Toho Tetsu's Evaluation Results

Half a month later, inside an office somewhere at Jujutsu High.

Yaga Masamichi still sat behind that desk. Before him were several records and documents that an Assistant Supervisor had just delivered.

He opened a few of them, looked them over, then set them back down. After a moment of silence, he removed his sunglasses, revealing his somewhat melancholy little eyes.

When he spoke, his words were full of surprise and emotion.

"I never expected that kid to grow so quickly. In such a short time, he's already crossed the threshold of a low-grade Sorcerer and reached the standard of a Grade 2 sorcerer..."

More than half a month had passed since Toho Tetsu's first mission, and he had not been idle during that time.

Every morning, he reinforced his knowledge at the training grounds. In the afternoons, he studied barrier techniques with Utahime, and at night, he went on missions with either Mei Mei or Utahime.

Of course, who he went with depended on which of them had time.

Even so, he had completed a large number of Grade 3 missions and several Grade 2 missions. His performance throughout had been exceptionally good—better, perhaps, than that of some people who had already been Sorcerers for years.

He had even joined several Sorcerers in handling a Grade 1 incident.

Although he had mostly dealt with lower-grade cursed spirits during that mission, he stepped forward to stop the Grade 1 cursed spirit when it tried to flee, buying the accompanying Grade 1 Sorcerer enough time to exorcise it.

That operation had allowed the boy to begin making a name for himself within Jujutsu High and among Sorcerers in the field. Quite a few people familiar with Yaga had asked him for information about the boy.

But Yaga had merely given them a few vague, half-true answers to brush them off.

After all, before those old men at the top reached a real conclusion, it was best not to let the boy enter too many people's sights.

At that thought, he pulled out the record from Toho Tetsu's first completed mission again, his gaze lingering uncertainly over several lines of the report.

"According to footage from the action recorder of accompanying Sorcerer Utahime Iori, when Toho Tetsu confronted the quasi-Grade 1 cursed spirit codenamed Death Bringer, he used high-intensity cursed energy reinforcement, temporarily raising his physical abilities to nearly the standard of a Grade 1 sorcerer.

According to medical personnel afterward, his body appeared to have suffered minor damage due to the excessive degree of cursed energy reinforcement. Therefore, this is judged not to be combat strength he can use routinely.

Furthermore, after employing cursed energy reinforcement at its maximum level, his emotional state appeared to change. When confronting cursed spirits, he no longer maintained his usual precise and calm approach, instead using methods that were almost like an execution. The reason remains unknown.

For the final strike, he used a cursed tool to unleash a slash filled with an immense amount of cursed energy, triggering Black Flash once again and leaving extremely obvious traces at the scene.

However, this should only have been a miraculous accidental trigger, just like the first time he landed Black Flash, and thus cannot be included in the overall assessment.

Preliminary assessment: Toho Tetsu's upper limit is approximately Grade 1."

Looking at the report compiled by the Assistant Supervisor, Yaga Masamichi hesitated, unsure whether he should submit it to the higher-ups exactly as it was.

Because it revealed many things worthy of attention.

Especially triggering Black Flash through a cursed tool.

Theoretically, such a thing was indeed possible, but there seemed to be no record of it anywhere in the history of Jujutsu Society. Would those people at the top really believe it was merely a coincidence?

But on second thought, although this information had reached his hands, the higher-ups certainly had records and backups as well. Even if he wanted to shield the boy a little longer and delay his appearance before the higher-ups, he probably could not do it.

Doing so might instead make the higher-ups suspect that he had other intentions, and then...

At that thought, Yaga Masamichi shook his head, put his sunglasses back on, then picked up the reports and documents from the desk and left the office.

About a month had passed since the deadline set by the higher-ups, and today was the official date for them to conclude the evaluation.

In other words, whether Toho Tetsu could remain at this school and become an official student depended on the results of today's evaluation.

Lost in thought, he crossed the corridor. As he passed the training grounds, his gaze unconsciously paused there for a moment.

Because even now, Toho Tetsu, Utahime Iori, and Mei Mei were still training and exercising there.

Watching them work so hard, his eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing. He merely turned and quietly headed toward the Five-Story Pagoda in the northwest of campus.

Soon, under the guidance and announcement of an Assistant Supervisor, he entered the room where the higher-ups had gathered.

The moment he stepped inside, several gazes settled on him at once.

If Toho Tetsu had been present, he might have been surprised to discover that while most of the people here were faces from the day of his trial, some were people he had never seen before. Even Yaga Masamichi himself did not know them.

But Yaga simply walked silently to the center of the room and stood there.

Still seated in the place of honor was the old man who had presided over the trial that day. Seeing Yaga standing there, he asked in an indifferent tone.

"Yaga, you're here."

"Yes, Principal. I have compiled the records of Toho Tetsu's learning progress and mission reports over this period, and I have brought them for your review."

As he spoke, he raised the documents in his hand slightly.

The old man seated at the head—the current principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High—did not move at all. He merely beckoned for a middle-aged man nearby to come over and place the report before him.

He began reading through the report. Though the others present were curious, none of them spoke, silently watching the situation unfold.

Yaga Masamichi was already accustomed to the gazes of others, so he remained silent as well.

Only after a long while did the current principal finally speak. There was a hint of admiration and emotion in his voice.

"This boy named Toho Tetsu is indeed promising. Not only does he possess an immense amount of cursed energy and excellent physical abilities, but his talent for learning far surpasses that of ordinary people. Give him more time, and even Special Grade 1 will likely be within easy reach."

