Jujutsu Kaisen: Yearning to Become an Immortal God

This truly caught Yuki Tsukumo off guard.

She'd been thinking about how to contact the King of Curses, never expecting the King of Curses to contact her first. For an instant, goosebumps rose all over her body. The King of Curses had to be watching her somewhere. The moment she made the call, she'd been locked onto. She was now a turtle trapped in a jar.

Yuki Tsukumo immediately spread out her Cursed Energy senses, checking whether shikigami were watching nearby. "Where's Hakari?" she asked gravely. "What did you do to him?"

"He's safe." The King of Curses' voice was unexpectedly gentle. If she hadn't personally seen the Zenin Clan's ruins, she might've thought she was speaking to a kindergarten teacher. There was none of the legendary oppression in him; his voice was like a spring breeze brushing past.

"Kinji Hakari has been my subordinate for a long time, so you don't need to worry about me harming him. On the contrary, I rely on him greatly. He follows at my side for all my public activities. Even the phone number I left for contacting Japanese legislators is his. Only through him can you reach me and obtain the immortality I've promised."

She'd really hooked a big one this time!

Yuki Tsukumo stopped extending her senses and took a deep breath. She understood why the Lord of Curses had sought her out now—not because the Lord of Curses had come looking for her, but because she'd happened to find the Lord of Curses!

What a coincidence. Far too much of a coincidence! The other side probably thought Yuki Tsukumo had uncovered something, which was why he'd repeatedly pressured Kinji Hakari into making a choice. But in truth, Yuki Tsukumo only kept urging him because all her leads had gone cold and she could only rely on Kinji Hakari for information.

But this was a good thing! Yuki Tsukumo immediately got herself together. "You're being very frank," she said.

"Because it's you, I'm being very frank." The King of Curses' calm voice came through the phone. "Ms. Tsukumo, I heard you have an ideal—you want there to be no more Cursed Spirits in the world?"

"Lots of people know that. I've never hidden it." Yuki Tsukumo said. "You're quite envious of my ability, aren't you?" the Lord of Curses asked.

Yuki Tsukumo fell silent for a moment. The King of Curses had struck dead center! They'd only exchanged a few words, yet she suddenly had the illusion that the Lord of Curses had known her for a very long time. Her heartbeat even accelerated. It wasn't attraction—it was her survival instinct warning her to stay away from it, away from the King of Curses!

"Perhaps we have room to cooperate." The King of Curses spoke slowly. "If you've looked into the traces I've left in this world since my birth, then you should know that I've never harmed anyone. Unless necessary, I don't even use my ability. I'm actively seeking a way to coexist with humanity... and I'm confident I can do it."

"A Cursed Spirit actively trying to integrate into human society?" Yuki Tsukumo sneered. "Is that how you deceived Hakari with such obvious lies?"

The King of Curses sighed. "Ms. Tsukumo, you're deeply prejudiced against me."

"Shouldn't I be?" Yuki Tsukumo's voice was cold. "I still remember how you introduced yourself. You're the manifestation of humanity's curse upon humanity. You're the King of Curses, a once-in-a-millennium intelligent Cursed Spirit. You're not human, but a new possibility for Cursed Spirits. Not to mention that you possess the ability to make people evolve."

"Don't tell me you've never used that ability on yourself or on other Cursed Spirits. Let me ask you—aside from yourself, how many intelligent Shell Spirits do you have under your command?"

"No matter how many intelligent Cursed Spirits serve under me, they're all my family. They completely obey this family's head. Without my orders, they would never attack humans," the King of Curses said.

"You're naive like a child!" Yuki Tsukumo said coldly. "Once you created intelligent Cursed Spirits other than yourself—no, from the moment you were born—you had already effectively become the second advanced species on this planet after humanity. How did America treat the Native Americans back then?"

Because the United States was Japan's current big brother, she'd once looked upon it with admiration. Thus, the first country she visited after going abroad was the United States. She'd studied American history in detail and knew its development like the back of her hand. One hand held the phone to her ear while the other unconsciously clenched into a fist, her voice like a glacier that had frozen for millennia.

