Chapter 78 — Getting Stronger by Dying Once?
A few days later — Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Zen'in Shinsuke was sprawled lazily across the sofa, legs crossed, sipping from a cup of tea.
He squinted toward the tall man standing in front of him.
"So," he said, "instead of investigating the attack, you came here to bother me. Why?"
Gojo Satoru's face was unusually serious.
"I want you to protect Itadori."
---
For days now, Gojo had been investigating the organization behind the recent curse attacks — and the possible mole within Jujutsu High.
The deeper he dug, the murkier it got. Whoever they were, they'd hidden their tracks flawlessly.
He still didn't know who was pulling the strings — only that everything seemed to circle back to one name: Itadori Yuji.
Whether it was the enemy or the higher-ups, everyone was watching that boy like vultures circling prey.
---
"With you around, who'd dare touch Itadori?"
Shinsuke arched a brow. Really, this guy was too cautious for his own good — one backup plan wasn't enough, he wanted to drag him into it too?
Gojo's tone dropped low. "And what if I get held up?"
He folded his arms, eyes narrowing behind the blindfold.
"You've probably realized it too — there's a mole among the higher-ups. Maybe even among the students. No—"
His voice hardened. "Not maybe. There definitely is."
He exhaled slowly. "We don't know who it is yet. Or what they're planning with the curses. But one thing's certain — if they move against Itadori, they'll already have a way to restrain me."
Gojo tilted his head slightly toward Shinsuke.
"Itadori's strength, I acknowledge. But there's still one unstable factor inside him — Sukuna. That's what worries me."
He straightened his posture, his tone steady but heavy.
"Whether it's the higher-ups or the curse faction — if they try something while I'm away, I need you to stop it. Even if it's just long enough for me to get back."
---
Shinsuke studied him quietly.
He could tell Gojo had already arranged other precautions — likely even spoken with Okkotsu — but the fact that he was coming to him meant he was preparing for the worst.
In the end, the old Zen'in smirked slightly. "Alright."
Gojo blinked. "Just like that?"
"Sure. Consider it a favor. Or, if you don't trust me…" Shinsuke grinned, rubbing his fingers together. "You could always pay me for the trouble. I don't mind cash."
Gojo sighed. "You never change, do you?"
He stood up, his tone softening. "Still… thanks. Really."
Then, without another word, he turned and left.
---
As the echo of Gojo's footsteps faded, Shinsuke leaned back into the sofa, lost in thought.
With Gojo's strength, sealing him shouldn't even be possible.
Unless…
He's changed.
Just like Geto Suguru did.
And that thought, strangely, made Shinsuke chuckle to himself.
"I haven't changed, have I?" he murmured. "Still just a man who only looks out for himself… and the few people who actually matter."
Everyone else?
Their fate could go to hell for all he cared.
---
That evening, he returned to his quarters at Jujutsu High — he'd been staying there lately anyway.
As he reached his door, a familiar voice greeted him.
"Uncle, you're back!"
Fushiguro Megumi stood at the entrance, bandages still faintly visible under his sleeve.
"You shouldn't be up and about yet," Shinsuke said. "Your wounds healed already?"
"It was just a few scratches," Megumi replied quickly. "I'm fine now."
He hesitated, clenching his fists.
"Uncle… I want to get stronger."
---
Shinsuke raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"What's this? Feeling insecure? Scared Itadori's gonna surpass you?"
He could read the boy's thoughts like an open book.
During the exchange event, Itadori and Todo had fought side by side against Hanami — and held their ground.
It had shaken Megumi.
He hated being the one left behind.
Hated the idea of being a burden.
"I…" Megumi lowered his head, searching for words.
Watching his classmates grow stronger day by day — Itadori, Kugisaki — while he, who'd trained in jujutsu since childhood, lagged behind… it gnawed at him.
---
"Alright," Shinsuke said, standing. "I'm guessing you already went to Gojo about it. What'd he say?"
Zen'in Shinsuke pushed open the door to his quarters and stepped inside, speaking casually over his shoulder.
"So, what did Gojo tell you?"
Megumi followed behind him, hands tucked nervously into his pockets.
"Gojo-sensei said I should relax… that when the time comes, I'll naturally understand what it means to get stronger."
Shinsuke snorted, settling into his chair.
"Not a bad answer. A sorcerer's growth isn't a smooth, gradual thing. It's all about the right environment, the right timing, the right pressure, and the right mindset — with a little dash of talent."
He glanced at Megumi with a grin.
"Gojo's not wrong. Don't rush it. But I think you could stand to loosen up a little."
Megumi blinked. Loosen up?
What was that supposed to mean?
Was he supposed to start mouthing off like Gojo-sensei? Or act like his uncle — the guy every elder in the higher-ups wanted to strangle?
Shinsuke stretched his arms behind his head.
"Maybe you should take a page from your old man. Try being a little bolder."
"My… dad?"
Megumi froze, completely thrown off.
What did his father — a man who ran a restaurant — have to do with this conversation?
"Oh, right," Shinsuke said with a hint of amusement. "You probably don't know about Toji's past. Figures — he wouldn't exactly sit you down and tell you bedtime stories about it."
He poured himself a drink.
"Before he came back to you and Tsumiki, your dad was a hitman. A pretty famous one, actually — specialized in killing sorcerers."
"What—?!"
Megumi's eyes went wide.
His mind conjured up an image of his father in a pink apron, humming while he cooked dinner — and he nearly laughed from the absurdity of it.
A hitman?
Who hunted sorcerers?
There was no way that gentle, grinning cook could've been that kind of man… right?
"That's ridiculous…" he muttered.
Shinsuke ignored him and went on, his tone turning half-serious.
"Do you know how Gojo became the strongest?"
Megumi hesitated. "…I guess… by surviving a lot of pressure? Facing death, maybe?"
Shinsuke nodded.
"Bingo. Your father, Toji Fushiguro, once stormed Jujutsu High alone. He stabbed Gojo straight through the chest, right in front of Geto Suguru, and assassinated Riko Amanai in cold blood.
"If I hadn't shown up when I did, there wouldn't even be a Riko Amanai around to teach now."
He smirked faintly.
"It was in that moment — on the edge of death — that Gojo awakened. He broke through and became the strongest sorcerer alive."
He gave Megumi's shoulder a firm pat.
"So don't worry too much. You've just been through too little. Once you've stared death in the face a few times, you'll start getting stronger too."
Megumi stared at him in shock.
"…My dad… killed Gojo-sensei?"
"Pretty much."
The boy stood frozen, his mind spinning.
He'd just learned that his father — the mild-mannered man he'd only barely known — once killed the strongest sorcerer in the world.
So his uncle could kill special-grade curses like flies…
and his father killed Gojo Satoru…
Was he… the weakest one in the family?
Megumi clenched his fists, his expression complicated.
"So… what you're saying is… I have to experience… death first?"
Shinsuke chuckled under his breath, leaning back in his chair.
"Something like that."