Soon, the next day arrived.
As the executive division of the Jujutsu General Directorate, Jujutsu High School's annual entrance examination drew widespread attention from the sorcerer community.
This year's attention was far greater than ever before. After all, the new students enrolling at Jujutsu High were all headline names.
Gojo Satoru, the once-in-a-millennium Six Eyes sorcerer.
Geto Suguru, capable of handling Special Grade cursed spirits before even entering school.
Ieiri Shoko, born with the innate ability to use the Reverse Cursed Technique.
And Gojo Satoshi, the one who cast a deep shadow across the world of curses nine years ago.
An unprecedented gathering of rare talents, combined with the highest difficulty examination in history, naturally drew all eyes to them.
Satoru slung his arm around Satoshi's shoulders and grinned.
"Satoshi, don't worry. Suguru and I won't make you and Shoko look like total losers out there."
Satoshi chuckled in response.
"Then you better try not to lose to us."
He had already made all the necessary preparations. He knew exactly what they were up against today—Sukuna's finger—and there was even a chance Sukuna's consciousness might still linger.
But he wasn't concerned. After all, the opponent only possessed the strength of one finger. In Satoshi's view, he might not even need to unsheathe his Zanpakutō.
He planned to use Ryomen Sukuna as a benchmark to test his current strength.
Especially the Kidō techniques he had recently grasped.
Since awakening, he still hadn't had a proper opportunity to act.
Now was the perfect chance to see if the system's newly awakened abilities could make Sukuna experience fear again.
Satoshi smiled faintly as he walked toward the location where the mission scrolls would be drawn.
Unlike the excited Satoru and Suguru, Satoshi and Shoko walked at a calm pace.
Even so, his white hair and stylish sunglasses made him stand out immediately.
The moment he stepped into the square, he could feel countless eyes turning his way.
He knew many people had come today just to see him, but he paid it no mind.
Satoshi scanned the surroundings and quickly spotted a massive screen in the center of the square, connected to a live feed from a cursed corpse. Clearly, the entire exorcism process of their entrance exam would be broadcast.
The surrounding area was already packed. The best seats in the square were on a raised platform, all taken by representatives of the Big Three Sorcerer Families.
Satoshi immediately saw Gojo Kumaen and Gojo Shunichi seated on the platform.
They, too, had spotted him, and their gazes immediately locked onto him.
When their eyes met, faint smiles appeared on both their faces. Seeing Satoshi awake with their own eyes filled them with joy.
No amount of hearsay could compare to witnessing it in person.
Satoshi swept his gaze across the platform.
Seated beside Kumaen were members of the Zenin and Kamo clans. They were also watching him closely.
Their eyes carried a mix of solemnity and unease.
He spotted Zenin Shinsuke as well, his body trembling slightly, his expression a mix of anger and fear.
But what surprised Satoshi was.
The current clan head of the Kamo Clan, looked completely calm. He merely observed him quietly, as though none of this concerned him.
In addition, some other notable sorcerer families stood respectfully off to the side.
Ieiri Inamichi, for instance.
A gentle but worried smile rested on his face.
Satoshi also saw Toji and Yuto in the crowd. When their eyes met, both of them waved.
Satoshi smiled and nodded back in acknowledgment.
He hadn't expected so many factions of the jujutsu world to be present. It seemed this entrance examination had truly drawn everyone's attention.
"Satoshi, it's so crowded..." Shoko murmured nervously, feeling the pressure of all those gazes.
Satoshi smiled and reassured her.
"It's fine. We're only here to draw our mission scroll. Once the mission starts, we'll be out of sight anyway."
...
On the high platform.
Everyone's eyes remained locked on Satoshi, who remained indifferent under their scrutiny.
Although he looked identical to Satoru, their identities were obvious to anyone with sharp senses.
After all, Satoshi possessed a Heavenly Restriction. There wasn't a single trace of cursed energy in his body.
But even without that detail, the shadow of nine years ago had been imprinted deeply in their memories. Even if Satoshi were reduced to ashes, they would recognize him.
"I didn't expect Gojo Satoshi to actually wake up." Zenin Naobito spoke calmly.
Even though they had received word beforehand, seeing him in person stirred their emotions.
Still, whether his strength had declined or increased over these nine years would soon be revealed by today's test.
Satoshi and the others arrived before Yaga Masamichi and Principal Sekiguchi Seiji.
Sekiguchi looked over them and smiled.
"Even though we're not exactly strangers, let me formally reintroduce myself. I am Sekiguchi Seiji, principal of Jujutsu High."
"Principal Sekiguchi." They greeted respectfully.
He smiled.
"Alright. I'll briefly explain the rules."
"They're simple. Regardless of the method you use, as long as you bring back the Special Grade Cursed Object, Sukuna's Finger, the mission is a success."
"In addition, whoever completes the mission in the shortest time will receive the highest score."
"However, due to the risk involved, all students will be assigned in teams of two. The General Directorate has also stationed several Grade 1 sorcerers from the Big Three Sorcerer Families nearby."
"But they'll only act if you actively request assistance, or if you fall unconscious or your life is in immediate danger."
"Remember, if they intervene, your mission is considered a failure."
"Understood?" Sekiguchi's tone turned stern.
"We understand." Everyone nodded.
"Then, as captains, both of you will carry this live-feed cursed corpse," Sekiguchi added.
There was no objection.
Sekiguchi then personally activated the live broadcast settings for both Satoru and Satoshi. The large screen lit up the next moment.
The screen was split in two.
The left side showed Satoru's team's perspective, and the right side showed Satoshi's.
However, the feed would only go live once the mission officially began.
After confirming the cursed corpses were properly linked, Yaga Masamichi stepped forward.
"Alright, now it's time to draw your mission scrolls. These contain your assigned locations."
He looked at the four students and said seriously,
"And remember, don't take the exam too seriously. If you're in real danger, call for help."
"Your lives matter more than the mission."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Satoru excitedly took one of the scrolls from Yaga's left hand.
"Heh. Teacher Yaga, just watch me clear this mission with ease!"
(To be continued.)