Chapter 39: The Trial and an Ambush.

"Take this, little brother."

A small caterpillar emerged from White Zetsu's collar, spitting out a sharp machete from its mouth.

It was a cursed tool, powerful enough to turn a second-grade cursed spirit into dust. White Zetsu, ever extravagant, handed it over to Itadori without hesitation.

There were better cursed tools, but Gojo Satoru didn't allow it.

He feared that students might develop a dependency on them.

White Zetsu didn't understand, but he knew better than to argue. He couldn't win.

Itadori took the machete, curiously examining it.

"Thanks to that spicy chicken feet, you've got cursed energy in your body now, but you still can't control it," White Zetsu said, striking a boss-like pose. "If you want to completely exorcise curses, you need cursed energy to attack. Bare-handed strikes won't cut it."

"This cursed tool is imbued with cursed energy. It'll work way better than your fists."

"How outdated," Nobara scoffed as she shot a cold glance at Itadori, who was busy fiddling with the machete. She then walked toward the abandoned building ahead.

"Jealous that I'm giving little bro a cursed tool, brat?" White Zetsu grinned, teasing. "If you accept me as your big brother, I'll get you one too."

"Keep dreaming! I don't care for that tacky trash," Nobara replied without turning back.

Itadori blinked, looking at White Zetsu. "When did I become your little brother?"

"Alright, time to move," White Zetsu said, ignoring the banter. He patted Itadori on the back. "I'll stay down here, holding down the fort. After this, we'll have a big feast."

This guy sure knows how to tune out others... Itadori thought, helplessly following Nobara toward their real initiation trial.

"By the way, make sure not to let Sukuna out during the fight," Gojo added, as if remembering something. "If that guy comes out, he won't just kill the curses in the building—he might take out your big brother downstairs too."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Itadori sighed, shaking his head. He doubted Gojo would listen even if he tried to explain anything.

...

"White Zetsu, where's that guy?" Gojo asked, leaning against the car door.

White Zetsu, now back in the car, rolled down the window and responded, "That kid's probably finished reading. He said he'll start teaching again when I get back."

"Half a year of slacking, and he's finally coming out of his hole, huh?" Gojo grinned. "Megumi, when that fake smile guy reappears, you should ask him for some tips."

Sitting on a nearby stone, Fushiguro looked up, puzzled.

Seeing his confusion, Gojo clarified, "That guy's no saint, but his Ten Shadows Technique is far better than yours at the moment."

Fushiguro nodded thoughtfully but cast a wary glance at White Zetsu. He wasn't sure how White Zetsu would react to Gojo talking badly about his teacher in front of the students.

"Three things to dominate the streets: ruthlessness, loyalty, and plenty of followers!" White Zetsu chimed in, playing a gangster movie in the car.

Fushiguro, hearing this, sighed and turned his head, realizing he had worried too much.

...

In the cursed atmosphere of the abandoned building, Itadori, machete in hand, searched the corridors, having split up with Nobara.

Splat!

Purple blood rained down from above.

Itadori backflipped, narrowly avoiding an attack from the ceiling, slicing off the cursed spirit's claw in the process.

The creature had four crab-like, deep green legs, scorpion-like stingers for hands, and a caterpillar-like lower body.

"Well, that's a no-brainer, even without cursed energy," Itadori muttered, tightening his grip on the machete. "After spending a few days with White Zetsu, I almost couldn't tell curses and humans apart."

With that, Itadori lunged forward, machete gleaming, aiming straight for the curse's brain.

...

Meanwhile, on the third floor, Nobara stood with a grim expression, facing a curse that had taken a child hostage.

"Damn it!"

Is this what Tokyo's curses are like!? Though just as low-grade as the idiot downstairs, this one's intelligence far surpasses the rural curses.

Despite being easy enough to crush with one hand, the situation had Nobara sweating bullets as she stared at the child held by the curse.

