Jujutsu Kaisen: I Can Manipulate Time.

ShareIt was far too easy for a Jujutsu Sorcerer who commanded thousands of Cursed Spirits to spark chaos. Even if most of those Spirits weren't high-grade, they were still lethal in densely populated areas like Shinjuku.

Suguru Geto's declaration had rattled nerves across every faction. Even before the Hyakki Yagyō officially began, both Tokyo and Kyoto had started preparations.

Security had visibly tightened. Many Curse Users had criminal records, and some had been on the wanted list for years. To stop any premature attacks, authorities resorted to clumsy but necessary methods. And once the assault began, managing the panic would be its own nightmare.

Shinjuku and Kyoto weren't small, isolated villages that could be sealed off easily. Deploying a barrier was the only effective way, but that came with its own complications for Jujutsu High and the authorities.

Kamihara Hajime didn't care about any of that.

Even though tension blanketed every group, most Jujutsu Sorcerers weren't worried about the outcome. Regardless of internal politics, no one doubted the strength of Gojo Satoru. He was still the strongest.

It was unfortunate—and perhaps a blessing—that there was only one of him. Those within Jujutsu High who felt suffocated by his presence probably thought even one Gojo was too many.

The real concerns lay elsewhere: how to minimize casualties... and what unknown trump card Suguru Geto might be hiding. If he hadn't once belonged to Tokyo Jujutsu High, he likely wouldn't have survived long enough to pose this threat.

Gojo hadn't exorcised him back then. Yuki Tsukumo was rarely present. And while Gojo's strength was exceptional, Suguru Geto was never considered unstoppable by the traditional clans or the higher-ups. If they had deemed it worth the effort, they could've eliminated him years ago.

But they didn't. Geto's cult-like organization had always seemed more nuisance than threat—until now. His past sins paled compared to those of past Curse User groups. That was the reason no concerted campaign had been launched to wipe him out.

And now, he had the audacity to issue a formal challenge, complete with date and location. It was practically an invitation.

---

On the night of December 24th, Shinjuku—normally teeming with life—was silent. The only movement came from Jujutsu Sorcerers lining the streets. Nearly all combat-ready personnel from Jujutsu High were present, with the exceptions of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zen'in.

Yuta was sidelined because of Rika. If she lost control during a sneak attack, she would indiscriminately destroy everything—enemy or ally.

Maki was held back due to battlefield complexity. She relied on glasses to see Cursed Spirits, and if her weapon was broken in the chaos, she'd be helpless. It was too risky. So both remained at the school.

Even Mei Mei had gone to Kyoto. Shoko Ieiri had been moved to the rear, and surprisingly, even Sorcerers like Yu Haibara's successor, Naine, had been dispatched—an indication of how seriously they were taking the situation.

Gojo Satoru brought grim news: the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, once confiscated, had been stolen. All signs pointed to Geto's faction.

"Don't tell me he's really planning to revive Shuten-dōji," Hajime muttered. "We've got no solid intel on that Curse. Could be a disaster."

Gojo shrugged casually, hands behind his head. "Then I'll deal with it when the time comes. What's wrong, Hajime? Trying to slack off? Didn't you wipe out a Special Grade Curse last time?"

Hajime gave a dry laugh. "What can I say? The capable get overworked."

"You didn't say that last time," Gojo replied. "Just stay alert. He's definitely planning something."

Before he could finish, Gojo snapped his gaze to the sky. "They're here."

Dark shadows spread across the skyline. From the air and ground, Cursed Spirits surged like a black tide. Just watching the mass approach made Sorcerers' skin crawl.

It wasn't just the number. Among them were a few entities so terrifying that even other Cursed Spirits steered clear.

Gojo's eyes narrowed. "That poser didn't come to the battlefield."

High atop a distant building, Migel stood with two others, watching Gojo. "We need to keep him busy," Migel said. "Suguru better be fast. Is the Shuten-dōji release ready?"