After hearing his summary, many people present began whispering among themselves. After all, the backbone of Jujutsu Society was still made up of Grade 1 and Grade 2 sorcerers. There were only a handful of special grades in the entire Jujutsu Society, and Special Grade 1 was already considered extremely powerful.

Besides, they had not truly made any special investment in Toho Tetsu so far. They had merely given him a cursed tool and arranged for two people to teach him.

For him to achieve such growth with so little invested meant the returns had been exceptionally high.

Listening to the others discuss it, the current principal showed no intention of stopping them. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Yaga Masamichi.

"So, Yaga, what do you think? Do you believe he can pass the assessment?"

At that question, Yaga Masamichi's heartbeat quickened for an instant, but he quickly calmed himself and answered in a solemn, composed voice.

"During this period, he has consistently maintained his studies and training. He has also had no contact with any outsiders, and his attitude toward both learning and missions has been proactive.

"Furthermore, he has already undergone questioning through the Truth-Telling Scroll. Therefore, my final judgment is that he may enroll as an official student. In the future, he will certainly contribute to the work of Jujutsu Society."

After finishing his summary, he closed his mouth again and lowered his head, not saying another word.

He knew the current principal had surely already made his own decision. Asking him now was more like a formality.

Sure enough, the current principal nodded.

"Then it is settled. Starting today, his evaluation and assessment period officially ends. Yaga, you may begin arranging his enrollment."

Halfway through, he paused again.

"However, there is still one matter that remains unclear."

Before Yaga Masamichi could say anything, the old man with the snake-pattern family crest, still seated on the left side, spoke with curiosity.

"You mean?"

The slightly plump old man sitting opposite him noticed that he had been beaten to the question and glared at him in displeasure. Yet he did not interrupt, merely listening quietly.

The principal seated at the head continued.

"There seems to be no sign of any cursed technique in Toho Tetsu. Everything he has displayed so far appears to be relatively basic abilities."

At those words, the discussion among the others grew louder than before.

While some were surprised that Toho Tetsu had reached his current level of combat ability without a cursed technique, more people began voicing less favorable speculations.

"Could it be... that he has no cursed technique?"

"That would make sense. Perhaps his extraordinary talent is the result of some kind of Heavenly Restriction."

"You mean he traded away a cursed technique in exchange for rapid growth? That is certainly an interesting idea."

Once the possibility that he had no cursed technique was raised, most of those present who had still felt wary and suspicious of him no longer harbored such thoughts.

After all, in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, the difference between having a cursed technique and lacking one was truly enormous. Although Toho Tetsu's rate of progress was indeed terrifying, without a cursed technique, Grade 1 would be his absolute limit.

And even if he did possess a cursed technique, if its effect was not particularly useful in direct combat, then Special Grade 1 would be the most he could ever reach.

Someone at that level was still worth being wary of, but he would certainly not be worth investing too much thought into.

"But... whether he has one or not is still uncertain. He has only been exposed to Jujutsu Society for such a short time. Perhaps even he himself does not know whether he possesses a cursed technique."

The plump old man, who did not get along with the old man bearing the snake-pattern family crest, offered a completely opposing opinion, triggering another wave of discussion and hushed exchanges.

After all, that argument was reasonable as well.

Over the long years, many Sorcerers had awakened unfamiliar cursed techniques and had no idea how to use them at first. They could only gradually develop and understand them. There had been many such examples in the past.

Watching these higher-ups argue, Yaga Masamichi sighed inwardly.

Because in his view, whether Toho Tetsu possessed a cursed technique or not, neither outcome seemed particularly good.

If he had a cursed technique, and it happened to be an offensive or especially dangerous one, the people at Jujutsu High would certainly be wary of him. After all, he had already demonstrated a rate of growth far beyond normal.

And if he had no cursed technique, Jujutsu High might regard him as a blade meant specifically to handle difficult and complicated work, causing him to completely lose himself in the future.

That was the predicament Toho Tetsu would have to face.

As the current principal watched the people below discuss the matter, his eyes flickered slightly, but he still spoke to stop them.

"Enough. There is no need to discuss this now. In a few days, it should be time for that boy from the Gojo Clan to enroll, correct?"

At this point, he looked toward an unfamiliar old man seated among them, and his tone softened slightly.

"Then we will trouble Elder Gojo to have that boy examine him. With his Six Eyes, he should be able to tell whether Toho Tetsu possesses a cursed technique."

Upon hearing the current principal's words, the Gojo Clan elder's expression stiffened and darkened slightly.

After all, that so-called boy from the Gojo Clan had never listened to anyone at home. Whatever he did, he always acted entirely as he pleased.

But faced with the curious gazes of the others and the current principal's calm yet faintly oppressive stare, he could only nod.

"I understand."

Seeing him agree, the current principal nodded in satisfaction.

"If Toho Tetsu has a cursed technique, give him the records left behind by those people from before so that he can develop it as soon as possible. If he does not... then there is no need to devote too many resources to him afterward."

"The principal is right."

"What a wise decision."

"You truly have considered everything thoroughly."

Listening to the flattery of the other higher-ups, a trace of satisfaction flashed through the current principal's eyes, though he merely waved his hand on the surface.

"Alright, Yaga. You may leave now. Go prepare the enrollment arrangements for this year's new students, and inform that boy of the news as well."

Having received his orders, Yaga Masamichi sighed inwardly without showing it. After bowing to everyone present, he left the room. Standing outside the Five-Story Pagoda, he stared blankly at the distant sunset, lost in thought.