Chapter 23. Do you understand power?

Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College.

Sitting next to the main school building where Director Yaga spends most of his time, I tilted my head back towards the sky, contemplating how to help my "junior" who is currently in an "interview."

Itadori Yuji, or the "stepbrother of Naruto," is a real example of what can happen to a teenager who has been injected with a "nuclear bomb" with less-than-ideal motives. I've always been struck by the simultaneous similarity of situations these two characters find themselves in and the drastic difference in their futures. Unfortunately, the world of "Magical Battle" is much more realistic, so Yuji will have to suffer much more.

Can I be accused of hypocrisy? That's the question I've been asking myself for the past twenty-four hours after calling Itadori to devour Sukuna's finger. If I'm such a savior of this world, a hero called to end suffering, then why am I doing this selectively, allowing Yuji to tread on this slippery path? Did I have an answer to this question? If I did, it was easier to accept the fact that I acted hypocritically because delving into all this gradually brought forth new questions before me: sacrificing the minority for the majority? Fear of the unknown? How strong am I, as I think?

"A true Sorcerer is not the one who exorcises Curses or underwent training for it. A Sorcerer is the one who does what needs to be done. Sometimes you have to get dirty and shed blood, sometimes your own. And he still does it... because it's necessary," a phrase my grandfather once told me escaped my lips.

Yes, I am far from being a noble hero, and my motives are hard to call "pure," but if I stop what I started just out of pity for Yuji, will my presence in this world make any sense at all?

"Sukehiro," the voice of the guy interrupted all these reflections, and seeing me, he smiled happily.

"You got beaten up, and yet here you are," I said.

"I'm pretty tough," Yuji replied, striking his fist against his palm. "How do you know the director gave me a test?"

"He tests every student," I shrugged. "Your situation is a bit special, so a muscle-headed Sorcerer like the director probably couldn't find anything better than a combat test."

"If Yaga heard you now," Satoru, standing beside him, shook his head.

"And you're telling me this?" I raised my eyebrows in confusion.

"Reasonably," Satoru grinned. "Okay, how about showing our newcomer his room!"

◊◊◊

"This will be your new room," Satoru spoke, sweeping his gaze over the simple but neat single-person room. "You can use it however you want. Consider it your 'guy's den' for the next four years."

"So much space," Yuji marveled, peering into the wardrobe.

"Most second and third-year students are busy with their affairs," Satoru casually turned his head towards me. "But I'm sure you'll meet them soon; there are only a few of them after all."

"Sukehiro, why aren't you busy?" Yuji asked, taking a poster of some idol from his backpack and sticking it on the wall.

"I've already finished my missions," I shrugged.

"Kiyotaka complains about you," Satoru pointed out. "Says that after you, there's nothing left but ashes and ruins."

"I'm not to blame for the fact that so many Special Grade Curses have spread in Japan," I replied.

"Special Grade?" Yuji stared at us questioningly.

"The highest possible rank awarded to Curses. Monsters among monsters," I explained to the guy.

"You know, in the search for fingers, you'll encounter exactly such opponents... Mostly. So, you don't necessarily have to fight. After all, there's me and Sukehiro; di Megumi won't abandon you. And you can just stay here and wait," Satoru shifted the topic.

"Nah, it's all good. I said I'll do whatever is within my power," Yuji shook his head. "Besides, just imagine, beaten-up and gloomy Megumi bringing me fingers while I'm lounging around... His face alone makes me burst out laughing."

"That's true. Well, in any case, it would be utter foolishness to let you laze around," Satoru grinned contentedly.

"Did you guys test me?" Yuji asked, looking surprised.

"It's not about fighting for the fingers; it's about finding them," Satoru began to explain. "If it were easy to find them, magical schools and the Sorcerer Association would have sorted it out long ago."

"An object with a strong presence that attracts Curses like honey to bees, and simultaneously with the ability to hide. It sounds paradoxical, but that's the peculiarity of 'Sukuna's Fingers.' Besides, some have already been consumed by Cursed Spirits," I elaborated on the situation.

"In general, there's nothing more problematic than looking for something like this," Satoru concluded. "However, the owner of them, Sukuna, is currently inside you. And he will guide you to the locations of the remaining fingers to restore his power."

"So, am I a walking radar?" Yuji stared at us stupidly.

"Combat radar," I nodded.

"Super combat radar," Satoru agreed.

"He's in the next room," an irritated sigh came from behind us, over Satoru's and my shoulders. "You know, there are plenty of other available rooms."

"Fushiguro!" Yuji exclaimed joyfully, rushing out of the room.

"I didn't beat you up today, did I?" I smiled at Megumi.

