Chapter 21: Relentless Pursuit

Kaede, with Itadori's body under her control, rested by a stream, watching as the clear water flowed over the stones. After three days of relentless searching, he had managed to find and consume another finger—this made it Sukuna's fifth. While enjoying a rare moment of peace, he suddenly felt a powerful presence and turned around.

A few meters away stood a woman, observing her with an expression that mixed curiosity and amusement. Her presence was imposing, radiating a natural confidence. The woman had a slender but strong figure, messy blonde hair falling to her shoulders, and sharp eyes that hinted at a keen intelligence. She wore a brown leather jacket and tight jeans, with a relaxed but alert demeanor.

The woman, none other than Yuki Tsukumo, one of the few special-grade sorcerers, smiled as she noticed Kaede's inquisitive look. Without warning, she asked a question that caught her off guard.

"What's your type of woman?" Yuki asked with a smile, her tone light.

Kaede, still struggling to keep this body alive and with the situation in general, frowned, confused by the unexpected question. He had expected an attack or a confrontation, not a casual chat about personal preferences. After a brief silence, she responded cautiously.

"I'm not sure what you mean," He said, watching Yuki warily. "I don't think that matters right now."

Yuki shrugged, clearly amused by Kaede's reaction. "It's just a way to break the ice. Although I'm here with a clear purpose, I want to understand the person I'm facing before things get out of hand."

Kaede kept her guard up, though Yuki's relaxed attitude made her question her intentions. he knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down, but something about the sorcerer made her feel he wasn't in immediate danger.

"Well, if you really want to know, I guess someone strong and determined. Someone who doesn't get intimidated easily," Kaede finally replied, not taking her eyes off Yuki, who listened with a thoughtful expression.

"Interesting..." Yuki murmured, as if evaluating her answer.

"And physically?"

"... I suppose someone with big thighs... I still don't understand why you want this information."

"Not bad." Then, her eyes sharpened, and her tone became more serious. "The higher-ups sent me to capture you. They know you're using Itadori's body, and they want to prevent you from causing more trouble."

Kaede tensed at hearing this, aware that the woman in front of her was no mere spectator. "So you're here to take me back, huh? By the way, who are you?"

"My name is Yuki Tsukumo. You can call me Yuki."

"Nice to meet you, Tsukumo Yuki. You don't expect me to let you capture me so easily, do you?" Kaede said, raising her cursed energy and preparing for what was to come.

Yuki stared at her, her smile fading. "I didn't expect any less. But before we start, I want to know one thing: what are you really after? I've heard rumors, but I want to hear it from you."

Kaede looked at her coldly, weighing her options. He knew she couldn't trust her, but she also needed to buy time and perhaps learn something useful. "I'm looking for answers, and maybe a way to go back. But I doubt you'd understand what that means."

Yuki nodded, accepting her answer without showing any emotion. "Maybe not, but I'm not here to judge your reasons. My job is to take you back, but I can give you a chance to explain your situation if you come peacefully."

Kaede let out a bitter laugh. "Peacefully? Haven't I already told you? No, Tsukumo Yuki, if you want to take me, you'll have to do it by force."

The atmosphere between them grew tense, both preparing for the inevitable confrontation. Yuki, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, assumed a fighting stance. "I knew you'd say that. So, I guess we have no choice but to settle this the hard way."

Kaede also took a defensive stance, knowing the battle would be intense. "I hope you're ready because I don't plan on holding back."

With those words, they launched into combat, aware that the outcome of this fight could change the course of events to come.

------------

Gojo walked down a quiet street in a small rural town, his usually relaxed demeanor now showing signs of frustration. Even his signature sunglasses couldn't hide the irritation in his expression. He had spent days traversing various parts of Japan, using his vast resources and contacts, but so far, his search had been fruitless.

"Where the hell did you go?" he muttered to himself, stopping at a small food stall to buy a drink. While waiting for his order, his mind went over all the clues and possible locations he had already checked. From the start, the situation had been complicated, but the lack of clear traces of cursed energy or Kaede was starting to wear on him.

With a sigh, Gojo took the drink handed to him and leaned against a nearby railing, watching the flow of people. Normally, his carefree attitude helped him manage stress easily, but this situation was different. He was not only worried about Itadori's well-being but also knew that the higher-ups were growing increasingly impatient and less tolerant of failure.

"Maybe I should have brought someone else to help me with this... nah, it'd be too dangerous," he thought, considering for a moment contacting another trusted sorcerer. However, the risk of attracting unwanted attention to Kaede and Itadori, and things getting out of control, was too great.

As he reflected, Gojo recalled the last time he had felt a presence similar to Kaede's. It had been in a small village, where he had investigated a rumor about a figure with unusually strong cursed energy. But, to his frustration, the trail had gone cold before he could arrive.

"Maybe I should go back there and check again," he thought, finishing his drink in one gulp. "But if Kaede keeps moving, it won't do much good."

Determined not to give up, Gojo pulled out his phone and checked the latest reports of cursed activity. There were few new leads, but one seemed particularly promising: an unexplained spike in cursed energy in a mountainous region to the north of where he was. Without hesitation, Gojo started walking in that direction, determined to leave no stone unturned.

As he moved, his mind cleared a bit. He knew his concern for Itadori and the overall situation was affecting his judgment. He needed to stay focused and confident. With one last look at the town behind him, Gojo murmured to himself, "Don't worry, Itadori. We'll find you, and everything will go back to normal... or at least, as normal as it can be."

With a slight but determined glint in his eyes, Gojo continued his search, unaware that elsewhere, the battle between Kaede and Yuki was about to erupt.