Hatsumode is a Japanese tradition of visiting Shinto or Buddhist shrines at the beginning of the new year.
This tradition aims to pray for peace and luck for the upcoming year.
"Don't get separated."
Seeing the crowded streets even at midnight, Eiji reminded the two girls beside him.
"There are many people visiting the shrine. If you look at it like this, there's no significant difference."
Kosaki didn't feel like she was in a different world, but just moving houses and living in Tokyo.
"Onee-chan, did you forget about the existence of Cursed Spirits and Jujutsu Sorcerers? Our world is much safer." Haru said in a low voice.
When she brought this up, she couldn't help but remember her trauma caused by the Jujutsu Sorcerers.
"Don't get distracted while walking, it's dangerous."
Eiji pulled Haru closer as she almost bumped into another pedestrian.
"Thank you, Kamiki-kun."
"You're welcome."
Keeping her distance, Haru managed to temporarily forget her bad memories.
"Are you okay, Haru?" Kosaki asked concernedly.
"I'm fine, Onee-chan. I'm sorry for making you worry."
"That's good then..."
Compared to her sister's experiences, Kosaki was slightly better off.
"..."
Realizing the atmosphere had become awkward, Eiji searched for a topic to discuss.
"Haru, are you comfortable at the new school?"
"Everyone is very friendly and nice. Thank you for fulfilling my selfish request."
"No need to thank me, it's just a trivial matter."
"..."
The conversation topic ended.
Initially, Eiji wasn't one to engage in conversation, while Haru had only moved schools a week ago and there wasn't much to talk about.
As a result, the three of them walked in silence.
Arriving at the foot of the mountain, there were stairs leading to the summit where the shrine was located.
The stairs, usually deserted on ordinary days, were crowded with people on the first day of the new year, coming to pray.
70% of the people were wearing yukatas, the sound of wooden clogs was clear.
Eiji along with Kosaki and Haru, climbed the stairs slowly due to the crowd.
"Ridiculous."
"Kamiki-kun?"
Hearing his muttering, Kosaki didn't understand why he suddenly said those words.
Haru, who was afraid of the men around her, also looked at Eiji curiously.
"Don't you think the Japanese are very foolish? They claim to be atheists, but they marry according to Shinto or Christian traditions, and when they die, they are buried with Buddhist ceremonies."
"They're not consistent and instead mix various religions according to their preferences."
"..."
"..."
Kosaki and Haru looked at each other unable to argue. They had never thought deeply about this because everyone else did it, so they thought it was normal.
But when they thought about Eiji's words, they found it very logical.
"Don't think too much about it, just pretend I didn't say anything."
Not wanting to ruin the good atmosphere, Eiji stopped discussing this topic.
Arriving at the shrine, they queued up to wait for their turn to pray.
"Hah, Kamiki-san, is that you?"
While waiting in line, Eiji heard someone calling out.
"It really is you, Kamiki-san. I thought I got the wrong person. Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year, Fushiguro."
The person was none other than Fushiguro Megumi, a member of the Zenin Clan and inheritor of the famous Ten Shadows Technique.
"This year you're a Jujutsu High School student, call me Senpai."
"Okay, Kamiki-senpai. These two..."
Megumi noticed the two beautiful girls who looked like sisters beside Eiji.
"Onodera Kosaki and Onodera Haru, both are my friends."
"His name is Fushiguro Megumi, he's Satoru Nii-san's foster child."
As a third party, Eiji introduced both sides.
"Ah, Gojo-san's foster child? Happy New Year, Fushiguro-san. Gojo-san has helped us a lot."
This was the first time Kosaki learned this information. She didn't expect an eccentric person like Gojo Satoru to have a foster child.
It was very surprising!
"Pleased to meet you."
Hiding behind Eiji, Haru, who still had a phobia of men, didn't dare to face Megumi.
"I'm not a foster child! Gojo-sensei just took care of me, that's all." Megumi denied.
Although he and his sister were raised by Satoru, he never saw him as a father figure.
It was very inappropriate to describe Gojo Satoru like that.
Moreover, if Megumi admitted Satoru as his father, wouldn't Eiji, who was only a year older than him, be considered an uncle?
"Has Tsumiki-san's condition changed?"
"No, Nee-san's condition hasn't changed. So far, there hasn't been any successful treatment."
As they talked about his sister, Megumi felt gloomy.
