"Today's the day!"
There was one minute left until midnight. Once the clock struck twelve, Naomitsu would be three.
The seconds ticked by. When Naomitsu opened his eyes again, the cursed energy above his head had changed.
[67724]
A year's hard work, followed by doubling, had brought his cursed energy to a full sixty-seven thousand. But the numbers soon began rolling downward.
That was the binding vow Naomitsu had made. Ten percent of this cursed energy had to be deducted.
His remaining cursed energy was [60952] points.
"Having my cursed energy double feels so damn good. I can really feel it growing. Right now, just releasing my cursed energy would be enough to instantly kill any cursed spirit below Grade 2."
He clenched his fists, his body brimming with cursed energy. Compared with his previous self, it was like a bucket of water versus an entire water tank.
"That's the second year. Eight more to go. Eight years from now, I'll be eleven."
At eleven, he would still have three years to prepare before the plot began-before Itadori swallowed Sukuna's Finger.
Naomitsu was confident that by then, he would be another Satoru Gojo. He might even surpass Satoru Gojo and take on Sukuna one-on-one.
"Being strong really is addictive!"
Unfortunately, Naomitsu's good days ended there. That very evening, a piece of bad news landed in his lap.
He had to go to school!
Not only did he have to go, but his two older sisters did too. Their neighbor, Megumi Fushiguro, would also be attending.
As for Megumi Fushiguro's older sister, Tsumiki, she had already been going to school for some time. She would soon be starting middle school.
"I already transmigrated! Why do I still have to go to school?!"
But he had no chance to refuse. The next day, he, Maki, and Mai were bundled off to Kyoto Prefectural Elementary School.
"Megumi! Have you managed to tame your shikigami yet?"
Megumi Fushiguro shook his head. "Boss, I'm not you. How could I tame a shikigami that easily?"
"It's fine. You've got plenty of time."
Naomitsu patted Megumi's head, looking every bit like a senior encouraging his junior. Megumi Fushiguro rolled his eyes, but there was nothing he could do.
Naomitsu had more shikigami than he did. In a certain sense, he really could be considered his senior.
"Come on, let's go to school together. If anyone bullies you there, remember to come find me."
Megumi Fushiguro nodded, though inwardly he doubted anyone would bully him. This was Kyoto Prefectural Elementary School, after all. Only major families like the Zenin Clan could afford it.
Dressed and with their backpacks packed, the group arrived at Kyoto Prefectural Elementary School for the first time, with Naoya Zenin leading the way.
"This school's pretty big, huh?"
Maki nodded along. Having spent all her time at home, she had never seen a school like this before.
"This isn't an ordinary school. Besides regular subjects, they also teach jujutsu theory here. It specifically serves the three great clans."
Naomitsu's eyes immediately lit up. He had assumed it was an ordinary school, but if they taught jujutsu theory, then he was interested.
You should've said so sooner! I'd have been more than happy to come!
"Also, I've heard teachers and students from Kyoto Prefectural Jujutsu High occasionally come here to teach. They're really strong and can teach you all sorts of things."
Naomitsu's eyes shone even brighter. Wasn't that exactly what he had been craving?
"Does Satoru Gojo come?"
Naoya Zenin scratched his head. "Maybe? I only heard about it from my father... Most of the time, the one teaching is an old man who plays the guitar."
The person Naoya Zenin meant was Yoshinobu Gakuganji, the principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High. He was an old man who loved playing the guitar, and his cursed technique amplified sound waves.
He was similar to Cai Wenji-a support character built entirely for magic damage.
After bringing them to the school office, Naoya Zenin left. He had enrolled earlier and was one grade above Naomitsu and the others.
At the office, Naomitsu, Megumi Fushiguro, and the sisters were assigned to the same class. Their homeroom teacher was a polished, professional-looking woman who wore glasses.
She had her hair in a neat, high ponytail and wore a teacher's professional attire. Black-framed glasses completed her stern expression.
One glance was enough to tell that this teacher was not someone to mess with.
"My name is Tachibana Hiyori, and I'll be your homeroom teacher. You four, follow me."
On the way to the classroom, the teacher leafed through several sheets of paper. As she read the information on them, she occasionally glanced at Naomitsu and the others.
"You're only three?"
After seeing Naomitsu's age, Teacher Tachibana adjusted her glasses in shock. It was a gesture she made to compose herself.
"Yes. I just turned three today."
Teacher Tachibana was astonished by how fluently Naomitsu spoke. Normally, children sent to a jujutsu school were at least four to six years old.
Three-year-olds were exceedingly rare.
"It looks like the Zenin Clan has produced a little genius like Satoru Gojo too!"
"Thank you for the compliment, ma'am! Naturally!" Naomitsu bowed without a trace of modesty.
By the time they reached the classroom, Teacher Tachibana and the four children had become briefly acquainted. But the sight of a familiar face inside made Naomitsu's brow twitch.
"It's you! Naoya Zenin!"
The boy who stood up and shouted was none other than Noritoshi Kamo, whom Naomitsu had encountered not long ago. Apparently, by quite a coincidence, he was in the same class as Naomitsu.
"Naoya Zenin?"
Teacher Tachibana turned in surprise. Maki, Mai, and Megumi Fushiguro also cast curious looks his way.
"What are you shouting for? It's not like I owe you money!"
Naomitsu glared at Noritoshi Kamo, frightening him into dropping back into his seat. The memory of Naomitsu that night surfaced in his mind again.
"We'll talk after class! Just you wait!"
Noritoshi Kamo's threat angered several people at once. Maki and Mai went without saying, but Teacher Tachibana was equally furious.
"Kamo! Are you trying to bully a classmate right in front of your teacher? Stand outside for this lesson! Come to my office after class!"
Teacher Tachibana slapped her palm against the desk, making Noritoshi Kamo flinch. Afraid that his parents might be called in, he obediently left the classroom.
"Zenin, you four can sit by the windows on the left. There are exactly four seats there. Since you know each other, you can sit together."
When Teacher Tachibana turned back, she had returned to her composed, well-mannered self. It was hard to imagine how fierce she had been in her fury just moments earlier.
Naomitsu took the seat closest to the window. Mai lost to Maki in the scramble for the seat beside him and had to sit behind Naomitsu instead.
That left Megumi Fushiguro with the seat beside Mai in the back.
"Everyone! Class is starting!"
The first lesson that day was Teacher Tachibana's. Before beginning, she wrote the four children's names on the blackboard and introduced them to the class.
Then came a sleep-inducing theory lesson.
"Today, we'll discuss how cursed energy is produced and used."
This topic alone would take a very, very long time-at least five lessons.
The other students listened listlessly, yawning one after another. Only Naomitsu listened with shining eyes, his pen never stopping.
So that's how it works... When I get home, I'll do this... Then I'll try that!
Before you continue