Advanced Barrier Technique

Kana Shizumi arrived in Kyoto right on schedule late at night.

There was nothing wrong with acting during the day... but the stillness of the night was obviously more favorable for a villain.

Since he had chosen Kenjaku's side, Kana Shizumi had that much "self-control."

Of course, before getting started, he did not forget to grab a meal first.

It was the same familiar twenty-four-hour fast-food restaurant.

While eating, Kana Shizumi kept in touch with Kenjaku through text messages.

[I've arrived in Kyoto.]

[That was even a little faster than expected. Not bad. Remember what I told you to do... Lastly, I look forward to your performance.]

[Understood.]

I'd already transmigrated, so why did talking to my boss still feel so familiar?

Office drones really could not escape their fate of working themselves to the bone for others, no matter where they went.

After briefly sorting through the information on hand, Kana Shizumi fell into thought and casually stroked his chin.

This time, he had come with a task from Kenjaku... though fundamentally, it was also an "opportunity" he had fought for himself. Now that he knew how the plot would unfold, there was no reason not to make arrangements and stir up trouble in advance.

"Sorry for the wait... large rice, double grilled beef set. Enjoy."

Though he was half human and half cursed spirit, he still needed to replenish nutrients by eating.

He quickly refueled, paid the bill... then took a car to a spot five kilometers from his destination.

Getting off early was also part of his preparations. Since his destination was the Cursed Vault, he needed to make all the necessary arrangements beforehand.

Standing by the roadside, Kana Shizumi went through some warm-up exercises, let out a light breath, and brought his palms together in a soft clap.

Clap.

"Born from darkness, hidden within chaos..."

As his low chant rose, a mass of outlines like surging undercurrents slowly emerged, rising from below and completely "covering" Kana Shizumi's figure.

Curtain.

Judging by its nature, it was an isolation barrier used to block ordinary people's perception.

Even those without an Innate Technique could learn it through practice and a certain degree of talent—most supervisors in the original story knew this trick.

However, that was not all a Curtain could do.

A specifically modified Curtain could precisely exclude Satoru Gojo. Based on that principle, this Barrier Technique itself had considerable room for adaptation.

And at this moment, Kana Shizumi was making a few adjustments based on that.

He compressed and adjusted the Curtain's size and intensity, ultimately turning it into something literally "tangible."

"Wrap it around the outside of the body, creating an isolated state that can almost completely block perception..."

It created a camouflage effect, both in terms of cursed energy and reality.

Of course, that was only in theory.

In practice, maintaining a Barrier Technique required a constant output of cursed energy, so it could only narrow the range of "observation."

Kana Shizumi could now conceal not only his appearance but even his presence to an extreme degree... According to Kenjaku's observations and conclusions, even Special Grade powerhouses would have difficulty noticing him unless they came within ten meters.

You really were born with a talent for being a rat.

The comment was not particularly flattering, but it did describe Kana Shizumi's talent from another angle.

Only after reaching this level did Kana Shizumi slowly begin to move.

As for his first destination...

He chose the Kamo Lineage's Cursed Vault.

On one hand, Kenjaku had already taken control of the Kamo Lineage and had a clear grasp of its internal defensive layout and other details, all of which he could share with Kana Shizumi.

As long as exposure was not a concern, it was basically no different from going home...

"I'll use the Kamo Clan to get some practice first, then make a trip to Jujutsu High."

While moving, Kana Shizumi took a moment to glance at his current status panel.

[Kana Shizumi]

[Total Cursed Energy: 45 (+5 provided by Cursed Tool)]

[Cursed Energy Efficiency: 29]

[Cursed Energy Output: 28]

[Innate Technique: Modified Blood Manipulation]

[Hand-to-Hand Combat and Cursed Energy Control: 37]

[Derived Abilities: Advanced Barrier Technique, Flight (Cursed Tool-carried)]

Over the past half month, Kana Shizumi had not only followed Kenjaku in learning Barrier Techniques, but had also found time to complete various miscellaneous side quests.

None of them were anything impressive, but the accumulated gains were still fairly substantial.

As a result, his current level of strength had changed noticeably.

"Compared to when I first transmigrated here, I'm probably above the average Grade 2 level now..."

As mentioned before, a jujutsu sorcerer's strength was not reflected in a single stat.

This was a PvP game, not a contest of who had the bigger number... Whether someone's overall ability was up to standard could only be determined by fighting.

With that thought, Kana Shizumi slipped into the Kamo Clan's compound.

Though the original story had never described it, as one of the Big Three Families, the Kamo compound's grounds were no joke.

He quietly moved through it, avoiding the night patrols and Shikigami. With the patrol information Kenjaku had provided, Kana Shizumi easily made his way into the Cursed Vault.

From the outside, the Cursed Vault looked like a traditional Chinese medicine shop enlarged several times over.

Each wooden compartment was roughly the length and width of a forearm. Under the dim candlelight, Kana Shizumi gave the room a quick sweep.

"Only the compartments covered in sealing talismans can be confirmed to contain Cursed Tools..."

They accounted for only about a third of the whole place.

Kana Shizumi wore a troubled expression... Was this inventory a little lacking?

After a brief search, he quickly reached a conclusion:

One piece of good news and one piece of bad news.

The bad news was that, through his senses, he discovered that his remaining Six Roots were not in the Kamo Clan's Cursed Vault...

The good news was that there was an unexpected find.

In the innermost area of the Cursed Vault, Kana Shizumi found a specially sealed, independent "display case."

If it had been anywhere else, he definitely would not have dared to act recklessly. He did not know what restrictions might be in place, and one wrong move could cause a major problem.

But what kind of place was the Kamo Clan?

Jail Mom's backyard! He could do whatever he wanted... Besides, with Advanced Barrier Technique supporting him, Kana Shizumi easily avoided detection and observation from the restrictions.

Considering that, according to Kenjaku, the last time he had returned to the Kamo Clan to handle matters was over fifty years ago, even he was not entirely clear on the current situation.

So even Jail Mom had no idea what was inside the display case.

Time to open a blind box~

Kana Shizumi happily pried it open.

The first thing that came into view made him pause slightly.

"...Huh?"

He grabbed it, weighed it lightly in his hand, and raised his brows.

Sukuna's Fingers were actually sealed within the Kamo Lineage as well?