Eclipsed Radiance

The school courtyard was eerily still, the tension from the recent fight hanging heavy in the air. Yuji knelt on the ground, panting, his body trembling as the last remnants of Sukuna's overwhelming presence faded. His thoughts raced, his mind barely processing what had just happened. He'd eaten the finger—and somehow, he'd survived.

Megumi stood nearby, his eyes sharp and wary, the cursed energy around him still lingering like static in the atmosphere. He took a cautious step forward, glancing at Yuji. But before he could speak, a voice broke the silence.

"Did you get the finger back?"

Both Megumi and Yuji turned toward the fence at the edge of the balcony, where a figure stood silhouetted in the fading light. He was casually leaning against the fence, arms crossed, with an air of calm that felt almost out of place in the aftermath of such chaos.

"Renji," Megumi acknowledged, his expression tightening. "You're late."

Renji stepped forward, his black hoodie shifting slightly as he moved. The lightly tinted glasses he wore glinted in the dim light, partially obscuring his violet eyes. His gaze swept across the scene—the wreckage, the faint traces of cursed energy still clinging to the air, and finally, Yuji, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"Late?" Renji repeated, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You're the one who didn't wrap this up faster." His tone was light, but his focus was razor-sharp. "Did you retrieve the finger or not?"

Megumi started to answer, but Yuji spoke first, his voice shaky. "I... I ate it."

Renji's head tilted slightly, his glasses catching the light as his attention zeroed in on Yuji. For a moment, there was a heavy silence, and Yuji felt as though those violet eyes were seeing right through him.

"You ate it," Renji repeated flatly, as if he was confirming the most absurd thing he'd ever heard.

Yuji nodded hesitantly. "It... it was going to eat me, so I thought—"

"Thought what? That eating a cursed object was a good idea?" Renji cut him off, his voice calm but sharp. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, then. New plan."

"New plan?" Yuji echoed, still breathless.

Renji turned to Megumi. "We're taking him into custody. For now, he's coming with us."

Megumi frowned slightly. "Custody? You're not going to try and exorcise him?"

"Try? I don't need to try. I simply don't want to," Renji replied, his voice steady. "The higher-ups will want to decide what to do with him. We'll bring him in, report what happened, and see what they say. After all, him being able to control Sukuna this easily changes a lot of things," He glanced at Yuji again, his expression unreadable. "Until then, he stays under watch."

Yuji's stomach churned at the words, but he forced himself to speak. "What happens to me now? Am I... gonna die?"

Renji's gaze lingered on him for a moment. "That depends," he said simply. "Right now, you're a vessel for one of the most dangerous curses in history. Whether that's a blessing or a curse for you, we'll have to see."

Yuji's mouth went dry, but Megumi interjected. "If the higher-ups think he's too dangerous, they'll want him executed."

Renji glanced at Megumi but said nothing to confirm or deny the statement. Instead, he turned back to Yuji. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, pinky hair is not safe on his own. He's coming with us. That's the only option."

Yuji hesitated, then gave a small, reluctant nod. He didn't know what else to do, and the weight of what he'd done was beginning to crash down on him.

Renji stepped closer, standing over Yuji. He extended a hand, his voice softening just slightly. "Get up. You're not doing anyone any good like that."

Yuji blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. He reached up, and Renji pulled him to his feet with ease.

"Let's move," Renji said, turning to Megumi. "The longer we stand around, the more attention this is going to attract."

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The room was dimly lit, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on everyone present. Renji stood in the center of a semi-circle of stern-faced elders, although they all hid behind makeshift walls. Their robes a stark reminder of their authority. The flickering light from a few suspended talismans cast long shadows across the walls, adding to the weight of the moment.

"So, the boy consumed one of Sukuna's fingers," one elder intoned, his voice low and cold. "There is no debate. He must be executed immediately to prevent further risk."

Renji adjusted his glasses, his violet eyes calm but calculating as he looked up at the wall of the elder that spoke. "With all due respect," he began, his tone steady, "that would be short-sighted."

The room fell silent. The elders exchanged glances, some with curiosity, others with thinly veiled annoyance.

"Short-sighted?" another elder repeated, leaning forward. "Explain yourself, Kurogane."

