Chapter 1: Geto's parting gift
Jujutsu Kaisen belongs to Gege Akutuami. (The true villain of the story)
As Suguru Geto leaned against the wall. Slowly bled to death from where his arm once was and the other wounds given to him by Yuka and Rika. And without enough cursed energy to even try and use reverse cursed technique. He appeared. "You're late again, as usual. Satoru."
Standing near him was a man with bright blue eyes, and snow-white hair. Satoru Gojo. "The ones in Kyoto, they were under your command?" Gojo questioned without a hint of emotion.
"Yes, they all were." Geto admitted as he cradled his stump. "No matter what anyone tells you. I hate those monkeys. But I never held any hatred for those in Jujutsu High School. Return this for me will you?" He requests as he tosses Gojo Yuta's student ID.
"Was the elementary school you're doing to?" Gojo asks as he looks at the ID.
"It was." Geto answerd. "You sent those two assuming that I'd defeat them, didn't you? To set Okkotsu off."
"I trusted that you'd be yourself. Trust that a man as principled as you, wouldn't kill off young sorcerers without a reason." Gojo replied as he continued to watch the other special-grade sorcerer.
"I'm a kind person. Unlike you Satoru. To think you'd be the one here at my end. Are you going to make sure my family is safe?" Geto asked.
"Every last one of them managed to escape to safety." Gojo admitted. "Suguru." He called causing Geto to force his dying body to move so he could look at him. "Tell me, do you have any last words?"
Geto found himself thinking back to his time at Jujutsu High. With Satoru. With Shoko. Even his brief time with Riko. "I didn't think-" And then he thought to the time an old man entrusted him with a pink-haired child. "Itadori Yuji... He could become... Special."
Gojo showed a brief bit of surprise. Before crouching down, and saying his parting words to the man that had been his best friend.
Geto looked at Gojo in open shock, before smiling. "The least you could do is, hit me with some curses."
Months later. Sugisawa Third Municipal High School.
Yuji carefully took the lid off the small wooden box. The amount of malevolent cursed energy he felt increased the more he opened the box. "Yep. This is one of Sukana's fingers alright." He thought out loud, before closing the box and stuffing it in his back alongside his knife. "Crazy to think Sasaki found this. Special grade objects are with a small fortune, let alone one of Sukana's fingers."
As he made his way to the school gates he saw several cursed spirits wandering the grounds, the largest of them was lurking at the abandoned field. "Probably a second grade. The talisman must be failing, I'll have to replace it. Maybe I can replace the finger too. I should probably deal with them curses as well. Meh, I'll come back later with my Kusarigama and deal with them."
Yugi left the school and began to walk home unaware of the blindfolded man who had been watching him. "Well." Gojo spoke. "This should be interesting."
That night.
Yuji returned to the school and headed to the main field. His normal clothes were replaced with a black t-shirt and trousers combo along with a pair of black boots. On his right hip, his knife sat snugly in its brown leather holster. His bag was lazily slung over one of his left shoulder. "This looks like a good spot." He dropped his bag on the floor causing the chain inside to rattle. Opening it up Yuji pulled out a sickle with a long chain attached and a weight on the other end. A Kusarigama is a weapon that specializes in wrapping the chain around the weapon or body of an opponent to allow the users to get in close and slash the enemy with the blade. After that, he pulled out the box that contained Sukuna's finger. Opening the box he took out the wrapped finger and began waving it in the air. "Hey, cursed spirits! Look what I've got! It's one of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers! Don't you want it!? I bet it's super tasty!"
As Yuji continued to shout and wave the finger around one of his observers sneered. "Tch. This is him? Seriously?"
"Don't be so dismissive Megumi." The other observer replied. "Suguru wouldn't have said he could become special grade if he didn't mean it."
"Are you sure that's what he meant?" Megumi questioned.
"I know that is what he meant." Was the only response he received.
Finally realizing his efforts were in vain Yuji sighed. "Fiiine. I hope Sasaki and Iguchi don't realize I've already unwrapped it." Yuji swiftly takes the failing talisman from the finger and immediately gets the interest of every curse in the vicinity. "There we go!" He said at the sound of roars, and the sight of curses charging him from every direction.
"What is that idiot doing!? He's going to get himself killed!" Megumi yelled as he shot up from his hiding spot.
"Hold on Megumi! Let's see what the kid's got." Gojo answered as he grabbed his student's wrist. Megumi looked back at Gojo with a frustrated look. But Gojo wasn't even looking at him. Knowing the futility of fighting it Megumi exhaled deeply and crouched back down.
Yuji had stuffed the exposed finger, and talisman into his pocket and began swinging the weighted chain as he began to apply cursed energy to the Kusarigama.
Once the curses were close enough Yuji swung the chain wide, causing it to wrap around one of the weaker curses as Yuji rushed forward the curse began to wither away until there was nothing left. Yuji stabbed a neaby curse with the Kusarigama's blade digging it the blade in deep as the cursed spirit writhed as it too withered away. Followed by high-kicking another that tried to sneak up on him.