She said:

"Madison said the Native Americans had to be exterminated, that one should be executed every ten minutes."

"Sherman said, 'The only good Indians are dead Indians.' Pratt said, 'Kill the Indian, save the man.'"

"What do you think you're doing? Do you think you're some great saint creating a new world, one where humans and Cursed Spirits coexist peacefully and move forward hand in hand?"

Yuki Tsukumo's voice grew louder and louder until it finally thundered, "Don't make me laugh!"

"This is a war between species. Only by exterminating one side can victory be decided! This planet cannot allow the existence of a second advanced species!"

"Everything America's founding fathers said about the Native Americans can be applied to you, and it wouldn't be wrong even if it were harsher! Do you think this is a matter of right and wrong, good and evil? No! This is a conflict between species and civilizations, a struggle between two lion prides meeting in the wilderness!"

Mahito fell silent.

In the original work, Yuki Tsukumo was a stunning beauty with a bold, heroic spirit. Beyond that, she was an idealist who wanted to eradicate Cursed Spirits completely. She'd proposed many possibilities for achieving that goal. But she wasn't merely an idealist—she was also a woman of action. She truly acted on her beliefs, and the Cursed Tool Shikigami in her hands was one of her achievements.

She'd once considered having every ordinary person in the world possess a Cursed Tool Shikigami, using them to help ordinary people control the leakage of their Cursed Energy. But she ultimately gave up because the cost was simply too high and couldn't be brought down at all.

Even her own Cursed Tool Shikigami had only come into being through her extraordinary skill. How could ordinary people possess such skill? Even if the techniques were provided for free and specialists patiently taught them, the Jujutsu Society relied entirely on talent. It was like mathematics—you either got it or you didn't! More counterintuitive than physics, more dependent on feeling and luck than chemistry.

Even under Yuki Tsukumo's personal instruction, ordinary people might not be able to make one in their entire lives. This was something that simply couldn't be widely promoted. When that path failed, she moved on to the next. If Su hadn't appeared, she could've spent her entire life walking that road, devoting all her energy to fulfilling her ideal.

It could be said that although her technique was simply an explosion of raw numerical power, she herself was a master of jujutsu. She understood many common jujutsu techniques and was an exceptionally brilliant genius in every respect.

But there had never been any introduction of her political ability.

And now, for the first time, this political awareness appeared before Mahito—cold and resolute.

Mahito had known from the beginning that talking to her wouldn't go smoothly, but he hadn't expected Yuki Tsukumo to shut down the negotiation so completely right from the opening, without the slightest room for compromise.

Right. He'd nearly forgotten. This woman was the most radical when it came to Cursed Spirits.

Mahito knew that nothing he said now could win her over. She had a clear mind and would stop at nothing. No words could shake her resolve.

Unless he used the Thought Seal's endless loop.

Mahito sighed. "I'm sorry, Ms. Tsukumo. I underestimated you. We can only meet on a future battlefield. Sayonara."

"No, wait!" Yuki Tsukumo stopped him, sweat covering her forehead. She was used to speaking her mind. Even before people from Jujutsu Headquarters, she dared to raise her middle finger. Even before someone like Tengen, an ancestor-like figure, she dared to curse openly.

But the issue now wasn't a conflict of ideals. She needed to meet the King of Curses! How could Tengen lock onto it if she didn't meet it?

Yuki Tsukumo rubbed her face and forcibly softened her voice. Into the phone, she said, "I think there are some things we should discuss face-to-face."

Mahito was silent for a long time before asking, "Ms. Tsukumo, do you think I look like an idiot?" I knew I'd screwed this up! Yuki Tsukumo clicked her tongue.

She seemed to hear Guan Yuan chuckle in the distance. Damn it, she'd messed it up! The opportunity to break the deadlock had been right in front of her! "Is there really no room for negotiation?" Her tone weakened.

"What would we talk about?" Mahito asked. "You've already made your position absolute."

