The Jujutsu Headquarters.

The keystone upon which the Jujutsu world is maintained and kept whole and stable.

He was Daichi Royji.

Daichi for "vast earth".

Ryoji for "excellent administrator".

He was the Jujutsu Commander.

Many would look at him, thinking he was a Shogun ruling from a castle to create and enforce law and order upon the Jujutsu world.

To Ryoji, he felt more as zookeeper.

Once upon a time, he may have viewed the position as being a king, directing his general to ensure Japan's stability and continuation in the face of Curses. Yet over the years he saw his job as ensuring order is adhered to, and their Sorcerers kept in line.

The biggest disruption in decades had been the birth of Gojo Satoru.

That boy hadn't caused many issues against the Jujutsu leadership, but his callous attitude in preforming his missions meant more work to pile upon them in the clean-up afterwards. Going into an area and exorcising the Cursed Spirit within thus letting the normal sheep witness his actions due to not putting up a Curtain, was the least of the irresponsible shambles he had caused, in his time as a Sorcerer.

Geto Suguru had at least the quality of level-headedness to balance out Satoru somewhat, although it seemed the Gojo boy likely had more of an influence on Geto than visa versa.

Right now they were dealing with a whole new miss that was the Urasato Incident. A whole village wiped out due to the actions of a death cult. It seems they will need to increase their monitoring of the mundane sides action, or at least those of their extremities, more often in the future to anticipate a disaster of this level.

A disaster that was thankfully averted given the report delivered by Gakuganji's grandson.

"...After the battle was concluded, with the slaying of the Special Grade Cursed Spirit Fuhengi by Iori Utahime, and the absorption of the Special Grade Cursed Spirit Meguru by Geto Suguru, I ordered a sweep of the total area under the barrier to ensure the complete eradication of all Cursed Spirit that were left, or any remnants. We have found none. They were all exorcised, and after a follow up period of five days of checking outside the village perimeter, and surrounding area, we were able to conclude that all Cursed Spirits created from the actions the Special Grade Cursed Spirits, designated the 'Ten Treasures', have been completely neutralized." Gakuganji Katana completed his report.

"Good work as as mission supervisor for this time, Gakuganji Katana." The voice of one of the six pillars, one of the elders and overseering of Jujutsu society spoke. It was Gojo Masataka, the elder representing the Gojo Clan, as well as the collective minor clans and independent Sorcerer, East of Japan. "You may go."

Katana bowed, staying silent as there was nothing further to add and left.

Once the room was cleared, with only the six chairs behind a shoji, a paper sheet screen, the elders was able to speak without reserve.

"Out of five hundred and twenty seven only three hundred and five Sorcerers lost their lives. But in turn they took out a threat of quantitative and qualitative measures. There are already sixteen Special Grade Curses, and those are only the documented ones. Had the situation deteriorated, there would have been double the Special grade Curses in Japan, and much more damage to cover up before the situation would have been resolved." Kamo Hiroshi, the second elder, also representing his clan and holding the role of communication link between Jujutsu society and the mundane world. He also acted as the voice for the major clans of Japans, barring his equals of the Big Three.

Above that position though, the Kamo Elder's job is to act as a mediator between the elders representing the Sorcerers of East Japan and West Japan. Of course, given that the three usually agree with most things, there's not much mediating needed. The six elders, of "higher-ups" as the common Sorcerers informally called them, usually agreed on most things.

Out of the six rulers of the Jujutsu world, there was one that didn't completely follow along. Principal of the Toyko Jujutsu High, Yaga Masamichi.

"We lost more than half the Sorcerers we put on this mission. How can that be an optimal result?" Principal Yaga voiced his displeasure of the situation. "The moment we connected any of the prior incidents that resulted in the birth of a Cursed Spirit for those forest fires, or terrorist acts, we should have acted on the Seeker's cult ourselves."

Ryoji supposed having one dissenting voice was good to not be blindsided by changing circumstances.

"And what? Become as Curse Users and deal with them ourselves?" Zenin Takashi, the elder representing the Zenin Clan, and technically the minor clans and independent Sorcerers of West Japan. Although lately there was some chatter about the Gojo Clan sponsoring the western minor clans themselves.

Although odds are with the new appointment of that Iori child, her clan will gain a much higher voice in things. Maybe even a seating here, if they gather the minor clans collectively under their banner. Ryoji wondered.

"If not a direct intervention, than maybe work with the police force to apprehend them. They would have ceased to be a problem then." Yaga said back.

"Sorcerers deal with Curses. Our job is to shield the curseless from it, not to draw them into it. Our relations with them is adequate enough as is." The Zenin Elder said, trying to hold back the disgust in his voice at Yaga's suggestion.

Yaga looked like he was about to protest and offer some wasteful rebuttal, so Ryoji intervened to move things along.

"The Urasato Incident is closed. From now on, Incendiary groups or movements that could cause a rise in Cursed Spirit would be monitored to anticipate possible creation of Cursed Spirits above Grade 2." Ryoji spoke.

