One day later.
Everyone gathered at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
"Dad? Sis? You're both here too?"
Fushiguro gumi was visibly surprised when he returned with the group that had found Hakari Kinji, only to see Toji, Shinsuke and Tsumiki sitting casually in the lounge.
Tsumiki gave him a gentle smile. "gumi, this ti, your big sister's here to help too."
"But…?"
gumi froze for a second. He'd been racking his brain, trying to find a way to keep his sister out of the Culling Ga before the deadline arrived—yet here she was, already involved.
"It's fine," Tsumiki said reassuringly. "I'll be with Uncle the whole ti. I'll be safe."
She'd adapted surprisingly well to her new identity and situation.
Maybe it was because strength ran in their family—her father, her brother, even her uncle. Being able to fight alongside them didn't seem like such a bad thing anymore.
And deep down, she wanted to help.
"Fushiguro, this your sister?"
Itadori Yuji scratched his head awkwardly, then smiled. "Hi! I'm Itadori Yuji, gumi's friend."
"Hello, Yuji. I've heard about you from gumi," Tsumiki said warmly.
"Hi, Sis! I'm Kugisaki Nobara. You're so pretty!" Nobara chid in enthusiastically, looking from Tsumiki to gumi in disbelief.
How does this hedgehog-haired guy have a sister that gorgeous? she thought.
"Thank you. You're very pretty too," Tsumiki replied with a kind laugh.
"Ahem, enough chit-chat," Hakari interrupted, crossing his arms. "Zen'in-sensei, what's the plan this ti?"
If they wanted to join the Culling Ga, they'd need to enter one of its barrier zones. There were roughly ten in total, spread across Japan.
Their first objective: gather intel on each area and assign teams accordingly.
Shinsuke was about to split everyone into groups—mostly at random, since to him the whole thing was just another ga—when a small golden beetle fluttered into view beside Itadori.
"Announcent! A new rule has been added to the Culling Ga!"
Rule 9: Players may now view information about other players—including na, score, number of rules added, and current barrier location!
After relaying this, the beetle puffed up its tiny chest. "I am your personal communication window, Player Itadori Yuji! If you wish to add a rule, simply call my na!"
And with that, it zipped to the side, hovering silently.
The group exchanged confused looks.
"Wait—Itadori," gumi frowned. "You haven't even entered the Culling Ga yet. How are you already a player?"
Itadori scratched the back of his head. "No idea. Maybe it's because Sukuna signed so kind of contract with Kenjaku a thousand years ago? Still, forcing the vessel to participate sounds pretty unreasonable."
"Forget it," Shinsuke said. "We should make use of this new rule first—get as much intel as we can. Itadori, have your bug pull up the other players' info."
"Got it."
At his command, the golden beetle's wings buzzed, projecting a glowing screen in midair. Nas, scores, and barrier data began to scroll rapidly.
Then, one na caught everyone's attention.
Kashimo Haji — 100 points.
"He still has a hundred points left?" Hakari's eyes widened. "Didn't he just spend a hundred to add that new rule?"
That ant he'd racked up another hundred in only a few days. Which, by the Culling Ga's logic, ant at least forty kills.
"A monster," gumi muttered.
"Still," he continued, "if we can track down high-score players like him and defeat them, we can add a rule allowing point transfers between players. That way, no one would have to keep killing just to survive."
"Exactly—and from there, we could add another rule," Tsumiki added softly, "one that lets players spend points to leave the Culling Ga entirely."
She paused. "Though… that kind of rule might not get approved."
"Unless," gumi said, "we balance it out with an exchange rule—one life for another. That might get around the restriction."
Their goals were clear:
1. End the Culling Ga peacefully.
2. Find the Angel and rescue Gojo Satoru.
Hakari cracked his knuckles. "So the first step is simple—rack up points. If we take down one of these hundred-point monsters, that should do it, right?"
"Exactly," Shinsuke said with a smirk. "Alright, bug—filter for all players with over a hundred points."
The golden beetle buzzed again, and the list began to narrow.
The hunt had begun.
With Itadori's command, the little golden beetle filtered the players' information.
Apart from Kashimo Haji, the only other player with more than a hundred points was Higuruma Hiromi, who was located inside Tokyo's First Barrier.
Kashimo Haji was a powerhouse from four centuries ago. Higuruma Hiromi, by contrast, was a normal human who had only recently evolved into a sorcerer — his talent was absurdly off the charts. In just a few days after awakening, his strength had already risen to rival top First-Grade sorcerers.
"So the situation's simple," Shinsuke said. "Get the rule that grants points, then find the Angel."
"Uncle, where are you taking Tsumiki?" gumi asked, looking at Shinsuke. They were facing three clear options: hunt down Kashimo Haji, hunt Higuruma Hiromi, or search for the Angel.
On the beetle's list there was no one nad 'Angel' — clearly the Angel's status was displayed the sa way Itadori's was: listed under the na of their vessel, not the Angel themself.
"In that case, Tsumiki and I will go after this Kashimo fellow," Shinsuke said calmly. He wanted to see what a four-hundred-year-old legend could really do. If soone could challenge Sukuna, they had to be strong — otherwise they wouldn't have split even with a fully powered Hakari.
"Then Itadori, gumi, and Nobara will hunt Higuruma," gumi decided.
They had a rough range for where the Angel might be, but no exact location.
"I'll go to the Third Barrier with Panda," Hakari raised his hand and volunteered.
So the assignnts were set.
Shinsuke and Tsumiki would head to Tokyo's Second Barrier; Itadori, gumi, and Nobara to the First Barrier; Hakari and Panda to the Third. Their objectives: gain the newly added point rule and trace the Angel's whereabouts.
"The rest of you stay on standby outside your assigned barriers and be ready to respond to anything unexpected," Shinsuke added.
No one objected — the barriers were too far apart to be in two places at once, and only one or two new rules would probably be needed. Hunting down two top players should be sufficient. Each barrier would have at least one person stationed outside as backup.
With the plan finished, Itadori, Hakari, and the others set off.
Before long, the school emptied; only Shinsuke, Toji, and Tsumiki remained.
When everyone had gone, Toji finally spoke up, voice flat: "So what exactly did you call here for?"
He made it plain he had no intention of joining anyone's grand "save the world" crusade.
Shinsuke's mouth curved into a sly smile. "I've got a difficult task that needs doing. Don't you want revenge for Tsumiki?"
At that, Toji's eyes snapped hard. He still rembered — the curse that had sealed Tsumiki into a deep sleep for so many years, and the presence of that thousand-year-old sorcerer inside her. If he could, he would gladly tear the culprit apart with his own hands.
Did Shinsuke know how much money Toji had poured into Tsumiki's upkeep? How many nights he'd given up gambling to pay for her nourishnt?
"Alright. Tell the plan. What exactly do you want to do?"
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