"Perhaps... perhaps..." Yuki Tsukumo began babbling nonsense. She truly wasn't good at this sort of thing. In fact, she'd been the same in the original work. Faced with Kenjaku, even though she knew Guan Yuan's plan was bound to have flaws, due to a lack of information and trust, she still followed Tengen's plan—and ended up being tricked to death by Tengen, dying so miserably that she never even got to use Domain Expansion.

"But I will still come see you," Mahito suddenly said.

Yuki Tsukumo froze. "Why? You should know I'll definitely make preparations."

"Because I won't refuse anyone who wishes to see me." Mahito smiled as he spoke. "Because my future is destined to make me the shared ruler of humans and Cursed Spirits. Why would an emperor fear meeting his own subject? I should openly welcome all praise and scorn, light and darkness. I should let everyone see every one of my actions and witness my resolve to rule the world."

Yuki Tsukumo was stunned. She could barely speak.

She'd long known that the King of Curses harbored enormous ambitions—naturally, since it called itself the King of Curses. From that title alone, she knew it wouldn't be content to serve others. It would surely stir up massive waves, devouring everything along the way before eventually sweeping across the world like a gale, a flood, a tsunami.

But she'd thought it would only do so after confirming it possessed that level of strength.

If the Lord of Curses had been an uneducated Cursed Spirit, Yuki Tsukumo wouldn't have had any doubts. She'd only mock it for becoming so arrogant after merely destroying the Zenin Clan that it dared come before a Special Grade Sorcerer. The moment she saw it, she'd grant it a quick death—perhaps even use its corpse to make a cursed tool.

But it had a master. Ashiya Sadatsuna couldn't possibly not know what the concept of a Special Grade Sorcerer truly meant.

There was only one explanation Yuki Tsukumo could think of. "You... are you confident you can deal with Satoru Gojo now?" she asked. "At least, I can escape without a problem," Mahito said.

"Do you know that Gojo possesses the fastest speed in the entire Jujutsu Society?" Yuki Tsukumo said coldly. "Do you think you can run? Even if you fled to Mars, Gojo could catch up to you."

That was purely a bluff. She had no idea whether Satoru Gojo could actually reach Mars, but she knew that if it were truly necessary, he could do it. So she spoke with complete confidence.

"Ms. Tsukumo," Mahito suddenly asked, "are you afraid of me?" Yuki Tsukumo paused.

"You're a Special Grade Sorcerer too. You should be full of confidence in yourself," Mahito said indifferently. "But since when have you begun considering that, after your defeat... you could only rely on Mr. Gojo to turn the tide?"

Yuki Tsukumo took a deep breath and calmly began sorting through her own emotions. Am I afraid? she asked herself.

Then, without surprise, she reached a conclusion. Yes. I am afraid.

She was afraid of this Cursed Spirit that could confidently come to meet her without the slightest hesitation. Yuki Tsukumo was certain that the King of Curses was absolutely no fool. In other words, if it truly came to meet her without requiring a Binding Vow that prevented either side from attacking, then it meant it had the ability to control the situation. Even if battle erupted on the spot, it could retreat unscathed—or even... kill her.

The unknown bred fear, and fear bred hesitation.

Yuki Tsukumo knew absolutely nothing about Mahito's methods. Naturally, she'd choose a more cautious approach, just as she had in the original work when, despite being deeply dissatisfied, she still chose to follow Tengen's plan to confront Kenjaku.

"You're even sharper than I imagined, Cursed Spirit." Yuki Tsukumo spoke slowly. "You're right. I shouldn't be afraid of you. You should be afraid of me. Since you won't refuse to meet me, then name a time and place. You can arrange everything. I'll go alone."

"I don't trust you, Ms. Tsukumo," Mahito said.

"You don't trust me?" Yuki Tsukumo wasn't surprised in the slightest. "I know. You want me to make a Binding Vow? No problem, I will. What kind of Binding Vow do you want? That I may never attack you again from now on? Or that I forget all information about meeting you, retaining only the memories of our discussion? Or something else?"

Yuki Tsukumo had already prepared herself.

"There are three Binding Vows," Mahito said.

