Jujutsu Kaisen: Wheel Of Time

Chapter 9: Training Ends

"Black Flash" is an attack delivered by Jujutsu Sorcerers in a special state. As is well known, a Jujutsu Sorcerer's Cursed Energy flows from around their abdomen to their chest, arms, fists, and other body parts. This process, due to the conscious thought involved, creates a delay, a "split second" of lag.

Normally, one might not notice this, and some may not even be aware of this delay, but first-rate Spellcasters are different. The flow of their Cursed Energy is unpredictable, and the physical strike and the Cursed Energy strike are synchronized. This is a further application of Cursed Energy.

However, if this "synchronization" is viewed closely, it's not absolutely synchronized. Black Flash is a special phenomenon that occurs when a Jujutsu Sorcerer's Cursed Energy and strike are extremely close to this "synchronization," and the error in this synchronization is… 0.000001 seconds.

Whether by skill or by chance, after landing a Black Flash, a Jujutsu Sorcerer enters a state similar to a "zone" or a state of "no-self." The Cursed Energy that normally requires conscious manipulation flows as naturally as breathing, as if everything around them revolves around themselves.

In this state, a Jujutsu Sorcerer who has successfully landed a Black Flash and gained a deeper understanding of Cursed Energy will find it easier to land consecutive Black Flashes. Of course, "easier" is only relative.

The external manifestation of Black Flash is that, in the spatial distortion caused by this state, the shining light of Cursed Energy turns black. Most importantly, the power of this strike is 2.5 times the original!

Theoretically, no Spellcaster can intentionally land a Black Flash; it's more like a rare and unpredictable state. However, compared to Jujutsu Sorcerers who have experienced Black Flash and those who haven't, their distance from the core of Cursed Energy is vastly different.

However… Kamihara Hajime is an exception, because the trigger condition for him is much easier than for others. When the Technique called "Time Wheel" acts upon himself and his Cursed Energy, that 0.000001-second error conflict doesn't seem so difficult to achieve.

All he needs to control is, in the instant before striking the Cursed Spirit, as he observes the nearly stagnant surroundings with his mind, to activate his Technique to accelerate his Cursed Energy to that node, and then trigger Black Flash!

It sounds simple, but it actually requires extremely precise operation. This is all thanks to Kamihara Hajime's unique Technique, and perhaps due to his Technique, his extremely keen sense of time. For example, he can even actively raise his "time perception" far beyond ordinary people, which is commonly known as "a day feeling like a year."

However, Kamihara Hajime was quite happy to land a Black Flash on his first punch this time. After unintentionally landing it once, he actively practiced it after understanding it.

It's currently impossible to land it 100% of the time, but a Black Flash will definitely appear within ten punches! This probability will continue to increase with Kamihara Hajime's mastery and effort in his Technique.

...

After destroying this Cursed Spirit with two punches, Kamihara Hajime, who had just gotten into the rhythm, felt a sense of unspent power. He felt incredibly good right now, and his intuition told him that his next punch could also land a Black Flash! But this Cursed Spirit couldn't take any more! He should have held back a little earlier…

Maki, standing nearby, looked at Kamihara Hajime, who seemed unsatisfied, and couldn't help but twitch her lips. Was that the so-called "Black Flash"?

This Cursed Spirit was the type that had high tolerance for ordinary attacks but was very vulnerable to high-intensity attacks that could strike its entire body. Thus, it was killed by his two punches.

However, even a First Grade Curse wouldn't feel good after taking those two punches. If his third punch could also land a Black Flash, perhaps he could even exorcise a First Grade Curse…

Maki picked up her naginata and glanced at the almost "expanded" corridor: "Let's go clean up the remaining low-grade Cursed Spirits first."

The two then split up to exorcise the wandering low-grade Cursed Spirits. The main reason was that some of them were very good at hiding, and they were too weak to sense easily. As a result, it took longer to clear these low-grade Cursed Spirits than to eliminate that Second Grade Curse…

After finally finishing, Kamihara Hajime and Maki left the Hospital. A car was parked by the roadside, and a middle-aged office worker in a suit stood beside it.

As they got closer, they found that he wasn't middle-aged; it was just his working-class attire, his old-fashioned middle-parted hairstyle, and his uninspired black-rimmed glasses that made him look older than his actual age.

"Mr. Ijichi!"

Kamihara Hajime greeted him from afar. Ijichi Kiyotaka, Gojo Satoru's junior by two grades, became a Supervisor at Tokyo Jujutsu High due to his lack of sufficient talent and his own wishes. In a word, he is "reliable!"

Kamihara Hajime wasn't too familiar with him, but they knew each other. Ijichi saw the two walk out of the barrier and knew that the Cursed Spirit had been exorcised. He bowed slightly: "You two have worked hard!"

Kamihara Hajime scratched his head and chuckled: "Uncle Ijichi, you're too kind. So, are we going back now? Is there anything else?"

Ijichi adjusted his black-rimmed glasses: "No, this was the only Cursed Spirit mission this time. Gojo has no further arrangements."

Kamihara Hajime stroked his chin and smiled: "In that case, let's eat dinner before going back! I want sukiyaki!"

