Becoming Sukuna

The moment Panda spoke, Yukino could no longer contain herself. She swiftly walked over to him, her movements graceful yet quick.

She reached out, squeezing Panda's paw, then gently rubbing his ears and scratching his fluffy chin.

"Ah? Hmm? Ehehe..."

Panda went through a rapid series of emotions: surprise, confusion, and finally, submission.

The others watched with amusement.

After a while, Yukino finally realized her actions and retreated to Sukuna's side, her face flushed.

"How surprising. It's really a panda," she said, trying to regain her composure.

"So, what did you bring these people here for?" Maki asked Gojo, getting back to business.

"For you all to get to know each other, of course. They might not be students here, but you'll probably cross paths with them in the future. So, it's good to get acquainted."

"No need for that. They're not Jujutsu High students, so don't let them disturb our training," Maki said, annoyed.

She pointed her bo staff at Sukuna after twirling it skillfully. "Especially this guy. For some reason, he gives me the same vibe as you, Gojo. Makes me want to punch him."

"Actually, Zenin-senpai just wants to hit Gojo-sensei, right? You can just say it directly. No need to use someone else as a proxy," Megumi commented from the side.

"Haha, busted!"

Maki grinned, her frustration with Gojo reaching a peak after learning that he had lent her cursed tool, Slaughter Demon, to Yuji, and it had been destroyed by a special grade curse.

"Um, Maki-senpai..." Yuji stepped forward cautiously.

Just as he was about to warn Maki, Sukuna interrupted with a smile. "Sure, I'll give you the chance."

"Huh?"

"Let's spar. You can pretend I'm Gojo if you want."

Although Sukuna was smiling, Hachiman could tell it was a sinister smile.

Faced with Sukuna's provocation, Maki grinned. "Don't cry when you lose."

Oh no, she's done for...

Yuji's face fell, and he looked at Maki with pity. Even Megumi shared the sentiment.

"Yuji, Megumi, what's with those expressions?" Maki frowned. "Is this guy really that strong?"

"He's a teacher," Megumi said simply.

"He's not just strong, Maki-senpai. Sukuna-sensei beat up Gojo-sensei before," Yuji added, his voice filled with grief.

Beat up Gojo?

Someone actually defeated that blindfolded idiot?

Maki was stunned. "Really?"

Yuji nodded.

She turned to Gojo, who was glaring at Yuji with an expression that screamed "you're dead meat." Clearly, he had been exposed.

Even if it wasn't exactly as Yuji described, it was probably close enough.

"Eh?!" Maki's face fell. She glared at Yuji and Megumi. "Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

"I was about to tell you, but Sukuna-sensei interrupted me," Yuji said innocently.

"Good luck," Megumi said with a deadpan expression.

"Megumi, you..."

"No need to gloat." Just as Maki was about to retaliate against Megumi, Sukuna spoke again. "I meant all of you. Together."

"Including you two."

Sukuna's gaze fell on Hachiman, who froze.

Eh? Me? Fight Sukuna-sama? Seriously?

"Of course, I'll limit my cursed energy to your level. Actually, scratch that. I won't use any cursed energy or techniques at all. As for you guys, no restrictions. If you can injure me, you win. If not, I win."

"How about it?" Sukuna smiled.

"Sensei! Can I join too?" Gojo raised his hand.

"You want to fight? Get in line."

Sukuna's smile widened. This was a perfect opportunity to test if Mahoraga could adapt to Gojo's Limitless technique. He also had some interesting new ideas for dealing with Gojo's Domain Expansion, Unlimited Void.

"Haha, just kidding. I don't want to get lectured by Principal Gakuganji." Gojo waved his hand dismissively.

"Tch, even so, this is insulting!" Maki said, her pride wounded.

"Maki's right! Don't underestimate us!"

"Salmon!"

Panda and Toge chimed in.

"I'm with Maki-san!" Nobara declared, always eager for a fight.

"Can we really win?" Although they had the advantage in numbers and conditions, Megumi remained pessimistic.

"Haha, fighting Sukuna-sensei? Sounds fun!" Yuji said, his fighting spirit ignited.

If Sukuna-sensei wasn't using cursed techniques or cursed energy, it meant they would be fighting him with just physical strength and martial arts.

In that case, Yuji believed they had a chance.

Our chance lies with Yukinoshita-senpai's technique!

If he's not using cursed energy to defend himself, Yukinoshita-senpai's slashes should be able to break through his defenses.

Sukuna walked towards the field, leaving the students to discuss their strategy.

"Onii-chan, good luck!" Komachi cheered.

Hachiman forced a smile.

There's no way we can win… Well, there are a lot of us. I'll just hide in the back and do the bare minimum.

He discreetly glanced at Yukino.

Yukinoshita-buchou seems motivated.

Yukino pursed her lips. She hadn't expected the "sparring session" Sukuna mentioned to be a group fight against him.

Challenging the entire student body to a fight was probably a spur-of-the-moment decision by Sukuna-kun after being provoked by Zenin-san, but for Yukino, it was a rare opportunity to fight seriously alongside him.

