Awakening of Accelerated Light: Part 3
Because he finally felt like he was getting closer to understanding exactly how this monster worked.
Kai used slashes pushing back Muten when it tried to land a strike on him, the invisible edges of Dismantle tearing through the air in rapid succession as the pressure waves left deep scars across the abandoned streets. Every time the shikigami attempted to close the distance and overwhelm him with its monstrous physical strength, layers of spatial force collided against its body and disrupted its momentum, forcing its massive frame to skid backwards across the ground. Concrete shattered beneath its feet while cracks spread through the roads like spiderwebs, and entire sections of nearby buildings trembled from the repeated impacts. Even then, Muten showed no signs of slowing down, its adaptation allowing it to continue pressing forward despite the punishment that would have already destroyed most special grade curse spirits.
Muten jumped up and punched towards Kai and was pushed back by space and missed, while Kai speed blitzed behind him with a knee strike knocking Muten forward. The impact folded the air itself as a shockwave exploded outward from the point of contact, blasting apart windows across several buildings and sending clouds of dust into the sky. Only for it to grab a truck and throw it to Kai while he only turned to the side and lifted his palm and used Cleave and bisected the truck into pieces. The vehicle split perfectly down the middle, both halves continuing past him before crashing into separate buildings and erupting into twisted metal and flames. To then feel a heavy weight and got launched into a building by the kick of Muten. The moment the attack connected Kai felt as if a mountain had struck his ribs, his body blasting through multiple walls before finally stopping deep inside a collapsing structure as debris rained down around him.
Boom..
Kai:"This has gone on long enough, it's time to end this."
Dust rolled off Kai's shoulders as he stood back up, blood dripping from cuts across his body while his curse energy surged violently beneath his skin. The crimson glow in his eyes intensified as he stared through the collapsing building and locked onto the silhouette of Muten approaching through the smoke. Every instinct in his body was screaming at him that this fight could not continue much longer. The shikigami was adapting too quickly and every second that passed increased the risk of something unexpected happening.
Muten rushed forward and jumped up four stories to meet Kai, while he chanted with his eyes glowing brighter. The wheel above the shikigami's head rotated with metallic sounds that echoed throughout the abandoned district, and with every turn Kai could feel its curse energy becoming more refined. It was learning. It was evolving. It was adapting to everything he had shown so far.
Kai:"Pierced, Space."Falling Crow."
Dismantle..
Chant:"Pierced, Space."Falling Crow."
Increases the amount of slashes by 300% for 10s, but the cost of curse energy is high currently equivalent to 20% of Kai's reserves.
Kai's thoughts:
"This is my last chance and a major gamble. I will only have 35% of my curse energy reserves after this and if this does not work.. then I will die here."
The realization settled in his mind with surprising calmness. There was no fear left. No hesitation. Only determination. The blood flowing through his veins felt hotter than ever before as he pushed every ounce of curse energy he could control into the technique. Around him the atmosphere distorted and vibrated violently as countless invisible slashes manifested throughout the battlefield.
With the will to succeed Kai breathed out and waited as hundreds of slashes cut down Muten mid air and until, a red sword manifested above his head and at that moment Kai moved and used curse energy to step off the air particles with speed towards Muten. His body blurred into a streak as he accelerated faster and faster, crossing distances in fractions of a second while the world around him seemed to slow down.
Kai:"Amplification."Charge."Extinguish."
Atomised Slash..
And at that moment white divine light harmonized with the very world.
The focused eyes of Kai locked onto Muten and moved his fist forward to strike his head, only for the shikigami to do a risky move when it sensed its death coming.. and it grabbed the shaft of the blade at the last moment and pushed it towards Kai. With that his fist collided with the red sword.
White Flash..
Thousand Slash..
Boom..
The instant the collision occurred reality itself seemed to hesitate. White light erupted from Kai's fist while thousands of overlapping slashes detonated simultaneously. The sky split apart with blinding brilliance as waves of force expanded outward, leveling everything in their path. Buildings were carved into fragments. Roads were ripped apart. The very ground beneath them fractured into massive trenches.
