Meanwhile, in the wooded mountains outside Tokyo.
Jogo crouched on a rock, the Mount Fuji on top of his head swaying back and forth.
"Ten fingers? He said I only amounted to ten fingers!" he said in a muffled voice, his tone brimming with irrepressible excitement.
"Doesn't that mean I've reached the same level as the King of Curses?"
Nearby, Hanami stood in the shade of a tree, branches brushing gently over the ground with a soothing rustle.
"It was only an assessment of your cursed energy level. There's no need to take it so seriously.
Waiting until Shibuya to act, as planned, is the safest option."
"Safe, safe, all you ever care about is playing it safe." Jogo abruptly stood, the flames atop his head shooting higher.
"I want to see whether the strongest these humans talk about actually lives up to the name!
I'll kill Guyue Qingxiao and Satoru Gojo before the Shibuya Incident, leaving nothing to obstruct our plan!"
Hanami's branches paused.
"You're going out of your way to find him? That's too risky. Jujutsu High is the jujutsu sorcerers' territory."
"What's risky about it?"
Jogo scoffed. "I'm not fighting him to the death, just testing him out. If I really can't beat him, can't I just run?"
Hanami fell silent for a few seconds. Knowing there was no stopping him, Hanami only said softly, "Be careful. Don't get caught up in the fight."
"Relax!" Jogo laughed, his figure flickering into a streak of fire as he raced toward Jujutsu High.
Just as he approached the edge of the city, he suddenly paused. An exceptionally conspicuous surge of cursed energy came from below. It was none other than Satoru Gojo.
"Oh? What a coincidence."
Jogo chuckled, the flames atop his head crackling.
"Then I'll start with you.