Sōjun Minamoto gave the stone gate a brief glance before looking away.
There they were, openly discussing a partnership right in front of the Tombs of the Star.
Neither of them paid Tengen any mind. After all, he had completely withdrawn from worldly affairs. Anything that didn't affect him directly, he wouldn't bother with—and meddling in things that might stir up trouble? He'd never do it.
Like reporting their potential alliance to the higher-ups.
The middle-aged man had been at Jujutsu High for quite some time now. Tengen surely knew more about him than Sōjun did. And Sōjun wasn't naive enough to believe Tengen hadn't noticed anything. Yet, not a single word had leaked out.
No one in the Jujutsu world had uncovered Noritoshi Kamo's true identity after all these years. You think Tengen, the so-called omniscient sorcerer, didn't know?
He knew. But he also understood that saying it aloud might invite trouble. Better to stay out of it entirely than risk attracting attention he couldn't shake off.
Sōjun had once watched from outside the proverbial fourth wall, aware that kind of avoidance wouldn't end well. But now, standing on the same level, he couldn't really fault him for it.
If Sōjun was driven by the pursuit of power, and the middle-aged man by curiosity, then Tengen was simply chasing the act of existing.
Different ideals lead to different choices—and Tengen's approach was the perfect reflection of his own desire to keep living.
"Interested in teaming up?" the middle-aged man asked again, eyes on Sōjun.
"If we work together, we could create something that would shake the entire Jujutsu world."
"Just imagining it is almost enough to make me climax."
He bent his knees slightly, legs pressed together, giving a small twist of his body.
A wave of disgust crawled over Sōjun. Before he could respond, the man jumped ahead eagerly.
"No need to answer yet. Let me show you something first." He reached out toward Sōjun as if to grab his arm, but suddenly paused, seeming to remember something, and pulled his hand back. The feverish gleam in his eyes didn't fade.
"It's a perfect vessel I spent years creating!"
Vessel?
That single word said plenty. Sōjun's thoughts spun.
The handover of the Forbidden Vault was already done. He had originally hoped to discuss Barrier techniques with Tengen, but that was clearly off the table now.
And after this conversation with the middle-aged man—regardless of whether they ultimately collaborated—Tengen would definitely heighten his defenses.
Chances of meeting again? Slim.
Sōjun glanced around... not that it really mattered. The only thing Tengen still excelled at—Barrier techniques—no longer had anything left to offer him.
A sorcerer who had lived a thousand years always came with deep knowledge and surprises. But now it was time to move on to someone new.
He smirked and looked the man in the eye.
"Sure. Let's go see it."
The man's expression calmed.
"Then let's go."
Aside from his feverish excitement over his research, he was surprisingly composed about everything else.
Sōjun could tell—this man had made some major breakthrough, and was itching to show it off.
Whether he came to form a partnership or simply to share what he'd discovered... it was hard to say.
But now, Sōjun was genuinely curious about what this "good thing" might be.
The two of them left the Tombs of the Star behind. The massive stone gate, like an inverted slab of earth, remained tightly shut, immovable.
Back above ground, the man opened his arms wide, narrowed his eyes, and basked in the sunlight beaming down.
"As expected... people really are meant to live under the sun."
Sōjun had to agree with that sentiment.
After the man finished basking in the moment, Sōjun Minamoto finally asked, "So, where's this 'good stuff' you mentioned?"
"...Sendai," the middle-aged man said, folding his arms and glancing over. "Your hometown, isn't it?"
Sōjun raised a brow and met his gaze. The Star Eyes showed no reaction as he said,
"Then let's get going. It's not exactly early. Hurry up and show me—let's see if it's as interesting as you say."
"You won't be disappointed."
The man met his gaze for just a moment before quickly looking away, smiling faintly. Then, he turned and led the way without another word.
...
They traveled through the streets and alleys of Sendai until they reached a modest two-story house built in a traditional Japanese style.
Houses in the neighborhood all shared a similar look.
It was early—just before the morning rush—and the street wasn't crowded yet. But noise was already starting to rise from inside the homes.
Suddenly, the man turned back with a gleam of excitement in his eyes, grinning playfully.
"Try not to get caught. You might get hauled away by the cops."
Without waiting for a response, he stepped forward and did something imperceptible. Right then, an elderly man—around his fifties—opened the door. His face was lined with age and wear, and he looked into the house as he called out,
"Yuji, Grandpa's heading out!"
