Jujutsu Kaisen: Wheel Of Time

Chapter 16: Team Battle (Part 1)

Because it was just an introduction among students, the teachers weren't present, and the atmosphere became stiff for a while.

Maki and Kamihara Hajime didn't seem to care at all. Inumaki Toge couldn't say anything even if he wanted to. Panda indicated, "I'm just a panda, I don't understand what you're saying."

The honest Yuta Okkotsu didn't know what to do. He wanted to explain to the other side, but just saying that the upperclassmen had something to attend to might sound more like a random excuse to brush them off.

The students from Kyoto Jujutsu High were also silent. Perhaps they, too, agreed with Aoi Todo's words. Then Kamo Noritoshi cleared his throat and said, "Aoi Todo, perhaps they really do have something important."

Aoi Todo leaned his hands on the table and said with an imposing presence, "It doesn't matter. As long as we can have a satisfying fight then."

Maki raised an eyebrow, about to say something, when Kamihara Hajime stepped forward first, grinning, and said, "I say, big guy, is strength determined by grade? I seem to recall there are different ranks for Jujutsu Sorcerers. I'm a kind person, so I'll tell you first: You're going to lose!"

Without waiting for the Kyoto Jujutsu High students to react, Kamihara Hajime pulled Yuta Okkotsu over and said, "Because our Big Brother Yuta Okkotsu is a Special Grade!" Then he feigned surprise and said, "Oh? Do you also have a Special Grade Sorcerer over there?"

Aoi Todo, who was about to erupt, instantly became serious. Special Grade... that's a synonym for power! After all, his mentor, Yuki Tsukumo, was a registered Special Grade Sorcerer. Was this guy in front of him also a Special Grade?

"Eh? Eh?"

Yuta Okkotsu, who had become the focus of all the Kyoto Jujutsu High students due to Kamihara Hajime's words, was momentarily at a loss. Then, Panda, standing next to him, also stepped forward and said, "That's right, Big Brother Yuta Okkotsu is very strong!"

Maki also understood the intentions of these two mischievous people. She flashed a smile and added, "I hope you do your best. Don't be scared before it even begins."

"Salmon!"

Yuta Okkotsu looked at the echoing Inumaki Toge and almost turned to stone. "Maki-senpai said that, but why are you saying it too, Inumaki?" Yet, he didn't know how to explain. He was indeed registered as a Special Grade, but a large part of that was because of Rika.

"Haha!"

After a moment of silence, Aoi Todo raised his face. There was no solemnity or panic as expected; instead, he showed a genuine smile. He stared intently at Yuta Okkotsu and said, "I look forward to it! I look forward to fighting you. It will definitely be a satisfying battle!"

"Yuta Okkotsu, right! I ask you..."

Aoi Todo asked with utmost seriousness, "What type of woman do you like...?"

Yuta Okkotsu, confused by this inexplicable question, was momentarily speechless. Kamihara Hajime, of course, knew what Aoi Todo was doing.

In reality, he had no deep meaning; he simply used this to judge whether the other person was qualified to be his friend, seemingly influenced by his teacher, Yuki Tsukumo.

Later, he seemed to have connected with the protagonist, Yuji Itadori, from a work Kamihara Hajime had once read, and designated the latter as his best friend. Incidentally, both Aoi Todo and Itadori's preferences were for tall women with big butts.

Kamihara Hajime patted Yuta Okkotsu's shoulder and said, "Yuta Okkotsu already has a girlfriend, so I advise you not to meddle, or else... you'll die a very ugly death."

Yuta Okkotsu, of course, knew Kamihara Hajime was referring to Rika. Thinking about it, Rika should be about the same height as him now.

"Tomorrow! Let me witness the power of a Special Grade."

After Aoi Todo finished speaking, he put his hands in his pockets and turned to leave. The students had all gotten to know each other initially, and most of the teachers had arrived. Kamihara Hajime also saw Ieiri Shoko and Mei Mei, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

Over there, the two of them and Utahime Iori were sitting together, chatting about something. Gojo Satoru had once again approached Gakuganji Principal and said something, making the latter's face look somewhat gloomy and terrifying.

Yaga Masamichi now stepped forward to announce the specific details of tomorrow's exchange event, which would be a team battle. This was an old routine. Second Grade Curses and many Third Grade Curses would be released into a designated area within the Jujutsu High. The team that exorcised the Second Grade Curse first would win. If no winner was decided before nightfall, the team that exorcised more Curses would win. There were no other rules.

"Therefore, obstructive actions are also permitted, but you are all comrades fighting against Curses. The purpose of the exchange event is for you to understand your comrades and yourselves through it. Do not kill your opponents or cause them irreparable harm. The competition will begin promptly at noon tomorrow."

Before returning, Kamihara Hajime went to greet Mei Mei and the others. Utahime Iori had a good impression of this polite boy, unlike that scoundrel Gojo, who showed no respect for her as a senior.

Kamihara Hajime did not try to ask Ieiri Shoko about his confusion regarding Reverse Cursed Technique, because to some extent, Ieiri Shoko's guidance in this area was even less effective than Gojo Satoru's... And what he needed to ask, he had already asked. Now, he was just saying hello.

After returning to the dormitory, there was no more training for the day. What needed to be done now was to conserve energy and rest well, in preparation for tomorrow's competition.

The next day.

After a speech from Yaga Masamichi, the two prepared sides arrived at their respective starting points. Kamihara Hajime and the others stood in a forest.

Maki, carrying her long naginata, looked at everyone who was ready and said, "Do you all remember the plan? Inumaki and I will exorcise the low-grade Curses while finding the Kyoto Jujutsu High students. Inumaki's Zouge, if used for the first time, will very likely reduce their numbers."

