Chương 6: The Vessel.

Ah, another double upload since I have lots of time. Btw, I'm leaving quite a bit of thinking for you guys.

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Yuji slowly blinked his eyes open, his mind foggy and his body feeling heavy. He tried to move but found himself restrained, his wrists and ankles bound tightly to a chair. The cold metal bit into his skin, and he quickly realized he was in some sort of sealed room.

The walls were lined with talismans—dozens of them—each one inscribed with symbols that pulsed faintly with a mysterious energy. The room's atmosphere was oppressive, filled with an almost tangible sense of foreboding.

As Yuji's vision cleared, he noticed a figure standing across from him, leaning casually against the wall. The man wore a black uniform, his white hair stark against the darkness of the room.

His eyes were hidden behind a black blindfold, but Yuji recognized him immediately. This was the same man who had effortlessly taken down Sukuna—the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, Satoru Gojo.

"You're awake," Gojo said, his tone light but carrying an edge of seriousness. He straightened up and walked over to Yuji, his presence commanding, even with his relaxed demeanor.

Yuji struggled to piece together what had happened. The last thing he remembered was Gojo knocking him out, but everything before that was a blur of chaos and fear. "Where... where am I?" Yuji asked, his voice hoarse. He tugged at his restraints, panic starting to set in. "What happened to my friends? Are they okay?"

Gojo waved a hand dismissively, his expression unreadable behind the blindfold. "You should worry less about them and more about yourself right now," he replied coolly, his voice devoid of the playful tone he had shown earlier. "You're in a... delicate situation."

Yuji's heart pounded in his chest. "What do you mean? What's going on? Why am I tied up?"

Gojo's smile faded, and he crossed his arms, taking on a more serious posture. "Your secret execution has been set," he stated bluntly, watching for Yuji's reaction.

The words hit Yuji like a punch to the gut. His eyes widened in shock, his breath catching in his throat. "Execution?" he echoed, disbelief and fear mixing in his voice. "But... why?"

Gojo sighed as if explaining something tedious. "The higher-ups at Jujutsu High have deemed you too dangerous to live. After all, you're the vessel for Ryomen Sukuna, the most malevolent curse in existence. Normally, they'd have killed you the moment Sukuna showed any signs of control, but... I managed to convince them to hold off on that."

Yuji's mind raced, trying to process everything. "So... they're just waiting to kill me later?" he asked, the hopelessness in his voice evident.

"Pretty much," Gojo replied nonchalantly as if discussing the weather. "But I've made sure things won't go exactly as the higher-ups plan."

Yuji's confusion deepened, but he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in the pit of his stomach. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.

Gojo leaned in slightly, his expression turning more serious. "Jujutsu High has six of Sukuna's fingers in their possession. These fingers are indestructible and can't be sealed away. The only way to deal with them is for you to consume them, using your body as a vessel for Sukuna's power. The higher-ups agreed to keep you alive until you've consumed the remaining fingers."

Yuji's stomach churned at the thought. "So... I'm supposed to eat the rest of Sukuna's fingers?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Exactly," Gojo confirmed with a nod. "Once you've devoured all of them, they plan to execute you, eliminating Sukuna once and for all." He paused, then added with a sly smile, "But I have other plans."

Yuji's eyes met Gojo's, searching for any sign of deception. "What plans?" he asked, desperation creeping into his tone. "What do you want from me?"

Gojo chuckled, the sound light and almost amused. "Let's just say I have a vested interest in keeping you alive, at least for now," he replied cryptically. "You've got potential, kid. And besides, I'm not one to let the higher-ups have their way without a little... pushback."

Yuji swallowed hard, still struggling to come to terms with the reality of his situation. He was being used as a tool, a means to an end. But there was something in Gojo's voice—something that hinted at a deeper game being played. Yuji didn't know what Gojo's true intentions were, but one thing was clear: his life was no longer his own.

Gojo stepped back, giving Yuji some space. "So here's the deal," he said, his tone shifting to something more casual. "You help us find and consume the rest of Sukuna's fingers, and I'll make sure you're protected. I won't let them execute you—not as long as I'm around."

Yuji felt a mix of emotions—fear, confusion, and a small glimmer of hope. He didn't fully trust Gojo, but what other choice did he have? He nodded slowly, though uncertainty still clouded his mind.

Gojo smiled, the lightness returning to his voice. "Good. Now, let's get you out of these restraints, shall we? We've got work to do."