Neither was the Zenin Elder satisfied with the Jujutsu Commander acknowledging Yaga's point, nor was Yaga satisfied at this hands off response.

There. Compromise where everyone's unhappy. Ryoji made sure not to twitch a smile, even if the others won't see it. There is a reason for this middling approach though.

Trying to act too close to the mundane could result in Jujutsu Sorcerers acting out against mundane people in the name of naive idea of justice.

'Justice' wasn't a Sorcerer's prerogative. It was maintaining order through exorcising Curses. They aren't kings, just the gatekeepers. That is the Jujutsu Sorcerers.

To act as kings, that would be the same as those hedonistic Curse User.

That... is what lead to the bloodiest era in Jujutsu history. The Heian Era, where Sorcerers acted unopposed lead to the creation of the greatest Curse of all.

The Curses made by the mundane will never rival Curses made by the actions of Sorcerers. Thus the Jujutsu Headquarters existed to ensure the mere possibility never came about.

"Next, we are to evaluate the actions taken by our Sorcerers on this mission." Ryoji spoke. This subject would be able handing out rewards or demerits based on the performances of the Sorcerer.

Almost always the Sorcerers who participated in a mission are to be rewarded. Rarely do Sorcerer screw up enough as to be punished, unless them failing a mission lead to an escalating cascading effect.

Thus the point of this discussion segment is...

"The Zenin Clan demands Geto Suguru release and slays the Special Grade Cursed Spirits, Meguru and Fisherman!" The Zenin Elder slammed his fist on the chair's arm.

"Oh? Why is that? They are merely fakes and they have been slain. There's no reason to pay them any mind." The Gojo Elder said back.

"Their existence can not be tolerated, and if they are based on our valued Technique, how can we be sure that Geto brat can actually control them? No. Exorcising them from this world would be the most beneficial action to everyone."

"Depriving a Sorcerer of valuable tools is beneficial now?" Yaga tried very hard to hold back his sarcasm.

It was basically a session to air useless misgivings that headed nowhere.

Managing a zoo indeed. Ryoji felt the urge to roll his eyes, but refrained. Order and disciple at all times, even when others can't see you. Especially then, as your own slothful urges would betray you.

The Zenin Elder insisted that Geto should be respectful to the Zenin Clan and give up his ill gained Curses. The Gojo Elder mentioned that such a thing won't happen due to Geto's skill, and more so his friendship with Satoru. The Zenin Elder accused the Gojo Clan of trying to gain their own Ten Shadows Technique. The Gojo Elder laughed in his face, while saying he never considered such a thing as taking Geto into his clan, but he might if the Zenin Elder kept up his accusations. The Kamo Elder stepped in here and there to more or less tell them to calm down, while Yaga defended his student and his track record as a diligent and loyal Sorcerer.

That then lead to complaints about Gojo Satoru, and how he should have deal with this incident earlier, since Yaga was complaining about lives lost. This in term lead to Yaga defended his other student and his efforts.

This lead to the topic of Gojo Sana and whether she should be executed or not. Here even the Gojo Elder seemed annoyed by professed that Satoru had express strongly that he would defend his cousin's life. This surprised the others higher-ups, asking where this bout of familial love came from.

The Gojo Elder said he was sure Satoru did this to annoy them and nothing more, or maybe it's to preserve the work of who healed Gojo Sana. The Sana girl was to be benched for the foreseeable future until they are sure her mental stability is enough to put her on missions to exterminate Cursed Spirits once more.

Eventually the topic reached of a certain miko Sorceress to the possible promotion of Special Grade.

That topic... was an apprehensive one for Daichi Ryoji.

Iori Utahime was the quintessential example of what a Jujutsu Sorcerer should be.

She was skilled and powerful both being traits she gained through dedication to be the best Sorcerer she could be. She completed her missions without any mishaps or error. She's adaptive to unexpected surprises in missions, and she obeys orders given to her, for the most part.

However, given the character assessment report by the Principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High, Gakuganji Yoshinobu, Ryoji was worried.

Was Iori Utahime the type of Sorcerer to whom the believes of Jujutsu society was something she took to heart, or was it something she followed out of convenience?

Would she be someone to be changed with her recent increase in power, or would she continue to be a model Sorcerer as she had been?

From Gakuganji's reports, Iori didn't act as one expects a model Sorcerer born into a clan within the Jujutsu world, no matter how minor their status. She wasn't demure character who follows orders to the best of her ability. Rather she's innovative and finds her own path within the orders given to complete them.

It's not protocol for a Sorcerer that can heal to be on the front lines, but that's where Iori threw herself again and again. She's someone that is respectful of her elders according to Gakuganji, but is that because she was weaker than them, or out of genuine respect?

"I believe this topic had been coming for sometime. The grant of the designation of Special Grade to Iori Utahime." Ryoji started off the discussion.

