This is the same chapter as the last one, but in this one he becomes Special Grade 1 (Grade 1 but clan affiliated) rather then Special Grade.
"He has been healed, I'll move on to the next one" That voice sounded in my ears. It was the voice of a teenage girl, when I opened my eyes I saw who it was.
A teenage girl with brown hair and a bob-cut hair style. With her mentioning that she is the one who healed me, there is only one possible identity.
Shoko Ieiri.
Why was she here though? She should be a first year at Jujutsu High alongside Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto.
*Are you finally up, Futago?* Tomogui's voice sounded in my head.
*Finally? How long have I been unconscious?*
*It's been three days. After what is now being referred to as 'The Kuroda Calamity', the Kamo clan had to make a request of Jujutsu High to send Shoko Ieiri out. Given she is the only person who has achieved RCT, she was sent to heal all the injured people from this calamity.*
*All? I'm the only one who fought him, how did anyone else even manage to get injured. Also how did they even know it was Kuroda who caused all this.*
*Apparently, Kuroda ran into Daichi slightly before it ran into you, and he spoke a lot about destroying the Kamo clan, thankfully it didn't seem to mention us and what we did to it*
*As for how the others got injured, well… while you were fighting Kuroda, the Kamo clan prepared their elite private army to join in and exorcise the cursed spirit. I joined this group intending to use them as human shields if necessary.*
*We only managed to get within 100 meters of the cursed spirit before he unleashed that massive shockwave. 40% of the Kamo clan's elite army was severely injured and 25% of them became casualties that day. After the second shockwave, we went and collected your body* Tomogui mentioned the terrifying aftermath of this event with ease.
*That's a lot of damage, what is the clan thinking of now? With that level of damage, they might not be able to protect their position as one of the Big Three clans.*
*Well the Kamo Clan seems to be scrambling to put together a new force. They have been evaluating sorcerers still within the training camp, and all sorcerers who have become 10 years old. They also gave me an evaluation as a Special Grade 1 sorcerer.*
Normally clan sorcerers are evaluated after they completed the clan training, or when they become 15 years old.
*So what grade am I being evaluated as then*
*You will probably get a Special Grade 1 evaluation as well, they need people at our level to complete missions now. Our training has been put off, the elder that was meant to train us is going to be doing missions with us for a while. Then after we gained some experience under him, we will join or create a team to complete missions.*
*That's good, missions let us leave the Kamo estate, and if I do get special grade 1, it will come with a high status.*
In the modern era grade 1 level sorcerers are rare and considered top of the notch, second only to the 3 special grades.
Interrupting my internal conversation with Tomogui, a clan elder came over once Shoko declared me as healed.
"Futago-san, we are relieved to see that you are well. The injuries you sustained from that menace Kuroda were truly concerning we didn't think you would wake up. Are you feeling well? Are there any lingering injuries?" it was the same clan elder that was responsible for our training, he seemed a lot more down to earth and kind now.
"No, my body feels fine" I responded while getting up, stretching myself a little bit.
'Reverse cursed technique really is splendid, all the damage to my ribs, even my shattered arm got healed up perfectly'
"Truly remarkable. You dealt splendidly with that monster, Kuroda. To think he would target our clan, and try to attack our youth how deplorable, thankfully you were there to deal with him"
"...Thanks I guess" He is way too ingratiating, is he scared of me? I guess it makes sense, Kuroda had the power to wipe out the Kamo clan at this point, and I took him on alone.
"We have amazing news for you as well. As a result of our advocating, and your performance against Kuroda the special grade curse. We were allowed to push your sorcerer evaluation ahead of schedule." The elder continued before dropping a bombshell.
"As of today… you have been recognized as the sixth Special Grade 1 sorcerer of the Kamo clan."
"Really! Wow that's amazing" Even though Tomogui did alert me of the possibility I should still act surprised.
"Yes, the clan advocated for this a lot, however… as a special grade 1 sorcerer, you will have certain responsibilities."
"..." My heart began to sink slightly
'Now that I think about it, the whole reason behind them pushing for me to become a special grade 1 was because their private army got wiped. I don't mind joining the Kamo clan private army but if they make me start doing missions—' Interrupting my thoughts the elder confirmed my fears. (The fear of having a Job)
"As members of the Kamo clan, we bear the responsibility of exorcising curses and fulfilling the fundamental duties expected of jujutsu sorcerers. However, given the clan's current circumstances, the execution of these obligations has become… less efficient than it once was."
"That's where you and the new recruits come in, we need an elite group of sorcerers to start completing missions of higher grades. You, and your brother are the new special grade 1 sorcerers, Daichi was evaluated as a Semi-Grade 1 sorcerer."
"So what am I supposed to do?" I asked.
"You will be doing actual exorcisms with the same elder that trained you for the next 2 weeks. Then you will either join a party to complete missions with or create your own party" This is really looking like a sweeter deal with each mention. I wonder if a party could just be me and Tomogui, that way we can start trying some experiments with the Holy Ichor.
"I accept, but can I take a few days off. I need to do a few things before I start fighting curses again"
"Yes, that's fine. It's only natural that you will need some time to destress after an encounter like that"
"If that's all, I will be leaving. The group that you will be undergoing exorcisms meet everyday at 10:00am at the same place where you did training." Without any other words the elder began walking out of the room.
"Well I guess my days as a leech are over huh."
Kamo Elder Meeting:
The sliding doors closed behind Kamo Toshitsune.
The council chamber was already occupied.