"I see."
Knowing the cause of Tsumiki's unconsciousness, Eiji remained silent. Besides, he had no way to solve this problem.
Should he use Black Flash to shake the soul of Yorozu residing in Tsumiki's body?
Eiji was sure that if he did this, Kenjaku would suspect he already knew about the ancient Jujutsu Sorcerer's soul residing in a modern human's body and waiting to be awakened.
Before Kenjaku was killed, Eiji didn't want to drastically change the plot.
"I've finished praying. Well then, I'll take my leave."
Feeling the fearful gaze from one of the girls beside Eiji, Megumi decided to leave.
"Um." Eiji nodded slightly.
Watching Megumi's figure move away, Kosaki asked softly, "Because he's your junior, could it be..."
"Yes. He's also a Jujutsu Sorcerer, and his background is no less than mine. The Zenin Clan is just like the Gojo Clan, one of the three big sorcerer families."
"It turns out he's an amazing person."
Kosaki knew a little about the three big sorcerer families from Eiji.
About 10 minutes later, they finally had their turn to pray.
Kosaki and Haru shook the rope to ring the large bell, threw coins into the offering box, then prayed earnestly.
As for Eiji, he only observed without intending to pray.
He didn't like things like this.
After praying, they didn't leave immediately, but visited the stalls set up by the shrine.
On special occasions like New Year's, the shrine made a lot of money by opening stalls selling talismans, wooden plaques, souvenirs, etc.
The staff selling were young girls wearing Miko attire, attracting visitors' attention.
"This is for you, Kamiki-kun."
Kosaki handed over an empty wooden plaque.
"No need, I don't believe in this kind of thing." Eiji declined.
"Okay."
Despite her disappointment, Kosaki didn't force him. Then, she and Haru wrote their wishes on the wooden plaque and hung it on the bamboo tree.
After that, the three of them wandered around, approaching stalls selling food such as candy apples, cotton candy, takoyaki, etc.
At 1:40 in the morning, Eiji escorted Kosaki and Haru safely home. Then, he teleported to the dorm room, changed clothes, and slept until noon.
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Mount Fuji plays a significant role in Japanese culture and history. It is considered a sacred mountain in Shinto religion.
Being the highest mountain in Japan with a height of 3,776 meters, it is one of the most famous icons in the country. Despite being an active volcano, Mount Fuji's eruptions are relatively rare.
Its breathtaking natural beauty makes Mount Fuji a popular tourist destination, with climbing to the summit being a favorite activity for tourists during the summer season.
Currently, among the climbers, there are three figures with peculiar appearances, yet what is surprising is that no one pays attention to them as if unaware of their presence.
If Eiji were here, he would immediately recognize their identities.
A man dressed like a monk with stitches on his head.
Kenjaku possessing Geto Suguru's body.
A youth with a patched-up face, long bluish-gray hair flowing past his neck, and stitches all over his body making him appear as if stitched together.
Special Grade Cursed Spirit representing humanity's hatred towards each other, Mahito.
And the last individual, the most peculiar among them. With black lines all over her body, she has a head resembling a helmet that doesn't cover her teeth, branches in place of where her eyes should be, two zigzag black lines on her face, and a larger flower on her left shoulder.
Special Grade Cursed Spirit representing humanity's fear of natural disasters on land, Hanami.
The three dangerous individuals walk among other tourists as if enjoying the New Year holiday.
"Hey, Geto, there are a lot of humans here~ can I play with them?"
Acting like a child, Mahito seems excited.
"Don't cause trouble, Mahito. You can play after we recruit 'that person'." Kenjaku says with a thin smile.
"Be patient, Mahito. What Geto said is true, we shouldn't attract the attention of Jujutsu Sorcerers." Hanami, like an elder sister, persuades her mischievous younger brother.
"Tchhh~ because Hanami said so~"
Putting his hand behind his head, Mahito cancels his plan to transfigure everyone here.
"Hey, are Gojo Satoru and Kamiki Eiji really as strong as you described?"
Although Hanami is silent, she shares Mahito's curiosity.
"Of course, I'm not lying. Aside from Gojo Satoru, who is the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer of the modern era, Kamiki Eiji is no less than him. It's just that he rarely displays his power in public. Even in the Hyakki Yakou incident in Shinjuku last year, he didn't participate."
