Author's Note: This is a work in progress. The next chapter might come sooner than usual depending on future events. Hope you enjoy the story
Chapter 3
As Josefu flew toward Gojo, Gojo deactivated blue, waiting to throw a good punch at Josefu. Josefu felt he would die now, causing his survival instincts to activate the second of his two curse techniques. In one instant, lightning started to flash across Josefu's body, affixing him in the air, much to Gojo's surprise. "Two, eh?" Gojo asked amusingly, "You're just full of surprises…" The lightning rippled across Josefu's body, forming shields around his heart and head as it coursed through everything else. "That's cute," Gojo stated with an arrogant smile as he began to punch Josefu. Josefu used the lightning to send him back to the ground before Gojo could hit him, causing Gojo to follow automatically.
"Wait, wait!" Josefu yelled, raising his hands before deactivating his technique, "I surrender!" Gojo landed in front of Josefu, looking disappointed. Gojo asked, "Just like that? I was expecting more after that last move." Josefu looked down in defeat, uttering dejectedly, "I know I can't defeat you… I thought if I fled, maybe I could escape this. But you've shown otherwise. Surrender is my only option." Gojo tilted his head, wondering if Josefu knew more about his reputation than he let on. "If you insist," Gojo solemnly stated. Gojo knocked out Josefu and reported to the higher-ups with Josefu in hand. The higher-ups determined that a trial would be held for Josefu to announce his intentions and provide a case that he would act in service of the jujutsu society and its government. This conclusion came about due to Josefu being unrecognizable to each of the three central families and other Jujutsu sorcerers, with even Gojo not having a clear read of Josefu's character.
Josefu woke up tied in heavy ropes laced with talismans. Looking around, Josefu found himself in a strange room with four older figures around him. Josefu recognized the other two figures as Yoshinobu Gakuganji and Utahime Iori. The others stood in the shadows. Josefu did not struggle, remaining limp in the ropes. Gakuganji broke the silence, declaring, "Young man, you are under a formal examination by Jujutsu's Society's government. What is your name?" "Josefu Hanto," Josefu answered calmly. Iori stepped forward with a cautious air around her. Iori asked, "Why did you cause the incident in Tokyo?" Thinking on his feet, Josefu answered, "I was strolling through the forest when several curses began to hunt me down. I had no choice but to use my curse energy to escape."
There was some hushed discussion over Josefu's calm demeanor, and the four judges decided. Gakuganji made an offer to Josefu. "You will demonstrate your curse techniques to us without resistance, or we'll imprison you for the rest of your days," Gakuganji instructed, "Do you understand?" "Yes, I do," Josefu answered. Josefu was unshackled and led to a room full of targets. It was clear Gojo filled the higher-up in on his curse techniques. The four judges looked on in anticipation. Feeling his intuition scream to start, Josefu's fire technique activated, which he used to demonstrate his fire bomb technique, specifically its precision and impact, which caught Gakuganji's eye the most.
After the demonstration, the four judges still looked on insistently, making Josefu feel uncomfortable and worry about the consequences, causing his lightning technique to become active. Josefu unleashed a small electrical storm from his body using his technique. Gakuganji noticed that despite the chaos, every lightning strike hit the targets dead on, meaning each minute detail of his technique was under strict control. Gakuganji gave his observations to the other judges, who were shocked, having already seen such powerful jujutsu on display and now learning of the level of control Josefu had made them say that it would be more beneficial to have Josefu as an ally. "Better yet," Gakuganji interjected, "Given the right teaching, we might have a proper replacement for Satoru Gojo." The higher-ups pondered the possibility and decided to induct Josefu as a grade two sorcerer at Tokyo Jujutsu High and monitor his development from the shadows to see if he gains an anomaly of kind during training. Due to his discovery in Tokyo, it only made sense he would be more familiar with that area and more receptive to training.
Gakuganji returned Josefu's glasses to him before Gojo took Josefu to Tokyo Jujutsu High. As Josefu expected, Gojo brought him to the principal of Jujutsu High, Masamichi Yaga, for an interview. Masamichi was making dolls and plushies, just as Josefu expected him to be doing. "Late again, Gojo. Stop being late to the point where I get angry," Masamichi stated. "I'll consider that," Gojo replied with a smile. "So, this is the guy then?" Masamichi asked. Josefu bowed, stating, "My name is Josefu Hanto. Nice to meet you." Masamichi asked, "Why are you here?" A question Joesfu knew all too well. After a few seconds, Josefu answered, "I am here to refine my jujutsu sorcery." "Why?" Masamichi continued. "Because if I'm going to be involved in the darker reaches of what this world has, I want to get the push I need to survive and live my life." Masamichi raised an eyebrow. "And what happens after you learn how to survive?" Josefu decided to be honest, stating, "I think that I can use my power to avoid the higher-ups of the government. They seemed to have a more than eager willingness to have me be a part of jujutsu society. I don't want to be beholden to the whims of people who separate themselves from this world." After hearing that, Gojo perked up with a broad smile. "Satoru, show him to his dorm. And make sure to explain the security and rules to him," Masamichi ordered before turning to me. "You pass! Welcome to Jujutsu High," Masamichi concluded. Josefu bowed in respect. "Thank you for having me," Josefu remarked before leaving with Gojo.
After Josefu settled down, Gojo brought him from his new living space to a lone dorm. "Time to meet your classmate…" Gojo divulged. 'Wait, classmate? As in one?' Josefu thought. 'No way… are Yuji and Nobara not here? Did those forces send me to the start of the story?!' Josefu mused, hiding his panic at the situation. The jumps that Josefu traveled through usually sent Josefu to a middle point or even a point close to the end of the story on rare occasions. There was never a jump where Josefu went to the beginning of a story because of the whims of the forces.
Josefu concealed the rush of emotions he felt as the door opened and Megumi Fushiguro stepped out. "What is it, Gojo-sensei?" Megumi asked, looking somewhat tired. Gojo began, "You have a new classmate. Come meet him." Megumi took one look at Josefu and introduced himself. "Megumi Fushiguro," Megumi said plainly. "Josefu Hanto. Pleased to meet you," Josefu uttered politely. Despite Josefu's seemingly polite, if not boring, demeanor, Megumi felt an odd pressure after meeting Josefu, throwing him off a bit. After the introduction, Gojo explained everything to Josefu and gave him time to settle in. During the night, Josefu felt lonely, tired, and out of his element, his mind reflecting on the words: suffer for our amusement.
The next day, Josefu went onto the fields at the left of the school and noticed a few odd spheres floating next to a tree nearby, shimmering with the purple shine of the forces. Once Josefu held his hand to them, he absorbed the spheres automatically. After Josefu absorbed them, a vision of the past played out in his mind's eye. Josefu noticed five figures he immediately recognized were some of Jujutsu Kaisen's central antagonists: Kenjaku, Jogo, Hannami, Mohito, and Dagon. Their conversation was dream-like, yet clear. Kenjaku emphasized the importance of checking every surge of cursed energy. Jogo was on edge, almost certain a new curse spirit had formed and was terrified to be wrong. Mojito was laid back, not paying any mind to it. Hannami was as concerned as Jogo but was a little more reserved. Dogan simply remained passive but kept his domain active. Kenjaku mentioned he sent several curse spirits to retrieve the source, only to discover the source exorcized one, and Satoru Gojo exorcized the others. The recording ends as Josefu is stunned into silence.