Kamo Masayori sat at the center of the low table, posture immaculate, hands resting within his sleeves.
To his right sat Kamo Norihide, rigid as ever.
At the far end of the chamber, the oldest among them, Kamo Harunobu, remained silent, eyes half-lidded.
Moments later, Kamo Seizan entered carrying several bound scrolls.
Toshitsune bowed.
"He has accepted."
A quiet stillness settled over the room.
Masayori nodded once.
"Good."
Outside the estate walls, reconstruction continued. Entire sections of forest had been flattened. Barriers were being re-established. Funerals had not yet concluded.
Forty percent severely injured.
Twenty-five percent died.
Losses that could not be ignored.
Norihide spoke first.
"Our operational capacity has been reduced."
Masayori's gaze remained steady.
"And yet we remain one of the Three Great Clans."
The statement was deliberate.
Seizan unrolled one of the scrolls before him.
"Even if we push the newer generation to start missions earlier, it will take time for them to properly take the place of their predecessors."
The problem that we all were aware of was promptly brought up.
"Our situation is bad, but all we have to do is persevere for a while." Norihide said.
"What will perseverance do in this situation? In time other clans like the Inumaki will want to usurp our spot."
Toshitsune folded his arms.
"As long as Futago grows up he will be a pillar, he has the potential to reach Special Grade if he can achieve Reverse Cursed Technique. Maybe his battle against Kuroda would help him achieve greater heights."
At the mention of the name, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
Seizan's hand paused over the scroll.
"That cursed spirit… Kuroda."
Norihide frowned.
"A problem that should have never existed."
Masayori's gaze remained steady.
"When he was still human, we treated him like a minor issue."
Harunobu's dry voice broke the silence.
"And so we outsourced it."
No one spoke for a moment.
Toshitsune sighed quietly.
"Toji Zenin."
Norihide's expression hardened.
"We relied on a man with no cursed energy to eliminate a sorcerer."
Seizan nodded slightly.
"And he did eliminate him."
A pause followed.
"But not properly."
Harunobu's eyes opened a fraction.
"A sorcerer killed without cursed energy… resentment does not disperse."
Masayori finished the thought calmly.
"It festers."
Silence settled over the chamber.
Everyone present understood the implication.
Kuroda was a byproduct of Toji Fushiguro. Killing a sorcerer without cursed energy, combined with Kuroda's already vengeful nature caused his resurrection as a vengeful spirit.
If only they knew about the third factor involved in Kuroda's transformation.
Norihide spoke again.
"If one of our own had handled the execution, this matter would have ended there."
Toshitsune nodded.
"A proper exorcism would have erased him completely."
Masayori closed the scroll. The Zenin clan have decided to send over some of their people to help us with any underlying problems.
'Help us? They don't have anyone with the Reverse cursed technique to help heal. They most likely just want to confirm what happened'
Zenin Estate – Assembly Hall
The report was brief and precise.
"A Special Grade curse manifested within the Kamo clan's training forest. The affected area measures approximately one hundred meters by one hundred meters, with an estimated depth of twenty meters." The Elder declared.
At the center sat Jinichi Zenin, posture unmoving. To his right, Naoya Zenin rested back against a wooden pillar, a devious smirk marking his otherwise perfect face. Nobuaki Zenin and Ranta Zenin listened in silence along with several other members.
"The location was their internal forest," the messenger continued. "The one used for controlled exposure training. Cursed spirits are allowed to roam there under supervision."
"The curse was confirmed as Special Grade?" Jinichi asked.
"A curse capable of causing that much damage was obviously Special Grade, Idiot" Naoya quickly responded to Jinichi.
"Yes." An elder responded to Jinichi, ignoring Naoya's degrading remark.
"And exorcised internally?" Jinichi asked, trying his best to ignore Naoya's insult
"Yes. By a Kamo sorcerer who has since been officially recognized as Special Grade 1."
"There are only sixteen registered Special Grade curses," Nobuaki said calmly. "For one to appear inside a clan-controlled zone is unusual."
"That's because it was not a regular cursed spirit. It was a vengeful cursed spirit formed from the hatred a sorcerer had towards the Kamo clan. The name of this sorcerer was Kuroda, curse user who was grade 1." The elder responded, he was very clear on the nature of the curse Kuroda.
"I remember that one, Kuroda was a sorcerer whose technique was a domain expansion, although he was weak alone, his domain was amazing as support" Jinichi responded seemingly familiar with his abilities. Perhaps they fought together in the past.
"So he was capable of domain expansion before even becoming a vengeful cursed spirit, the Kamo sorcerer must have been quite special" Naoya remarked.
Silence lingered briefly after Naoya's words.
A former Grade 1 sorcerer capable of Domain Expansion… reborn as a vengeful cursed spirit. That alone explained the scale.
But explanation did not replace verification.
Jinichi spoke first.
"A 100x100x20 meter destructive zone, we will verify that"
The elder nodded.
"Approved."
Naoya exhaled lightly through his nose.
"So we're visiting their forest."
"Yes," Jinichi replied. "Nothing more."
"Nobuaki will accompany us," the elder added.
Nobuaki inclined his head.
"It will be done."
Ranta remained seated.
"You will stay," Jinichi said calmly.
Ranta accepted without question.
The decision was simple.
A Special Grade curse had reshaped a controlled training zone within a Great Clan's territory.
The Zenin would see the scale with their own eyes.
Formal notice would be sent.
And within the week, representatives of the Zenin clan would stand at the edge of the Kamo forest. To measure the destruction for themselves.