"You look as if nothing happened!" Satoru grinned.

"You recovered so quickly, is it all magic?" Yuji asked, inspecting his classmate.

"Explain everything to him here; Sukehiro and I need to step away for a moment," Satoru said, putting his arm around my shoulder. "Oh, almost forgot, we're going somewhere today, so I'll be waiting for you at the school entrance in half an hour!"

"I don't like unplanned trips," Megumi scratched his head.

"But surprises are always cool," Yuji commented.

"You don't know Teacher Gojo to say something like that," I shook my head.

I heard my two juniors exchanging remarks as Satoru and I exited the building. Right in front of the exit, I glanced at the hand on my shoulder.

"Maybe you'll let me go now?" I stared at Satoru.

"Don't you like being close?" Satoru smiled with feigned embarrassment.

"We just won't fit through the door," I nodded towards the door, which, while made for two people, was certainly not for Sorcerers with good physical fitness.

"Boredom," Satoru said, releasing me and stepping outside.

"What did you want?" Knowing Satoru and his love to drag out conversations, I decided to get straight to the point.

"What do you think of Yuji?" Satoru didn't clown around and asked directly.

"I feel sorry for him," I replied.

"You feel sorry for someone?" Satoru stared at me.

"Who do you take me for?"

"Don't think of anything extra, but when was the last time you showed pity?" Satoru asked.

"I don't show it, but that doesn't mean I don't feel it," I sighed, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from my pocket. "I answered your question; anything else?"

"What were you doing in Sendai?"

"I was wondering when you'd ask. Watching Sukuna's arrival, I didn't bother hiding my presence, which translates to: it was impossible not to notice me unless you're not a 'Six Eyes' user. So I was very curious about Satoru's reaction. So far, I'm disappointed..."

"Don't you find it strange that in such chaotic times, Sukuna wakes up from a thousand-year slumber? And in the body of an ordinary guy, no less?"

"You couldn't have known that all this would happen," Satoru's voice was devoid of emotions and hesitations.

"I couldn't," I lied. "Just circumstances: I just wanted to take a look at a part of Sukuna, and instead, I witnessed something incredible. Consider it as me looking for copper and finding gold."

"It's annoying," Satoru ruffled his hair. "You know, sometimes I catch myself thinking that I'm too soft and kind, considering I'm the 'Strongest.'"

"Don't downplay it; I still won't sympathize with you."

"This world is heading in the wrong direction."

"The appearance of Sukuna does indeed change the balance of power. If I were you, I'd pay attention to what's happening around," I expressed, taking a deep drag. "I don't want to be the boy from the fable 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf,' but I believe we are heading into a situation we can't even imagine."

"As long as I'm here, there won't be anyone who can threaten Sorcerers and humanity," Satoru said confidently.

"Okay, if you think so," I shrugged, not trying to convince Satoru, as I knew firsthand how strong-willed individuals stick to their opinions. "And how do you feel about Yuji yourself?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Satoru shrugged. "I don't want to live in a world where a good person is ready to be killed just because he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Do you have a fetish for saving guys from trouble?" I grinned with a cigarette between my teeth.

"Their situations are simultaneously similar and radically different," Satoru replied, clearly remembering Yuta.

"Satoru," I addressed the man.

"Why so serious?"

"If someone's dream, like a hurricane, sweeps away the dreams of hundreds and thousands along its path, can it be considered wrong?"

"A complicated question," Satoru tilted his head towards the sky. "I think not."

"In that case, why did Suguru Geto deserve to die?" I turned to the white-haired Sorcerer.

"What's this about?" Satoru frowned.

"Maybe Yuji's aspirations can kill him, but it's still better than a senseless death at the whim of the hypocrites from the Sorcerer Association," I exhaled a thin stream of cigarette smoke. "This is my opinion on Yuji. I feel sorry that such a guy received such a sad dream, but I won't let it affect me in any way, as it would be a sign of disrespect."

"Too complicated for such a young Sorcerer. Are you a grandpa or something?" Satoru chuckled.

How difficult it is to use [Incitement] on someone as strong as Satoru.

"You didn't catch the thought, did you?" Turning around, I was about to leave. "In this world, no one deserves to die; we just choose whose aspirations are corrupt and whose are not, and based on that, we affirm whether a person is bad or good. For me, Suguru Geto wasn't bad; he was a Sorcerer who chose a different path. The same goes for Yuji; I don't share his 'death' philosophy, and besides, he chose to eat that finger himself. However, if I can help him, I will. Can you, Satoru?"

"I already helped you, didn't I?"

"Someday in the future, you'll remember this conversation, and that's when I'll be waiting for your answer."