Chapter 4: Starting from the Basics
The brief tranquility of the infirmary was broken by the arrival of Teacher Yaga, which also set the temporary tone for Toho Hiroshi's situation—he was "soft-confined" at Jujutsu High, at least until he was assessed as "safe."
Over the next few days, Toho Hiroshi was assigned to a simple guest room.
His range of movement was restricted to the living area and designated training grounds, and personnel from the "Window" silently observed him from a short distance away.
He understood this was a necessary procedure; after all, for a person of unknown origin possessing unknown powerful abilities, not being immediately confined to the deepest part of the barrier was already thanks to the curiosity of Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto.
His body quickly recovered under Shoko Ieiri's Reverse Cursed Technique, but the mental exhaustion and the faint throbbing pain deep within his eyes would require more time to subside.
Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto became frequent visitors.
Satoru Gojo usually burst straight through the door with a "bang," either sprawling casually on the only chair in the room, sucking on a sickly sweet lollipop, or launching into a barrage of questions: "Hey, Dongfang, show me that black fire again! Burn this one this time!"
He might be holding an ugly-cute Cursed Corpse made by Teacher Yaga.
"Show me your eyes turning red, huh? How does that pattern appear? Is it triggered by getting angry?"
"You really don't remember anything? What about family inheritance? Did your ancestors intermarry with Jujutsu Sorcerers?"
His questions were wildly imaginative, and his desire for exploration was as vigorous as a cat discovering a new toy. His azure Rikugan / Six Eyes constantly scanned and analyzed, attempting to decipher the mystery of the Mangekyo Sharingan, but it always seemed to be separated by an impenetrable layer of fog.
Suguru Geto, on the other hand, was much calmer and more polite.
He would usually knock and only enter after being granted permission.
He primarily brought basic knowledge about the Jujutsu World: the nature of Cursed Energy, the rankings of Jujutsu Sorcerers, the formation of Cursed Spirits, the significance of Jujutsu High, and the current structure of the Jujutsu World.
"Cursed Energy originates from negative emotions. Learning to control it is the foundation of becoming a Jujutsu Sorcerer."
Suguru Geto patiently explained, "Your black flame, in essence, should also be an extreme conversion and application of Cursed Energy, only its form and rules are completely different from the Cursed Techniques we know."
Toho Hiroshi listened intently, diligently matching and merging this information with the memory fragments from Jujutsu Kaisen in his mind.
He was like a dry sponge, desperately absorbing everything about this unfamiliar world.
Shoko Ieiri would occasionally come over, ostensibly to re-examine his physical condition, especially his eyes.
"The effectiveness of my Reverse Cursed Technique in repairing the microscopic damage to your eyes seems mediocre."
Shoko, smoking a cigarette, pointed out in a calm tone, "They seem more like an 'inherent' state rather than a 'trauma.' The burden caused by overuse is very real; next time you faint, you might not be so lucky as to be found."
Her words always carried a sense of languid frankness that came from seeing through life and death, yet they also held a subtle, hidden warning.
The process of mastering Cursed Energy control and the Sharingan was far more difficult and bizarre than Toho Hiroshi had imagined.
Under the supervision of Teacher Yaga and the guidance of Suguru Geto, he began the most basic training in Cursed Energy perception and refinement.
However, problems quickly arose.
The Jujutsu Sorcerers of this world draw the core of their Cursed Energy from negative emotions.
Fear, anger, and hatred—these are the fuel that ignites Cursed Energy and drives Cursed Techniques.
But Toho Hiroshi discovered that his "Cursed Energy" seemed somewhat different.
It was more restrained and profound, originating not from external negative emotions, but from his own spiritual power, especially something deeper intrinsically linked to those eyes.
The Sharingan itself is the Eye that Reflects the Heart, and its power is closely tied to intense emotions, but these emotions are more complex and internalized.
He tried to perceive and refine Cursed Energy using the methods Suguru Geto taught, but the process was stumbling.
He was slow to learn ordinary Cursed Energy manipulation, even appearing clumsy, which often drew merciless mockery from Satoru Gojo watching nearby: "Wow, Geto, your teaching skills are terrible! Look, he's making the Cursed Energy look like a pile of sludge!"
But whenever Toho Hiroshi subconsciously tried to communicate with those eyes, a cold, heavy energy, yet one containing terrifying power, would quietly flow.
The quality of this "Cursed Energy" was extremely high, but it was also exceptionally difficult to control and placed a significant burden on his mind.
Regarding the Sharingan, its activation and deactivation were initially completely uncontrollable.
Sometimes it would manifest spontaneously when his emotions fluctuated violently, and sometimes it was passively triggered by Satoru Gojo's sudden pranks or tests.
The first time he consciously attempted to activate the Sharingan was late one night.
Toho Hiroshi concentrated all his spirit, recalling the fear and despair he felt when facing the Cursed Spirit, and the burning heat that erupted from the depths of his soul.
Intense pain struck again; although less fierce than the first time, it still forced a muffled groan from him.
The world in his vision suddenly became clear and slow, and the trajectory of a small bug crawling in the corner was easily captured by him.
Against the crimson background, the pitch-black six-pointed star pattern slowly rotated, exuding an eerie beauty.
"I succeeded."
He covered his slightly stinging eyes, feeling little joy, only the thrill of dancing with a dangerous power.
Satoru Gojo was particularly interested in "Amaterasu," urging him several times to try it again, but Toho Hiroshi strictly refused.
The feeling of emptiness caused by the all-consuming black flames and the pain of his eyes nearly burning out were fresh in his memory. He dared not easily use this trump card, especially at this stage when he had no control over it.
"Stingy guy!"
Satoru Gojo mumbled, but a flicker of understanding passed through the depths of his Six Eyes.
He could tell that the power placed an immense burden on Toho Hiroshi and was not a move that could be used casually.
As time passed, Toho Hiroshi's interactions with the three also gradually became more natural.
His relationship with Satoru Gojo was somewhat like "an unlucky toy and a playful owner." Satoru Gojo constantly found ways to tease him and test the limits of his abilities, being merciless with his words, but to some extent, it was also a form of alternative recognition.
At the very least, Satoru Gojo found him interesting.
Exchanges with Suguru Geto leaned more toward theory and information exchange.
Suguru Geto was logically clear; although the seed of fanaticism was hidden within him, he was currently a trustworthy senior and source of knowledge.
Toho Hiroshi occasionally felt a complex emotion regarding his belief in "protecting the weak," admiring his original intention while knowing the abyss he might slide into in the future.
Shoko was the calmest observer among the three. She rarely asked questions proactively, but every examination allowed her to pinpoint the changes in his body and eye condition with absolute accuracy.
Toho Hiroshi actually felt more relaxed in front of her because she seemed only concerned with results and status, not delving into the inexplicable origins.
During a simple sparring session, Toho Hiroshi was thrown into a panic by a weak burst of Cursed Energy casually flicked out by Satoru Gojo. In desperation, the Sharingan activated on its own, dynamic vision greatly improved, and he narrowly managed to avoid the attack.
"Oh? Your reaction speed improved a bit, huh!"
Satoru Gojo raised an eyebrow, and the next moment, his figure instantly vanished.