"This feeling... it has been far too long!"
Sukuna exhaled deeply, a sound that resonated with the weight of centuries. He extended his four powerful arms, tilting his head back to let out a roar of laughter that shook the very foundation of the hideout.
After a millennium, the former King of Curses, the strongest sorcerer in history, had finally manifested his true form in the mortal realm. An overwhelming aura surged from him, thick with concentrated malice and the stench of slaughter.
Throughout Heaven and Earth, he alone was the honored one.
Even Kenjaku, a man who had seen everything the ages had to offer, couldn't help but offer his unreserved admiration. Four arms, two faces, a giant mouth embedded in the abdomen—a perfect vessel for combat. It allowed for a 360-degree field of vision, uninterrupted incantations, and the ability to weave hand signs while simultaneously tearing an opponent apart.
"This body... it is truly a work of art," Kenjaku mused, his voice hushed with reverence. He reached into his robes and produced two legendary Cursed Tools.
Kamutoke and Hiten.
Kamutoke was a peculiar, hollow weapon shaped like a stylized "8," humming with latent electrical energy. Hiten, on the other hand, was a magnificent hybrid of a ritual scepter and a trident.
As Sukuna took the weapons, a familiar heat rushed through his veins. The dormant combat instincts of the Heian Era flared to life. A thousand years ago, it was in this very form—wielding these very tools—that Sukuna had decimated the Sun, Moon, and Stars Squad and the Five Void Generals of the Northern Fujiwara family. He had single-handedly repelled the Dessicated Lacquer Pacification Squad, a force comprised of the Abe clan's elite, the remnants of the Sugawara line, and even an Angel.
"There is no need for such haste," Kenjaku advised, noticing the restless flicker in Sukuna's eyes. "I believe your last encounter taught you how troublesome Souma Gojo can be. Not to mention, the others surrounding him are hardly pushovers."
Though loath to admit it, Sukuna gave a curt nod. "Souma Gojo is indeed strong. His brother, his companions... they are rare specimens of power."
"Precisely." Kenjaku held up a single finger. "Even for you, facing five Special Grade sorcerers simultaneously would be... taxing. Would it not?"
Sukuna's eyes narrowed, a freezing chill descending upon the room. "Are you questioning my capability, Kenjaku?"
The sheer pressure of Sukuna's intent hit Kenjaku like a physical wave. His face paled, and he was forced to circulate his cursed energy just to remain standing, though he still stumbled back several paces.
"You misunderstand!" Kenjaku gasped, regaining his composure. "I am merely suggesting that it would be annoying to have those gnats buzzing around while you enjoy your final duel with Souma Gojo. Don't you agree?"
Sukuna retracted his aura. "Oh? You have a plan, then?"
Kenjaku wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. "Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto are absolute powerhouses, even if they aren't on Souma's level. Yuki Tsukumo is less of a direct threat to my plans, but as a Special Grade, she possesses the power to level a nation. And then there is Yuta Okkotsu... I underestimated him. His cursed energy reserves are nothing short of monstrous."
"To deal with these four, we must use methods that transcend common sense. Something... even I might find difficult to control." Kenjaku's voice took on a frantic, manic edge. "This is an era of chaos anyway. Why not push it over the edge?"
Sukuna allowed a rare look of amusement to cross his face. "Intriguing. Do as you wish."
The Kamo Estate
"What? The Zenin clan is gone?"
Takanobu Kamo received the news with a mixture of shock and predatory glee. His brother, Hiroki Kamo, nodded vigorously.
"It's true! Word is that everyone was slaughtered by Maki Zenin, except for Naobito and the twins themselves. The Kukuru Unit and the Hei have been completely wiped out. The Zenin clan is nothing but an empty shell now!"
Takanobu slumped into his chair, the sheer magnitude of the opportunity making his head spin. "This... this is... a gift from the heavens to the Kamo family!"
With the Gojo clan in seclusion and the Zenin clan decimated, a massive power vacuum had opened in the upper echelons of the jujutsu world. Seats in the High School, the Headquarters, the Information Bureau, the Mission Department—it was all up for grabs.
"Wait," Takanobu frowned. "Who did you say did it? Maki Zenin?"
"Yes." Hiroki handed over a file. "Maki Zenin. Born with a Heavenly Restriction, she was marginalized and abused by her family—exactly like Toji Fushiguro. It seems history has repeated itself. She awakened and tore the heart out of her own clan."
Takanobu's eye twitched as he let out a mocking laugh. "The Zenin were always arrogant. They gambled their lives on the hope that a second Toji wouldn't appear, and they lost. A millennium of heritage destroyed by a woman... or rather, destroyed by their own stupidity."
"But this works perfectly for us!" Takanobu stood up, ambition burning in his eyes. "The Gojo clan is in hiding, but their foundation is still deep; we must still accord them some respect. But the Zenin? There are barely five of them left. They can no longer hold their position among the Three Great Families."
"It is time for the hierarchy to change!"
Hiroki furrowed his brow. "But this Maki Zenin... she has the power to slaughter an entire clan."
"You worry too much," Takanobu dismissed him with a wave. "She may carry the name, but by killing her kin, she has severed her ties just as Toji did. Besides, being one of the Big Three requires more than just a single strong fighter. It requires a legacy, a population, and infrastructure. The Zenin have none of that now."
"I understand."
"By the way," Takanobu asked suddenly, "how is the 'Artificial Technique' experiment progressing? For the last decade, the Gojo family has enjoyed all the glory because of the Six Eyes. If we can show the world a sudden surge of Blood Manipulation users, every faction will be falling over themselves to align with the Kamo!"
Hiroki immediately summoned Oka Kamo. The man entered with a fawning, oily smile that made Takanobu's skin crawl, but the Clan Head endured it.
"The task I gave you," Takanobu said. "Is it finished?"
Oka bowed low. "Of course. Several of our talented young masters have completed their combat training. The results are magnificent!" He stepped aside, gesturing to a boy of about seven or eight. "This is Young Master Hikaru. He is the most gifted of the lot."
Takanobu beckoned the boy forward. Hikaru obeyed, his cursed energy beginning to churn. Red, vein-like patterns flared across his arms.
"Blood Manipulation: Flowing Red Scale!"
Takanobu's eyes widened in delight. "It really is Blood Manipulation! What was your original technique?"
"Lord Head," the boy replied dutifully, "my original technique was Void Shadow Sorcery. I could teleport ten meters once every ten seconds."
"A decent ability," Takanobu mused, "but you can discard it now. The Kamo's Blood Manipulation is the superior path!"
"Yes, My Lord!"
"In your current state, how long can you maintain the 'Cursed Blood' in your system?"
"About three minutes, My Lord."
"Three minutes of Blood Manipulation... that is more than enough for most encounters!" Takanobu turned to Oka with a look of approval. "You have done well, Oka."
Oka bowed until his head nearly touched the floor. "I live only to serve the Kamo!"
"Hahaha! Excellent. I assume all the experimental data has been organized?"
Oka nodded. "Yes, it has been handed over to the clan's Technique Research Institute."
Takanobu stepped forward and patted Oka's shoulder with a cold, final air. "Very good. Oka, the family thanks you for your contribution. Truly."
"Now... you may leave."
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