Manga spoilers: chapters 143/144

" Looks like you're hurt, Naoya."

Naoya glares at Yuta as he enters scene.

" Shall I heal you?"

You're confused, tuning out Yuta as you focus on the body he's dragging behind him.

" My reverse curse technique can heal people. In return, can you please inform your superiors of Itadori's death?"

Your blood runs cold at his words. You glance at Choso, who's eyes are wide as well.

What is happening? Where is Sukuna? You doubt Yuta managed to take him out completely.

Yuta is amazingly strong, but strong enough to take on both Itadori brothers at the same time? You doubt it.

Choso doesn't move, so you choose not to do so either. Focusing, you trace your cursed energy, the bracelet Sukuna carries with him like you've done countless times before.

It's not far away. In fact, he should be hidden behind the building Yuta just walked out from.

Soon enough, Naoya is gone (only sending you and Choso a short look of disgust.) And before Choso can do anything, Sukuna re-enters the scene.

Your eyes shift to Yuuji, the question clear.

What's the meaning of this?

Yuta sighs out, a friendly smile gracing his lips.

" Woah. That was intense. I'm glad I trusted your friend."

Yuta's smiling, talking to you obviously.

You raise a brow. He put his faith in Sukuna? Now that's not something you hear every day. You glance at your bestfriend, who shrugs.

" Told him you wouldn't attack as long as I'm nearby.-"

He raises his arm, showing you the familiar bracelet he always wears.

" Also told him he wouldn't be able to win if you gave it your all."

He shrugs again. You blink.

" Oh- uhm, okay?"

You're not entirely sure whether that's true, considering he has Rika.

" I can't explain anything here. Come with me, please."

Yuta barely explains, turning his back to the three of you.

You blink, but send a quick glance to Choso. He seems puzzled, seemingly trusting your intuition. You nod.

If this Yuta is anything like the Yuta from your own universe, you'll be fine.

-

" Y/N!"

You blink as you're suddenly pulled into an unfamiliar embrace.

However, the tufts of black hair let you know just who it is.

" Megumi!"

For a moment, he's lost in your embrace, but then his eyes flutter open.

Soon enough, they widen, and he's pulling away from you and pulling you behind him in one quick motion.

Sukuna, who was just watching the exchange in annoyance, raises a brow.

" The fuck you handling her so roughly for?"

Megumi doesn't respond, instead, he brings his hands together and-

" Demon dog!"

Your eyes widen as Megumi summons his demon dog.

Shit. They haven't met yet. Megumi probably thinks Sukuna is Ryomen Sukuna.

" Wait! Megumi, he's-"

" Oh, you wanna go?!"

Sukuna is smirking, eager to fight like he always is, his hand already on that jagged blade of his. Leave it to your asshole best friend to pick a fight at the worst moments.

" Kuna', no! Please, behave for once!"

Megumi glances over his shoulder, noting your frustration, but also the annoyed tone. You're definitely familiar with each other.

" You two know each other?"

Sukuna seems annoyed as he lets go of the blade. You nod at Megumi.

" Explain."

" He's from my universe. That's Itadori Sukuna. Yuuji's twin from my universe."

Your explanation does evidently little for Megumi, distrust visible in his face.

He glances back at Sukuna, the nonchalant pink haired numbnut crossing his arms over his chest in obvious annoyance.

Megumi releases his demon dog with a sigh, taking a step back as he stands beside you. Sukuna rolls his eyes.

You turn to Yuta, ignoring the two guys. Your eyes narrow into a glare.

" So, care to explain?"

Yuta blinks, tensing, lowkey afraid of women when they're mad.

" Ah, right. The higher ups wanted me to kill Yuuji, so I did, but I applied reverse cursed energy at the same time, so he's alright. Should wake up any minute now."

You nod, sliding down against the wall and resting against it.

" I see. Smart move."

Yuta smiles, nodding.

" Thanks. I had to make it work with Naoya around."

For a moment, silence overtakes everyone. Sukuna slumps down beside you. You glance up at Megumi, patting the free spot beside you.

He scrunches his nose.

" The ground is dirty."

You shrug.

" Suit yourself."

Yuuji wakes up after a few moments, and you watch as he speaks with Yuta. He's stuck on the Shibuya incident. On what happened. Understandably so, but you can only watch as he explains his guilt to Yuta.

