The air cracked with the sound of curses colliding as Itadori Yuji and Aoi Todo burst into the clearing. The trees around them groaned from the pressure of cursed energy. In the center stood Hanami, serene and unmoving, towering over the unconscious bodies of Maki and Megumi.
Todo pointed dramatically, striking a pose. "Yuji… our enemy stands before us! Let our brotherly bonds ignite the flames of battle!"
Itadori's eyes burned with fury. "Let's do this!"
Hanami raised a brow. "You're the brat with Sukuna inside… and the muscle-headed one."
No more words.
Itadori surged forward and landed a Black Flash across Hanami's shoulder. The hit reverberated with cursed energy and splintered the surrounding ground.
Hanami winced—but didn't fall.
Todo immediately followed up. With a sudden clap, he activated Boogie Woogie, switching positions with Itadori mid-strike and slamming his knee into Hanami's spine. Another clap—this time, Itadori was behind Hanami, landing another Black Flash.
The forest echoed with the rhythm of battle, each switch a coordinated symphony of strikes.
And yet…
Hanami began adapting.
Roots surged from the earth, forming shields and launching spears. He grabbed Itadori by the leg and slammed him into the ground. Todo blocked a swipe from Hanami's wooden limb but was blasted back by an explosion of cursed pollen.
They were being overwhelmed.
"This isn't working," Todo muttered, brushing blood from his jaw.
Hanami's arm morphed into a massive tree trunk laced with cursed thorns. "Fall, sorcerers."
Just then—
BOOOOOOM!
A blinding arc of pure violet energy cut through the treetops and sliced the air itself. It barely missed Hanami, tearing apart the forest behind him like paper.
Hanami's body reeled. A chunk of his shoulder was gone.
Floating in the sky was Satoru Gojo, his blindfold now replaced with cold eyes, shimmering with Infinity. Behind him, Mei Mei and Utahime appeared, stepping out from a barrier portal.
"You guys looked like you were having fun," Gojo said, floating down. "Mind if I crash the party?"
Hanami's eyes widened.
He knew what this meant.
Another second and he'd be vaporized.
With a snap of his root-covered fingers, Hanami melted into the shadows of the trees, disappearing into the cursed fog before Gojo could strike again.
Gojo landed softly on the ground, hands in pockets, looking vaguely disappointed. "Aww man. I was just getting warmed up."
He turned to the battered Todo and Itadori. "You two held out surprisingly well."
"Gojo-sensei," Itadori breathed, "he was strong…"
Gojo smiled. "Yup. That's why you've gotta get stronger."
Just as he turned around with a smirk—
WHACK!!
A wooden staff bonked him directly on the head.
It was Utahime, eyes blazing. "Why didn't you come earlier?!"
Gojo immediately collapsed in an exaggerated flop, arms flailed out like a broken puppet. "Ughhh… fatal… blow…"
Utahime sighed. "Get up, idiot."
Gojo peeked with one eye. "You hit my cursed technique…"
"You deserved it."
Mei Mei, standing calmly beside them with Ui Ui at her side, shook her head. "He always does this."
Ui Ui muttered, "Old man."
Gojo blinked dramatically. "I'm twenty-eight!!"
Itadori just laughed weakly. Despite the bruises, pain, and retreating enemy… the fight was over—for now.