Don't Fuck with the White Mage (Jujutsu Kaisen - Utahime Iori SI Chapter 6)
"IT WAS OBVIOUSLY THREE, NOT FOUR! SOLO FOBIDDEN AREA!" Lady Iori shouted as she thurst her palm into the air in front of her, her eyes not really looking at anything. Mainly her outstretched hand and the around without focusing on them.
Her Technique activated but no one was affected by it, thus nothing happened. At least that was Mana's assessment.
Lady Mei Mei was standing back, sitting on one of the benches relatively near Mana looking and smiling at her checkbook. Currently the three Jujutsu Sorcerers were in one of the training yards of Kyoto Jujutsu High.
"Um..." Mana tried to say something. She felt speaking to her target, the future Lady Zenin-to-Be about the Zenin Heir was probably a bad idea right now, far more so now than when she's usually annoyed by the topic. "Lady Mei Mei, should... should we do something? She's been going at it like that for twenty minutes now."
"Hmm..." Lady Mei Mei looked up from her checkbook and she put it away, gave Mana's words some thought. "Utahime, is there something bothering you?"
"Huh?" Utahime blinked as if remembering that her two teammates were there. "No, I'm fine." She said then went back to her training. Although Mana wasn't sure if this was training or stress relief. "IT'S SUPPOSE TO GO FROM ONE TO THREE! NOT FOUR! SOLO FOBIDDEN AREA!" Once more Lady Iori activated her Technique at nothing.
This continued on for another while.
"L-Lady Mei Mei, maybe..." Mana tried to say, but a sharp look from Lady Mei Mei that sent shivers down Mana's spine shut her up.
After a moment Mei Mei spoke up. "Utahime, are you sure? Your shouts seem... personally motivated."
"No, I'm fine. I'm just using self motivation to hype myself up to generate more Cursed Energy." Utahime said as she took her stance again.
"Ah, okay. Continue." Lady Mei Mei picked up her phone and started making investment calls. "See, she's alright." Lady Mei Mei said to Mana with a smile.
Clearly she's not alright! Mana wanted to shout but held her tongue.
"WHO THE HELL WOULD ADD THE ONE AND THREE TOGETHER!? A GREEDY BASTARD! THAT'S WHO! SOLO FOBIDDEN AREA!" Utahime shouted as she continued her 'practice'.
Mana looked back at Lady Mei Mei to see her reaction. She found her smiling and humming as she stared at her phone.
Mana still wasn't sure what kind of relationship existed between Lady Zenin-to-Be and the Lady Renegade Gojo. They couldn't be friends. Lady Mei Mei is clearly exploiting Lady Iori's capabilities to make money. And Lady Iori knows that as she uses Lady Mei Mei's connections to generate that income originally, and then takes a cut from it. It was clearly a business relationship and nothing else.
Yet the way they acted toward one another showed some form of closeness.
Whether that meant Lady Iori had the Gojo Clan as allies or not, after the fallout with Gojo Sorcerer, their former teammate before Mana.
Looking at all the effort Lady Iori expended, only to result in nothing seemed like the perfect image of who Lady Iori was to Mana. Regardless of talent, regardless of perseverance or hard work, once someone of higher status had you in their sight, you destiny was set in stone.
Mana saw all of Lady Iori efforts as doing nothing but making her more enticing for the Zenin Clan, for when they inevitably come to collect her.
It's why she was sent to Kyoto Jujutsu High and placed on this team, to observe Lady Iori and report on her development to the Zenin Head and Heir. As far as Mana was able to discover, Lady Iori didn't have any romantic relationships, thus she wouldn't be severing any bonds when she inevitably succumbs to the Clan's pressure.
At least there won't be any love lost that way. Mana even asked about the rumors of her being in the process of being betrothed to pride and Head of the Gojo Clan and Lady Iori laughed her off, saying they were just rumors.
Well, Mana mentally shrugged. If she needs 'self-motivation' might as well add to it.
"Iori-senpai! Did you hear about Naoya-sama's latest mission where he-" Mana began with a wide cheerful grin.
"RAAAAAAAA! SOLO FOBIDDEN AREA!" Lady Iori continued shouting.
Mana blinked at she felt the Cursed Energy in the surroundings in a ten meter radius around Lady Iori increase. Not much, just enough to be noted.
Is that what she was doing?
"Hohoho, it's good to see the youth focused and motivated on improving themselves." An elderly voice said as they entered the yard.
"Principal." Lady Mei Mei acknowledged with a small head bow.
"Principal Gakuganji." Lady Iori stopped her training to greet the school principal. Noticeably as soon as she stopped focusing on her technique the ambient Cursed Energy started to slowly disperse.