Space distorted as two figures flew in opposite directions and crashed as a smaller figure of Kai smashed high up into the building. Kai only heard the sound of buzzing as intense pain filled his chest only for him to find wide slash marks all over it but lucky for him it all healed shut with the rest of his injuries, with his output returning and his curse energy reserves back up to 60%. He stood up as he felt no pain and used curse energy into his eyes to look for Muten.
Kai:" I barely survived that. If not for landing a White Flash in that moment, I would have died."
Kai:
"And furthermore my curse energy reserves are back far from being depleted, now I have to use a powerful technique on the curse shikigami Muten to kill it."
His chest rose and fell heavily while fresh understanding flowed through his mind. The White Flash had once again forced open the doors of enlightenment. Countless fragments of knowledge connected together. Concepts that once seemed distant now appeared crystal clear.
Kai then looked out the window and saw the clouds clear up as the light of the sun shines on him, and at that moment a flood of information came into his brain at that moment as Kai grinned widely.
The state of enlightenment filled his brain as the final part, of his soul unlocked with his curse technique now complete.
Kai:"Well Temu Mahoraga, you're about to witness a real jujitsu of God."
His grin widened as streams of information raced through his mind faster than words could describe. Every principle behind his technique. Every possibility. Every pathway. Every extension. Everything connected together into a single complete whole.
A boom was heard by Kai as he looked downward, to see Muten raising high fast off the ground towards him. Kai then leaped down to meet him with a fist.
Boom..
Kai was launched higher up but the only thing now was the information racing in his mind as he turned back mid air, and Muten was leaping off the building to reach Kai, only for his hands to be open positioned by his stomach as his eyes glowed white.. and the curse energy around him glowed white as the space bent and light accelerated. His hair raised up as he looked like a god while white light expanded in between, his palms as it sparked out and fizzled out but Kai kept pouring all his curse energy.
The space itself began to shift as he was lifted and kept floating, in the same position mid air as Muten was just under him and an orb of bright white light.. grew as Kai lifted his hands over his head as he spoke.
The debris and close buildings broke apart, moving and spinning around Kai and Muten in the sky. Cars, steel beams, concrete, glass and shattered pieces of the battlefield were dragged upward by the overwhelming distortion. The air screamed as invisible forces twisted reality around the growing sphere.
Kai:"This is a perfect opportunity, to show you the peak of jujitsu.. I promise you won't be bored.
Kai:"Maximum output, Divine Plasma: Absolute Nova.."
Light accelerated as it all expanded from the centre point being Kai at the speed of light then it collapsed, just as fast in less than the time it expanded and then an explosion happened. With white light covering all the buildings in a 300 meter radius as everything was erased.
The world vanished beneath the brilliance.
Without sound or motion to existed as a barrier of light expanded within an instant, that was short but not it's light.
Everything caught inside the radius disappeared completely. Buildings ceased to exist. Roads ceased to exist. Curse energy ceased to exist. Matter itself was stripped away beneath the overwhelming force.
Kai:"Domain Amplification.."
With only a crater left while everything inside that radius was gone without a trace, only a burnt crisp of a body remained as one eye opened revealing a fading crimson glow.
Kai:"That was close, hahaha.. Satoru your technique's principle is truly Divine, removing all barriers around it so it can erase everything.. but at least now I have a counter for Unlimited Hollow my own version."
Kai removed the restriction of his curse technique Divine Plasma, and since the barrier that held the attack was no longer there it meant all matter ..would be ionised and reduced to photons but since it is his curse energy he has a strong resistance, to his own curse technique that was also reduced with a binding vow ..for more output giving his attack a permanent 200% output in exchange for it to be only used when the barrier and restriction around it is removed causing self harm and removing protection from his own curse technique, which in this situation was enough to almost kill him in the process from the overwhelming power.
Kai at the last second was able to switch perfectly within milliseconds into Domain Amplification, a feat previously could not dream of doing until the further enlightenment from the White Flash from his curse technique, using the state of enlightenment and reduce the damage dealt on himself with his own curse technique Divine Plasma.
The skin across his arms was burnt black. Blood covered his body. His muscles screamed in agony as they were ripped to pieces . Yet despite everything, he was smiling.
Kai:"I only die on my terms, haha.. mother I will remember you even though you're not my real—"
???:"Enough brat, I don't want to hear your sob story for last words.. you have proven yourself enough."
