Chapter 71 — The Exchange Event Begins
"Let's go. Time to plan our strategy."
Maki shot a brief glance at her twin sister Mai across the field before turning to lead the Tokyo Jujutsu High team back toward their waiting room.
Once inside, everyone finally relaxed a little.
"To win this exchange event," Maki began, her tone crisp and commanding, "our first priority is to avoid fighting Aoi Todo."
Nobara frowned. "Right, I've been meaning to ask — what is that guy's deal?"
She looked between Maki, Panda, and the others.
A month ago, when both schools had met to introduce their representatives, Nobara had seen firsthand what "Todo Aoi" could do — and it was not something a human should be capable of.
"That guy," Maki said flatly, "has the power to exorcise a Special Grade Curse. He's a real monster. If you can, just stay far away from him."
She glanced at Yuji, who was standing quietly near the back of the room. "Originally, I planned for Panda or Fushiguro to distract him, but…"
Her eyes narrowed. "Since you're back from the dead, that job's yours, Itadori."
Yuji blinked. "Huh?"
"You don't have to beat him — just stall for time," Maki continued. "You're an unexpected variable anyway. If things go bad, retreat. No shame in that."
Yuji clenched his fists, a confident smile spreading across his face. "Wow, that was harsh… but alright. If that's my job, then I'll win."
"That's the spirit," Maki said with a grin.
---
Meanwhile, over at Kyoto Jujutsu High, Principal Gakuganji Yoshinobu was giving his own orders.
"Your top priority," he said solemnly, "is to kill Itadori Yuji."
"Wait— what?" Miwa Kasumi blinked. "I thought the rules said no killing."
"Itadori Yuji is Sukuna's vessel," Gakuganji replied coldly. "He should have died by his own hand, but since he's still breathing, it's not too late to fix that mistake. Just blame it on Sukuna afterward."
"…Understood, Principal," replied Kamo Noritoshi, eyes closed and expression unreadable.
Once dismissed, the Kyoto students gathered in their prep room.
"Todo's not going to follow orders anyway," Kamo sighed. "He'll probably charge in and do whatever he wants, as usual."
"Then ignore him," Kamo continued. "We'll form our own plan. The priority is Itadori. Victory can come later — killing him comes first."
"Can't we just have a normal, friendly competition?" Miwa asked nervously.
"Who cares?" Mai replied with a smirk. "I only have one goal — Maki."
She flipped her hair with a cocky grin. "Leave the rest to you. My sister's mine."
Kamo raised an eyebrow. "That attitude isn't much different from Todo's, you know."
"Is your sister really that strong?" Miwa asked curiously.
Mai scoffed. "Her? Please. She used to be a useless failure who couldn't even see curses. She only has a bit of brute strength thanks to our brother's training. Nothing I can't handle."
Though her words were full of confidence, there was a flicker of something else in her eyes — pride? resentment? determination? It was hard to tell.
This time, Mai thought, I'll show her I'm not the weak little sister anymore.
Miwa, oblivious to the tension, simply nodded. "I see. Then it sounds like we've got this in the bag."
"Alright," Kamo said, standing. "Let's go. The match is about to begin."
---
By noon, both teams had entered the dense forest — the same battleground where Zen'in Shinsuke and Gojo Satoru once fought.
A loudspeaker crackled to life.
"Ehem, testing, testing~" Gojo's cheerful voice echoed across the woods. "Alright, everyone, the match is about to begin! Let's have a few words from Kyoto's very own Utahime Iori!"
"Ah— right, um…" Utahime's uncertain voice came through the speaker. "Everyone, remember that teamwork and friendship are—"
"Okay, time's up! Match start!" Gojo interrupted gleefully.
"You damn brat!" Utahime shouted from the viewing room, slamming the table. "Can't you show some respect to your seniors?!"
"Relax, relax~" Gojo's voice replied lazily. "Anger just makes you age faster."
The other teachers simply sat back, quietly sipping their tea as the chaos — and the competition — began to unfold.
Gojo Satoru waved his hand dismissively, not even glancing at Utahime, who was still fuming beside him.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned toward the man standing quietly near the railing — the ever-reluctant Zen'in Shinsuke.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up," Gojo drawled with a teasing grin. "I've been calling you for years, and you never show up. But the one time I don't invite you—boom—you appear. What gives?"
"No choice," Shinsuke replied lazily, his tone calm yet sharp. "This time, I smelled prey. And I'd hate for you to snatch it first."
Gojo's smile faltered.
"Prey? …What's that supposed to mean? You expecting trouble?"
Linking it with recent events — the coordinated special-grade attacks, the strange energy shifts — Gojo's instincts went on high alert.
He turned toward Shinsuke, the air between them tightening.
"What do you know?"
Shinsuke smirked slightly. "Relax. I'm not your undercover spy."
Gojo froze for half a second, brows knitting beneath his blindfold.
Wait… how does he know about that?
That operation was top secret, something not even most of the higher-ups were aware of.
And this guy — the infamous slacker who spent his days hunting curses and skipping meetings — should've had zero interest in such things.
"…Seems you know more than you let on," Gojo said, his voice low and amused.
"Of course," Shinsuke replied smoothly. "When it comes to powerful Curses, I make it my business to know."
He leaned closer, a sly glint in his eyes. "Tell you what — beg me, and maybe I'll share a juicy secret or two."
Gojo snorted and turned away. "As if. Me? Beg you? Yeah, not happening — not in this lifetime."
Before Shinsuke could retort, Utahime and Amanai Riko — both eavesdropping shamelessly — leaned in, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Come on, Zen'in-sensei," Utahime said, grinning. "What's this juicy secret you're talking about?"
"Yeah, spill it, old man!" Riko chimed in, bouncing excitedly.
Shinsuke chuckled. "Alright, but keep it between us…"
He leaned in and whispered something too quiet for Gojo to hear.
Whatever it was, both women froze — then gasped dramatically.
"No way! That's insane! You're serious?!"
They both turned to stare at Gojo — not angry, but wide-eyed and speechless — as if they had just learned something unholy.
Gojo blinked. "…What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing," Utahime said quickly, a faint smirk tugging her lips.
"Hey, c'mon, tell me!" Gojo pleaded, inching closer. "Utahime-senpai, please? I swear I'll treat you with so much respect from now on!"
She crossed her arms. "Ask Zen'in yourself."
Gojo immediately turned to Riko. "Riko~ my favorite kouhai~ you wouldn't keep secrets from me, right?"
Riko huffed and looked away. "Ask the old man yourself."
Gojo's face twisted in mock outrage. "Unbelievable! You're all conspiring against me! This is harassment!"
The others ignored his tantrum.
Shinsuke simply kept his eyes on the arena, arms folded, his expression unreadable.
This time, he thought, there's no way I'm letting my quarry escape.
The tension in his gaze hardened into killing intent. If the organized Curses he'd been tracking were truly going to make their move, then he'd make sure their focus stayed on him — not the students.
If they wanted chaos, he'd gladly become the storm.
A small grin crept up his lips as his aura thickened — sharp, predatory, almost feral.
"…Hey," Gojo said suddenly, sensing the shift. "You good?"
Shinsuke blinked, snapped out of his thoughts, and answered flatly,
"Just got excited thinking about something."
Gojo stared at him for a moment. "…Right. I forgot you're also a complete freak."
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