"Oh yes, that girl is one overflowing with talent. The Zenin Clan is quite clan to have a strong connection to her." The Zenin Elder immediately pounced. "Quite frankly, out of respect for her strength, we wanted to watch her grow from the sidelines, but given the recent mission, should she not focus more on a supportive role with all her skills? She is more valuable to us creating her Cursed Tools rather than staying on the field. The Zenin Clan would be more than quite willing to support her, should she accept."

Amazing. Not even bothering with subtlety at trying to lay a claim on her. Ryoji kept his expression clear.

"Oh please. Weren't you the ones who voted to stop her rise of Special Grade last time, when her ability to make Cursed Tools was showcased? And since when did we wish to curry favor with such a minor clan, when you tried to punish all the western minor clans for the Iori's refusal of your marriage proposal?" The Gojo Elder said back. "Who was it who said this new skill of hers was unreliable?"

"Watch yourself, old Masataka, we are not the ones to sour relations with a woman of such potential when you already had a link with her!" The Zenin Elder brought up the Gojo teammate, Tanaka, whom was once on Iori's team.

"I recalled Zenin-san mentioning a distain that the Iori child would focus on making Cursed Tools, out of modern weapons." The Kamo Elders said, making his Gojo equivalent glee in victory, and the Zenin Elder scowl. "However, I also recall Gojo-san voting to also hold back Iori's promotion as the source of some 'childish' rumors likely came from one 'unworthy' of the Gojo Clan's prized Sorcerer." And now a reversal of irritation and smugness came to the Gojo and Zenin elders.

"Honestly, aren't you all ashamed of circling that poor girl like sharks like that?" Yaga said to himself in an 'in-door' voice, but given the location they were in, his words were heard, even if he was only 'talking to himself'. This did however shut down the arguement between the Gojo and Zenin elders are they united in scowling in disapproval at the principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High. "Gakuganji-san, anything you can add about Iori-san assessment with her new level of ability?"

"Hmm..." Gakuganji brushed his bread in thought. "Iori Utahime..." He thought about his words carefully. "It not one to look up tradition with reverence but understanding."

At the Kyoto Principal's assessment, the Kamo, Gojo and Zenin elders scoffed in displeasure.

"You mean to say she will be less likely to obey us with her newfound ability?" Ryoji bluntly asked.

Gakuganji shook her head. "Utahime-kun is one are looks at the cause of things, rather than blindly follow them. She might give allowances for unusual demands due to her respect of her elders, believing they know something she doesn't, but anything that goes against her believes she will outright reject."

The elders took this as a offense, complaining and demanding restrictions be placed on Iori before she or her clan's power is cemented. This continued for a minute or so, before the Jujutsu Commander stopped this useless whining.

"Enough." At Ryoji's command, silence reigned the meeting room once more. "At the moment, Sorcerer Iori is exceptional but her clan still chains her. Until they grow strong, that is her weakness. Thus we eliminate it. We draw them under our wing, raise them ands let Utahime's own clan be her leash to us. Their new status and welfare will compel them in how to act, and that in turn will compel Utahime." Ryoji summarized.

The others thoughts for a while grumbling at a minor clan being given so much power and prestige, but they couldn't deny that Utahime and her achievements did elevate her to such level. Above all the Jujutsu world respected strength of one's Technique and Cursed Energy, things Utahime had an abundance of. Regardless of complaining, it was something they'd have to accept, but at least this way it would be under their control.

"Everyone, what would be you decision on this matter?" Ryoji prompted them.

The elders and principals took a moment before they went to voice their decision.

Yet before the first person could say 'agree' or 'disagree', an aid burst into the meeting room.

"Leaders-sama! Commander, I apologize for the interruption, but it's an emergency!" The aid cried out. The elders scowled with some voicing their displeasure, but a cough from Ryoji had them quiet down enough to listen to the aid's message. To interrupt their meeting means the message has to be dire, or this Sorcerer would have faced severe consequences. "It's Iori-san! Iori Utahime broke into the Sealed Cursed Object Storage!"

"What!?" Ryoji shouted ignoring the other higher-ups cries of disbelief and concern. "Bring her here immediately!"

The air in the meeting room was much less lighter this time around.

Iori Utahime was sitting in a seiza in the middle of the room surrounded by the six shojis. She was presented no items of comfort, no cushion to sit on, nor tea to drink. There was a slightest of smiles on her face that showed neither condescension, defiance or even serenity. She was simply staring forward.

Her face held a scar from her ear to across her face, shrinking in size as it ended after the bridge of her nose.

Ryoji wondered why would she carry a scar when she could heal herself, but likely she couldn't heal it fully in time.

A reminder of her carelessness in combat that should serve her well, he thought.

If Ryoji wasn't sure about the barriers of the meeting room that even Gojo Satoru couldn't outright ignore with his Six Eyes, he would have thought she was looking right at him.

"Unlocked the used of Cursed Energy of great capacity at the age of six." The Gojo Elder began the meeting-turned-disciplinary session.

"Demonstrated an Innate Cursed Technique at eight years old." The Zenin Elder continued.

