The Kyoto Jujutsu High, Principal's Office.
This was completely different from the simple, modern, and somewhat cluttered office of Principal Yaga at the Tokyo college. The space was more spacious, but the lighting was intentionally dim. Heavy, dark wooden furniture emitted a warm luster from years of use. The air was filled with the cool, bitter scent of incense, mixed with the smell of old books and good tea. On the walls hung vigorous calligraphy works with characters like "Precepts," "Laws," "Righteousness," and "Heart," alongside ukiyo-e depicting ancient exorcism scenes, radiating tradition, order, and the dignity accumulated over time.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the solemn principal's office was so heavy it seemed frozen.
At the head of the table sat Yoshinobu Gakuganji, the principal of the Kyoto Jujutsu High and a pillar of the conservative faction, sitting upright like a withered tree. He was thin, dressed in a traditional dark kimono, his white hair neatly combed, his face covered in prominent wrinkles. His usually half-closed eyes were now fully open. His cloudy but sharp gaze slowly swept over the young faces in the room. He held a pair of smooth jade gallbladder stones in his hands, producing a faint, rhythmic grinding sound that was clearly audible in the silence.
Inside, some were sitting, some standing. The main participants of the Kyoto Jujutsu High for this "Sister School Exchange Meeting" had gathered, along with a few students of special status.
At the very front, closest to Gakuganji, stood a young man with a gloomy, calm demeanor. He also wore a modified kosode-styled uniform, with pale skin, slender eyebrows and eyes, long black hair tied up at the back, and a metal ornament with clan crests on his forehead. This was none other than Noritoshi Kamo, the current (nominal) head of the Kamo clan, one of the Three Great Families, and a third-year student at the Kyoto Jujutsu High.
Notably, he bore the same name as the infamous Kamo Noritoshi known for forbidden human experiments. This ominous coincidence was often a topic of private discussion, but he himself didn't seem to care. Instead, through his calmness, strategic thinking, and deep mastery of the Kamo clan's inherited technique—the "Blood Manipulation Technique"—he had gradually entered the jujutsu world and become a prominent figure among the conservative younger generation.
Behind Noritoshi Kamo stood a short-haired girl with a face resembling Maki Zen'in, Mai Zen'in. Further back was Aoi Todo, tall and sturdy, with a strange pompadour hairstyle, his face radiating "rebelliousness" and "battle maniac"; Ultimate Mechamaru (with Kokichi Muta), who appeared indifferent to everything with a cold expression; and several other talented second and third-year students like Kasumi Miwa and Momo Nishimiya. All were silent, waiting for the principal to speak.
After a long time, Gakuganji's elderly, hoarse voice broke the silence. Without any opening remarks, he pierced directly to the heart of the matter:
"For this sister school exchange meeting, the Tokyo Jujutsu High has approved participants including Sukuna's vessel, Yuji Itadori."
This sentence was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, causing the expressions of several students to change. Aoi Todo raised an eyebrow, showing interest; Ultimate Mechamaru's electronic eye flickered slightly.
Noritoshi Kamo bowed slightly, his voice calm and steady. He spoke first, as if anticipating the principal's intent:
"Principal, you have called us here and specifically mentioned this person... Perhaps you believe this exchange meeting is a good opportunity to 'deal with' this unstable factor?"
He used the neutral but cold word "deal with," calmly meeting Gakuganji's gaze.
Gakuganji slowly nodded, the grinding sound of the jade gallbladder stones pausing for a moment.
"Indeed."
"Absurd!"
A clear, angry voice immediately rang out. It was Mai Zen'in, the younger sister. She seemed to have been holding back for a long time, but at this moment, she finally couldn't contain herself. She stepped forward, glared at Gakuganji, then glanced at Noritoshi Kamo, her tone irritable:
"'Deal with'? How do we 'deal with' him? Kill him? Not to mention whether we have that ability or not—he's Sukuna's vessel! Besides, there's Mr. Satoru Gojo at the Tokyo Jujutsu High, and there's also..." She paused, her voice dropping slightly, but sounding even more bewildered. "'The god' of our Zen'in clan, Lord Zen'in Genji, is also awake now, right there at the Tokyo Jujutsu High!"
She looked around at everyone, as if seeking acknowledgment: "With those two here, even if Sukuna really awakens, what trouble could he cause? Why do we need to do something so... dangerous and inhumane? Principal, aren't you being too paranoid?"
Her words reflected the thoughts of many young students. Kasumi Miwa and the others also showed hesitant expressions. Yes, with Satoru Gojo and the legendary Zen'in Genji around, Sukuna didn't seem like an urgent threat that students like them needed to handle with extreme measures. The principal's decision seemed somewhat unnecessary, even cold.
Gakuganji didn't get angry at Mai's doubts; even the wrinkles on his face didn't move. He just quietly looked at her with his cloudy, worldly eyes until Mai awkwardly looked away under his gaze.