Yuki Tsukumo's heart sank. The fact that the Lord of Shell Spirits could lay out three Binding Vows so clearly meant he'd anticipated this long ago. He'd prepared everything, merely waiting for Yuki Tsukumo to step into the trap! And Yuki Tsukumo had no choice unless she generously gave up this hard-won lead.

Yuki Tsukumo had the vague feeling that the King of Curses had woven a gigantic web, and she was an insect caught inside it, waiting for the spider's arrival.

The King of Curses said unhurriedly, "You will forget the time and place."

"You will come before me at the time and place, without anyone noticing. You will go alone."

Yuki Tsukumo's thoughts raced, and she immediately realized the King of Curses' intention:

"The place you've chosen isn't Japan, but overseas! You know Tengen is monitoring me, so you're avoiding her! You have a spy inside Jujutsu Headquarters, and one ranked highly enough to know about Tengen and my secret operation!"

We've actually alerted Tengen? Mahito was startled for a moment, but the feeling vanished in an instant.

However, Yuki Tsukumo had indeed guessed one thing correctly. Mahito truly didn't intend to meet Yuki Tsukumo in Japan. It was too dangerous! A battle against Yuki Tsukumo would be far more intense than the battle against the Zenin Clan. Wiping out several mountains with a casual gesture was entirely conceivable. If the fight became too fierce, it might even trigger an earthquake.

Japan wasn't suitable. They could only go abroad.

Just as the Zenin Clan had deliberately lured Satoru Gojo overseas before fighting Mahito, the same principle applied here.

Japan was too small for Satoru Gojo. If a major battle broke out, as long as Satoru Gojo was in the country, he would definitely arrive. Only when Satoru Gojo wasn't in Japan could a massive battle occur there.

Conversely, as long as Satoru Gojo was in Japan, he couldn't notice battles in other countries. The best way to avoid Satoru Gojo, aside from luring him overseas with a mission, was to go directly to another country! The world contained more than just Japan.

"Imagine whatever you like, Ms. Tsukumo." Mahito gave a soft laugh.

Tengen, you've failed in your duty. Yuki Tsukumo held back her complaint.

After thinking it over, she suddenly realized something. "You didn't even stipulate that I can't attack you?"

She immediately understood what that meant. Coldly, she said, "You're treating me as a stepping stone. You want to test a Special Grade Sorcerer's abilities in preparation for fighting Gojo in the future!?"

"Isn't that what Ms. Tsukumo wants as well?" Mahito asked calmly. "Ms. Tsukumo... aren't you also coming to meet me with the intention of taking the opportunity to eliminate me?"

Yuki Tsukumo was speechless, and her anger faded.

"Since both sides know how this meeting will end, both sides will make preparations." Mahito spoke slowly. "Ms. Tsukumo, none of my intelligence sources have specific information about your technique. They only know that you're extraordinarily strong and can almost solve problems through brute force alone. They also know you're highly skilled in common techniques—shikigami, Barrier Technique, Cursed Energy reinforcement, everything. Even if brute force can't solve a problem, you can solve it with common jujutsu."

That was the truth. Mahito truly had no intelligence source that could tell him about Yuki Tsukumo's abilities—yet he himself knew them perfectly well.

His battle with Yuki Tsukumo had already begun at this moment. He continued:

"Your Reverse Cursed Technique is also extremely formidable. What would normally be fatal wounds don't even count as minor injuries to you, and strategies of mutual destruction are ineffective against you."

"I can't find a weakness in you. If Special Grade Sorcerers have a standard, then you're the most standard Special Grade Sorcerer. Whether it's physical combat, techniques, survivability, or mobility, there's nothing you don't excel at." Mahito smiled. "I'm looking forward to meeting you, Ms. Tsukumo."

"On the battlefield," he said.

Yuki Tsukumo took a deep breath and smiled. "So am I, King of Curses."

Reducing Their Options

Yuki Tsukumo hung up and loudly complained into the empty air, "Tengen, you've failed in your duty! You actually let a Cursed Spirit spy infiltrate Jujutsu Headquarters! Now we're in a very passive position because of it."

A phone rang. Without surprise, Yuki Tsukumo answered it. "This truly is my failure," Tengen sighed.

