War Declaration

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Inside the quiet tatami room, mother and daughter stood side by side, enveloped in the soothing scent of incense permeating the air. The room itself was modest, yet cozy, Adorning one wall was a piece of japanese calligraphy, with its bold, eye-catching strokes.

'Death to the Fool'

'Punishment for the Weak'

'Love for the Strong'

"Mom... Really, I'll be fine. Let's go home now," the daughter pleaded, her voice tinged with concern.

"It's okay. Just wait a little longer," the mother reassured her

"But..."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden slide of the door, causing them to startle.

Tall and with long, flowing black hair, the man exuded an air of confidence, with the sizable earrings adorning his lobes.

The man strode into the room, his demeanor confident as he ignored the two women and took a seat directly in front of them.

"So, you said your daughter is haunted by ghosts. Isn't that right, Sato-san?" he began, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue.

"No, you're Sato-san. That's what I've decided, so Sato is better," the man interjected, his tone unwavering.

"Uh-huh..."

"Mom, let's go home," the daughter whispered softly, her unease palpable.

"You can't sleep these days, right?"

"But this is so shady," the daughter added, her uncertainty growing.

Ignoring their exchange, the man continued, "You always feel a sharp gaze in your direction. Sometimes your shoulders feel heavy, and it's hard to breathe, isn't it? It's as if you've forgotten how to breathe. And you often dream of being r*ped"

"How do you know that?" the woman asked, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and curiosity.

"Don't move," the man commanded firmly, his gaze fixed intently on the woman.

With a subtle gesture, he extended his hand toward her, as if reaching for something invisible. Unbeknownst to the woman, from the man's perspective, he was drawing the spectral entity that clung to her body towards his outstretched palm.

The creature was gradually sucked in, pulled inexorably towards the man's hand until it condensed into a dense, marble-like form.

"Huh? No way... I feel much better!" the woman gasped in shock; her voice tinged with disbelief. She tentatively moved her limbs, a sense of lightness washing over her as if the burden she had been carrying had suddenly lifted.

—

"Honestly, I don't know how we could ever repay you," the woman expressed her gratitude, her voice filled with sincerity.

The man waved off her concerns with a humble smile. "Oh, no, we should all help each other in times of need. Please rely on me anytime you need to."

"Honestly, I don't know how we could ever repay you," the woman expressed her gratitude, her voice filled with sincerity.

The man waved off her concerns with a humble smile. "Oh, no, we should all help each other in times of need. Please rely on me anytime you need to."

As he watched them leave, he overheard their conversation.

The mother nudged her daughter, a look of admiration in her eyes. "See, I told you he was simply godly!"

"Yeah," the daughter agreed, nodding in awe at the man's seemingly miraculous abilities.

"Godly, huh?" The man stood still as he watched them leave, his expression shifting from humble to scornful. His lips curled into a sneer. "You're a smart one, aren't you? Filthy monkey who can't even use jujutsu."

"Your true feelings are showing, Geto-sama," a feminine voice startled the man named Geto. It was a young woman with long light-colored hair that reached past her shoulders and bright eyes, exuding an air of quiet confidence.

"Ah, Manami, how are you doing?" Geto greeted her warmly.

"The leaders have all gathered in the meeting room," she added, her tone composed and professional.

Geto began rummaging through his clothes, his movements quick and determined as if searching for something of great importance.

"Huh? Where did I put it?" he muttered to himself, his brows furrowing in frustration.

"What are you doing?" Manami inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"I'm searching for my disinfectant. Did I forget to bring it?"

"Here it is, Geto-sama," suddenly, another new voice interjected. It was a girl in her late teens, with a melancholic look in her eyes.

Geto turned his head toward the girl, his expression brightening. "Ah, thank you, Fujino," he said gratefully, taking the disinfectant from her hand and promptly spraying it over himself.

As Geto and the others walked toward the meeting room, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors, they were interrupted by a frantic call directed at Geto.

"Geto! Call Geto!" The voice belonged to a short, fat, and bald man who was hurrying towards them with an air of desperation. "Geto! Damn you!"

Geto's expression remained calm, though a hint of amusement danced in his eyes as he addressed the man. "Well, if it isn't Kanemori-san. What brings you here in such a panic?"

Kanemori-san's face flushed with frustration as he spoke. "Don't play dumb! Hurry up and exorcise my curse! Do you know how much I've paid you?!"

On closer inspection, Kanemori-san indeed appeared to be in poor health. His complexion was pale, and dark circles lingered beneath his tired eyes.

