What will Gojo Satoshi do next? Everyone held their breath in anticipation.
Even Toji no longer dared to declare Sukuna's invincibility. At least, his severed fingers were not invincible in front of Satoshi.
These six fingers of Ryomen Sukuna, six Cursed Objects capable of evolving ordinary Cursed Spirits into Special Grade level, might be completely destroyed by Gojo Satoshi today.
As everyone waited anxiously, the figure of Satoshi—like a god of death wreathed in hellfire—made a move that shocked them all.
He sheathed the blazing Ryūjin Jakka.
What was going on?
Had Gojo Satoshi reached his limit?
Clearly, there was only one final step before Sukuna's finger would be annihilated. Was Satoshi going to give up now?
While everyone was still guessing, Satoshi moved again.
Returning the blade to its sheath... was just to draw it anew.
"Taimatsu (Torch)."
With a low voice, Satoshi unsheathed Ryūjin Jakka at astonishing speed.
A graceful yet sharp arc cut through the air, and the tip of the blade pointed directly at Ryomen Sukuna's finger.
Then, they saw it—flames like shooting stars were launched from Ryūjin Jakka.
Ryūjin Jakka.
If fire.
The moment that meteor-like flame touched Sukuna's finger, it ignited fiercely.
Unlike the earlier blazing inferno that consumed the Treasury's walls, this flame wasn't violent. Yet, its power was even more terrifying.
Because right now, Sukuna's finger, under the torch flame, was melting slowly—like wax.
What did this mean?
Sukuna's finger had completely failed.
Under the Torch Technique, Sukuna's fingers would be utterly destroyed.
...
At the same time, within his domain.
Ryomen Sukuna's expression froze in shock. His four eyes widened instantly, and he stood from the skeletal throne that sat atop a mountain of bones.
"Impossible! This is impossible!"
Sukuna muttered, eyes instinctively looking toward the direction of Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Though there was no such thing as orientation in the domain, he could still feel it.
His fingers were suffering.
More importantly, the power within those fingers was rapidly dissipating. It would not be long before they were entirely destroyed.
"Who is it? Who has such power to destroy my finger?"
Ryomen Sukuna was shaken. For the first time, he felt that someone in this world could actually threaten him.
He had assumed the previous encounters represented the limit of human power. Yet this—this attack shattered that illusion.
At this point, he had already guessed it.
It had to be Gojo Satoshi.
But now, he needed confirmation.
Ryomen Sukuna slowly raised his right hand. The markings along his arm began to glow faintly.
This was the agreement he had made with Kenjaku.
He had never imagined he would one day activate it voluntarily.
Never imagined he would one day take the initiative to pull Kenjaku's consciousness into his own realm.
"I want to know everything."
Sukuna closed his eyes slightly.
Meanwhile, far away, Kenjaku felt the spiritual tug.
The corners of his lips curved slightly.
Even someone as proud as you… will seek cooperation under a true threat to your existence, won't you?
Kenjaku allowed Sukuna's power to pull on his soul.
He slowly closed his eyes. This was Sukuna calling him directly, and he intended to savor the moment.
Once he grasped the method behind this ability, he might have more ways to meet with Sukuna again in the future...
Ryomen Sukuna was a vital piece in his long-term plan.
When Kenjaku opened his eyes again, he was already standing in the eerie darkness of the Demon Subduing and Chef Control Area.
"Yo, Sukuna. I wouldn't say 'long time no see'—we just met not long ago."
Kenjaku's tone was laced with playfulness.
He stood on the ground of the skeletal domain, looking up at the throne where Sukuna sat, twisting his neck casually.
Looking up like this all the time… really is uncomfortable.
"Kenjaku, you've got sources of information in the real world. Tell me—who is destroying my fingers?"
Sukuna had suspicions but wanted confirmation from Kenjaku.
"Who? Isn't it obvious? Who have we been talking about? Who did I keep reminding you of? Who's the only one who's caused you trouble recently?"
Kenjaku didn't answer directly, but his rhetorical questions said enough.
"It's him."
Sukuna's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Kenjaku.
"Gojo Satoshi."
He recalled the battle where he had manipulated a Cursed Spirit carrying one of his fingers against Satoshi, and the scene where Satoshi, without even drawing his Zanpakutō, had used some unknown technique to annihilate that Special Grade instantly.
For the first time, Sukuna had felt a strange mix of surprise and doubt.
Ever since Satoshi appeared, his hostility had been immediate and instinctual, as if the two were natural enemies. That presence lingered in his mind.
"Kenjaku, how did Gojo Satoshi destroy my fingers?"
Even though his fingers inside the Treasury hadn't completely melted yet, in Sukuna's mind, it was already a foregone conclusion.
They would be destroyed.
Which meant, now, he wanted to understand Gojo Satoshi better.
He existed only as a spiritual will. His influence on the real world could only be exerted through the Cursed Spirits infused with the power of his fingers.
But this method was limited.
Like that earlier battle, even without Satoshi using Kidō to finish off the Cursed Spirit instantly, the Spirit would've died afterward anyway.
Because they weren't true vessels. They had no body capable of withstanding his power.
Which meant he couldn't rely on Cursed Spirits to act on his behalf long-term.
But Kenjaku was different.
This man had power in the real world—and the means to offer him the answers he sought.
However, what Sukuna didn't expect was...
Kenjaku tilted his head, twisted his neck, and complained.
"My neck's getting sore from always looking up at you."
(To be continued.)