Potential Man - 30

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A/N: I'm now using italic words for thoughts instead of 'words' that emphasize thoughts.

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Choso and Naoya were engaged in a chaotic struggle, with each fighter demonstrating their own proficiency in close quarters fighting with strikes that clattered like thunder.

One moved with exceptional speed, while the other assumed a sturdier defensive stance.

Just as Choso saw an opportunity to counter while enduring Naoya's assault, the latter disappeared, utilizing his technique to evade.

With a sudden burst of speed, Naoya lunged forward, delivering precise and lethal blows on Choso.

Choso, struggling to properly perceive his opponent, could only resort to defending himself with his blood manipulation and curse energy manipulation (body reinforcement).

"Unfortunately for you, I always act on the assumption that you will counter." Naoya smirked as he shifted into a different stance, revealing the confidence in his abilities.

Choso felt a sting of a cut on his shoulder, thigh, and stomach. Naoya openly revealed the concealed dagger he had been using all along.

Surveying the damage, Choso found himself bleeding heavily from that quick exchange. The amount of damage being inflicted to him is also taking a toll.

But their fight was stopped as soon as both Choso and Naoya sensed an overwhelming presence permeating the battlefield.

Sukuna!? / This is Sukuna! Choso and Naoya turned to look in the direction where Yuta and that enigmatic man were.

After a few seconds, Sukuna's presence immediately disappeared, likely due to a barrier.

Not good. Did Okkostu fail? This is problematic. Naoya frowned, his thoughts racing. Wait, won't this make Megumi come here sooner? He smirked, seeing an opportunity.

Naoya's eyes narrowed as he looked at his opponent in front of him. Should I retreat?

Nah! His smirk widened.

As if Sukuna's presence didn't matter to them at all.

Their fight resumed, the two fighters locking eyes once more. However, Choso seemed to be no longer on guard, and had a downward cast.

Naoya stepped back momentarily and observed him. What's he doing? No guard? Did he give up?

Fueled by determination and going into a frenzy, Choso declared, "This won't do! I'm the oldest… of TEN SIBLINGS! I won't lose here." He unleashed his blood manipulation techniques, flooding the floor with poisonous blood and turning the battleground into a hazardous zone.

"So what? I don't give a—" Naoya exclaimed.

!!

The floor was being flooded by his blood!?

What is this?! How can he bleed this much and still live?! Naoya was in disbelief as he started retreating, seeing the massive amount of blood flowing out of Choso, forming a tidal wave heading towards him.

Crap! I was so focused on the massive amount of blood that I lost sight of him! The flood of blood started coming after him.

At this moment, while Naoya was in awe at the amount of blood, then a disc-like surprise attack emerged from the tsunami of blood.

Naoya ducked after seeing that attack with a smirk.

Slow. What a sloppy attack. He must be dying from blood loss right now— Naoya's senses alarmed him that Choso was behind him, exploiting his blind spot.

NO! Gritting his teeth, Naoya bolstered himself with curse energy to reinforce his body to the limit. In order to react in time he deliberately twists his body fully, already predicting the trajectory of the piercing arrow.

At least that was what Naoya thought.

"Super nova!" Choso, with his hands clasped, had already formed a blood manipulation arrowhead.

The arrowhead was but a bomb that exploded on him on the spot, unleashing a powerful assault.

~

Naoya's consciousness was momentarily knocked out, and upon waking, he found himself on the floor sweating profusely, struggling to maintain steady breathing.

This is… Poison?! Can blood manipulation even do that? No. Wait!

This bastard! Was a full flesh curse!! Naoya's eyes widened as he realized what he was fighting against now.

Naoya shot a furious glare at the fully-fleshed curse, but before anything could escalate, Yuta had appeared and smacked Choso's head, knocking him out cold. With Yuji Itadori in one hand, he was also trailed by that strange guy, moving at a snail's pace.

"Shall I heal you Naoya?" Yuta Okkostu looked down on him as he asked.

Naoya felt nothing but frustration and deep humiliation as he realized he was being looked down upon.

***

After Yuta healed Naoya and made him promise to deliver the message to JJ HQ that he had killed Yuji Itadori, we left.

"Let's head over there..." Yuta Okkotsu wasn't one to talk much to strangers, but he sensed something trustworthy about this 'Hyuuga' guy. With Yuji Itadori in his hand, he led the way to the appointed spot.

Gojo effortlessly lifted Choso with one hand and trailed behind them.

When they reached the designated spot that Yuta had led them to, he stacked some rubble and started a mini-fire using cobblestones and branches. Then, he arranged some of the larger rubble into a makeshift chair and sat down.

I did the same, then carefully laid Choso down on the makeshift bed of hard concrete.

The area felt eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos we had caused earlier.

Yuta broke the silence, his voice soft as he spoke. "Hyuuga-san, I need you to keep this a secret that I saved Itadori after killing him."

"Yeah, sure. Whatever." Gojo bluntly replied. It's good that Yuta believes that I'm a mercenary working with Jujutsu headquarters despite not having some form of ID. Let him assume things for now.