While Kai was confused about the voice again and its timing, even more strange was the pain in his eyes as his vision changed and he only saw red and in the air particles he saw a blue energy.
The world around him transformed and The flow of curse energy became visible,Every movement of power,reinforcement and Every fluctuation within living beings..Everything appeared before his eyes in impossible detail.
Kai:"Is that curse energy.. what are you doing to me."
???:"Brat, your awakening for the first time now. The future of the world will forever change.. because once again the eyes of the golden age, have once again returned to the jujitsu world."
The pain intensified until Kai felt as though molten metal had been poured directly into his eyes. Veins bulged around them as crimson and blue lights intertwined within his vision. His perception expanded beyond anything he had ever experienced before. The structure of curse techniques. The flow of barriers. The composition of souls. Even the lingering remnants of Muten's adaptation ability became visible before him.
Far above, the clouds parted completely,The sunlight descended upon the ruined battlefield.
And standing alone within the centre of a massive crater, surrounded by the remains of erased reality, Kai slowly opened his eyes to a world that no longer looked the same.
Then changes began to happen to his very DNA, his blood accelerating through his veins at an impossible speed as a white aura appeared around his body and wrapped itself around him like living flames. The energy flowed across every inch of his skin, illuminating the battlefield with a pale radiance that stood in complete contrast to the dark and violent nature of curse energy. His torn flesh began to regenerate before his eyes, burns fading away, fractured bones knitting back together, and every wound he had sustained throughout the battle disappearing as if they had never existed in the first place. Steam rose from his body as damaged cells were replaced and perfected, while the lingering pain that had been tormenting him vanished completely. But even more strange was the most noticeable change.. his eyes. More importantly his irises became doubled, forming concentric rings within one another as they glowed with an ancient crimson light, and for a brief moment he looked less like a human and more like a demon that had stepped out from a forgotten era.
Kai:"I feel my very blood and nature change, and that energy.. no way it's positive energy around me."
The very soul of Kai shifted as he finally felt complete, as Reverse Curse Technique healed all the damage done to him. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. It was not merely healing. It felt as though every aspect of his existence was being refined and reconstructed. The boundaries between body, soul, and curse energy seemed thinner than ever before, allowing him to perceive himself with perfect clarity. Every muscle fiber, every nerve pathway, every flow of energy inside him was visible to his senses.
Kai felt a second beat in his chest and when that happened his mind shattered, as he felt a large amount of curse energy in his body and that his reserves.. were now almost endless in comparison to what he had before. The pressure alone made the surrounding air tremble. Small cracks formed beneath his feet as waves of energy leaked from him unconsciously. It felt as though an ocean had been hidden inside a cup his entire life, only for the seal to finally break.
???:"No brat, these are the reserves you had at birth but I had to seal so you would not get noticed, but I guess in the end that didn't work out so well for your clan."
The voice echoed through his soul with an annoyed tone, yet Kai could hear something else hidden beneath it. Regret. It was subtle, but it existed.
He stood up after one hour to check his own body and saw the changes and then, felt more pain in his mind as information flooded it again about a new curse technique he just gained. Symbols, concepts, instincts and knowledge poured into his consciousness as if the technique had always belonged to him.
Kai:"Blood Control."
Kai:"What's that, and what happened to my body.. why do I feel like my energy signature is matching that of a curse spirit now."
???:"That's because you're a half curse spirit now mortal."
The voice Kai heard before was now back, and he did not know what to think except he was possessed. Yet strangely enough he did not feel threatened. The presence had saved him multiple times now, and if it wished to take control it likely would have already done so.
Kai:"What do you mean half a curse spirit."
???:"The Heian Eyes are the eyes of curses, perfectly suited for Blood Control. It changes your biology so that you can embody.. the curse technique at its true essence."
Kai:"I guess we can talk about that more later but, on to more important questions."
Kai:"Can you finally tell me who you are."
???:"Well if you must know my name is—"
Kai:"No never mind I'd rather not know, but tell me about this new curse technique.. why do I have it and it allows me to control blood, but I thought only the curse technique Blood Manipulation can do that."
???:"You're already starting to make me regret saving you mortal, but whatever. This Blood Manipulation you speak of does not hold a candle to this curse technique Blood Control."
Kai:"Why do you say that, and who are you calling a mortal."
