Third Person POV
After leaving Shiki behind, the team split into two groups: Megumi's team and Panda's team. Megumi took charge of scouting and locating the cursed spirit hidden in the forest.
"Woof, woof!"
Megumi's Demon Dog run ahead, its sharp senses perfect for the task.
Before long, they encountered a small spider-like cursed spirit.
"That's a small fry," Maki remarked, spinning her spear with ease as she prepared to attack.
But the Demon Dog barked sharply, its stance shifting as if sensing something wrong.
"Maki-san, stop," Megumi ordered, his voice firm.
BOOM!
The cursed spirit was obliterated in an instant as Todo emerged from the other side of the forest, his towering frame making an unmistakable entrance.
"No Shiki? Well, whatever!" Todo grinned, cracking his knuckles. "You're all here! Come at me, all together!"
Yuji stepped forward without hesitation—it was his turn, just as planned.
He charged straight at Todo, landing a knee strike to the face that forced the larger man back, if only briefly. Using the distraction, the rest of the Tokyo team split up, moving ahead as Yuji kept Todo engaged.
Megumi paired with Maki, while Panda teamed up with Toge and Kugisaki. The groups split in two, each heading in a different direction. Megumi planned to use his shikigami to locate the cursed spirit, while Toge would rely on his own methods. The idea was simple: spread out to cover more ground.
So far, things were going according to plan. They had anticipated Todo's aggressive nature, and Shiki had also predicted Fujino would try something.
How Shiki knew that, no one had asked.
When she made the comment, her expression was scary, and the others decided it was best not to push for details.
In the forest, Megumi continued scanning for the cursed spirit, his shikigami moving through the forest ahead. Maki followed close by, her weapons ready. But after a while, both of them came to a stop.
"That's strange," Megumi muttered, his brow furrowing.
"What is?" Maki asked, her grip tightening on her spear.
"All the Kyoto students are moving together. They're heading toward the area we left Itadori in. I think that puts everyone from Kyoto there."
It didn't make sense for them to stick together. Splitting up was the obvious way to cover more ground while searching for the cursed spirit. Moving as one group would slow them down and make them easier to track.
Maki frowned, clearly considering the same thing. "You mean that's where the target is?"
"No. Unless the second-grade is especially cunning, my Demon Dog would have noticed it." Megumi replied, shaking his head.
"Woof!"
If that wasn't their reason, then there had to be another motive for such an unusual move. And considering who they left behind…
"They're trying to kill Itadori, aren't they?" Megumi said, his voice dropping into a serious tone as the realization sank in.
The possibility wasn't far-fetched. For the Kyoto students, assassinating Yuji during the event wasn't just plausible—it was logical. Unlike the Tokyo team, the Kyoto students didn't know the full truth about Yuji. To them, the vessel of Sukuna was nothing more than a dangerous object of fear.
To exorcize him wouldn't feel much different from dealing with a cursed spirit. That line—between human and curse—was one even seasoned jujutsu sorcerers could blur without hesitation.
It was entirely possible that Principal Gakuganji had ordered them to do it.
"We're turning back, Megumi," Maki said firmly.
"Sorry," Megumi muttered, guilt flickering across his face.
If he had been the one to face Todo earlier, this situation might not have happened.
"What are you apologizing for, dummy? There's no point in winning or losing the exchange event if your friend dies."
Without wasting another second, they sprinted back toward Yuji's last location.
As they neared the area, Megumi spotted a girl hovering in the air, seated on a broomstick.
'Is that Nishimiya?' he thought, narrowing his eyes. Her position and cursed tool marked her as a scout. If she was here, then...
Forming a hand sign, Megumi summoned Nue.
The winged shikigami appeared above Nishimiya, its crackling electricity lighting up the sky.
Spark!
The attack hit its mark. Nishimiya was flung from her broomstick, crashing into the trees below.
Megumi and Maki didn't stop, continuing their sprint through the forest. As they pressed on, they came across two familiar figures—Kamo and Miwa.
Megumi's mind raced. If they were here, it could mean they'd already dealt with Yuji. But there was little chance of that. Yuji wouldn't go down easily. For now, it was likely he was still safe.
He glanced at Maki, who met his eyes and gave a quick nod. No words were needed. They both understood the situation.
Without hesitation, Megumi stepped forward to face Kamo, while Maki veered toward Miwa, drawing her into another part of the forest.
"Kamo-san," Megumi called out, "Are you guys planning to kill Itadori?"
Kamo's expression didn't waver. "And if I said we were?"
"Then you've failed, Itadori wouldn't go down in such a short time."
Kamo smirked faintly and leaped back, putting distance between himself and Megumi.
Meanwhile, Maki clashed with Miwa, the sound of their weapons echoing as their battle moved deeper into the forest.
