"Hm?"
Gakuganji didn't flinch at all. He planted his cane on the ground and stayed where he was. After a cold snort, he stared Choso down, eye to eye.
But Choso's furious look actually made the old man relax a little.
Getting angry over how people addressed his little brother meant he already had human emotions. If anything, he felt them even more strongly than most.
From that alone, letting Sukuna's vessel keep an eye on them probably wouldn't be a big problem.
Of course, that was only if Sukuna didn't go crazy.
"Tell those old fossils in the higher-ups that I'm not asking for their opinion. I'm ordering them to get it done. Figuring out how to do it right is what they should be doing. If anyone has complaints, they're welcome to come find me anytime. Perfect timing. We can settle old and new scores together."
Right then, Mukuro raised a finger toward Gakuganji, smiling as he corrected his wording.
He didn't care what those old antiques thought. Just like when he went to the Tomb of the Star Corridor and took the Death Paintings, he only gave Tengen a quick heads-up. He never bothered informing the so-called higher-ups in advance.
To him, whether Kenjaku existed or not, it was only a matter of time before curses became common knowledge. So he didn't see anything wrong with letting Kechizu appear in public sooner.
It was about time those "monkeys" learned what kind of people had created the peaceful world they lived in.
Soon, Sukuna's revival, and his complete destruction, would become the new line that divided the era.
"..."
Gakuganji fell silent.
He now was starting to regret spending a fortune to bring Mukuro to Kyoto Jujutsu High as an honorary teacher.
Normally, the guy could be reasoned with. But once he decided on something, even ten stubborn mules couldn't drag him back.
Why had he complained before about how Mukuro never got involved in things?
"I'll report your opinion to them exactly as it is."
There was no way he's going to repeat those words word for word. If special grade sorcerers truly turned against the jujutsu world, the damage would be far worse than the instability caused by a few Death Paintings.
Still, using a tiny excuse as a weapon like this was something Gakuganji didn't mind doing at all.
It was for the stability of human society. Besides, the people who had to worry wouldn't be him.
He was just the messenger.
"Since everything has been settled, let's give the time back to the young ones."
Masamichi, who had stayed silent this whole time, finally spoke and brought the Death Painting matter to a close.
"That's great, big brother! We can live as humans now!"
Hearing that, Kechizu, who had been nervous all along, beamed like an overgrown kid. He waved his arms around and threw himself into Choso's arms without thinking.
He didn't really understand human rules. He only knew he might cause trouble for his brothers, and for his little brother too.
Now that he had a clear answer, and someone backing them up, he finally dared to laugh out loud.
'They're just people, aren't they?' Yuji watched them, his eyes softening.
"That's it for now. You guys talk. Get to know each other better as teammates."
Everything was handled, and Mukuro didn't plan on staying the night at the school. After all, he still had his own apartment outside.
"What a cold-hearted man you are! You dump everything on Gojo-sensei's adorable students, then try to sneak away like nothing happened."
The white-haired man had acted serious all day, but he finally couldn't hold back anymore. Right in front of all the students, he slipped back into his usual ridiculous act.
"Please act like a human."
Mukuro pressed a hand to his forehead and complained.
"Pfft!"
Utahime stood in a corner. Even though she covered her face, she still couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"Why does this feel kind of familiar..." Megumi frowned and muttered.
* * *
"Achoo!"
Somewhere else, Suguru, still traveling with his two "daughters" and enjoying the scenery, suddenly sneezed for no reason.
"That's so strange. Can even someone as strong as Master Geto catch a cold?"
Behind him, Mimiko, with her long black hair draped over her shoulders, looked surprised. In all these years, she had never seen him get sick.
"Mimiko, you're so dumb. Master Geto is a special grade sorcerer. How could he catch a cold? It has to be Satoru Gojo or Master Fushiguro thinking about him! Or maybe Haibara-san!"
On the other side, Nanako, with her ponytail, rejected the idea instantly and tossed out her own theory.
"Who knows?"
The bangs on Suguru's forehead fluttered in the wind as he smiled at the two lively girls beside him.
Maybe it was about time he went back...
* * *
Meanwhile, somewhere hidden in Tokyo.
"Even counting me, we only have five special-grade-level fighters. They have five special grade sorcerers. No matter how you look at it, we lose."
Kenjaku, the mastermind behind countless tragedies, was playing cards with three disaster-class curses. He calmly explained as he drew his cards.
"Special grade sorcerers... they can't all be as strong as Satoru Gojo, right?"
Jogo said it, but he didn't sound confident. He had personally experienced how terrifying that man was.
"Not quite. And based on what we know, three of their special grade sorcerers stay overseas most of the time. We only need to focus on the two in Japan."
Kenjaku raised two fingers.
"Then should we kill the other one?"
Jogo's interest flared instantly. If they could kill him, it would be payback for what Satoru did back then.
"I don't mind. But that guy might be even stronger than Satoru Gojo."
Kenjaku's eyes filled with an old memory.
Heavenly Restriction was just a cover story. Between the memories in this body and the tests Kenjaku had done again and again, it was clear that man hadn't shown everything he had.
Mukuro Fushiguro was a monster wearing the skin of a Heavenly Restriction.
"What? Are you joking?! You're the one who said you could revive Sukuna and bring a world for curses. That's why we're working with you!"
Jogo's volcano head looked like it was about to erupt. Heat poured from his ears as the temperature around them shot up.
If there were two sorcerers on Satoru Gojo's level, how were they supposed to win?
"That's why a direct fight is impossible. Only Sukuna can deal with someone like that."
Kenjaku looked back at the cards in his hands, as if he already had a plan.
"Our job is only to prepare for Sukuna's return."
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