"Is that so?"
Yaga Masamichi stared at the intelligence report, his expression unreadable as silence settled over the room.
Gojo Shion was heavily injured.
Gojo Satoru was sealed.
Both of his students had fallen into despair, and he, their teacher, could do nothing.
The irony was suffocating.
Click.
The door creaked open as Gakuganji stepped inside. His sharp eyes locked onto Yaga, his voice cold and unyielding.
"Yaga, do you truly not know the method to create a Fully Autonomous Cursed Corpse?"
Yaga turned to face him without a word.
Despite their opposing beliefs, they had once been close. That made this moment all the more bitter.
"So the moment something happened to Shion, you came running to me?"
A faint, self-mocking smile appeared on Yaga's lips.
"To be protected by my own students... I've failed as a teacher."
"Yaga, answer me!"
Gakuganji stepped forward, his voice rising.
"I'm sorry. I don't know."
The same answer. Calm, steady, unshaken.
Normally, Gakuganji would have left in frustration. This time, he did not move.
Without warning, he grabbed Yaga by the collar.
"Yaga, this is different. You have to hand it over."
"Or they will kill you."
Yaga's expression did not change.
His thoughts drifted far away.
To a forest.
He sat beneath a towering tree, gazing at the endless stretch of green as the wind brushed gently against his face. Beside him, a small humanoid cursed corpse with a puppy's head swung its legs idly.
"This forest is protected by Master Tengen's barrier. Kobu, stay here and you'll be safe."
"What about you?"
"I have somewhere I need to go. Far away."
Kobu froze, then suddenly grabbed Yaga's hand and pulled him along.
"If you're leaving, you should say goodbye first."
He pointed proudly at himself.
"See? I'm a genius, right?"
In the next moment, figures emerged from the bushes.
Puppies, kittens, rabbits, piglets. Countless small cursed corpses gathered around Yaga, their innocent smiles bright and warm.
"Yaga!"
"Yaga!"
"Yaga!"
"YAGA!"
Gakuganji's roar shattered the memory.
"You need to understand how serious this is."
Yaga looked at him calmly.
"I'm sorry. I don't know."
Gakuganji slowly let go. His shoulders sagged, as if all his strength had left him.
"As you wish."
He turned and walked away without looking back.
...
Elsewhere, Kusakabe Atsuya stood before a prison cell, a cigarette between his fingers. He exhaled slowly, watching the large figure inside.
Panda.
When the higher-ups declared Yaga a target, Panda was immediately detained.
As the only Fully Autonomous Cursed Corpse, he was now nothing more than a backup plan. If Yaga refused to reveal the method, they would dissect Panda to uncover it themselves.
If it failed, they would only lose one sorcerer.
Kusakabe took another drag.
"Hey, can you not smoke in such a cramped place? It stinks!"
Panda complained loudly.
Kusakabe's eye twitched.
"If it bothers you, then get out."
"Are you serious? I'm literally imprisoned."
"Enough. Move back."
"Wait, what?"
Confused, Panda stepped away from the door.
Kusakabe had already drawn his blade.
"New Shadow Style: Carp Cutter."
Clang. Clang.
The cell door collapsed.
Panda blinked, stunned.
"What are you staring at? Go. Hurry."
"...Weren't you assigned to guard me?"
"So what?"
"...I'm really leaving?"
"Are you going or not?"
"I'm going, I'm going!"
Panda bolted.
Kusakabe watched him disappear, his expression complicated.
"Kid... go see your father one last time."
"This is all I can do."
...
Deep within Jujutsu High, in a quiet forest, a woman walked hand in hand with a small cursed corpse shaped like a humanoid puppy.
Kusakabe Ume smiled gently as they reached a shallow river. She lifted Kobu into her arms and carefully crossed.
"Kobu, don't touch the water. You might catch a cold."
"Mama, I won't get sick."
She tapped his head lightly.
"That's not the point. Mama has to protect you."
"Then when I grow up, I'll protect you."
Kobu puffed out his chest proudly, then his expression dimmed.
"But I can't leave this forest. Even when I grow up, I won't always be with you."
A Fully Autonomous Cursed Corpse possesses a soul, emotions, and the ability to grow by absorbing cursed energy.
Creating one could be called a miracle.
Creating two was something else entirely.
Years ago, Ume lost her child. Grief consumed her until Kusakabe asked Yaga to create Kobu using the child's remains.
Kobu became her second chance.
But to protect Yaga, and to keep that secret buried, Kobu could never leave this forest.
Ume gently stroked his head.
"It's alright. As long as you grow up safe and healthy, that's enough for me."
A low rumble echoed.
Kobu looked up.
"It's going to rain."
He quickly pulled her under a large tree.
Ume hesitated.
"Kobu, standing under a tree during rain isn't safe."
"It's fine. Master Tengen's barrier prevents lightning from striking here."
"I memorized it from the Jujutsu Knowledge Barrier section."
He grinned.
"See? I'm a genius."
...
Night fell.
Moths fluttered around a streetlight. One sizzled as it touched the heat, dropping lifeless to the ground.
Yaga Masamichi walked down the empty road, his gaze lifting slightly.
A figure stood atop the streetlight.
"You're stubborn, old man. Still refusing to reveal the method?"
Yaga said nothing. He removed his coat and took a stance.
"Let's make this quick. I'm in a hurry to see my son."
"Yaga. Your opponent is me."
Gakuganji stepped out from the shadows.
The sorcerer above sneered.
"Not an opponent. An executioner."
"Shut up."
Gakuganji's voice cut through the air.
The man clicked his tongue and fell silent.
Yaga glanced at Gakuganji. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes before disappearing.
"They sent you because you're my friend. That sounds like them."
Gakuganji's hands trembled.
"Yaga... I'll ask one last time."
"Will you hand over the method to create a Fully Autonomous Cursed Corpse?"
"If you do, I'll ensure your position as Special Grade is preserved."
"Hey, old man," the sorcerer interrupted, "orders are already out. Even if he talks now, it won't change anyt..."
"SHUT UP!"
Silence returned.
Gakuganji looked at Yaga, waiting.
Hoping.
But Yaga's answer did not change.
"I'm sorry. I don't know."
The same words.
The same calm.
The same defiance.
Gakuganji's body shook, anger and grief mixing in his eyes.
After a long pause, his voice broke.
"...Fine."
"Then die."
===
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