Saturday
-BOOM!
The sound of a massive explosion echoed across the Gojo compound.
A significant portion of the wall had been obliterated in the training area, leaving behind a gaping hole. Smoke billowed into the air, and as it dissipated, it revealed Jin lying on the ground amidst the rubble.
"Ugh..." Jin groaned, slowly propping himself up with one hand. His clothes were torn and covered in dirt, but he was still breathing.
"Oh, you survived that, huh?" Toji remarked, standing several feet away with his arms crossed and a smirk on his lips. "Your body's resilience is impressive."
Seijuro, Satoru, Kaori, and Wasuke watched the sparring session from a safe distance.
"There goes the training area... again," Seijuro muttered, rubbing his temples. "The finance department is going to cry."
"Hey, Jin, get up! I didn't raise a wuss!" Wasuke bellowed, cupping his hands around his mouth for emphasis.
Satoru and Kaori observed in awe. Despite being tossed around like a rag doll for the past forty minutes, Jin had managed to survive Toji's relentless attacks. His stamina was nothing short of remarkable.
Groaning, Jin slowly staggered to his feet, determination etched into his features. Toji's smirk widened as he watched Jin rise.
"Good," Toji said, his voice laced with anticipation. "Let's continue."
Jin shifted into a stance, his movements deliberate and steady. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, his legs slightly bent for balance. His arms rose, fists clenched, one slightly forward and the other guarding his face. His breathing steadied as he focused his gaze on Toji.
Toji didn't wait long. He lunged forward, his speed nearly impossible to track. Jin barely dodged the first punch, weaving to the side and feeling the force of the wind from Toji's missed strike.
"Not bad," Toji commented, spinning around and delivering a swift kick.
Jin ducked just in time, the kick grazing the top of his head. He used the moment to backpedal, creating some distance. Toji immediately closed the gap with a flurry of punches, each faster and more calculated than the last.
Jin's movements were reactive, almost instinctual. He dodged, sidestepped, and ducked, his heart pounding. Toji's attacks came relentlessly, but Jin managed to evade most of them, though narrowly.
Sweat dripped down Jin's face as he searched for an opening. His muscles burned, but his determination pushed him forward. Then, he saw a brief moment where Toji overextended on a punch.
'Now!' Jin thought.
He surged forward, ducking under Toji's arm and aiming a powerful strike at Toji's midsection.
But Toji was faster.
Toji grabbed Jin's extended arm with a vice-like grip in one fluid motion. "Nice try," he said, his smirk widening.
With a mighty heave, Toji hurled Jin through the air like a rag doll. Jin's body crashed into a nearby rock with a sickening thud, cracking the boulder upon impact.
"Ugh..." Jin groaned, his body slumping against the broken stone.
Toji walked toward him, his expression relaxed but with a hint of approval. He extended a hand. "That's all for today."
Still catching his breath, Jin reached out and took Toji's hand. Toji pulled him to his feet with surprising gentleness.
Seijuro observed the scene from the sidelines, his hand on his chin, deep in thought. 'Jin claimed he had never fought before, yet he held his own against Toji. That's no small feat.' Seijuro's lips curled into a small smile. 'Looks like Yuuji inherited more than just his heart from this guy.'
As Toji and Jin returned to the group, Satoru turned to Seijuro, his eyes sparkling excitedly. "Dad, when can I fight Toji like that?"
Seijuro ruffled Satoru's hair, chuckling. "Soon, but let's get you to master Blue first, alright?"
Kaori crossed her arms and leaned back with a smirk. "I have to admit, watching Itadori survive that... it's impressive. But if I'm next in training, Seijuro, don't think you're tossing me into Toji's hands like that."
Seijuro laughed, waving her off. "Don't worry, Kaori-san. You'll have your fair share of challenges, but I'll ease you in."
Wasuke shook his head, muttering under his breath. "My son's either an idiot or a genius to take a beating like that and keep standing..."
Despite the banter, the group felt a shared sense of camaraderie and growth as it prepared for the days ahead.
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Monday Morning
Two days had passed since the intense sparring match, and the training area was still under repair, with servants diligently working to fix the damage. Meanwhile, life had resumed its rhythm within the Gojo compound. Jin tended to the new café Seijuro had provided, with Kaori assisting him, while Wasuke stayed within the compound, occasionally grumbling about his son's new lifestyle.
Toji, as usual, found his perch on a high tree branch, watching the forest below with a smirk. From there, he had a clear view of Seijuro and Satoru, who were deep into their Monday training session.
The dense forest near the Gojo compound was their chosen training ground.
Satoru stood in the middle of a small clearing, his eyes closed and breathing steady. He held his hands before him, palms facing one another as if cradling an invisible sphere.
"Focus," Seijuro called out from a few meters away, his tone firm but encouraging. "Feel the flow of your cursed energy. Don't force it—guide it."
Satoru furrowed his brow, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He inhaled deeply, tuning out the distractions around him. The energy within him felt like a rushing river, wild and untamed. He visualized it slowing down, funneling into a steady stream.
Seconds passed, and then...
-Fwoosh!
A glowing blue orb materialized between Satoru's palms. The energy pulsed rhythmically, radiating a faint hum that filled the air.
