Chapter 23: Toji's Probing
A probe? Or a show of force?
Toho Hiroshi's thoughts raced, but his body reacted even faster.
With the aid of his Sharingan, he accurately judged the trajectory. Instead of meeting the attack head-on, he shifted his feet, his figure drifting backward like a ghost for half a meter, allowing that fierce hand blade to graze past him by a hair's breadth.
The wind from the hand blade ruffled the hair on Toho Hiroshi's forehead.
"Oh?" A low, slightly surprised grunt emanated from Toji's throat.
He seemed not to have expected the other party to evade his probing strike so nonchalantly, and not by using Cursed Technique, but rather by what seemed like a combination of highly sophisticated martial arts techniques and prediction.
With his strike missing, Toji did not pursue. Instead, he stood there like a rock again, his beast-like eyes scanning Toho Hiroshi up and down, his interest deepening.
"Not bad reflexes."
Toji's voice was low and magnetic, carrying a lazy tone, yet it made one dare not treat him with any slight. "It seems those two good-for-nothing brats of mine have found themselves a decent babysitter."
His gaze drifted past Toho Hiroshi, sweeping once more over Fushiguro Megumi and Tsumiki in the yard, who were looking over blankly, startled by the sudden commotion, before finally landing on Toho Hiroshi with a meaningful implication.
Toho Hiroshi understood his meaning instantly.
This man had not come with hostility, at least not for now.
He was more like he was confirming the safety of this area, especially confirming the nature of the stranger and powerful individual who had appeared beside his children.
"They are very safe."
Toho Hiroshi responded calmly, his gaze meeting Toji's without flinching. "As long as no one comes to disturb them."
This statement was both a promise and a line drawn in the sand.
Toji stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. That smile was full of wild tension. "Very good."
He did not say another word, as if he had just completed a simple inspection.
The next moment, he turned around, as abruptly as he had arrived. Within a few flashes, his figure completely vanished into the shadows of the street corner, and his presence instantly faded, as if he had never appeared.
Only the faint, lingering pressure of a top-tier predator in the air proved the reality of the brief clash just now.
Toho Hiroshi stood in place, his Sharingan slowly fading, his brows slightly furrowed.
The tyrant of heaven was indeed keeping a secret watch on the Fushiguro siblings.
Was his appearance today a warning? A probe?
Or perhaps, as his final words revealed—he felt that having a powerful Jujutsu Sorcerer guarding this vicinity seemed like a good thing for those two "worthless" yet impossible-to-fully-abandon brats of his.
Regardless, this first encounter with the "Sorcerer Killer" was like throwing a stone into a calm lake; the ripples were brief, but clearly signaled the undercurrents lurking beneath the surface.
After he left, that cold sense of oppression still lingered in the air, causing Toho Hiroshi to frown slightly.
"Star Plasma Vessel..."
This term surfaced from the depths of his memory almost instantly, carrying an ominous, blood-red hue.
He recalled the girl fated for tragedy in the original story—Amanai Riko.
Her death was caused by the very man who had just left. It was one of the key turning points that led the entire story toward tragedy, and it indirectly caused the later breakdown and defection of Geto Suguru.
Fushiguro Toji's appearance here at this moment meant that the "Star Plasma Vessel Assimilation Event" might be imminent, or perhaps even quietly underway.
This man, who traded zero Cursed Energy for an invincible body, was like a precise, ruthless killing machine. Once he accepted a mission, the target was almost certainly doomed.
He had to do something.
Toho Hiroshi's eyes calmed down, and an unprecedented sense of urgency gripped his heart.
He could not watch the tragedy repeat itself, especially when this matter concerned the future of his companions and could potentially detonate the time bomb that was Geto Suguru.
A mere warning was not enough. Fushiguro Toji's strength was beyond conventional standards; to stop him, absolute power was required.
"I must become stronger, strong enough to reverse all misfortunes, strong enough to deal with all crises."
This thought was like a searing branding iron, deeply imprinted in his mind.
Being able to spar and contend with Gojo Satoru was far from enough; what he needed was the strength to absolutely suppress a monster like the "tyrant of heaven," as well as bargaining chips sufficient to change the trajectory of fate.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his churning emotions.
Becoming stronger was not a pipe dream; it required the most rigorous planning and the most resolute execution.
In the following days, Toho Hiroshi's life entered a near-masochistic, frenzied rhythm.
The training ground became the place where he resided most often.
Apart from the daily courses and missions at Jujutsu High, all his time was devoted to extreme training.
The precise control of Cursed Energy, the development and combination of Cursed Techniques, the honing of martial arts, and practical combat against Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru—he forced himself to constantly break through his limits.
His sparring with Gojo Satoru became more frequent and intense, each time walking on the edge of severe injury, relying on Reverse Cursed Technique to forcefully recover, and then continuing to throw himself into battle, crazily absorbing the experience of fighting against a top-tier powerhouse.
He continued to delve deep into the potential of the Mangekyo Sharingan, attempting to combine ocular techniques with Cursed Energy more exquisitely, developing more efficient and lower-consumption methods of application, and even began exploring further forms of [Susanoo].
He did not neglect basic physical fitness and martial arts, knowing full well how important a tough body was when Cursed Energy was interfered with or when contending against Heavenly Restriction.
At the same time, he did not forget the responsibilities he shouldered.
He quickly contacted a good elementary school nearby for Rika, Tsumiki, and Fushiguro Megumi.
He personally inspected the environment and handled the admission procedures.
"School is a must."
He said to the three children gently but in a tone that brooked no doubt, "Knowledge, friends, and a normal life—these are just as important as powerful strength."
Every morning, he would prepare breakfast and bento boxes in advance and send the three children off.
Playing the role of both father and mother.
After school, no matter how tired he was from training, he would check their homework and listen to them chattering about interesting things at school.
He carefully observed Rika's emotions, using companionship and guidance to slowly dissolve the traumatic shadows in her heart.
He also kept an eye on the Fushiguro siblings, especially Megumi. The Cursed Energy faintly flowing within that precocious and stubborn child showed his extraordinariness. Toho Hiroshi would offer some subtle guidance when necessary, but more than that, he provided a stable and safe harbor.
At night, after the children fell asleep, he would often sit alone in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky, constantly simulating various situations that might occur in the future, thinking of ways to break the deadlock.
The Star Plasma Vessel event hung over his head like the Sword of Damocles, driving him to not dare have the slightest slack.
His changes were naturally seen by those closest to him.
Gojo Satoru hooked his arm around his neck, laughing, "Whoa, Hao, working so hard? Have you finally realized the gap between you and me, and are feeling the pressure?"
Geto Suguru said with some concern, "Toho, take care to rest; your training intensity is too high."
Ieiri Shoko handed him new nutritional supplements and refreshing drugs directly, "Don't you dare die outside my treatment room."
Of course, this was just a joke.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics