Preparations

The hidden basement of the school was dimly lit, the air thick with tension and the faint scent of old popcorn. Hiro lounged on a worn sofa, his eyes fixed on the blank screen where Yuji once watched movies as part of his training with Gojo. The room felt smaller now, cramped with bodies and heavy with the weight of their shared burden.

"So Yuta's just going to pretend to kill Itadori?" Hiro asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of relief and frustration. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Maki, perched on the arm of the sofa, rolled her eyes. "Because you're an idiot who can't keep his mouth shut," she retorted, but there was a fondness in her tone that belied her harsh words.

Kokichi, his fingers dancing over a tablet as he monitored his Mechamaru units, chimed in. "Regardless, things are tough out there. I have several Mechamarus exorcising curses, but there are simply too many."

The room fell silent for a moment, the gravity of their situation settling over them like a heavy blanket. Maki's voice, soft but determined, broke the silence. "So what do we do about Kenjaku's culling game?"

Hiro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "First, we see Master Tengen," he said, his voice filled with a quiet resolve.

Yuki, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, nodded. "Fushiguro called. They're on their way here with Itadori."

"Good," Hiro replied, sitting up straighter. "Then we just wait."

Yuki's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Hiro. "By the way, Hiro, I'll ask you the same thing as before. Can you defeat Kenjaku?"

Hiro's jaw clenched, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "I already told you, I'm stronger than him."

Yuki didn't look convinced. Hiro sighed, his voice taking on a patient tone as he explained. "Kenjaku is equivalent to approximately 17 of Sukuna's fingers, according to Master Gojo. I'm equivalent to 16."

Yuki's eyebrow arched. "16 is less than 17," she pointed out.

Hiro nodded, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I know, but the difference isn't huge. Plus, I get stronger with each fight."

Maki snorted, amusement dancing in her eyes. "What are you, a Saiyan?"

Hiro laughed, the sound easing some of the tension in the room. "Just a super man," he quipped.

Maki wrapped her arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his cheek. "You're an idiot," she murmured, but her tone was affectionate.

Kokichi cleared his throat, his eyes still fixed on his tablet. "If you two are going to get mushy, maybe change rooms."

Hiro grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Jealous? Wish you could be like this with Miwa?"

Kokichi's cheeks flushed, and he cleared his throat again. "Don't be ridiculous," he muttered.

The door to the basement creaked open, drawing everyone's attention. Footsteps echoed on the stairs as Yuta, Itadori, and Fushiguro descended into the room. Hiro's eyes lit up at the sight of the latter two.

"You two," he said, relief evident in his voice. "I'm glad you're alright."

His gaze shifted to Choso, who lingered behind the others. "What's he doing here?" Hiro asked, suspicion creeping into his tone.

Itadori stepped forward, his hand resting on Choso's shoulder. "Well, let's just say he's my brother, in a way."

Hiro looked to Yuta for confirmation, but the other sorcerer merely shrugged. Yuta's attention was fixed on Maki, concern etched on his features. "Maki, you can walk now?"

Maki nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, since last night."

Hiro, unable to resist, chimed in with a grin. "You should have seen how she moved in bed."

Maki's elbow connected with Hiro's ribs, her face flushing crimson. "Why the hell would you say that?" she hissed.

Hiro raised his hands in surrender, still grinning despite the pain. "I was joking!"

Yuki cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. "I hate to interrupt your flirting, but we have work to do."

Hiro sobered immediately, pushing himself to his feet. "I know. Let's go see Tengen."

Yuki's expression turned grim. "There's a problem. I heard Tengen is in hiding."

Kokichi looked up from his tablet, confusion etched on his face. "What do you mean?"

Hiro's brow furrowed as he explained, "There are countless doors, and you never know where they'll lead."

Yuki nodded, adding, "And Tengen controls them. He won't let himself be found easily."

The room fell silent as they contemplated this new obstacle. Then, unexpectedly, Choso spoke up. "I know a way," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "I can sense the remnants of my brothers, and they're near Tengen's door. That's how Mahito got in during the Kyoto exchange."

All eyes turned to Choso, a mixture of surprise and suspicion on their faces. Hiro studied him for a long moment before asking, "Can we trust you?"

Choso met his gaze unflinchingly. "Now, I only want to help my brother Itadori."

Hiro nodded slowly, his decision made. "Alright, I suppose."

As they emerged from the basement, the group made their way towards Tengen's domain, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridors of the school. The air was thick with tension, each of them lost in their own thoughts about the challenges that lay ahead.

Fushiguro broke the silence, his voice hesitant as he addressed Hiro. "Senpai?"

Hiro turned, his eyebrow raised in question. "What's up?"

Fushiguro's expression was unreadable as he spoke. "Naobito died, and in his will, I was selected as the clan leader."

Hiro's brow furrowed, confusion evident in his voice. "And?"