"Mai, and everyone present," Gakuganji's voice remained steady, but carried a heavy weight. "You are absolutely right. There is Satoru Gojo and Lord Zen'in Genji. When the sky falls, the tall will hold it up. Many people think this way, and it is a good fortune many rely on to survive."
Suddenly, he changed his tone, his voice becoming as heavy as iron:
"But have you ever considered—"
"What if, when an incident occurs, those two 'tall ones' aren't there?"
"Gojo's whereabouts are unpredictable, and missions take him everywhere. Although Lord Zen'in Genji has awakened, he has his own will, his own circumstances, and... his own 'amusement.' They are not guardians hovering over Tokyo at all times, nor are they specifically prepared safety valves for Sukuna."
"If, at a moment when they are too busy, Sukuna's vessel loses control, the power of twenty fingers erupts from within, and the King of Curses appears in the human world—at that moment, who will handle it? Will it be you?" Gakuganji's gaze swept over Todo, Mechamaru, and the others. "Or do you rely on those old men at the Headquarters? Or perhaps, use the lives of thousands of ordinary people to fill that gap while those two 'gods' free up their hands?"
"Then," he leaned forward slightly, his pressure increasing. "When things settle down, Sukuna might be sealed or exorcised again, but the losses caused will be irreversible. At that time, who will be held responsible for this disaster? The principal who failed to eliminate the hidden danger in advance? The Tokyo Jujutsu High with poor supervision? Or..."
He paused, then struck deep into everyone's heart:
"Will it be us, who clearly foresee the risks, have the chance to kill them at the slightest sign of danger, yet choose to stand by out of luck, fear of difficulty, and absurd 'mercy'?"
Complete silence fell over the principal's office, only the blue smoke of the incense rising straight up. The young students, including Mai who had just spoken out of doubt, fell into deep thought. The scenes depicted by Gakuganji were not scaremongering, but harsh, real possibilities.
"Sacrificing one for the long-term stability of the jujutsu world, for the sake of broader society, and to prevent a larger, potential future tragedy," Gakuganji slowly leaned back in his chair, the sound of the jade gallbladder stones resuming its rhythmic, condemning grind. "In your eyes, this might be rotten, cold-blooded, or the arrogance of those in power disregarding human life."
His gaze became profound, as if piercing through time and space, revealing countless similar choices and sacrifices.
"But this is reality. It is the most painful, yet necessary choice that every person in a high position, entrusted with protecting the greater number, must make. This world is not that beautiful. Not every problem can be solved with a perfect solution. Often, we only face bad and worse options."
"All we can do is choose the one with the least cost, the one that benefits the most people, from among them."
Finally, he turned his gaze to Noritoshi Kamo, sweeping his eyes over the other students, and gave his final instructions:
"Therefore, if there is an opportunity during this sister school exchange meeting..."
"Priority one is to 'deal with' Yuji Itadori, completely disabling Sukuna's ability to manifest in reality through his vessel."
"This is not a personal vendetta, not aimed at the Tokyo Jujutsu High, and certainly not a provocation against Satoru Gojo or Lord Zen'in Genji. It is based on current intelligence, risk assessment, and the coldest, most realistic logic—it is the most beneficial strategy for the long-term stability of the jujutsu world."
"As for the possible consequences and Tokyo's reaction..." Gakuganji closed his eyes, his voice lowered, as if murmuring to himself or promising some unseen entity. "I... and the Headquarters, will naturally bear the responsibility."
The order was given.
The reasoning was clear.
Only the execution remained, along with the moral struggles each person would face in the process, and the bloodstained future.
Just as this suffocating silence seemed about to last forever—
"Ha!"
A short, loud, undisguised sneer and wild laugh exploded like thunder! It instantly shattered the heaviness in the room. Everyone's eyes simultaneously turned to the source of the sound.
It was Aoi Todo.
This sturdy young man with the strange golden pompadour had somehow put his hands down. He stood straight like a small mountain, and the usual, battle-maniac smile on his face had disappeared, replaced by a cold expression mixed with extreme boredom and deep contempt. His eyes, always burning with fighting spirit, were now frighteningly bright, staring directly and openly at Yoshinobu Gakuganji.
"Principal," Aoi Todo's voice was loud and resonant, echoing in the quiet room, each word like a stone dropping to the floor. "You said so much—duty, choice, sacrifice... Frankly, it's so righteous it makes me sick."
"I, Aoi Todo, never care about what others think when I act, nor do I blindly follow orders. Even if it's you, old man, or the higher-ups at the Headquarters."
His words were sharp, even somewhat presumptuous. But no one present, including Gakuganji himself, looked surprised. After all, he was Aoi Todo.
