Time flies.
Several months had passed since Yamada destroyed the Star Religious Group and single-handedly forced the Jujutsu Headquarters to scrap the Star Plasma Vessel assimilation plan.
The luxurious villa in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, had become Yamada's permanent base in this world.
Toji had also adapted to his new identity as a bodyguard and intelligence chief.
With a black card that had an unlimited limit, he not only kicked his Pachinko habit but even went to school to see Megumi a few times, which was unprecedented for him.
Of course, this was also permitted by Yamada.
A Heavenly Restriction user with attachments and a bottom line was far more useful than a gambler who could go berserk at any moment.
One evening.
Inside the villa's underground training room.
Toji was shirtless, sweat sliding down his muscles.
Holding the Inverted Spear of Heaven, he was engaged in high-intensity physical combat with several Grade 2 Cursed Spirits he had captured.
Though he lacked Cursed Energy, under the repeated baptism of Yang Release Chakra, his physical strength even showed signs of breaking through its original limits.
Bang!
With a dull explosion, the head of the last Cursed Spirit was smashed to pieces by his fist.
Toji wiped the sweat from his face, grabbed a towel hanging nearby, and walked toward Yamada, who was sitting on a sofa in the rest area.
"Boss, over the past few months, I've turned Kong Shiu's intelligence network upside down. I even put out a massive bounty for clues in the underground black market."
Toji sat down and gulped a large mouthful of ice water, his tone somewhat frustrated. "That guy with the stitches on their forehead you asked me to find... it's like they vanished into thin air. Not a single person in the Curse User circles across the country has seen someone like that."
Yamada leaned against the back of the sofa, his fingertips rhythmically tapping the armrest. He wasn't surprised to hear this report.
Kenjaku, that Curse User who had lived for over a thousand years, was best at swapping identities and biding his time.
After the Star Plasma Vessel incident spiraled out of control and he witnessed Yamada's logic-defying spatial abilities, that old fox had definitely chosen the safest course of action: hiding away.
He might have even discarded his previous body with the stitches and taken on a more discreet identity, lying low among the masses.
As long as he didn't take the initiative to cause trouble, trying to pick him out from tens of millions of people was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.
"Stop. No need to keep searching."
Yamada stood up and waved his hand. "That guy is like a tortoise. As long as he feels the timing isn't right, you won't find him even if you flip Japan upside down."
Toji frowned. "So we just wait?"
"We wait. Lifespan is something I have plenty of. Since he wants to wait it out, let's see who runs out of patience first." A deep look flashed in Yamada's eyes.
Kenjaku's ultimate goal was to bring about the Culling Game and complete the evolution of humanity by assimilating them with Tengen.
This was a long-cherished wish he had plotted for a millennium.
As long as this goal remained unchanged, he would eventually be unable to restrain himself and reach out those stitched hands again.
For example, to plot for the Prison Realm, to scheme against Suguru who possessed Cursed Spirit Manipulation, or... to wait for the birth of the vessel named Itadori Yuji.
"For the coming days, eat and drink as you please. If you see a Cursed Spirit you don't like, go ahead and give it a couple of slashes."
Yamada turned toward the stairs leading to the first floor. "Isn't your son about to start elementary school? Spend more time with him when you're free, so he doesn't grow up to be an annoying delinquent like you."
Hearing his boss mention his son, Toji scratched his head in a moment of awkwardness, a faint smile flashing across his face.
...
Upstairs, in the living room.
Yamada had just come up from the basement when he noticed a series of urgent doorbell rings coming from the villa's entrance.
Along with it came a massive Cursed Energy that even when deliberately restrained, was still as dazzling as the sun.
It went without saying who was at the door.
With a slight thought from Yamada, the door automatically unlocked and swung open.
"Yo! Old man, long time no see." A tall figure strode inside.
Satoru was still wearing the dark Jujutsu High uniform, but his entire aura held a heart-stopping composure and profundity compared to a few months ago on the beaches of Okinawa.
