Kenjaku's Culling Game plan

Five minutes later, the domain shattered, and all six of them tumbled to the ground, utterly exhausted.

Meanwhile, six more statues appeared inside Naomitsu's domain. After glancing at them, Naomitsu began using Reverse Cursed Technique to treat the negative effects of technique burnout.

Naomitsu couldn't do it as quickly as Satoru Gojo. Fully recovering took him roughly thirty seconds to a minute.

But as his proficiency improved, he would get faster and faster.

When it came to domains, Naomitsu was still nowhere near as skilled as Gojo or Sukuna. Even Hollow Wicker Basket was something he had only considered looking into; he hadn't learned it yet.

"Teacher, you sucked all our cursed energy dry."

"This domain is torture!"

"Boss! When did you develop a domain? This is terrifying!"

A seven-year-old child had become a Special Grade Sorcerer and even learned to use a domain. Naoya Zenin despaired. He might as well give up on becoming clan head.

Competing with someone like that for the position was no different from being sent to fight Sukuna.

"You're all repeating the year. Go back to training and work hard to get stronger, using the methods I designed for you."

Clearing away the side effects of burnout and gaining six more statues in his domain helped ease Naomitsu's anger a little.

After dismissing the six students, he didn't want to stay there either.

"Time to go home. If I run into a few blind pests along the way, I can kill them to blow off some steam."

Naomitsu was furious. The Jujutsu Society had disappointed him terribly. Instead of protecting a promising talent like him, they actually wanted to hunt him down.

Sendai, near the Itadori home.

Kenjaku raised his head, rocking back and forth on a swing like a child.

"This world just keeps getting more interesting. Not only have those cursed spirits appeared, but some ancient jujutsu sorcerers have shown up too."

The longer Kenjaku lived, the more bored he grew. That was why he wanted to create something new.

He and Tengen were polar opposites. Tengen pursued absolute stability.

As for creating something new, Kenjaku had originally planned to resurrect Sukuna, play around with the Culling Game, and create an enormous cursed spirit.

But now, he was preparing something even more interesting.

An unforeseen variable had appeared, leaving Tengen's barrier riddled with holes. The next time he launched the Culling Game, it wouldn't be confined to a mere five-kilometer radius.

He would use the cursed spirits under his control to cover all of Japan. With every Japanese person serving as a medium, the constant fear of death would generate endless negative emotions.

That vicious cycle would create a terrifying cursed spirit that surpassed even Yamata no Great Serpent. Even a unique being like Sukuna would merely be struggling to preserve himself amid the apocalypse.

"Hahaha!!!"

"Interesting! This is so interesting! Being alive! It's wonderful!"

Just then, a grandfather and his grandson passed by.

"Grandpa? Why is that person laughing?"

The little grandson pointed at Kenjaku and asked his grandfather curiously. His innocent, puzzled expression was adorable.

"Let's go! Stay away from her! She's crazy!"

Kenjaku's expression settled, as though he hadn't been the one laughing a moment ago. Someone with such volatile moods could be utterly ruthless when killing.

"It's time to start preparing!"

Kenjaku left the park, heading somewhere unknown. This time, he left Sendai City for good.

Meanwhile, Naomitsu returned to the Zenin Clan after dealing with a few pests along the way. But the clan head, Naoya's father, brought him bad news.

"Word has come from the higher-ups. Every clan must send people to investigate the breaches in Tengen's barrier. Our Zenin Clan is responsible for the Hokkaido Region. I intend to send you with Naoya."

Naomitsu gave him a questioning look and didn't bother being polite.

"Shouldn't you old men be the first to go on dangerous missions? We're the younger generation-the clan's future."

Naomitsu couldn't be bothered. They were already hunting him down, yet they still expected him to work for them. Not helping the cursed spirits kill them was already more than generous.

"Then I'll have to send Maki, Mai, and the others with Naoya!"

Naomitsu narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the old man.

"Naobito Zenin! Are you threatening me?"

The old man shook his head. "I'm sending my own child too. How could I be threatening you? This is the decision of the Jujutsu Society's higher-ups. We old men need to be kept in reserve to deal with unknown threats in the future."

"Is Satoru Gojo going?" Naomitsu asked.

Naobito Zenin shook his head. "Anyone with strength will be held in reserve. Those being sent to the front lines to gather information this time are essentially the first wave of cannon fodder."

Naobito Zenin didn't hide anything. He told Naomitsu the truth.

"Do I look weak to you? You must have known for a while, right? I can use the Ten Shadows Technique!"

Naobito Zenin said nothing, sinking into a long silence.

Thinking back to the string of assassination attempts that day, Naomitsu understood. Sending him out wasn't about using him as cannon fodder. The higher-ups were clearly still trying to send him to his death.

Since assassination hadn't worked, they were using their authority to force him into a death trap.

The Jujutsu Society really was rotten to the core. Naomitsu sneered and agreed to Naobito Zenin's request to go to Hokkaido.

You want me dead? Fine, fine, fine! When Sukuna shows up, deal with him yourselves!

Still seething, Naomitsu returned to his courtyard.

Inside, Maki and Mai were circling Zhenwei. She had changed into a new outfit and looked much cuter.

If her thin face filled out a little more, she would be an utterly adorable little girl. Looking at her now, no one could possibly associate her with the Heavenly Tyrant.

"You're back, Nao-chan!"

The three gathered around Naomitsu, chattering about little things that had happened at school. Preoccupied with the Jujutsu Society's higher-ups, Naomitsu listened absentmindedly.

His two older sisters were pitifully weak. If those people failed to kill him and came to kidnap his sisters instead, the two of them would become his weak spot.

I need someone to protect them!

Naturally, Naomitsu's gaze shifted to the little girl beside his two sisters. Zhenwei, this Heavenly Tyrant, was an excellent piece of uncut jade.

And as a master sculptor, he could train Zhenwei into a replica of Toji.

If he gave her his Soul Liberation Blade, she could at least handle cursed spirits below Special Grade and most jujutsu sorcerers.

That would ensure his sisters' safety even when he wasn't around.

"Zhenwei, come here!"

The little girl had just been eating cake, and cream covered the corners of her mouth. Hearing Naomitsu call her, she immediately trotted over.

"Big brother Naomitsu!"

Her voice was sweeter than the cake at the corners of her mouth. Naomitsu wiped it away and stroked her hair.

"Starting tomorrow, how about training with your big brother, Zhenwei-chan?"

Little Zhenwei nodded eagerly. "Yes! Zhenwei will train hard! Then I'll protect big brother Naomitsu!"

Naomitsu lightly flicked her little nose. "You're supposed to protect yourself and your two big sisters."

Maki immediately objected when she heard that.

"Nao-chan! I don't need protecting! I'm not weak!" Naomitsu smiled without answering. The stronger he became, the more terrifying the enemies he faced would be.