After the matches, Naomitsu began laying out the training plans for Aoi Todo and the other two.
"Aoi Todo, keep focusing on hand-to-hand combat. When you have time, go spar with Fujiwara Sora to improve."
"Noritoshi Kamo, what matters most for your Blood Manipulation is your control over cursed energy. Go find Inumaki Yaki later. He has some insights into that."
"As for Naoya, your physical fitness is terrible. Even with Projection Sorcery, you can't land any effective attacks. Starting tomorrow, join Nobara Kugisaki on morning runs to build up your basic fitness."
With their training plans settled, Naomitsu felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
"I'll check your progress when I come back in a month. If anything comes up during that time, go see Ms. Utahime Iori."
After that final reminder, Naomitsu left Kyoto Jujutsu High without delay. Working was no fun. He had to make the most of this month and enjoy himself.
He packed his luggage, boarded the Shinkansen, and set off on a new journey.
Five hours later, he arrived in Sendai City.
Although Sendai was the administrative center of Miyagi Prefecture, it still couldn't compare with Tokyo. In terms of bustle and prosperity, it wasn't much different from Kyoto Prefecture.
After he got off the Shinkansen, people streamed past all around him. Blending into the sea of people, he was like a grain of sand in the desert.
"I'll head to Sugisawa Third High School first, then find somewhere to stay. At my current age, pulling a few strings to arrange enrollment shouldn't be hard."
Naomitsu would soon turn seven that year. He was one year older than Itadori and three years younger than Yuta Okkotsu.
Yuta Okkotsu was attending elementary school that year, while Itadori was in kindergarten. Staying near Sugisawa Third High School would make it convenient for Naomitsu to enroll and slip into both their circles.
A month was plenty of time. There was no rush.
After getting into a taxi, Naomitsu made a call. Yuki Tsukumo answered, and he told her that Aoi Todo was now his student.
He also asked her to arrange a place for him to stay and sort out his schooling.
Yuki Tsukumo was the sort of jujutsu sorcerer who mingled with society at large. She spent much of her time riding her motorcycle around for fun, so she had some connections in Sendai as well.
Jujutsu sorcerers generally enjoyed fairly high standing in non-sorcerer society, so minor matters like arranging accommodation and schooling were no problem at all.
"Okay! Got it! I've sent you the address and phone number! Just get in touch when you get there!"
A message from Yuki Tsukumo arrived on his flip phone. After reading it, Naomitsu gave the location to the taxi driver.
Twenty minutes later, he reached his destination.
It was a detached Japanese-style villa that looked large and spacious. Located close to Sugisawa Third High School, it was a very nice place to stay.
Knock, knock, knock!
He knocked, and the door opened. The contact Yuki Tsukumo had recommended to Naomitsu was a beautiful woman with long, wavy blonde hair.
"My name is Fujiki Baijie. You must be the little jujutsu sorcerer Yuki told me about?"
The woman named Baijie looked to be in her thirties and had a mature allure. She was of mixed Western and Japanese heritage.
She had a stunning figure, fair skin, and eye-catching blonde hair and blue eyes. Most importantly, she had the gentle demeanor of a traditional Japanese woman-the sort who would make an ideal wife.
"Hello, big sister Bai Jie!"
That one greeting flattered Bai Jie so much that she couldn't stop smiling. She took Naomitsu's backpack and led him into the villa by the hand.
Once inside, Bai Jie poured him water and brought him snacks. She was so warm and welcoming that it was as though Naomitsu were her own little brother.
Of course, that also had something to do with how adorably handsome Naomitsu was. At the moment, he looked like Sasuke with long hair.
A mature woman like Bai Jie could hardly resist him. On their very first meeting, one "big sister" had sent her maternal affection overflowing, and she already treated him like her own child.
Later, over dinner, Naomitsu told Bai Jie about his schooling.
Bai Jie, who was a curse user, took care of the whole matter for Naomitsu. She even joked that she would volunteer to cook his meals and wash his clothes.
The next day, Bai Jie was nowhere to be seen when Naomitsu got up. She had, however, left breakfast and a note for him on the table.
"Naomitsu-chan, I've arranged your school enrollment. Once you've had breakfast, you can go check in."
There was also a phone number at the bottom of the note. Naomitsu noted it down, picked up the rice ball and fried egg, and set off for Sugisawa Elementary School.
This was the elementary school Itadori would attend in the future and Yuta Okkotsu attended now. Rika, who had yet to be hit by a car, also went here.
Sugisawa Elementary School served the local area. The entire school had very few students-twenty or thirty at most.
The person Naomitsu reached at that number was the school's principal. After a warm welcome from the principal, Naomitsu was assigned to the same class as Yuta Okkotsu and Rika.
Naturally, Naomitsu had specifically requested that.
His arrival caused quite a stir in his new class. He was very handsome, and the little girls all liked him.
But Naomitsu had no interest in these little kids. His gaze went straight to Rika and Yuta Okkotsu.
Rika was actually something of a walking red flag, while Yuta Okkotsu was the earnest, slightly dim type.
Honestly, if Rika lived, she would have Yuta Okkotsu wrapped around her little finger. This child was far more calculating than she looked.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
"I wonder when Rika will die. Probably sometime in the next couple of days."
Watching the pair of childhood sweethearts, he naturally had no intention of saving her. His purpose in coming here was simply to determine how powerful Yuta Okkotsu's special grade vengeful spirit would be.
And to meet someone else.
After school, Naomitsu shouldered his little backpack. Instead of going straight home, he headed to the Bustling Shopping District near the elementary school.
After asking around over the past few days, Naomitsu had learned of a family named Itadori. Their house wasn't far away, just around the corner ahead.
"Grandpa!"
A childish voice sounded behind him, and Naomitsu turned to look.
The little boy had short, spiky pink hair. From his tender, pink-and-white face, Naomitsu could just make out the features of Yuji Itadori.
Target located!
Naomitsu didn't rashly approach him. Now that he had pinpointed the location, there was no need to rush.
He didn't need to get acquainted with Yuji Itadori. The boy was merely a tool, a vessel for Sukuna. The person Naomitsu really wanted to meet was his mother, Kaori Itadori-in other words, Kenjaku.
Having prepared such a carefully crafted vessel for Sukuna, Kenjaku couldn't possibly leave him unattended. The hiding place had to be somewhere within Sendai City.
"Fishing takes bait. Before long, the bait will appear, and the fish will naturally open its mouth and take the hook."
With a faint smile, Naomitsu walked past the Itadori home with his backpack on his shoulders. He looked innocent and harmless. No one knew that this six-year-old had the strength of a Special Grade Sorcerer.
"Little Rika, hurry up and get hit by a car. If you don't die, how will that fish ever take the bait?"
Naomitsu's shadow stretched longer and longer. Once he returned home, he wore an entirely different face. His innocent, guileless expression could easily have won him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
"Big sister Bai Jie! What are we eating today?"
Before you continue