...

After his unsettling conversation with Gojo, Yuji found himself at the entrance of the hospital, his thoughts heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. He slowly made his way to the room where Sasaki and Iguchi were recovering, his heart pounding with a mixture of guilt and anxiety.

As Yuji stepped into the room, Sasaki looked up, her face pale but managing a weak smile when she saw him. Iguchi, still a bit groggy from his injuries, gave a small nod in acknowledgment. The atmosphere was somber, the events of the previous night still fresh in their minds.

"Yuji..." Sasaki's voice trembled slightly, and she struggled to sit up. "I'm so sorry... I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It's my fault."

Yuji quickly moved to her side, shaking his head. "No, it's not your fault," he said firmly, his voice steady. "What happened wasn't because of anything you did. It was the curses... they're the ones to blame. You couldn't have known."

Sasaki's eyes filled with tears, and she lowered her gaze, her hands trembling. "But if we hadn't messed with that talisman... none of this would've happened."

Yuji gently placed a hand on her shoulder, offering what comfort he could. "Don't blame yourself. Curses are born from negative emotions, from all the pain and hatred in the world. What happened to us... it was inevitable once that finger was found." He smiled reassuringly, though his heart ached to see his friend so distraught. "You and Iguchi are safe now, and that's what matters."

Sasaki nodded slowly, though the guilt lingered in her eyes. "Thank you, Yuji... for saving us."

Yuji gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze before stepping back. "Take care of yourselves, okay? I've... got something I need to do."

With a final nod to Iguchi, Yuji left the room, his expression hardening as he walked down the hospital corridor. The weight of his decision pressed heavily on him, but his resolve was firm. He had a duty now—a purpose that went beyond his own life.

Meeting back up with Satoru Gojo outside the hospital, Yuji felt a sense of calm settle over him. The world had become a much darker place, but Gojo's presence was like a beacon of hope, guiding him through the uncertainty.

"You sure about this?" Gojo asked, his tone serious but with that ever-present hint of casualness. He watched Yuji with a keen eye, assessing the boy's determination.

Yuji nodded. "Yeah. I want to become a jujutsu sorcerer. If there are curses out there that can ruin people's lives like that... then I want to be the one to stop them." His eyes held a fierce determination, born from the pain of his recent experiences.

Gojo smiled approvingly. "You've got guts, kid. But remember, this isn't just about fighting curses. It's about protecting people, about making sure what happened to your friends doesn't happen to anyone else."

Yuji understood the gravity of the situation, but he had already made up his mind. He wasn't going to back down, no matter how terrifying the path ahead might be. "I'm ready."

With a nod of approval, Gojo handed Yuji another one of Sukuna's fingers. Yuji hesitated only for a moment before swallowing it, feeling the surge of cursed energy course through him once more. His body shuddered as the power of Sukuna fused with his own, but he remained in control.

Gojo observed him closely, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You're something special, Yuji," he remarked, almost to himself. "A person like you only comes around once every thousand years or so."

Yuji didn't fully understand what Gojo meant, but the seriousness in his voice told him it was something significant. Still, his mind was focused on the task ahead. He didn't want to die—he had too much to live for, too many people to protect. But he also knew that he couldn't let Sukuna run free, not while there was still a chance to stop him.

"I don't want to be executed," Yuji admitted, his voice low. "But... I'll eat the rest of Sukuna's fingers. If it means keeping people safe, then I'll do it. And when it's all over, I'll die the way my grandfather wanted me to—with people around me, knowing I did everything I could to help them."

Gojo's expression softened slightly, a rare glimpse of empathy in his usually carefree demeanor. "You're a good kid, Yuji. And don't worry—I'll make sure things don't end the way the higher-ups want them to."

"Ready to go?" Gojo asked, his tone lightening as he slung an arm around Yuji's shoulders.

Yuji nodded, determination burning in his chest. "Yeah. Let's do this."

With that, the three of them set off toward Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School, each step bringing them closer to the battles that lay ahead. Yuji knew his life would never be the same, but for the first time since his grandfather's death, he felt like he was walking a path he could be proud of—a path that would honor the man who had raised him. :|

...

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[Auther: Yo. Do you like how I'm writing? No? Yes?

1. Yuji is surprisingly talented, wonder why? :|

2. To achieve a Happy Ending, one does have to throw something away.