???:"Listen kid, just check this so I don't have to explain too much."
A flood of information on the curse technique Blood Control entered the soul and mind of Kai Kurai.
Immediately his eyes widened.
Unlike Blood Manipulation, which controlled existing blood through curse energy, Blood Control treated blood itself as an extension of the soul. Every drop could store information, curse energy, memories, instincts and even fragments of techniques. Blood could be hardened beyond steel, accelerated beyond bullets, divided into thousands of autonomous constructs or used to alter his own body at a cellular level. More terrifying than that was the fact that Blood Control viewed the body itself as a battlefield. Every organ, muscle and cell could potentially be modified.
With the most important information that the full potential of Blood Control is limited to the vessel ,meaning a human could only ever reach the level of a curse womb death painting while a hybrid of a human and curse spirit or a full on curse spirit.. could full unleash the true potential of the curse technique.
Kai:"Oh Nahh, this is insane.. and what even are you again sorry for interrupting you."
???:"Well myself is a long story, but you have been chosen to be my heir and inherit the Heian Eyes."
Kai:"What are the Heian Eyes.. and what do you mean chosen."
???:"Well firstly I have been waiting for over a thousand years for the first worthy heir to gain.. a part of my powers and none of your clan have been worth it ,since that man until I decided you were worthy.
Kai:"What do you mean worthy and who do you mean by that man."
???:"I mean your ancestor or well more importantly ,your clan's progenitor Kentarō Kamo."
Kai:"Kamo?.. wait are you the reason why the Kamo clan elder representatives came to my house that day."
???:"Well that could be the reason, but I would not know they would have the means to figure out that you were a possible candidate."
Kai:"Unless they know more about that day when my clan was wiped out, and are hiding more information about it."
???:"I did help you out on that day, but I did need to take something in return to restore that power."
Kai:"I don't remember much but I now remember my mother crying, with my body in her arms as our clan was burnt down."
The memory struck him harder than any attack. For a moment he could smell the smoke again. Hear the screams. Feel the heat of the flames consuming everything he once knew.
Kai:"I should give you a name."
???:"Mortal, I'm not a pet ..I already have a name."
Kai ignored him completely and continued to think of a name .
A
Kai:"Since you say mortal so much.. how about I call you Zamasu, quite a fitting name."
Zamasu:"I checked your memories, this is a name from your past life.. wait you're an outsider , reincarnator and a traverser of worlds."
Kai:"Of course you can check my memories. Well can we at least be a team and you train me.. while I'm in this world since I am meant to be your heir, the last thing I want to do is never reach my full potential, like a special spiky haired sis con depressed boy."
Zamasu:"That can be done mortal, but you should know that by going through your memories.. you should be able to advance your curse energy control and as a little gift, you will be able to do something with your level of talent."
Kai closed his eyes and then he felt it, as the memories of the battle flashed by his thoughts a white energy covered his hands lightly as he opened his eyes and smiled.
Kai:"Reverse Curse Technique, I now have positive curse energy and I achieved this before the age of 10, this should be a feat on its own."
Kai:" how many sorcerers have I surpassed with this alone, in comparison it's like being grade one while everyone else is grade 3 ."
White energy danced around his fingers. Unlike curse energy it felt calm. Pure. Yet the power hidden within it was immense. With a single touch he could now heal wounds, repair damage and begin walking down a path that only elite sorcerers could dream of reaching.
Kai:"even better I can output it outside my body as well, meaning I can heal others but fuck that I want to use a binding vow on it instead."
Binding vow:Selfish Restoration..
The user permanently forfeits the ability to output Reverse Cursed Technique onto any other being..Cannot heal allies,Cannot heal civilians,Cannot heal shikigami.
In exchange Positive curse energy is now 400% efficient through the conversation from negative curse energy to positive curse energy..The cursed energy required to generate positive energy is reduced significantly,Self-healing remains viable even when nearly exhausted or in a life and death battle when curse energy output or curse energy reserves are extremely low.The user can continue using RCT when most sorcerers would be unable to.
Kai:"this is honestly my best binding vow, with this I will never run into the situation sukuna does later on like in the manga.. because now my control of positive curse energy is equivalent to Satoru Gojo's control of negative curse energy, meaning there is no body better At controlling positive curse energy then I am."
