Playing Ninjutsu in Jujutsu Kaisen!

"It's fine, it's fine."

Gojo Satoru calmly walked out without a scratch on him. There wasn't even a speck of dust on his black clothes. Turning to look at the ruined classroom, he remarked, "Should we just tear down this whole area and build new buildings?"

Natsu Hiraku suddenly felt eager to give it a try. Just as he was about to volunteer, Gojo Satoru turned to face him and said:

"Never mind, never mind. Building new buildings is expensive. We might as well travel more and bring back some local specialties."

"..."

Natsu Hiraku's excited hand slowly dropped back down. "Teacher Gojo, can I learn that?"

"You can. I've already explained the theory. Try multiplying your cursed energy by itself. Negative times negative makes a positive, so the final result is still one—not negative one plus negative one, which equals negative two. It shouldn't be especially difficult for you right now. You might get it immediately, just like Shoko did."

"Negative one times negative one equals one..."

Natsu Hiraku took a deep breath and muttered to himself. Then he slowly closed his eyes, split the cursed energy within him into two equal portions, and tried to multiply them according to the theory.

It sounded simple enough, like anyone could do it, but once he actually started, it became confusing. Cursed energy was fundamentally a unit of calculation. In theory, putting two portions together simply made two.

But with a different way of thinking, it suddenly became understandable. He had to combine the two into something completely opposite. After all, negative times negative made a positive. As long as it could change, it was positive!

With that wild hypothesis in mind, Natsu Hiraku began. He forcibly compressed the two separated streams of cursed energy into one!

It didn't matter if he didn't understand it. As long as he was crazy enough, he could eventually succeed through trial and error!

A minute later, under Natsu Hiraku's strenuous compression, the two masses of cursed energy became one compressed mass of cursed energy...

"..."

Natsu Hiraku fell into deep thought. Looking at the extra compressed cursed energy inside his body, he was at a loss. Apparently, he still hadn't grasped the key point.

Seeing Natsu Hiraku at a complete loss, Gojo Satoru smiled. "That's the theory. That's the only way I can explain it. Think it over slowly. I'm heading out first, or Principal Yaga will be after me again."

Natsu Hiraku watched Gojo Satoru leave, then lowered his head and glanced at his abdomen. Finally, his gaze settled on the ruins nearby. He scratched his cheek with his left hand, kicked the wooden board beside his feet back into place, then walked away with his hands clasped behind his head, whistling.

When Principal Yaga got angry later, he would just sell out Teacher Gojo. No matter how he put it, it had nothing to do with him anyway.

As he passed the training grounds, Yuta Okkotsu, Panda, and the upperclassmen had already woken up and were burning away their youth and passion on the field...

"Run faster! Put some passion into it!!"

Kento Nanami smacked Yuta Okkotsu on the back, even though Yuta was already panting. Who knew how many laps Kento had lapped him by? How should he put it? It felt pretty good right now.

As usual, Panda sat off to the side and cheered them on, except today there was an extra Kirara Hoshi beside him.

Maki Zenin, who was swinging her blade, spotted Natsu Hiraku watching from the side and shouted, "What are you looking at? Get down here and train! We're about to go to war with Kyoto Jujutsu High. Don't embarrass the school!"

Natsu Hiraku smiled at that. She's still as strict as ever. Then he ran over and shouted:

"Coming!!"

Two days later...

The group left Tokyo Jujutsu High and took a special vehicle to Kyoto Jujutsu High. Over the past two days, Natsu Hiraku had racked his brains but still couldn't figure out what the hell negative times negative made a positive even meant.

Then came the so-called tactical discussion. With those two upperclassmen around, there was nothing to discuss. It seemed that, to them, charging headlong was enough.

Natsu Hiraku could only feel helpless about that. He could only keep Teacher Gojo's words from an hour ago firmly in mind.

Tokyo School and Kyoto School competed in one event selected by the principals of both schools each day, over the course of two days. This year, Principal Yaga seemed to have something to attend to and had discussed things with Kyoto School in advance, so Gojo Satoru was leading the team.

The first day of sorcerer combat was a team battle, while the second day was an individual battle. The interesting part was that this exchange event was a cursed battle where anything was allowed except killing!

And what Teacher Gojo had told them was:

"Go have fun without holding back!!"

After an unknown amount of time, Natsu Hiraku, who had been sitting in the car, was now lying down asleep. Shura had been left at Jujutsu High for Maki and the others to look after. He would summon him during tomorrow's battle and catch the enemy off guard.