The man beside him, armed with three blades—Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, Onikiri, and Spider Cutter—scanned the Sorcerers below and nodded. "Yes. I'll act soon. You lot draw their attention with the Cursed Spirits. I'll strike when they're distracted. If Shuten-dōji is revived, we might even crush them here."

Migel drew a whip made of twisted hair-like ropes and leapt down. "Let's begin."

---

Hajime moved to a higher vantage point, where he could observe the battlefield. Many unfamiliar faces were mixed in among the Jujutsu High Sorcerers. Some had been dispatched to Kyoto—like Mei Mei—while others like Nanami Kento remained in Shinjuku.

Cursed Spirits crashed into them in waves. As Principal Yaga predicted, most were under Grade 2—trash. Still, even a low-grade Spirit could kill a careless Sorcerer.

From above, Hajime supported the frontlines with precise long-range attacks. Each arrow downed a lesser Spirit, and he carefully rationed his Cursed Energy for prolonged combat. Injuring a Spirit for someone else to finish off was often enough.

Suddenly, Ieiri rushed to Gojo. "Sensei, I've got the results of the investigation you asked for."

Gojo listened, then immediately called out, "Panda, Inumaki, Hajime!"

They looked up. "What's going on?"

Gojo pulled them close, sketching a seal on the ground. "Suguru's not here—he's at Jujutsu High. I'm sending you back."

A thunderous crash shook the street. A towering Cursed Spirit made of stone had erupted from the pavement, forcing nearby Sorcerers to retreat.

A blade sliced its head clean off from above.

Gojo caught sight of Hajime dropping from his perch, vanishing instantly—likely rushing toward the disturbance. A foreign man, dark-skinned and white-robed, stepped into view, clearly hostile.

Gojo didn't hesitate. "You two go protect Yuta and Maki. I'll handle this clown and catch up."

He clapped his hands, and the rune activated. Panda and Inumaki vanished, leaving behind only a crater.

---

Moments earlier, Hajime had noticed the sudden explosion and realized Nanami was at the center. While Nanami dealt with the stone Spirit, Hajime picked off two more threatening enemies on the fringes.

Then, he heard Nanami scream. A Curse User had stabbed Naine through the chest.

The cursed blade pulsed with black patterns that began writhing and seeping into her body.

Totsuka-no-Tsurugi.

That was her final thought.

As her vision blurred, she heard distant laughter—unhinged, gleeful. Her fading eyes caught a glimpse of Nanami charging toward her.

Hajime's blood ran cold. The wound wasn't fatal... not yet. She could survive if they got her to Shoko in time. But something felt deeply wrong. His instincts screamed at him.

"That aura... Totsuka-no-Tsurugi. Shuten-dōji. A descendant of the Minamoto clan!"

Everything clicked at once.

Too late. No—maybe not yet!

He bolted toward her. But by the time he arrived, it had already begun.

Naine's eyes, half-lidded, glowed with crimson light. Her body radiated an unnatural, oppressive energy. It wasn't her anymore.

Time Wheel—Reversal.

Hajime activated his Technique to rewind her condition. But the entity inside resisted. Their presences had merged. The reversal didn't work.

This aura was far beyond that of the Special Grade dice Spirit he'd fought before.

Then it hit him—her soul. Naine's Technique allowed her to project her soul from her body. If he reversed only her soul, and exorcised the Curse that had taken her vessel, there was still hope.

He focused, redirecting his Technique toward her soul alone.

A figure slowly appeared beside him—her true self, confused but intact. She looked down at her own possessed body with a mix of horror and disbelief.

That thing wearing her skin raised its head. Red markings bloomed across her face. Her black hair turned deep crimson.

She inhaled deeply, eyes wild with ecstasy. Five crimson eyes opened across her forehead, each with triple pupils.

Her body grew, cracking and reshaping until she stood over two meters tall. Five horns curled from her skull.

"I'm back in the human world," she said, her voice like thunder and silk. "How marvelous."

Her presence expanded violently, smothering everything around her.

"I am the King of Hundred Ghosts—Shuten-dōji! Offer me everything you have!"

---

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