If they could win, even with the help of others, as long as she played a crucial role, she might earn his recognition.

First, I need to figure out how to win, then I can focus on how to contribute.

Yukino's expression turned serious.

"Everyone, I want to win," she declared, stepping forward. "Will you lend me your strength?"

"You? Are you confident you can win?" Maki sized up the seemingly delicate girl, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"Fushiguro was right," Nobara chimed in, agreeing with Megumi's assessment of Yukino.

She was undeniably beautiful.

With her long, flowing black hair, elegant features, and refined aura, she exuded a different kind of strength compared to the valiant Maki.

Yuji, remembering the flying kick from earlier, quickly interjected before Maki could throw another projectile. "I've fought alongside Yukinoshita-senpai. I can vouch for her strength. She's very strong! A Grade 2 sorcerer, just like Fushiguro!"

"Grade 2? Inumaki is a semi-Grade 1," Maki countered.

"Salmon."

"No, if they actually fought, Inumaki-senpai would be instantly killed," Megumi said, his expression grim.

"What?!"

Everyone stared at him in disbelief.

"It's because of their techniques." Megumi's expression was complex. "Yukinoshita-senpai's technique… If I'm not mistaken, it's the same as Sukuna's."

"Sukuna's technique?!" The second-years and Nobara, who hadn't met Yukino before, were shocked.

"Sukuna is… the thing Itadori ate, right?" Nobara looked at Yuji, then back at Yukino. "You ate a special grade cursed object too?"

"What special grade cursed object?" Yukino frowned, sensing something unpleasant.

"You know, Sukuna's finger," Nobara explained.

"A finger? Of course not! How could I possibly eat something like that?"

"Um..." Yuji, caught in the crossfire, pointed at himself with a pained expression. "I ate it."

"..." Yukino was speechless.

"Anyway, although I don't know the details, the fact is that Yukinoshita-senpai possesses the same Cleave technique as Sukuna. In terms of attack power, she's the strongest among us," Megumi quickly steered the conversation back on track.

"I believe fighting with Yukinoshita-senpai as our main attacker is a viable strategy."

"It's the same as Sukuna-kun's technique," Yukino corrected.

"There's no difference," Megumi sighed.

Actually, there is a difference. Megumi suddenly realized something, his expression changing. "Yukinoshita-senpai… you don't have the Ten Shadows Technique, do you?"

"You mean the one that uses shadows to summon shikigami? No, I don't," she replied.

Presumably because Sukuna had obtained his own body shortly after acquiring the Ten Shadows Technique, it hadn't been imprinted on Yukino, so she couldn't use it.

"I see. That's good."

Megumi breathed a sigh of relief. Although he wasn't particularly fond of his technique, the thought of more people wielding it was unsettling.

But the mention of the Ten Shadows Technique gave him an idea. If we can lure Sukuna-sensei into a Mahoraga subjugation ritual, even he wouldn't be able to defeat it with just his physical body, right?

As long as Sukuna-sensei uses abilities beyond the agreed conditions, we win.

"It's just a sparring session, we don't have to go that far..."

"Fushiguro, what are you muttering about?" Yuji leaned closer.

"Nothing," Megumi said, turning away and pushing Yuji's face away with his hand.

"Since Fushiguro said so, let's do it." Maki didn't want to waste any more time. She tossed her bo staff aside and took a new sword-shaped cursed tool from Megumi's shadow.

"Don't keep them waiting."

"Alright!"

Hachiman, who had been standing on the sidelines, feeling like an irrelevant bystander, didn't understand their enthusiasm. He just wanted to slack off. If he could just watch instead of participating, that would be perfect.

Unfortunately, Sukuna-sama had specifically requested his participation, so he had no choice but to follow the group towards the training grounds.

"Ahh, youth is wonderful~"

Gojo watched them with a smile, not interfering with their discussion.

"Done discussing?"

Sukuna, who had been waiting on the spacious field, put away his phone and looked up at the students surrounding him, ready for battle.

"Shall we begin then?"

Without waiting for an answer, Sukuna vanished from sight.

"So fast!" Maki's eyes widened as she instinctively searched for him.

While the others were still looking for their target, Yuji was the first to react. He shouted towards Hachiman, who was standing far behind the others, "Hikigaya! Watch out!"

"Eh?! He's coming for me first?!"

Hachiman's face paled. As if to emphasize his target, Sukuna intentionally slowed down after his initial burst of speed, allowing Hachiman to see his movements.

Seeing Sukuna charging straight at him, Hachiman frantically activated his technique.

A mirror appeared out of thin air, but it reflected nothing.

"No way, he dodged it?!"

Hachiman stared in disbelief as Sukuna twisted his upper body mid-sprint, evading the sealing technique.

So my technique can be dodged…

A cold sweat trickled down Hachiman's cheek.

"You want to slack off, don't you?"

A demonic whisper echoed in Hachiman's ear.