When the car stopped, Yuta Okkotsu, seated beside him, gently shook the sleeping Natsu Hiraku. "We're here, Hiraku-kun."

"Mm... mm."

Natsu Hiraku slowly opened his eyes, stretched lazily, opened the window, and looked at the scenery outside. How should he put it... it was a little different from Tokyo Jujutsu High. For some reason, this place felt like an aristocratic academy.

He pushed open the car door and turned toward Kyoto Gate. An old man stood beneath the gate, leaning on a cane, with a teacher and a group of students beside him.

The most conspicuous was Todo Aoi. After all, at six-foot-three, with muscles bulging all over his body, he was impossible to miss.

Todo Aoi was also watching him. He seemed surprised at first, but that surprise quickly turned into delight. Running over, he shouted, "Brother, I didn't expect you to join this year's Friendly Match! Takada has a concert this afternoon. Come with me!"

"..."

Natsu Hiraku didn't know what to say. Kento Nanami, who was walking over beside him, asked, "Takada? What's that?"

"Hah!?"

Feeling that his idol had been insulted, Todo Aoi looked at Kento Nanami with a dark expression and asked, "You... what kind of woman do you like!"

"Hmph!"

Kento Nanami sneered and met Todo Aoi's gaze. "I like passionate women!"

"..."

Natsu Hiraku watched the two men who looked ready to start fighting with complete calm. He didn't know what to say, and it seemed he didn't want to say anything either.

Gojo Satoru walked over and patted Kento Nanami on the shoulder. "Save the fighting for tomorrow. We're going out to relax and have fun this afternoon, so don't ruin the mood."

After saying that, he ignored the two of them and looked toward Kyoto School's principal on the raised platform. A cryptic smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, almost as if he were mocking him, as he walked over and said:

"Principal Gakuganji, you're still as healthy as ever. Why not hand the principal's position over to some younger people sooner and go retire with those old cowards?"

"You!"

Yoshinobu Gakuganji opened his eyes beneath his drooping brows, a faint chill flashing within them. "You're too reckless with your words, Gojo Satoru..."

Gojo Satoru paid no attention to Yoshinobu Gakuganji's murderous stare. After all, he couldn't kill him. He calmly said, "How could that be? I've always spoken the truth. I even specially brought our adorable student, Yuta Okkotsu."

"You mean... the one cursed by a Special Grade Imaginary Cursed Spirit? What if he goes berserk here? Bastard!"

Yoshinobu Gakuganji questioned him in a low voice, staring fixedly at Gojo Satoru as though demanding an explanation.

"How could that happen? Yuta is a very good boy. This year's victory banner will definitely belong to our Jujutsu High."

As he spoke, Gojo Satoru shouted to the group behind him, "Students, come put down your bags first, then you can go out and have fun!!"

"Yeah!!"

Everyone cheered excitedly.

The watching students and teachers were stunned. Those Tokyo School people didn't seem to feel any pressure at all...

A blonde, blue-eyed girl holding a broom, her hair tied into two high pigtails, looked at Noritoshi Kamo beside her and complained, "They really are relaxed, considering they've lost so many times."

"Don't say that, Nishinomiya Momo. Last year does not represent this year. None of these people should be underestimated."

The man wore a black-and-blue kimono with white cloth tied around his waist. The long hair on his forehead was bound with two strips of white cloth, and his tone was light, gentle, and kind.

"Mm, this year's victory will only belong to us."

A mechanical voice rang out. Nishinomiya Momo and Noritoshi Kamo both looked toward their first-year junior, Mech-Maru. Honestly, they did not know much about this junior who had arrived not long ago. They only knew that he was a controlled cursed corpse...

Gojo Satoru looked at Utahime Iori beside Yoshinobu Gakuganji and asked, "How have you been lately?"

The woman in a white kimono and red skirt, with a scar on her face, replied coldly, "Not well. Seeing an idiot like you puts me in a bad mood."

"Huh? I don't think I've provoked you lately. How about a smile? Keeping a straight face all day is bad for your health, you know~!"

"..."

Utahime Iori looked at the idiot before her and didn't want to say anything else. She turned to Noritoshi Kamo. "Take them to rest."

"Yes, Teacher."

Noritoshi Kamo stepped forward and said to the approaching Tokyo School students and Gojo Satoru, "This way, please."

Natsu Hiraku glanced at Noritoshi Kamo, then turned to the tall Todo Aoi beside him and asked, "Is he strong?"

"He's alright."

Todo Aoi's "alright" instantly shattered Noritoshi Kamo internally. We're supposed to be comrades from the same school. Why are you putting me down?

