That night, Tonji couldn't stop thinking about his father.He sat on the roof of his dorm building. Staring at Tokyo's lights. Trying to understand.He knew his father died protecting them from the Zenin clan, but this, hearing the words from Naobito's mouth. That felt different.Footsteps behind him. Nanami climbed onto the roof. Sat down next to him."Can't sleep?""Would you, if you were just threatened by the Zenin clan?""Maybe I would."They sat in silence for a while. Then Nanami spoke."Like I said, I knew your father. Not well. But I knew him."Tonji looked up. "Really?""He was a few years ahead of me at Jujutsu High. Decent sorcerer. Not powerful, but skilled. His barrier technique was useful for support missions.""What was he like?""Kind. Patient. He didn't care about clan politics or power games. Just wanted to help people. Protect civilians from curses.""That doesn't sound like someone the clan would hate.""They didn't hate him. They despised him. Because he chose lo

One week after the Zenin evaluation, a package arrived for Tonji.It was delivered to Jujutsu High's main office. No return address. No sender name. Just "To: Tonji Zenin" written in neat handwriting.Principal Yaga inspected it carefully. Checked for cursed energy. For traps. For danger."It's clean," he said finally. "But still suspicious. Unknown packages to students usually mean trouble.""Should I open it?" Tonji asked."With Gojo present. Just in case."They gathered in a secure room. Tonji, Gojo, Nanami, and Yaga. All watching the mysterious package.It was a long wooden box. Maybe four feet long. Wrapped in protective cloth.Tonji opened it carefully. Inside was a blade.Not a katana. Not a traditional Japanese sword. Something unique. A cursed tool.The blade was dark. Almost black. Single-edged. Slightly curved. The handle was wrapped in worn leather. The whole thing felt... alive."Whoa," Gojo said. He leaned closer. Examining it. "That's high-grade cursed tool. Really high

The morning after the bonding ritual, Tonji woke up different.His body felt lighter. Stronger. More aware. Like every muscle knew exactly what to do.Toji's knowledge sat in his mind. Not controlling him. Just there. Available. Ready.He went to the training field early. Before sunrise. Wanted to test what he could do now.Denizen hung at his side. The blade felt perfect. Like it belonged there.Tonji drew it. Moved through forms.His body flowed. Every movement precise. Efficient. No wasted motion. Exactly like Toji's memories showed."Impressive," a voice said.Maki stood at the field's edge. Watching. Evaluating."You've changed overnight.""The bonding worked.""I can see that. Your stance is perfect now. Movement is clean. You look like a real warrior.""Was I not real before?""You were learning. Now you know." Maki drew her sword. "Want to test it?""Against you?""I won't go easy.""I wouldn't want you to."They fought.It was fast. Brutal. Beautiful.Maki attacked with her p

The Purger stood in the abandoned library. Reading.This was new. Reading. Learning. Seeking knowledge beyond just curse elimination.The book was about jujutsu history. Ancient records. Specifically, records about curse elimination attempts throughout centuries.And The Purger had found something interesting.Four hundred years ago, there was another entity like it. Called "The First Purger" in old texts.It had the same mission. Eliminate all curses. Count down to zero.It had been powerful. Incredibly powerful. Nearly succeeded.But then it was sealed. Trapped. Locked away by jujutsu sorcerers who feared it.The Purger read carefully. Analyzing. Processing.Why seal an entity that was helping? That was eliminating curses?The answer was in the footnotes. Small details. Easy to miss.The First Purger had started killing sorcerers too. Anyone who created barriers. Anyone who used curse manipulation. Anyone who perpetuated the curse system.It had concluded that sorcerers were part of

Six AM came too early.Tonji stood outside the shopping mall in Shinjuku. The barrier was visible even to normal people. A dark dome covering the entire building.Police surrounded the area. News crews. Worried families. Over a hundred people trapped inside."Status?" Tonji asked Nanami."Barrier is holding strong. We've tried everything. Can't break it from outside. The curse designed it specifically to keep cursed energy users out.""But I can enter?""You should be able to. Zero cursed energy means the barrier doesn't register you as a threat.""Should be able to? You're not sure?""This is unprecedented. The barrier's design is complex. But theoretically, yes. You can enter.""Theoretically.""Best we have."Gojo approached. "Ready for your first solo rescue mission?""Not really.""Good. Healthy fear keeps you alive." Gojo's expression became serious. "Inside that mall are innocent people. Civilians. They're counting on you. No pressure.""Thanks. That helps.""Just remember your