Minoru tidied up a little, changed into the shirt and trousers Megumi had prepared in advance last night, and walked toward the backyard along the path in the courtyard.
In the early morning courtyard, Satoru had his back to him, preparing lessons while admiring the koi in the pond.
And beside him, a little boy wearing a haori with a checkered pattern was nodding off to sleep.
It was Kamado Tanjiro.
“Oh my, up so early?
I haven’t even finished my lesson plan yet.” Satoru turned around, smiling and looking at Minoru.
“You recovered really fast.
As expected of someone who can use Reverse Cursed Technique.”
Tanjiro was startled awake, opening his eyes dazedly.
When he saw that the person who came was Minoru, his eyes lit up, and he sat up straight abruptly.
“Shibata-san!”
He knelt on the ground with a “thud”, his forehead hitting the floor and making a loud sound.
Tanjiro’s voice was filled with gratitude and choked sobs.
“Thank you!
Thank you for saving my family!
This kindness, I, Kamado Tanjirou, will never forget!”
Minoru helped him up, but before he could speak, Satoru’s teasing voice rang out, and he rubbed Tanjiro’s head.
“This kid kept mumbling that he wouldn’t go to his room to sleep until he saw you.
Don’t let down his good intentions.”
He thought for a moment and continued, “Oh, right, I met a particularly interesting guy in the mountains named Tomioka Giyu.
Seems he is in an enemy relationship with those demons.”
“He clearly wanted to rush over to help you, but ended up getting trapped in the fire himself, putting out the fire in the mountains, busy for the whole night.”
“If you meet him in the future, you must properly say thank you to him.
After all, he is a kind person who worked hard all night for your sake.”
Even if you thank him to his face, he will most likely just keep a straight face and say ‘It’s nothing’.”
Satoru’s relaxed tone carried a hint of gravity.
“Alright, jokes aside, let’s stop here.”
He signaled for Minoru to sit down and got straight to the point, “There is one thing I must inform you about in advance.”
He held up a finger.
“We lost a Sukuna finger, and it was under my and Fushiguro’s supervision.”
“I know that the finger was most likely taken by you, I sensed that aura on you.
To those old folks at Jujutsu High, this is a top-level incident.
They will definitely come to investigate you.”
“I will try my best to block them for you.
But before they come…”
Satoru’s lips curled into a smile.
“Why not let me see first?”
Satoru removed his blindfold, revealing the Six Eyes.
The Six Eyes possesses the ability to see through the essence and flow of energy.
Minoru felt that every inch of his body was completely seen through.
His facial expression, the flow of Cursed Energy, Sun Breathing, and even the speed of his blood circulation, everything was seen clearly, with nothing hidden.
‘With this ability, it’s no wonder he can become the strongest sorcerer of the modern era.’ Minoru thought inwardly.
He was very clear about the massive Cursed Energy residue left on his body after using Sukuna’s power and Sun Breathing’s energy, which was distinct from the Jujutsu System definitely couldn’t escape Satoru’s eyes.
These two forces were probably as clear as two blazing suns in the night.
Not to mention the Sukuna’s Finger hidden in his pocket.
Lies held no meaning before the Six Eyes.
But Minoru had never intended to lie.
Facing these eyes that seemed to see through him, Minoru did not flinch, speaking calmly, “Gojo-san, what is it you wish to see?
The smile on Satoru’s lips deepened, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
This man, facing his Six Eyes used without reservation, showed not the slightest fear or wavering.
Satoru said.
“My Six Eyes tells me that you possess the aura of a Sukuna Finger, and it’s very potent.”
“In Sendai, we lost a finger.
Therefore, what I want to see is the whereabouts of that finger.”
He didn’t immediately make a move, still giving Minoru a chance to explain.
“The finger is indeed with me.” Minoru admitted frankly.
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere instantly became solemn.
The oppressive feeling emanating from Satoru surged toward Minoru.
Tanjiro, who was drowsy beside him, woke up under this immense pressure, all sleepiness gone.
He looked nervously at the two, momentarily unsure what to do.
“Sirs…”
Minoru ignored Tanjiro’s reaction and continued speaking, “To save them from Kibutsuji Muzan, I had to borrow its power.
Otherwise, the result last night would have been a few more corpses, and an even stronger Demon King.”
He them changed the subject, his gaze becoming sharp, “Gojo-san, I know the loss of the finger is a top-level incident.
The people at Jujutsu High will come looking for me, judge me, or even execute me, and I can accept all that.
But I want to ask one thing.”
“If it happened again, knowing this finger could save this innocent family right here, then according to the regulations of Jujutsu High, should we abandon them, or sit back and watch them be slaughtered?”
These resounding words made the smile on Satoru’s face slightly fade.
He looked at Minoru, then glanced at Tanjiro beside him, who was full of tension.
Minoru continued, “The duty of a Jujutsu Sorcerer is to exorcise Cursed Spirits and protect humanity.
What I did was precisely that.
As for the methods…
rules are rigid, but people are flexible.”
“If the cost of following the rules is watching lives perish, then I would rather break them.”