Chapter 30

Earlier…

"Are you sure?"

"I am mother, I just have a few jolts of pain here and there but nothing serious. I can manage" Ryoto was determined to start school. He got emails from the principal that he has shown to his mother explaining the lesson plan he will be entering since he is coming in a little late for this. He caught up on various written lesson plans and submitted them back, much to the shock of the school.

But now, he wants the real thing. Despite the pain he is in sometimes, he figured it would be okay to go and get a feel for everything. His mother agreed. So that morning, he walked into the Kyoto school for the first time and was taken aback.

The place was HUGE!

There was over 5 times as many students than the old school he went to, and everyone got along rather well.

"RYOTO!"

He jumped as someone called out to him, but smiled. Kiyoshi Itadori waved him over. "Glad you could make it, first day?"

"Needless to say," he laughed. "What are your classes?"

They compared notes and ironically enough, he was in all but one of Kiyoshi's classes! "Nice! Let's go to reverse jujutsu class!"

He was brought in, some of the student were whispering as to how big he was and wondered about his ability, not even Ryoto knew what he could do yet, but that's why he is here!

When the teacher, Sensei Lori walked in, he paused the moment he saw Ryoto. "Well that's a new face that isn't hard to miss." He laughed. "Can to introduce yourself?"

He stood up. "Hi, I'm Ryoto. First day here, I came from another school that… well… some students there tried to use me as a vessel to bring back Ryomen Sukuna…" he was bluntly honest, Kiyoshi was stunned that he would mention that. The students froze but then one said aloud.

"That's what happened, are you okay?"

He was taken aback by their concern. He nodded to them and explained he was protected and saved in time. "I don't know who or what would want to bring him back, but… I'm okay now… I do get some pain here and there from where I was tied up…"

Sensei Lori nodded. "We have been informed of this as well, if you need to excuse yourself you are more than welcome to, just put up your hand." He requested.

Ryoto nodded as the lesson began. The students oddly enough each got a severed limb. He turned to Kiyoshi who nodded to this. "It's not the weirdest part of class yet" he whispered.

"Ah I think we are short a limb, just a moment…" Ryoto jumped as the teacher cut off his left arm without hesitation! But then, it grew back instantly!

"That's a wicked reverse jujutsu," he said with great admiration.

"Yeah, I'm impressed." Kiyoshi whispered. However the fresh limb was placed before Ryoto.

"Okay class, we are still covering the idea of closing a wound. We are getting closer to the aspect of doing so, however we have neglected the main part of reverse jujutsu…" he turned and suddenly opened up the black board that was a hidden compartment. Inside were limbs… but, the students realized what they were.

"Are these the arms and legs we have been working on?" one girls asked.

"Yes, I have kept them to monitor your progress, as you can see, everyone is getting the basic concept down, however, there is a fatal flaw to everyone's work, who can tell me what it is?"

Ryoto's hand went up, which stunned the class. "Yes, Ryoto!" Sensei Lori called out.

"From what I see from here, they are closing the wound, but not addressing the injury. The limb still has cut nerves and damage, muscle fibers just from my perspective here. The wounds are not completely closed off but it's merely a band aid solution."

Sensei Lori paused. "How is it that this is your FIRST day?!" he demanded and laughed. "Yet, what he has said is the truth." Sensei went on to explain that he noticed that too, yet the students haven't. "Many of you are more focused on closing the wound, believing that when it does, that injury is healed… it's not the case."

Ryoto peered about, he was surprised as to the students. They were taking notes and asking questions. One girl went as far to say. "If we were to study anatomy, would it make our healing ability better?"

He smiled and tapped the side of his nose. "Indeed it would. I recently befriended a sorcerer who specializes in reverse technique as well, but she also went to medical school for mortals… she cheated her way through, at the same time, she also picked up on what was needed. The study of the body is the best way to address these issue, for you will better understand where your power needs to go in case of an emergency. For example, if a vein is cut, but only focus on the skin, that vein will still bleed and cause the person to die, you need to heal the vein first, but, how do you know if it is a vein, or something else?"

The lesson… was very informative. Ryoto was even taking notes on studying the human body to better focus his energy. As such, the limbs on the desk were placed away for another time.

When it was over, Ryoto was disappointed. "Man, I wanted this to continue!" he protested to Kiyoshi.

"Well, thanks to you, it got a lot more interesting. Let's go to our next class."

Ryoto agreed, yet, as he stood up. He felt this horrible pain rip through him!