"How much?" Geto inquired Manami, his tone casual.

"Roughly one hundred and five million yen. But there have been no donations for the past six months."

"Well—Ah... I guess that's it for you," Geto replied nonchalantly.

"What are you say—"

Kanemori-san's protests were cut short as his body began to contort unnaturally, the distortion tearing through him with a brutal finality, leaving him lifeless on the floor.

The process was instantaneous, leaving the man no time to even cry out in pain as his body was twisted and contorted beyond recognition.

Behind Geto and Manami stood Asagami Fujino, her presence almost ethereal as her eyes emitted a haunting crimson glow. She observed the lifeless body of the man, her expression inscrutable as she silently took in the scene before her.

"Disgusting. Are they really the same species?" Manami muttered under her breath

Geto's response was dismissive, that's why I'm always saying they're monkeys," he remarked as he cast a quick glance back at Fujino.

"Let's not linger here any longer. We have a meeting to attend," he remarked, gesturing for them to continue on their way toward the meeting room.

As soon as they arrive, Geto swung open the imposing double doors, they revealed a spacious chamber adorned with intricate tapestries and ornate decorations.

"The time is right, my family," Geto declared as he addressed the gathered assembly. "Let's lower the curtain on the age of monkeys and build a paradise for jujutsu sorcerers."

As he stepped into the room, his eyes swept over the diverse group assembled before him. Two girls clad in school uniforms. Beside them stood a tall, imposing figure, his dark skin, Nearby, a man stood with an air of nonchalance, and finally, a man with a scar etched across his face bore a steely gaze,

"First, we must fell the cornerstone of the jujutsu world"

"Jujutsu High," Geto proclaimed.

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Sitting inside the dojo-shaped building of the Jujutsu College, Shiki sat on the floor in the traditional dogeza style, she body drenched in sweat, every strand of her hair glistening as if she had just stepped out of the shower.

Absorbed in her training, Shiki diligently honed her swordsmanship skills, utilizing the resources available in the school's extensive library of martial arts.

Within the school's collection lay a plethora of martial arts books, and without hesitation, Shiki learns every subject available—footwork, breathing, and all related disciplines, leaving no stone unturned.

Perhaps it had something to do with Shiki's heavenly restriction; strangely, anything that involved physica activities or anything related to her body made her skillful enough to be considered a genius. Even Gojo can attest to this.

In just over three months, she had already surpassed Maki in terms of skill and technique.

Her focus turned to a sizable tome titled 'Self-Hypnosis,' delving into the power of self-suggestion and its applications.

With Shiki's abnormal way of thinking, she tried to think of herself as a weapon, more precisely, she thought of herself as a being whose sole purpose was purely for combat.

Although it requires more effort, for now, Shiki's movements have become more a lot more efficient.

After completing her self-suggestion several dozen times, Shiki resumed her training. The dojo echoed with the familiar sound of her blade slicing through the air, accompanied by the rhythmic sound her footwork.

Swish!

Swish!

The sound of her strikes reverberated in the dojo. With each swing, she felt the energy coursing through her veins, her senses sharpened.

Suddenly, a creaking noise interrupted her concentration as the dojo door swung open. Looking up, she saw Panda standing in the doorway, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he extended an invitation to lunch.

"Hey, Shiki! It's lunchtime. Wanna grab something to eat together?" Panda asked with a warm tone.

Shiki paused, her breath catching for a moment before she nodded in agreement. "Sure, Let me just clean up real quick," she replied, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Shiki could feel the residual heat of her training session still clinging to her skin, Shiki made her way out of the dojo and towards her dormitory.

Arriving at her dormitory, Shiki wasted no time in heading straight for the shower. The steam enveloping her as the sound of running water greeted her.

Under the spray of hot water, Shiki let out a contented sigh as she allowed the tension to melt away from her muscles, feeling revitalized with each passing moment.

============

After Panda extended the invitation for lunch, Shiki and the others were soon seen walking together on Jujutsu ground.

Panda is leading the conversation with his usual enthusiasm. Maki and Yuta occasionally interjected. Shiki walked alongside them, her expression calm and observant although she didn't actively participate in the discussion.

Yuta suddenly stopped, his gaze wandering around.

"What's wrong, Yuta?" Panda's concerned voice broke the tension as he observed Yuta's sudden stop.

"Uh, well... I just got a bad feeling," Yuta admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"You were just imagining things," Panda retorted with a shrug.

"Yeah, imagining things," Maki agreed, her tone casual.

"You're probably just imagining things again," Shiki chimed in.

