Chapter 45: The Uncrowned King
Several days passed, and the atmosphere within Tokyo Jujutsu High remained subtle.
Amanai Riko and Kuroi Misato were temporarily settled in an isolated dormitory, monitored by personnel from "The Window." This was nominally protection, but in reality, it was The Higher-Ups' excuse for house arrest.
Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, and Toho Hiroshi were temporarily suspended, forbidden from leaving Tokyo Jujutsu High or taking on missions.
Gojo Satoru paid no mind to this, enjoying the break. He spent his days either pulling Toho Hiroshi into sparring sessions or sneaking out to buy sweets, treating The Higher-Ups' ban like thin air.
Geto Suguru, however, became much more silent, often staying alone, lost in thought.
The shock brought by the Star Plasma Vessel Incident, coupled with the invisible pressure from the rapid leap in strength of his two sworn friends, seemed to be building up inside him.
Toho Hiroshi remained as calm as ever.
He spent most of his time inside Kamui Space, either meditating to consolidate the gains from his battle with Gojo Satoru, or studying the condition of the imprisoned Fushiguro Toji. The tyrant of heaven's vitality was extremely tenacious; his severely wounded body had already recovered by more than half. Inside Kamui Space, he still exuded a fierce aura, but having lost all Cursed Tools and being trapped in this strange space, he could not escape.
Occasionally, Toho Hiroshi would visit Rika in the hospital or return to the manor to instruct Fushiguro Megumi in training.
Tsumiki always gently prepared tea and snacks, as if she could dispel some of the heavy atmosphere within Tokyo Jujutsu High.
Fushiguro Megumi's training was so rigorous it bordered on self-abuse. He seemed to have vaguely sensed something, but since Toho Hiroshi didn't speak of it, he never asked, focusing all his energy on becoming stronger.
Just as The Higher-Ups were still debating how to handle Toho Hiroshi and the other two, as well as the Star Plasma Vessel, news arrived that surprised everyone.
The "Window" department, responsible for monitoring Barrier nodes across the country, submitted an emergency report: the vast Barrier network maintained by Master Tengen, covering all of Japan, was operating smoothly with a fluent flow of Cursed Energy, showing no signs of decay or instability due to the failure of assimilation.
When the news reached them, The Higher-Ups were in an uproar.
The conservative Elders who had been clamoring for severe punishment and immediate assimilation were suddenly silenced, as if their throats had been seized.
Master Tengen apparently did not require this particular Star Plasma Vessel assimilation.
This fact was like a silent slap, striking hard across the faces of those old men who held tradition and rules as sacred doctrine.
All their solemn accusations and condemnations lost their fundamental basis.
"Even so, their unauthorized actions and disregard for orders constitute a grave offense!"
One Elder still tried to save face.
"Enough."
The leading Elder of The Higher-Ups, the grim old man with slicked-back hair, interrupted the argument with a terrible expression.
He knew better than anyone that continuing to argue was pointless. Since Tengen was unharmed, the most serious charge was invalid.
And to continue pursuing the crime of "disobeying orders" against the three young Special Grades whose strength had already run wild?
The cost was definitely not something The Higher-Ups could afford right now.
Especially after Gojo Satoru had completely mastered the Reverse Cursed Technique, and Toho Hiroshi had displayed terrifying strength capable of rivaling or even suppressing Gojo Satoru.
The sky of the Jujutsu World had already changed.
"This matter is temporarily concluded."
The old man finally spoke with difficulty, every word seemingly squeezed through his teeth, "Lift the restrictions on Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, and Toho Hiroshi."
"As for the Star Plasma Vessel... since Master Tengen is unharmed, let her go. However, she must be strictly monitored to ensure she doesn't become a tool for Curse Users."
Once the order was issued, the restrictive atmosphere within Tokyo Jujutsu High instantly eased.
"Tch, those old geezers finally showed some sense."
Gojo Satoru sneered when he heard the news.
"It seems this was the expected outcome."
Toho Hiroshi said calmly, as if he had already foreseen everything. He knew that Tengen would be fine in the short term, just as in the original work, but The Higher-Ups' reaction was quicker than he had anticipated. Perhaps the power of Gojo and himself made them more apprehensive.
Hearing this, Geto Suguru glanced at Toho Hiroshi, his eyes complex, and finally just sighed softly.
With the greatest threat lifted, Amanai Riko and Kuroi Misato wept tears of joy; they had truly gained a new life.
Under the covert maneuvering of Toho Hiroshi and the influence of the Gojo Family, The Higher-Ups' so-called "strict monitoring" quickly became a formality. Amanai Riko resumed the life of a normal girl, simply transferring to another ordinary school with a new identity, and began a brand new life accompanied by Kuroi Misato.
Occasionally, she would send emails to Toho Hiroshi, Gojo Satoru, and the others, sharing funny stories from her life, the messages filled with anticipation for the future... The turmoil subsided, and life seemed to return to normal.
But some things had quietly changed.
Gojo Satoru became more flamboyant and "annoying," constantly saying "We are the strongest," and especially liked to flaunt his insights on newly developed Cursed Techniques in front of Geto Suguru. Sometimes he would also pester Toho Hiroshi to discuss the mysteries of Domain Expansion.
Geto Suguru became even more silent, and the frequency of his missions increased, sometimes even taking on solo missions far away from Tokyo.
The aura around him grew deeper, and occasionally, a subtle darkness would flash in his eyes when he looked at ordinary people.
Toho Hiroshi saw his change and knew that the foundation of his "righteous theory" was slowly collapsing in his sworn friend's heart, but he was not in a hurry to expose or intervene. Some paths must be walked alone to be understood.
Toho Hiroshi's own prestige reached an unprecedented height in the Jujutsu World.
The title of "Special Grade Sorcerer" was no longer sufficient to describe him.
Although the result of the battle with Gojo Satoru on the desolate mountain that day was not widely circulated, The Higher-Ups and well-informed individuals knew that Toho Hiroshi possessed terrifying strength capable of matching, or even slightly surpassing, the wielder of the Rikugan / Six Eyes.
Titles implying reverence, such as "That Master," "The New Strongest," and "The Uncrowned King," began to circulate privately in certain circles.
He was no longer just a Tokyo Jujutsu High student; he was one of the beings standing at the pinnacle of the Jujutsu World.
On this day, at dusk.
Toho Hiroshi stood alone on the observation deck of Tokyo Jujutsu High, looking down at the forest gradually enveloped by twilight.
A gentle breeze swept past, stirring the black hair on his forehead.
Cursed Energy flowed abundantly within him, creating a subtle resonance with the scarlet blade at his waist.
Inside Kamui Space, Fushiguro Toji, the trapped beast, had temporarily quieted down.
The Star Plasma Vessel Incident was over, and his anticipated goals had all been achieved: successfully protecting Riko, tempering himself, witnessing Satoru's transformation, defeating Fushiguro Toji, and establishing his strength and prestige.
But he felt little sense of ease in his heart.
He knew this was only the beginning.
The storm brewing inside Geto Suguru, the stirrings of the Star Plasma Cult and even deeper Curse Users, the lingering apprehension of The Higher-Ups, and the many undercurrents hidden beneath the seemingly calm Jujutsu World.
And the mysteries dating back a thousand years concerning Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses, and the ancient entity Kenjaku .
The road ahead was still fraught with thorns and challenges.
But Toho Hiroshi's gaze remained calm and resolute.
He raised his hand; a wisp of scarlet Cursed Energy intertwined with silver Spatial Power at his fingertips, emitting a heart-palpitating fluctuation.
Power was the cornerstone for facing every storm.
And he already possessed it, and would continue to grow stronger.
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