Jujutsu kaisen: King of Seven Shikigami

Footsteps echoed softly along the long, silent hallway, the walls bathed in the gentle glow of dim neon lights. Cold light reflected off the gray metal floor, accompanying the slow movement of two silhouettes. Gojo Satoru walked ahead, his hands casually tucked in his pockets, while behind him, Tora followed with hesitant steps.

This hallway didn't exist in his memories—not even in the memories of the original work this world was based on. It felt unfamiliar, yet filled with mystery.

"Where are you taking me?" Tora finally asked, his voice unsure but alert.

Without turning around, Gojo replied casually, as if it were nothing serious, "To a friend."

The door at the end of the hallway opened automatically as they approached. Beyond it, white light filled a room that looked like a lab or a child observation facility. But that wasn't what caught Tora's attention right away—it was the small, round figure sitting on the floor, looking innocent with a blank expression.

Panda.

Not the big, strong, and reliable Panda Tora knew from the anime. This was the younger version—still cute, still adorable… and without the absurd sense of humor that would come later.

Tora's eyes widened.

"Whoa... Panda? Look at him… so cute… This must be before he started making ridiculous jokes. Maybe he still talks like a computer."

Someone stood near Panda—a man with a stern face but commanding presence. It was Masamichi Yaga, the principal of Jujutsu High's Tokyo branch.

"Gojo. You're thirty minutes late," he said flatly. "Fix that habit of yours."

Yaga was carrying little Panda in one arm, then turned his gaze toward Tora.

"Gomen~," Gojo replied, shrugging lightly. "This is the one I told you about."

"Oh, so this is the kid," Yaga said in a neutral tone, his eyes scanning Tora from head to toe.

Tora gave a polite nod.

"My name is Tora… My dream is to become the strongest," he said, firm yet sincere.

Yaga raised an eyebrow slightly. "Just Tora? Has Gojo not told you your real name?"

Gojo lazily raised a hand. "It's easier if you explain it yourself."

Yaga took a deep breath. His gaze hardened, as if he were about to reveal something long kept hidden.

"Do you know the name of the person who raised you?"

Tora answered without hesitation, "Grandma Ogami."

"And you're sure she's your biological grandmother?"

Tora paused. "Well… at least that's what she always insisted."

Yaga stepped forward, still holding little Panda, and stopped in front of Tora.

"Ogami is not your real grandmother. She was a gifted sorcerer… and also a legendary assassin. In her prime, she committed many killings. The last recorded… she slaughtered a group of young girls in a villa."

A moment of silence lingered. Yet Tora's expression remained unchanged—no shock, no anger. Just a calm gaze, as if he already knew.

Gojo observed Tora from the side and smirked slightly.

"This kid… seems like he already knew."

Yaga set Panda down and stepped closer to Tora. His eyes were more serious than ever.

"The weapon you carry… must never fall into the wrong hands. It's dangerous—enough to destroy the balance if discovered."

Tora pinched the little Panda's soft cheek.

"Then why not let me keep it? After all, I'm the next strongest, right?"

Yaga remained silent. His gaze didn't waver, but tension crept into his voice.

"If that weapon is discovered by that old man, there won't be much we can do. But until then… you can keep it."

Then, in a firmer tone, he added:

"On one condition.

You… must remain under supervision."

Tora stood still. His gaze was blank, as if it pierced through the wooden floor beneath him. His mind stirred with one name… in silence—

"The jujutsu higher-ups."

His thoughts whispered:

"That old man… does Yaga mean the higher-ups of the jujutsu world? The ones… who ordered the execution of Yuji Itadori?"

Tora's face tensed, his expression darkened. He couldn't fully trust the senior sorcerers—especially if they were part of a system that tried to extinguish the light of someone who dared to fight curses from within.

Suddenly, that thought was shattered by a cheerful yet sharp voice coming from an unusual creature—a walking panda who spoke with human confidence.

"Hello!" he said, clapping his hands. "My name is Panda. So… you're the one they say will become the strongest? That means you're still weak, huh?"

His tone wasn't mocking—just honest, direct, and unfiltered.

Tora turned, eyebrows furrowed. He stared at Panda intently, not out of offense, but because he sensed a challenge… and welcomed it.

With a cold but determined tone, Tora responded:

"Wanna test that?"

"I'll show you… what the future ceiling of the jujutsu world looks like."

A brief silence fell over the room. Panda didn't answer immediately. He just froze, staring deep into Tora's eyes—and for a moment, there was a flicker of respect.

Behind them, Yaga, who had been silently watching, finally chuckled. A heavy but warm laugh.

"Alright…" he said, stepping forward, arms crossed.

"But not here. Let's move to a proper place for this fight."

In the training grounds surrounded by rocks and ancient trees typical of Jujutsu High, the wind blew strong, lifting dust and dry leaves into the air. The garden lamps cast long shadows through the buildings, creating silhouettes on the ground.

Panda stepped forward, arms folded casually—but his eyes gleamed with curiosity.

That remark had slapped Tora's mind harder than the western winds hitting his body.

Tora furrowed his brow and took a deep breath. His heartbeat was still uneven after that conversation with Yaga. He stared at Panda, trying to read the intent behind that goofy smile… which clearly held deeper meaning.

"Don't hold back."

Panda didn't reply. He just stepped closer—and suddenly swung his fist.

BOOM!

The punch hit the air where Tora had just stood, shattering the ground and creating small cracks. Tora had already dodged in an instant—leaping to the side, eyes wide.

"Fast… That little body moves this fast?"

Tora thought,

"Cursed energy… it's making this happen."

Without a pause, Panda leapt and spun mid-air, launching a roundhouse kick at Tora. Tora blocked with his arm, but Panda's raw strength sent him flying back, crashing into a tree trunk.

Crackkk!

The old tree shook behind him. Tora wiped sweat from the edge of his forehead. A thin smile spread across his face—a mix of surprise and excitement.

"If this is how you welcome guests, then I guess I'll get a little serious."

Black shadows began to crawl from Tora's feet. His cursed aura emerged, wrapping around his hands like dark mist. His eyes changed—sharper now, like a beast unleashed from its cage.

I can feel it...

Rainbow Dragon… wants to join in.

But I whisper in my heart—"This is training, not war."

Gojo narrowed his eyes. He could feel that aura… familiar, but wild. There was something inside Tora that wasn't normal.

"You're keeping something feral inside you," Gojo whispered.

They lunged at each other simultaneously. Two clashing forces—one with raw physical power and mysterious body techniques, the other with cursed control and explosive speed.

Fists met curses. Kicks clashed with sharp dodges. The ground cracked. Dust rose into the air. The sound of their blows echoed like thunder across the training field.

Tora struck forward with his leg—but the air in front of Panda tore apart as if slashed by an invisible weapon.

Slashhh!

A shallow wound appeared on Panda's chest—not deep, but enough to catch him off guard.

"…invisible? Huh, not bad."

Tora stepped forward, his cursed aura pulsing.

"I don't want to be the strongest by being loud," he said softly. "But if you stand in my way, then I'll go right through you."

Panda raised his fists.

"Try it, Tora. Show me why Gojo brought you here."

The fight escalated—faster, fiercer. Footsteps shattered the earth. Punches and techniques clashed in a warlike dance. Sweat, blood, and cursed energy fused into a symphony of power.

🐼