[FLASHBACK - 8 YEARS AGO]
"Life isn't all fun and games, you know." The bearded man's voice was warm. "
Yeah, yeah, I already know that, Uncle."
Young Ren rolled his eyes with impatience.
"But tell me more about ____." The bearded man laughed.
"Ren..." The man leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Maybe when you're older, I can tell you the truth about her."
Ren's face scrunched up in confusion.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
The man stood, stretching his arms above his head with a satisfied groan. "Don't worry about it." He ruffled Ren's hair . "Come on. Your dad's waiting."
Ren hopped down from the chair, still frowning.
"But Uncle—"
"When you're older, Ren."
The man's smile was sad in a way the young boy didn't understand yet.
"When you're older."
[PRESENT DAY]
"Gojo Kazuki. Kagami Ren's refusal to enroll at Tokyo Jujutsu High means we are no longer able to protect him from the Kagami Clan."
The voice came from the shadows of the administrative office. One of the higher-ups.
Kazuki stood in the center of the room, hands in his pockets.
"You are aware of that, correct?"
"Yes," Kazuki replied. "I understand that."
He paused.
"But if he refuses to enroll, then he refuses." Kazuki's tone didn't waver. "That is his choice, is it not?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Go find Itadori-kun," the voice continued. "Tell him to assist you in eliminating Kagami Ren."
"Eliminate," Kazuki repeated .
"Yes." The higher-up leaned forward slightly. "I'm aware that Itadori Yuji is... acquainted with you. A good friend, even, given your status as a descendant of Satoru Gojo."
The implication was clear.
Use that friendship. Make him complicit.
Kazuki said nothing for a long moment.
Then, slowly, he smiled.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you'll be removed from your teaching position at Tokyo Jujutsu High," the higher-up said. "And the Gojo Clan's protection of Kagami Ren will be considered... rescinded."
Kazuki's smile widened.
"I see."
He turned to leave.
"Gojo Kazuki."
He stopped at the door, hand on the frame.
"Do not disappoint us."
Kazuki didn't turn around.
"I rarely do."
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Eliminate Ren.
They want him dead before he becomes too dangerous. Before he actually declares war on the Kagami Clan and disrupts the entire balance of the Three Great Families.
Kazuki stopped walking for a moment
"Idiots."
He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts.
ITADORI YUJI
His thumb hovered over the call button.
They want me to bring Yuji into this…
Kazuki stared at the name for a long moment.
Then he put the phone away.
"Sorry, old man," he muttered to no one. "But I think I'm going to disappoint you after all."
"How is he?"
Kazuki pushed open the door to the staff room, a small, clinical space that had been repurposed as a temporary medical ward.
Yumi sat in a chair beside the bed where Ren lay, her pink hair falling over her shoulders. Her hand was bandaged where she'd caught Ken's blade, but otherwise she looked unharmed.
She looked up as Kazuki entered.
"He's awake now."
Ren was propped up against pillows, one hand pressed to his side where the assassin had stabbed him. His face was pale…
"Ken..."
Ren's voice was hoarse. He gripped his head with his free hand.
"Is he... is he really dead?"
Kazuki closed the door behind him, leaning against it with his arms crossed.
"Yes."
Ren's face twisted
Grief.
It was strange, seeing it there. He hadn't shown this when his siblings died. Hadn't mourned Katsu, Daiki, or Hana. Those deaths had been survival, self-defense, necessary.
But Ken...
"Ren..."
Yumi reached out, cupping his face gently in both hands. Her bandaged palm pressed against his cheek.
"It's over now. Okay?" Her voice was soft. "Don't worry. I'll protect you from those assassins. You don't have to worry anymore."
Ren looked at her
"Yeah..."
He pulled away slightly, turning his attention to Kazuki.
"Hey. Kazuki."
"Hm?"
"What now?"
Kazuki was quiet for a moment.
Then he straightened.