"Killed your first Cursed Spirit at eleven with the hell of a group of five Sorcerers from the Iori Clan." The Kamo Elder said.

"No growth observed till the age of fifteen on your first official mission." Yaga said. He might hate the theatrics of these meetings sometime but he understood them all the same.

They were the elders, the leaders of Jujutsu society, thus they must appear in control.

"A steady but notable path of progress for a Sorcerer." Ryoji spoke, taking control of the meeting to address the issue directly. "Nothing too noteworthy beyond requiring to provide you with the necessary education to being a Sorcerer, with the expectation that you would be a Grade 1 Sorcerers in five or so years after graduating Jujutsu High."

"But the moment you stepped into the real world and experienced it, your growth skyrocketed. It seemed like true battle is where you found yourself." Gakuganji said, his voice was neutral.

Ryoji frowned, no one would probably notice, but as he could tell there was fondness in Gakuganji's voice.

Then he blinked, as it almost looked like Utahime smile actually deepened at hearing her principal's voice. But surely not, the barrier would also distort their voice unless they allowed their true voice to pass in order to let the person being talked to know who was addressing them.

"There had not been a single complaint on your official records." The Gojo Elder said.

Utahime blinked at that, actually looking a little surprised before she schooled her features once more.

"Thus we have to wonder." Ryoji continued. "Why is it that you'd do something so foolish that would put a stain on your record?"

"Thoughtless." Said the Kamo Elder.

"Arrogant." The Zenin Elder added.

"You will explain your actions, Iori Utahime." Gakuganji said, almost sounding angry or disappointed.

For a moment Utahime said nothing, letting the silence run its course.

"Venerable elders," she began. "I would like to ask for your patience and to watch me until the end."

Iori Utahime then took out three Cursed Objects from her robes, that sent alarm through the elders' veins.

"That's!" Yaga shouted.

"What are you doing with those, Iori Utahime!?" The Zenin Elder shouted.

Utahime took out three fingers and placed them on the ground before her. Sukuna's Fingers.

"Three?" Gakuganji asked.

Utahime took one of the Fingers and held it.

"Gathering Hallowed Belt."

The six leaders blinked at the impossible occurred before them.

Ryoji thought the girl was doing something foolish. That maybe she thought she could exorcise the Fingers in a foolish endeavor. Ryoji expected that she would fail, and then she would be admonish by them for such reckless youthfulness.

However, something that Daichi Ryoji had accepted as a fact of this world was overturned before him.

The Finger of Sukuna, Utahime held started to crack. Light shining through it and tearing it from the inside out.

With a loud crack, and a horrible screech the Finger let out a burst of Cursed Energy, as if it was letting out a last gasp, before going inert and still. Then it broke down, turning to ash.

Utahime picked up the second Finger and did the same.

A loud crack. A horrible screech. A burst of Cursed Energy.

Then the Finger broke into ash.

Then Utahime did it a third and final time.

Again. A loud crack. A horrible screech. A burst of Cursed Energy.

Then the Finger broke into ash.

There were no more Sukuna's Fingers. They truly were destroyed.

Ryoji mentally acknowledged in the back of his mind, that she used her Cursed Technique Reversal without chanting the name the second and third time.

No one said anything. None of the elders made a sound before remembering the need to breath.

It was inconceivable, plain and simple. Witnessing it didn't change that.

But then given the report on Utahime's latest mastery in Domain Expansion, a mastery beyond the mastery that eldest of Jujutsu society held and understood, was this really so unexpected? Maybe its witnessing the act, rather than reading a report.

"Impossible." The Zenin Elder was the first to break the silence.

"That can not be! That's... Sukuna's Fingers are truly, finally destroyed?" The Kamo Elder asked with disbelieve, in a tone Ryoji thought was hopeful.

The elders muttered among themselves for a while.

"Where's the fourth one?" Yaga asked.

"That one I destroyed in the storage facility before I was called here." Utahime answered.

Yaga made a noise of acknowledgement.

"That action was unacceptable!" The Zenin Elder called out.

"The destruction of Sukuna's Finger is... truly a grand accomplishment, you have our thanks, Iori Utahime." The Gojo Elder said after some deliberation. Likely he was trying to appear amicable in order to have closer ties to Utahime, given how friendly she seemed with Satoru, and Tanaka even after the latter left her team in disgruntlement.

"However, why have you not simply contacted us through official channels for this action?" Gakuganji asked.

"That's right! You overstepped your bounds, Iori Utahime. Do you think the Jujutsu Headquarters is lenient to rouge Sorcerer that act out on their own?" The Zenin Elder spoke heatedly, and Ryoji felt like telling him to shut up.

The Zenin Elder was pushing too far on being a bad cop. Did he forget the leniency given to Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, or even more so, Tsukumo Yuki who doesn't even stay in the country?

Utahime tilted her head in thought.

"After the mission in Urasato, I... had a change in perspective toward Cursed Spirits." She slowly explained, completely ignoring the provocations of the Zenin Elder.

"'A change in perspective'?" The Kamo Elder asked.

