"No need to wait, he's already awake."
Toji held Megumi in his arms and said seriously.
Hearing his words, Yuto and Jogo both froze in place.
A moment later, their bodies began to tremble slightly.
"He… when did he wake up? Is he in the inner room right now?" Jogo's voice quivered—not from fear, but from sheer excitement.
Yuto swallowed nervously, eyes shining as he stared at Toji.
Seeing their reactions, Toji shook his head and replied with a helpless smile.
"I don't know when exactly he woke up. Satoru called me. He didn't return to the Yorozuya. Seems the first thing he did after waking up was head straight to Jujutsu High."
Yuto and Jogo exchanged glances, then spoke at the same time.
"Jujutsu High?"
"Why would he go to a place like that?"
Given Satoshi's position in the Gojo clan, there was no need for him to enroll in Jujutsu High.
If he wanted, he could take over the Gojo family immediately and stand as its current head.
But then again, no one had ever been able to predict what Satoshi was thinking, so they simply let it be.
Toji looked at his companions and smiled.
"Anyway, I'm not sure why he's there, but not only did he enroll, he picked the S-rank entrance mission."
"And interestingly enough, the mission is to retrieve one of Sukuna's fingers."
Each word hit them like a hammer.
"Special Grade Cursed Object… Ryomen Sukuna's finger?!"
Yuto's eyes widened with shock. "As expected. That's so like him!"
Beside him, Jogo's pupils quivered violently.
He was thrilled.
As a cursed spirit, he understood the weight behind Sukuna's fingers. Any ordinary cursed spirit that consumed one would evolve into a special-grade threat.
Retrieving one of them meant fighting a special-grade cursed spirit.
Jogo's heart leapt.
"So I can finally, finally see Boss fight again!"
"Maybe this time I'll see the Zanpakutō in action!"
That overwhelming inferno. That elegant, unshakable presence in battle.
Jogo could barely contain himself.
Toji laughed. "Jogo, Yuto, the entire recovery mission will be broadcast live tomorrow. So let's take a rare day off and enjoy the show."
"Let's see how much the Zanpakutō that once shook the Jujutsu world has grown after nine years of sleep."
…
While the Yorozuya was abuzz with excitement…
A similar atmosphere filled the Gojo clan's council chamber.
Kumaen sat calmly at the head seat, a cup of tea in hand and a serious glint in his eye.
A subordinate leaned over to whisper something in his ear.
Kumaen sighed and fell silent.
No one could guess what he was thinking.
After a long pause, he said coldly to the man beside him,
"The Zenin and Kamo families have been unusually active lately."
"After Satoshi fell asleep, and the Zanpakutō's influence faded, they've grown bolder."
"Seems like certain people are finally about to show their ambitions."
But thinking of Satoshi made him frown slightly. "It's been nine years. Still no word from Satoshi…"
Although he'd been under Lord Tengen's protection, and the Gojo clan had periodically checked in, nothing had changed.
Still, it would be a lie to say he wasn't worried.
Even so, as acting leader, these thoughts couldn't sway him. He dismissed the sorcerer and rose to leave.
Maybe I should visit Jujutsu High and watch Satoru's entrance exam. And meet Satoshi in person.
He hadn't taken a step before Gojo Shunichi burst in, eyes gleaming with urgency.
Kumaen didn't sit back down. He frowned and asked, "Shunichi, what's got you in such a rush?"
Is the Zenin or Kamo clan up to something again?
Shunichi was often involved with those two houses on expansion matters.
But Shunichi quickly shook his head.
"No, this is good news!"
Kumaen blinked, realizing today was the start of Satoru's school term.
He asked uncertainly, "So… Satoru was accepted into Jujutsu High?"
That doesn't count as great news.
Shunichi quickly clarified, "Not yet. Satoru takes his entrance exam tomorrow."
Kumaen sat down again with a sigh, a little annoyed. "Then what kind of happy news is this?"
"In the Gojo clan right now, the only good news that would matter… would be Satoshi waking up."
Shunichi's eyes lit up. "Exactly. Satoshi has awakened."
"Our clan can finally move forward again. We won't have to worry about the other two families anymore."
The teacup in Kumaen's hand trembled.
He shot to his feet, voice trembling.
"You're serious? He's awake?! From the Tombs of the Star?!"
Shunichi nodded solemnly. "Yes. Would I joke about something like that?"
Kumaen was visibly shaken.
"What happened?! Tell me everything!"
Shunichi shared all the details he had received.
Kumaen's hands were shaking.
"Good. Good! Good! Satoshi has finally awakened!"
He was so overwhelmed, he said "good" three times.
But after his joy subsided, his brows furrowed again.
"But… if he's awake, why enroll in Jujutsu High?"
"And why choose the S-rank entrance mission—the one no one's ever completed?"
"That's far too dangerous!"
"Shunichi, should we just bring him back and install him as the Gojo family's agent?"
Shunichi hesitated for a moment.
"Acting head… I believe Young Master Satoshi has his own reasons for being at the school."
Kumaen paced in frustration.
"I don't want to stop him from attending…"
"But he just woke up. We have no idea how strong he currently is. And dealing with Sukuna's fingers is no trivial task!"
(To be continued.)
***
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