Cute little Jogo

A city bustled with traffic.

A man in monk's robes crossed the street, a conspicuous stitched scar running across his forehead. A lock of black bangs hung down, framing his wicked smile.

It was Suguru Geto, Itadori's Mom.

Three figures invisible to ordinary people followed behind him.

One cursed spirit asked in confusion, "Was it really necessary to use up a precious finger just to confirm Ryomen Sukuna's strength?"

He was short, with one eye and one mouth. The Mount Fuji atop his head puffed out steam, and stoppers plugged both his ears.

It was our dear Jogo, forever determined to prove himself and only ever taking on top-tier opponents.

"Half-hearted tests wouldn't accomplish anything. Besides, we got the information we needed."

Jogo snorted. "I hope that isn't just an excuse."

Hanami chattered away, only to receive an irritated rebuke from Jogo. "Shut up!"

"I can't even understand your language, yet the meaning forces its way into my head. It's disgusting."

Suguru Geto strolled into a café.

"Welcome. A table for one?"

"Yes, just me."

The server soon led them to Table Five and brought over a glass of cold water with ice cubes floating in it.

Suguru Geto noticed a handsome young man at the next table, with sharp brows and bright eyes. He was idly scrolling through his phone, seemingly waiting for someone.

But he could barely detect any cursed energy from him.

"So your leader wants to reverse the positions of humans and curses. Is that right?"

Jogo tapped the table. "Not quite."

"Humans are made of lies. Their outward positive emotions and actions always conceal some ulterior motive."

"But hatred, murderous intent, and other negative emotions are completely genuine. We curses, born from those emotions..."

"Are the pure, true humans!"

Jogo's single eye was bloodshot, his voice icy. "The fakes should disappear."

Unbothered, Suguru Geto countered bluntly, "And yet, right now, you're the ones disappearing."

"That's why we're asking you. How can we beat the jujutsu sorcerers?"

Suguru Geto held up two fingers. "Before we start a war, two conditions have to be met."

"First, make Satoru Gojo unable to fight."

"Second, bring Ryomen Sukuna over to our side."

At this point, he hesitated, then raised another finger halfway. "There's also a first-year student at Jujutsu High named Araki Itsuki. He and Yuta Okkotsu together count as half a factor."

"Satoru Gojo? Why don't we just gang up on him and kill him?"

Hearing this, Suguru Geto inwardly mocked their ignorance of their own limits. He was just about to speak.

Pfft!

The young man beside them suddenly let out a strange laugh, nearly spraying out his coffee.

Suguru Geto looked over warily, only to see the young man waving his hands at him. "Sorry, I thought of a joke. I hope I didn't disturb you."

Suguru Geto smiled gently. "Not at all."

He turned back to continue talking with Jogo. "He'd get away. He might even exorcise all of you, so I suggest sealing him instead."

"With the special grade cursed object, the Prison Realm."

"The Prison Realm?!"

Hearing that name, Jogo instantly grew excited. "You have that forbidden thing?!"

Even the little Mount Fuji atop his head began erupting.

Suguru Geto chuckled. "Calm down, Jogo. It'll get hot..."

But before he finished, his pupils abruptly contracted, and he stared across the table in surprise.

At some point, the young man from the next table had appeared beside Jogo and plugged the Mount Fuji atop his head with the glass of water from their table!

The faster the ice cubes melted, the uglier Jogo's expression became.

When did he get here?!

Why didn't I notice this kid?!!!

Araki Itsuki flashed a bright, cheerful smile and waved at Suguru Geto.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Araki Itsuki."

Then he looked down at Jogo on his right and patted his head as though no one else were there.

"So this is Jogo?"

"You're so tiny and cute."

At those words, Jogo's little face instantly flushed red!

"Who are you calling tiny?! Who are you calling tiny?!!"

Flames formed from cursed energy in Jogo's right hand. He spun around and slammed it toward Araki Itsuki's head, intent on burning him to ashes.

Smack!

But Suguru Geto's expression turned grave as he seized Jogo's arm!

"If you cause too much of a commotion, I'll be exposed."

Remembering Suguru Geto's usefulness and the Prison Realm, Jogo extinguished the flames in his hand. "You got lucky this time!"

Araki Itsuki casually pointed outside. "Then shall we take this outside?"

Suguru Geto hadn't expected Araki Itsuki to be so bold. Yet the cursed energy coming from him was so faint that he seemed like an ordinary human.

Why does he know Jogo's name?

Why hasn't he run? Is he blindly arrogant, or does he have something to rely on?

Araki Itsuki gave Suguru Geto a wicked grin, then got up to leave.

