After that day's lessons ended, Utahime Iori brought Naomitsu good news the following morning.
The person who had agreed to teach Naomitsu Reverse Cursed Technique was Utahime Iori's good friend, Shoko Ieiri.
Shoko Ieiri was the school doctor at Tokyo Jujutsu High. She had been in the same class as Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, and had possessed Reverse Cursed Technique from birth.
Moreover, hers was an extremely rare Reverse Cursed Technique that could heal others.
Having her teach Naomitsu Reverse Cursed Technique was more suitable than asking Satoru Gojo.
An ordinary person could never have persuaded Shoko Ieiri to come. She spent her days at Tokyo Jujutsu High treating the injured and simply couldn't spare the time to go out and teach someone.
Only Utahime Iori could get her to come.
After all, Shoko Ieiri had stopped smoking entirely just because Utahime Iori had urged her to quit.
"Teacher! When is Shoko coming?"
Utahime Iori rolled her eyes and tousled Naomitsu's hair into a mess.
"You little rascal. You haven't even met her, and you're already buttering her up. Have you forgotten about your teacher?"
Naomitsu hastily shook his head. Making full use of his adorable little-boy face, he clung to Utahime Iori's arm and sweetly called her "big sister."
Under that barrage of cuteness, Utahime Iori couldn't stop smiling, and her heart felt as sweet as honey.
"Hmph, at least calling Shoko for help wasn't a waste. You'd better do your best and make sure you learn Reverse Cursed Technique."
Naomitsu nodded earnestly. "I will!"
Utahime Iori stroked Naomitsu's hair, though she didn't take his promise too seriously. After all, aside from people like Shoko Ieiri, who were born with the ability, everyone who learned it later was a top-tier genius.
Besides, Naomitsu was only three years old.
"She should arrive this afternoon, but she doesn't have much time. She'll probably only teach you for a day before heading back."
Naomitsu nodded again. "Got it, big sister Utahime! I'll work hard!"
"All right, head back. Wait until I call you." Utahime Iori patted Naomitsu on the shoulder and left the hallway.
Back in the classroom, Naomitsu found it hard to pay attention to the morning lessons, his mind occupied with Reverse Cursed Technique.
No, I can't do this. If I can't even control my own focus, how am I supposed to learn Reverse Cursed Technique?
Naomitsu shook the distracting thoughts from his head and began listening attentively. Once he focused, the time flew by.
"Naomitsu Zenin! Come with me!"
At two that afternoon, Utahime Iori came to the classroom to call for Naomitsu. When he turned, he saw someone standing beside her.
She had short brown hair and stood around five feet seven inches tall. Wearing a dark turtleneck and trousers, she looked neat and practical.
She looked a little sleepy, though, with dark circles beneath her eyes. Perhaps she had stayed up late the night before.
"Teacher Tachibana! I'm stepping out for a bit!"
After letting Teacher Tachibana know, Naomitsu went outside to meet Utahime Iori and Shoko Ieiri.
"Hi, big sister Utahime! Hi, big sister Shoko!"
Naomitsu made a good impression on Shoko Ieiri right from their first meeting. Shoko could hardly believe the little fellow before her was only three years old.
"Come on, follow me."
Shoko yawned and stretched lazily. She waved him along, then slipped both hands into her pockets, signaling for Naomitsu to follow.
Beside him, Utahime Iori patted Naomitsu's shoulder.
"Good luck!"
Naomitsu nodded and jogged to catch up with Shoko Ieiri. Walking one behind the other, they reached a bench in a park outside the school.
The moment Shoko Ieiri saw the bench, she couldn't bring herself to walk any farther. She plopped down, spread her arms out, tilted her head back, and let out another long yawn.
"Little guy! Do you really want to learn Reverse Cursed Technique? This isn't a joke!"
Whatever the case, Shoko Ieiri had to confirm it once more. The answer she received, however, was never going to change.
"I'm definitely going to learn Reverse Cursed Technique!"
Naomitsu was utterly determined. With his immense cursed energy, learning Reverse Cursed Technique would make him nearly as unkillable as Mahoraga.
Of course, he certainly couldn't withstand a World-Cutting Slash. One slash, and Naomitsu would become two halves.
"All right! I'll teach you!"
Shoko sprang to her feet, then crouched to meet Naomitsu's eyes. Seeing that his gaze remained resolute, she gave his shoulder an encouraging pat.
"Come on, let's find somewhere quieter."
Leaving the park, Shoko took Naomitsu back to school. They went to the indoor gymnasium, which was quiet and completely empty.
Then Shoko began her lesson.
"Cursed energy comes from human beings' negative emotions. It's negative energy (-), destructive in nature, and can't be used directly to repair the human body.
The principle behind Reverse Cursed Technique is that two negatives make a positive.
It's an advanced cursed energy manipulation technique that places high demands on the user. You have to control two streams of negative cursed energy in your brain and multiply them:
Cursed energy (-) × cursed energy (-) = positive energy (+)
This produces positive energy-reverse cursed energy-that's compatible with the human body. It can promote cell regeneration and repair external wounds, internal organs, and even severed limbs."
Previously, Naomitsu had only a vague understanding of Reverse Cursed Technique. Now, with Shoko breaking it down for him, he instantly grasped the core principles behind its operation.
Next, Shoko began guiding him step by step. The changes in cursed energy and how to use it all became crystal clear.
And Naomitsu's hard training over the past year had not been wasted. Under Shoko's patient guidance, he successfully produced "positive" cursed energy after just three attempts.
"Shoko! I've got it! It's positive cursed energy!"
Shoko's eyes widened. She had assumed this visit would be little more than a formality. Yet in less than an hour, Naomitsu had already completed the most important step in Reverse Cursed Technique.
"Don't rush. Stabilize it first, then test it."
Most Reverse Cursed Techniques could only heal the user. Shoko's alone had been capable of healing others from birth.
Shoko wanted to see whether Naomitsu's Reverse Cursed Technique could heal other people. If it could, perhaps he could become the Kyoto Jujutsu High School Doctor.
Naomitsu quieted his mind and focused entirely on his positive cursed energy. As it gradually stabilized, he found it easy to handle and could make it flow anywhere within his body.
"Here! Try using it on me!"
Shoko took out a scalpel and made a long cut along her arm, asking Naomitsu to use Reverse Cursed Technique on it.
Naomitsu gathered positive cursed energy in his palm and tried to use Reverse Cursed Technique. Nothing changed, however. Shoko's wound remained exactly as it was.
"Looks like you're the same as Gojo and the others."
By the time Shoko stood up, her arm had already returned to normal without him noticing, not a single cut remaining. That was the power of Reverse Cursed Technique.
Naomitsu didn't find that a shame. He had no desire to become a healer, after all. Being able to heal himself was enough.
"All right, lesson over. Since I finally got a chance to come out here, I might as well have some fun around Kyoto and head back tomorrow."
With the lesson finished, Shoko stretched happily.
"Little guy! Want me to take you back to school?"
Naomitsu shook his head. "Shoko, let's go have some fun together. I know some good places."
Mastering Reverse Cursed Technique was a tremendous cause for celebration for Naomitsu. Naturally, he wanted to reward himself and celebrate.
With Shoko there, he had the perfect excuse to skip class for a day and give himself a well-earned treat.
Before you continue