He shut the door and stepped into the yard. As the door closed, the middle-aged man slipped inside unnoticed. The old man walked right past him, seemingly unaware, then stopped briefly when he noticed Sōjun standing outside. He gave him a curious glance, scratched the back of his head, and left without lingering.
Yuji?
Sōjun instantly understood.
So this was the "vessel" he'd been talking about...
He walked straight through the front door. A perception-disrupting Barrier cloaked his presence—no ordinary person would notice him.
Inside, he saw the man leaning over a small bed. A young boy, around four years old, lay asleep on it.
Sōjun approached.
"Shh..." The man raised a finger to his lips, a strange tenderness flickering across his face. He pointed to the sleeping child.
"This is my child."
Sōjun didn't respond. He just stared at the boy as the light of the Star Eyes shimmered faintly.
The child's Cursed Energy was no different from that of a normal person. He was fair-skinned, plump, and slept soundly. Physically, he was extremely healthy.
And that was all—for now.
This "fruit" was still unripe, still a little sour.
So this was what he came to show him?
Just as disappointment began to creep in, the man seemed to sense it and said softly,
"He's the vessel. A vessel prepared for that one."
"That one?"
"Sukuna."
His tone shifted, a strange unease flickering beneath the surface.
"This child's father is the reincarnation of Sukuna's twin."
...?
Sōjun's mind shifted to something else entirely. The father and the child—only the mother remained unaccounted for. And the man claimed this child was his...
"You've heard of Sukuna, right? Jujutsu High has some files."
"The King of Curses from a thousand years ago. Whether before or after becoming a Cursed Object, he was a true monarch."
"During the golden age of jujutsu—during the Heian era—all the sorcerers of the time banded together to take him down. And they failed."
"Even after death, his body turned into a Cursed Object so powerful no one could deal with it. The Jujutsu world had no choice but to seal him away."
"Incredible, isn't it? That kind of overwhelming power—something like a natural disaster—and yet this little boy is able to contain it all perfectly. He's going to be the one to hold Sukuna's full strength."
"Soon... just a little longer..."
The last part was barely a whisper, but Sōjun heard every word.
He knew a little about Sukuna, but only in scattered fragments. Some memories, some from what he'd read at Jujutsu High. Not much detail.
Sukuna had two faces and four arms—just like the mythological figure "Two-Faced Sukuna." That's how he got the name.
The twin the man mentioned was the second embryo, devoured by Sukuna in the womb.
From birth, Sukuna was more a calamity than a person. His one obsession was consumption.
To Sōjun, Sukuna had always been defined by one thing—power. Nothing more.
The boy sleeping before him—clearly Yuji Itadori —was still just a child.
Nothing about him stood out except for an unusually strong physique.
Sōjun already knew that much, so...
Was this all?
But then, the man turned toward him, eyes full of anticipation.
"This is a thousand-year experiment. If it works, it means ancient sorcerers can be awakened."
"When that time comes—you, me, Sukuna—we'll be enough to challenge the entire Jujutsu world. We'll make a miracle that shakes its foundations."
"So, how about it? Want to work together?"
The third time he asked.
This time, Sōjun felt his curiosity stir. Awaken ancient sorcerers?
How?
Obviously not by nudging them and saying, "Hey, wake up."
After a thousand years, their bodies would've long since rotted. To revive them, you'd need a host—a new body. It'd have to be a form of Flesh Cursed Technique.
Now that... that was worth considering.
Leaving a clone behind to handle this kind of partnership wasn't out of the question. The benefits clearly outweighed the risks.
He wasn't worried about exposure disrupting his plans. And he certainly wasn't worried about betrayal.
They stood on equal footing. Either both were players, or both were pieces—it just depended on how you played.
The man clearly had confidence, too. Revealing part of his plan before any agreement—he wasn't afraid of interference.
Sōjun stretched lazily, shifting his gaze away from the boy and locking eyes with the man—
Kenjaku.
He said, "Alright."
Kenjaku clapped with a bright grin.
"Since we're now partners, to solidify this relationship, this body's yours."
He gave himself a once-over—meaning the body of the middle-aged Zenin man—then added with deliberate emphasis,
"This one's special. It holds the Ten Shadows Technique. Very valuable."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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