Renji clasped his hands behind his back, adopting a composed stance. "It's true that Yuji Itadori consumed Sukuna's finger and became his vessel. But consider the bigger picture. We have an unprecedented opportunity here."

"Opportunity?" A third elder scoffed. "The boy is a walking catastrophe. Sukuna's power must not be allowed to resurface."

Renji nodded slightly. "I agree. But think about it: Sukuna's power is tied to the fingers. There are still nineteen out there, scattered and lost. If we execute Yuji now, the fingers will remain as they are—scattered, untraceable, and ready to corrupt anyone foolish or desperate enough to seek them out."

The elders murmured among themselves, but Renji pressed on.

"If we let Yuji live—for now—we can use him to locate and consume the remaining fingers," Renji continued. "With each finger he ingests, Sukuna's power becomes centralized. Contained. Controlled. When the time comes, and all twenty fingers are accounted for, we can exorcise him completely."

"Controlled?" the first elder snapped. "You think Sukuna's power can be controlled? You're gambling with the safety of the entire Jujutsu world."

Renji's expression hardened, but his tone remained even. "I'm not saying it's without risk. But the alternative is leaving nineteen cursed objects out in the world to wreak havoc. You saw what just one finger could do. We can't afford that chaos."

Another elder narrowed her eyes. "And what if Sukuna gains too much influence over the boy? What if Itadori succumbs before all the fingers are gathered?"

"That's why we monitor him closely," Renji replied without hesitation. "I'll take personal responsibility for him. If there's even a hint of Sukuna taking control, I'll act immediately."

The room fell silent again, the elders weighing Renji's words. His calm demeanor was unshaken, even under their intense scrutiny.

Finally, the elder who had spoken first leaned back, his gaze piercing. "And what of your own motives, Kurogane? Why are you so invested in this boy?"

Renji paused, then pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Because I believe we can end Sukuna's threat once and for all. But we can't do that by rushing to kill the only person who can help us gather the fingers. It's not about him—it's about the future of our world."

The elders exchanged glances again, their murmurs growing louder. Renji stood his ground, his violet eyes unwavering as he faced them.

After what felt like an eternity, the eldest among them raised a hand, silencing the room. He regarded Renji with a cold, calculating expression. "Very well," he said finally. "The execution will be postponed. But mark my words, Kurogane—if this gamble of yours backfires, it will be your head on the line."

Renji nodded, a faint glimmer of satisfaction in his otherwise stoic expression. "Understood."

As the session concluded, the elders began to disperse, their robes swishing against the floor. Renji remained standing in the center of the room, his thoughts racing but his expression calm. He had bought Yuji some time—but the weight of his decision loomed large.

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As Renji exited the dark council chamber, the heavy doors creaked shut behind him. The oppressive air of the room was replaced by a lighter, if still tense, atmosphere in the corridor. Leaning casually against the wall, his signature blindfold firmly in place, stood Gojo. He twirled a small piece of candy between his fingers, the beginnings of a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Look at you," Gojo teased, straightening up as Renji approached. "Walking out of a meeting with those old fossils like you own the place. Very impressive, Renji."

Renji stopped a few steps away, adjusting his glasses with a calm demeanor that didn't betray the frustration he felt. "Satoru," he greeted curtly, ignoring the jab. "I take it you were eavesdropping?"

"Of course," Gojo replied without a shred of shame, tossing the candy into his mouth. "Gotta stay in the loop, you know? Besides, you handled yourself pretty well in there. Must be the Kurogane blood—always so measured."

Renji exhaled, crossing his arms. "It's not about appearances. It's about doing what's logical. Executing Yuji immediately is short-sighted and counterproductive."

Gojo's smirk widened, his tone shifting into something more approving. "Couldn't have said it better myself. That's why I'm here, actually. Figured you'd buy us some time, so I made plans."

Renji raised an eyebrow. "Plans?"

"To get Yuji," Gojo said simply, as though the answer was obvious. "He's going to join us at Jujutsu High."

Renji's violet eyes narrowed slightly, studying Gojo's face for a hint of jest. When he found none, his voice dropped a notch. "You're serious? You want him as a student?"

"Why not?" Gojo replied, hands sliding casually into his pockets. "The kid's got potential, and with Sukuna in him, he's already part of this world whether he likes it or not. He's going to need guidance—people who understand what he's dealing with."

