Mahoraga's Stock Increased by 2.5

Ever since the three of them had spent a day together, their lives had returned to normal.

Satoru Gojo had already gone to apply for Grade Assessments for all three of them.

However, since it was winter and there were fewer Cursed Spirits, the assessment missions were not issued immediately. Jujutsu Headquarters was looking for Cursed Spirits that "matched" Satoru Gojo and his companions' level.

Inside an abandoned building on the outskirts, a slug-like Cursed Spirit was continuously attacking Eiji.

Eiji merely reinforced his defenses with Cursed Energy and stood still.

Mahoraga's Dharma Wheel, hidden within the shadows, quietly turned.

"A corrosive ability, huh."

Seeing that Mahoraga had completed its adaptation, Eiji stopped waiting.

He raised his right hand, and a wind blade flashed past, instantly heavily injuring the Cursed Spirit.

"A Grade 3 Cursed Spirit. Its ability is corrosion. Want it?"

"Yeah."

Suguru Geto nodded. The severely injured Cursed Spirit transformed into a Cursed Spirit Jade, which Suguru Geto swallowed.

"Here."

Eiji handed over a Honey Tea with practiced ease.

"Thanks."

Suguru Geto had also grown accustomed to drinking a bottle of Honey Tea after swallowing a Cursed Spirit Jade. It really did make him feel much better.

"Lately, we haven't run into any decent Cursed Spirits."

"Yeah. Who knew Cursed Spirits had peak and off seasons too?"

If it were summer, the two of them could catch several Grade 1 Cursed Spirits with a little effort, and Grade 2 Cursed Spirits would be even easier to find.

But now, even Grade 2 Cursed Spirits were hard to come by.

"It's still early. Want to go have some fun somewhere?"

"How about the movies? A few new ones came out recently. Want to check them out?"

"Sure."

As they walked, the two discovered that several uninvited guests had already blocked the entrance to the building.

There were three of them in total: two around their own age, and a tall, thin man who looked to be in his thirties.

"Know them?"

Seeing the hostility in the three men's gazes toward Eiji, Suguru Geto sensed that something was off.

"I know them. I happen to have something to discuss with them too. You head back first."

Eiji spoke without the slightest concern.

Suguru Geto opened his mouth, but in the end, he swallowed the words offering to help.

Suguru Geto knew Eiji. He never did anything he wasn't confident about.

"I'll get going, then. Remember to come home early."

After leaving the building, Suguru Geto did not actually go home. Instead, he stood beneath a tree not far from the building.

Neither Satoru Gojo nor Suguru Geto was the type to stand by while a friend was in danger. It was just that, compared to Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto's concern was a little more restrained.

If it had been Satoru Gojo, he might have teleported off to buy an Edamame Cream Kikufuku, then teleported back to sit nearby and watch the show.

It was concern too, but it was hard to be touched by it.

"What, afraid of dragging your friend into this?"

The youth in the lead had short pale blond hair and delicate features. He wore a shirt-like top, traditional light hakama trousers, and a Haori over his shirt.

Eiji recognized the arrogant, overbearing youth at first glance.

Naoya Zenin.

So he dyed his hair.

Eiji remembered Naoya Zenin having black hair as a child.

"One person is enough to deal with Small Fry like you."

Eiji's calm reply was precisely the answer Naoya Zenin hated most.

Eiji was not surprised by their arrival.

After all, he had openly written Ten Shadows Technique on his Jujutsu High application.

Now that Eiji possessed the strength to stand up to the Zenin Family, he naturally was not afraid of them coming after him.

"Heh. You're just a lucky piece of trash. Kneel and beg me now, and I can let you return to the Zenin Family. What do you say?"

The anger on Naoya Zenin's face transformed into pride and arrogance as he reached the latter half of his sentence.

"You think you're worthy?"

Naoya Zenin's expression froze.

He had never expected this former servant of the Zenin Family to dare defy him again and again.

"Looks like I'll have to properly teach you the Zenin Family rules."

As soon as he finished speaking, the two behind Naoya Zenin moved.

"Zenin Family elite unit Hei, Futo Zenin."

"Zenin Family elite unit Hei, Ranta Zenin."

"Pfft."