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Elsewhere in the forest, Yuji and Todo were locked in an intense battle.
After somehow managing to halt the ambush from the other Kyoto students, Yuji wasn't sure if Todo's intervention really counted as de-escalation. Regardless, the gang of students had stopped targeting him for now, leaving him in a one-on-one clash with Todo.
Todo launched a powerful kick that sent Yuji flying back into a tree. The impact shook the trunk, but Yuji recovered quickly, using the momentum to propel himself forward.
He tackled Todo, twisting his body midair to flip the larger man over. Todo landed on his feet with a heavy thud, barely fazed, and immediately countered with a series of crushing punches to Yuji's stomach.
He tackled Todo, twisting his body midair to flip the larger man over. Todo landed on his feet with a heavy thud, barely fazed, and immediately countered with a series of crushing punches to Yuji's stomach.
Yuji staggered back, gasping for air, but his resolve didn't waver. Spotting a low-hanging tree branch, he leapt toward it, gripping it tightly and swinging around to launch a kick. The attack came in fast, but Todo ducked just in time.
"Woah!" Todo grinned, wiping a trickle of sweat from his brow. "You're getting better, brother!"
Yuji didn't respond. Instead, he used the split-second distraction to dash to Todo's blind spot. Todo turned, ready to strike, but Yuji was already gone.
"Urah!"
The shout came from behind. Before Todo could react, Yuji's fist slammed into the back of his head. The impact forced Todo to lurch forward, his balance momentarily disrupted.
Despite the blow, Todo's grin only widened.
'What power!'
'This raw strength… it's unreal! His blows have such tremendous force even without refined cursed energy. His body—smaller than mine—generates power that surpasses my own! That's why each strike lands so heavily!'
'But the way this cursed energy hits after a time lag… That's just… That's just…'
"Wrong!"
Todo's shout erupted like a thunderclap, shaking the forest and reverberating through the trees. Birds scattered from the canopy.
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Todo's scream echoed through the forest, sharp and thunderous, cutting through the sounds of another fight.
"Was that Todo?" Maki asked, her tone tinged with mild disbelief as she clashed weapon with Miwa.
"It was,"
Maki smirked. "I think I understand why you couldn't finish off Yuji."
Miwa's face flushed slightly, but she held her ground. "I'm sorry about Itadori-kun. I know it's an excuse, but I'm not like the others. Still, that doesn't mean I plan to hand over victory in this Exchange Event."
Maki didn't reply, keeping her attention on Miwa's movements.
Miwa continued, gripping her katana tighter. "You know that sorcerers advance in rank through a recommendation system, right?"
Maki nodded slightly.
"The Exchange Event is often discussed among sorcerers without connections up the chain. Students who perform well here are granted plenty of opportunities to advance while they're studying. I want to become independent as quickly as possible so I can earn money."
Maki's eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued. "Why?"
Miwa hesitated, then blurted out, "Because I'm poor! And I have two little brothers!"
Maki blinked, momentarily stunned by the sudden declaration. Then she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Then why did you take this job, idiot?"
"I'm useless, and this is the only thing I'm good at!" Miwa replied cheerfully, her voice brimming with self-awareness.
Maki stared at her incredulously, unsure whether to laugh or be annoyed. But then, for a fleeting moment, she allowed herself a small, amused smile.
"Just so you know," Maki said, spinning her spear with ease. "I won't hold back."
"Not a problem! That's not what I said all that for, anyway!"
The two clashed once again. Maki, wielding her spear with deadly precision, and Miwa, gripping her katana tightly as if her life depended on it.
...
...
..
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Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Miwa staggered back, her footing slipping slightly as she tried to recover. She hadn't expected this—not at all.
For Miwa, as long as she didn't face Shiki, any opponent was fine. That's why she'd asked Mai about Maki beforehand.
"—Maki? She's just a small fry. She can't even see curses. Just an ordinary person who uses Cursed Tools. She will forever be a Grade 4 sorcerer."
That's what Mai had said, and Miwa had taken those words to heart.
It had given her some relief—enough to feel like she could handle this fight, even if she wasn't particularly talented.
But now, as she blocked another strike, her arms trembling under the pressure, a single thought echoed in her mind.
'Mai, you fool! This person is crazy strong!'
Each time their weapons collided, Miwa was pushed further back. Every attack she launched seemed to be effortlessly redirected, as though Maki could read her every move. Worse, Maki's strikes weren't random—they were deliberate, aimed at weak points, her vitals, and areas Miwa couldn't defend in time.
She gritted her teeth, trying to close the distance. 'If I can just get closer…'
But it was useless.
Maki's spear, with its superior reach, kept her at bay. Every attempt to advance was met with a punishing blow that forced her back. Miwa's hands were full just trying to block and dodge—there wasn't even time to catch her breath.