Renji processed this for a moment, his arms uncrossing as he glanced back toward the sealed council chamber doors. "The elders will hate this. They barely agreed to postpone his execution."

"Which is why I'll be handling the fallout," Gojo said with a grin, stepping closer and placing a hand on Renji's shoulder. "You've done enough in there. I'll take it from here."

Renji held his gaze for a moment before sighing and stepping aside. "Fine. Just don't do anything reckless."

Gojo's smirk returned in full force as he started down the corridor. "Reckless? Me? Never."

Renji watched him go, the tension in his shoulders refusing to ease. Satoru's confidence was unwavering, almost infuriatingly so, but there was something about it that made even the most uncertain path seem possible.

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The next morning, Renji lounged in his room at Jujutsu High, sitting cross-legged on his bed with a manga in hand. His long violet hair was tied into a neat manbun, with a single bang framing either side of his face. His glasses rested on the nightstand, unused. The room was quiet save for the occasional chuckle he let out at the antics of the manga characters.

A sharp knock on the door interrupted his reading. He barely had time to sit up before the door swung open, revealing Gojo grinning ear to ear. Behind him, Yuji stepped in hesitantly, his eyes darting around the room.

"Morning, Renji!" Gojo greeted, his voice cheerful. "Guess who's officially enrolled as our newest first-year?"

Renji glanced up from his manga, blinking at Yuji before closing the book and setting it aside. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Yuji Itadori," he said, standing and crossing his arms. "Nice to meet you again—under better circumstances this time."

Yuji blinked in confusion. "Uh... better circumstances?"

Renji raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember? I was the one who brought you in last night, after you ate Sukuna's finger."

Yuji's eyes widened as realization hit. "Oh! You're the guy in the hoodie!"

Renji chuckled softly. "Observant," he said, his tone teasing. "I had to make sure Sukuna didn't get the better of you. Honestly, you surprised me, managing to take control again so quickly."

Yuji scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, uh... thanks for not, you know, killing me or anything."

Renji's smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "It wasn't an easy call. The higher-ups still want you dead, and I had to fight to give you this chance. But for now, you're here. Don't waste it."

Gojo clapped a hand on Renji's shoulder, his grin as wide as ever. "See? Renji's a softie at heart. You just gotta get past the whole 'I'm-a-cosmic-prodigy' vibe."

Renji shot Gojo a glare but turned his attention back to Yuji. He noticed the boy's new uniform and nodded approvingly. "The uniform suits you," he remarked. "Looks like you belong here."

Yuji grinned, adjusting the collar. "Thanks! I was worried I'd look weird in it, but I guess it works."

Renji gave a small nod. "It does. Not everyone sticks to the dress code, anyway." He gestured to his own hoodie draped over a chair in the corner.

Yuji tilted his head, curiosity sparking. "What about your hair? It's cool, but isn't it a hassle?"

Renji brushed one of the bangs aside. "Not really. I tied it like this because someone got sentimental when I left one bang out."

Gojo smirked, crossing his arms in mock indignation. "Don't blame me! It reminded me of Geto. Let an old man have his moments, okay?"

Renji sighed, but there was a faint smile on his face. "Satoru, you're impossible."

Yuji laughed at the banter, already feeling more at ease around them.

Renji's tone shifted as he focused on Yuji. "You're here because we believe you can make a difference. This isn't just about survival—it's about stepping up when it counts. Megumi, the other first-year joining us, and I will help you get ready for whatever comes next."

Yuji nodded, determination lighting up his face. "I'll do my best."

Renji studied him for a moment before nodding back. "That's all we need from you."

Gojo clapped his hands, breaking the serious mood. "Alright, kids, let's get breakfast! Renji, put down your manga—Itadori probably has a million questions, and I want to see how fast he can eat pancakes. Let's go get Megumi!" Gojo said as he began skipping away from Renji's room.

As they left the room, Renji glanced at the manga still sitting on his bed and chuckled to himself. Picking up and putting on his glasses, he left his room, and closed the door.

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A/N: Renji meets Yuji properly. Season 1 has begun. Right here I adapted the first two episodes with minor changes. I'm leaving Renji vs. Sukuna for until a bit later. It won't be long though sooo. Again, hope you enjoyed.