Eiji laughed.

"What's so funny?"

Both of their voices were filled with fury.

"Nothing. It's just that people like you, who announce their family name everywhere they go, remind me of little brats who call for Mom everywhere they go."

"Go to hell!"

A gale swirled around Futo Zenin as he crossed the distance between them at incredible speed.

Eiji had just been about to move when he suddenly realized he could not move.

"Futo, now!"

Ranta Zenin, who had been standing in the back, widened his eyes and stared fixedly at Eiji.

Even after realizing he could not move, Eiji did not panic. Cursed Energy reinforcement and Mahoraga's power appeared over his body at the same time.

Bang.

Boom!

Eiji was struck by Futo Zenin's wind-accelerated fist and slammed into the wall behind him.

Smoke immediately filled the air.

Futo Zenin and Ranta Zenin did not pursue him, because Naoya had instructed them to bring this person back alive.

After all, he was the wielder of the Ten Shadows Technique. No matter how useless he was, he could still serve as a tool to intimidate the Gojo Family.

Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds...

"Hmph. Is that all?"

After a minute passed without Eiji appearing, the two assumed he had been defeated.

"A piece of trash like that dared to bark before Naoya."

Ranta Zenin subtly flattered Naoya Zenin.

"Who... are you calling that?"

A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind Ranta Zenin. He turned around in disbelief.

Eiji had appeared behind him through the shadows.

"You bastard."

Ranta Zenin glared at Eiji, fury seeming ready to burst from his eyes.

The instant his gaze caught Eiji, Ranta Zenin activated his Technique.

Bang.

With a soft sound, Ranta Zenin discovered that his Technique had been broken.

"Wait!"

Realizing his Technique had failed, Ranta Zenin was just about to warn Futo Zenin.

Before he could finish, Futo Zenin had already thrown a punch at Eiji.

Smack.

Eiji raised his right hand and caught Futo Zenin's fist.

Under Futo Zenin's disbelieving gaze, Eiji kicked him away.

"What did you do?"

Cold sweat ran down Ranta Zenin's forehead.

"Your Technique locks onto the target with your gaze, then uses Cursed Energy to create an eye-shaped cage that prevents them from moving, right?"

Under Ranta Zenin's astonished gaze, Eiji revealed the function of his Technique.

"I simply released Cursed Energy in advance and broke the cage before it could form."

"Why? How can you see it?"

Ranta Zenin panicked. He could not understand why this person knew his Technique so well when they were clearly meeting for the first time.

The Dharma Wheel in Eiji's shadow turned once more. This time, it adapted to Futo Zenin's Technique.

However, since it was also a wind-manipulation Technique, the method of adapting to Futo Zenin's Technique overlapped with Tiger Funeral's Technique.

As a result, Mahoraga gained half an adaptation method this time. Adding the corrosive cursed technique from that Cursed Spirit earlier and Ranta Zenin's binding cursed technique, Mahoraga's stock had happily increased by 2.5.

"Don't panic, Ranta. He just got lucky."

Hearing Futo Zenin's voice, Ranta Zenin's panic eased somewhat.

"You must be lying. My Technique is invisible. There's no way you can see it."

At that, Eiji's lips curled into a silent sneer.

What a joke. Mahoraga could even see Sukuna's slashes clearly. This little cage was child's play to Mahoraga.

"You bastard!"

Ranta Zenin roared and activated his Technique.

A streak of blood flowed from the corner of his eye.

Bang.

The familiar soft sound rang out again, shattering Ranta Zenin's last hope.

Seeing that Eiji had not moved, Futo Zenin assumed Ranta Zenin's Technique had succeeded and attacked Eiji again.

Eiji struck with his left hand, knocking Futo Zenin's fist aside.

I finally understand why Toji Fushiguro always liked defending against my attacks like this when we sparred. It really does look cool.

Eiji raised his right leg and kicked Futo Zenin in the stomach.

Futo Zenin's body instantly bent like a giant shrimp, and he flew out of the building like a cannonball.

After having Mahoraga give him a buff in advance, Eiji was no longer afraid of even Toji Fushiguro in hand-to-hand combat. Why would he fear Small Fry like Futo Zenin?