Since he had grasped Reverse Cursed Technique at death's door and could maintain Infinity twenty-four hours a day, he had truly stepped over the threshold of being 'the strongest.'
"I told you, I'm only twenty this year. Isn't 'old man' a bit too natural for you?"
Yamada sat on the sofa and pointed to the seat opposite him.
Satoru didn't stand on ceremony, sitting down casually and grabbing an apple from the coffee table to munch on.
"It's just a title, don't sweat the details. You've really given those old geezers at the top quite a scare these past few months."
Gojo chewed the apple and said indistinctly, "Now, as soon as they hear your name, it's like they've seen a ghost. Because of that, the treatment for Suguru and me at school has improved quite a bit. All those disgusting, high-risk mandatory missions have been canceled."
"So you came here today specifically to thank me?" Yamada poured himself a glass of water.
"Not exactly. I'm here to deliver an invitation." Satoru pulled a pink envelope from his pocket and tossed it onto the coffee table.
"Amanai is starting high school next week. She and Kuroi have been wanting to thank you in person, so they're planning to treat you to dinner at a restaurant in Shinjuku. They asked me to drop by and deliver the message."
Hearing Riko's name, Yamada nodded.
Without the shackles of her fate as the Star Plasma Vessel, that fourteen-year-old girl could finally live a normal life.
"Got it. Send me the time and location once they're set."
After delivering the message, Satoru didn't leave immediately. He leaned back against the sofa with his hands behind his head, his Six Eyes behind the sunglasses seemingly observing Yamada.
"Speaking of which... Old man, are you really not considering becoming a teacher at Jujutsu High or something?"
Satoru suddenly made a suggestion. "With your strength, Yaga-sensei would definitely welcome you with open arms. It's so boring staying in this big mansion all day."
Yamada refused flatly, "I have no interest in being a babysitter for a bunch of brats."
"Don't be so quick to refuse."
Satoru sat up straight, dropping his playful demeanor. "The Jujutsu World hasn't been peaceful lately. Even though the Star Religious Group is gone, the frequency of Special Grade Cursed Spirits appearing across various regions is increasing. I can vaguely feel an undercurrent surging beneath the surface."
He recalled some bizarre phenomena he had encountered during missions recently, his brow furrowing slightly.
The movement patterns of those Cursed Spirits seemed more organized than before.
"That's something for you Jujutsu Sorcerers to worry about. If you run into something you can't handle, then come back and ask me for help."
Yamada naturally knew what that undercurrent was.
Although Kenjaku was hiding, the Special Grade Cursed Spirits under him—calamities like Jogo, Hanami, and Mahito—were all secretly accumulating strength.
But he had no intention of clearing out these experience points ahead of time.
If all the small fry were cleared out early, how would the future show go on?
"Fine, since you're unwilling, I won't force you." Satoru stood up and stretched.
"I should head back. I don't know what's on Suguru's mind lately, he's always taking exorcism missions in remote areas and looking quite gloomy. I need to go talk some sense into him."
Hearing Suguru's name, Yamada's movement of drinking water paused slightly.
In the original story, the Star Plasma Vessel incident was the fuse that led to Suguru's descent into darkness.
Even though Riko had survived now, Suguru's ideology of 'fighting to protect non-sorcerers' still faced a massive test after repeatedly witnessing human ugliness.
Especially his Cursed Technique, which required him to swallow Cursed Spirits that tasted like vomit-soaked rags, tortured his spirit every moment.
"Satoru."
As Satoru reached the door, Yamada suddenly spoke up and stopped him.
"Do you think you are the strongest now?"
Satoru turned back and gave a confident grin. "Of course. Aside from an unreasonable monster like you, I don't think there's anyone else who can defeat me."
"Since you are the strongest, don't leave your comrades too far behind."
Yamada's deep gaze looked through the window toward the sunset glow on the horizon.
"Humans are creatures that, once they fall into a dead end of self-doubt, sometimes even the strongest power can't pull them back."
Satoru froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting Yamada to say such a thing.
He pulled back his smile and nodded seriously. "Don't worry. Suguru is my best friend."
***
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