Maki had no objection to this; after all, he was the one offering to treat. The two then put their weapons in the car, and Ijichi drove them to a well-reputed restaurant nearby.

The three had a hearty meal. When they returned, they saw Panda and Inumaki Toge already at the school. Seeing the two return, Panda flexed his arm, trying to show off his muscles: "Hajime! Too slow, too slow~ Panda and Toge have already exorcised the Cursed Spirit!"

"Salmon."

Maki said lightly from the side: "Not really. This kid killed the Cursed Spirit in two hits. We just went to eat sukiyaki…"

Panda's mouth gaped wide: "Is Hajime that strong?" Then he realized what Maki had said in the latter half of her sentence.

"What? Hajime, you went to eat sukiyaki and didn't call Panda? And Toge?" Panda, almost leaping, pressed down on Kamihara Hajime, who repeatedly begged for mercy: "I just didn't know if you guys were finished! And Panda, how could you go out to eat with us? It would cause a scene!"

However, under Panda's forceful suppression, Kamihara Hajime quickly changed his tune: "Next time! I'll treat you next time!"

Maki saw the lively scene, adjusted her glasses, and smiled as she left.

...

The following days were very peaceful: practicing physical techniques, learning Jujutsu knowledge, and occasionally taking on missions.

By the way, their preliminary rankings were also confirmed. Currently, Kamihara Hajime and Inumaki Toge are Second Grade, Panda is Semi-Second Grade, but Maki is Fourth Grade.

Naturally, no one was happy after hearing this. On the contrary, Maki herself didn't seem to react much, as if she had expected it? But she was equally displeased.

Later, they learned from Gojo Satoru that the Zen'in had interfered, and everyone's perception of the family Maki was always reluctant to mention plummeted.

After collectively cursing those despicable villains, Maki eventually became a little embarrassed and stopped the somewhat agitated Panda and Kamihara Hajime, who was being sarcastic without a single vulgar word. Maki simply said: "It's okay, I'll get back everything I've lost through my own means in the future."

"Maki, you're the best!"

"Tuna mayonnaise!"

Panda put on a serious face, and he and Kamihara Hajime gave thumbs up on either side, with Inumaki Toge echoing them.

"These guys…"

Maki was almost covering her face. Then, as if she thought of something, she showed a "kind" smile: "This afternoon, it's decided: cursed tool practice and physical technique training."

The three froze in place. Since these were the_planes two practices, Techniques and Cursed Energy naturally couldn't be used. But in that case, in these two aspects, Maki would unilaterally beat the three of them, especially with a cursed tool; it would be a merciless "slaughter."

"Mustard!"

Inumaki Toge patted Panda as comfort, indicating that he wasn't the only one suffering. Panda hugged him, touched: "Toge is so good~" Seeing this, Kamihara Hajime on the side smirked and poured cold water on them: "What are you thinking, Panda? Maki always hits Toge the least; in the end, it's still us two getting beaten."

Inumaki Toge's "rice ball language" always conveyed simple meanings. Although he would also goof around with Kamihara Hajime and Panda, he usually wasn't the instigator, so he received less "special treatment" from Maki during training. This meant that… in the end, it was still the two of them who bore the brunt.

"What are you laughing at? Hajime, aren't you the same?"

The group then pushed and shoved each other amidst laughter, heading to the training ground.

"The path to becoming stronger starts now, step by step!"

Panda had just made his grand declaration when a sudden wooden stick struck him in the face, sending him sprawling. Kamihara Hajime silently cursed Panda in his heart; this scoundrel was truly cunning.

Then he tightened his grip on the wooden sword, staring intently at Maki opposite him. The battle was about to erupt. Maki utilized the advantage of her long weapon to the fullest, effortlessly deflecting and counterattacking Kamihara Hajime's every move. Conversely, Maki's attacks were not so easy to parry.

"Weapons are extensions of your limbs!"

Maki, while her stick blurred, battering Kamihara Hajime into a defensive mess, also instructed him: This kid… his Cursed Energy and Technique are very powerful, but his combat skills are mediocre. He relies entirely on overwhelming strength. If he encounters an equally matched enemy, he will suffer a loss.

"The use of a spear, a sword, a blade, or any other weapon, in a sense, is also a variation of fists, palms, and body movements. The weapon in your hand is not just a weapon; it is an embodiment of your martial will!"

Kamihara Hajime, who was listening, was caught off guard by Maki. His wooden sword was struck high into the air, and then a section of the wooden stick poked his shoulder, numbing half of his shoulder with pain.

Maki twirled her stick and propped it on the ground, a smirk on her lips: "You're already dead! If I had aimed a little differently just now, I would have hit your heart."

"Maki, can you go a little easier?" Kamihara Hajime moved his shoulder, still pondering the insights from the battle.

"I refuse! Losing and having a penalty accelerates progress." Maki mercilessly refused. However, this kid Hajime learns quite fast. It probably won't be long until he finishes the basics, and then more will have to be learned in real combat, life-or-death struggles.

"I have to get stronger too! I can't fall behind!"

Watching Kamihara Hajime, who had regrouped and charged again, Maki twirled her long stick, creating afterimages, and began the next round of combat.