After a moment of hesitation, Nobara, her face dark with frustration, tossed all her weapons onto the floor.

"Let the kid go. I'm yours."

"Tch!" The curse sneered, its sinister grin widening.

Bang!

A thunderous crash followed, as a fist—without cursed energy—smashed through the wall.

A flash of silver. In one swift motion, Itadori's machete severed the curse's arm, freeing the child.

"This machete from White Zetsu is ridiculously sharp!" Itadori said with a grin as he charged at the curse.

"Don't think you can escape!" Nobara shouted, fury in her voice, quickly grabbing her weapons and chasing after the fleeing curse.

...

Outside the building, the trio of Gojo, Fushiguro, and White Zetsu were watching the chaos unfold.

Spotting a curse leaping from the rooftop, White Zetsu nonchalantly stuck his hand out the window, holding a pink revolver.

"Tsk, tsk. Looks like the new recruits need their big brother to finish things up."

Fushiguro's eye twitched, immediately trying to stop him. "White Zetsu, wait! If you use that thing, you'll blow up the entire building along with Itadori and Nobara!"

He had seen the power of White Zetsu's weapon, Red Lotus, before—one bullet, one first-grade curse, gone in an instant.

But just as Fushiguro spoke, the curse disintegrated mid-air, turning to dust.

"Not bad after all," White Zetsu smirked, putting away Red Lotus.

Gojo laughed. "Looks like the first-year students are quite something."

"Hey, what kind of monster are you?"

"That punch through the wall—there was no cursed energy in that, right!?"

Leading the rescued child, Itadori shot back, "And you with your voodoo dolls aren't exactly normal either!"

As the two bickered, Fushiguro shook his head, exasperated. Dealing with these teammates wasn't going to be easy—especially with the unpredictable White Zetsu hanging around.

...

After escorting the child home, Gojo took Itadori, Nobara, and Fushiguro out for steak, sushi, and desserts in Shinjuku. Meanwhile, White Zetsu and Ijichi stayed behind in the parking lot, eating takeout and watching an old gangster movie in the car.

Late into the night, at around 10 PM, their last stop was to help Nobara retrieve her luggage.

With the sports car fully packed, Gojo waved to Ijichi. "You take them back to the school. I'll head back on my own."

In the passenger seat sat a tired Nobara, with Fushiguro, Itadori, and White Zetsu crammed in the back. The trunk was stuffed with Nobara's belongings and shopping bags.

Ijichi nodded, started the car, and drove off.

"It's weird, White Zetsu. Why don't you just come with us?" Itadori asked curiously. "Normal humans can't even see you, right? So why not just join us?"

White Zetsu rolled his eyes. "Fools may not see your big brother, but floating silverware, disappearing food, and lit cigars would certainly raise suspicions. I don't want to end up as a trending topic on Japan's paranormal forums."

Itadori nodded thoughtfully. "So that's why you and Ijichi waited away from the crowd earlier when we picked up Nobara."

White Zetsu, despite his nonchalant attitude, was considerate enough to avoid places crowded with people.

Looking at him, Itadori suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.

Sensing Itadori's odd gaze, White Zetsu was about to speak when he suddenly stopped.

"Wait, I should at least call that kid and let him know I'll be home late."

White Zetsu quickly pulled out his phone, dialing a number.

"Hah! Are you serious? A mama's boy now? Reporting in because you're staying out late? That's hilarious!" Nobara teased from the front seat, not missing the opportunity to poke fun.

Something's wrong... Fushiguro thought, furrowing his brow. White Zetsu's uncharacteristic silence unsettled him.

Boom!!!

Like a volcano erupting, a wave of scorching flames surged down the road ahead, consuming everything in its path.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Support the Translation! 🌐✨

20 Advanced Chapters are currently available in Patreon, make sure to visit and support our team.

patreon.com/Immortal_author

https://ko-fi.com/immortalauthor

https://discord.gg/KscfBegBPT