"What the hell?" Megumi spoke. "How is he doing that? Is that his technique or just the weapon?" He questioned as Yuji continued to effortlessly exercise the curses.
"Mmm, from the looks of it his innate technique allows him to absorb cursed energy further bolstering his physical capabilities." Gojo answered. And as if one que Yuji backed up the statement by causing another curse to wiether with his bare hand, before kicking a larger curse into the air with its head barely hanging on to the rest of the body by a few strands of flesh. "And he can release all that absorbed energy into his a single blow."
After killing all the attacking curses Yugi relaxed relaxed his posture and let out a deep breath. "Looks like that's all of them." He commented. "Man, I'm rusty."
"There, happy?" Megumi question Gojo sardonically.
"Not yet." Gojo answered.
Before Megumi could as further he saw a large cursed spirit jump at Yuji from the ground behind. "Shit!"
Yuji bearly enough to barely turn before the cursed spirit tackled him to the ground, knocking the Kusarigama out of his hands. The curse tried to get its large mouth around Yuji to eat him whole, but Yuji managed to grab both the top and bottom of its mouth and was pulling them in opposite directions.
SNAP!
"Yeowch." Gojo commented.
The cursed spirit reared back and roared in agony at its now broken muzzle, giving Yuji the chance to get back up. But rather than grab his Kusarigama, or even draw his knife, Yuji poured his cursed energy into his fists and began to punch and kick the cursed spirit, causing significant damage at one point he even picked the creature up and slammed it into the ground. After dealing the final blow that caused a large chunk of its head to explode, the curse finally began to dissipate. "Dick." Yuji muttered as the anger he had felt towards the spirit began to fade.
"Not bad kid…" Gojo said from behind Yuji. The sudden appearance of such an immense amount of cursed energy caused Yuji to panic. In an instant, he had whirled around through his knife at the special grade before his rational thinking could catch up. "... I'd have to say you're a second-grade maybe even semi-first-grade." He continued to speak casually as if there wasn't a sharp knife an inch away from piercing his stomach. "You gotta work on sensing suppressed cursed energy though my guy. Oh, and you didn't put up a barrier. Major rooky mistake."
"I didn't think anyone was around so I didn't see the point in a barrier." Yuji answered. Despite his best efforts, it was obvious he was shaken by Gojo's sudden appearance. His throat felt so dry, his stomach was in knots, and he could feel the goosebumps across his body.
"And look where that got you!" Gojo smugly replied.
"You're Gojo Satoru, aren't you?" Yuji questioned despite already knowing the answer.
"Whaaat!? You've heard of little old me? You must be a fan!" Gojo teased.
"Suguru told me about you, and you're the only person I've met who has more cursed energy than him." Yuji answered.
"Speaking of Suguru, I've got some questions about your connection to him so why don't we have a little chat?" Gojo mentioned. "And don't get any funny ideas." Gojo flicked towards Yuji and the knife he had trapped in place with Infinity went flying towards Yuji and went straight back into its holster before Yugi could even react. "You get me?"
Soon.
After meeting back up with Megumi and introductions were made, the trio went to a local all-night restaurant that Yuji knew of to talk.
"So your grandad gave you to Suguru not long after your parents died so you could learn Jujutsu, and protect you. You were raised alongside and trained alongside a pair of twins that he rescued when he massacred that village. He tried to feed you his dogmatic bullshit, but you didn't bite. And you were kicked out when a year ago you refused to kill a non-scorcer and fought the others. Since then you have tracked down cursed objects to sell and exercised any cursed spirit you found. Did I get that right?" Gojo asked between bites. "Man, this is good."
"Yeah, that's pretty much it." Yuji answered. Between the food, Gojo's casual demeanor, and the steady conversation, Yuji had managed to become much more relaxed.
"Right. Because the fact he can make barriers, use simple domains, create cursed tools, divergent fist, and can temporarily copy a person's innate technique with enough of their cured energy means nothing to you ?" Megumi thought to himself as he side-eyed his mentor.
"Well, Itadori since you have technically not broken any rules you're free to go!" Gojo smiled leaning back into his seat.
"Thanks!" Yuji replied with a grin as he got ready to grab his bag and stand up.
"Buuut, before you go there are two things. First, I'm gonna need that finger. And secondly, I have a proposition for you. Instead of simply living off whatever money you get from cursed objects you manage to scrounge up. Why don't you join us as Jujutsu High? You can even meet and learn from others who can make cursed tools and weapons. And reach your full potential. So, Itadori Yuji, what do you say?"
Yugi pondered the offer for a moment before grinning wider than before. "Count me in!" He said, shaking Gojo's hand.
"Excellent! Now for the finger." Gojo responded.