" ..Why are you doing all of this?"

Yuta's demeanor is calm as he looks at the younger student.

" Because you're important to people who are important to me. I too once bore a power I couldn't handle. I thought it had been forced on me, but I had invited it on myself. But not you. The power you bear isn't your own. You aren't to blame."

Yuuji doesn't look reassured. His eyes are downcast on the ground.

" You don't understand. It isn't about whether it's my fault. I-"

" Itadori."

Megumi is the first to move. All three of you had been right outside of his vision. For now, you and Sukuna remain on your distance.

" Fushiguro..."

" What're you doing? Let's head back to Jujutsu Tech. The barrier around school is loosening, as long as no one gets a look at your face, it should be no problem for you to go back. We'll rejoin the older students and-"

" Stop!"

You jump as Yuuji suddenly yells. Sukuna glances shortly at you.

" Don't act like everything is normal! Don't act like nothing happened!-"

Yuuji is evidently distressed.

" I killed people! Because of me, all those people died! I nearly killed Y/N in the process!-"

You get up, you've heard enough. Sukuna merely watches, his face void of emotion as he remains seated, hands in his pocket.

" Yuuji, enough-"

" It's our fault."

Your gaze snaps to Megumi, surprise evident in your features.

Huh?

" Don't be selfish and give up alone. We aren't heroes fighting for justice. We're Jujutsu sorcerers. No one ever truly judges us, so we must continually prove the worth of our existence. We don't have the luxury to think about ourselves. We've got people to save. I believe that was the principle behind your actions."

For a moment it's silent between the two of them. You don't say a word. You don't need to. Moments like this remind you how very different this Megumi is from the one you've known for a good chunk of your life. You look at Megumi while his focus remains on Yuuji.

Yuuji still looks distressed, though it's different now, better.

Megumi's brow furrow as he speaks again.

" So start by saving me, Itadori."

Yuuji's distress disappears from his face, replaced with complete and utter surprise. Megumi continues.

" Noritoshi Kamo (Kenjaku) has made plans for those involved with Jujutsu to face off in a culling game. And Tsumiki is ensnared in that..."

His eyes sharpen as he looks at his best friend.

" I'm begging you, Itadori. I need your strength."

For a moment, Yuuji is silent, speechless. You don't blame him. So are you. It takes a moment, but eventually he turns to Yuta.

" Okkotsu, Sukuna is plotting something involving Fushiguro. On top of that, he seems to really want Y/N dead. If I ever switch with Sukuna again, don't hesitate to kill me."

Your eyes widen.

" Yuuji, wait-"

He offers you a sympathetic smile, shaking his head.

" It's for the best Y/N. You don't understand his power-"

" Still, there must be something..?"

Yuuji shakes his head.

" It's for the best."

He turns back to Yuta, who seems emotionless as he nods.

" Understood, I'll do what I can."

You gnaw at your bottom lip, not liking the plan.

Sukuna steps towards you, about to throw an arm over your shoulder- when Megumi pulls you right out of his reach, keeping you close to him instead.

Sukuna's brows furrow in annoyance.

" What the fuck is your issue?"

" I don't trust you."

You blink at both guys seem to communicate for a moment by glaring at one another. What was their issue suddenly? You shake it off. There's no time for this nonsense.

" Megumi, what should we do?"

Megumi's eyes soften at your words, before he looks between all of you.

" First, we'll go back to Jujutsu Tech and contact master Tengen. We need to figure out how to remove the seal on the prison realm, what Noritoshi Kamo (Kenjaku) wants and what he has planned. The Culling Games is Jujutsu Terrorism like nothing we've seen before. To fix this mess, we need answers, and I think master Tengen has them."

Everyone nods.

" What about Tsukumo?"

" I already spoke to her. This was her idea."

" The problem is Master Tengen's concealing barrier."

You hum at Yuta's words. That's true. You've never been down there, but you've heard about the 1000 shuffling doors, of which only one actually leads to master Tengen.

Suddenly, Yuuji seems to remember something.

" Sorry Y/N, I have to ask. What happened to Kugisaki?"

You swallow, looking away, forcing your tears down at the memory of your dead friend.

" I'm sorry, I couldn't save her."

Yuuji swallows, nodding.

" It wasn't your fault, Y/N."

