Chapter 36

Meanwhile…

"This shit again?"

"What do you mean this shit again?"

"Look, I just got word from old man principal that the demon vessel has changed again, the elders are not trusting him the least bit, they want him dead." Todo stated. "We did this once before and it didn't turn out, not to mention, we are going against my brother here!"

The students of the Kyoto Prefectural Jujutsu high school were speaking about their latest trip back to their sister school in Tokyo. Yet, when they got wind that they would be forced to take out the demon vessel once more, they appeared on edge.

"We did try that once before, not to mention the other students were there to stop us. This time around, they are serious, so much so they have even updated our equipment compared to last time." Said Momo.

"My brother isn't evil," Aoi snapped. "I have seen him since this whole thing happened, he's the same brother I had before!"

"We are not to decide that, the elders said that he has become more dangerous. I heard he has demonized completely, even has his own curse marks." Said Momo. "Do you want to deal with him if he becomes Sukuna again?"

"IF" Aoi snapped back. "Look, I get that he isn't human looking, fine, whatever. But his heart is still his!" he protested. "I won't fight him, I'll spar with him, but I will not be part of this."

"You don't have a choice, this is a direct order." Scolded Mia. "Besides you won't be much help, you only got one hand…"

He crossed his arms to it all.

"Besides from what the elders have said, he has taken on Sukuna's appearance even more so, they watched him turn over 300 cursed beings back to humans…"

"Then why the hell are we to kill him!" Aoi demanded.

There was silence on the matter at first, until they heard of the voice of Kamo. "They don't know if he cured them, or merely used them for his own benefit…" he said offhandedly. "To cure that many people would take a massive amount of energy… yet when he finished, he was tired, but not exhausted. According to one elder, he appeared lethargic."

Silence befell the students. "Could he be consuming curse energy?"

"I don't see how it would be possible, I mean, unless one devours the whole curse…" Mia said. "It doesn't matter, orders are orders, and quite frankly, I rather see this thing dead than alive. Aoi, if you are not going to help, don't interfere!"

He sneered to her. "Whatever, I am not going to harm my little brother!" he protested.

#

They arrived at the school.

Principal Yaga was there to greet them and explained they would try again with the team building exercises. "We are going to have everyone work together…" he began to say.

"Oh come off it, its just going to end like last time!"

Gojo sensei appeared out of nowhere once more, but his smile remained. "I got a better idea. You are going to help me train Itadori!" he said with a grin.

The students froze. "Help… train him?" Mia asked slowly. "Uh… sure… of course… sensei,"

"Good, let's get started, Yuuji had a strange morning and was already getting a head start on everything…"

"What is he talking about?" Momo whispered.

No one appeared to know at this point. "Gojo, answer me, what kind of training are they doing with Itadori!?" he demanded.

"Oh, right… well… you see. Itadori just went through a growth spurt and needs to properly assess himself. I already worked with him this morning and he knows how to control his strength. But he wants some real world experience too, after all, there are people hunting him for being what he is, so let's help him properly evaluate a situation and also means of getting out of harms way without using too much of his strength… Fushiguro learned the hard way not to spar with him until he has proper control of his own power…"

"Huh? Little brother got that much stronger?" Aoi asked curiously. Then his smile grew. "This I got to see!"

#

He was at the edge of the battlegrounds. Yuuji woke that morning oddly refreshed, but at the same time, taller than he was before. He grew three inches over night and was in a better state of being than he was yesterday. Nobara sneered at the sight as he smiled off his new height. "I think I can grow a bit more too… but it's a good thing it wasn't all at once!" he said and laughed.

"Even puberty is weird for you…" she muttered.

"But are we really going to be doing this?" Fushiguro asked. "We're going to let Yuuji go in there alone?"

"It's for the best, they are going to try and kill me," he said offhandedly. "But I need the practice, if they are going to do it, then it will give me a better understanding of my abilities, as well, knowing the looks on their faces when they make the attempt… as weird as that sounds…"

"Super weird," Nobara muttered. "Just knock the bitch down with the broom first, I owe her a beating."

"Actually, she was the first one I was planning on taking down," Yuuji said. "Surveillance in the sky, she is their eyes. Take out the eyes and the others will be a little easier to handle."

"It's scary seeing you think of a plan like this…" Fushiguro muttered.

Yuuji scratched his head sheepishly. "I've been told to think beyond what's before me and try to think two steps ahead… especially with what I have to face…"

His friends nodded. "Well, you better get a head start in there, good luck and don't die!" Nobara demanded.

He nodded and rushed into the forest area.

As they turned to leave, they found Gojo sensei approach with the Kyoto students. "Wait, are they going in too?" demanded Mia.

"Nope, all you!" Gojo announced as he gave them a finger gun gesture.

"We didn't agree to this…" warned Principal Yaga.

"No, but we also didn't agree to THIS," warned Gojo, his tone spiked suddenly, making the other students realize what they are up to. He turned to them and said. "Even if the elders order you, you should think for yourselves, if not, accidents happen… how fortunate though for you all to go up against Itadori who won't aim to harm you. But I do suggest… if you are going to try and kill him… do it,"

The most unnerving part was the sick smile he had afterwards.

Nobara smiled to them and said. "I wouldn't want to be you… good luck!" and walked off.

Fushiguro was about to leave as well when Aoi grabbed his arm. "What do you know… is he really that much stronger?" he whispered.

He pulled out of his grasp. "Yeah, he's a hell of a lot more powerful. Sensei said it's nearly rival to his own power…"

Aoi's face dropped in shock, but then, the smile returned. "Little bro…" he said with a grin. "Out of the way! I'm going in!" and rushed into the forest.

"You idiot!" scolded Momo. She took to the sky as the others reluctantly followed suit.

"HAVE FUN!" Gojo shouted.