"Nue!"
Megumi clasped his hands into a formation, shadows rippling behind him. From that darkness, a massive red bird emerged, wings spreading as it screeched.
"Nobara, get back. Something's wrong with Yuji."
Crack…
Sukuna slowly rose to his feet. Reverse Cursed Technique mended each shattered bone with ease. He flexed his limbs, irritation etched onto his face.
"Another troublesome brat."
His eyes drifted toward Megumi and Nobara — then, suddenly, a wicked idea flashed across his mind.
Without hesitation, he tore his clothes apart. His sharp claws pierced into his own chest. Right in front of them, he ripped out Itadori's heart—and crushed it in his palm.
"This brat's having issues right now. I can't seize control of the body at the moment, but without a heart, he won't dare switch back even if he recovers."
A grin stretched across Sukuna's features.
A missing heart meant nothing to him. But for Yuji, switching back meant certain death.
"So before that man comes out… how about I kill the two of you first?"
With a twisted smile, Sukuna lunged toward Megumi.
This boy was also one of the brat's friends—killing him would be entertaining.
Megumi immediately raised his guard, forming seals again.
"Great Serpent!"
A massive snake burst from the ground's shadow, its jaws clamping onto Sukuna and flinging him into the air. Nue synchronized perfectly, unleashing purple lightning that rained down on Sukuna's airborne form.
Not far away, Nobara grew anxious. She clutched her heart-marked hammer, only one nail left to use. She had to find the perfect moment.
"They've already started fighting?"
Jinsuke suddenly appeared beside Nobara, observing the clash.
"Uncle! What do we do? Itadori—his heart is gone!" Nobara blurted.
"So decisive, huh? Sukuna really is starving for freedom."
Shinsuke didn't move to intervene. He wanted Sukuna to push Megumi further — force him to draw out more potential. Without pressure, progress was too slow.
"Can Yuji even be saved?" Nobara pressed.
"Hmm… without a heart, if he switches back, he won't survive," Jinsuke said thoughtfully, stroking his chin. Though with Sukuna involved… things weren't that simple.
"I see… never thought he'd be the first to die. Just a beginner after all." Nobara pouted in frustration.
"Are you really just going to watch?"
She glanced at Megumi, who was barely holding on. It was painful to watch.
"Relax. My nephew's got a stubbornly strong life," Jinsuke said as he planted his spear in the ground and leaned on it, enjoying the pressure test like a spectator at a show.
"Hahahahaha! Kid, your technique's not bad at all. Shame though…"
Sukuna watched as Megumi recalled the fainted Nue. He had already figured out the secret of Megumi's technique — this was no simple shikigami summoning.
"Use all of your cursed energy. Don't bother stalling. These little injuries? They're meaningless to me."
For the first time, Sukuna found amusement in him.
"So he saw through it…"
Megumi wiped the blood from his lips, analyzing the situation. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his uncle watching like it was a performance.
What was that supposed to mean? Did Jinsuke expect him to handle Sukuna?
That was way too optimistic.
Megumi forced himself up again, eyes locked onto Sukuna.
Even Yuji — someone who barely knew them — stayed behind to fight a special grade. He took risks even for a random criminal.
So why couldn't he do the same?
Becoming a sorcerer, getting stronger—wasn't just about fulfilling his father's and uncle's expectations, becoming head of the Zenin clan. It was about unconditionally saving others.
In the past, he never would've thought this way. His kind-hearted sister was cursed despite her nature—why help strangers?
But after spending time with Yuji, he had to reevaluate himself.
Cursed energy surged violently through him as he formed the stance for summoning.
At that moment, his mindset changed.
"If that's the case, then I'll go all out."
He had already used all his other shikigami. Only his trump card remained.
With his uncle there, things shouldn't go too wrong… right?
"With this treasure, I summon...—"
As the incantation echoed, Megumi's cursed energy intensified dramatically.
"Yes! Show me everything you've got—make me fall for you!"
Feeling the overwhelming cursed energy, Sukuna's expression twisted into ecstatic madness.
He hadn't expected someone like this to be beside the brat. He had finally found a worthy target.
CLANG!
A long spear crashed down between them.
"That's enough, Megumi. No need to summon it."
Sensing the surge within Megumi, Jinsuke knew he had drawn out enough potential. No need to bring Mahoraga into the world to get beaten senseless.
Megumi sighed in relief.
Mahoraga… even without summoning it, he understood—a final shikigami stronger than most special grades. And at his current level, he had no hope of controlling it.
"Hey. That was rude." Sukuna didn't appreciate the interruption. He had just developed interest.
"Sukuna, your job was to give Megumi pressure. You've finished your task," Jinsuke said casually while scratching his ear.
"You bastard…"
Sukuna narrowed his eyes. Something about this man's eyes and posture irritated him deeply.
"Oh right—my nephew's potential is limitless. Future pillar of the jujutsu world. Don't even think about touching him. Otherwise… you'll die."
Jinsuke glared at Sukuna, issuing a warning—not that he expected Sukuna to listen.
"Pff… hahaha!"
Sukuna laughed uncontrollably. How many years had it been since someone threatened him—especially a man with no cursed energy?
Right now, with only two fingers, he wasn't this guy's match. But once he regained full power? Not even that white-haired brat could stop him.
"Anyway, did you really think you could run? Wake up, Yuji."
As he spoke, the black markings faded from Sukuna's body. His eyes cleared.
"Megumi… you never told me… why did you save me back then?"
The moment he regained control, Itadori looked at Megumi. Their earlier argument remained unresolved, and before he died, he wanted an answer.
"I'm a jujutsu sorcerer. Saving you… is something I've never regretted."
"I see. That's so like you, Megumi—always thinking farther ahead than me."
Yuji smiled weakly, scratching his head.
"Looks like you were right… but I don't think I was wrong either."
Blood poured from the hole in his chest. His vision dimmed. His consciousness slipped.
"Sorry… my time's about up."
"Megumi… Nobara… Gojo-sensei… Jinsuke… you guys better live long lives…"
With those words, Yuji collapsed in Megumi's arms.
By the time Nobara reached them, she didn't even get to say goodbye.
"Let's go. Bring the body back. Let Shoko take a look—maybe she can save him." Jinsuke patted Megumi's shoulder.
If he didn't already know the story, he would've tried comforting Megumi and Nobara.
For now, he'd let Yuji's eventual return give them a proper shock.
But first, they needed to report Yuji's death. Gojo needed to hear it — after all, what kind of teacher couldn't even protect his own student?