Rika died, Brain appeared

It was a day of steady rain. From the moment he woke that morning, Naomitsu felt that something good would happen.

Putting on the raincoat Bai Jie had prepared for him, Naomitsu set off for school. Along the way, he felt that today should be the day.

He would have to reach school to confirm it.

Students hated rainy days. They could not run around freely and had to stay in their dull, oppressive classrooms.

As a result, nearly every seat in the classroom was occupied. Rika's seat, however, was empty.

Yuta Okkotsu's seat was empty too.

"Class rep, help me ask for leave. My stomach hurts, so I'm going to the hospital to get it checked."

Naomitsu really was going to the hospital, but not to gastroenterology. He was going to the hospital morgue.

In the hospital's emergency department, they had failed to save Rika.

Yuta Okkotsu was utterly distraught. His immense cursed energy had already captured Rika's soul. Rika, unwilling to die just like that, had chosen to remain by Yuta Okkotsu's side.

Naomitsu arrived just in time to witness it.

After a glance, Naomitsu searched the crowd. He was not looking for Kaori Itadori, but for someone with stitches across their head.

Those stitches were a binding vow of Kenjaku's cursed technique. Every time he changed brains, the stitches were visible on his head.

"Found you!"

With such an obvious clue, Naomitsu found him quickly. Kenjaku had not changed identities and still looked like Kaori Itadori.

After seeing Rika become a vengeful spirit, Kenjaku left the scene. Naomitsu followed him without making any particular effort to conceal himself.

The two left the hospital, one behind the other, and walked several hundred meters. Once they entered an alley, Kenjaku stopped.

"Little boy, why are you following me?"

Kenjaku alluringly brushed back the hair at his temple, wearing the gentle expression of a mature woman. The natural smile on his face made him look every bit the friendly lady next door.

If he wanted to put on an act, Naomitsu did not mind playing along.

"You're so pretty, ma'am. But it's strange. Why do you have stitches on your head?"

Naomitsu's adorable voice, paired with his harmless face, instantly stirred Kenjaku's maternal affection and reminded him of his own child, Yuji Itadori.

Holding hands, they truly looked like a heartwarming picture of an affectionate mother and her loving son.

Only after leaving the busy streets and bringing Naomitsu to the foot of a mountain did Kenjaku finally tire of acting. He dropped his smile and let go of Naomitsu's hand.

"Child! Your soul is very special! The most special of all the people I've ever seen!"

As an ancient monster who had lived for over a thousand years, Kenjaku could tell at a glance that Naomitsu was different.

"So are you, ma'am. You're like an old grandpa who's lived for a very, very long time." Naomitsu was probing Kenjaku with veiled insinuations too.

Kenjaku's expression changed, and his mature, feminine air vanished. He fixed his gaze on Naomitsu, trying to pressure him.

Naomitsu was unaffected and remained relaxed.

"Ma'am, you had something to do with that girl's death just now, didn't you? Are you planning something? It sounds pretty interesting!"

The idea that Kenjaku was responsible for Rika's death had come to Naomitsu in a flash of inspiration. Still, it was highly plausible, since it connected a great many events.

Cursed energy gathered on Kenjaku's hand. Clearly, he intended to silence Naomitsu for the sake of his plans.

"I can leave your plans alone, but I need you to do something for me. Something you'll be able to do in the future."

After hearing Naomitsu's proposal, Kenjaku withdrew his cursed energy. He was willing to negotiate if possible. After all, no matter how he looked at Naomitsu, the boy did not seem normal.

"After you achieve your goal, find someone named Hiromi Higuruma and bring him to me. I won't interfere with your affairs again."

Naomitsu's request was simple. For Kenjaku, it would take no more than lifting a finger.

Unable to foresee the future, Kenjaku chose to agree. Before that, however, he still wanted to learn Naomitsu's identity.

"What's your name? Where can I find you?"

Naomitsu did not hide it. Given Kenjaku's personality, he would surely investigate him thoroughly afterward anyway.

"Naoya Zenin, a teacher at Kyoto Jujutsu High. When the time comes, just bring him straight to Kyoto Jujutsu High."

Kenjaku nodded and gave Naomitsu one last appraising look. Their first encounter ended in a negotiated agreement.

For now, I'd better not change the plot recklessly. After all, Sukuna in Yuji's body and Sukuna in Megumi's body are both manageable. If I ruin the plot and end up with Sukuna in Gojo's body, it'll be completely hopeless.

Knowing part of the plot, Naomitsu feared only unforeseen surprises. The appearances of Inumaki and the Fujiwara clan were already a precedent.

If another powerhouse beyond special grade appeared, someone on par with Sukuna in Gojo's body, the plot would descend into complete chaos.

What he did not know, however, was that a change had already quietly occurred in some corner of the world-and it was something beyond his control.

After Rika became a vengeful spirit, Naomitsu did not return immediately. He loafed around at school for a few more days. Before leaving, he went to Yuta Okkotsu's home, intending to meet Rika in her vengeful spirit form.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Who is it?"

The person who opened the door was Yuta Okkotsu's younger sister. Seven or eight years old, she looked sweet and well-behaved.

"I'm Yuta Okkotsu's classmate. I came to see him."

After entering the house, Naomitsu followed Yuta Okkotsu's sister to a dark room, where he saw Yuta Okkotsu and the terrifying vengeful spirit Rika.

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"That's some impressive cursed energy!" A cursed energy reading hovered above the vengeful spirit Rika's head.

Her cursed energy far exceeded that of Kaori Itadori, whom he had seen earlier. Kaori Itadori, possessed by Kenjaku, had only 250,000 cursed energy.

"Okkotsu, come with me. If you stay here, your sister might die because of you."

Yuta Okkotsu raised his head blankly, while the vengeful spirit Rika suddenly burst out of the ring and lunged at Naomitsu with a roar.

"You're not taking my Yuta away!"

Rika was ferocious as a vengeful spirit, but that did her little good. Concerned about hurting Okkotsu, Naomitsu pulled Rika straight into his domain.

"Three Births, All Things!"

Naomitsu wrapped his left hand around his right, using a Taoist cupped-hand salute as the opening gesture for his domain. Its sure-hit effect covered the room, and a tug-of-war over cursed energy followed.

During this time, Naomitsu explained his domain's abilities to the immobilized boy and vengeful spirit.

Five minutes later, the domain shattered. Okkotsu and Rika's cursed energy had been almost completely drained.

Two more statues had appeared inside Naomitsu's domain. They stood on either side of Round Deer: Rika in her vengeful spirit form, and Okkotsu.

With this, even if Okkotsu refuses, the trip won't have been wasted.

As expected, under Rika's influence, Yuta Okkotsu refused Naomitsu. Naomitsu did not insist. After all, he had already made a promise to

Kenjaku.

"If you ever have nowhere left to turn, remember to come find me at Kyoto Jujutsu High. My name is Naomitsu Zenin, and I'm a teacher there."

Leaving Okkotsu with those words gave them a connection, at least. Naomitsu had been away for over half a month, and there was one final place he needed to visit.