Seijuro's face lit up with pride. "Good job, Satoru! You managed to summon Blue faster this time!"
Satoru opened his eyes, his crimson gaze fixed on the orb in his hands. He smiled brightly at Seijuro, the pride in his father's voice filling him with confidence.
"Now," Seijuro said, pointing toward a large boulder a few meters away. "Let's see how you control it. Aim for that rock."
Satoru nodded, his expression growing serious as he faced the target. He adjusted his stance, planting his feet firmly on the ground.
Satoru took a deep breath and extended his arm, guiding the orb forward precisely.
-BZZT!
The orb shot forward, spiraling through the air like a comet. The moment it made contact with the rock, there was a deafening CRACK! as the boulder was pulled into countless fragments. Dust and debris scattered through the clearing, leaving behind a smoldering crater where the rock once stood.
Seijuro grinned, raising his hand in a thumbs-up. "Excellent work, Satoru! Your control is getting better."
Satoru turned back to Seijuro, his face glowing with excitement. "Did you see that, Dad? I did it!"
Seijuro walked over, placing a hand on Satoru's head and ruffling his hair. "Of course I did. You're making incredible progress, kid."
From his perch in the tree, Toji smirked. "Not bad, brat," he muttered to himself. "Not bad at all."
The day was far from over, but Satoru's confidence soared as he continued his training, determined to master the abilities that would one day make him the strongest.
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Tuesday
The sun cast its golden rays through the dense canopy of trees in the forest near the Gojo compound. The air was fresh, carrying the earthy scent of leaves and soil.
This serene setting contrasted sharply with Kaori's tense anticipation as she stood across from Seijuro in the clearing. Today was her first day of training in cursed energy.
Seijuro stood a few feet away; his crimson eyes focused on her with a calm but determined gaze. He had his arms crossed, his posture relaxed yet commanding. Satoru Junior lazily lounged nearby, watching with mild interest, occasionally flicking his tail.
"Alright, Kaori-san," Seijuro began, his voice steady. "Before we get into anything fancy, let's start with the basics—understanding cursed energy. It's the foundation of everything a jujutsu sorcerer does."
Kaori nodded, her hands balled into fists at her sides. "I'm ready. Tell me what to do."
Seijuro smiled faintly. "Cursed energy is born from negative emotions—fear, anger, hatred, regret. Every human produces it, but most people can't control or even sense it. For jujutsu sorcerers, we refine that raw energy into something we can wield."
Kaori raised an eyebrow. "So... you're saying I need to get mad to use it?"
"Not exactly," Seijuro replied. "You don't need to feel angry or sad right now. The negative emotions are already within you, whether you realize it or not. Your job is to find that energy, grasp it, and then guide it into something usable."
Kaori tilted her head. "And how do I do that?"
Seijuro stepped closer, holding his hand out. A faint glow surrounded his palm, a swirl of cursed energy coalescing into a small blue orb. "Focus inward. Imagine your body is like a reservoir filled with water. The cursed energy is the water, but it's chaotic, surging in all directions. Your job is to control and channel that flow into your hand."
Kaori stared at the orb, her brow furrowing. "Alright. I'll give it a shot."
She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply to calm her nerves. Her thoughts drifted inward as she tried to imagine the reservoir Seijuro described. At first, her mind was blank, but slowly, she began to sense... something. It was faint, like a distant hum at the edge of her awareness.
'Is this it?' she thought.
Kaori furrowed her brow, her focus intensifying. She imagined the hum growing louder, the chaotic waves of cursed energy gathering into a single stream. Her hand trembled as she tried to guide the flow toward her palm.
"Almost there," Seijuro said gently. "Keep going. Don't force it—just guide it."
Kaori's breathing quickened, and her concentration narrowed on the task. She could feel a faint warmth in her hand, a tingling sensation that grew stronger. Her heart leaped with excitement. 'I'm doing it!'
But just as quickly, the energy slipped away. The warmth vanished, and her hand dropped to her side. Kaori opened her eyes, frustration written across her face. "I lost it..."
Seijuro walked over to her, his expression calm and reassuring. "Hey, that wasn't bad for your first try."
Kaori frowned, her hands curling into fists. "But I didn't do it. I failed."
Seijuro shook his head, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "No, you didn't fail. You took the first step, and that's more than most people ever do. Cursed energy is tricky to control, even for experienced sorcerers. It's like learning to ride a bike—you're going to stumble a lot before you find your balance."
Kaori looked up at him, her frustration softening. "You really think I can do this?"
Seijuro smiled, his crimson eyes filled with confidence. "Of course I do. You've got the potential; now it's just a matter of practice. And I'll be here to guide you every step of the way."
Kaori exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Alright. Let's try again."
"That's the spirit," Seijuro said, stepping back to give her space. "Take it slow. Trust yourself."
As Kaori closed her eyes to focus again, Seijuro watched her with quiet pride. The road ahead would be challenging, but he had no doubt she'd rise to meet it.
At the rate they absorb knowledge and how talented they are, it would be harder for Kenjaku to execute his plan, and the future that Gege had written would be changed.
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Author's Notes:
Yes, it's a training arc! Also, I'm busy with school, which is why my uploads are slow.