He was transported back to the day Hiratsuka had forced him into the Service Club, the memory of his severed arm flooding back.

"Hey! Idiot, dodge!"

Maki, closest to Hachiman, saw him frozen in place and yelled.

Dodge?

How could I possibly dodge Sukuna-sama's attack?

Hachiman felt no desire to resist. He instinctively shielded himself with cursed energy and braced for impact.

The next moment, an irresistible force sent him spinning through the air.

Sukuna had grabbed him by the collar and flung him towards Yuji, who was charging from a distance. Then, he casually raised a hand and blocked Maki's incoming sword strike.

"No way..." Maki felt the vibrations travel up the staff, as if she had struck solid diamond. Her hands tingled with numbness. "He really didn't use any cursed energy to defend?"

Blocking a sword with his bare hand... How is that even possible?

Even that guy from the Zenin clan, the one with superhuman physical abilities from Heavenly Restriction, couldn't do that, right?

Maki quickly retreated, but Sukuna didn't let her escape. He closed in, his fists striking with precision, hitting each of her joints before sending her flying with a palm strike.

Her sword clattered to the ground, and Maki landed with a thud, her body limp. "Tch, he dislocated everything..."

"Maki-senpai!" Megumi rushed to her side. "I'll reset your joints. Bear with me."

Panda and the cursed corpse charged at Sukuna from the ground and the air, respectively. Despite his bulky appearance, Panda was surprisingly fast.

Meanwhile, Nobara threw several nails in front of her and gripped a hammer. "Straw Doll Technique!"

The nails, infused with cursed energy, shot towards Sukuna as she swung the hammer.

Sukuna was about to dodge when a voice, laced with cursed energy, rang out. "Don't move!"

Toge Inumaki, standing opposite Nobara, lowered his high collar, revealing his mouth and the Inumaki clan's cursed speech markings on his cheeks.

His cursed speech, capable of manipulating reality, forced Sukuna to freeze. But at the same time, Toge felt a burning sensation in his throat.

Fortunately, Sukuna wasn't using cursed energy at that moment. Otherwise, the backlash from the cursed speech could have permanently damaged his voice.

The effect of the cursed speech was brief.

Sukuna raised his hand, deflecting the incoming nails. They bounced harmlessly off his palm, their tips bending out of shape.

Nobara's face twisted in frustration.

The cursed corpse, diving from the sky, spread its wings, unleashing a torrent of purple lightning that made Sukuna's hair stand on end.

"Panda Punch!"

Panda reached Sukuna and threw a powerful punch. Sukuna smiled, slicking back his hair with his hand before raising two fingers to block the blow.

"Eh? Two fingers?!"

Panda's fist collided with Sukuna's extended index and middle fingers, but he didn't budge.

"Ora ora ora ora!!!"

Panda continued his relentless assault, his fists a blur. Sukuna countered with his own flurry of movements, using only two fingers each time.

The air crackled with the force of their blows. Finally, Sukuna pushed his palm against Panda's chest.

"Agh!"

Panda was sent flying like a cannonball. At the same time, an invisible slash struck Sukuna.

His shirt was cut, and he stumbled slightly, but his body remained unharmed.

Yukino's heart sank.

As I thought, with my current level of cursed energy, I can't break through his defenses from a distance...

In that case, I'll have to try using Cleave at close range.

She made up her mind and started maneuvering closer to Sukuna.

"Hikigaya, are you alright?"

Yuji, momentarily distracted by the sight of Hachiman being thrown his way, checked on him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry for the trouble..." Hachiman forced a smile.

He was currently being held in Yuji's arms, feeling both awkward and sore.

This guy doesn't look that buff, but his muscles are like rocks.

"That's good. Be careful," Yuji said, setting him down and assessing the situation before charging towards Sukuna again.

He noticed Yukino closing in on Sukuna as well and decided to coordinate with her.

However, Sukuna, who hadn't moved since throwing Hachiman, finally took a step.

"First, the cursed speech user."

He dashed towards Toge Inumaki, who was using throat spray. Although not at full speed, his movements were still difficult to track.

"You're out. Using cursed speech on me will put too much strain on you."

Sukuna grabbed Toge's fist, which had been thrown in a moment of panic, and with a swift twist, subdued him. A chop to the back of his neck knocked him unconscious.

"Next, the hammer girl."

Sukuna turned his head just as cursed nails whizzed past his cheek, landing harmlessly in the distance.

"Tch, his senses are too sharp!"

Nobara clicked her tongue and turned to flee.

Even Maki-san couldn't beat him in close combat. If he gets close to me, I'm done for.

Sukuna gave chase, but Maki and Megumi, having recovered, blocked his path.

Maki now wielded a crimson three-section staff, and Megumi summoned a large snake beside him. Meanwhile, the owl shikigami, Nue, circled overhead, searching for an opening to attack.

And behind Sukuna, Yuji and Yukino were closing in.

Sukuna was surrounded once more.

The battle is heating up! Despite having taken down several opponents, Sukuna now faces a coordinated attack from multiple directions.