Although it felt like it dispersed due to not being focused in the area around Utahime anymore.
"Lord Gakuganji Yoshinobu-sama." Mana of course stood up and bow to the waist at the elder.
"Oh relax, relax." He waved them off as he chuckled, before focusing on Lady Iori. "You seem as diligent as ever, Utahime-kun. I see you're reviewing your fundamentals. Preparing for the Goodwill Event?"
"Isn't that..." Lady Iori took a moment to think. "Still six month-Half a year away?"
"True," Lord Gakuganji nodded while stroking his breaded chin, looking in a good mood. "But you need to prepare if you want to beat that arrogant little shit head." All the younger Sorcerers present blinked at that. "I meant mean defeat the 'rising star' of Tokyo High." He tried to cover his true feelings with a cough.
"Honestly... I haven't thought about him yet." Lady Iori chuckled. "I feel I need a few more things before I'm on the level where I can face Gojo Satoru."
The other Sorcerers present blinked at that. Was that suppose to mean she could envision herself possibly beating Gojo Satoru?
That was the sentiment in the minds of the other present. Lady Mei Mei looked intrigued and calculating. Lord Gakuganji grew quiet, yet giving Lady Iori a piercing look. Mana just blinked at Lady Iori's words. That was usually how Lady Iori was. She would casually say something absurd in passing before somehow preforming it later on.
But surely one can't keep grasping at the heavens and be rewarded each time, would they?
"Hohoho, truly? Is that what you were working on?" Lord Gakuganji asked. "I originally came here because I felt Cursed Energy start congregating unusually fast here. I thought a Cursed Spirit's birth was about to start. Which usually would be an impossibility within the school's barrier."
"Ah, that..." Lady Iori moved some hair from her eyes. "I was working on a Maximum Technique."
Another way of shock passed through those present, before forcing to push it aside.
"Not Maximum Output, a Maximum Technique?" Lord Gakuganji looked amused. "Haven't you heard of 'learn to walk before running'? Shouldn't you be working on your Domain Expansion, Utahime-kun?"
"I'm in my learning phase, so I should give everything a try. I feel I might have something here." Lady Iori said nonchalantly, and Mana felt like pulled at her own hair.
The Lord Gakuganji is giving you advise point blank, and you're disregarding it? Are you an idiot!? How deep is your arrogance! Mana shouted in her mind.
Lord Gakuganji started chuckling out loud. "I suppose geniuses are meant to grow unpredictably, that's what makes who they are."
"Really, I'm not a genius, I just work a lot with what I have." Lady Iori said, looking aside and as usual uncomfortable with her label as a 'genius'. Lady Iori's eyes then widened. "Actually Principal Gakuganji, could I ask for your aid if you have some free time?"
Lord Gakuganji smiled, as if he was waiting for that. "Well of course, I would love to help the pride of our Kyoto High. I suppose I can lend my experience in developing your Juju-"
"Awesome! When can we spar?" Lady Iori said, grinning like a maniac.
"-Tsu. What?" Lord Gakuganji blinked at that.
"What?" Lady Iori blinked in confusion.
Mana's jaw dropped.
Is Lady Iori insane? That's the Lord Gakuganji, a veteran elder who had seen generations of Sorcerers. That's not someone you can hope to match!
"...Young lady, I might be old but I'm still an experienced Jujutsu Sorcerer. A match with me isn't something you can hope to win." He commented, while looking slightly annoyed, yet slightly intrigued.
Aaaah, she blew it. Any chance she had of gaining favor are now gone. Mana thought.
"Yeah, exactly." Iori said, making Mana and Lord Gakuganji blink at her words. Lady Mei Mei chuckled in the background while relaxing, like this was something expected. "Principal Gakuganji, you're an opponent I can't hope to win against, that's why a spar with you is something I can learn a lot from. So if you would and have some free time, please give me you guidance from now on." Iori bowed at the waist to the Principal.
Lord Gakuganji stayed quiet for a while, stroking his bread before laughing in good nature.
Iori looked up curiosity.
"Alright, alright, stop with the formality." Lord Gakuganji waved Iori off. Iori stood back up with a happy grin. "Very well then youngling, let me show you how high the ceiling is."
It was Iori's loss.
Of course she lost, there was no question of that.
"While your idea of disrupting my flow of Cursed Energy by debuffing it in different parts of my body, but not the whole thing was good. It doesn't help against an opponent that can move faster than you can target, nor one physical strong enough to keep moving and hitting you with other reinforced body parts." Lord Gakuganji explained to the downed Iori looking up at the sky, covered in sweat and bruises.
