I'm not going to be an Spirit! (Translate)

I was rejected?

Staring at Satoru Gojo face filled with wariness and caution, a giant question mark rose above Tokisaki Kurumi head.

To be honest, before she proposed the deal, she had been very confident.

After all, Satoru Gojo already despised the upper echelons of Japan's jujutsu world and had often entertained the idea of rooting them out. It was only due to his position and the consequences that followed that he didn't take direct action.

And her third side mission in this world was to change the structure of the jujutsu society. Helping Satoru Gojo was the most straightforward way to accomplish that.

However, directly offering help didn't align with Tokisaki Kurumi character. So even though eliminating the jujutsu upper echelon was in her own interest, she couldn't provide assistance for free.

That's why she had come up with this deal.

It was clear that Satoru Gojo was visibly tempted when he heard the offer.

But for some unknown reason, not only did he refuse the deal, he even seemed to be... somewhat afraid of her?

This guy always acted fearless in combat—so why was he suddenly chickening out now?

Still, Tokisaki Kurumi didn't dwell too much on it.

If he refused, then so be it. It's not like she absolutely needed to cooperate with Satoru Gojo to complete her third side mission.

Regardless of whether he agreed or not, she was going to clean out the jujutsu society's upper echelon anyway.

Proposing this to Satoru Gojo was merely to get him to agree to one request.

Since this deal didn't succeed, she would just propose the next one.

"What a shame. I had thought we shared a common goal when it came to the Top Brass,"

Kurumi said, seeing how Satoru Gojo expression showed growing resistance and caution. She didn't intend to dwell on the topic any further.

If this guy truly didn't want to talk to her anymore, he might just teleport away instantly. Then she would really have no choice but to use the Sixth Bullet to reset things.

"But aside from the offer just now, I have another deal I'd like to propose."

Hearing this, Satoru Gojo guard went up even further.

This woman's trickery had just been exposed, and now she wanted to dig another pit for him to fall into?

Did she really think he was a fool?!

Though he had already decided to reject anything she offered, he still decided to listen.

After all, chances to talk directly with "Nightmare" were rare. If he could gather some useful information from even a few words, it would be worth it.

"Sukuna fingers — that's what you're looking for, isn't it?"

From the shadows, Kurumi took out a thin, withered finger and waved it slightly.

"Your plan is to have that boy, Yuji Itadori, consume all of Sukuna fingers, and then completely eliminate Sukuna. Am I right?"

Satoru Gojo neither confirmed nor denied it.

That was merely the story he fed to the conservative, traditional Top Brass to appease them — that once Itadori had swallowed all of Sukuna fingers, he would be executed.

But in Gojo heart, he had already considered Yuji Itadori as his student, someone who would one day shine brilliantly in the jujutsu world — a partner who would help him change the current order.

After all, once Itadori had consumed all the fingers, his strength would be at least that of a special grade. By then, those old geezers wouldn't be able to do anything about it, even if they wanted to.

Though he didn't know how Nightmare had obtained this information, he certainly wasn't obligated to correct her.

Still... he did want that Sukuna finger.

"What do you want?"

Although he had just resolved not to make any deals with Nightmare, this involved a Sukuna finger — a matter of great importance — so he cautiously asked,

"If it's an exchange, I might be able to accept."

"You don't have what I want,"

Tokisaki Kurumi shook her head and smiled.

"If you want this Sukuna finger, I want you to use your connections within the jujutsu society to help me find someone."

"Who?"

"Someone with cursed energy similar to mine."

"Similar cursed energy...?"

Satoru Gojo furrowed his brow, finding the request rather odd.

While most people viewed everyone's cursed energy as identical, with his Six Eyes, he could see the subtle differences in everyone's cursed energy.

Those with similar cursed energy typically had some sort of blood relation.

For example, sorcerers from the Big Three Clans — especially those with the same innate technique — had very similar cursed energy. Even he would have a hard time telling them apart if he didn't concentrate.

So... was Nightmare looking for someone related to her by blood?

Despite her appearance as a young girl, it wasn't impossible. Her actual age could be older than his mother's, so it wouldn't be strange if she had some descendants.

But... someone with cursed energy similar to Nightmare...

Satoru Gojo narrowed his eyes.

Now that he no longer intended to fight her and had time to think, he suddenly realized something.

He was very familiar with Nightmare cursed energy.

Yet he was also certain that today was the first time they had ever met.

So where did this sense of familiarity come from?

The question flashed through his mind for less than a second — and he quickly found the answer.

"Tokisaki Kurumi..."

He mouthed the name silently, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

Now that he thought about it, Tokisaki Kurumi cursed energy was very similar to Nightmare.

If not for the slight difference in strength, even the Six Eyes might not be able to tell them apart.

Which meant — the person Nightmare was looking for, was Tokisaki Kurumi?

What a small world.

Satoru Gojo couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

But now, for once, he became serious.

Because this matter now involved one of his students.

He had always placed great importance on his students — they were his trump cards to overthrow the jujutsu establishment, his comrades who would one day stand with him.

And Tokisaki Kurumi, though a newcomer, had first-class talent and technique.

In five years at most, she would surely become a Grade 1 sorcerer.

With a little luck, maybe even Special Grade.

A talent that important — there was no way he would ever give her up.

"Mr. Gojo, you seem to have some idea about the person I'm looking for?"

Hearing the Nightmare question, Satoru Gojo quickly pulled back his wandering thoughts.

As expected from someone who probably has lived for who knows how long — not only was she extremely good at controlling her emotions, but her ability to read people was just as impressive.

