Chapter 60: Sudden Change

Racing through the dense forest.

White Zetsu stayed close to Maki, Panda, and Inumaki.

Once again, fully embodying his cowardly yet vicious nature.

"What the heck…"

Itadori glanced at White Zetsu trailing behind them and muttered to himself, "He said I've grown, but look at him still hiding behind the seniors."

Hearing this, Nobara nearly tripped. "Pink hair, have you been brainwashed by White Zetsu?"

"Or are you jealous he's not sticking close to you?"

Itadori waved his hands hurriedly, "No way, how could that be?"

"Nobara, don't falsely accuse me."

He lowered his voice and sighed, "I just think, White Zetsu-senpai is actually quite decent."

He had met three Cursed Spirits who could communicate and speak.

One was the volcano-headed guy who attacked at night, another was the stitched-face one he despised.

Then there was White Zetsu—harmless to both humans and animals, who only occasionally acted superior.

Itadori genuinely thought White Zetsu was great.

"Is that so…"

Nobara's eyes dimmed, and she muttered in a low voice, "Mama's boy, huh, not bad at all."

Itadori nodded and then glanced back at White Zetsu, whispering to the two beside him.

"Nobara, Fushiguro."

"After I revived that day, what did Gojo-sensei say to you two?"

"Why do you seem to be avoiding White Zetsu today?"

"No way!"

Nobara and Fushiguro answered in unison.

"Really?"

Itadori looked at their serious expressions and gave an awkward smile. "Maybe it's just my imagination then."

That day in the operating room, after Gojo-sensei received a phone call, he spoke privately with Fushiguro and Nobara.

As for the details, Itadori had no idea.

But being observant, he noticed that Fushiguro and Nobara seemed to be avoiding White Zetsu's gaze today.

"First-years, stop daydreaming!"

Maki's sharp voice came from behind, "They're coming!"

No reminder was needed.

The sound like a bulldozer climbing a mountain immediately caught everyone's attention.

Boom!

A towering tree snapped, sending dust rolling up into the sky!

"Well, well!"

"You're all here, how wonderful!"

A hulking figure emerged from the dust, radiating a fierce aura like a tiger descending the mountain!

Bare-chested, Todo grinned widely, "Come on, let's all fight together!"

"Let's have a good, solid battle!"

"Move according to the plan!" Panda shouted, and everyone split into three teams in an instant.

Itadori's gaze sharpened as he lunged forward!

Leaping into the air, he brought his full strength down with a kick aimed at Todo's large head!

Maki, Nobara, and Fushiguro formed one team.

White Zetsu, Panda, and Inumaki another.

The two teams quickly spread out according to the pre-arranged plan.

Itadori would hold Todo off, while the other two teams would exorcise cursed spirits as fast as possible to score points!

...

Bang!

Todo raised both arms in front of his face, effortlessly blocking Itadori's full-powered kick.

"Not bad, freshman!" Todo grinned savagely and twisted his body, swinging his fist!

A massive fist, the size of a cooking pot, grew larger in Itadori's vision!

Boom!

Several large trees toppled over from the impact!

Itadori, sent flying a dozen meters back, felt a sharp pain in his forearms, like small fractures had formed.

"Freshman!"

Todo clenched his fists and stepped closer, one slow step at a time.

"Before I knock you out, I've got a question for you."

He leaned forward slightly, readying his fist.

"What type of woman do you like?"

...

Taking the cursed tool Fushiguro handed her from the shadows, Maki glanced at Nobara.

"Nobara, are you hiding something from me?"

It wasn't just Itadori who sensed something off—Maki had noticed it too.

Fushiguro could be explained—he usually wore that sour expression.

But Nobara was different. Her fiery temper seemed strangely subdued today.

"Maki-senpai, I…"

Nobara took a deep breath, glaring at Fushiguro. "Can we just tell her already?"

"That bastard said today is the last day, didn't he?"

"The match has already started, there's no need to keep it a secret, right?"

Fushiguro, stunned by Nobara's lioness-like roar, paused.

"Why are you yelling at me?"

"I wasn't the one who planned this!"

Seeing Maki's serious expression, Fushiguro hesitated, then said, "It's about White Zetsu…"

Regardless of the outcome, their task had been completed today.

So there was no need for Fushiguro to keep it hidden any longer.

"Actually, after Itadori was revived, Gojo-sensei gave Nobara and me a secret mission."

"To probe the technique of White Zetsu's body, and…"

"To install surveillance devices on him."

Maki's face darkened, and she stopped in her tracks. "What do you mean?"

Fushiguro exhaled deeply and explained slowly, "That day in the operating room, Gojo-sensei received intelligence from an unknown source."

"Afterward, he instructed Nobara and me to verify White Zetsu's technique first."

"The six purple, diamond-shaped markings on his face are part of a technique called 'Miracle.'"

"When faced with fatal danger, the markings reduce or negate damage by consuming their energy."

Maki stood still, gripping her weapon, her expression cold.

"So, during our training, you kept asking about his Ten Shadows Technique to intentionally lead him into the shadows?"

Fushiguro, hanging his head, replied in a low voice, "Yes, we were testing the limits of the Miracle technique and verifying the intel Gojo-sensei received."

"And it turned out to be true."

"The intel was spot on about White Zetsu's technique."

Maki frowned and asked, "And after that?"

Nobara stepped forward, frustrated. "After that, that white-haired blindfolded idiot suddenly got another crazy idea!"

"Even after confirming White Zetsu's technique, a few days later, he had us plant tiny surveillance devices on him."

Hearing this, Maki felt a sinking feeling.

"White Zetsu may not be that strong, but he should've noticed if someone planted surveillance on him, right?"

Fushiguro answered quietly, "The intel was very detailed..."

"The Miracle technique's markings decrease in number based on the severity of the crisis they nullify."

"And the way the markings are accumulated is through minor injuries sustained daily."

"Also... White Zetsu loses memory of the injuries incurred while accumulating the markings."

Maki's face darkened as she spoke in a low voice, "So, you were experimenting on White Zetsu's body from the start!"

"Testing how much damage he can take, whether the markings would increase or decrease!"

"What kind of injuries could cause his memory loss, and for how long?"

"Is that it?"

"Maki-senpai, no, that's not it!" Nobara hurriedly explained, "We never intended to actually harm the mama's boy!"

"Gojo was 100% certain that the body White Zetsu inhabits isn't even his real one!"

"Plus, Fushiguro and I both saw White Zetsu die in the juvenile detention center and then come back to life!"

Maki didn't seem surprised.

Back when Shoko dissected White Zetsu, she already had her suspicions.

But—

If White Zetsu really had surveillance on him, then Jujutsu High—or more specifically, Gojo Satoru…

Were they investigating White Zetsu, or someone else?

At this moment, Maki couldn't care less about the current competition. Her heart sank deeper and deeper.

Why had Future Brother suddenly come to Jujutsu High, and why had his personality changed so drastically?

A bad feeling gnawed at her, growing more ominous!

Boom!

In the silence of the trio—

The sky was suddenly filled with a massive, writhing wave of trees!

A terrifying pressure swept in from all directions!

"A special-grade cursed spirit?"