As the fire crackled softly, Yuta Okkotsu's gaze settled on Yuji Itadori's unconscious form.

"Could I ask how you resist Sukuna's domain expansion?" Yuta asked Gojo, his expression turned serious.

"Domain Amplification. It's an anti-domain technique. Instead of creating a bounded field or barrier, you spread the power thinly over your entire body," Gojo explained.

"...I see." Yuta gave it a thought and thought that technique was incredible! He was relieved he got the answer from Gojo. So it's similar like simple domain? Yuta thought.

"You can't use other curse techniques while it's active, but it's incredibly effective at neutralizing a wide range of attacks and abilities," Gojo added,

"Ah." Yuta's eyes widened slightly, his chin cupped in thought. Maybe not?

Gojo sighed. There was no problem with this info going out since it's going to be common knowledge to most sorcerers later on. I could imagine what Yuta is thinking, it wouldn't neutralize every type of attack, but with enough output it's incredible to even withstand the damn Malevolent Shrine from Sukuna.

"...That reminds me. Why do I sense no curse energy from you?" Yuta glanced at Gojo, curious.

Fuck, I forgot about that. He is wary of me. No curse energy. Unknown strength. Withstood a domain expansion with a technique he has never seen before. I ain't no Toji either, so if I say heavenly restrictions, he won't buy it… Then let's roll with a lie.

"It's a binding vow. I can't sense or see cursed energy anymore. But in return, no one—not even I—can detect my cursed energy," Gojo lied smoothly, without missing a beat. "Still, I can perceive cursed spirits and those with curse techniques if they manifest."

It's not a bad lie. Yuta thought. It must be tied to his techniques. He probably made a binding vow to conceal all traces of his curse energy. But there wasn't a hint of curse energy when he used those type 'elemental' attacks… What kind of jujutsu technique does he have?

Unknown to Gojo, it was fortunate that he didn't possess typical curse energy as his reserves, and that his companions didn't linger too long in this world. Whenever a powerful human or being is born or suddenly appears, the world reacts by increasing the power and number of cursed spirits, striving to maintain a balance between humans and curses.

Even though the real Gojo Satoru is sealed away, this false Gojo is temporarily deceiving the world, preventing a surge in powerful cursed spirits. Despite being an outsider, he is maintaining the delicate balance left by the absent Gojo Satoru.

Yuta glanced at him briefly, then turned away. Regardless, enduring a 15-fingered Sukuna and surviving a domain expansion, plus no signs of curse energy. He's strong, Yuta concluded. I can't even judge him properly.

Yuta glanced up at the night sky then back at the fire pit. "Did you know Sukuna wouldn't have a closed barrier when he cast his domain expansion?"

How the hell am I supposed to answer that? Oh my god, this feels like a trick question. I even stopped Yuta from using his domain expansion so he could save his curse energy and go full output on reverse curse technique.

Instead of answering, let us praise Sukuna instead.

"Crazy, right? He had no barrier in his domain. Never seen that before."

Yuta nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the fire. "Yeah, I never even thought a domain without a barrier was even possible until I saw it with my own eyes."

"Even with an open domain, his technique is simple as it involves slices and slashes. He must have made some serious binding vows for that to work. Like, maybe he allowed an escape route, which could explain why the barrier is gone." Gojo continued, trying to sidetrack Yuta with his analysis.

"True." Yuta leaned back, the makeshift chair creaking under him.

False. It probably has more to do with Fuga. But honestly, I'm not even sure. I still don't know how to pull off a no barrier domain expansion. On top of that, Sukuna is probably listening to us right now. Ahhhh. He knows how to use domain amplification now.

On top of all that, there was a clear skill gap when I was fighting Sukuna. It wasn't enough… facing someone who fights to the death on a daily basis. If I'd just used my Sharingan, or other cheats, things would've turned out differently… But then again, that would just be me relying on cheats in the end. Ugh, fucking hell, I got wrecked in pure martial arts, and I used to pride myself on that.

I think I can reflect on this a bit. I noticed I panicked in moments when I was caught off guard. I never expected to feel so overwhelmed by the gap in martial arts skills. No, that's not it. My techniques were solid. It's just… training can take you far, but fighting is a whole different experience altogether.

While Gojo and Yuta were deep in contemplation, Choso suddenly woke up and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Yo." Gojo waved at him, and Yuta just looked up, tension building in the air. Choso was ready to go all out—until Yuta spoke.

"Itadori is alive. I killed him because of a binding vow I took, then I immediately healed him after stabbing him in the heart. He's just unconscious," Yuta quickly explained. With both of his hands up in the air like making a surrender sign.

"You can fact-check that your brother is alive." Gojo nodded in the direction where he was.

There, Choso wept quietly, his voice breaking as he cried out, "My brother is alive!"

"Brother…?" Yuta looked at the scene, confusion etched on his face.

You have no idea. Gojo thought, choosing to remain silent.

Not long after Choso recovered, we sensed another presence approaching. However, I knew who it was.

"Ah yes. Potential man," Gojo said with a grin.

"Potential who?" both Choso and Yuta asked in unison, confusion etched on their faces.

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