"Yuta Okkotsu and Panda will take Bailang to find the Second Grade Curse released in the central area. Hajime will act alone, targeting that Curse as well, and also reducing their numbers. If we can find that Curse first, we'll win for sure. Or... we can make them all drop out!"

Bailang was allowed to participate in the competition because they only had five first-year students. Although Yuta Okkotsu was a Special Grade, a part of his combat power currently relied on Rika.

The higher-ups on both sides certainly knew this, so Bailang was allowed to be brought along. In fact, Bailang's role was primarily tracking and, at most, providing auxiliary support.

After all, the key to the competition was how to find and exorcise the Curses, as well as the opponents encountered along the way.

"Understood!"

The few of them then split up. Although the Second Grade Curse was released roughly in the middle, it wasn't inanimate and wouldn't stay still, so its current location must have changed.

Kamihara Hajime did not bring Extermination this time. The battle location was a forest, and visibility was poor. He couldn't fly like Gojo Sensei, nor did he have the vision of Six Eyes.

If he waited to draw his bow until he encountered an opponent, he might as well charge directly into close combat. So, he only carried a sword.

Meanwhile, Maki and Inumaki Toge were moving through the forest. Along the way, they encountered a Third Grade Curse, which resembled a hybrid of a toad and a lizard.

To finish the fight quickly, Inumaki Toge pulled down his collar and uttered a common phrase: "Stop!"

Technique: Zouge activated! Inumaki Toge's words became an ironclad law. The seemingly light two words brought an extremely oppressive restraint. The Curse involuntarily stopped in place. Maki, who was already prepared, rushed in front of it and cleanly cut it down.

At the same time, at the observation point in the rear, the Gakuganji Principal and teachers were all present. Currently, several screens were hung on the wall facing them, displaying various locations within the competition arena.

This was the shared vision from crows controlled by Mei Mei's Technique, "Black Bird Manipulation," projected onto the screens on the wall by Mei Mei, allowing for real-time observation of the competition details.

Of course, inviting Mei Mei also required payment, as Mei Mei was currently a freelance Jujutsu Sorcerer, though she cooperated closely with Jujutsu High and Headquarters.

And Jujutsu High had Gojo Satoru, the head of the Gojo Family, a genuine big financial backer. Because he never delayed payments and due to his past relationship as a classmate with Mei Mei, they often collaborated and kept in touch.

Gojo Satoru was chatting idly when suddenly, one of a row of talismans pasted on the nearby wall ignited with red flames.

The purpose of these talismans was to record which side exorcised the Curses in the field. The Curses had been marked before being released, and the Cursed Energy of both sides was registered here.

If a Curse was exorcised by someone from Tokyo Jujutsu High, the corresponding talisman would ignite with red flames. For Kyoto Jujutsu High, it would be blue. Due to Maki's presence, the unrecorded disappearance reaction was also set to red.

The current situation was that the Tokyo side had taken a one-point lead. Gojo Satoru clapped his hands and cheered, "Yay! We're up by one point."

Utahime Iori, sitting nearby, gave him a look of disdain: "How old are you? So childish!"

No sooner had she spoken than another talisman ignited, this time with blue flames. Utahime Iori's expression, which had just brightened with joy, paused with her right hand half-raised, then slowly lowered it.

"No, I must be calm, unmoved by honor or disgrace. These achievements are minor..."

Then, Utahime Iori, with a slight shift in her gaze, saw Gojo Satoru, who had somehow moved close to her. After a moment of stunned silence, Utahime Iori watched Gojo Satoru return to his seat and then speak in a very annoying tone.

"Utahime Iori was clearly happy too, why pretend not to care? I heard that if emotions are often suppressed and not released, it can lead to premature aging. You don't want to end up like Gakuganji Principal, do you?"

Utahime Iori finally couldn't hold back. Her angry voice immediately echoed in the room: "I'm the senior! You scoundrel, show some respect!"

Gojo Satoru, who had offended two people with one sentence, chuckled and sat back down. The exasperated Utahime Iori still couldn't do anything to him. If she hit him, his Technique would block everything, and verbally, she was even less a match for this scoundrel... So frustrating!

"Alright, alright, don't mind Gojo." Ieiri Shoko, beside her, comforted Utahime Iori. The latter, touched, hugged Ieiri Shoko: "Thank goodness I have Ieiri Shoko~"

Meanwhile, the grinning Gojo Satoru was already engrossed in watching the competition.

...

Rewind to last night, the Kyoto Jujutsu High students were discussing their tactics for the next day. Kamo Noritoshi said to everyone, "I heard from Gakuganji Principal and Utahime Iori-sensei that the first-year is indeed a Special Grade."

"But there seems to be some hidden reason. We don't need to concern ourselves with that. We'll set a plan and proceed. Nishimiya will be in charge of intelligence support from above. Mai, Mechamaru, and Kasumi will exorcise Curses while trying to disrupt their actions as much as possible. Try to get that dog out of the game and destroy their source of information."

"And Aoi Todo..."

Aoi Todo, standing aside with his arms crossed, said disdainfully, "Don't involve me in these messy things. I will find that first-year Special Grade. There will definitely be a satisfying battle between him and me!"

Kamo Noritoshi nodded: "Aoi Todo's task is this." Aoi Todo grumbled "Tch" but said nothing more.

"And I will find that Second Grade Curse as quickly as possible and exorcise it. Regardless of the reason for this Special Grade, we must not underestimate them because of their grade. We will avoid their sharp edge and use our intelligence advantage to seize victory!"

Mai was silent for a moment and then said, "Won't that seem too weak?"

Kamo Noritoshi said with a serious expression, "No! Do not underestimate any Special Grade. To some extent, in some aspects, they are ridiculously strong..."