"Sasaki and Iguchi are gonna be pissed when I tell them I lost this." Yuji mentioned gloomly as he handed the finger over.
"Don't worry I'll get you something to replace it. I think we've got a freaky little tikki carving somewhere. Just the right size to fit in that box too." Gojo reassured his new student.
"Cool!" Yuji replied.
"Great. Now there's two of them." Megumi grumbled to himself as Gojo paid for their meals and the trio left for Tokyo.
The next day. Jujutsu Headquarters.
Gojo stood before the higher-ups who, as always, were hidden behind their shoji screens. There was a time when Gojo hated those screens, but now they just amused him. It was like they were admitting that they're cowards.
"Gojo Satoru what do you have to report on the boy?" One of them asked.
"The kid's innocent. We've got no reason to target him." Gojo answered with his hands in his pockets.
"Impossible! He was a member of Geto Suguru's faction of curse users!" One of the other elders shouted.
"He was kicked out months before the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons for not killing a non-sorcerer." Gojo answered with a sigh. Already knowing where this was going.
"He's lying!" Another Elder shouted.
"Do you have any proof, or are you just talking out of your asses?" Gojo asked in an irritated manner. "What was the point of me questioning him if you're not going to listen to what I say?" Gojo smirked as silence filled the room. Knowing that they were all now fumbling for an answer.
"He needs to be watched. We can not have another rouge special grade." One of them finally spoke up.
"I agree. That's why I offered him the chance to enroll in Jujutsu High." Gojo proudly replied.
"You what!?"
"What?" Gojo shrugged. "Any graduated Jujutsu Sorcerer can nominate any potential students for enrolment. Once I knew he was innocent I thought I might as well. He knows how to make cured tools as well. Miguel was the one to teach him most of what he knows, and he vouches for Itadori. Saying he has a talent for it."
The higher-ups mumbled amongst themselves for a moment before the first one spoke. "Very well. We will allow Itadori Yuji to be enrolled at Jujutsu High, so long as a principal accepts him."
"What is the boy's innate technique, and how much does he know?" Another voice asked Gojo.
"His innate technique is called Siphon. He can absorb cursed energy through physical contact, and use it as his own. He can also briefly use another person's innate technique if he absorbs enough of their cursed energy, but only for one or two moves, depending on how much-cursed energy they use. Also, he needs to actually know how the technique works, as he doesn't get the instinctual know-how that comes with an innate technique. He can also absorb cured energy through his Kusarigama, and his knife is better than a normal weapon thanks to being the one to forge them. He knows new shadow style, and divergent first. Overall, I recommend starting him off as either a second-grade or a semi-first-grade. So yes, Geto was right, he has the potential to become a special grade.
That night.
"What?" Shoko questioned with a suspicious stare, as she sat at her desk.
"What?" Gojo replied with a false innocence as walked around the clinic.
Shoko's stare turned into a glare. "What do you want?"
"I wanted to check in on you. What's so suspicious about that?" Gojo replied with a smile, looking away from some medical information poster.
"You don't just 'check in on me' You want something and seeing as you've not asked me to go somewhere, and you can't stand still you've got something to tell me, so spill it." Shoko shot back growing more and more irritated with the blindfolded man.
"I found Itadori." Gojo finally answered.
"Took you long enough." Shoko replied unimpressed.
"Hey! I had to wait until I got something back from the government! Do you know how much bureaucracy and paperwork I had to go through!? And the higher-ups work me like a dog!" Gojo shot back with a childish pout.
"Awww. Is some detective work, and cursed spirits too much for the strongest sorcerer? Poor you." Shoko teased, basking in this rare moment she could put the screws to her friend.
"You didn't seem surprised when I said that I'd found him." Gojo mentioned, trying the get the conversation back on track.
"Yaga came by earlier and told me you had enrolled Itadori." Shoko answered with a shrug, as Gojo silently cursed his former teacher for ruining his surprise. "So what is he like?"
"Strong." Gojo answered.
"I meant personality-wise, idiot." Shoko replied.
"He honestly reminds me of Haibara Yu." Gojo spoke, finally surprising Shoko.
Shoko took a moment to recompose herself. Haibara Yu was not a name she had heard spoken in years. But it was not a name she would ever forget. "Seriously?" A person like Haibara was rare in the world of Jujutsu. Where you fought the worst of humanity both physically and mentally. In a world where a crowd will applaud the death of an innocent 14-year-old girl. Blood and death were everywhere. And sometimes happened before your very eyes. A person with the mental fortitude and unwavering resolve to continue to truly smile was as rare as a special grade. The life got to everyone eventually, and once it did it was only a question of how you put yourself back together. Or if you ever did at all.
"Seriously. There was nothing we could do for Yu. But I swear, I will teach Yuji everything I can, so he can survive no matter what." Gojo promised. The promise he had made for all his students. He had found teaching to be the only thing that challenged him, and it was also what he found most rewarding.