"I'm saying this in case you're interested in taking command," Fushiguro explained, his tone neutral. "I'm not interested in it myself."

Hiro's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Me? Why me? I'm from the Miller clan... even if I am the only member left."

Fushiguro shrugged, his gaze shifting between Hiro and Maki. "Well, you're going to marry into the Zenin clan, aren't you?"

An awkward silence fell over the group as Hiro and Maki exchanged uncomfortable glances. Hiro cleared his throat, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips. "Uh, Fushiguro, you do know that Maki and I are 17 and 16, right?"

"I know," Fushiguro replied, his expression unchanging. "I meant for the future, though I doubt Hiro-senpai is the type to get married."

Kokichi's laughter cut through the tension. "I'd bet on them," he teased, earning a glare from both Hiro and Maki.

"Very funny," Hiro muttered, his cheeks flushing slightly.

As they continued their journey, guided by Choso's uncanny ability to sense his brothers' remnants, the conversation drifted to more pressing matters. The weight of their mission settled over them once more, a reminder of the dangers that awaited them beyond the safety of the school's walls.

Finally, they arrived at their destination - a stark white room that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. From the blinding whiteness, a figure emerged, his presence commanding and ancient.

"You were looking for me?" Tengen's voice echoed through the space, carrying with it the weight of centuries.

Yuki stepped forward, her voice respectful but firm. "It's been a while."

Tengen nodded, his featureless face somehow conveying a sense of knowing. "Indeed it has. But you've come for a reason, haven't you?"

Hiro, his patience wearing thin, cut straight to the point. "We want you to answer some of our questions."

Tengen's chuckle reverberated through the room. "You sound quite aggressive, young man. Calm yourself a bit, son. I'll answer your questions, in exchange for something."

Itadori, his curiosity piqued, asked, "What is it?"

"I'd like two rather strong bodyguards," Tengen replied, his tone casual as if he were discussing the weather.

Yuki nodded, her expression serious. "Fine, but answer our questions first."

"Of course," Tengen agreed. "Ask away."

Yuki took a deep breath, her voice steady as she posed the first question. "What is Kenjaku planning with the Culling Game?"

Tengen's response was measured, each word carefully chosen. "Kenjaku is a millennia-old sorcerer who, over the years, has been collecting cursed objects containing ancient sorcerers. His purpose is to pit them against each other in a game where only the most powerful prevail. If you pay attention to the rules, they're designed to force all participating sorcerers to kill each other, with only those who accumulate a certain number of points surviving. And these points are gained through killing."

Hiro's fists clenched at his sides, his voice tight with anger. "And the problem is that many people who weren't sorcerers before are now forced into this stupid game."

Tengen nodded, his agreement palpable even without visible facial expressions.

Yuki pressed on, her voice urgent. "How do we stop the game?"

Tengen's explanation was chilling in its implications. "The Culling Game uses the cursed energy of the players and the barriers for a ritual that prepares humanity for a merger. Once the ritual is complete, I could be forced to merge with the affected humans to force them to evolve into another form. However, for Kenjaku, it's nothing more than a grand experiment, as he doesn't know the final result."

Hiro, his frustration mounting, asked again, "How do we stop the game before all that happens?"

"Probably by killing the game master," Tengen replied, his tone maddeningly calm.

Maki's voice was sharp as she sought confirmation. "Which is Kenjaku, right?"

"Probably," Tengen agreed.

Hiro's decision was immediate, his voice filled with determination. "Alright, I'll enter the game. The rest of you just go and exorcise curses."

Maki's response was immediate and heated. "Are you crazy? You can't do this alone!"

Hiro shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "It's not necessary for all of us to go."

Fushiguro stepped forward, his own determination evident. "Senpai, I actually want to participate. I want to save my sister."

Itadori nodded, his loyalty to his friend clear. "I want to help him."

Hiro sighed, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Fine, I guess. But those who aren't fit won't participate. Kugisaki, Miwa, Mai - they'll just get in the way."

Maki's brow furrowed in concern. "Speaking of which, where are they?"

Kokichi, his attention still partly on his tablet, provided the answer. "Mai went back to Kyoto with Miwa. Kugisaki is in her room; she didn't want to be in the basement because it was too dirty."

Hiro nodded, his mind already formulating a plan. "Alright, each of us will enter a different colony, though I suppose we'll be placed randomly. We'll defeat sorcerers and change some rules."

Kokichi's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, his words laced with concern. "Hiro, I really think we need more help. With different colonies to cover, we need to change the rules in less than 20 days, or people will start dying even more than they are now."

Hiro paused, his brow furrowing in thought. The weight of their task pressed down on him like a mountain, each life lost a burden he couldn't shake. Finally, he nodded, his voice heavy with resignation. "I suppose you're right. Call Kamo, but be careful. We can't trust other sorcerers; we don't know who might betray us to the higher-ups."