"Bonito flakes."

Yuta's protests fell on deaf ears as his friends continued to advance. "Huh? Guys, wait..."

"Well, your ability to sense cursed energy sucks, you know," Maki commented, her voice laced with teasing.

"It's bound to get dull, with someone like Rika always with you," Panda added.

"If it was Shiki who said that bad feeling, maybe I would have taken it more seriously," Maki quipped, her tone revealing a hint of humor.

Meanwhile, from a distance, Gojo and Principal Yaga observed the students chatting among themselves, their voices carrying faintly through the air.

"We still aren't picking up on any actions from Geto. Are you sure you're not worried over nothing?" Yaga questioned Gojo, his tone laced with skepticism.

Gojo's expression turned serious, his gaze remained fixed ahead as he responded, "Principal, I'm sad to say that's not possible. I confirmed it myself on the scene. There's no way I would mistake the residuals of Suguru's cursed energy."

At the mention of Suguru's name, Yaga's expression darkened.

Suddenly, both of them jolted, as if sensing a familiar aura nearby.

"God damn it! Speak of the devil!" Yaga exclaimed, his voice filled with frustration.

"Immediately gather all sorcerers on campus, semi-first-grade and above, in the circle out front!" he ordered Gojo, urgency evident in his tone.

Gojo stood silently for a moment, his gaze focused in the distance, before slowly departing in the other direction.

Back on the ground, while Shiki and the others continued their journey, a sense of unease crept over Shiki, causing her to abruptly halt. Her gaze instinctively turned skyward.

High above, a small dot caught her attention against the expanse of the blue sky. Shiki squinted, trying to discern its identity.

"Is that a bird?" Shiki murmured quietly.

Maki, Panda, and Toge followed suit, halting their steps to join Shiki in scrutinizing the distant object. Yuta, observing their reactions, couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"That's unusual," Maki remarked

"Yuta's intuition was correct," Panda added

"Salmon," Toge chimed in still with his unique vocabulary.

As time passed, the small dot gradually enlarged and drew nearer, taking shape as the silhouette of a giant white pelican before descending to the ground in front of them.

The atmosphere grew tense as the group instinctively recognized the approaching creature as a curse.

After the bird landed, its massive wings folding gracefully against its sleek body, the creature opened its mouth. From within its maw emerged several figures

"Yuck! Geto-sama, is this really Tokyo? Feels like the sticks," The girl inside the bird mouth commented with a wrinkled nose as she surveyed the tranquil surroundings.

Nanako's blunt observation earned a reproachful glance from the other girl who wore a black sailor uniform "Nanako, that's rude."

"What? But don't you think so, too, Mimiko?" Nanako countered as she look back at the girl.

As they conversed, Shiki's attention remained fixed on a certain man, her gaze unwavering as she studied him intently. He stood apart from the others, clad in robes reminiscent of a Buddhist priest, his presence emitting a distinct aura that set him apart from the rest.

He wore robes like a Buddhist priest, of all the people who appeared, only he had a distinct aura.

"And who are all of you? Intruders aren't allowed in, by Yuta-san here," Panda interjected, his voice laced with authority as he addressed the intruders.

"Kelp!"

Panda and Toge remark were met with puzzled expressions, prompting a confused response from Yuta. "Huh?"

"Go home before you get beaten! By Yuta-san!" Maki chimed in; her tone sharp as she echoed Panda's warning.

As the others engaged in conversation with the intruders Suddenly, without warning, the man disappeared from her view, his swift movements catching shiki off guard.

But shiki, in a split-second reaction, reached out and pulled Yuta back just in time to avoid the man's sudden action. Maki and the others were startled by the sudden apperance of the man in Buddhist robes in front of them.

"!!!" The man was also surprised and turned his gaze towards shiki. 

Shiki looked back at him. His shocked expression turned into a smile, before he shifts his attention back to yuta.

"Nice to meet you, Okkotsu-kun. I'm Geto Suguru." he greeted Yuta, his voice smooth and composed despite the abrupt encounter.

"You possess a truly wonderful power, I see," he began, his tone reverent "I believe that great power ought to be used toward great ends."

Yuta, bewildered by the stranger's rhetoric, could only manage a hesitant "Uh...huh," his confusion palpable in the air.

"Have you ever questioned the current state of the world? This world where jujutsu sorcerers act in secret in order to protect the order of commonplace society." Geto pressed on "The apex of all creation has halted its own path of evolution!" he declared, his voice rising with fervor. "It's nonsense! It's high time mankind reconsidered its strategy for survival! Which is why we'd like you to help us."

