Rebirth In The Days When Curse Gao Was The Boss Chapter 33

In a dark, hidden base somewhere, the air was thick with the strange smell of mixed chemicals and old paper. Kenjaku, who had just paid a huge price to barely transfer his consciousness into a new body—one with mediocre aptitude and low Cursed Energy—was struggling to adapt to this unfamiliar vessel. He (or perhaps “it” now) ran a finger over the twisted, centipede-like suture scar left on its forehead from the forced transfer. Feeling the vast difference between this body and Geto Suguru’s Special Grade sorcerer physique, its heart was filled with twisted resentment and frustration.

Just then, the “eyes” it had planted through special channels to monitor major energy fluctuations in the Jujutsu world transmitted news that nearly shattered its composure—one of Ryomen Sukuna’s fingers had been completely destroyed! The energy signature had vanished entirely, leaving not a single trace of residue, as if it had been erased from its very root by some higher-level power!

“Impossible!!!” Kenjaku shot up from the chair. The sudden movement caused the new body to sway, and it had to grab the table to steady itself. Its face was ashen, and the suture line on its forehead slightly bulged with agitation. “Sukuna’s finger… how could it be completely destroyed?! Even Gojo Satoru can only seal them, not utterly annihilate them! Who was it?! What happened?!”

It frantically searched through the fragmented information being relayed, only learning that the incident occurred in an abandoned industrial park. The site retained the extremely bizarre aura of a Domain, mixed with extreme malice and some kind of mandatory command rule, as well as… the residual Cursed Energy traces of Gojo Satoru and that unknown brat, Xue Yang.

“Gojo Satoru… Xue Yang…” Kenjaku chewed on the names, a venomous light flickering in its eyes. Was that brat responsible? What power did he possess to destroy Sukuna’s finger?!

Just as it was consumed by anxiety and rage over its disrupted plans, the room temperature plummeted. Uraume appeared at the doorway like a phantom. Their handsome, cold face was now covered in an unprecedented frost, and their gaze was so sharp it could pierce Kenjaku’s new body.

“Kenjaku.” Uraume’s voice was colder than a millennia-old glacier. “I require an explanation. Why is one of Lord Sukuna’s fingers missing? And why was it annihilated so completely?”

Kenjaku suppressed its fury, attempting to placate them. “Uraume, this was an accident. We encountered an unforeseen variable, that brat named Xue Yang…”

“Variable?” Uraume cut it off, their tone laced with sarcasm. “It is your constant arrogance and scheming that led to this failure! You lost Lord Geto Suguru’s body, and now you have allowed Lord Sukuna’s finger to be destroyed! You constantly speak of the greater good, of a grander goal, but what are the results? One blunder after another!”

They pointed at Kenjaku’s current weak new body, undisguised contempt in their eyes. “Look at you now! You can barely maintain basic movement, and you speak of plans? I told you long ago, instead of relying on your circuitous schemes, we should simply assist Lord Sukuna’s revival and crush everything with absolute power!”

Kenjaku’s expression was terrible. “Uraume, calm down! The plan is still under control, as long as we can retrieve Geto Suguru’s body…”

“Enough!” Uraume snapped, ice crystals forming around them. “I will no longer play these flawed games with you. Lord Sukuna’s revival cannot afford any more mistakes. Since you cannot guarantee the safety of Lord Sukuna’s fingers, the remaining fingers will be guarded by me, and I will find the vessels.”

They gave Kenjaku one last cold look, the gaze of someone viewing a useless pawn. “Fend for yourself. Our cooperation ends here.”

With that, Uraume’s figure dissolved into a chilling mist and vanished into the air, leaving no room for negotiation.

In the empty room, only Kenjaku’s heavy breathing remained. It slammed a fist onto the table, rattling the bottles and jars on top. Uraume’s departure meant it had lost a powerful combat assistant and direct control over the remaining Sukuna fingers.

“Bastards… all of them bastards!” Kenjaku roared, the suture line on its forehead hideous. But it quickly forced itself to calm down. Anger solved nothing. The plan had to be adjusted.

Its gaze turned toward the direction of Tokyo Jujutsu High, filled with greed and determination.

Geto Suguru’s body… it must be recovered! That was the most perfect vessel for achieving its goal, containing massive Cursed Energy and unique Cursed Techniques. As long as it secured that, losing one finger and Uraume’s assistance was not entirely unacceptable.

