Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Times

Osaka

Dragging his luggage behind him and a leash held loosely in one hand, Shingen Genichi stepped out of the airport terminal, greeted by a wave of city humidity. At his side, a large white canine padded obediently—Shirone.

Despite his massive frame, Shirone had the intelligent eyes and fluffy coat of a well-bred husky, not the slightest hint of aggression. Shingen was still surprised they let him on the plane, but apparently, Shirone qualified as a service dog. Gojo Satoru's connections worked wonders.

This mission wasn't particularly difficult—just... unique. He was here for two reasons. First, there had been an incident involving a Curse User. The second? More important: a descendant from an old family in this region had unexpectedly awakened a Technique.

Technically, this was Kyoto Jujutsu High's jurisdiction. But due to a certain "family connection," Tokyo Jujutsu High got involved.

According to Gojo-sensei, this family—once related to the Jujutsu world—had produced no Sorcerers for generations. But a sudden skip in bloodline, some latent Cursed Energy that had never surfaced… and here they were. Apparently, the girl thought she had "superpowers" or something.

Sounds familiar, Shingen mused. A cursed tool and a miracle awakening… We've seen this story before.

As he walked out of the arrival gate, his sharp eyes landed on a woman holding a sign: "Shingen Genichi."

Tall, dressed in a black suit, she gave off the air of a professional assistant or bodyguard. A touch of makeup made her average looks stand out slightly more, but she wasn't here for her beauty.

"You're from the Minamoto family, right?" Shingen asked, lowering his sunglasses slightly. "Shingen Genichi, nice to meet you."

The woman bowed respectfully. "Genichi-kun, I am Sugihara Riko. The vehicle is ready. Please follow me."

Outside, an imposing black car idled at the curb. The kind of luxury model only people with old money or political power bothered with. As Riko opened the door, Shirone hopped in first, causing her eyes to twitch slightly in surprise.

Shingen followed after without pause.

The back seat was massive—more like a mobile office than a car. But what caught his attention was the other occupant.

A girl.

She was young, probably his age or slightly younger. Oval face, delicate features, smooth black hair, and legs crossed gracefully beneath a short skirt. She had the natural poise of someone used to attention—but her eyes were curious, focused on him... or maybe on Shirone.

"You from the Minamoto family?" Shingen asked, removing his shades completely.

The girl smiled and extended her hand. "I'm Yuihara Nao."

Shingen raised a brow. "You're the one who awakened a Technique, right?"

Her eyes lit up. "You knew?"

"Guessed."

Of course, he did. The curiosity in her gaze. The way her Cursed Energy was tightly contained—possibly by instinct or something innate to her Technique. Plus, she wasn't dressed like staff. That narrowed it down.

As the car started moving, Shingen leaned back into the plush seat. A privacy partition muffled the front cabin. Sugihara Riko sat quietly up front.

"You've been introduced to the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers already, yeah?" he asked.

Nao nodded quickly, eyes sparkling. "A little! Grandpa showed me these old scrolls from our family house. They talk about curses, cursed tools, even domains. I thought it was all made-up until... I saw one."

"When your house was attacked?"

Her shoulders tightened slightly, but she nodded again.

"There was this... shadow thing. It came out of nowhere, and it was horrible. I just—reacted. I grabbed the sword and slashed. It shrieked and disappeared. Later, Grandpa told me it was a cursed spirit."

Shingen nodded. So the report was true.

"What about you?" she asked eagerly. "Do you have a Technique? And that dog—he's not a normal dog, right? He's got this... energy."

"Don't ask about Techniques directly when you meet other Sorcerers," Shingen said calmly. "It's a bit of a taboo. Everyone's Technique is public information sooner or later, but it's better to let them offer it first."

Nao blinked, then nodded quickly like a student being corrected by her senpai.

"As for me… my Technique's related to speed," he said after a pause. "And Shirone? He's a Cursed Corpse. Technically made by our school principal."

"I knew it!" she exclaimed softly. "He feels like something more."