Kokichi nodded, his fingers already dancing across his tablet to send the message. Hiro turned to Maki, his eyes meeting hers with a silent understanding. "We'll probably need Hakari's help too."

Yuta's voice was tinged with doubt as he spoke up. "Hakari-senpai probably doesn't want to see us."

Hiro's jaw clenched, a flash of irritation crossing his face. "That idiot. Just tell him what's happening. If he doesn't cooperate, I'll drag him out myself."

His gaze shifted to Itadori and Fushiguro, a plan forming in his mind. "You two go get him. If he sees me or Maki, he'll run."

The two younger sorcerers nodded, determination etched on their faces. As the group began to disperse, each preparing for their role in the coming battle, Tengen's voice rang out, stopping Hiro in his tracks.

"By the way, Hiro, there's something I wanted to discuss with you."

Hiro turned, his eyebrow raised in question. "What is it?"

Tengen's featureless face somehow conveyed a sense of intense scrutiny as he spoke. "I've been observing you for some time, and I noticed something about your electrical energy – particularly the negative aspect. It's different."

Confusion flickered across Hiro's face. "What do you mean?"

Tengen's explanation was measured, each word carefully chosen. "We all have different types of cursed energy. For example, according to Gojo, Hakari has the toughest cursed energy among you all, while Yuta Okkotsu's is more malevolent. Yours, on the other hand, combines uniquely with your electricity. When you use more negative energy in your brain, it makes you stronger. I noticed it."

Surprise registered on Hiro's face. "Really? I felt the same as always."

Tengen shook his head, his voice filled with certainty. "You were much faster and stronger, and your reserves were greater."

Hiro's expression darkened, a shadow passing over his features. "I'd prefer not to use it."

Tengen's voice was gentle but insistent. "You should consider it. Things are about to get difficult."

Hiro's response was noncommittal, his mind already racing with the implications. "I'll think about it."

Maki's voice cut through his thoughts, her tone businesslike. "I'll go to the Zenin clan for some weapons. With Fushiguro as the clan leader now, I shouldn't have any problems."

Hiro nodded, grateful for her practicality. As the group finalized their plans, Tengen's voice rang out once more. "Now, who will be my bodyguards?"

Yuki stepped forward, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "I'll stay. There are things I'd like to discuss with you."

Choso, his stance hesitant but determined, volunteered as well. "I'll stay too. I feel you don't fully trust me yet, so I'd prefer to help from here."

Tengen accepted their offer with a nod, but his next words sent a chill through the room. "Keep in mind, it's very likely that Kenjaku will come for me."

Maki's voice was sharp with concern. "Then isn't it better for Hiro to stay here to kill him?"

Tengen's response was measured, his words painting a vivid picture of the challenges they faced. "Hiro needs to become stronger. He and Kenjaku are evenly matched in power, and Hiro has a much more brutal offense and defense, as well as being more skilled in hand-to-hand combat."

Kokichi's brow furrowed in confusion. "Then what's the problem?"

Tengen's words were heavy with foreboding. "The problem is that Kenjaku is more cunning. I'm sure he wouldn't come here without a plan to defeat Hiro. It's better not to risk him; he's our best weapon."

Yuki's voice was firm as she addressed Hiro. "You heard him. We're counting on you all."

Hiro nodded, turning towards the exit with the others. But as they reached the door, he paused, his voice low and determined. "Go on ahead. I need to stop Director Yaga's execution."

Maki's question was laced with concern. "How will you do that?"

A spark of red electricity danced around Hiro's head, his gaze turning cold and hard. His voice, when he spoke, was like ice, sending shivers down the spines of those around him. "I'll deal with the problem at its root."

As Hiro stepped out into the corridor, the weight of his decision settled over him like a storm cloud, dark and ominous. The path he was about to walk was fraught with danger, a tightrope stretched over an abyss of moral ambiguity. But he knew that sometimes, to protect the many, difficult choices had to be made.

His mind raced with possibilities, each scenario playing out like a chess game where the stakes were life and death. The higher-ups, with their rigid beliefs and outdated traditions, were like a cancer in the jujutsu world, spreading their toxic influence and threatening to destroy everything they had fought so hard to protect.

As Hiro made his way through the school, his body crackling with barely contained energy, he felt the eyes of his companions on him. They knew, without him saying a word, that he was about to cross a line from which there might be no return. But in their eyes, he saw not judgment, but understanding. They too had been pushed to their limits, forced to make impossible choices in the face of overwhelming odds.

The air around Hiro seemed to shimmer with power, the negative energy he had been so reluctant to use now coursing through his veins like liquid fire. It whispered to him of strength, of the ability to reshape the world according to his will. And though a part of him recoiled from its seductive call, another part embraced it, recognizing it as the key to saving those he loved.