"That Cursed Spirits need to be eradicated at all cost." Utahime expression changed for the first time, becoming cold and firm. All six elders felt a chill go down their spines at the change in her demeanor. Utahime looked down in thought as she continued. "Simply put, the nature of our enemy is too unpredictable. Yes, there are known facts about Cursed Spirits, but more and more,

"I felt with the rising number of Cursed Spirits from simply human population and the constant events such as natural disasters to social unrest, more and more Cursed Spirits with unusual abilities might be born. That's not accounting for old Curses that still linger around in hiding. Thus," She looked up. "I wanted to be more proactive in eradicating Curses that exist, and even destroying the tools that could bring old Curses back. Yes, there is no bases for the idea that Sukuna could come back. Even if a Cursed Spirit were to eat one of his Fingers, it would just make a stronger Cursed Spirit, it wouldn't bring him back. But the possibility existed." She said with finality. "And I wanted to eradicated even that possibility. To not give our unpredictable ancient enemies the chance to be clever nor lucky."

At Utahime's passionate answer, despite the intensity of her words and tone, Ryoji found himself relaxing a little, as likely the other elders.

So, it was merely the passion of youth. Ryoji thought calmly, nodding to himself. That... is more acceptable than mere defiance. That can be worked with.

"Do you think such mere boastful sophistry could sway our decision of your punishment?" The Zenin Elder continued hotly, to which Ryoji held back a sigh of annoyance.

Ryoji understood the Zenin Takashi power play in order to try and control the rising Sorceress, but it was too obvious and eager. It's not like they would deny her new status of Special Grade, regardless of minor misgivings.

"Hmm, while your actions were born of good intentions, the order of Jujutsu society needs to be maintained." The Gojo Elder jumped on this opportunity too, acting as the good cop. "However for exorcising the Fingers which we haven't been able to do for a thousand years, I think we can let this youthful action slid, given the unequivocal good it has brought."

"Yet some measure of penalty needs to be acted out." The Kamo Elder added.

"The Goodwill Event." Gakuganji spoke up. "I believe that was something you were looking forward to, right?"

"Ah, yes." Utahime blinked at that, looking surprised.

"Then you will hereby barred from it this year. Any action you take in it will not be counted in your grading, and your absence will be penalized." Gakuganji said.

"Wow, and you complain about my favoritism." Yaga said under his breath at the clear slap on the wrist this was.

Utahime pouted, before schooling her expression once more.

Ryoji blinked at that. She was far more expressive than he thought.

"I agree with this verdict." The Gojo Elder added.

"Same here." Yaga said, throwing his fellow principal a bone.

"However, we need to discourage such actions in the future." The Kamo Elder said. Ryoji nodded, likely seeing where he was going. They will hold back giving her the title of Special Grade for now, till her graduation.

Ryoji was about to open his mouth and make the final judgement-

"I believe a young Sorcerer like you is in need of guidance." The Zenin Elder said with a smirk. "There was the matter of a marriage contract that your clan had refused. For a situation like this, the patriarch of the Iori needs to brought the matter of your future."

-And the Zenin Elder had to ruin things at the end, by going off script.

"Elder," Gojo Masataka said through gritted teeth. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

"I see." The Kamo Elder continued. "For a Sorcerer with such potential I suppose rather than punishment, aid should be given, and if done so through wiser hands than that is so." He said, neither agreeing with Zenin, nor outright disagreeing.

Ryoji sighed and let the Clan Elders play this out between themselves.

The Jujutsu Commander watched Utahime's reaction to all of this. For a while she held a neutral expression as usual, and then she smiled. A relaxed, calm smile.

Daichi Ryoji felt on edge. Holding on to his Cursed Energy ready to deploy it.

Wait. Ryoji blinked. Why did I feel the need to be ready for battle? He noticed Gakuganji and Yaga were the same. Only the Clan Elders didn't change in demeanor.

Utahime raised a hand to speak.

"Venerable Elders," she said quietening down the discussion.

"Child, you have spoken enough. Don't you know not to interrupt your elders when they are deliberating about you?" Only for the Zenin Elder to scold her.

"I have to say," she continued ignoring the Zenin Elder completely. The six elders blinked and frowned at the disrespectful youthful action. "I'm surprise at how progressive the Zenin Clan seems."

"...What?" The Zenin Elder was stumped as were the other five.

"After all, I understand being open minded and all, but," then she turned and looked at the shoji the Zenin Elder was behind. "I feel a non-Sorcerer speaking about what actions my Clan Head should take is overstepping things a bit."

"What did you say to me!?" The Zenin Elder stood from his chair, clearly enraged at the insult.

"Hmm? Did I misjudge?" She said, looking playfully confused.

"To dare something so insulting to I, Zenin Takashi, is beyond the pale. I have been a Sorcerer before your father was even born." The Zenin Elder shouted. "Forget delaying your Special Grade status," Ryoji sighed at the Zenin revealing their hand like that. "For a direct insult against a Jujutsu HQ Head, do you think you can even walk out with your head after speaking so recklessly youngster!"