Sweat dripped down her face as her mind raced. 'How is she this good?'
If Maki's blade had been exposed, Miwa realized, she'd have died twice already. Her movements were precise, clean, and merciless.
'And this is a Grade 4 Jujutsu Sorcerer? No way. She could probably take on a Grade 1 Curse and win without breaking a sweat.'
Her eyes darted around, taking in the trees surrounding them. Their fight was taking place in the middle of the forest, the dense canopy creating uneven patches of light and shadow.
'So how is she swinging her spear like this?'
Maki moved with ease, her spear cutting through the air as if the forest didn't exist. The narrow space between the trees seemed irrelevant to her, her strikes unimpeded by the terrain. Every swing, thrust, and sweep was dangerous, making it feel like they were fighting in an open field.
Miwa gritted her teeth and leaped back, trying to create some distance. She landed lightly on her feet, raising her katana defensively. Her mind raced for a strategy.
She didn't have an innate technique—only her skill and training.
"New Shadow Style: Simple Domain!"
A faint ripple spread outward from her position. The technique created a 2.21-meter radius around her, a zone where all intrusions would be automatically countered.
Simple Domain also enhanced her Batto Sword Drawing Technique, speeding up her blade's cursed energy-infused strike as it left its hilt.
It was New Shadow Style's fastest technique.
Maki felt a shift in the air as Miwa activated her technique.
'An iai technique?' she thought, recognizing the stance of a Batto Sword Drawing Technique.
Thanks to her constant training with Shiki, Maki's combat instincts had sharpened significantly. Every fight with Shiki was brutal, pushing her beyond her limits. Compared to that, facing Miwa felt manageable, almost easy.
And then, she saw it.
The "killing path."
Unlike Shiki's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, Maki's ability wasn't supernatural. These paths weren't literal lines or cursed energy trails. They were the culmination of years of hard work, practice, and battle experience. To Maki, they were the perfect trajectories, the future actions she could take to end a fight.
Her mind mapped out the options with startling clarity.
A strike to the neck would incapacitate instantly.
A blow to the head would knock Miwa out cold.
A thrust to the arm would disarm her completely.
Each path was efficient.
She charged straight toward Miwa.
Miwa readied her stance, hand steady on her sword. The moment Maki entered her range—exactly 2.21 meters—Miwa moved.
Maki saw it instantly. From the position of Miwa's hand and the faint shift in her stance, a clear path emerged: from Miwa's hand to Maki's neck.
Maki's "Killing path", weren't just about identifying her most effective attack. They worked both ways, revealing where her opponent's next strike would land. Every subtle movement, every ounce of intent, painted a picture in her mind.
Miwa's plan was clear. She intended to create an opening by forcing Maki to block—a swing aimed directly at her neck.
The blade flashed as Miwa drew her sword at incredible speed, expecting Maki to block with her weapon. But Maki didn't.
Instead, she deflected the strike with her bare hand, as if the attack were moving in slow motion. Training with Shiki had sharpened her reactions to an almost inhuman level.
Before Miwa could recover, Maki moved in close, delivering a sharp blow. Miwa fell, unconscious before she hit the ground.
Maki stood over her for a moment, catching her breath.
Her gaze shifted to Miwa's sword, glinting faintly in the light. A slight grin crept onto her face as she picked it up, inspecting its craftsmanship.
"Thanks for the weapon," she said casually, resting it over her shoulder.
Without sparing another glance, Maki turned and walked away, leaving Miwa unconscious on the ground.
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Elsewhere, Megumi was locked in a fight with Noritoshi.
After leaving the forest, they found themselves in a temple building. The clash continued without pause.
Megumi dashed through the temple's halls, cursed energy-charged arrows trailing behind him. Most missed their mark, crashing into the wooden walls and shattering floorboards, but Noritoshi kept up the pressure, firing relentlessly.
Two arrows closed in from behind, but Megumi's Unknown Abyss Toads appeared, their tongues snapping out to catch the projectiles mid-flight. Megumi grabbed one of the arrows and broke off its tip, smearing the blood onto the wall.
Noritoshi stepped into view, unfazed. "You can summon another shikigami at the same time, can't you? Holding back doesn't suit you."
Megumi met his gaze, unbothered. "Likewise. You're down to one arrow, aren't you? Don't expect me to help if you pass out from anemia."
Blood Manipulation.
The ability to control one's own blood and anything tied to it—a technique worthy of someone from the Great Families.
'That explains how the arrow turned,' Megumi thought.
Noritoshi smirked. "I came prepared."
With that, he fired his last arrow, shattering the ceiling above. Dust and debris rained down, forcing Megumi to shield himself.
Before Megumi could react, Noritoshi closed the distance and threw a straight punch.
Megumi brought up his tonfa just in time to block, but the sheer force of the blow sent him stumbling backward.