Kai's thoughts:
"This will have the added bonus of making curse technique reversal, much easier and cost only a little more then using curse technique lapse.. while for other sorcerers they need double the amount of curse energy and most is lost within the conversation process, I don't have that problem anymore and this should also make it so I can achieve.. White flash far more often since my control of positive curse energy ,currently surpasses my control of negative curse energy but honestly the greatest benefit is the reduction.. and control since even when I fight for days with even extreme low curse energy reserves, and even low output from taking to much damage I will never lose the ability ..to use reverse curse technique at most, the speed of how much I can heal will drop but at a slower rate compared to others.. because of my control and having my curse technique blood control already boosts healing myself ,with positive energy 400% more effective since the conversion to blood is not needed and my curse technique.. can directly strengthen and reinforce my internal body speeding up the process compared to other sorcerers."
Kai:"so technically when now using Reverse curse technique on myself with my curse technique , it's 500% more efficient then the normal sorcerer with RCT meaning advanced level of healing is now almost effortless for me.. and even healing a burnout curse technique should not be far from the realm of my capabilities anymore."
Zamasu:"don't you think your abusing binding vows to much ."
Kai:" well not really since it's all apart of jujitsu, it's just the part that no average sorcerer is willing to use.. unless they wish to gamble with their life."
Zamasu:"yea but that six eye brat will start having questions, because when he looks at you the next time and tries to figure out how your doing it.. he will notice that a lot of information will be blocked by the binding vow, and that will bring in a lot of questions on how a 8 year old brat.. knows so much about advanced forbidden jujitsu."
Kai:"well at this point I'm not so worried I have the strength to be considered full grade 1 at this point honestly."
Zamasu:" you do have a point and with the ability to heal your constantly, you have a major advantage over sorcerers even over that physical heavenly restriction brat.. you always associate yourself with ."
Zamasu:"enough getting side tracked Mortal.. you did well like I expected, now you should go back to that underground base and get those kids before the curse spirits do."
While Geto came out with curse spirits holding the children that survived, while the corpses would be taken by the windows when they arrived.
The expressions on the faces of the surviving children were hollow. Some stared blankly into space. Others silently cried. The horrors of the underground facility had carved scars into their minds that would likely never disappear.
Kai took a few steps then looked at a four handled wheel slowly turning in the crater and walked over to take it.
Kai:"It looks like you survived as well barely, but this is perfect I could use you."
The wheel felt strangely heavy despite its size. As his fingers touched it he felt fragments of information lingering within it. Adaptation. Evolution. Analysis. The principles behind the shikigami still existed.
Kai waited for Geto and asked him to subjugate the handle in his hand as the curse shikigami turned into a black and gold orb, that Kai took and put in his clothes for later use.
Geto:"What will you even do with that anyways."
Kai:"Well after the fight with it I have this feeling that I can do something important with it, and for it to happen I need more barrier knowledge for me to be able to achieve it."
Geto:"Well sure. I found this kid, he is the only one to survive having his heart replaced."
Kai:"Let's go to him then so I can see what effects have happened to him."
Kai moved with understanding and curse energy covered his body, but his own blood also moved in sync forcing his muscles to give more power as with a single step he vanished and appeared inside the base in one second.
The ground beneath where he had stood exploded.
A sonic boom echoed across the town.
Geto's eyes widened slightly as he watched the afterimage fade.
Even Kai himself was surprised.
That single movement had not merely used curse energy reinforcement.
Boom..
His blood had accelerated alongside his curse energy, multiplying the output of his body and allowing him to move at speeds he had never reached before.
And somewhere deep within his soul, Zamasu simply laughed.
Because for the first time in over a thousand years, the true heir of the Heian Eyes had finally begun to awaken.
Kai:"Did I just cover 300 meters in a seconds of time, this level of speed should be at least Grade 1."
Kai:" breaking the sound barrier with the combination of my heavenly restriction speed, curse energy reinforcement and blood control amplifying my speed."
Kai looked behind himself at the path he had crossed and for a brief moment even he found it difficult to process. The distance between where he had started and where he now stood was enormous, yet from his perspective it had felt almost effortless. The broken ground behind him had been torn apart by the force of his acceleration, leaving a shallow trench stretching through the underground base. Loose papers, shattered rubble and dust were only now beginning to settle, delayed by the sudden displacement of air caused by his movement.