"I thought you'd say you couldn't control Jujutsu Headquarters, considering those old men wouldn't obey your orders." Yuki Tsukumo sneered. "Jujutsu Headquarters should maintain the highest degree of purity. I am the prerequisite that ensures that. I failed to notice that Jujutsu Headquarters had been infiltrated... or perhaps bribed by spies. I should've recognized how immortality could corrupt Jujutsu Headquarters. I should've issued a warning. I failed to do so. I'm ashamed," Tengen sighed.

Yuki Tsukumo no longer knew what to say.

Tengen should have been the person standing at the peak of the Jujutsu Society. Her Immortality technique ensured the enduring prosperity of sorcerers. She didn't covet power or wealth. She lived forever in an empty shrine, maintaining the Great Barrier of Japan without rest. She was nearly the embodiment of sainthood, yet she was as humble as a brick in society.

Yuki Tsukumo could no longer voice any complaints. She asked, "Tengen, our secret operation has been exposed. Are you still confident you can capture the Lord of Shell Spirits?"

"My Great Barrier cannot extend overseas. I can do nothing..." Tengen pondered. "Perhaps you could ask Satoru Gojo for help."

"No. Remember the second Binding Vow? I must go meet the Lord of Curses without anyone noticing. If it were you, I don't know your methods very well, so I could maintain the Binding Vow while you tracked me. But I know Gojo's methods extremely well. I can guarantee he won't be able to track me." Yuki Tsukumo sighed.

"You know Satoru Gojo very well?" Tengen asked curiously. "Satoru Gojo possesses the finest eyes in the world. No flow of Cursed Energy can hide from him. If he wants to track you, all he needs is a record of your Cursed Energy residue. No matter where you run, he'll be able to follow you."

"It's precisely because I know his Six Eyes so well that he can't track me." Yuki Tsukumo sighed. "Everyone in the world knows about his Six Eyes. To prevent him from tracking them, countless sorcerers have offered up their wisdom. Most of that wisdom is indeed useless against him, but some methods work. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people."

Kenjaku had once told Mahito that a sorcerer's battle was a battle of information. Even if the gap between both sides was enormous and they were fundamentally incomparable, as long as one knew all of the opponent's methods, one could find ways to avoid them. At worst, one could understand the limits of one's own strength and avoid throwing one's life away.

Yuki Tsukumo was an all-around Special Grade Sorcerer, and she happened to know Satoru Gojo extremely well. She also had considerable expertise in how to block Satoru Gojo's Six Eyes.

Conversely, Yuki Tsukumo had protected her own intelligence very well. Even when Kenjaku faced her, he prioritized caution and was far less composed than when facing Satoru Gojo.

"He's too proud," Tengen said.

That was an acknowledgment of her confidence that if Yuki Tsukumo sincerely hid herself, Satoru Gojo would be unable to find her.

"Looks like I'll have to fight head-on." Yuki Tsukumo rallied herself. "It seems that high-ranking spy in Jujutsu Headquarters hasn't lost their mind enough to reveal all my information. At the very least, the Lord of Shell Spirits doesn't know the specifics of my technique. He only knows that I'm very strong... Heh, the outward appearance of my technique is simply that I have great strength. I've also never performed a Technique Reveal. My information protection paid off."

"I'll find a way to reduce the forces around the Lord of Curses," Guan Yuan said thoughtfully. "Ashiya is an ancient sorcerer, but his personal combat strength is insignificant. He shouldn't pose a threat to you. The problems now are the intelligent Shell Spirits created by the King of Curses himself, those curse users, and... Kinji Hakari."

"Looks like it'll be a melee." Yuki Tsukumo clenched her fist, but her expression wasn't grim. She was very good at chaotic battles. She wasn't afraid of this—instead, she was looking forward to it.

But Tengen said, "...Not necessarily." Not necessarily?

"I've said many times that Ashiya is an old-fashioned samurai. His pursuit of samurai honor was unmatched even in his own era." Tengen spoke slowly. "If you truly go alone, then the King of Curses, having inherited Ashiya's spirit, will very likely face you alone as well. Just as it went alone to the Zenin Clan."