punishing her body to grow stronger.
Shinsuke sighed, pressing a hand on her shoulder. A wave of aura surged through his palm as he examined her body's condition.
After a few seconds, he withdrew his hand, nodding in approval. "Incredible. You really did it."
Because her natural recovery ability was limited, her Aura and Blood Force had condensed faster—and since her physical body required less energy to open each gate, her progression far exceeded even his and his brother's pace.
Her foundation might differ, but her speed was terrifying.
"Sensei? Did I do something wrong?" she asked cautiously.
Shinsuke smiled. "No. You're perfectly fine, Maki. You're… a genuine prodigy."
"R-Really, Sensei?"
That word—prodigy—was something Maki Zen'in had never once heard in her entire life.
"Tch tch," Panda teased, leaning against the fence. "Look at her—Maki only acts this sweet when she's around Zen'in-sensei."
Maki instantly turned, glaring daggers. "WHAT was that, Panda?! Want to run ten laps with weights again?!"
"Salmon… run," muttered Inumaki under his breath.
Panda sighed from the sidelines. Honestly, she's impossible. Around everyone else, Maki was a raging storm — but with her teacher? Sweet as sugar. Total double standard.
"Uh… what are they even talking about?" Nobara folded her arms, staring at Maki and Zen'in Shinsuke's strange master-disciple exchange. "I feel like I didn't understand a single word of that."
Megumi replied calmly, "That's normal. My uncle and Maki-senpai train in a completely different way than we do."
"What do you mean different? Aren't we all jujutsu sorcerers?" Nobara frowned, visibly confused.
Megumi sighed. "I forgot to tell you. My uncle, Zen'in-sensei—and Maki-senpai too—they're both registered sorcerers at Jujutsu High, but neither of them actually has cursed energy. They don't even have techniques. They can't use jujutsu at all."
"…Huh?"
Nobara blinked blankly, then threw her hands up. "What kind of weirdo school is this?! No wonder that old man carries around a giant spear all the time!"
Ever since entering Jujutsu High, she'd thought she'd seen it all—but apparently, the world still had more weirdness to offer.
"Uncle," Megumi said, stepping forward, cutting through Maki's chatter, "there's something I've been meaning to ask."
Shinsuke tilted his head, curious.
"During the battle a few days ago—with Sukuna, not Itadori—I noticed something. He said something like I might be able to 'defeat a Special Grade.' Why would he say that? Is that even possible?"
It had been gnawing at him ever since. He couldn't wrap his head around it. He wasn't a Special Grade—or even close. So why would Sukuna, of all beings, acknowledge him that way?
"Oh, that." Shinsuke chuckled. "Seems no one ever told you."
He looked at Megumi's serious face and continued, his tone turning teacherly. "I didn't tell you before because I didn't want you getting a big head. But since you've matured a bit, I guess it's fine now."
"Megumi, do you know why the Zen'in clan values you so much?"
"Hmm… I suppose it's because I inherited the family's hereditary technique—the Ten Shadows?" Megumi answered honestly.
"Correct," Shinsuke said, nodding. "And what do you think of it?"
Megumi shrugged. "It's… fine, I guess. I don't think it's anything special. Probably because I haven't mastered it yet."
Shinsuke smiled faintly. "You really underestimate yourself, kid. Let me put it simply: if you completely subjugate and command all ten of your shikigami, and wield that technique to its fullest, you'll be strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with the strongest sorcerer alive—Gojo Satoru."
Megumi's eyes widened slightly. Shinsuke clapped him on the shoulder with a grin.
"So you'd better work hard, my dear nephew. Whether or not you can someday stomp that white-haired bastard into the dirt… depends entirely on you."
"…" Megumi stared blankly, torn between awe and disbelief.
"Hey, what about me?!" Nobara suddenly shoved him aside, puffing out her chest proudly. "Look at me, sensei! What kind of future do I have?"
"You?" Shinsuke crossed his arms and pretended to study her seriously. "Hmm… not bad at all. You've got great potential. Limitless, even! Keep it up, and your technique will make the higher-ups very happy. With some effort, you might even become one of the major figures in the jujutsu world someday!"
"For real?!" Nobara's eyes sparkled. "What kind of power does a high-ranking official even have?"
Shinsuke coughed, trying not to laugh. "Let's just say… if you make it to the top, you could practically take a dump on Gojo Satoru's head and no one could stop you."
"…That's… awesome!"
"…" Everyone went silent for a beat.
Megumi finally muttered, "…Why does Zen'in-sensei always use Gojo-sensei as the example for everything?"
Panda, arms crossed, nodded sagely. "It's the universal unit of measurement for power, pride, and pettiness."