Chapter 35: Binding, Surgery

A miscalculation.

Kenjaku stared at the young yet ancient monster before him, sorting through the information in his mind.

'Those eyes...' there was something he had never encountered before, something out of place even in a thousand years.

Ten years ago, when the upper ranks of the Zen'in clan were in turmoil, a boy without cursed energy suddenly rose to prominence.

It seemed the spirit before him must have possessed that body at the time, marking his forceful return.

Mirai crossed one leg over the other, his tone calm and indifferent, "A barrier technique rivaling Tengen's..."

"I want all the information you have on barrier techniques. No secrets."

Kenjaku pondered for a moment, lifting his gaze after a long silence. "I want Suguru Geto's body."

Mirai nodded and continued, "Second, I want detailed information on your latest experiment..."

"Everything you know about Itadori Yuji."

Kenjaku's face darkened, cursed energy swirling ominously around him.

"Don't push your luck."

"I may not be one for fighting, but if forced, killing a special-grade sorcerer wouldn't be hard."

Kenjaku's low warning was not an empty threat.

If it weren't for his ancient status and the unknowns surrounding Mirai's technique, he might have already expanded his domain and engaged in battle.

But that was his last resort.

Even after a millennium, Kenjaku remained cautious... and still feared death.

"Relax."

"I'm not asking for two in exchange for one. Feel free to state your own terms."

Mirai smirked, his tone light. "A fair trade keeps everyone happy, doesn't it?"

The swirling cursed energy around Kenjaku dissipated as he furrowed his brow, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, the gnarled branches at the edge of the pit extended, rebuilding the tea table, refilling the teapot with steaming tea.

Mirai remained silent, his expression calm and poised.

After a long pause, as the steam from the tea slowly dissipated, Kenjaku finally spoke.

"Assist me when necessary."

"The target... is Satoru Gojo."

Mirai drummed his fingers on the table, feigning hesitation before speaking slowly, "Add a time limit."

A sharp glint flashed in Kenjaku's eyes. "Within one year."

Among the modern sorcerers, excluding the unpredictable specter before him, only one and a half stood out in Kenjaku's mind.

Satoru Gojo, the sorcerer with the Six Eyes, was the one.

And Yuki Tsukumo, a special-grade sorcerer whose technique remained a mystery, counted as the "half."

While Itadori Yuji's secrets were important, everything hinged on sealing Satoru Gojo first.

If this specter was confident enough to agree, then they must have formidable abilities...

This would make the plan to seal Gojo even more foolproof.

And if the specter perished in that battle, all the better.

'Even if luck spared him, well...'

He would still be there.

As always, plans mean nothing when you're dead.

"Let's make a pact."

Kenjaku buried his malevolent intentions beneath a soft smile.

Mirai's eyes gleamed with amusement. "How about we wait until you've switched bodies before we sign anything?"

In the manga, when Kenjaku took over Suguru Geto's body, previous pacts were rendered null and void.

This little detail was something Mirai had not forgotten.

Kenjaku's face stiffened before he forced a smile and nodded in agreement.

———

Mirai watched with keen interest as Kenjaku prepared for the body switch.

As the stitches were removed, revealing a mass of milky white brain matter sprouting teeth...

It was absurd, almost comical.

Not quite cursed energy, but also not fully human—what exactly was this thing?

A new species, perhaps?

Mirai's crimson eyes scanned every detail, searching for unknown information.

In his previous life, he had only read up to Gojo's rise to prominence in Jujutsu Kaisen.

The rest of Kenjaku's plans, the protagonist's final trump card...

All these were dangerous unknowns to Mirai.

Half an hour passed.

After the brain transplant, Kenjaku immediately began sensing the condition of his new, battle-worn body.

Kenjaku had naturally studied the details of the major fight at Jujutsu High.

Had Suguru Geto not split his thousand curses across different locations during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, Yuta Okkotsu would never have gained the upper hand.

The damage to the body wasn't the primary concern now.

Kenjaku's real worry was whether Mirai had laid any traps inside the corpse when he acquired it.

Cursed energy flowed meticulously, from the tips of his toenails to the crown of his head.

Besides the severed arm, displaced organs, multiple bone fractures, and a finger-sized fragment of damaged tissue in the chest cavity, everything seemed in order.

Finally, after waiting patiently, Mirai spoke up, his tone casual, "Alright then, let's formalize the pact."

Kenjaku frowned. Now that he was using this new body, any contract signed would bind him completely.

If Suguru Geto's near-endless cursed spirits hadn't already been expended, Kenjaku might have considered taking the risk of a fight.

"What's the matter?"

Mirai asked with a playful smile, "Still thinking of putting up a fight?"

Controlling Suguru Geto's body, Kenjaku chuckled softly, "You jest, Mr. Mirai."

An hour later, the two had further refined the terms of their contract, making it more detailed and comprehensive.

Both sides eventually smiled as they sealed the binding pact.

...

Back in the second basement of the underground prison.

Deep darkness enveloped everything, with not a sliver of light.

With a series of crisp sounds, faint sparks flickered, illuminating several crazed faces.

"Looks like that guy's in some trouble."

"You're not going to help him out? Are you sure that's wise?"

Haruta threw his blade at the cursed spirits, hiding in the back as he laughed sinisterly.

"Clang!"

Naobito's expression remained calm as he swung his sword, sending sparks flying as he deflected a cursed tool.

The darkness did nothing to hinder his sense of cursed energy. He had expected Haruta to be troublesome from the start.

"Projection Sorcery."

Cursed energy surged as Naobito moved like the wind.

Haruta, sensing something amiss, looked up just in time to see the glint of a blade descending toward him.

"Thud!"

Naobito frowned. He had intended to decapitate Haruta, but his blade veered slightly at the last moment.

"Ouch! That hurts! You bastard!"

Haruta wailed as warm blood oozed from his chest, the pain making him cry out.

Tears streamed down his face as the pink-purple mark beneath his eyes faded by half.

"Ryuza! Save me!"

"This old guy's too strong!"

Haruta, sniffling and sobbing, scrambled away from Naobito, heading in the opposite direction of the baths.

Naobito continued to press forward, deflecting cursed tools with ease.

"This one-armed monkey isn't weak either. Figure it out yourself."

At the other end of the tunnel, Ryuza, covered in sweat, swung his hammer, sparks flying with each strike.

The "one-armed monkey" he referred to was none other than Zen'in Jinchi, who was supporting himself with one hand on the ground, channeling cursed energy into the earth.

The thick rock layers beneath them rippled like waves, surging toward the tunnel where Ryuza stood.

Ryuza swung his hammer with all his might, fending off the seemingly soft rock waves, but his hands were trembling from the impact, sparks flying continuously.

Sweating profusely, Ryuza shouted angrily over his shoulder, "Hey!"

"Are you going to help or not? Do you really want to rot in here forever?"

Hearing this, the small figure hiding behind Ryuza hesitated.

"Hurry up."

"If you don't move, I'll turn around and kill you first."

Ryuza, feeling the strain, shouted as he retreated.

"Hold on! I'm preparing to cast a spell!"

The raspy voice from the small figure revealed a sense of determination.

"Clink, clank, clink!"

Chains clattered at their feet as the figure pressed their palms together, cursed energy surging ominously.

"You're having fun, aren't you?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from the entrance, accompanied by a bright flame that banished the darkness.

All fighting ceased as everyone froze in place.

Haruta stared blankly at the smiling Mirai...

Cold sweat ran down his back, freezing his entire body.

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