Barely a moment of silence passes as Choso speaks up suddenly.

" About that barrier.-"

You jump. You forgot about him alltogether to be honest.

" -there may be a way past it."

Yuta perks up.

" Oh, you were listening?"

" What do you mean, Choso?"

" Mahito once stole Sukuna's fingers and the death painting wombs, right? We can do the same thing."

-

" Maki!"

For now, you've all managed to make your way to Jujutsu Tech, where Yuki and Maki had already been waiting on you.

" I'm glad to see you're alive."

You pass her a smile, and she smiles back at you. Everyone is quick to catch up, with Yuki turning to you and Sukuna, who lingers closely beside you.

" You're the one who healed Maki, right? Your reverse cursed technique must be amazing. "

You smile at her words.

" Thank you."

Then, she turns to Sukuna, looking him over.

He raises a brow.

" The fuck you looking at?"

She blinks in surprise, shaking her head.

" Ah, sorry. You just do look a lot like the Sukuna we know- You have the same ability as Fushiguro Toji, right?"

Sukuna raises a brow.

" And what about it?"

" I've always wanted to study him. I wondered if you could tell me what causes you to be completely free of cursed energy-"

" No. I don't really know how it works, or why."

Yuki nods, now tuning in on the conversation of the group beside you.

" ... what about master Tengen's barrier?"

" About that-"

Choso presses a hand on Megumi's shoulder.

" I'll explain. Between the doors and the tomb lies the cursed warehouse. It holds the remains of my brothers. Even if it's only the six together, a side effect of my cursed energy should provide guidance."

Yuki smiles at his words.

" Good."

Maki's eyes narrow. She doesn't know Choso after all.

" That's fine but.. who's this guy...?"

Yuuji sighs, glancing at the floor.

" For now.. think of him as my big brother. Let's go."

You follow the others out, though you can't help hut smile at Choso's touched expression as he calls after his brother.

-

Finding the correct door was indeed easier than expected with Choso at your side.

" There. My brothers sleep beyond that door."

" Let's open them."

Your eyes widen once they finally do open that door. An eerie forest spreads out beyond those doors. It was odd, much bigger on the inside than expected.

" Let's go. Farther in, there's an elevator to the tomb."

With Yuki's words, everyone gets moving. The forest spreads out seemingly endlessly, tall trees are all you see for a good while, until you eventually come across a warehouse.

Choso pauses beside the building, looking at the place like it's calling him.

" Choso..."

Yuuji's voice is gentle as he calls for him.

" I know.-"

He presses a hand to the door.

" I'll return. Wait just a little longer."

Silently, you wonder how those death paintings must be feeling, locked up for around a 100 years. Were they as conscious of their existence as Choso is? It doesn't take too long to reach the elevator. Once out, you're led into some kind of tunnel.

" Blood stains? What happened here?"

Your eyes widen at Yuuji's words, glancing at the stain.

Oh. This is where Toji murdered Gojo's friend. You know because Gojo explained after the events of last year. After you helped put Suguru Geto to rest in the most gentle way possible to take a life.

Yuki eyes the stain.

" It was 12 years ago in our universe..."

Yuki raises her head towards your words, surprised, though she doesn't comment on her now added curiosity. Now's not the time to ask about your universe.

She nods.

" That's when everything began to get distorted. All right, the main shrine should be right through here."

However, you blink once you all walk through the tunnel, only to come in a blank room.

" Damnit..."

" Is this the main shrine?"

" But there's nothing here?"

Yuki shakes her head at Megumi and Yuuji's questions.

" No. Tengen is rejecting us. Tengen doesn't interfere with our world. But I thought contact would be possible now that the six eyes are sealed. I was too optimistic."

You sigh. Well, this sucks. Beside you, Sukuna blinks in displeasure, obviously annoyed. Megumi looks displeased as well.

" Let's head back. Tsumiki doesn't have time."

Just as you're all turning around, agreeing to Yuta's words, someone suddenly calls out.

" Leaving so soon?"

Everyone's eyes widen as they turn back around.

" It's a pleasure to meet you, child of the Zen'in, Michizane's descendant, death painting womb, Sukuna's vessel, and great warrior of the past."

Why did this man look like an alien? And wait- Did he just address you as a great warrior of the past? Was Sukuna's hunch correct?