"If we use Sukuna's Finger analogy to describe Kamiki Eiji's strength, he's equivalent to fifteen or sixteen Sukuna Fingers."
Kenjaku has long been observing the bearer of the Six Eyes, especially Kamiki Eiji, who is an Irregular.
Normally, it's impossible to have two Six Eyes bearers in the same era. But impossibility has arisen!
In his long lifespan, this is the first time he has seen this.
"Wow, that strong?! Gojo Satoru is already a tough obstacle to overcome, and now there's Kamiki Eiji who is not weaker than him. Is the Gojo Family full of monsters?"
Mahito can't help but be amazed.
According to Geto Suguru's (Kenjaku's) assessment of his own strength and Hanami's based on Sukuna's Fingers, his strength is equivalent to seven Sukuna Fingers, while Hanami is equivalent to eight Sukuna Fingers.
"Therefore, before facing Gojo Satoru, we must get rid of Kamiki Eiji. Otherwise, our plan cannot succeed if there are two people around."
Kenjaku leads the two Special Grade Cursed Spirits up the summit of Mount Fuji.
"How do you deal with the two of them?" Hanami, who didn't speak much, asked.
"To handle Gojo Satoru, I will use this." From the Storage Ring on his finger, Kenjaku took out a Rubik's Cube-sized box.
He had to admit that Kamiki Eiji had higher creativity compared to other Limitless Technique users. Although they were enemies, he admired the other party's creations.
"What's that? Doesn't it seem like there's something special about that box?" Mahito asked skeptically.
"It's a Special Grade Cursed Object, Prison Realm. It contains barriers capable of sealing anything or anyone inside an unavoidable pocket dimension. With this, we will seal Gojo Satoru."
"Hmm~ sounds impressive, let me see it."
Without waiting for Kenjaku's response, Mahito took the Prison Realm from his hand and played with it.
Of course, since he didn't know the activation method, it was no different from a regular box in his hands. Then, he returned the Prison Realm to Kenjaku.
"Geto, since you already have a method to deal with Gojo Satoru, how do you plan to deal with Kamiki Eiji?" Hanami asked.
"Let's discuss this after all members are present."
The smile never fades from Kenjaku's face.
After that, the three of them climb until they reach the summit of Mount Fuji.
"It should be here."
Not long after Kenjaku says that, the ground trembles violently, and suddenly a burst of lava shoots towards them.
Hanami raises her hand, and instantly dozens of thick trees emerge from the ground as a shield.
*BOOM*
The lava flow crashes into the trees, causing an explosion.
"Oi, you! Why did you save humans!"
An angry voice echoes from where the lava originated.
Next, a humanoid figure appears in front of them.
The figure has a hunched posture holding a staff, and its head is shaped like a volcano. It has pale gray skin, a cycloptic eye, two holes on the side of its head functioning as ears, and black teeth.
Special Grade Cursed Spirit representing humanity's fear and negative relationship with volcanoes and related fire disasters, Jogo!
"Hi, your welcome is very warm! I like it! My name is Mahito, what's yours name?"
Mahito waves his hand with a friendly attitude.
"Jogo."
The figure introduces itself.
In the presence of other Cursed Spirits, Jogo can get along well with fellow Cursed Spirits.
"I'm Hanami, nice to meet you, Jogo."
Without showing hostility, Hanami removes the trees on her own initiative.
"Why are Cursed Spirits with humans? Humans are creatures made of lies pretending to hide their true nature with the positive emotions they display. Don't be fooled by their words!"
Jogo earnestly warns Hanami and Mahito.
"Don't worry, Geto is a reliable comrade."
Mahito has long known that Geto Suguru (Kenjaku) harbors ill intentions towards them. Furthermore, he can see the depths of human souls, but he pretends to trust them.
Regardless, their collaboration is indeed very beneficial for them as Newly Born Cursed Spirits.
"Jogo, at least give Geto a chance to speak."
"Fine... Ah, do as you please! Humans, speak quickly, my time is precious."
Under the persuasion of fellow Cursed Spirits, Jogo no longer acts aggressively though still arrogant.
"Thank you for the opportunity, I'm sure you won't regret it."
Next, Kenjaku explains his plan to annihilate humanity.
Jogo, who believes that Cursed Spirits are the true humans and they are the ones to inherit the earth, is interested in the plan.
As a result, he agrees to join Kenjaku's group.
There are two options for accessing more chapters.
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