(Pov Satoshi)
Now that the first year had gotten together, it was time for their first test, or it was Yuji and Nobara's first test. Since Megumi had already been attending the school, he had completed a few missions already. So they had been brought to a small curse infestation. I had checked the place myself to make sure, and there was nothing higher than Grade 3, and just barely. As we approached the building, I brought out my old, reliable weapon, Slaughter Demon. I had used it much less since gaining so many other weapons, but I kept it just in case, and now the time had come.
"Yuji, since you're not used to manipulating cursed energy yet, I want you to use this," I said, handing the blade over to him.
"Woah what is this?" He asked while inspecting the blade.
"That is a cursed tool, a weapon infused with cursed energy, making it capable of damaging a curse. Those who don't have enough cursed energy or are bad at manipulating it can use these in battle." I explained, "In fact, I can only use cursed tools because I don't have any cursed energy."
"Really, Gojo-Sensei, don't you need cursed energy to see curses?" Yuji asked
"Usually, but I'm special, I'll tell you all about it later. Now you and Nobara have work to do," I said, giving Yuji a nudge towards the building before taking a seat outside. The two new students entered the building and began making their way up the floors. I could still hear them as they moved on. It was a little boring, honestly, waiting for both of them to finish the fight, but I suppose that's what being a teacher means, can't all be fun and games.
It wasn't much longer when Nobara went flying out of the window above while battling a curse before she drove one of her nails into it, fully exorcising it. Their first battle was done, and now it was time to go and relax a bit. Well, it was time for them to relax. I knew that there was going to be an issue soon, as just today I had been informed I would need to go on a long-term mission far from Tokyo. I knew this was part of the higher-ups' plans to try and kill Yuji and prevent Sukuna from getting stronger, so they'd send me away and then put the three of them on a mission to kill what they knew was likely a Special Grade in the making.
The worst part of the exchange would be the binding vow Sukuna would make with Yuji. During the mission, Yuji would lose against the curse, and Sukuna would take over and then hold his body hostage until Yuji took control and died. Then, Sukuna would make a vow with Yuji, allowing him to take control of Yuji's body for one minute, and Yuji would forget the whole thing, which ultimately led to Sukuna swapping over to Megumi's body during the Culling Games. This meant I would have to either blow the mission off, which might make them suspicious, or complete it very fast, no matter what, though I needed to make it back before Sukuna takes Yuji hostage, only then can I prevent the main damage from happening.
"You two did well for your first mission, now I did promise lunch," I said as they approached, and I made good on my promise, taking all three of them out to a big buffet. It was nice seeing them all be so carefree. When I had come into this world, I only thought about saving my brother; he was the only one I really cared about, and other actions were just further methods of keeping him from death. But the students I had helping to raise Maki and Mai had shifted the goals. I no longer wanted to just protect Satoru, but I wanted to protect my students as well, and not just keep them safe, but help them stay happy.
(Pov Yuji)
Gojo-Sensei had been sent on some mission, so we had been having more general lessons for a few days now. Though we were finally going on another mission. Ijichi-San had told us about a curse forming in a detention center, and we were being sent to take it out. As we arrived at the place, though, a woman showed up, apparently her son had been in the center but hadn't been part of the evacuation. I promised to help her find him, and then we entered the curtain.
Once we were within the curtain, Fushiguro summoned his two dogs to help us find the remaining people and the curse. It didn't take long for things to get worse as the building around us suddenly changed into a strange working of pipes and metal.
"Ah, the walls are all weird and the doors gone, what do we do?" Both Kugisaki and I exclaimed.
"Relax, my Divine Dogs know where the exit is; we can follow them later," Fushiguro said.
"Oh, I always knew you were a good boy." Both of us said as we began petting the dog, earning an approving ruff.
The good feelings wouldn't last as we found the remaining members who hadn't evacuated, or what was left of them. I also saw that one of them had the name Tadashi on it, the woman's son.
"This is Tadashi. We need to take him back," I said.
"Don't, we still have two more to find," Fushiguro said back, and I could feel my irritation rising.
I was about to argue back when Kugisaki suddenly disappeared into her own shadow.
"How did that happen? My Divine Dog would have noticed the curse approaching," Fushiguro said before we both turned, seeing the head of the dog that had been our lookout.
"Itadori, we have to run!" Fushiguro yells, but we don't even make it a step when a strange being is next to us. It was white, but its head had four odd lines on it and four eyes that seemed to look at both of us. The look it had was pure malice, but before we could react, something slammed into its head, sending it flying.
"Sorry for being late, but I can handle this now." The newcomer said, and when I looked over.
"Gojo-Sensei?!" I exclaimed, and he gave me a nod before turning to Fushiguro.
"Megumi, find Nobara and get out of here now." He said before rushing over towards the spot the curse had landed, pulling out an odd-looking, chained staff. Me and Fushiguro and I both began making our way out while Fushiguro sent the other dog to find Kugisaki. Not long after, we managed to find the curse that had caught her and exorcised it, and shortly after, the weird world of pipes wavered before disappearing, and the door out appeared.
Once we got outside, Gojo-Sensei came out not long after, carrying another one of Sukuna's fingers. I could hardly believe it. I knew he was strong, but he beat those things so fast, and I couldn't do anything. How can I protect people if I'm not strong enough, not even just physically? I froze in there. I had to find my own strength, and Gojo-Sensei was the goal I needed to reach.