Chapter 25: 25 Take things slow for once.
"That's hilarious!" Gojo burst out laughing.
Next to him, Utahime clung to Shoko, her face burning with frustration. Letting go of her friend for a moment, she faced Gojo. "It is not! Shut up!"
Watching the scene form the side was Suguru, he had an amused smile on his lips. Not long ago, Utahime had came back from a mission and together came some surprising news about Jotaro.
After an interrogation over how the special-grade object she was sent to retrieve had been stolen by him, the group had stumbled upon her and now here they were.It could be said that Utahime did not have a good day, so she was looking for consolation from Shoko, while Gojo kept making fun of her.
As for the cursed object, it was most likely in the hands of the Kamo clan. From an outsider's perspective, it seemed like a simple case of 'first come, first served,' but the higher-ups saw it differently. To them, the Kamo clan's actions were a blatant show of strength, a reminder that Kamo clan is still in the game.
Suguru sighed "Gojo, stop being a bully,"
"Come on! You can't tell me that's not funny!" Gojo wiped the tears from his eyes, still chuckling. "Just imagine it, our little Utahime's face when Jojo comes out of nowhere and yoinks the reward right out from under her nose!"
"Shut up!" Utahime snapped, "Who told you to imagine anything?! Mind your own business!" her voice growing louder as Shoko patted her back, trying to soothe her.
Suguru turned to Utahime. "Could you at least tell us more about what happened? We've lost all contact with that guy since he left."
"No way! You guys laughed at me and now asking for help!" Utahime huffed and turned her head away in refusal.
Just then, Shoko looked at her with a soft expression. "Oh... but I was a little curious."
Utahime's determination faltered in an instant. "No, Shoko, I'll talk."
Gojo smirked. "To think you'd fold under no pressure, heh."
Utahime coughed and ignored Gojo "Well, it was a short encounter. I was fighting a special-grade by myself and then he appeared out of nowhere and stole the finger..."
"So he saved your ass," Gojo quipped with a grin.
"I said shut up, I didn't need his help anyway!" Utahime barked. "As I was saying... he uh, to be honest I didn't see much of the fight since it ended so fast... But one thing was sure he was way too rude. I don't like him, Shoko. Stay away from him. Men like that can't be trusted." She crossed her arms, trying to come off as the wise older sister to Shoko.
Gojo smirked. "Pfft, you sound just like a jealous wife right now." Hugging himself mockingly, he puckered his lips and made exaggerated kissing noises. "Oh no, Shoko! Stay away from Jotaro because he's mine!"
"YOU SHUT UUUUP!" Utahime grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it at him. It froze mid-air, blocked by Gojo's Limitless technique. "I don't like him! He's just as cocky as you are! I hate people who walk around with their heads in the clouds!"
She continued ranting until exhaustion finally took over.
Just when things seemed to calm down, "You two sound like an old married couple," Suguru muttered from the sidelines.
"ARGHH! What is wrong with you people?!" Utahime felt like she was about to explode again.
"There, there," Shoko said, patting her head comfortingly.
Utahime let out a long sigh. "Shoko... you're my only real friend."
***
"Any progress?"
A young voice interrupted Jotaro from his thoughts. He turned to see Noritoshi Kamo approaching, one of his female servants walking beside him, carrying a tray with a glass of water on it. Stopping in front of Jotaro, the servant extended the glass toward him.
Taking it, Jotaro downed the water in one gulp before looking at the young clan head. "I can't say there isn't any progress, just small steps."
His current goal was getting stronger in any ways. Jojo had been training in the Falling Blossom Emotion technique for a while now, and although progress was slow, he could feel his understanding of it deepening.
If things continued at this pace, it wouldn't be long before he mastered it.
"That's still good news," Noritoshi said with a nod. "Grandpa Shino said this technique is incredibly difficult to master. Even when someone has the opportunity to learn it, it doesn't mean they'll succeed."
"Truly, I'm lucky to have you by my clan's side." Noritoshi smiled.
Jotaro did not say anything, though inwardly, he wasn't that confident. To be honest with himself, since he joined the jujutsu high he did now believed he could become a great sorcerer, maybe a strong stand user but not a good sorcerer.
Just looking at himself so far, it was clear he was below average, he wouldn't even be considered mid-tier without Star Platinum. His cursed energy reserves were mediocre at best, his control was initially awful, and his combat experience in this world was limited.
But now? Things were changing.
His cursed energy control had improved significantly. While his reserves were still on the lower side, at least he no longer ran out of energy after just reinforcing his body for a few minutes. And now, learning a secret technique, even if it was slow progress—it was still proof that he had potential.
'Next will be reverse cursed technique and... time stop...' Jotaro tried yelling 'The World!' and similar phrases, but it seemed like it was still too early for his stand or maybe he was missing something.
Another thing that bothered him was 'If only Star Platinum could use cursed energy…'
It wouldn't work no matter how much he had tried. His improved control over cursed energy didn't change that fact. But then it made some sense. Star Platinum wasn't a cursed technique or at least that's how it was before—a manifestation of his soul, a reflection of his battle spirit. Tampering with it could be fatal, not just to others but to himself as well.
Knowing that, what if Star Platinum consumed one of Sukuna's fingers?
'That's stupid.' The idea was immediately dismissed.
There was no point in risking his life by allowing a thousand-year-old demon inside his very own soul. Who was to say he could resist him? What if he ended up giving Sukuna direct access to him body, useless risk.
Knowing how much plot armor Sukuna had, such action was just a useless gamble he wasn't willing to take.
'I'll just take things slow for once, its not like I am out of time...' Unless some idiot came before Yuji and ate a finger he should be fine.