He's stronger than I expected.
Noritoshi didn't let up. Blood markings appeared over his eyes as his strikes grew faster and heavier. A relentless barrage followed, each blow pushing Megumi further on the defensive.
With a final, powerful hit, Noritoshi shattered the tonfa.
Megumi glanced at the broken weapon in his hand before tossing it aside. Without hesitation, he crouched and reached into his shadow, pulling out a sword.
During training, Megumi discovered that he could store weapons in his shadow and quickly worked to capitalize on that ability. Thanks to the grueling sessions with Maki and Shiki, he no longer relied solely on his shikigami.
"A sword?" Noritoshi raised an eyebrow, his tone curious. "It's rare to see a shikigami user proficient in close combat."
"It's a must... to survive," Megumi replied curtly.
Noritoshi tilted his head, clearly puzzled by the response, but Megumi offered no further explanation. He had no intention of sharing how he had been pushed to his limits during training.
Before coming to Jujutsu High, Megumi had already been competent in hand-to-hand combat, but compared to Maki and Shiki, it wasn't even close. To stand a chance against people like them, being proficient wasn't enough—it was the bare minimum just to keep breathing.
That's why Megumi pushed himself harder. Compared to the hellish training he endured, fighting Noritoshi right now didn't even come close.
The fight continued. Megumi advanced, swinging his sword.
Noritoshi, still enhanced by his blood markings, grew even stronger. Manipulating his own blood, he amplified his speed and power with every movement, pressing Megumi further.
Although outclassed in nearly every aspect, Megumi was far from helpless. He called upon his shikigami to aid him in the fight. His frogs leapt forward, using their tongues to bind Noritoshi's movements just enough to create a small opening. Megumi seized the moment, stepping in with a slash aimed for his opponent.
Noritoshi ducked, narrowly evading the blade, and countered immediately. Manipulating his blood, he unleashed simultaneous attacks—one aimed at the shikigami and the other at Megumi.
The force of the blood attack was enough to destroy Megumi's sword, but he didn't falter. Without missing a beat, he reached into his shadow and pulled out another weapon. He had prepared for this, storing an assortment of weapons in his shadow for moments like these.
Most of them were Shiki's weapons, though. She used him as something of a porter, and Megumi didn't have the courage to refuse.
Crack!
Another weapon shattered.
Crack!
And another.
Crack!
Again.
Megumi had lost count of how many weapons Noritoshi had destroyed. It felt endless, a test of endurance that would drain his resources.
'Should I call it?' he wondered.
It wasn't ideal—his next move would consume a massive amount of cursed energy—but this stalemate couldn't continue.
He formed a hand sign.
Noritoshi recognized it immediately and rushed to stop him, but Megumi anticipated this. A toad shikigami appeared behind Noritoshi as a decoy, disappearing just as Noritoshi turned to confront it. The distraction bought Megumi enough time.
"This one consumes a lot of cursed energy and can only be used alone. I just purified it recently,"
"Max Elephant."
From his shadow emerged a massive elephant, towering and imposing.
"That's a huge target," Noritoshi muttered, narrowing his eyes.
He aimed to strike first, but before he could, Max Elephant unleashed a torrent of water. The sheer pressure of the flood swept Noritoshi out of the building and into an open area.
This water—it's dangerous in a wide space. He'll follow up with that, Noritoshi thought, struggling to steady himself against the relentless current.
As if confirming his suspicions, Megumi stood within the building, forming another hand sign.
"Nue"
The winged shikigami appeared, its electricity amplified by the water left behind by Max Elephant. The lightning struck Noritoshi, and he tensed as the electricity coursed through him. Paralyzed but not defeated, Noritoshi gritted his teeth.
As the heir of one of the Three Great Families, he refused to lose. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a blood bag and hurled it at Nue.
"Blood Manipulation: Crimson Binding."
Thick threads of blood erupted from the bag, wrapping around Nue with force.
Despite the toll on their bodies, neither Megumi nor Noritoshi showed any signs of backing down. Their cursed energy flared as they charged at one another.
BOOM!
The fight was suddenly interrupted by a massive explosion of branches.
"What?!"
Both of them said at the same time.
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"All right. We should get to work too."
On the Jujutsu Grounds, Mahito sat casually, his left arm missing but his demeanor as carefree as ever.
"Let's make a clothing rack," he mused, leaning back with a grin. "Satoru Gojo's… what, 190 cm tall? He'd make a good one, don't you think?"
Behind him, a curse user muttered something to himself, but his words were drowned out by the oppressive heat hanging in the air.
"Shut up. It's too damn hot," Reishin snapped, clearly irritated.
The cursed spirits and their allies were preparing to strike back. The time for their counterattack had come.
[END]
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That's it for the chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it!
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[Thanks for Reading!]