"Hmm, designation of 'Special Grade'? I honestly didn't think about it." Utahime held her chin in thought, before looking toward Ryoji. "I mean, if someone is three meters in height, do they need a certificate that define them as such? No, people say, they are 'three meters tall'." Ryoji frowned at the blatant disrespect. He supposed all thought that reached the heights of Jujutsu still have some similarities between them, even if some are more polite than others. "As for what you said, Elder..." Utahime looked back to the Zenin Elder. "I though the Zenin Clan measured their member's prowess by Cursed Energy?" She said, acting confused.

"You..!" The Zenin Elder began to shout when his face paled, and he looked at himself in panic.

The other elders looked toward him in alarm as they also felt it.

"Wha... what is this!?" He cried out. "I am a Sorcerer! What trick is this?"

Utahime then raised a hand up, gathered Cursed Energy-which set the elders on guard-and made a tiny Cursed Spirit.

"Elder, what do I hold in my hand?" Utahime asked.

"What?" The Zenin Elder looked toward with squinted eyes. "What are you playing at child!? There's nothing!" He said before his eyes widened. "No, no. There's something. There is something, right? What did you do to my Cursed Energy?" The old man cried pathetically.

"Utahime." Ryoji spoke with a warning in his tone. But then what the heck could they do? If she could strip the Cursed Energy from someone-It was then, wasn't it? When she exorcised Sukuna's Fingers. Ryoji realized with wide eyes. She had held onto her Reverse Technique then, and used it on Zenin who was threatening her through her clan.

"Commander-sama," Utahime turned and addressed him. "This is something that I wanted to gift the Jujutsu HQ, a cataloguing spirit." She said, holding up the Cursed Spirit. "It's job is to simply account for the number of Cursed Tool Weapons that I will give to the Headquarters to be lean to different Sorcerers. I did after all want to help arm our Sorcerers with more weapons and even healing items, but I feared what would happen if they perish still. This spirit would always record how many weapons have been leant out, how many in use and how many are in storage." She held her hand out, and the Cursed Spirit slowly floated to Ryoji.

Ryoji sent out his Cursed Energy and easily took control of the Cursed Spirit making it into a shikigami. It would be useful, but still they couldn't ignore her act against Zenin Takashi just so.

Yet looking at the situation, at the young girl-No, the terrifying monster that was being merciful to them, what could they do?

Gojo Satoru was an annoyance to deal with, but he was a straight forward child. Iori Utahime however... was polite and patient, willing to cooperate with the Jujutsu HQ, but within limits.

"Very well," the Jujutsu Commander spoke up. "Someone come and escort Zenin-san back to his clan." He called out to one of the assistant outside the room. "And for you Iori Utahime, you are hereby barred from the Goodwill Event this year, any participation will grant you no merit on your character record. We are thankful for your Cursed Tool creation and the Cursed Spirit to catalogue them." Ryoji said in a matter-of-fact. "And finally, you are hereby granted the designation of: Special Grade Sorcerer."

After all, even if what the young Sorceress said was annoying, a mountain is still a mountain no matter the label.

"Meeting adjourned." Ryoji announce.

"Ah!" Only for Utahime to speak up as she stood, making all present tense again. "Zenin-san, can you please relay a message to the Zenin Clan?" She said. "Zenin Mana, Zenin Mai and Zenin Maki," she listed. "Since the Zenin Clan have no use for them, I'll be coming to take them under my guardianship." She said with a pleasant smile.

The Zenin Elder supported by the assistant Sorcerer could only look at Utahime with terror. His agreement wasn't needed.

The Sorceress was simply giving her decree for what still happen, thus he could only respectfully nod and leave post-haste.

The Zenin Clan also had to select a new elder.

Six year old Okkotsu Yuta kept building his sand castle. Well, it was more like four sand buckets next to each other with one on top. He was going to try and shape them soon.

His friend, Orimoto Rika-chan was helping him, trying to make a home.

It's not suppose to be a home, it's a castle. Yuta thought. Sadly his skills weren't good enough yet to make it look like a castle, so it ended up as a frumpy house.

"Do you think we'll see another meteor fall?" Rika asked.

Yuta pouted. A week ago a meteor fell on Kyushu. It's light so huge anyone could see it from looking at the sky. Yuta didn't see it. He was in the bathroom when it happened. It was a bit annoying when Rika and the other kids in school would talk about it, when he missed it by bad luck.

"Probably not." Yuta ended up saying. "How many times do meteors fall anyways?" He said reasonably.

"You don't know that, maybe it will again." She said optimistically.

"Maybe." He said back and focused on the sand.

Eventually his mom, who was looking after them today, switching from Rika's mom, or both moms when they were together. Where was he?

Right, his mom called them over to leave. They had to go back home, which wasn't a big deal since Rika and Yuta lived in the same apartment building, just different floors. So they can play at each others' houses later on.

As they walked, Yuta's mom paused at a stall at Rika's insistence.