Shingen humored a few more of her rapid-fire questions—how Sorcerers trained, what Domain Expansion really was, if Gojo-sensei was as powerful as the rumors. She had the thirst of someone discovering an entire new world.

The ride was smooth. So smooth, in fact, that he almost forgot they were still moving.

"We're here!" Nao said, straightening.

The door opened, and Shirone leapt out first. Shingen stepped out behind him and took in the view.

A sprawling mansion. Guarded gates. Several black vehicles parked discreetly nearby. Definitely the kind of old money Gojo mentioned.

Beyond the walls, manicured lawns and traditional wooden buildings blended seamlessly with modern security. This was no ordinary household.

Waiting at the entrance were three people—an older man, a well-dressed woman, and an elderly gentleman with kind eyes.

Nao walked ahead and greeted them warmly.

"My father, Gen'zi Haraki," she said, pointing to the man. "My mother, Yuihara Meikong. And this is Grandpa—Gen'zi Haruka."

Haraki stepped forward, offering his hand and a calm smile. "Welcome, Genichi-kun. Please, come in. We've prepared some tea. Let's discuss things inside."

Shingen nodded slightly. No deep bows—he wasn't raised that way, especially not by Gojo Satoru.

Inside, the house was traditional and vast. You could feel the history in the polished floors and ancient scrolls. But the air held tension too. Discreet guards patrolled outside the windows.

They arrived at a spacious tatami room where tea was already set. Sugihara Riko closed the sliding door, leaving the five of them alone.

Haraki began, "Let me first thank you for coming. I know our location is far from Tokyo. I'd like to explain the situation regarding my daughter—and the other matter."

Shingen took a cup of tea and drained it in two gulps. "You can just call me Genichi."

Haraki nodded. "Our family is distantly connected to the Settsu Source bloodline. Until recently, we were ordinary people—wealthy perhaps, but uninvolved in Jujutsu affairs. Then Nao awakened a Technique."

He gave a brief pause. "And a few days ago, she encountered something. A cursed spirit."

"She handled it?" Shingen asked.

"Surprisingly, yes. She grabbed a ceremonial sword stored in the shrine and slashed it. The entity fled."

At that moment, Nao added sheepishly, "It looked like a giant... fish? Ugly and wet."

Haruki chuckled fondly. "Her grandfather—Haruka—looked into the old texts and confirmed the Technique and lineage. That's when we reached out to the Gojo family."

"Your request is twofold then," Shingen said. "Protect Nao, eliminate the Curse User, and assess if she qualifies for Tokyo Jujutsu High."

Haraki nodded. "Correct. And we'll offer compensation."

Shingen waved it off. "Not necessary. It's part of my assignment."

He set his teacup down. "But one thing—why were you targeted? What did the Curse User want?"

Haraki's expression turned grim. "They came for an heirloom."

Haruka took over. "The Totsuka-no-Tsurugi."

Shingen's brow rose. "You mean the one that's in the national museum?"

"No," Haruka said. "That one is for ceremonial. Ours is more combat based. Said to be the blade that slayed Shuten-dōji, passed down through generations. And it still holds power."

"A cursed tool," Shingen muttered.

If someone had inherited a blade used to slay an Imaginary Vengeful Spirit, its value was immeasurable. No wonder a Curse User would want it.

"The attacker that night—it wasn't strong. Likely just a shikigami," Haruka continued. "But it was probing. Probably testing our defenses."

Shingen stood. "Then we'll do two things. First, I want to see where the attack happened. Second, we'll talk about enrollment after we confirm Nao's stability."

Haruka nodded. "I'll take you there."

They walked to a small ancestral hall deep in the courtyard. It smelled of old wood and lacquer. Haruka unlocked the doors, revealing rows of ancient armor, faded bookshelves… and at the center, a single sword displayed on a raised platform.

It was simple. Sheathed. Silent.

But it pulled at Shingen's senses.

"This is it," Haruka said. "The Totsuka-no-Tsurugi."

Nao added, "That cursed thing ran the second I slashed it."

Shingen narrowed his eyes.

So the old legends still have teeth.

He stepped closer to the sword.

And reached out.

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Word Count:1,405