Jujutsu Kaisen: I Can Manipulate Time.

Yuta Okkotsu stepped into the arena, his expression focused. The ground was already marred with battle scars. Kamo Noritoshi entered from the opposite side, standing a short distance away.

Kamihara Hajime turned to glance at Gojo Satoru. He didn't speak, but his eyes asked the question: Is Yuta really okay? Gojo responded with a thumbs-up. Despite Hajime's doubts about Gojo's certainty that Rika wouldn't go berserk again, Gojo's confidence was reassuring.

After the customary bow, the match began. The two opponents circled each other, exchanging probing attacks. Kamo's hand-to-hand skills were solid, and his Blood Manipulation Technique gave him the versatility to switch between ranged and close-quarter combat. His solidified blood weapons packed serious power—especially his signature move, Kariharae, which shaped blood into razor-sharp spinning wheels.

But Yuta's weapon was a cursed tool, and he reinforced it with Cursed Energy. He wasn't at a disadvantage.

Yuta's growth had been exceptional. Unlike the others—Maki from the Zen'in clan, Panda raised by Yaga, Toge born into a legacy of cursed speech, Megumi and Hajime trained under Gojo—Yuta had started with nothing. Yet his progress was remarkable. His massive Cursed Energy reserves had even surprised Gojo. Maybe only someone like Yuta could have inadvertently created a being like Rika.

As the match escalated, Yuta cut down two of Kamo's Kariharae blades. Realizing that ranged tactics weren't working, Kamo switched to close combat, activating Crimson Binding to boost his physical abilities. Now on equal footing, he clashed with Yuta blow for blow.

Dodging a thrust, Kamo redirected his blood to form a net—Crimson Restraint—aiming to trap Yuta. Watching from the sidelines, Hajime narrowed his eyes. That technique was dangerous. Physical strength alone wasn't enough to break it, especially with its self-repairing properties.

Caught off guard, Yuta instinctively struck at the net, slicing through several cords—but they quickly regenerated. Crimson Restraint tightened, momentarily binding him. Kamo seized the opportunity. His hands formed a seal as blood pooled between his fingers, compressing into a single deadly point.

"The technique I couldn't use on Hajime... You'll see it now," Kamo said. "And with medics around, we don't need to hold back."

Art of Blood Manipulation: Piercing Blood.

The compressed blood launched like a bullet, moving too fast for the eye to track. Yuta barely broke free in time. A sense of danger overwhelmed him—Rika stirred anxiously inside him, ready to respond, but Yuta forced her back. Not yet. He had to handle this himself.

Then something strange happened. Time seemed to slow. The deadly blood arrow drifted in his vision like it was suspended in air. In that moment of hyperfocus, Yuta thought: Cut it down.

His body moved on instinct. He didn't guide his Cursed Energy or force his swing—it was as natural as breathing. The blade slashed down in a flash of light.

The impact split the blood arrow mid-flight.

Dust settled. Yuta remained standing, panting, his blade lowered. At his feet was a small pool of blood. A deep gash in the ground trailed before him.

From the sidelines, Hajime muttered, "Sword qi…?"

What everyone else saw was simple: the moment Kamo released Piercing Blood, Yuta had just escaped his bindings. Yet with a single slash, powered by instinct and raw Cursed Energy, he neutralized the attack and closed the distance. His blade now rested against Kamo's throat.

Victory—decisive and clean.

Yuta returned to his team, but his expression was more troubled than triumphant. He forced a smile at their praise. Hajime, sitting beside him, knew why.

Kamo's attack had been powerful. Yuta's blade, despite being cursed and reinforced, had taken significant damage in the exchange. Fine cracks lined the surface. The sword had been given to him by Gojo, not just for combat, but as a tool to learn control over Cursed Energy.

He was probably worried: How do I explain breaking this thing?

Noticing that no one else had picked up on it, Hajime wordlessly gestured for the sword. Yuta hesitated but passed it to him. Hajime placed his hand over the cracks, and in the next second, the damage was gone.

"Kamihara," Yuta whispered in awe.

Hajime put a finger to his lips.

He had used a small-scale Reverse Cursed Technique, repairing the blade. Compared to healing a human body, mending a weapon was simple. Even for cursed tools, reversing wear was easy enough with precision.

The victory was secured. But one match remained:

Kamihara Hajime versus Aoi Todo.

Amid cheers, Hajime entered the ring, empty-handed. Aoi Todo followed, also unarmed. As Principal Yaga began his formal announcement, Todo cut him off, already fired up.

"I didn't get to fight Yuta, but you'll do just fine. You're the one who finished that Special Grade, right? Even if I lose, it'll be a glorious defeat!"

Todo tore off his shirt, revealing a sculpted body, and grinned. "No need for formalities. Let's make this a proper brawl!"

Hajime rolled up his sleeves. He didn't share Todo's obsession with passion or battle, but the anticipation of unleashing his full strength—it was tempting. Jujutsu Sorcerers were capable of superhuman feats when enhancing their bodies with Cursed Energy. But there were few chances to test that power fairly. Maki and the others trained with him physically, but never with full Cursed Energy output. Real combat like this was rare.

This might be the perfect chance.

Both of them launched forward at the same moment, fists raised, Cursed Energy surging. Their punches collided mid-air, both caught in a deadlock, grinning.

Hajime broke the stalemate first. He drove a knee into Todo's gut, but Todo laughed, absorbed the hit, and flipped Hajime into the air. Hajime landed, rolled, and sprang up—only to be met with a crushing sidekick that launched him across the arena.

Damn. Todo's physical strength is no joke, Hajime thought, landing in a crouch. Without Cursed Energy, I'd be out cold.

Across from him, Todo stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles. "You feel it too, don't you? That distance between you and the core of Cursed Energy. You've used Black Flash, haven't you?"

He grinned. "When you begin to understand Cursed Energy… the world shifts. Tell me, Hajime—what is Cursed Energy to you?"

Caught off guard, Hajime paused. "...Limbs, maybe."

Todo's expression darkened with mock disappointment. "Tch. What a shame. We were so close to becoming best friends…"

Hajime internally shuddered. He appreciated Todo's fighting spirit, even his taste in women—but being forced into "best friend" status? No thanks.

While Todo was lost in thought, Hajime launched a double-kick, sending him stumbling back.

Todo laughed heartily. "That's more like it!"

Arms spread wide, he charged again—and the real fight began.

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