"Help with what?" Yuta's voice broke through the tension, his question hanging in the air like a lingering doubt.

"We're going to kill all non-sorcerers and create a world with only jujutsu sorcerers," he proclaimed

Shiki's brow furrowed in confusion as she listened to the stranger's words. 'What the hell is this guy saying?' she thought to herself, struggling to make sense of the cryptic statement.

a familiar voice pierced through the tension "Could you stop preaching your crazy beliefs to my students?" The voice was unmistakable—Gojo Satoru.

"Satoru! Long time no see! Geto's response was surprisingly casual, as if he were greeting an old friend rather than engaging in a confrontation. Behind gojo were several first-class sorcerers "I see some familiar faces"

But Gojo's demeanor remained serious "First of all, get away from those kids, Suguru," he commanded, his words leaving no room for negotiation.

Geto's gaze swept over the group of students, each one receiving his scrutiny in turn. "I had heard this year's first-years were all outstanding students. Now I understand. It was all your doing,"

As he spoke, his gaze lingered on each of them in turn.

"A special-grade cursed human," he noted, his eyes resting on Yuta.

"A cursed corpse mutation," he continued, his attention now on the sentient panda.

"The descendant of the cursed speech users," his focus turning to Toge,

"The Zen'in clan's failure," his gaze turned to Maki.

Before finally settling on Shiki. "And... The second coming of Toji,"

"You piece of..." Maki's voice trailed off, her anger barely contained her frustration.

"Watch what you say. Because I don't need any monkeys like you in my world," Geto retorted, his tone cold and dismissive, his eyes flashing with barely contained disdain.

"I'm sorry. I don't really understand what you're talking about, but...I can't help anyone who insults my friends!" Yuta's voice cut through the tension, as he defended his companions against Geto's verbal assault.

"My apologies. It wasn't my intention to upset you," Geto replied, his tone softening slightly as he acknowledged Yuta's reaction.

"Then what exactly did you come for?!" Gojo's frustration evident in his tone as he finally spoke up.

"To declare war," Geto declared, his words chilling in their simplicity.

He then turned his attention towards everyone who had gathered, his voice commanding as he addressed them all. "Everyone gathered here, open your ears and listen closely!"

"On the coming December 24th, when the sun sets, we shall conduct the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons."

"It will take place in the crucible of curses, Shinjuku, Tokyo... and the holy land of jujutsu, Kyoto."

"We will unleash a thousand curses upon each place. And of course, their command will be 'massacre.'"

"If you wish to avoid a scene straight out of hell, come and stop it with all your might."

"Let us freely curse each other!" His proclamation echoed through the air.

As Geto finished his declaration and turned to leave, Gojo's voice cut through the air with an edge of defiance. "Did you think we'd just let you leave?"

"You don't want to do th-."

Before he could finish his sentence, Shiki unsheathed the sword in her hand, her eyes regaining focus as the color shifted from black to a mystifying blue hue. The lines on Geto's face became clearer, red lines intersecting with each other indicating his most vulnerable spot.

Shiki dashed forward. As she swung her sword, she aimed the lines directly at Geto's neck, seeking to deliver a swift blow.

Swish!

Geto, noticing the change in Shiki's eye color for the first time, felt a chill run down his spine. Reacting swiftly, he leaped backward, narrowly avoiding Shiki's lethal strike. At the same time, Geto's curses surged towards Shiki like dark tendrils, twisting and writhing in the air as they sought to ensnare her.

Shiki pivoted gracefully, her blue eyes locked onto Geto's every move. As curses materialized around her, she deftly parried each one with her sword.

After warding off attacks from the curses, Shiki once again prepared to confront Geto. Gathering strength in her legs, she ready to strike. But before she could execute her attack, she felt a sudden tug on her collar, halting her movement.

"That's enough, Shiki," Gojo's voice cut through the tension, his tone serious as he kept his gaze fixed on Geto.

Geto, unfazed, made a casual remark. "What a monster. Where did you find her?"

"Why do you think I should tell you?"

With a nonchalant shrug, Geto bid farewell. "Well, anyway, see you on the battlefield everyone."

As Geto and his cohorts departed, leaving the others behind in a state of complicated emotions, Shiki glanced at Gojo.

For the first time, she observed a flicker of unfamiliar emotion in his expression as his gaze lingered on the spot where Geto disappeared into the distance. It was a rare glimpse of vulnerability from the normally composed sorcerer.

[END]

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