The two figures in the arena froze for a single, breathless second, then lunged again like twin beams of black light.
In the next instant, they collided with brutal force.
The shriek of tortured metal rang out, a staggering sound that echoed across the training grounds.
Their blades cried out in the stunning clash of power, vibrating violently.
Both were too strong; they had to rely on that high-frequency vibration to dissipate the titanic forces they were channeling.
Zen’in Maki’s spearmanship did not belong to a delicate woman; it was wide-sweeping, rigid, and ferocious.
Taira no Minamoto, conversely, was unwilling to waste even a shred of effort.
He was a flicker of shadow and motion, appearing and vanishing to deliver lethal slashes.
Their weapons clashed and separated in a blur, withdrawing the moment a strike failed to connect, only to transform into streaks of high-speed light flashing across the field again.
Their duel turned the training ground into an ice rink—a savage, graceful dance.
Shortswords contested against naginata.
Their speed and raw power were far beyond mortal limits, the incessant, clanging song of their duel filling the air.
Suddenly, a crack spiderwebbed across one of Minamoto’s blades.
He froze for a microsecond.
Damn it.
Using the Breath-Swallowing Domain earlier drained too much Cursed Energy.
This projected pair of Kanshou and Bakuya isn’t durable enough.
Maki saw the opening instantly.
She slammed her foot into the dirt, her body hurtling forward as she swung her naginata toward Minamoto.
He hurriedly raised his cracked swords to block, but Maki followed up with a vicious kick to his side, sending him skidding dangerously close to the boundary line.
Minamoto cursed under his breath, quickly re-establishing his stance and rising to his feet.
It was time to show his true colors.
“Be careful, Maki.
Don’t die on me.” The incantation to liberate Kanshou and Bakuya flowed from Minamoto’s lips.
“Crane wings, remain unfallen.” Blue Cursed Energy surged through Minamoto, reinforcing his muscles as he charged toward Zen’in Maki with incredible speed.
In the same motion, he hurled the twin swords.
They cut through the air like two homing birds tracing a mystical path toward Maki.
“Mind and technique reach Taishan; mind and technique cross the Yellow River.” Another pair of shortswords materialized in his hands, and he threw them from a different angle.
Four blades now closed in on Maki from all directions, utilizing the intrinsic attraction property of the “husband and wife” blades.
Maki masterfully knocked down all four flying swords with her naginata.
“Only the name accepted by heaven; two heroes separate in death.” Minamoto projected Kanshou and Bakuya for the third time, but this time was different.
The twin swords in his hands erupted with intense light.
The shortswords transformed into long, jagged blades, resembling a pair of black and white sword-wings.
Overedge.
“Triple-Linked Crane Wings!” Minamoto appeared in front of Maki in a flash.
She was unfazed, ready to meet his charge with her naginata.
But the result was completely unexpected.
“Impossible!” The naginata that Maki held across her chest was severed effortlessly.
The cut was silk-smooth and fluid; her weapon offered no resistance whatsoever against the ultimate technique.
Seeing her weapon destroyed, Minamoto instantly retracted the blades, channeled Cursed Energy into his foot, and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Maki’s stomach, sending her flying across the arena.
“That’s one for earlier.” Disarmed and winded, Maki used the broken shaft of her naginata for support as she forced herself to stand.
Though every fiber of her being wanted to continue the match, that kick had been far heavier than she anticipated.
She wiped a trace of blood from the corner of her mouth, her teeth gritted in frustration.
Gojo Satoru moved like lightning, appearing beside Minamoto and raising his hand.
“I now declare Taira no Minamoto the winner of the First Annual Jujutsu High Tenkaichi Budokai!” Minamoto wasn’t exactly thrilled about getting Gojo’s signed pin-ups, but winning still felt good.
“You okay, Maki?
You want Ms.
Ieiri to take a look?” Minamoto called out, waving to her.
Maki spat out a mouthful of blood and shot him a venomous glare.
“It’s a damn shame I didn’t get to beat the hell out of you properly.” Suddenly, Toge’s voice cut through the air, slightly urgent: “Tuna mayo!” (Let’s go eat!) Minamoto remembered—Gojo-sensei was treating them to top-tier teppanyaki.
The quartet’s stomachs collectively let out a roaring growl.
Even Maki began to look forward to it; she hadn’t exactly had many chances to eat out before coming to Jujutsu High.
Gojo had a moment of sudden realization.
He slapped his forehead and said hurriedly, “Right, right!
I’m treating you all to a meal!
I already had Ijichi book the entire restaurant, so Panda can go too.” Panda wasn’t particularly interested in teppanyaki, but he had never been out to a restaurant before.
“Then I want karupas sausage!” “I want meat!
Big chunks of meat!” “Salmon, salmon.” (Whatever works.) “Gojo-sensei, you better get me a massive piece of A5 Black Wagyu.” “Hahaha!
Eat your fill!
But you lot need to change first—your uniforms are in tatters.” The five of them arrived at a teppanyaki restaurant in Kagurazaka.
It was rumored that the Emperor himself was a frequent patron.
Before they could even enter, the General Manager was already standing at the door.
He spotted Gojo Satoru’s approach from afar.
This legendary master, famous throughout the Tokyo culinary world, immediately sprinted over without a shred of professional dignity.
Though officially retired, he had rushed back the moment he heard of Gojo Satoru’s impending arrival.
Behind him stood the head chef, who appeared to be his son.
Both men bowed deeply to Gojo.
The General Manager said, “My Lord Head, your presence brings honor to our humble establishment.
The ingredients you requested have all been prepared, and all other stock has been reserved to the absolute highest standards.
Please forgive us if our hospitality is lacking.” He addressed Gojo Satoru as “My Lord Head.” It seemed this restaurant was a Gojo family property.
The Gojo family truly was ridiculously wealthy.
The five took their seats.
The servers and chefs didn’t even blink at Panda’s presence; it seemed they had been briefed.
The General Manager put on his chef’s uniform—it looked like the retired master was going to personally cook today.
The actual head chef, his son, was demoted to sous-chef for the evening.
Under the retired master’s expert care, the five of them enjoyed a magnificent meal.
Even the incredibly picky Gojo Satoru couldn’t find a single fault with the experience.
Afterward, Minamoto suggested exploring Tokyo to buy some things, attempting to manipulate Gojo into going to a comic convention.
Maki voiced strong opposition, wanting to go back and train.
They were bickering and laughing, a picture of carefree students.
Just as they were about to leave, they heard a server’s voice from outside.
“I am very sorry, but Kagurazaka is fully booked today.
Please return another day.” Two female voices answered.
“Nanako, what do we do?
We finally wanted teppanyaki and even convinced Lord Geto to come with us, but it’s fully booked.
Let’s just hang them all up!” “Mimiko, maybe we should find another place?
Don’t get angry over something like this.
Lord Geto is going to be with us all day today, you know.” Gojo’s face instantly shifted.
He brutally slammed the door open.
Standing before them were three figures.
One of them, a handsome man dressed in a monk’s robe with a strange bang of hair, was none other than Geto Suguru!
Mimiko and Nanako immediately spotted Gojo Satoru.
Nanako drew her rope and Mimiko raised her camera, pointing them directly at Gojo.
The quartet instantly entered a state of high alert.
Gojo’s expression was a complex storm of emotions.
He wanted to move, yet he looked utterly hesitant.
Geto Suguru spoke.
“Satoru.
Don’t move.
Otherwise, I cannot guarantee the safety of your precious students.”