(Flames of the Inferno)
--
Itachi walked in silent contemplation alongside Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara, their footsteps echoing through the darkened forest. The mission was simple—locate and exorcise a powerful curse named Jogo, a volcanic curse spirit with immense destructive abilities. Itachi had been briefed about Jogo's capabilities: a curse with the ability to generate and manipulate flames hotter than any natural fire. It was said Jogo could raze entire cities if left unchecked.
For Itachi, this mission wasn't just about facing another powerful entity—it was about learning more about this world's curses and testing his own limits. Gojo had stayed behind, likely confident that his team—and Itachi—could handle whatever Jogo had to offer. But the curse's power had made the higher-ups at Jujutsu High uneasy, enough to warrant sending a team of sorcerers with someone like Itachi.
"We're close," Megumi said, his eyes scanning the cursed energy in the air. "I can feel his presence nearby. It's thick—like standing in the heart of a volcano."
Yuji gritted his teeth, sensing the tension rising. "Let's be careful. This guy sounds dangerous."
Nobara flicked her hammer in her hand, her expression serious. "I hope he's ready for us. I'm itching for a fight."
Itachi, walking calmly at the front of the group, felt the cursed energy pulsating ahead. He was already preparing himself for the confrontation, his Sharingan active, observing every detail of the cursed energy around them.
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet rumbled, and a wave of scorching heat hit them like a wall. Trees began to wither and blacken, the air heavy with the stench of sulfur. Flames erupted in the distance, licking at the sky.
"Looks like Jogo's noticed us," Itachi said, his voice calm as ever.
And then, out of the flames, a grotesque figure emerged—Jogo. His body was shaped like a man's, but his head was a molten orb, burning with the heat of a living volcano. His eyes were filled with contempt as he glared down at the sorcerers.
"So, they've sent more insects to challenge me?" Jogo's voice boomed, his flames crackling. "I'll burn you all to ash."
The heat around them intensified, the ground sizzling beneath their feet. Nobara and Megumi readied their weapons, while Yuji clenched his fists, prepared for a direct confrontation. But before they could act, Itachi stepped forward, his Sharingan gleaming.
"I'll handle this," Itachi said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Yuji opened his mouth to protest, but Megumi stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Let Itachi take the lead," Megumi said quietly. "We'll back him up if necessary."
Jogo let out a guttural laugh, his flames flaring as he stepped toward Itachi. "You think you can defeat me alone, human? I'll enjoy watching you burn!"
Itachi didn't respond. He moved his hands into a quick series of signs, and a flock of crows exploded into the air around him. They circled Jogo, their black feathers reflecting the fire's glow as they spiraled higher.
Jogo scoffed, raising his hand and sending a wave of fire at the birds. But in the next instant, he realized the birds weren't real. His vision blurred, and the crows multiplied, creating an endless, chaotic swarm.
Genjutsu.
"An illusion?" Jogo growled, but his voice betrayed a hint of concern. "No matter. Your tricks won't save you from my flames!"
But Itachi had already moved. In an instant, he was behind Jogo, his Sharingan piercing through the illusion. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a barrage of kunai, each one slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Jogo turned, blocking the kunai with a wall of fire, but the real danger wasn't the physical attack. Itachi's genjutsu had already taken hold, distorting Jogo's perception, making him see false movements, false attacks. The curse, though powerful, couldn't understand the depth of Itachi's mind games.
"You're clever, human," Jogo snarled, his frustration growing as he struggled to break free of the illusions. "But I am a force of nature! You cannot hope to defeat me!"
Jogo's body erupted in flames, sending shockwaves through the ground, knocking trees over and scorching the earth. The heat was unbearable, but Itachi remained unfazed, his eyes focused on Jogo as he prepared his next move.
"You talk too much," Itachi said, his voice calm and cold.
And then, it happened. Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life, and the Susano'o erupted around him, towering over Jogo. The ethereal warrior, clad in glowing red armor, held its sword high as it faced the volcanic curse. But this was no ordinary blade.
The Totsuka Blade—the fabled sealing sword that could trap anything it pierced within an eternal genjutsu, sealing them away forever.
Jogo's eyes widened as he realized what he was facing. "What... is that?"
Before Jogo could react, the Totsuka Blade slashed down, moving faster than Jogo could anticipate. The blade pierced through his molten body effortlessly, and Jogo let out a scream of pain and fury.
"No! I am Jogo! I will not—!"
But his voice was cut off as the Totsuka Blade's sealing properties activated. In a swirl of ethereal light, Jogo's body was pulled into the blade, his flames extinguished in an instant. His molten head, his monstrous flames, and his overwhelming cursed energy—all of it was sucked into the sword's dimension, sealed away for eternity.
The forest grew silent as the flames died down, leaving only the charred remnants of Jogo's fury behind.
Itachi stood still, his Susano'o dissipating, and the Totsuka Blade vanished as well. He turned to his team, his expression unreadable.
"Is it over?" Yuji asked, his voice breaking the quiet.
Itachi gave a single nod. "It's done."
Megumi let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "You sealed him… just like that?"
Nobara, still gripping her hammer, stared at the blackened ground where Jogo had stood moments before. "That was… unbelievable."
Gojo appeared, his teleportation quick and seamless as always. His grin was wide as he clapped his hands slowly. "Well, well! Itachi, you never fail to impress."
Itachi, his face still impassive, nodded. "Jogo was powerful, but reckless. He underestimated me."
Gojo chuckled, walking forward to inspect the scorched ground. "Sealing Jogo in that blade of yours... I've seen a lot of techniques in my time, but that one might take the cake." He tilted his head, looking at Itachi curiously. "Where exactly did you say you learned that?"
"I didn't," Itachi replied simply.
Gojo laughed. "Fair enough. Either way, nicely done. With Jogo out of the picture, the higher-ups will rest easier for a while. But don't think this is the end—there's always another curse lurking in the shadows."
Itachi didn't respond, his thoughts already focused on what lay ahead. The world of jujutsu sorcery was full of danger, but with each battle, he grew more familiar with its rules, its threats, and its cursed energy. He had made his mark in this world, and though it wasn't his own, he would continue to fight—for as long as necessary.
