“Three, two, one…”
“Cheese!”
Click.
The camera flashed, freezing the figures of the four of them under the tree shadows in the setting sun.
From left to right, Fushiguro was still keeping a straight face, though the corners of his mouth were slightly curled.
Itadori was grinning carelessly, while Ryuichi had one arm draped over Itadori’s right shoulder and was giving a thumbs-up with the other.
On the far right, Kugisaki glanced sideways at the three boys, her eyes filled with disdain.
Gojo Satoru held the camera, feeling momentarily dazed.
Thirteen years ago, the group photo from his, Shoko’s, and Geto’s enrollment at Jujutsu High surfaced in his mind.
But ever since the “Star Plasma Vessel” incident, his best friend Geto Suguru had defected, and his junior, Yu Haibara, had died.
Since then, he had almost single-handedly dealt with more than half of the high-risk incidents in the Jujutsu World.
Gojo Satoru had become the lonely strongest.
“Teacher!”
“Let’s take a group photo.”
Ryuichi waved from across the way.
‘One cannot deprive young people of their youth.’
Somehow, these words surfaced in Gojo Satoru’s mind.
The corners of his mouth slowly curled into a smile.
“Coming!”
Gojo Satoru set the camera to self-timer mode, then voluntarily deactivated his Limitless, leaping into the arms of the four like a high jumper.
The group scrambled to catch him, looking just like four fishermen who had reeled in a two-meter-long fish.
“Teacher, you’re so heavy!”
“Seriously, don’t just pounce on us without warning!”
“Forget about that, get ready, we’re about to take the picture!”
“Three, two, one…”
“Cheese!”
…
“Ah… after that, Gojo-sensei disappeared again…”
Itadori boredly picked up a small stone from the ground and tossed it at the highest leaf on the tree.
“He is the’strongest’ in the Jujutsu World, after all. Since Okkotsu-senpai went on his business trip, he’s been handling most of the dangerous incidents by himself.”
Fushiguro stared blankly at the tree shadows, for once saying something nice about Gojo Satoru.
Beside him, Ryuichi glanced at his phone.
July 1st.
Gojo Satoru was traveling frequently.
Next, it would likely be an official order from Jujutsu High, sending the four first-years to handle a Special Grade Cursed Spirit incident.
The Juvenile Detention Center incident.
The Higher-Ups’ goal, naturally, was to eliminate Itadori Yuji, the Sukuna vessel who could explode at any moment.
Thinking of this, Ryuichi sneered inwardly.
These Jujutsu Higher-ups were just as brainless as the politicians in the country’s public world.
Their lives depended entirely on the will of Gojo Satoru alone.
If he killed the students Gojo Satoru was determined to protect, it was possible that Gojo would fly into a rage and wash Jujutsu High in blood.
And as for the mysterious stitched man, Kenjaku…
At this moment, he was obsessed with letting Sukuna fully “break free” and reappear in the world.
The death of Itadori Yuji or his companions could very well become the bargaining chip for Sukuna to seize control of the body.
Kenjaku had planted a Sukuna’s Finger, thereby birthing a Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
Although it lacked a Cursed Technique and intelligence, it was still capable of rivaling a Grade 1 Sorcerer and could not be underestimated.
Even with Lord Flame, which could boost him to A-rank for a short time, Ryuichi wasn’t confident he could easily take down this formidable enemy.
He still needed to acquire more points…
Beep.
Just as Ryuichi was lost in thought, Fushiguro’s phone vibrated.
“Gojo-sensei says to go to the classroom.” Fushiguro’s tone was shocked.
“Classroom… where is that?” Itadori asked, confused.
They had been at Jujutsu High for nearly a week, and they didn’t even know where the classroom was…
Ryuichi was left speechless.
“That’s not the point, is it?” Ryuichi replied.
“Are we actually going to start class?”
“Let’s head out now.”
Fushiguro said, sending a text to notify Kugisaki, and the group headed to the classroom together.
“Mr. Ijichi, why is it you?”
As they pushed open the classroom door, what they saw was the honest and dependable Assistant Supervisor, Ijichi Kiyotaka.