"Go... got it." Iori said after catching her breath. "Didn't think you can just take your Cursed Technique once it's been debuffed, throw it all at me, to just remake it from scratch and launch it again at a hundred percent."
"It's easy when your opponent can fight at mid to long range, since your weakening aura decreases its effectiveness the further away someone is from you." Lord Gakuganji nodded.
"Getting in close was a mistake. I didn't realize those old bones packed that much of a punch." Iori groaned.
"Hohohoho!" The elder laughed goodheartedly.
"Pri... Principal Gakuganji, sir." Iori pushed herself to sit on her knees in seiza as she faced the elder. "Can I asked something a bit personal?"
"Hmm?" He raised an eyebrow, but gestured for her to go on. "I'm in a good mood, so I'll entertain your question, child."
"What would you consider a loss?" She asked, making Lord Gakuganji look surprised and interested. "Like you personally, what type of Jujutsu battle that if you lost in, in a straight forward manner, without any cheats or disadvantages. A type of battle that if you lose you'd think 'yes I definitely lost that one'."
"...Why are you asking, Utahime-kun?" He blinked.
Does... does she not hear what that sounds like? Mana wondered in bewilderment. She's literally asking how to humiliate him and break his spirit as a Jujutsu Sorcerer!
"Because it's impossible for me to win against you, Principal Gakuganji!" Iori grinned with excitement. "Which means that if I make a Binding Vow where I start the 'battle' at near zero percent Cursed Energy control, and improve at the rate I'm close to defeating you, with actually victory, being when you acknowledge the loss, I will be able to gain 100% complete control of my Cursed Energy without any loss. You being that tough of an opponent is what would make this Binding Vow possible, I can feel it."
Lord Gakuganji raised an eyebrow while staying quiet after Iori's insane explanation.
"And how do you know you succeeded? What if you won and I say you didn't?" He asked with some amusement.
"It's intent based." Iori answered back. "The Binding Vow wouldn't be about what we say, just what's in our hearts."
"..." Lord Gakuganji held his chin as he looked up at the sky.
Is... is he seriously considering it? Mana couldn't help but look at Iori in bewilderment. Then that feeling changed with a clawing emotion at her heart. Envy. At seeing how easy it was for those heaven smiled upon to be granted to many boons and chances.
"A Cursed Music Battle." Lord Gakuganji finally said. "Genre would be 'rock' and its variations."
"Can we add 'metal' and it's variations to the list?" Iori asked.
"No death metal or black metal." He said with a frown.
"Done, aaaaand can I pick the songs?" Iori hesitantly asked.
"As long as I agree to them, I don't see why not." Lord Gakuganji grinned. "After all, how else am I suppose to crush your spirit if I don't give you that much of an handicap."
"A... hahahaha-Oh shit, you're actually serious." Iori finally lost her cheerful attitude, at realizing what she got herself into.
"Of course, how else can I be your 'impossible' opponent?" Lord Gakuganji grinned.
"...Looking forward to it." Iori grinned back.
"There's gonna be so much money to be made from betting on this." Mana decided to discreetly ignore what Lady Mei Mei said besides her.
"Drums." Lord Gakuganji said. "Start learning that. I need a drummer for when I head out for any competition later in the year." He began to walk away. "When you feel you're good enough to play the beats consistently, come find me and I'll answer your challenge, Utahime-kun."
"Yes, sir!" Iori forced herself to stand up, and shouted enthusiastically.
Lord Gakuganji walked for a while then suddenly paused.
"Say, Utahime-kun?" He looked back.
"Yes, Principal?"
"There are Binding Vow breaking tools. They are expensive to made and are a one-time use, but! ...What if to save face, before your Binding Vow can take effect, after I acknowledge the loss, I use one of those tools to break the Binding Vow between us?" He asked with a malicious grin.
Now it was Iori's turn to think for a while. Her answer to Lord Gakuganji threw Mana off.
"Smooth Jazz." She finally said.
"Huh?" Mana couldn't help but say in a low tone.
Lord Gakuganji raised an alarmed eyebrow.
"When I become a Special Grade Sorcerer, and you old guys inevitably start sucking up to me, my first and most important request is to have smooth jazz playing on the school speakers 24/7. I know how you feel about it. Good luck getting any work done when you're fighting the urge to sleep all the time." Iori said with a 'playful' smile, holding back a vicious streak.
"..." Lord Gakuganji had an intense look, before he snorted and laughed. "Pfft, very well then, Utahime-kun. Very well then."
The Kyoto Jujutsu High Principal kept chuckling as he left.