"Follow me."

Undisguised malice shone in Jogo's eye as he immediately followed Araki Itsuki.

An empty road beside a wooded mountain.

Araki Itsuki stopped first and turned to stare at Suguru Geto and the others following him.

Jogo's face was still flushed. When he saw Araki Itsuki stop, he sneered, "Planning to die here?"

Araki Itsuki pulled a clean tissue from his pocket and wiped the liquid from the corner of his mouth.

"Wrong. I'm planning to enjoy a feast here."

Darkness, annihilation, fear, death, curses, loathing, hatred, resentment, pain, brutality, gloom, deathly silence...

Endless negative emotions and a terrifying aura suddenly erupted.

With Araki Itsuki at its center, the surging aura battered the surrounding trees, making them shake violently and rustle.

A chill struck Suguru Geto and the others at the same time, as though the shadow of death had seized their hearts.

"What's with these negative emotions? They're darker and more terrifying than a cursed spirit's!"

Which of us is the cursed spirit here?!

Suguru Geto's heart jolted, and he began to doubt his own eyes.

Unable to suppress his anger any longer, Jogo charged at Araki Itsuki.

"Heh-ha!"

With an excited, crazed cry, Jogo's small body leaped high into the air, then plummeted like a meteor.

But Araki Itsuki neither dodged nor retreated. A vicious-looking giant scythe appeared in his hands.

Boom!

A massive shock wave blasted outward. The road beneath Araki Itsuki's feet cracked under the strain, but his giant scythe stopped Jogo cold.

Then veins bulged along Araki Itsuki's arms. With a savage grin, he swung the scythe violently, flinging Jogo away.

Boom!

Jogo's body slammed into the mountainside, gouging a trench more than ten meters long.

Araki Itsuki was about to press his advantage when an opening of earth and stone emerged beneath him.

Whoosh!

With a thunderous roar, a hundred-meter pillar of flame erupted, completely engulfing Araki Itsuki just as he was about to move.

Jogo emerged from the shattered opening, holding two fingers together as he laughed. "You're nothing special after all."

Unfortunately, a strange, absurd sight suddenly unfolded within the towering pillar of fire.

A peculiar black vortex appeared where Araki Itsuki had been standing, forcibly devouring and absorbing the soaring flames.

The flames rapidly collapsed into the black vortex until they vanished entirely, annihilated within it.

Araki Itsuki's figure reappeared. Even his clothes were undamaged.

"Your flames aren't bad."

The vicious giant scythe's single eye opened, and a brutal demonic whisper echoed.

"Give up struggling. Your doom draws near."

Suguru Geto stared at the scythe in surprise. "A cursed tool that talks? I've never seen one before."

Araki Itsuki raised the giant scythe and pointed it straight at Jogo. "Rhaast, today you'll feast on flesh and blood!"

"Hah-haha!"

Boom, boom!

Terrifying sonic booms rang out as Araki Itsuki whipped up a massive blast of air and charged straight to Jogo's side.

The vicious giant scythe swept down, its extravagantly elegant blade wreathed in the purple-black power of the death omen star, intent on cutting Jogo in half.

Whoosh!

In a split second.

Jogo's right hand blazed with fire as he swiftly struck toward the descending scythe. Before they even touched...

The scorching, wild flames began pouring out and exploding without restraint.

Jogo intended to use the blast's force to block Araki Itsuki's attack.

But a mass of terrifying purple-black energy appeared around Araki Itsuki once again.

The soaring flames, the unbearable heat, even the warmth in the air began dissipating, absorbed and devoured by Araki Itsuki.

The towering pillar of fire vanished, leaving Jogo's body exposed before Araki Itsuki.

Just as the vicious giant scythe was about to cleave Jogo in half...

Countless thin roots suddenly burst from the ground. Several tough roots seized Jogo's body and rapidly dragged him away.

Meanwhile, the tough roots surrounding Araki Itsuki coiled and lunged like venomous snakes, binding his body tightly.

At the same time, three roots with exceptionally sharp tips rose up, aimed like spears at his head and neck.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The tough, sharp roots whistled like crossbow bolts as they shot forward, intent on piercing Araki Itsuki.

Rip!

But Araki Itsuki's muscles bulged and his veins stood out as he tore apart the tough roots coiled around him through sheer brute strength.

At the same time, the vicious giant scythe flashed, chopping the three sharp spears to pieces.

Amid the shower of shredded roots, Araki Itsuki rolled his neck and sneered at Hanami, who was forming a hand sign in the distance.

"If that were Blue Silver Entanglement, I might give you some respect. But these roots? Forget it!"