Back at the First Barrier in Tokyo.
Everyone gathered.
Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto updated the group with the latest intel. The room fell into silence.
Seven days—time was tight.
There was no room to waste any of it. Gojo stood up, clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention, and asked, "Where's that sorcerer from earlier?"
"The one who can nullify all techniques—where are they?"
From the beginning, his intention had been clear: gather all their strength, especially their top combat power.
And right now, the top priority was Sukuna.
"What about Itadori?" he pressed.
Itadori was absolutely critical. If they could harness Sukuna's power, combined with Gojo himself, Geto, Principal Yaga, Yuki Tsukumo, and several newly joined Special Grades, their strength would be formidable.
At the very least, they could pin down Sōjun Minamoto and maybe catch a slim chance to act. The rest would depend on how things played out in the moment.
But that slim chance hinged on breaking Sukuna's Binding Vow—or at the very least, figuring out the exact nature of the constraint.
Yaga said seriously, "They're already on their way back. We'll bring them all in together."
Someone quickly left the room.
Silence returned.
"Can't we use the Prison Realm?" someone suggested. "Maybe we can seal Sōjun Minamoto with it too."
Now that the Prison Realm had been unlocked, it could seal one more person. They also had the Inverted Spear of Heaven in their possession.
It sounded feasible...
"I doubt it," Gojo shook his head. "The fact he handed it over means he's already taken precautions. It's worth trying—but don't count on it."
As the urgency sank in, more people began to speak up, and the room grew noisy with overlapping voices.
Gojo listened for a bit, then tuned it out, closing his eyes to think.
Soon, quick footsteps echoed down the hall, and the murmurs died down again.
Everyone turned toward the door as Itadori and a few other students entered, accompanied by the sorcerer.
"Uh," Itadori scratched his head under the weight of everyone's stare.
Gojo didn't say much. He walked up and studied Itadori closely. A small smile curved his lips—this was the best news he'd had in a while:
Itadori was adapting to Sukuna's power faster with each finger he digested.
With everyone's support, they might just make it in time.
He'd always aimed for full assimilation of all twenty fingers. Without that, Sukuna wouldn't be of much use.
His smile eased the tension in the room. Gojo then turned his attention to the sorcerer.
"What should we call you?"
"Hana Kurusu."
Hana Kurusu looked about the same age as a Jujutsu High student. She wore black tights under a beige high-neck sweater. Her short blonde hair curled inward along her cheeks in soft arcs.
She gave off a pure and gentle vibe.
And she really did seem that way—simple and easily trusting. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.
Gojo couldn't help but feel a little warmth toward her... then snapped out of it, narrowing his eyes at her beaming smile. It didn't seem fake.
"Why are you willing to help us?" he asked gently.
"Because I didn't sense any malice. Everyone here seems kind…"
She smiled again—then suddenly frowned, troubled, and brought her hands to her cheeks, as if interrupted by something.
The people nearby noticed it—the flesh beneath her lower eyelid squirmed, and a mouth emerged. A mouth that looked...like Sukuna's.
The next moment, it opened and spoke in a completely different male voice.
"You're trying to deal with the Disgraced One, aren't you?"
Though it sounded like a question, the tone was certain. And it wasn't addressed to the room—it was directed at Itadori. Or more accurately, the Sukuna within him.
Sukuna is the Disgraced One?!
Another millennia-old relic—but no one was particularly shocked. Lately, they'd met enough of these relics—some they'd killed, others they'd cooperated with.
Everyone quietly raised their guard.
Gojo gave a slight nod, not denying it. That made things easier to talk about...
"Yes. Do you have any suggestions?" he asked.
"I am the Angel," the mouth responded. "To eliminate the Disgraced One, you just need to restrain it for a moment. Leave the rest to me."
"Though... I'm not sure you can actually hold it back."
"Hmmm—" Satoru Gojo dragged out the sound thoughtfully, his brow furrowing. "Mind if I ask? How exactly do you plan to eliminate Sukuna—the Disgraced One?"
"It's nothing secret. I'll use my technique to purify him completely."
"Completely purify?" Gojo's frown deepened.
"But we need that power right now. And besides, wouldn't Itadori be affected too?"
"Hm?" The Angel looked puzzled, turning toward Itadori.
At first, he noticed something familiar—then recognition dawned.
He suddenly gasped. "Wait... you mean the Disgraced One hasn't fully revived yet?"
"It's still inside this kid?"
He had sensed the Disgraced One's presence on Itadori and assumed they'd merely had contact. Back then, he was already puzzled—how was someone as weak as Itadori still alive after coming into contact with Sukuna?
Lucky brat, he'd thought at the time.
But now he realized this kid was actually Sukuna's vessel—and still retained his own consciousness.
He'd even teamed up with Sukuna's vessel?
This is Sukuna's vessel? He felt like his worldview had just been flipped inside out.
Gojo gave a slight nod.
The Angel fell silent.
The Disgraced One was his natural enemy. The name alone made that clear. His purpose was to eradicate beings like this—those who defied the natural order.
There was a destined connection between them. If he had awakened, it should have meant the Disgraced One had fully awakened too.
But now they were saying Sukuna hadn't truly returned?
Then why had he awakened?
Unless...
The Angel fell into deeper silence.
"You've seen the outside world, haven't you?" Gojo continued.
"...Outside?" the Angel responded instinctively. "Strange, though—the Cursed Energy concentration in the modern era is much higher than in ancient times."
"I don't mean outside the Barrier. I mean outside this entire domain," Gojo emphasized.
"Wait—what? We're inside a Barrier right now?" The Angel suddenly looked up in shock.
"Yes. And there are nine more just like this. Our target isn't Sukuna anymore—it's the one who set up these Barriers. But to deal with them, we need to use Sukuna's power."
Now that the groundwork was laid, Gojo spoke plainly.
"Sukuna alone won't be enough. We need you too. And if you know anyone else with serious power, bring them in."
The one who set up the Barriers...
It all made sense now.
The Angel's mind was in turmoil.
There could only be one reason he'd awakened ahead of schedule—someone else, even more dangerous, had broken the rules.
He looked up at the sky again, feeling the Cursed Energy around him.
Even the Angel had been blind to the world beyond.