The silence in the alleyway was heavy, broken only by the sizzling sound of the Cursed Spirit's remains dissolving into the pavement. Kaito stood tall, his 193-centimeter frame casting a long, imposing shadow against the brickwork. He didn't turn around immediately. He didn't need to. Through the lens of Observation Haki, the world was no longer just shapes and colors; it was a map of intent and power.
And the man standing behind him was a sun.
Gojo Satoru's presence was a pressurized weight, an oceanic vastness that seemed to push against the very air. To any other sorcerer, this would be suffocating. But Kaito, with his newly forged "Perfect Body," simply absorbed the pressure, his spine remaining straight, his breathing rhythmic and calm.
"You know," the voice came again, closer now, dripping with a playful, dangerous curiosity. "Usually, when people see a Grade 2 Curse, they scream. They run. They definitely don't try to use it as a stress ball."
Kaito finally turned. His messy blonde hair shifted as he moved, a few strands falling over those piercing, storm-grey eyes. He looked at Gojo—not with the awe of a fan or the terror of a civilian, but with the steady gaze of an equal.
Gojo Satoru stood there, his hands shoved into the pockets of his black uniform. The dark blindfold was tilted slightly, as if he were trying to adjust his "view." For the first time in a long time, the Six Eyes were struggling to categorize what they were seeing.
No Cursed Energy, Gojo thought, his grin widening even as his mind raced. None. Not even the 'leak' that normal humans have. He's a total vacuum. But that physical strength... it isn't Heavenly Restriction. It's too... clean. And those eyes...
"I don't like being on the menu," Kaito said, his baritone voice smooth and resonant, echoing off the narrow walls.
Gojo took a step forward, closing the distance until he was just a few feet away. He was tall, but Kaito was a match for him, their eye levels nearly identical. The two of them standing in that grimy alley transformed the space; it felt less like a trash-filled corner of Roppongi and more like a stage where two titans had accidentally met.
"I'm Satoru Gojo," the white-haired man said, leaning in close, his nose almost touching Kaito's. "The strongest teacher at a very special school. And you... you're a massive headache. Who are you, tall-and-handsome?"
"Kaito Sora."
"Kaito, huh? Nice name. Very 'main character' vibes," Gojo chuckled, though his hidden eyes never stopped scanning. "Tell me, Kaito-kun. How did you do that? No cursed energy, yet you hit that thing so hard its soul cracked. And you moved... before it even lunged. You didn't see it with your eyes, did you?"
Kaito remained silent for a beat. He knew exactly who Gojo was, but the "Kaito" of this world shouldn't. He had to play the part of the talented enigma. "I just felt it. The world gets... loud... before something happens. I just listen."
Gojo's smile twitched. Precognition? Or just insane instincts? Suddenly, Gojo's hand whipped out of his pocket. It was a blur, a strike aimed directly at Kaito's shoulder. It wasn't meant to kill, but it was fast—faster than any human should be able to track.
Observation Haki flared. A red spark ignited in Kaito's mind, showing the trajectory of Gojo's palm.
Kaito didn't panic. He didn't even shift his feet. He simply tilted his upper body back by a fraction of an inch. The wind from Gojo's hand whistled past his chest, ruffling the fabric of his shirt, but making zero contact.
Gojo froze. His hand stayed extended in the air. "Eh?"
He tried again. A sweep. A jab. A flick.
Kaito moved like water. Every dodge was minimal, efficient, and hauntingly graceful.
He wasn't even breaking a sweat. His 6'4 frame, which should have been cumbersome, flowed like a shadow. To any onlooker, it would look like a choreographed dance where Kaito knew every one of Gojo's moves before the sorcerer even thought of them.
"Wow," Gojo said, dropping his hand and laughing out loud. "Wow! You're amazing! You're like a cat! A very, very big, very pretty cat!"
[System Notification]
[Target: Gojo Satoru is 'Impressed'.]
[Sign-In Condition Met: 'The Gaze of the Six Eyes'.]
[Do you wish to Sign-In?]
Sign in, Kaito commanded mentally.
[Sign-In Successful!]
[Reward: Cursed Technique — 'Structural Integrity' (Architect Series).]
[Description: The user can perceive the 'Lines of Failure' in any physical object, barrier, or Cursed Technique. Striking these lines allows the user to dismantle them with minimal force.]
Kaito felt a surge of clarity. The world around him—the brick walls, the air, even the "Infinity" surrounding Gojo—suddenly had faint, glowing blueprints overlaid on them. He could see where the bricks were weak. He could see where Gojo's technique had its microscopic gaps.
"You're staring," Gojo noted, his tone turning a bit more serious. "What do you see, Kaito-kun? You're looking at me like you're trying to take me apart."
"I see a lot of things," Kaito replied, regaining his composure. "Mostly a teacher who shouldn't be attacking random teenagers in alleys."
Gojo let out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest. "Random? There's nothing random about you! You're a diamond in the rough! No, you're a diamond that's already been polished and put in a museum! How would you like to come with me? I have a school where we deal with things like that purple eye-monster. You'd fit right in. You'd probably get a scholarship just for your face."
Kaito looked toward the mouth of the alley. He knew this was the moment. If he stayed here, he was just a handsome freak of nature. If he went with Gojo, he was entering the lion's den—the beginning of the journey toward breaking the Genesis seal.
"Is the food good?" Kaito asked.
Gojo blinked, then doubled over in laughter. "The best! And the uniforms are very stylish, though we'll have to custom-order yours. I don't think we have anything in 'Giant' size."
As the two of them walked out of the alley and onto the brightly lit streets of Roppongi, the atmosphere changed instantly. The bustling night crowd of Tokyo seemed to part like the Red Sea.
Gojo Satoru was used to being the center of attention, but as they walked side-by-side, he noticed something hilarious. Usually, the girls were whispering about him. Now, their heads were turning so fast toward Kaito that Gojo was worried they'd get whiplash.
"Look at him..." a girl whispered to her friend, her phone already out. "Is he a model? No, he's too tall for a normal model. He looks like a god."
"Those eyes..." another breathed. "I think I forgot how to breathe."
Kaito ignored them, his expression one of stoic, perfect calm. He carried himself with a quiet majesty that made the "strongest sorcerer" look like a hyperactive child by comparison.
"Man," Gojo muttered, leaning toward Kaito as they walked toward his sleek black car. "I'm usually the 'Pretty One.' You're going to be a total menace for my popularity, Kaito-kun. I might have to make you wear a bag over your head for my own ego."
"I think you'll survive, Gojo-sensei," Kaito said, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk tugging at his lips.
Gojo paused, his hand on the car door. He looked at Kaito—really looked at him. The boy was sixteen, yet he felt like a mountain. He was perfect, too perfect. He was a Sovereign waiting for a throne.
"Yeah," Gojo murmured, his smile turning genuine. "I think things are about to get very, very interesting."
[System Notification]
[Quest Updated: The Architect's First Lesson.]
[Goal: Arrive at Jujutsu High and meet the Principal.]
[Genesis Progress: 3/1000]