Deep within a quiet forest, Yaga Masamichi sat on a fallen log, his expression somber.
Beside him sat a sentient cursed corpse — the small, childlike puppet known as Koharu.
"Masamichi, why do you look so gloomy?" Koharu asked cheerfully. "Everyone's worried about you! But don't worry — I told them that if you're down, we'll just cheer you up together until you smile again!"
"…Is that so," Yaga murmured softly, his voice devoid of energy.
"See? I'm amazing, right?" Koharu puffed up proudly, completely unaware of the storm raging inside Yaga's heart.
His thoughts drifted back to years ago — to the mont he first created Panda.
Back then, his breakthrough — a cursed corpse capable of independent thought and self-sustaining cursed energy — had frightened the higher-ups.
He was imprisoned imdiately, nearly declared a Special Grade not for his strength, but for the threat he posed.
To them, the ability to create an army of autonomous cursed corpses was too dangerous — a power that could rival nations.
The elders demanded to know how he had done it, how he had given a puppet life.
Yaga had denied everything. He insisted Panda's existence was a one-ti miracle, impossible to replicate.
That lie had saved his life.
But now, after the Shibuya Incident, the higher-ups had started looking his way again.
The very technique he'd hidden — the forbidden secret of "self-sustaining cursed corpses" — was once again drawing their greedy eyes.
He knew there were only two outcos left for him now:
surrender the thod, or die.
Yaga reached out and gently patted Koharu's head. His voice was soft, heavy with finality.
"I'm sorry, Koharu. I have to go away for a while."
"For how long?"
"…Maybe a long ti," he said, forcing a smile. "Tell everyone for . And don't worry — Lord Tengen protects this forest. Your mother will co see you too. Even if I disappear… you'll all be safe."
He stood slowly, gaze lowering as the weight of what he was about to do pressed down on him.
Yaga walked deeper into the woods until he reached a massive tree whose roots had been hollowed out into a small wooden cabin. Inside were dozens of cursed corpses — each one unique, each capable of thought and feeling.
When he entered, they turned toward him like family greeting their father.
"Masamichi, if you go, we'll miss you," one said.
"Co back soon," said another.
Yaga stood silently, taking in the sight of his creations — children of his own making, proof of his sin and genius alike.
He lingered a long while before turning away.
He wanted — no, needed — to see his son one last ti.
— — —
At Tokyo Jujutsu High, in the detention wing for cursed offenders—
Slash!
A sharp blade cut through the bindings on the door. Panda blinked in surprise.
"Sensei… Kusakabe? Can I leave now?"
Since the end of the Shibuya Incident, he'd been locked up under vague orders from the higher-ups.
Kusakabe sighed. "The higher-ups ordered your capture, but you're just the bait. What they really want… is Yaga."
Panda froze.
Kusakabe's expression was unusually serious. "I've thought about this a lot. Honestly, I shouldn't be sticking my neck out. But I owe Yaga my life — he saved my sister when no one else could. I can't ignore that debt."
He sheathed his sword and added quietly, "Go. Maybe you can still make it in ti."
Without hesitation, Panda sprinted out of the cell.
— — —
By the ti Yaga arrived back at the school, several masked sorcerers were already waiting for him, standing under the pale light of the lampposts.
"Yaga Masamichi," one of them called out coldly. "Surrender peacefully."
The implication was clear — few dared defy the higher-ups and live.
Yaga said nothing. He simply shrugged off his coat, revealing his broad, muscular fra.
"Move aside," he said. "I'm going to see my son."
"Yaga," another voice warned. "There's only one way you walk out of this alive — hand over the thod for creating self-sustaining cursed corpses."
At last, their true purpose was laid bare.
The charges of "conspiring with Gojo Satoru and Suguru Geto," the so-called "Shibuya conspiracy" — all lies.
The higher-ups didn't care about justice. They wanted his research.
At that mont, an old man with a guitar slung over his shoulder stepped through the gates — Gakuganji Yoshinobu, principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High.
"Masamichi," he said quietly, his voice lined with regret. "After all these years, is this really how you intend to die?"
Though he was one of them — part of the higher-ups — even Gakuganji couldn't stop their decision. They had sent him to carry out the execution, knowing his history with Yaga.
Yaga smiled faintly, eyes tired but resolute.
"Co now, Gakuganji. You know better than that."
His tone hardened, a familiar steel in his voice.
"I've never been the type to bow to hypocrites — and I'm not about to start now."
Yaga Masamichi stares calmly at Gakuganji. Over the years the higher-ups have asked him again and again for the thod to make autonomous cursed corpses — and every ti he's refused. Not because he's sentintal, but because the elders' ambitions are too enormous. He understands what they really want, and he won't hand it over.
Then, without warning, a compressed cursed-energy shell explodes from a distant skyscraper and slams into one of the masked sorcerers standing on the streetlight. The blast rips the man apart — he spits blood as if his insides have been rearranged.
"Who—?!" the masked man wheezes.
"Your auntie," cos a dry reply.
Amanai Riko and Nanami Kento have arrived.
"What, you thought Tokyo Jujutsu High didn't have anyone left to fight for it?" Amanai snaps, annoyed. From the shadows she senses other hidden sorcerers and taunts them: "All this caution and for what? If the sky falls, at least we've got a backstop."
"Principal Yaga, we can't just stand by while they try to kill you," Nanami says, pulling out his short blade and slipping into fighting stance.
Amanai and Nanami can't watch their old principal be sacrificed. But Gakuganji's expression is level.
"Are you sure you want to take the higher-ups on?" he asks quietly.
Yaga lifts his head. "Amanai, Nanami — this is between and the higher-ups. Don't get involved."
He doesn't want to drag them into sothing that could end badly; the higher-ups may be foolish, but their reach is still dangerous.
A voice cuts through the tension. "Oh? Still lively here, aren't we? I thought the school would be empty."
Zen'in Shinsuke strolls through the main gate like he owns the place, having just returned from his recent rampage. He takes in the commotion with obvious pleasure.
"Old man! You're finally back — they're trying to kill Principal Yaga!" Amanai breathes.
Shinsuke pats his head as if rembering sothing. "Oh, that? Right."
He turns to Gakuganji. "If the higher-ups want the thod to make autonomous corpses so badly, bring it to . We can settle it with force if we have to."
Gakuganji falls silent. The masked n around them, hearing that, clamp their mouths shut. Even the higher-ups have limits; when faced with raw power and soone who doesn't believe in protocol, they can't simply bully their way through.
"We're leaving," Gakuganji says. He makes no further argunt and withdraws quickly — there's no point trying to lecture a thug.
Zen'in Shinsuke watches them go and calls after them loudly, "And tell the higher-ups to stop hassling Principal Yaga — or I'll have to go have tea with them myself."
Gakuganji's shoulders twitch; he picks up his pace and leaves.
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