Zamasu:"Yes, by the rankings of this era, you're correct. It's at the level of a Grade 1 speedster type sorcerer."
Kai looked around and with his eyes glowing he felt his body then decided to test something. The double crimson irises rotated slightly as he focused inward, studying the movements of his blood, muscles and curse energy simultaneously. Unlike before, every function of his body felt visible to him. He could feel blood flowing through every vessel, oxygen entering his lungs, and even the microscopic strain being placed on his muscles.
Boom..
A small shockwave burst out as he achieved subsonic speeds, without the curse spirits even having a chance he punched out.
Boom..
All the curse spirits exploded from the force of his strength as his skin steamed and glowed red as it faded back to its normal colour. Their bodies did not merely break apart. The force traveled through them completely, turning flesh, bone and curse energy into a crimson mist that splattered across the walls and ceiling. Several weaker curse spirits behind them were destroyed by the resulting shockwave alone, unable to withstand the pressure generated by a simple physical punch.
Zamasu:"You tried to replicate the technique of that boy from the Kamo right."
Kai:"Yes, Aoi's technique.. I watched it in the Goodwill Event and I thought since this curse technique, is far superior to Blood Manipulation then it should work."
All the blood in his body moved and reinforced his joints and bones to the point that it felt like he had hundreds of joints in his arm, then when he used his curse energy to cover his skin and bones and muscles and punched forward.
Boom..
Boom..
Boom..
The sound barrier burst with force as a massive shockwave and gust of air moved forward blasting ruined buildings into the distance, clearing a straight path as a large amount of dust settled nearly five hundred meters away. Concrete walls collapsed. Support beams snapped. Vehicles were thrown through the air like toys. The pressure wave alone was enough to pulverize smaller debris into powder before it even reached the end of its path.
Kai:"This level of strength feels like what Heavenly Restriction is meant to be at its pinnacle."
Kai flexed his fingers slowly as excitement grew within him. Every movement felt lighter. Faster. More efficient. He could already imagine dozens of ways to combine Blood Control with curse energy reinforcement.
Kai:"Could I recreate the same punch One Punch Man did to split apart the clouds in the atmosphere.. when I get strong enough."
Kai:"But what else can this curse technique do to my body using blood."
Zamasu:"Well I can tell you all about the curse technique ,and your awakened eyes after you call Jujutsu High and save this little mortal."
Kai:"You're right, I'm getting sidetracked."
Kai pulled out his phone and used curse energy to call Tokyo High only for a few seconds later for a person to pick up the line.
Mizuki:"Yes who is this."
Kai:"It's Kai.. I was on a mission and long story short the curse user was doing experiments on non-sorcerers, then escaped and I almost died but I managed to save the remaining non-sorcerers but I need assistance here."
Even while speaking casually, Kai's eyes wandered toward the injured children nearby. Some were unconscious. Some were crying. Others sat completely silent. The damage done to them went beyond physical wounds.
Mizuki:"I will come over right now, send your location."
Kai:"No it's okay, I just need a healer and personnel to handle—"
Mizuki:"I will deal with that personally."
The call ended immediately.
Kai then stared at his phone only to think that Japan's current strongest sorcerer was coming to him at this moment, and what would happen when they saw the changes to his body. Would he be killed. Would he be interrogated. Would they view him as some kind of curse object.
Zamasu:"As my heir, no one in this mortal plane can touch you with me around."
Kai rolled his eyes slightly at the arrogant statement but could not deny the confidence behind it.
Kai walked over with Geto to the side and found a kid with black hair sitting while eating food.
The boy looked exhausted. Dirt covered his clothes and dark circles sat beneath his eyes, yet despite everything there was an unusual calmness surrounding him. More importantly, Kai could feel something inside him.
Something ancient.
Zamasu:"That kid has taken in a curse object, but it's mostly dormant or showing very little activity.. but I would advise you add the brat to your group of friends. His potential is actually higher than that brat with the white hair and blue eyes.
Kai:"More than Satoru Gojo huh, then I wonder what ancient sorcerer he has in his soul and body."
For Zamasu to compare anyone favorably against Gojo was already shocking enough.
