"Four eyes… so you're Ryomen Sukuna?"
With a casual wave that dispersed the dust, Toji stepped forward, Inventory Curse clinging to his shoulder while the Split-Soul Katana rested against him.
After scanning the surroundings, his gaze settled on Sukuna… and on Choso lying at his feet.
That overwhelming cursed energy, along with the constant pressure of a true monster, made Sukuna impossible to ignore. As for Kenjaku, wearing the body of the Kiyomaru family head, Toji didn't even recognize him.
After all, ants he had once crushed underfoot were never worth remembering. To him, Kenjaku was just another somewhat capable curse user.
"Who are you?"
Sukuna didn't answer. Instead, he asked the question back.
This man had taken his slash head-on and remained completely unharmed. More than that, if he hadn't been standing right there, Sukuna wouldn't have even sensed his presence.
The same kind of abnormal body as Mukuro Fushiguro…
"Toji Fushiguro, the first known man to possess the ultimate Heavenly Restriction physique, Mukuro Fushiguro's older brother—"
Kenjaku began explaining, but in the very next instant, Toji vanished.
Sshhhk!
By the time Kenjaku reacted and retreated at full speed, raising the Terracotta Warrior arm to block, that arm had already been severed and sent flying.
At the same time, the tip of the Split-Soul Katana traced across his chest, pulling a ribbon of blood into the air.
'This guy… can't even be described as fast!'
For the first time since the Shibuya Incident began over two hours ago, shock appeared on Kenjaku's face.
He had kept his hooves active the entire time after the battle ended, knowing this opponent was dangerous, never lowering his guard. And yet, he still couldn't fully dodge that strike.
He didn't even have time to activate another technique.
Before he could recover, Toji twisted his body and kicked him.
Boom!
Kenjaku was blasted away, his body slamming into the outer shell of a train car.
"You're getting a bit too ahead of yourself. If I kill you, Mukuro Fushiguro's usual arrogant face might actually become interesting."
Sukuna's mocking voice came from behind.
The binding vow he made with Yuji only required him to save Choso and not harm him. It said nothing about others. That brat trusted too much that he could suppress him before he caused trouble.
Whoosh!
The only reply was the sound of the Split-Soul Katana slicing through the air.
"Dismantle."
Sukuna didn't take the attack head-on. Instead, he grabbed Choso by the collar and leapt back, flicking his hand to unleash dozens of slashes.
In such a confined space, his attacks practically covered everything.
But in Toji's eyes, those cursed slashes looked like solid blades, clear and visible. All he had to do was follow what he saw… and block every single one.
"Come on~ keep it up~ let's see how many of my Dismantles you can handle."
After setting Choso down, Sukuna kept flicking his fingers.
Countless slashes poured out like a storm, covering everything. Even Kenjaku, standing farther back, wasn't spared.
'This guy…'
Kenjaku had originally planned to assist in taking down Toji, but these indiscriminate attacks made him abandon that thought.
Thinking about it carefully, the King of Curses would never want anyone interfering in his fight.
And worse, the wounds from that blade were extremely difficult to heal, even with Reverse Cursed Technique.
The barrier had already been lifted, yet there was still no news from Kyoto. Something must have gone wrong.
If that was the case, staying in Shibuya any longer wasn't wise.
With that in mind, Kenjaku turned and leapt into the train carriage, heading toward the previous station.
'I should find somewhere to place the Spirit-Sheltering Cage…'
He reached into his robe, only to find it completely empty.
'When…?'
He retraced his memory. Was it when Choso pulled him earlier?
Not only had that move dragged him in, Choso had also used blood to wrap around the cursed object in his robe and take it away.
Only now did Kenjaku truly reassess that "failed product."
Still, after a light chuckle, he didn't turn back to retrieve it from Sukuna.
With Gojo's talent, he would break out in a few days at most. If it was gone, then so be it.
* * *
Meanwhile, back on the platform, Sukuna and Toji were still fighting.
Amid that near all-encompassing barrage of slashes, Toji instantly found the optimal path.
Using the tight space and every available foothold, he closed the distance in a blink.
Sshhhk!
Just as Sukuna tried to launch another attack, the Split-Soul Katana was faster.
Even with cursed energy reinforcing his hand, the fingers he extended were cleanly severed.
'This guy… is even faster than that one?!'
Judging purely by physical ability, Sukuna had to admit it.
This man's speed seemed even greater than Mukuro's.
"Dismantle!"
Sukuna kicked off the ground to create distance, his other hand flicking rapidly as dozens more slashes shot out.
But this time, Toji didn't block. He instead grabbed the unconscious Choso from the ground and dashed upward at full speed.
Fighting Sukuna in such a confined space was a disadvantage. Those near-omnidirectional slashes were too troublesome to deal with.
"So… it can damage the soul…"
Sukuna didn't chase. Letting him take that guy upstairs was fine, otherwise he might accidentally kill him.
He glanced at his severed fingers. The flesh twitched at the cut, and even with reverse cursed technique, recovery wasn't as simple as expected.
* * *
On the surface.
"That's… Choso? Where's Itadori?!"
Nanami and the others immediately spotted Toji rushing out from the station, carrying someone.
Megumi stepped forward anxiously, questioning his father.
"No need to worry. I'm right here."
At that moment, Sukuna casually walked out from the stairs behind them and answered in a tone almost… considerate.
"Sukuna?!"
Almost everyone present broke into a cold sweat.
The Jujutsu High sorcerers were heavily injured, and their only special grade, Suguru, was in a burnout state. How were they supposed to fight him now?
Rely on Toji alone…?
'Megumi, leave it to me.'
A voice suddenly echoed in Megumi's mind.
(Inside the Prison Realm, Mukuro originally intended to leave Dakostu for Suguru. But to be safe, he brought down his blade. The cursed spirit vanished without a trace.)
"Got it."
Megumi closed his eyes.
"A young body really is nice. You think so too, don't you, Sukuna?"
He brushed his hair back, and the shift in his presence made even unfamiliar onlookers tremble.
When he opened his eyes again, his right eye had turned blood-red, with the number "6" glowing within it.
The strongest of a thousand years ago, and the strongest of today, meet once more.
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