“Ahem, Gojo-sensei is still busy outside. He entrusted me to give you some basic knowledge and teach you Barrier Technique.” Ijichi said, feeling guilty.
“Fine…” Fushiguro’s eye twitched.
“When that guy gets back, I’m definitely going to give him a piece of my mind…”
The four sat below, listening to Ijichi’s lecture like real students.
“First, Jujutsu Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits are both divided into five grades.”
“From Grade 4 to Grade 1, and the highest, Special Grade.”
“Taking Jujutsu Sorcerers as an example, Grade 4 Sorcerers are generally newcomers who are in a learning state and lack much practical combat experience.”
“Grade 3 Sorcerers are usually students who have undergone some training, but still need to be accompanied by higher-level sorcerers to complete missions.”
“Grade 2 Sorcerers have begun to move beyond the student category and can be considered real warriors. They can handle most incidents caused by curses on their own and are the backbone of the Jujutsu World, the grade where most adult Jujutsu Sorcerers are.” Find the original chapter at novelping . com.
Itadori looked at Fushiguro: “Fushiguro, you’re actually that amazing!”
Ryuichi thought to himself: ‘Yeah, it would be even better if you hadn’t lost to that Grade 2 Cursed Spirit that night.’
Ijichi continued: “Grade 1 Sorcerers are the pillars of the Jujutsu World, basically representing the highest level that can be reached through normal channels.”
“Finally, Special Grade.”
“Their power is extremely immense, immeasurable by conventional wisdom, or they possess Cursed Techniques with extreme destructive power and growth potential. There are only four recognized Special Grade Sorcerers in modern times.”
Itadori raised his hand: “Eh, who are they?”
Fushiguro crossed his arms: “Gojo-sensei, the second-year Okkotsu-senpai, Yuki Tsukumo who operates outside of Jujutsu High, and the Curse User Geto Suguru who once defected from Jujutsu High.”
“…Okkotsu-senpai?” Kugisaki said in surprise.
“There’s a Special Grade in the second year?”
“Yes.” Fushiguro nodded.
“His total amount of Cursed Energy is quite terrifying. He’s a genuine genius and the only senior I respect from the bottom of my heart.”
Itadori exclaimed: “Eh? I really want to meet him soon.”
Ryuichi thought to himself:’Sigh…
if Okkotsu were stationed at the main branch of Jujutsu High, petty Kenjaku and the four disasters would never have been able to successfully launch the Shibuya Incident.’
‘But at this time, Okkotsu is probably still going door-to-door in Africa looking for Black Rope…’
Ijichi continued: “Next, is Cursed Spirits.”
“The grading of Cursed Spirits is based on their strength and destructive power.”
“Grade 4, basically no threat.”
“Grade 3, has some danger, ordinary Jujutsu Sorcerers can deal with them.”
“Grade 2, usually begins to develop some intelligence, requires experienced Jujutsu Sorcerers to exorcise.”
“Grade 1, extremely destructive, possesses combat power equivalent to a tank.”
“Special Grade, can survive intense missile bombardment.”
“Generally speaking, sorcerers of the same grade are stronger than Cursed Spirits, but Jujutsu High has limited manpower, so many times sorcerers have to execute missions that exceed their capabilities.”
The group already knew this information to some extent.
After Ijichi gave a brief explanation, he began to teach them how to use Barrier Technique.
“In order to reduce the impact of exorcising Cursed Spirits and eliminating curses on the general public, we use the Barrier Technique ‘Veil’ when executing missions.”
Ijichi introduced in detail: “Veil can effectively isolate the line of sight and reduce the presence within, it is the most basic Barrier Technique.”
Following Ijichi’s instructions, Ryuichi calmed his heart.
“Born of darkness, blacker than darkness.”
“Purify the impurities, exorcise them all.”
He opened his eyes, nothing happened.
Fushiguro and Kugisaki had clearly received relevant education; only Ryuichi and Itadori needed to learn.
‘There’s not enough time…’ Ryuichi thought, and the system panel opened.
Entering [Ability Points], in the blank space below the attribute panel, a [Skill Enhancement] field appeared.
Below it was only one entry:
Barrier Technique: Not Yet Initiated.