"Auntie, can we please have some candy? Please?" Rika asked while looking at him for support.

"Mom, can I have some?" He pointed at his favorite brand sponge cake. It had these red strawberry and vanilla shreds on top of it, while the inside was filled with whip cream.

"Auntie?" Rika asked, also pointing at some chocolate she liked.

"Ooh, okay, but just one." Yuta's mom said.

Yuta wanted to argue that the twinkie-like snack wasn't as fulfilling as the chocolate bar, so he should have more. But he didn't want to be unfair to Rika.

"Psst, hey. Can I get more the twinkie and we can share?" Yuta asked.

"But auntie twinkies are cheaper then snickers." Rika pointed out with a pout.

"If mom gets four, you get two, and I get half a snickers back." Yuta offered.

"But then you'll have two whole twinkies and I'll have half a snickers?" Rika said back.

"So what's fair?" Yuta wondered.

As he and Rika brainstormed, Yuta's mother waited on them with an amused look, having heard everything.

As Yuta and Rika whispered to each other, while backing away from Yuta's mom to talk "in secret", they ended up bumping into someone.

"Oh, um, sorry!" Yuta apologized before he looked at who he bumped into.

"Sorry, onee-chan!" Rika added and bowed, surprisingly too polite for what Yuta expected her reaction to be.

"Ah, no, it's alright." Yuta then looked up to see who it was, and blinked a moment in surprise. It was a miko. With a very scary scar on her face. Yet her smile looked genuine, so... she was nice?

"Ah, I'm sorry, they were playing. They just couldn't stand still, as I was buying them something." Yuta's mom intervened.

"No, no, really. It's completely fine. I got lost in thought and wasn't watching where I was going." The older girl said with a giggle, while waving her hands placatingly.

"Are you going to the doctor?" Yuta asked in concern.

"Huh?" The miko looked at him confused.

"Yuta!" His mom made that voice when he said something rude. Yuta quickly said 'sorry' while his mom pulled him and Rika back.

"I'm very sorry, young lady. Kids are just curious about all kind of things." Yuta's mom smiled apologetically.

The miko still looking confused.

"Is there a yakuza shrine nearby?" Rika asked more bluntly. Yuta and his mom's eyes widened at Rika's honesty.

The miko big sis looked confused for a moment before she laughed out loud.

"Hahaha, no, no. That's not a thing." The miko-nee-chan said, she giggled some more before pointing at a store nearby. "I'm going somewhere else."

"Ah, then don't let us hold you up." Yuta's mom said hastily with a smile and a nod.

"It was no problem really. Your kids are adorably precious." The miko big sis chuckled. Her words making Rike and Yuta blush.

"Thank you for your kind words." Yuta's mom said with a laugh. After that the miko left as Yuta's mom went to get them those candy.

Yuta out of curiosity looked at what store the miko pointed to.

It was a pet store.

"Huh. Lucky." Yuta said to himself.

"What is?" Rika asked from next to him. Yuta pointed at the store and Rika understood.

"What kind of pet would a yakuza miko get?" Rika wondered.

"She's not a yakuza miko." Yuta said. "She doesn't have tattoos."

"Oh, that's right." Rika nodded, placing a fist in her palm at the realization. "They seem to have a lot of dogs." She pointed out about the store.

"Maybe a husky?" Yuta wondered.

While the kids were discussing what type of dog a shrine maiden would get, they heard the ringing chime of the store door's opening.

"Thank you, young lady! And come back! No, seriously, please come back whenever!" The enthusiastic store owner called out.

Yuta and Rika looked to see what dog the miko big sis got, and their jaw dropped. The world just went away from them at what they saw. There was a lot of barking.

"Alright kids. Just for today I got you some extra snacks, but you have to promise to behave when we're back home." Yuta's mom said as she came to them, but blinked what she saw they were unresponsive. "What are you all looking a... Oh."

"Mom," Yuta tugged at his mother's jacket. "People can do that?" He asked in excitement and disbelief.

"Auntie, can we do that?" Rika said equally excited.

"Urrr, no! And um, ask your mother, but probably not!" Yuta's mom said, baffled trying to hold onto her authority.

"I'm gonna ask Onee-chan!" Rika ran to the miko, before stopping to look at all the dogs she had the leashes for, and all the puppies she was carrying. Yuta stepped next to her, wondering if he could pet the dogs or not. "Onee-chan! How did you do that? Are all of them yours?" She asked eager childish frantic energy.

The miko-onee-chan went into the pet store, and came out with all the dogs!

There had to have been more than ten! Or maybe even more than twenty!

"Yes, they're all mine now. And how? I bought them." The miko said plainly.

"You can get more than one!?" Yuta cried out.

"Yes." The miko grinned. "Because I'm an adult."

And then the coolest miko, Yuta and Rika had ever met or heard of, left with all the dogs and puppies, following after her barking with happiness and excitement.

"Oh god, we just had to meet someone like that. I'm never gonna hear the end of it." Yuta's mom said behind them, facepalming.