The name "Aoi Todo" had, to a certain extent, surpassed being a mere personal name within the Kyoto Jujutsu High and even among the younger generation of the jujutsu community, acquiring special meaning. For example, when someone describes another guy as "practically like Aoi Todo," it usually doesn't praise his physique or high combat abilities, but tactfully (or not so tactfully) implies that the guy is crazy, behaves strangely, is difficult to get along with, is completely self-centered, and doesn't listen to others.
Simply put, in many contexts, "Todo Aoi" has become an adjective with strong negative and headache-inducing connotations, and it might even be offensive.
At this moment, the person behind this "adjective" was personally demonstrating why he had earned such an "honor."
Aoi Todo completely ignored the subtle atmosphere in the room and Gakuganji's slightly furrowed brow. He began to express his "opinion" on his own, and his way of expressing it was always very... unique, each possessing his own distinctive style.
"Let me evaluate whether Yuji Itadori is worth killing. First, I need to understand what kind of person he is," Aoi Todo stroked his chin, his gaze becoming unusually focused, even a little... passionate, like an academic study? He looked at Gakuganji, as if announcing to everyone:
"And the most direct, efficient, and infallible way to understand a person's true nature is..."
He paused, then, as if proclaiming a universal truth, uttered words that made everyone present, except Ultimate Mechamaru and a few already used to it, twitch their mouths and eyes:
"Ask him what kind of woman he likes!"
Silence.
Dead silence.
Then, almost simultaneously, several uncontrollable sighs broke out, mixed with helplessness, resignation, and "Here we go again."
"…" Noritoshi Kamo's normally calm, calculating face momentarily stiffened almost imperceptibly. He then quickly lowered his gaze and instinctively shifted into the shadows, as if trying to reduce his presence.
As a person who had been tormented by Aoi Todo with this question for a full three days—from jujutsu theory classes to the clan's ancestral hall, from breakfast to nighttime meditation, and even when he tried to demonstrate the "Blood Manipulation Technique," Aoi Todo dodged and loudly asked, "Do you prefer big breasts or long legs?"—Noritoshi Kamo, the senior victim, had developed a PTSD-like conditioned reflex to this question.
At that moment, his only thought was: Hurry up, immediately, right now, get away from this madman.
"Buzz…" Although Ultimate Mechamaru's metal face showed no expression, the red light in his electronic eye flickered rapidly, and it seemed some internal sound of overloading came from within. He quietly and very naturally switched his perception and cognitive modules to the lowest power "standby mode," almost equivalent to "close your ears and empty your mind" in human terms. This was the most effective strategy developed after many painful lessons to counter Aoi Todo's "woman" harassment—tactical blocking. After all, you couldn't discuss female aesthetics with a robot that received no signals.
Mai Zen'in rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, snorted coldly, and turned away, too lazy to look at this idiot. The expressions of girls like Kasumi Miwa and Momo Nishimiya were even more striking, a mixture of embarrassment, absurdity, and a hint of despair that "this person is beyond saving."
The hand of Gakuganji holding the jade gallbladder stones seemed to pause for a moment, but as a seasoned veteran, his weathered expression remained unchanged. He simply said calmly, "Todo, mind the occasion. This is not a child's play."
"The occasion? Child's play?" Aoi Todo waved his hand indifferently, confidently. "This is the most serious matter! A man's romance, the reason for struggle, the meaning of existence—so much of this is tied to women! A guy who can't even say what kind of woman he likes, or can't say it clearly, is either a hypocritical coward or hasn't found his 'roots' yet. Such a person is not worth me, Aoi Todo, wasting my time considering whether to kill him!"
The more he spoke, the more excited he got, even starting to cite examples on the spot. His eyes blazed as he looked at Noritoshi Kamo:
"Right, Kamo! Remember last time you said you liked 'quiet and gentle, with a classical temperament, who ideally knows tea ceremony or incense ceremony'? Tch, tch, what a reserved and old-fashioned taste! But it's still tasteful! So now I really like you!"
Noritoshi Kamo: "…" A vein bulged on his forehead as he shrank into the shadows, almost merging with the wall where the calligraphy of "Precepts" hung. He now deeply regretted not using "Red Scale Jump" to blast this bastard away the first time he was asked.
"Ignore that idiot," Mai coldly interrupted, but as her gaze swept over Aoi Todo, a faint, almost imperceptible feeling of helplessness flickered in the depths of her eyes—one she probably wouldn't even acknowledge herself.
After all, in this heavy room filled with calculations, duty, and bloody decisions, Aoi Todo's dissent, so pure it bordered on brute force, strange yet even comical, felt like a strong wind blowing away the suffocating gloom, even if... the smell of this wind was indeed a bit strange.
In the end, Gakuganji said nothing more about Aoi Todo's behavior.
He just slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, returning to the original topic, as if this episode hadn't happened:
"The specific action plan will be detailed by Kamo later. Todo, you may 'probe' the target in your own way, but ultimately, completing the mission takes priority. Now, do you understand?"