Kai walked over to the kid to introduce himself.
Kai:"I'm Kai Kurai , do you want to join me in getting rid of the people that destroy other's families."
Geto:"What a way to introduce yourself."
Kai ignored him completely.
Yujiro:"You introduced yourself backwards hehe,My name is Koshira Yujiro, did they massacre your clan as well."
Kai:"I'm one of only three survivors, but I manifested my curse technique at the time and killed a lot of them."
Yujiro's expression remained mostly blank, but Kai noticed his hand tighten around the food he was holding.
Yujiro:"I wish to kill them as well. I will join you then."
Geto:"I guess you're forming a group of traumatized youths."
Kai:"Not funny Suguru. Anyways they should arrive soon.. then I will meet you in Jujutsu Tech. For now I need to go."
Days later.
Kai stood in front of Toji as he handed him a file with a list of names, as over the past month he had completed killing three curse users, all somehow tied to the massacre of his clan years ago.
The weight of the file felt heavier than it should have.
Each name represented another thread connected to the night that had stolen everything from him.
Toji:"You know word is spreading, of a curse spirit in the form of a child."
Kai:"That helps keep my identity secret if I just go along with that."
Toji:"Your reputation as a sorcerer is one of the most important things. With it.. your life and even politics in the jujutsu world become a lot easier."
Toji:"trust me kid, I know from experience… I have seen both sides of the curtain , from the light and from the dark.. most only ever veiw it from the bright lights of the stage but they will never understand the workings that happened behind the setting sun."
Kai:"philosophical old man now, I guess it's truly hopeless avoiding this lesson then."
Kai knew he was right.
Fear and respect carried almost as much value as strength in the world of sorcerers.
Toji:"This next curse user is very strange, they say he made a binding vow with a curse spirit, and ever since he has never been the same."
He leaned down and placed his hand on Kai's head as he stared into his eyes.
For a moment there was no sarcasm.
Toji:"Kai, always question anything that feels wrong with your gut feeling, because your instincts are your greatest ally."
For the first time Toji had used Kai's name when speaking to him, and that brought a lot of weight into his words.
Kai:"I will always let them guide me."
Toji:"Brat, I have decided to take on my last wife's name Fushiguro, meaning my daughter will no longer have protection from the Zenin Clan."
Kai:"Why do you need to tell me this old man."
Kai:"and fushiguro is the last name of your late wife right.. why take on the last name of a dead women."
Toji:"I'm doing it for my son and step daughter."
Toji:"and In my old age I think it's best my daughter finds a suitable man to protect her."
Kai:"Emi is a year younger than me, I don't think it's the time for that."
Toji:"Listen kid, you're the only one in this life that I can trust with my daughter.. and for that you should know, that she comes from a very powerful clan."
Kai simply stared at him.
The fact that Toji of all people was attempting this conversation was somehow more terrifying than most special grades.
He nodded and stood up and left the café as he crossed the street, only for Kai to get up and spot a man walking with a large white figure as the large figure had its left side covered up with a cloth. And through the eyes of Kai he saw the dense curse energy and knew that was at least a Special Grade curse spirit.
But something caught his eye on the man walking with it.
It appeared that on his forehead had a line, a scar that looked like it was once stitched up and that made Kai's mind freeze.
His heartbeat slowed.
His pupils narrowed.
The world seemed to become quieter.
Kai's thoughts:
"What are the chances. Without a doubt that is Kenjaku and the body he is in. I can clearly see it because his curse energy around him is doing something to not let me see him clearly. I need to leave now because it's not worth the risk to confirm which body he is currently in now."
For the briefest second Kenjaku's head turned slightly.
Not enough to make eye contact.
Just enough to make Kai's instincts scream.
Kai's thoughts:
"But I have future knowledge. Why do I have to take the reactive position. Why don't we see who is the most cunning.. to con history's greatest con artist."
A grin slowly formed on Kai's face.
Not one born from confidence.
But one born from opportunity.
Kai's thoughts:
"Kai you're something else.. then next time we meet I shall strike a deal, and truly shift the jujutsu world to plan for the future."
Across the street, completely unaware of the thoughts racing through Kai's mind, Kenjaku continued walking.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, Kai had finally found one of the true monsters hiding behind the curtain of history.