I'm using ninjutsu in Jujutsu Kaisen!

Chapter 25 – Mission: Protection

This was the first time Tatsuro had ever heard of a jujutsu sorcerer being asked to guard someone for half a month. Wasn't it usually just about exorcising the curse and calling it a day?

Unless… the girl was some sort of curse magnet, constantly attracting spirits?

"Ahem."

Principal Yaga cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Just shadow her for half a month. Your only job is to make sure she's safe."

"Why? Since when do sorcerers do bodyguard work?"

Tatsuro replied under his breath.

"Because she picked you out by name. And because they gave us… five hundred million yen."

"…"

Excuse me?!

So you sold me off for two weeks because someone waved five hundred million yen at you? And I don't even get a cut?!

Tatsuro stared at Yaga with a face full of betrayal.

"…You'll get ten million when you return."

Yaga's words immediately flipped the switch. Tatsuro's expression changed faster than a lightning jutsu. With a big smile, he turned to Yuto Ichirou and said, "It'll be my honor to serve. Would you like to join us for dinner? I'm just about to prepare a farewell meal for my friends."

Farewell meal.

You'd think he was being sent off to war.

Yuto Ichirou chuckled awkwardly and wiped sweat from his brow. "No need. You've got things to do today. I'll send my assistant's contact info—call when you're ready."

"Understood!"

Tatsuro took the card, glanced at the number, and watched the big boss drive off.

Yaga clapped him on the shoulder and laughed heartily. "Not bad, kid! You reeled in a whale! Five hundred million! We're rich!"

"Could you not dislocate my spine while you celebrate?"

Tatsuro muttered, pocketing the card. He'd already memorized the number and ripped it up.

Still… he couldn't help being curious.

Who the hell was this rich family?

A childhood friend? But that didn't make sense—he had all of his predecessor's memories, and their family had been broke for three generations.

Something wasn't adding up. She picked him by name, and her dad threw five hundred million yen at the school?

Yeah, definitely checking this online later.

When Yaga pressed again, Tatsuro brushed it off with a vague "I don't know" and left. It was already 4 p.m., and if he didn't start cooking, dinner would become a midnight snack.

---

8:00 p.m.

"The last dish is up!"

Tatsuro had spent four full hours in the kitchen. Since his dorm kitchen was too small, he borrowed the school's main one—running three stoves at once. Even the professional chefs were left speechless.

"Time to eat! Let's eat!"

Panda reached for his chopsticks, but Tatsuro stopped him. "Wait. I've got something to say. Tomorrow I'm leaving on a mission for half a month. So this dinner is a little farewell meal. Hope you guys don't miss me too much."

Mission?

Everyone turned to stare at the one guy who might know something—Gojo.

Maki asked, "Gojo-sensei, what mission? Why haven't we heard anything?"

"Oh, it's just a bodyguard job," Gojo replied, shoveling food into his mouth. "He's guarding the daughter of the Yuto Corporation's heir. Two-week assignment. I only know the basics. Principal assigned it himself."

He kept eating happily.

"Assigned by the principal"…

You mean I got volunteered by chance!

And why was Gojo here eating anyway?!

Tatsuro grumbled internally but sat down and started eating too.

From Gojo, he learned that the client, Yuto Ichirou, was fighting his brother for control of the Yuto Corporation. And apparently… the daughter had recognized Tatsuro and specifically requested him as her bodyguard.

Probably because of that alleyway incident…

More details later. He'd look her up online tonight.

He didn't even know that surname.

---

"Oho? So our little Tatsuro's become a rich son-in-law?"

Maki's words instantly sparked the table's gossip mode.

"Cough—!!"

Tatsuro nearly choked. He grabbed his soda and protested, "I don't even know what she looks like! How does this make me anyone's husband?!"

"Aw, don't be shy! Anyone here could've taken the job, but she chose you. Come on, spill it—how far along are you guys?"

Panda leaned in with a knowing look.

Even Gojo paused mid-bite, grinning.

"I SAID I DON'T KNOW HER. Panda, slander me again and I'll use you as a test dummy for my new jutsu!"

Tatsuro began forming hand seals.

"Waitwaitwait! I give up!"

Panda waved frantically. He'd seen that fire jutsu. If that hit him, his carefully maintained fur would be ash. No thanks.

---

"New technique?"

Fushiguro raised an eyebrow. Through Nue's vision, he'd seen Tatsuro pause for two seconds mid-fight to form hand seals.

Next time, he just had to rush him and not give him that window.

Plus, Maki had told him: Tatsuro's eyes were capable of extreme tracking and copying. In close combat, he had few weaknesses—unless your physical strength vastly exceeded his.

Tatsuro, of course, could guess what Fushiguro was thinking.

"You want to see it? …Too bad. You don't get to."

He stuck out his tongue and devoured his food. Four hours of cooking had made him starving.

---

Dinner turned into a warm, boisterous exchange. Everyone shared their dreams and visions of the future.

When the party ended and the kitchen was cleaned, they all went home for the night.

---

Yuto Corporation – industry leader in fast food.

Chairman Yuto Sōji, age 59.

Two sons: Yuto Kamiichi (eldest), and Yuto Ichirou (second son).

The daughter of Yuto Ichirou…

Tatsuro, lying in bed, browsed articles online.

Just as he thought—Ichirou was locked in a power struggle with his older brother for the company.

Then he found a picture of the daughter.

Wait…

No wonder her father's face seemed familiar…

It was the woman he'd rescued in that alley!

She wasn't just some clueless rich girl—she was ultra rich.

Back then he'd thought she was just a silly sweetheart. Turns out she was so rich she probably never even counted the money in her purse…

Oh hell no.

Did I just lose out on a billion-yen reward?!

"..."

Forget it. Time to sleep.

Starting tomorrow, he'd be on a two-week mission. Honestly, it was kind of annoying.

If it weren't for the money, he wouldn't even bother.

Training every day is way better than babysitting someone…

---