"No, I'm just a bit curious as to why you're looking for that person, that's all."

Gojo put on a flippant smile to mask his true feelings, then asked probing, "Who is that person to you? Your child? Never thought you'd have kids~"

"That's not information you need to know. You only need to bring the person to me."

Tokisaki Kurumi didn't answer his question and replied calmly, "Once your task is completed, I will hand this Sukuna Finger over to you."

"No way. Even as the head of the Gojo family, finding someone like that would require considerable resources and effort."

Gojo shook his head and proposed another deal: "I can help you look, but I don't trust the character of a Cursed Spirit user. You'll have to give me the Sukuna Finger as a deposit. What if I find the person and you don't give me the finger? Then I'd be completely ripped off."

"Mr. Gojo, are you trying to get something for nothing?" Kurumi asked with a half-smile, "What if you take the finger and don't keep your promise?"

"I can place a Binding on myself," Gojo said. "As long as the Nightmare gives me the finger, I'll help her find the person with similar cursed energy and bring them to her... Now you don't have to worry, right?"

"Since you're being so straightforward, Mr. Gojo, then it would seem too coy of me to hesitate."

Kurumi casually tossed the Sukuna Finger to Gojo.

Gojo caught the finger and smoothly slipped it into his pants pocket, intending to let Itadori eat it later.

After the two discussed how to stay in contact, the deal came to an end.

"Well then, I'll be looking forward to the good news you bring me, Mr. Gojo."

With that, Kurumi melted into the shadows under Gojo gaze.

Not until her presence completely vanished did Gojo finally breathe a sigh of relief.

A trace of satisfaction appeared in his heart.

Because he had successfully gotten something for nothing.

Although he placed a Binding Vow on himself, promising to help the Nightmare find the target and bring them to her, nowhere in the vow did it specify that he had to deliver the person immediately after finding them.

Find them, then delay a month before handing them over — that's still delivering.

Delay a year — still delivering.

Delay for a lifetime — still delivering.

"Wait... someone as cunning as the Nightmare couldn't possibly overlook such a simple loophole."

Suddenly, a thread of doubt crept into his mind.

If even he could think of this, there's no way the Nightmare wouldn't have.

But if she was aware of this ambiguity in the Binding, why did she still agree?

No way... could she really be that generous, just wanting to give him a gift?

No way.

There had to be some hidden agenda behind her actions!

Gojo eyes flickered a few times. With a thought, he instantly teleported himself to the Tokyo Jujutsu High School campus.

In the plaza, aside from him, stood Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro.

"Gojo-sensei?!"

Seeing the sinister scar across Gojo face, both Itadori and Fushiguro showed stunned and concerned expressions.

Originally, when they were transported here, they hadn't yet figured out what had happened.

Now it seemed clear — the Nightmare wasn't defeated so easily. The one Gojo destroyed must have been a decoy or an illusion.

After they had been sent away, Gojo clearly experienced a brutal battle.

"Don't show that look in front of me. Makes it seem like I lost or something."

Gojo seemed sensitive to their concern, frowning in slight irritation.

Although he hadn't lost, he also hadn't won.

He had to admit, in the battle just now, he was at a disadvantage.

Not only did he use all his trump cards, but even Infinity had been breached, and he was forced to rely on Reversed Cursed Technique.

But he had no intention of telling his students any of that.

As a teacher, he still had to maintain his image.

"Itadori, eat this."

Gojo handed over the Sukuna Finger he received from Tokisaki Kurumi.

"Whoa! Gojo-sensei actually took the Sukuna Finger from the Nightmare? That's amazing!" Itadori exclaimed.

"Ahaha, well I am the strongest, after all."

Even though it was a misunderstanding, Gojo had no intention of correcting them — instead, he accepted the praise as if it were natural.

Because he didn't plan on telling them about his deal with the Nightmare.

The situation involved Tokisaki Kurumi — he had to tread carefully.

"By the way, where are Kurumi and Nobara right now?" Gojo asked casually. "When you two were facing off with the Nightmare, she wasn't on the scene."

"When we were fighting the Special Grade curse, they were ambushed. Both were knocked unconscious." Fushiguro replied. "I already asked Ijichi-san to take them to the nearest hospital."

"The hospital closest to the Juvenile Detention Center, huh..."

Gojo pulled out his phone, opened the map, and after locating the nearest hospital, told the two, "You both take a good rest. I'll go check on them."

With that, he vanished.

Next moment, Gojo appeared on the rooftop of the hospital nearest to the Juvenile Detention Center.

Taking the elevator down to the first floor, he soon spotted a visibly anxious Ijichi Kento sitting in the waiting area.

"Yo." Gojo greeted casually.

"Mr. Gojo!" Ijichi eyes lit up. "Since you're here, that must mean..."

"Yeah, everything's been handled over there. Don't worry." Gojo replied. "Fushiguro and Itadori are both fine. How are our two first-year flowers doing?"

"Kugisaki still unconscious." Ijichi answered. "As for Tokisaki, she actually woke up on the way here — she's not seriously hurt."

"Where's Kurumi now?"

"Uh… even though she's not badly injured, she still needed some treatment, so she's been put in a hospital room."

Although Ijichi was a bit confused, he dutifully answered Gojo question.

He had mentioned that Kugisaki was more seriously hurt — so if Gojo was here to visit, shouldn't she be the priority?

But he didn't question it further and led Gojo to the door of Kurumi room.

Standing outside the hospital room, Gojo thought:

"I originally thought Kurumi had the simplest background among the four first-years, but now it seems like she's actually the most complicated."

"Just what is your secret?"