It began to re-examine the pieces on its board, contemplating a new, more covert, and more vicious plan. Gojo Satoru, Xue Yang, Jujutsu High… it would spare none of them!

Within Jujutsu High, the turmoil briefly subsided.

At Jujutsu High, although the mission report Gojo Satoru brought back was heavily simplified, the result—”Special Grade Cursed Spirit exorcised, Sukuna finger seemingly annihilated due to unknown reasons”—still caused considerable shock among the higher-ups.

In Principal Yaga’s office, Gojo Satoru was uncharacteristically serious as he reported the situation.

“…That’s roughly it. That finger is definitely gone. Not sealed, but completely, fundamentally destroyed.” Gojo Satoru adjusted his sunglasses, his tone calm.

Yaga frowned deeply. “The reason? Even for you, Satoru, to achieve that…”

“It wasn’t me,” Gojo Satoru interrupted, his gaze shifting toward the training grounds outside the window, where Xue Yang was clumsily attempting to integrate the power of his new Domain into his daily training. “It was Xue Yang. His Domain… is very unique.”

He did not elaborate on the rules of Xue Yang’s Domain, merely emphasizing the strangeness and power of the ability, and that the finger was destroyed precisely while Xue Yang’s Domain was active. This was enough for Yaga to understand the severity of the situation and Xue Yang’s current value and… potential risk.

“I understand,” Yaga said gravely. “I will suppress this information. Xue Yang’s ability should not be known by more people for now, especially those old fogeys at the Jujutsu Headquarters.”

Gojo Satoru nodded. “That suits me fine.”

Another direct consequence was that the death sentence hanging over Itadori Yuji completely lost its most critical basis. The remaining Sukuna fingers became Cursed Objects requiring strict containment, and the necessity of executing Itadori as a “vessel” was greatly diminished. Under Gojo Satoru’s forceful maneuvering and Yaga’s tacit approval, Itadori’s execution was indefinitely suspended.

When Itadori heard the news from Gojo Satoru, the boy who had been living with a death countdown instantly felt his eyes well up. He rubbed his eyes hard, flashing a relieved, slightly goofy smile. “That’s great… Gojo-sensei! That’s wonderful!”

Kugisaki Nobara slapped his back hard. “Congratulations, Itadori!”

Fushiguro Megumi also managed a rare, faint smile.

Zenin Maki stood with her arms crossed. “Now you can train without worry.”

Panda and Inumaki Toge also came over to offer their congratulations.

Xue Yang stood a little distance away, watching the lively scene. His face was expressionless as he lowered his head to wipe his Personal Sword, Calamity. Destroying the Sukuna finger was merely an accidental result of the battle for him; he didn’t care about the underlying conflicts of interest or the life-or-death fate of one person.

Gojo Satoru walked up to him, watching the side profile of him intently cleaning his long sword, and suddenly reached out to ruffle his hair.

“Nice work,” Gojo Satoru said with a smile in his voice. “The process was a bit thrilling, but the result… was a huge help.”

Xue Yang paused his movement, glanced up at him, and scoffed. “It was just convenient.”

Gojo Satoru smiled inwardly, seeing his contradictory expression. He knew Xue Yang was simply unaccustomed to receiving praise tinged with “goodwill” and “gratitude. His little wild beast had, unknowingly, stirred up the entire Jujutsu world.

Enemies in the dark were fractured because of him, and allies were saved because of him.

Gojo Satoru looked at Xue Yang, his gaze profound. Kenjaku would never give up, and a greater storm was likely brewing. But no matter what, he would firmly protect this person under his wing.

His Domain, his power, his past, and his future would all be borne and guided by him, Gojo Satoru.

“Let’s go,” Gojo Satoru draped an arm over Xue Yang’s shoulder. “To celebrate Itadori not dying, and your successful Domain awakening, Sensei is treating! All the sweets you can eat!”

Xue Yang’s eyes instantly brightened, but he still complained. “…More sweets.”

“Then what do you want to eat?”

“…Add hot pot.”

“Deal!”

Under the setting sun, the two walked side-by-side toward the school gates, temporarily leaving the clamor and undercurrents behind them. The road ahead was still unknown, but at least for this moment, the sun was bright, sweets were in sight, and the most important person was right beside him.