He said nothing but hunched over and held his sides. "Ryoto? Are you okay?"

Sensei Lori approached him and began to look him over. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"My sides… it comes and goes but this time… it was bad… it will pass. I'm fine" he insisted.

Sensei didn't appear convinced. "I felt your energy surge a little. I want you to promise me one thing…" he reached into his pocket and took out a key card. "If you feel like that again, go to the stadium… Kiyoshi, can you show him where that is?" he asked.

Kiyoshi nodded but appeared confused. "Why?" he asked.

"If he surges like that again, he won't be able to control his power. The stadium has a feature that absorbs curse energy, so if he needs to let it out, that's the best place for it."

Kiyoshi agreed, Ryoto graciously took the card and thanked him for his concern.

#

"That's… one hell of a stadium…" Ryoto muttered.

Kiyoshi nodded. "Yeah, actually I have to go fight in that soon. We had some new students again and they took an exception to me so…" he said offhandedly.

"You fight in the arena?"

"Principal's rules" he explained. "They had to get permission from their parents before hand for this. I already got my father's blessing, at the same time… everyone knows my dad!" he explained.

Come to think of it, Ryoto doesn't. "Your dad is that infamous huh?"

He saw the look on Kiyoshi's face, as if he shouldn't have said what he did. "Uh… yeah… you could say that… I rather not talk about it."

Ryoto understood completely and didn't push any farther.

The next class was on history. They spoke about the clan connections in Jujutsu society and at the same time the weak points of having such an establishment. It was odd to see everyone debate points and validations for why the clans connections were needed and yet the teacher pointed out the faults of it. Sensei Relian would put out a comment, and have the students argue was it necessary to be established.

"Let's say for example you have the establishment of the three great families, now if the council were to fall, your next in line happen to be these three clans. Is that fair?" he asked.

Students argued yes it was fair due to the rank and hierarchy of society. Others debated no since despite the fact that it is the three great families, it doesn't mean they would know what to do.

"Both sides are valid, but as you have known and seen, when it comes to the elders and the council, if one is knocked off, another takes their place, and they are not taken from the three great families. In a sense, it is fair to assume that this is a proper way to do things. Or else, you have three clans who don't exactly like one another attempt to organize and lead other jujutsu sorcerers… who can see how that would be an issue?"

Kiyoshi's hand went up. "Yes, Kiyoshi"

"The three great families will have their own ideas as to how things are done and run. At the same time, they consider each other rivals. Meaning that they many not or flat out won't listen to the other two clans who have a difference of opinion on the matter."

"Exactly, and yet, the elder's ways of doing this is also wrong, why is that? Do you have an opinion Kiyoshi?"

"Well, you are replacing someone who thinks the same as the last guy that got knocked off the perch"

Sensei clapped and laughed aloud. "YES! Exactly!" he said. "And also, remember when everyone first got here, some of you I know still have that mindset of power trumps everything else. However, what happens if you are on the other side of things. You have no power. You have no say. Right? In fact, over 98% of the students here, would not be getting the education they are now. That would be up for their clans to decide, and some come from families… who won't teach them a damn thing."

Students murmured among each other, it was true. Ryoto read up on it as well. He also spoke with Yuuji Itadori about it and his former classmates. There were only three to a class if that. But they were only brought in by either family name and recommendation, OR scouted and brought in by a strong sorcerer. Still, they cherry picked whom they wanted among their ranks so they could be used later for their power.

"So, with that in mind, tell me. The way the elders did things, was it fair? No. Was it right? No. Did they do this for the sake of everyone around them, including humans? No." he said bluntly. "The elders have been in power for the sake of power, they believe their word is law and they are above all others among sorcerers. They felt that way since they commanded the strongest to do their bidding. One Satoru Gojo being among them. There was another too named Suguru Geto. Some of you probably know him as a mastermind behind the night of a thousand demons yes?"

'Is that what Rook talked about before?!' Ryoto thought.

BADUM!

His body suddenly throbbed.

Ryoto was bracing his sides once more, but now, his head ached and his stomach felt as if it were cut into. "Ryoto? Do you want to walk around for a bit outside? You don't look well" Sensei asked.

He could only nod his head, he saw Kiyoshi's hand go up. "Mr. Kiyoshi, please assist him if needed."

Ryoto was barely able to see at this point. His vision kept cutting in and out on him. "I got to get you to the arena" he heard Kiyoshi whisper.

Ryoto followed him blindly, unaware of the curse energy building up in his body… ready to be unleashed.