"Well, since you've refused to enroll at the school..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "The only thing I can recommend is that you prepare for the upcoming battle."
Ren's brow furrowed. "Battle? Against the Kagami Clan?"
"There's that, yes." Kazuki's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "But there's another one we've been preparing for. A war between jujutsu sorcerers from all over the world."
Yumi's eyes widened. "W-what? But aren't sorcerers overseas extremely uncommon?"
"That should be the case," Kazuki agreed. "But there's been a concerning rise in the number of sorcerers being discovered outside Japan. And not just a few hundreds. Maybe thousands."
"Not only that, but sorcerers as a whole are getting more exposure. Public exposure. Videos online. Witnesses. The veil between the jujutsu world and normal society is getting thinner."
Ren sat up straighter despite the pain in his side.
"So what does this have to do with a war?"
"A man named Lucas Pilman. An American Billionaire and a sorcerer."
He pulled out his phone, tapping the screen a few times before turning it to show them.
On the display was a promotional poster.
THE INTERNATIONAL JUJUTSU EXHIBITION TOKYO, JAPAN HOSTED BY LUCAS PILMAN
Beneath the title were flags from countries around the world: USA, UK, France, China, India, Brazil, and more.
"He's hosting an international event here in Japan," Kazuki continued. "Inviting sorcerers from every country to compete. The stated goal is to see which nation has the strongest sorcerers."
Yumi stared at the poster in disbelief. "That's... insane. The higher-ups would never allow—"
"They can't stop it." Kazuki's voice was grim. "Pilman has too much influence. Too much money. Too many connections. He's already made it public, normal people know about it now. If the higher-ups try to shut it down, it'll cause an international incident."
Ren's jaw tightened. "What's the prize?"
Kazuki met his gaze.
"A Special Grade cursed object. One that's never been catalogued. Pilman claims it can grant the wielder's deepest desire."
A Special Grade object that can grant wishes.
If I win...
"You're thinking about entering," Kazuki said flatly.
"If I win, I could use it to—"
"To destroy the Kagami Clan?" Kazuki finished. "Maybe… Or maybe it's a trap. Maybe Pilman is lying. Maybe the object doesn't exist."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Or maybe it does exist, and every power-hungry sorcerer in the world is going to fight to the death for it."
Yumi's grip on Ren's hand tightened.
"Ren, you just barely survived. You can't seriously be thinking—"
"I am."
He looked down at his hands, still shaking slightly from exhaustion.
"If there's even a chance I can use that object to end this... to make sure the Kagami Clan can never hurt you or anyone else again..."
He looked up, meeting Kazuki's blindfolded gaze.
"Then I'm taking it."
Kazuki stared at him for a long moment.
"I know a few people who are interested in taking part."
Kazuki's hand rested on the door handle, but he didn't turn it yet.
"Well, I should say they're making sure nothing bad happens during the exhibition." His tone was carefully neutral. "They sent me an invitation to join their team, but I haven't given them a definite answer yet."
Ren's head lifted slightly.
"Then... are you going to go?"
Kazuki was quiet for a moment.
"Ren... I..."
He stopped himself.
"If you're sure about this—"
"Yes." Ren's voice was firm. "I am. Trust me, I'll win."
His signature smirk returned.
"After all... it's me."
Kazuki let out a short breath.
"Don't be too cocky." He pushed the door open halfway. "I heard Yuta Okkotsu, Itadori Yuji, and Maki Okkotsu are also part of that team."
He paused in the doorway.
"You think you'll be stronger than them?"
Ren's smirk wavered for just a second.
Then he rallied, sitting up straighter.
"Well, what about you, huh?!"
Kazuki stopped.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Well..." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "If they were all fighting together, they might steal some of my opponents and cause me to sweat a bit."
Ren stared at him.
"So...Will you lose?"
Kazuki's smile widened.
He looked back over his shoulder one last time.
"Nah."
He stepped through the doorway.
"I'd win."
The door closed behind him.