At the same time, he became rather interested in the black-haired boy with messy bangs. "Hehe, may I ask your name? I am Noritoshi Kamo."

"My name is Natsu Hiraku. I'm a first-year from Tokyo School, here to make up the numbers," Natsu Hiraku answered frankly. There was nothing wrong with that answer. The third-years were away, and there were only two second-years. He and Yuta were naturally there to fill out the roster.

"Make up the numbers..."

Noritoshi Kamo glanced at him but didn't say anything, instead beginning to introduce the nearby tourist attractions.

The group arrived at their assigned rooms. After tossing in the clothes they had brought to change into over the next few days, they headed out in groups. Teacher Gojo was discussing something with Kyoto School's principal and did not go out with them.

At that moment, only two people were inside Kyoto School's principal's office, yet the atmosphere was heavy. Even the summer flies went around it, afraid of getting caught up in it.

Yoshinobu Gakuganji sat on the sofa with both hands resting on his cane, glaring at Gojo Satoru. "If that Special Grade Imaginary Vengeful Spirit goes berserk, our school has the duty to exorcise it immediately and eliminate all future trouble!"

Gojo Satoru lay on the sofa, glanced at Yoshinobu Gakuganji, and spread his arms. "You remember what I said before, right? I stand with Yuta Okkotsu. I don't have a good impression of stubborn, cowardly old men like you."

"Watch your words!!"

Yoshinobu Gakuganji gripped his cane and slammed it against the floor, as if Gojo had struck a sore spot. "What gives you the right to ensure that child can control a Special Grade Vengeful Spirit? If it goes berserk, it will be a catastrophic disaster for humanity! He should have been sentenced to death long ago!!"

"Phew~"

Gojo Satoru let out a soft breath. "Who do you think I am?"

"You..."

Yoshinobu Gakuganji's lips trembled, and shock appeared in his eyes, yet he could not utter another word. Then, as if letting out a breath, he sighed. "You'd better have made the right choice, Gojo Satoru. If Rika Orimoto goes berserk a second time, those people will do everything they can to kill Yuta Okkotsu."

"It's fine, it's fine. Yuta isn't the main attraction this time," Gojo Satoru said indifferently.

"Oh!"

Yoshinobu Gakuganji was intrigued. Even Yuta Okkotsu, who possessed a Special Grade Vengeful Spirit, was not the main attraction. Could one of the other three have even greater talent than him?

"Could you tell me about it?"

"Heh, I won't." Gojo Satoru stood up, stretched lazily, and walked out the door. "You'll find out tomorrow."

"..."

Yoshinobu Gakuganji watched Gojo Satoru leave. He picked up the teacup on the table and looked at the green leaves floating on the tea. Once his thoughts calmed, he took a light sip.

"Tomorrow, I'll see who this hidden dragon really is."

Outside Takada's concert.

Natsu Hiraku looked at the ticket in his hand and asked, "Todo, how many tickets do you have?"

"Not many, only eight. My hands were a little slow. I originally wanted to keep the rest as souvenirs, but then you showed up, brother. Let's watch it together!"

As Todo Aoi spoke, he looked at Yuta Okkotsu, who had been dragged along. "Don't be shy. A brother's brother is naturally my brother too. Takada is very cute!"

"Mm, mm..."

Yuta Okkotsu looked at the ticket in his hand and actually felt a little anticipation. It was his first time going to a concert with friends.

Natsu Hiraku, however, could not voice his suffering. He had not wanted to come, nor had he ever attended a so-called concert, but Todo Aoi's enthusiastic invitation had made it impossible for him to refuse.

Honestly... the line was really long...

Looking at the long line waiting to enter the concert, Natsu Hiraku recalled the time he had run into Todo Aoi. This was much faster, though. They just checked the tickets and went in. Back then, it had really dragged on...

The group followed the crowd into the concert and began their leisurely afternoon. Although they would be enemies tomorrow, they were still friends today.

Takada's singing echoed around them. It had to be said that her songs were as lively and passionate as someone her age should be. Natsu Hiraku even closed his eyes to take it in.

Onstage, Takada wore twin ponytails and sang music that made people's blood boil, occasionally striking all kinds of cute poses that drew cheers from the audience below.

Todo Aoi truly deserved to be her number one fan. He shouted the loudest, as if his own youthful blood was being stirred.

Yuta Okkotsu was completely overwhelmed by the scene. He began waving the glow stick in his hand as well, thinking, Everyone else is waving one anyway. I should do it too.

The restless afternoon slowly came to an end amid the cheers.

The next day.

6:50.