"Mom, mom! When can I be an adult! I wanna do that!" Yuta said pointing at the coolest miko.

"When I grow up, I'm gonna be a yakuza miko too, get a house and get all the puppies!" Rika shouted.

Yuta's mom looked to the sky and asked the gods for strength. At least it will be a fun story to tell her friend, Rika's mom. That way she won't suffer alone from the kids demands about wishing to get dogs themselves.

The Iori Clan compound has not had any calmness for a couple of days now.

"This is completely unacceptable." The matriarch of the clan, Iori Asuka exclaimed as she sat in the dining room with her husband.

"Honey... this really isn't that bad." Head of the Iori Clan, Iori Kazuo tried to placate his wife, while doing his best not to laugh. "I mean, she did it. She's a Special Grade Sorcerer now. There are bound to be some liberties for her to have." He said. "I mean, given how busy we will be corresponding with the Jujutsu HQ about Utahime's Cursed Tools, I feel this is a small thing, so for everything she gave us, why not let her have this?"

"..." Asuka looked heated like she wanted to protest, before deflating. "I... suppose you do have some points, dear. It just would have been nice to get some warning, rather than to one day have-"

CRASH!

"No, Toko-chan! That's uncle and auntie's area and..." A young girl, Riri looked at the broke hole in the shoji door, that the dog had ran through. A dog that was now running in the room with the Clan Head and his wife. "Uuuum, sorry, Kazuo-sana, Asuka-sama. Toko-chan just..." The energetic puppy kept barking as it then went up on the table, and started to lick the stone-faced frowning matriarch.

Kazuo covered his mouth, doing his best not to laugh.

Almost robotically, Asuka raised a hand, and placed it on the puppy.

"R-Riri-chan, why don't you go look after the rest of the dogs." The Iori Head said, failing to keep a stoic face.

"Right!" The girl ran off.

"See?" Asuka said through gritted teeth. "Hime had brought chaos into this household, and now we all have to deal with it." She protested. "She had turned the clan compound into a kennel!"

"You're petting the dog." Kazuo pointed out.

Asuka was petting the puppy, who kept smiling and panting at her, while occasionally licking her.

"I said it was chaotic, not that it wasn't cute!"

Eventually Asuka, with advise from her husband, when to talk with Utahime, and voice her displease of this mess.

Not that they were giving the dogs back, too many clan members were attached to them, and it's not like they don't have the money to house and feed them. Also Utahime hinted at the idea of somehow training the dogs to use Cursed Energy and help their clan's Sorcerers, so that's something to check out.

Asuka reached Utahime's room, knocked, opened the door... and just paused.

"Utahime." Asuka said with a deadpan tone. "You are not sleeping like that."

Utahime was sleeping in her bed. She wasn't covered by a blanket, but by all the dogs and puppies who were using her for body warmth. The three biggest dogs, were lying behind Utahime's head and at her sides.

Utahime was resting her head on one of the dog's stomach, while her arms were resting on the bodies of the dogs on her left and right, as if they were the armchair of a throne.

"Yes, I am." Utahime said petulantly.

"No. You are not. You're room smells like fur! You will not present yourself smelling like that. We already started renovating one of the extra buildings for them on the east side. They're staying there." Asuka said in her commanding tone. Rarely did she use it on her daughter, but this situation warranted it.

"No I'm not. I wanna sleep with my fluffies, mom." Utahime whined.

"Young lady, I said no." Asuka said firmly.

"Well, I say 'no' back." Utahime pouted. "I'm a Special Grade Sorcerer now, mom. I can do what I want."

Asuka's eyes widened, as shock and silence filled the room. Utahime nodded to herself, and rested her head back on the dog.

After a moment Utahime opened her eyes warily, as she heard the sound of wood hitting an open palm rhythmically.

"...Mom, where did you get that slipper?"

All the dogs woke up, ears raise up in alarm at their owner's smell of fear.

Kazuo drank his tea on the engawa, watching the garden, listening to the sound of dogs and children laughing and playing with them.

A lot has changed in the past weeks since that mission Utahime went on. Hearing the account of that mission, Kazuo and his wife were terrified and worried for their daughter, fearing what damage to her mind it could have had.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

"WHY ARE YOU THIS FAST!? YOU HAVEN'T BEEN AN ACTIVE SORCERER IN YEARS!" Utahime shouted as she ran on the engawa of another building across from him, with his wife hot on her tails.

Oh shit. She brought out that wood slipper. Kazuo thought as he raised an eyebrow. Then he closed his eyes pretending not to see anything and drank his tea. Run Utahime, run! He prayed for his daughter in his heart.

"Because regardless of time or place, I CAN SPANK UNRULY BRATS AT ANY TIME!" Asuka shouted after Utahime.

A group of children and dogs ran after the duo cheering, laughing, calling for Utahime not to give up or warning her of how much the Iori Matriarch was closing in on her.

All in all, it was another peaceful day at the Iori Clan compound that Kazuo cherished from the depth of his heart.